Joint ill in newborn calves is a bacterial infection causing joint inflammation and pain, largely preventable through adequate colostrum feeding and good hygiene at calving.
Joint ill causes significant and prolonged pain in affected calves. Swollen, infected joints are acutely painful and may become chronically debilitating without rapid intervention. Prevention is far more effective than treatment and centers on ensuring passive immunity through timely high-quality colostrum feeding. Good calving hygiene, prompt umbilical disinfection, and clean calving environments dramatically reduce incidence. Producers should track and audit joint ill rates as a key welfare indicator. Early antibiotic treatment under veterinary guidance improves prognosis.