Practical tips for managing and minimising calf pneumonia

Calf pneumonia is a common respiratory disease in youngstock, significantly impacting growth, productivity and farm profitability.

In this blog, we share key insights from Galebreaker’s recent webinar, where animal welfare specialist Chloe Rodriguez and youngstock expert Kat Hart from The George Veterinary Group provide practical tips to help safeguard calf health.

Quick tips for preventing calf pneumonia

• Keep shed moisture levels low to prevent bacterial growth
• Maintain optimal temperatures, particularly during the first four weeks of a calf’s life
• Use calf jackets, heaters, and adequate nutrition to protect against cold stress
• Ensure good ventilation with natural airflow or Positive Pressure Tube Ventilation (PPTV)
• Deep clean sheds and feeding equipment regularly
• Vaccinate calves early and consult your vet for tailored health plans

Creating a healthy shed environment

Insights from Chloe Rodriguez, Galebreaker

“Good ventilation and a well-designed shed can transform calf health, reducing the risk of pneumonia and improving immunity from the start,” explains Chloe. She highlights how environmental factors, from airflow to housing design, play a critical role in minimising disease risks.

Ventilation: the key to air quality

Good ventilation in calf sheds reduces pathogens and moisture buildup, ensuring clean air. Natural ventilation can work in some setups, but calves don’t generate enough heat to sustain airflow.

• PPTV systems: These draw fresh air to calf height and provide consistent airflow. Chloe recommends 4 air changes per hour in cooler conditions and up to 60 in warmer climates.

Discover Galebreaker’s PPTV systems

Managing moisture and temperature

High moisture levels increase bacterial growth and cold stress. Maintaining a dry, temperature-controlled environment ensures calves conserve energy for growth and immunity.

• Dry sheds: Use heaters and tools like side curtains to control moisture.
• Temperature protection: Use calf jackets and ensure adequate nutrition to prevent cold stress.

Explore Galebreaker’s VVS side curtain systems to optimise the climate within calf buildings

Housing design for better airflow

Chloe emphasises that good shed design is the foundation of a healthy environment. Key features include:

• Outlets: Ridge openings should help remove warm, moist air while preventing precipitation entry.
• Inlets: Side curtains and ventilated cladding bring in fresh air without creating draughts at calf level.
• Roof slopes: Slopes of 17–22 degrees with fibre cement will reduce moisture.
• Placement: Align sheds perpendicular to prevailing winds and space them 30 meters apart from other livestock buildings.

All-in, all-out management

Chloe also recommends an ‘all-in, all-out’ system, where calves enter and leave as a group.

 “This allows for thorough cleaning and rest between groups, reducing the risk of disease spread across batches,” she explains.

Building calf immunity and reducing risk factors

Insights from Kat Hart, George Vet Group

“Building strong immunity starts with proactive management – nutrition, vaccination, and hygiene all play a role in reducing pneumonia risks,” says Kat Hart, veterinarian and youngstock expert at George Vet Group.

Kat’s advice focuses on practical steps to support calf health and minimise exposure to pathogens.

Temperature and moisture control

Calves are highly susceptible to pneumonia in the first weeks of life. Kat recommends:

• Calf jackets: Rotate and clean regularly at 60 degrees.
• Heaters: Retrofit older sheds or install in new builds.

Hygiene to reduce disease spread

Clean environments reduce pathogen survival and spread:

• Annual deep cleans: Leave sheds empty for two weeks to dry.
• Equipment cleaning: Disinfect feeding buckets and troughs.
• Foot dips: Minimise contamination, and limit calf-cow interaction.

Calf Nutrition

• Nutrition: Feed high-quality milk in sufficient volumes.
• Gradual weaning: Prevent immunity crashes, especially in accelerated feeding programs.

Stocking density and group management

Proper stocking density ensures air quality and limits disease transmission:

• One calf per three square meters is the standard
• Keep age gaps within two weeks per pen.

Vaccination and early detection

Vaccinations are an essential part of pneumonia prevention. Kat advises:

• Intranasal vaccines: Suitable for pre-weaned calves from birth.
• Injectable vaccines: Extended protection for post-weaned calves.
• Lung scanning: Detect pneumonia early to avoid long-term productivity losses.

Take action against calf pneumonia

Small, consistent changes can lead to big improvements in calf health.

For more details on how to manage and minimise the risk of calf pneumonia, contact our expert team or watch the webinar in full on our YouTube channel