With the arrival of cold weather comes the increased threat of bovine respiratory disease (BRD), or calfhood pneumonia, that often comes with it. Having a plan to prevent, diagnose and treat this common yet serious disease is key to help protect your dairy’s future.

There is no doubting that colostrum management is essential in early life to achieve transfer of passive immunity. In fact, if calves achieve passive immunity, they will have a lower risk of developing diarrhea.

If bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a challenge on your dairy, you’re not alone. BRD remains the number two killer of pre-weaned calves and is the primary cause of death in weaned calves.

If the wide array of mycotoxins present in our dairy feed can have such an extreme impact on cow health and production, then we can assume they can also impact the growth, performance and health of calves and heifers.

Custom calf ranches and heifer growers are becoming more common as dairy farmers look to alleviate pressure with feed and labor. According to the 2014 NAHMS, approximately 35% of heifers in the U.S. are raised at locations off the farm where they were born.

Adequate colostrum; a dry, clean environment; and effective navel care are essential to setting dairy-beef calves up for success. Supplying healthy calves can help farms stay competitive in today’s market.

While a “good enough” mindset might work in some areas, it does not work in the calf program, where clear protocols are key to achieving excellence.

Most producers know that calfhood pneumonia, or bovine respiratory disease (BRD), is one of the leading health concerns impacting calves on even the best-managed dairies. The disease challenges young calves face when they are most vulnerable can have lifelong productivity and profitability implications.