Calf Respiratory Disease and Pen Microenvironments in Naturally Ventilated Calf Barns in Winter

摘要

Dairy operators have constructed naturally ventilated barns with individual pens to house calves from birth to weaning. These barns vary in terms of construction materials, stocking density, pen enclosures, bedding, and operation of sidewall openingsand ridges. Endemic calf pneumonia is common in these barns, particularly through the winter months. We investigated the use of airborne bacteria counts to characterize naturally ventilated calf bams and pens, and examined the relationship between airborne bacterial counts, various pen factors, and calf respiratory health.