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Plan pneumonia booster timings ahead of stress periods
Now is the time to discuss with the practice when to give vaccinated calves their
booster dose of Bovilis® Bovipast RSP. This pneumonia vaccine uniquely protects
against both viral and bacterial causes of pneumonia and boosters should be given
approximately two weeks before a ‘risk’ period which includes anything from
transport to a change of housing, re-grouping or a change in diet.
In addition to the stresses that your farming own system may cause, January and
February’s weather patterns make them high risk months for pneumonia, meaning
preparation is vital. Bovipast RSP has a booster timing chart to aid planning,
whatever your system (see attachment/below).
The benefit of vaccination is that vaccinated calves can mount a fast powerful
defence when challenged with pneumonia. And if they do become infected,
symptoms are generally mild and they shed less virus into the environment, so
reducing the opportunity for infection to spread.
Protection by vaccination remains the best way to prevent long-standing damage to a
calf. Once you notice calves coughing, they have already suffered lung damage and
this affects daily liveweight gain and future performance.
The main viruses, RSV, PI3 and IBR often make the calf ill to start with paving the
way for a bacterial infection to take hold. Young calves are at risk from Mannheimia
(Pasteurella) haemolytica (bacteria) and RSV (virus). A young animal with a
temperature of between 103-105OF and very noisy lungs – sounding asthmatic –
might be infected with RSV. A pasteurella infection meanwhile can lead to
dramatically raised temperatures and very snotty noses.
IBR tends to affect slightly older animals and is accompanied by a temperature as
high as 107OF and noisy breathing. Meanwhile PI3 is a common cause of
pneumonia in all calf age groups although it is a milder syndrome than RSV and
without the lung noises.
Bovilis IBR® vaccine can be given to older animals, and can play an important role
on units where IBR has been a problem in the past.
A definite diagnosis of the causal organisms behind a case of pneumonia is rarely
simple, as most pneumonia is due to a mixed infection of viruses and bacteria, as
well as management. However, your vet can blood test calves which have recovered
from pneumonia, to identify possible causes on your farm and work out a suitable
vaccination and management programme.
Contact the practice to discuss pneumonia management in more detail.