Practical approach to the control of pneumonia in housed calves

CALF pneumonia continues to be a significant problem for the cattle industry, both in economic and welfare terms, and its control remains a topic of prime importance for veterinary surgeons and farmers alike. However, the diverse nature of the pathogens and disease syndromes involved means that there is no panacea. The incidence and severity of calf pneumonia is very closely allied with management and disease patterns on individual farms and so the best approach is to implement a control programme for each farm tailored specifically to its own needs. This plan can be formulated by following a methodical approach, as described in this article. For the purposes of the article, the term 9calf9 includes any bovine animal up to one year of age.