Salmonella infection in cattle causes acute and potentially fatal disease with significant welfare consequences, particularly in young calves, while also representing a major food safety and zoonotic disease concern.
Salmonellosis causes some of the most severe acute welfare compromise seen in cattle medicine. Affected calves deteriorate rapidly from initial lethargy and fever through profuse and painful diarrhoea to profound dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and shock within 24-48 hours. The multi-system nature of severe Salmonella Dublin — causing septicaemia, joint infection, and respiratory disease alongside enteritis — means that survivors often face prolonged recovery with ongoing pain and impaired function. Because the disease progresses rapidly, daily monitoring of calf health is critical to enable prompt treatment before the welfare window closes. Biosecurity measures that reduce contamination — thorough cleaning and disinfection between calf batches, isolation of sick calves, clean water supply, and vaccination — prevent the welfare burden of disease from accumulating in herds where Salmonella has established.