CBL 3: The Coughing Calves

Name this type of calf housing

purpose-built portal frame

Name this type of calf housing

purpose-built mono pitch

Name this type of calf housing

hutches/igloos

Name this type of calf housing

polytunnel

What are the lower critical temperatures in calves <3 weeks?

10-15 degrees

What are the lower critical temperatures in calves >3 weeks?

5-10 degrees

What are the upper critical temperatures in calves?

22.2-26.6 degrees

What are used to keep calves warm?

calf jackets

When are calf jackets used?

when temp below 15

What is the maximum number of calves that calves under 8 weeks old should be housed with?

12

How many animals can calves over 8 weeks be housed with?

20

What is the space recommended per indoor newborn calves?

6m cubed

What is the space recommended for 12-week old calves?

10m cubed

What is the space recommended for group reared calves?

1.5m² per 150kg and 2m² per 200kg calf

What could be considered for sustainable cattle production?

genetics, health, methane emissions, management of pastures

Why is there the need to move towards a sustainable ruminant production?

greenhouse gas emissions, increased human population, to improve food security

What percentage of greenhouse gas emissions does the livestock sector emit annually?

14.5%

What are the feeding requirements for a newborn calf?

colostrum within first 2hrs of life

What is a hygiene requirement for a newborn calf?

dip navel in 10% iodine tincture at birth (and again 2-4 hrs later)

What is a housing requirement for newborn calves?

dry pens with straw and plenty of airflow

What are the nutritional requirements of calves up to weaning age?

colostrum, water, milk, forage

Why is forage necessar

What is a benefit of feeding calves whole milk?

nutrient rich

What is a disadvantage of feeding calves whole milk?

higher risk of disease

What volume of whole milk is required for calves? (first week and after)

10-13% of their body weight at birth in milk in the first week and 13-15% after the first week

Is feeding a calf by teats or buckets better?

teat

Why is it better for calves to be fed at natural head height (e.g. via teat)?

oesophageal groove closes and restricts fluid entering the other stomachs

What are the average growth rates of beef cattle?

0.9kg per day

When should a dairy heifer reach double its birth weight?

by 2 months

What does colostrum contain?

antibodies, energy, growth factors, vitamins and minerals, fat and protein

Why is colostrum important?

calves are born without antibodies so the passive transfer of antibodies from cow to calf is important for protection against diseases

How can you test for sufficient intake of colostum?

colostrometer, brix refractometer, blood test, zinc sulphate turbidity test

What is the main type of immunoglobulin found in colostrum?

IgG

Name components of the innate immune system within the calves upper respiratory tract which help to protect against respiratory tract infections

hairs, mucus, commensal microflora, innate immunity cells

What are the innate immunity cells divided into?

myeloid lineages and macrophage-monocyte series

Name examples of innate immunity cells (myeloid lineages)

neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils

Name examples of innate immunity cells (macrophage-monocyte series)

monocytes and macrophages

Define mucosal membrane (mucosa)

the membrane that lines cavities and organs consisting of epithelial cells which are continuous with the outside of the body

Define mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)

concentrations of lymphatic tissue found in submucosal areas of the body

Name 3 specific types of MALT

NALT (nasal), GALT (gut) and BALT (bronchus)

What does MALT do to help develop immunity to respiratory tract infections?

provides barrier against foreign particles, captures them in sticky mucus and clears them out

What effects might stress have on a cow?

reduced feed intake

Why does reduced feed intake due to stress impact the immune response?

less vitamins and minerals which play vital roles in the immune system

How do cows decrease their metabolic heat production when under heat stress?

reduce feed intake, milk production and growth

What have calves born to and receiving colostrum from heat stressed dams found to have?

less plasma proteins, RBCs, platelets, Hb, lymphocytes

Why is there likely to be a difference in the cause of an outbreak of coughing in older heifers compared to young calves?

different environments, young calves have a less developed immune system (so are more susceptible to disease)

Dictoyocaulus viviparus

bovine lungworm

How can dictyocaulus effect a cow?

coughing, severe resp disease, milk drop, reduced fertility, death

What is BRD?

bovine respiratory disease

What stresses can trigger BRD?

transport, housing, weather, general cattle handling, immunosuppression by BVDV

What is BVDV?

bovine virus diarrhoea virus

How is the BRD vaccine usually administered?

intranasally

What does the BRD vaccine stimulate development of?

IgG in upper respiratory mucosa

When can BRD vaccines be used?

as prevention method or in outbreak

How long does immunity last after the BRD vaccine?

4 months to yearly

Name the parasite responsible for lungworm in cattle

dictyocaulus viviparus

Name the parasite responsible for lungworm in equids

dictyocaulus arnfieldi

Name the (most important) parasite responsible for lungworm in sheep

dictyocaulus filaria

What stage of lungworm is infective?

L3 on fungi in grass

What stage in the lifecycle of lungworm do we detect?

L1 (larvae) in dung

What can the dead adult lungworms cause?

pneumonia

What is the gross appearance of pneumonia like?

dark red (congestion), firm appearance, fibrin, abscessation

What builds up in the lungs (alveoli) due to inflammation?

pus and oedema

Why do alveoli affected by bronchopneumonia result in disturbances of gas exchange?

alveoli aren’t ventillated and don’t contain oxygen required to enter blood and cannot take up CO₂