The Condition and Welfare

Enzootic pneumonia is considered by the Farm Animal Welfare Council to be one of the main causes of early deaths in calves in the UK, and is a major animal welfare concern in dairy herds (FAWC, 1998). The fact that many respiratory problems can be avoided by good management adds to the need to tackle enzootic pneumonia problems if they exist in organic cattle herds.

Isolation of affected calves, effective treatment with antibiotics and supportive therapy and provision of dry and warm conditions are vital in the treatment, in order to avoid further suffering. The treatment of in-contact animals with antibiotics to prevent further spread of the disease in an outbreak is acceptable if the veterinarian recommends this. The need for prophylactic antibiotic therapy is, however, diminished if a good isolation facility exists and is used immediately at the first signs of disease.