By Lucy Hepworth
Mycoplasma Bovis is most diagnosed in calf pneumonia. It is often suspected when cattle do not respond very well to treatment. It can also cause ear infections resulting in a head tilt, and in older animals maybe the cause of recurrent mastitis.
Cows infected with mycoplasma (usually asymptomatic carriers) will spread the bacteria across the vagina, eyes, nose and milk. This explains why snatch calving, pasteurisation of colostrum and milk replacer play a role in reducing transmission to calves.
Mycoplasma is more likely to cause pneumonia when there are concurrent pneumonia viruses.
70% of the calf immunity starts in the gut, so pneumonia is a common consequence to scour issues.
To read the full newsletter please go to our Monthly Newsletters page.
