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Ventilation , ventilation , ventilation
According to the Department for Environment , Food & Rural Affairs ( DEFRA ), approximately 160,000 calves die annually as a result of pneumonia and related illnesses , causing a potential loss of £ 99 million to the sector .
10 | Farming Monthly | January 2018
P neumonia is one of the biggest issues that calf rearers can face . Due to their weakened immune systems , weaned calves are more vulnerable to contracting viruses , such as bovine respiratory syncytical virus , bovine virus 1 , bovine rhinotracheitis , parainfluenza-3-virus , bovine coronavirus and lungworm ; all of which contribute to calves contracting pneumonia .
The illness can result in serious implications that impact the calf ’ s welfare , causing loss of form and stunted growth , which both contribute to poorer yields and productivity . If additional conditions are present it may also lead to lower food conversion rates , laboured breathing and stress .
Someone who understands the seriousness of calf pneumonia first-hand is calf rearer and BBC Young Farmer of the Year 2012 , Rhys Lewis , who deals with pneumonia at his familyrun farm in West Glamorgan , South Wales . A problem with pneumonia
As an experienced calf rearer , Rhys has an average turnaround of 70 to 80 calves every few weeks . However , last year when Rhys came to move 50 young stock into another shed , he noticed that something was seriously wrong . One week into the relocation , Rhys was forced to call on his local vet who concluded that his stock had contracted pneumonia . At risk of losing his young calves , immediate action was taken to vaccinate every calf and treat them with a dose of antibiotics and antiinflammatories .
These unexpected vet bills had an instant financial effect , which Rhys knew could be catastrophic should a serious outbreak of pneumonia occur again . Air – out with the old and in with the new
It is well-known that cattle housed in sheds with bad ventilation are far more susceptible to infection , as places that have stagnant and stale air , retain bacteria and viruses , which are passed on to livestock .
Local vet , Gareth Mulligan , commented : “ Pneumonia is probably one of the biggest problems that calf rearers can come up against . It has major implications , not just in terms of the welfare of the calves but also in terms of reduced weight gain . Preventing calves from getting pneumonia is an essential element to good calf rearing practice , and I believe that ventilation plays an important role in reducing pneumonia . However , it is vital that this ventilation is with fresh air and without draughts .”
Rhys therefore decided to test the air movement in the building using smoke pellets . This simple test showed that the smoke was not being removed quick enough , which highlighted a ventilation issue that needed to be addressed immediately to prevent further
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