Building Ventilation Event

Great interest in an on-farm workshop in January, looking at the effect of the environment on calf pneumonia, and in particular building design and ventilation, has prompted another meeting scheduled for 4 April 2012. 

Pneumonia is one of the most challenging and costly conditions to treat and prevent in youngstock.  The strong link between lung disease, growth rates and final productivity of adult stock has been highlighted recently by many research studies. 

Pneumonia is a multifactorial disease, influenced by the environment, infectious agents and calf health status.  Building ventilation, when appropriately configured, can optimise the environment and therefore reduce levels of pneumonia and increase productivity and profitability.  This is also true of adult cattle, where the provision of fresh air, our cheapest bactericidal agent, can greatly reduce respiratory disease and mastitis at herd level.  Even the newest of sheds are often inadequately ventilated!

I would urge you to book yourself onto the Pneumonia Campaign meeting in April if you are struggling with calf health, or if you are looking to build new calf housing, or practically alter existing accommodation.  Places are limited but more meetings will be held.