Pneumonia is the leading cause of calf mortality after the neonatal period, causing significant suffering and substantial economic losses in dairy enterprises.
Calf pneumonia causes acute suffering characterised by fever, laboured breathing, nasal discharge, and depressed demeanour. Calves showing respiratory distress are in pain and distress, and early intervention is both a welfare and economic imperative. Chronic lung damage in recovered calves causes long-term welfare compromise and reduced production performance. Prevention through vaccination, colostrum management, and above all housing and ventilation improvements represents the most impactful welfare strategy. The frequency and severity of calf pneumonia outbreaks on many farms reflects systemic management failures that must be addressed as welfare priorities rather than normal production costs.