The Benefits Of Calf Lung Scanning

Not only has this season been a challenge for field work, but it’s also meant a tough time for youngstock. Traditionally, many units find pneumonia more of a concern through these winter months, however the bugs are present all year round and an outbreak can occur at any time if other factors prevail.

Weather is commonly blamed for many pneumonia outbreaks, and it must be said that damp days and dramatic differences between day and nighttime temperatures do not help. But if you have a shed that ventilates adequately these effects can be reduced. 

Weaning can often be a stress factor that can push a healthy calf, to a heightened risk of pneumonia, as often many changes coincide, such as a change in housing, social changes as well as nutritional ones. Ensuring that weaning is managed well, especially if feeding high volume or quality milk powders, is key to achieving the most efficient calf growth. Pneumonia can also spike where a scour outbreak has occurred, often linked to calves’ immune systems getting overloaded. Continuing adequate nutrition throughout this period is key. 

Monitoring pneumonia 

How we monitor pneumonia has previously been a challenge, as treatment data is all we really have. However, when trying to compare units or trying to assess if protocols have helped this is often a challenge as many other factors may have also changed. Using the ultrasound scanner to scan and score lungs can be an objective measure that can monitor fluctuations over time.

The scanner used is the same as fertility scanning, and calves don’t require any clipping or lengthy preparation. We then apply plenty of surgical spirit to ensure good contact and then scan in between the ribs, ensuring you get the tricky bit in front of the heart under the calves’ front legs, as this is the most likely place to show damage.

On the scanners image you can pick up areas of inflammation, as well as consolidation (where air is not flowing) and even abscesses if they are present. We can then score the lungs, it is often eye-opening to see how many otherwise healthy looking calves have inflammation, even those without a high temperature or unaffected appetite. 

We used to think that lungs can’t heal after pneumonia, and after clinical cases showing signs such as increased breathing rate, cough or discharge from the nose, this is still the case. However, in cases when calves are treated early, for example when they are just showing a temperature or slower feeding rate, through lung scanning we can monitor improvements and assess to what degree the lungs heal. 

Weaning can often be a stress factor that can push a healthy calf, to a heightened risk of pneumonia.

Lung scanning is normally carried out by vets, and repeating it regularly gives you the best results, so you can make changes and monitor fluctuations in respiratory health. It can also be used before and after a change to see the effect it has caused. Scanning is best done to calves under weaning age but can also be done to about 6 months old. 

With practise and a good handling system a calf can be scanned every 3 minutes, although some people say they can be quicker! So why not go ahead and have a look at what your calves’ lungs are really showing you. 

Kathryn Hart

BVSc BSc Cert AVP (Cattle) MRCVS from 
George Farm Vets