Extension Service veterinarians are urging cattle producers to
include prevention in their branding and turnout calf
vaccination programs. Drought conditions prevail, so short
supplies of grass and water are of major concern to producers.
Sick calves only make the situation worse. Producers often refer
to these calves as having dust pneumonia. “Dust pneumonia really
doesn’t exist,” says North Dakota State University Extension
Service veterinarian Charlie Stoltenow. “Dust does not cause
pneumonia, but it does add to the total stress suffered by an
animal during drought conditions. If a calf died due to ‘dust
pneumonia,’ it actually died from bovine respiratory disease, or
BRD complex.” Each year BRD complex costs U.S. producers about
$500 million. Most cases of BRD occur during the fall months,
when calves come off range and pasture, and are weaned and put
into feedlots. However, during years of intense stress early in
a calf’s life, pneumonia can occur when it is on pasture.
“Producers need to start thinking