Acta Vet. Brno 2024, 93: 19-36
Long-term monitoring of environmental risk factors for bovine respiratory disease complex in different dairy calf rearing conditions
Bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) is still one of the most challenging problems in calf rearing, therefore identification and continuous real-time monitoring of contributing environmental factors might play a role in mitigation of the damage caused by the disease. Microclimatic variables (temperature, relative humidity, air velocity, airborn particles expressed in particulate matter [PM], aerial germ load and gaseous pollutants) of a conventional calf barn and outdoor placed small-group hutches with pens were real-time monitored in a dairy herd by mounted sensors from summer to winter. Among the risk factors for BRDC, the small-group outdoor rearing units were characterized by high relative humidity, air velocity, and PM2.5 particulate matter concentration. Although the conventional calf barn was poorly ventilated, most variables were more favourable than expected, in which proper farm management may have played a role. We were able to identify long term and intraday periods with limit-breaking values, daily fluctuations as well as specific patterns of individual indicators in different calf husbandry environments. Based on obtained data, contributing technological processes may be reviewed and the effect of changes can be monitored under farm conditions. In addition, assessment of prevailing microclimatic conditions os also possible before investing in modernization of calf rearing units.
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Funding
The research was financed by the EFOP-3.6.2-16-20017-00012 project.
