UK: Farmers urged to investigate coughing in calves and youngstock

According to Ruminant Health & Welfare (RH&W), the presence of mycoplasma, in combination with other bacteria or viruses, is linked to respiratory problems in cattle such as Bovine Respiratory Disease. It can also lead to mastitis, arthritis and swollen legs in heifers ahead of calving. Therefore, it is important that mycoplasma is included in the serological investigation when screening cattle before turnout or when groups of calves are tested for BVD in beef herds. Recent data has shown that mycoplasma continues to be vastly spread across the UK, however, many herds are remaining mycoplasma free. RH&W chairman Nigel Miller urged farmers to find out the mycoplasma status of their herd to understand potential risks and plan disease management accordingly. “We must also remember that, although we often experience coughing in housed calves and feeding cattle, it isn’t inevitable. Even if clinical pneumonia is avoided, coughs signal the loss of performance in the herd,” he cautioned. ...