Temperature Swings Raise Calf Pneumonia Risk on Irish Farms
Calves are arriving on winter-milking farms in Ireland, and sharp temperature swings combined with high humidity are raising the risk of calf pneumonia. Farming news site Agriland describes the current spell as a period of high risk.
Irish farming news site Agriland has drawn attention to an increased risk of pneumonia, a lung infection, in calves. The warning comes as calves are being born on winter-milking dairy farms while the weather changes sharply.
According to the report, daytime temperatures in Ireland climbed as high as 16°C during the week, while at night they fell below 4°C in some places. Together with high humidity, these conditions make for a period of heightened risk for young calves.
Why it matters
Pneumonia is one of the respiratory diseases affecting calves, and the risk rises when newborn animals arrive on the farm and must cope with unsettled conditions. For farmers whose calves have just been born, this period calls for particular care.
The available extract of the source article contains only the introduction. The specific prevention measures named in the headline are not set out in this excerpt.
