Llindir

Project aims:

• To improve daily liveweight gains and profitability of the intensive indoor calf rearing enterprise by determining the true extent of Pneumonia cases in young calves.
• The individual examination process will determine the Pneumonia score of each animal, which will reduce use of antibiotics, along with early detection of Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD). This should also help detect mildly infected calves which currently go undetected and therefore do not perform as well in terms of daily liveweight gains.
• The use of a probiotic added to milk as a method of reducing dependence on antibiotics through preventative measures rather than treatment will also be evaluated.
• Significant gains to the prevalence of pneumonia have been made through improved building design and small changes to management and the use of probiotics are regarded as additions to further reduce the problem. Other environmental modifications to be completed include installing positive ventilation systems.
• Calves will be weighed at arrival on farm, weaning and sale in order to monitor growth during the project.