Calf Lung Scanning: A Smart Investment in Your Herd’s Future

By James Marsden BVSc DBR MRCVS, Veterinary Surgeon, Director at Shropshire Farm Vets Ltd

Pneumonia remains one of the most significant challenges in calf rearing, with long-lasting impacts that extend far beyond the initial illness. Even in well-managed herds, it can silently undermine productivity and profitability. Calf lung scanning is an innovative and effective tool that helps identify respiratory disease before it becomes clinically obvious — offering farmers the opportunity to act earlier, treat more effectively, and ultimately rear stronger, more productive heifers.

The Hidden Cost of Pneumonia

Pneumonia doesn’t just make calves ill — it stunts growth, reduces feed efficiency, and delays development. These effects are particularly damaging for replacement heifers, where poor early growth can compromise mammary gland development and reduce yields during first lactation. Alarmingly, research shows that only around 35% of calves with pneumonia show clinical signs, meaning a large proportion of disease goes unnoticed and untreated until it's too late.

Lung Scanning: Early Detection, Better Outcomes

Lung scanning uses ultrasound technology to detect lung lesions before calves show symptoms. This early detection is crucial because it allows treatment before irreversible lung damage occurs, significantly improving recovery outcomes. By targeting only affected calves, lung scanning ensures more precise use of antibiotics, supporting better antimicrobial stewardship on farm.

The Benefits for Growth, Fertility and Milk Production

Calves treated promptly for pneumonia experience less weight loss and better growth rates, meaning they reach key targets for breeding and calving sooner. Heifers that are heavier at bulling age not only calve earlier but also tend to have improved milk production in their first lactation. Ultimately, this contributes to better lifetime performance and more profitable animals.

Data-Driven Prevention

In addition to guiding individual treatments, lung scanning provides valuable insights at herd level. By tracking the percentage of affected calves and the age at which they're affected, farmers can identify specific management or environmental factors contributing to pneumonia outbreaks. This enables more targeted improvements to housing, nutrition, or colostrum management to prevent disease in future groups.

Economic Value: Prevention is Profitable

The long-term cost of pneumonia is significant. Studies suggest that a heifer with irreversible lung damage can cost between £500 and £1500 due to increased age at first calving and reduced milk yields. By using lung scanning to detect and treat pneumonia earlier, farmers can avoid these losses — turning what may seem like an extra task into a smart investment for the herd’s future.

In Summary

Calf lung scanning is a proactive, evidence-based approach to youngstock health that supports:

• Earlier and more accurate treatment of pneumonia
• Improved growth and development
• Higher future milk yields
• Reduced antibiotic use
• Better-informed management decisions

By identifying and addressing pneumonia before it causes lasting damage, lung scanning helps build a healthier, more productive herd — and a more profitable farm.

Watch Lung Scanning practical demonstrations at UK Dairy Day at Telford on Wednesday 10th September at 10.00am, 11.30am and 1.00pm in Hall 3 Foyer.

Visit the Shropshire Farm Vets website

 

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