In the Furrow
Pneumonia in Beef Cattle
By Will Duffie County Extension Coordinator

Changes in temperatures and moisture levels over the past 2 weeks have increased the risk for pneumonia in cattle across Burke County. The term pneumonia means inflammation of the lungs. The disease process will result in damage to the animal's lungs that will reduce its ability to breathe, reduce feed intake and increase feed conversion. At its most severe it will result in so much damage that the animal can no longer breathe effectively and will die because of oxygen starvation. In the course of the disease process animals will be fevered and suffer toxemia or they feel bad. The majority of ani- mals will recover completely and indeed are likely to show compensatory growth subsequently so that by the end of the feeding or housing period affected animals will be as well grown as their unaffected pen mates. A small number of affected calves will suffer lung damage that will not repair. These animals are termed respiratory cripples and will appear ill-thriven and suffer recurrent bouts of pneumonia.

Pneumonia is almost exclusively a disease of young cattle. The younger the calves are the more severe is the disease and the more difficult it can be to control. However the disease can also be severe in older weaned calves that may be mixed from several sources at housing or subjected to a range of stressors simultaneously such as housing, weaning and dehorning. The difference between pneumonia problems in the young calves and that seen in the older calves is that attention to management can result in very good control of the disease in the older calves.

The first sign of pneumonia in a calf is a reduction in feed intake. In some calves this may be seen as a lack of gut fill. At this stage the calf will almost certainly have a fever, rectal temperature more than 39.5 degrees C., but yet still appear bright. A watery discharge at the nose may be apparent, but often goes unnoticed, as calves are fairly adept at licking their noses clean. As the disease progresses coughing may occur and the animal may develop a lift, as an increased effort to take air into the damaged lungs. The nasal discharge may now become thicker and flecked with white mucus and pus. As the animal progresses through this phase it will appear depressed and ill even to those not used to dealing with stock. By the time calves are seen clearly to be ill there is likely to be several more already in the early stages of the disease.

Antibiotics are very useful in the treatment of pneumonia and in many cases a response may be seen within 24 to 48 hours. A range of antibiotics exists and each may have a different place in the treatment of this condition. Blanket treatment of the group is sometimes employed, but consideration should always be given to the development of antibiotic resistance. Anti-inflammatory agents are also used in severe cases. These reduce the damage caused by inflammation within the affected lung and make the calf feel better much as aspirin does for us when we suffer a cold.

Be sure to monitor health conditions of animals and contact a veterinarian if heath issues arise. For more information contact the UGA - Burke County Extension Office at (706) 554-2119.