Calf Talk

March, 2009

Volume 15, No. 3

WHY DO MY CALVES HAVE PNEUMONIA?

By: Russ Schnepper, D.V.M.

You first see signs of pneumonia two weeks after a problem has occurred.

Most pneumonia, especially in the young Holstein, is caused by Pasteurella multocida. The Pasteurella organism is a normal inhabitant of the upper respiratory tract of the calf. A stress occurs and suppresses the immune system, which allows the Pasteurella organisms to multiply rapidly. After 14 days of incubation the large numbers of Pasteurella move down into the lung, and now you have pneumonia.

Many stressors in the calf business can contribute to pneumonia. The baby calf is a creature of habit. Upsetting the calf’s routine, such as moving to new surroundings, mixing with other strange calves, changing feeding times, castrating, dehorning and vaccinating, all upset the calf’s routine. Every time a new calf is added to a group, establishing a new "peck order" creates a big stress. Observe a group of pigs being mixed in a pen. They fight violently for two hours and then whoever is still alive knows exactly where he fits in the peck order. Calves do not express the violent behavior physically, but I believe they go through the same process emotionally. I advocate doing everything stressful to the calf the day of arrival and then do not harass him for the next week. Calves use the buddy system. Established relationships last for many months, if allowed. Put even numbers of calves into a group, and then everyone can have a buddy. It is no fun to be odd man out. The "buddy system" comforts both calves and gives mental support to their adapting to the stressors.

There are a number of triggering mechanisms that contribute to pneumonia. They include viruses such as IBR, PI3, BVD, and BRSV. Poor ventilation is hard on the calf. Cryptosporidiosis is an immune suppressor. Poor nutrition, especially a deficiency of Selenium, Vitamin E and Vitamin A make it impossible for the immune system to function properly. The nutritionally deficient calf will not develop proper immunity to the vaccines nor respond to ImmunoBoost, nor antibiotics. Even if an antibiotic kills the bacteria, a macrophage, which is a white blood cell and part of the immune system, has to gobble up the remaining debris and get it out of the calf’s body.

There are steps to prevent pneumonia. Onset 5 IN given intranasally on day eight, along with ImmunoBoost does two important things. It produces an immunity to the viruses and also causes the calf’s immune system to produce interferon, which is Mother Nature’s own medicine. Vista Once SQ at day of mixing calves from individuals to groups will produce immunity to the IBR, PI3, BVD and BRSV viruses as well as the Pasteurella multocida and the Mannheimia haemolytica bacteria which produce the pneumonia. I recommend repeating the Onset 5 IN or Vista 5 SQ (IBR, PI3, BVD, BRSV) ten days after mixing the calves into groups. Interferon is produced by the calf due to stimulation from the Onset 5 IN or Vista 5 SQ vaccine. A dose of interferon at time of mixing the calves and again ten days later helps the calf’s own immune system throw off the Pasteurella pneumonia prior to the end of the 14-day incubation period. Keep the calf well nourished, clean, dry and comfortable as well as properly vaccinated and pneumonia can be prevented.

ALWAYS KEEP A BOTTLE OF EPINEPHRINE ON HAND IN CASE AN ANAPHYLACTIC REACTION OCCURS.

***Anything can trigger a reaction!!*** .

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3210 County B, Platteville, WI 53818

608-348-6141, Fax: 608-348-6146