Respiratory diseases of calves on dairy cow farm

Abstract

Intensive cattle breeding involves a whole series of technological processes, which should allow continued production and optimal use of production capacities. In those conditions new born calves must adapt to different environmental factors, including diet and housing conditions. Diseases of digestive and respiratory organs are the most common health problems in calves during the ϐirst months of their life. In this paper, we provide an overview of respiratory diseases of calves on a dairy farm. We monitored health status of calves on a dairy cow farm. Calves show clinical picture of respiratory diseases. In microbiological laboratory wide range of bacteria was isolated from calve lungs and nasal swabs. During one calendar year, the following bacteria were isolated from calve lungs: Pasteurella multocida, Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella spp. Histophilus somni, Haemophilus spp, Trueperella (Arcanobacterium) pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Typhimurium. The total of 61 calves was diagnosed with respiratory diseases (34 male and 27 female calves). Number of dead male calves is 24 (16 male calves and 8 female calves). Calves with respiratory diseases were approximately 71.62 days old. Dead calves with pathomorphological changes on their lungs were approximately 77.25 days old. Diseases of calves on farms usually have multifactorial etiology, and the most important health disorders in calves on our farms were respiratory diseases. The occurrence of respiratory diseases is highly signiϐicant unfavorable result of microclimate conditions, hygienic accommodation and inadequate technological processes