Pneumonia (BRD) Prevention

Calf pneumonia is the more commonly used name for Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD). It is estimated to cost the UK cattle industry around £80 million a year. A mild case may only cost c.£30 per animal, however this rises to £80 for more severe cases. Costs will increase to over £500 if the disease results in mortality.

Some costs, such as vet and med costs, are highly visible at the time of an outbreak. Others, such as the impact on daily liveweight gain, feed conversion efficiency and labour, are much harder to quantify, but important nonetheless. Moreover, pneumonia can significantly affect lifetime productivity - data shows that heifers treated for pneumonia took on average an additional 30 days to reach age at first calving and those which had multiple pneumonia treatments as calves produced 337 fewer litres in their 1st lactation and 849 fewer in their 2nd. This dairy insight looks at the causes of the disease and how to reduce its occurrence on your farm.

Issued 19^th October 2022

About Kingshay insight publications

Kingshay has been producing bi-monthly publications for dairy farmers since 1991. Publishing on issues critical to the success of a modern dairy farming business.

These briefings include dairy insight, business insight and research insight, they provide dairy farmers, large animal vets, farm consultants and other interested parties with the most vital and timely information in a concise two-page format. The information contained in our insight publications is written and updated by our experts to ensure accuracy and to save you time.

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