Tackling Calf Pneumonia from the Outset
Healthy cows start as healthy calves — and building a strong foundation begins with preventing and treating pneumonia early. The longer lung damage persists, the harder it becomes to treat effectively.
Pneumonia remains one of the most significant diseases affecting calves, costing the UK cattle industry an estimated £50 million a year.
Pat Wilson spoke to SRUC vet Colin Mason, who says it’s not expensive technology or new infrastructure that makes the most significant difference, but attention to detail and consistent routines that deliver real results in calf health, welfare, future milk production and daily liveweight gain.
Q. What about the benefits of the three Qs of feeding colostrum — Quantity, Quality, and Quickly?
A. “A newborn calf needs at least three litres of high quality colostrum, ideally within two hours of birth,” explains Colin. “Colostrum contains antibodies, known as immunoglobulins (IgG), which provide immunity, along with essential nutrients that give the calf energy for growth. Getting this right can significantly reduce the risk of pneumonia in young calves.
Prevention is always better than cure, and early detection of illness is critical. Early signs can be subtle but are vital to spot. Always take coughing seriously — it happens for a reason! Repeated coughing indicates lung damage, which might not kill a calf but will undoubtedly affect its performance.
Other warning signs include a drop in milk intake, nasal discharge, reduced activity, or an elevated temperature — a clear indicator that something isn’t right.”
Q. How significant is the environment?
A. “Environment plays a massive role in calf rearing,” says Colin. “It’s crucial to maintain a draught-free environment at calf level with good ventilation above to prevent moisture, ammonia, and harmful organisms from building up in the air.
Calves need to be warm and dry, so clean, deep bedding is essential. Breathable, washable calf jackets are a great addition, especially for younger calves. A dry environment with good air quality will reduce the spread and growth of bugs — and that means good drainage is vital too.
We also need to consider stocking density. Each calf should have more than 3 m² of space.”
Q. What about stress management?
A. “Stress management is critical, especially during weaning, which is a key stage in the production cycle. It prepares calves for the next phase — whether grazing or developing into breeding stock.
Stress at weaning can suppress a calf’s immune system for up to two weeks, making them more susceptible to disease, particularly pneumonia, and slowing growth rates. To minimise stress, avoid making changes to housing, feed, water, or social groups at this time. Also, avoid stressful procedures such as vaccination, disbudding, or castration around weaning.”
Q. How effective is using pheromones to reduce stress?
A. “It’s been proven to be a very worthwhile tool,” Colin says. “The pheromone, known as Maternal Bovine Appeasing Substance, naturally occurs in lactating cows and helps calm their offspring.
FerAppease is a synthetic version that’s applied to the skin around the muzzle or back of the head of young cattle to reduce stress during events like weaning, transport, or mixing. It works by interacting with the vomeronasal organ in the calf’s nose, sending calming signals to the brain that reduce threat perception and stress responses. The result is calmer animals, which leads to improved health and productivity.”
Q. Many farmers are using thoracic ultrasound scanning to detect lung damage. How important is this development?
A. “Lung scoring is an invaluable tool,” Colin explains. “It helps assess the severity of lung damage in clinical cases, monitor progress, and detect subclinical pneumonia.
This method allows for early detection, enabling treatment before irreversible damage occurs. Calves treated promptly experience less weight loss and enjoy better growth rates — it’s a real step forward in disease management.”
Q. What about vaccination — how worthwhile is it?
A. “Vaccination definitely has a role to play, but it’s only part of the solution,” says Colin. “It’s not a magic fix that eliminates pneumonia entirely. Most livestock systems already have the main bacteria that cause respiratory disease present — they’re just waiting for the right opportunity to infect.
It’s about maximising resilience. Vaccines should be given before the main risk period. In dairy calves, that means as early as possible. Intranasal vaccines can be administered in early life, providing rapid immunity and protection against common pneumonia-causing viruses. The key is to get in early — stay ahead of the game.”
Q. Even with the best prevention, some cases will still occur. How important is treatment?
A. “Each farm is unique, and the proper treatment should always be discussed with your vet. Some infections can be managed with anti-inflammatories and other antimicrobial medicines.
Responsible prescribing is essential — antibiotics should only be used when necessary. Making informed choices about veterinary medicines leads to better animal health outcomes and reduces ethical dilemmas around antibiotic resistance.”
Article Courtesy of The Scottish Farmer
Pat Wilson. "Tackling Calf Pneumonia from the Outset." The Scottish Farmer, November 15, 2025, pp. 35.