Issues with airflow and fresh air in some cattle houses have cropped up over recent weeks due to the mild weather.

Fresh air is brilliant at killing bacteria and viruses particularly the ones that cause pneumonia. Animals that don’t have this fresh air are more at risk of stress and also the bacteria and viruses prefer these humid conditions.

Farmers should look at maximising fresh air at stock level in mild conditions - this can mean just keeping doors and sheds as open as possible. Long term, adaptations to control airflow such as netting or removing some side sheeting or replacing with stock boarding are options.

It is not just pneumonia that has been causing problems, with clinical mastitis in dairy herds spiking on some farms and more reports of scalds in sheep and infectious lameness in cattle. Airflow also helps keep sheds dry. With mild weather comes a build up of moisture and these damp conditions are exactly right for the bacteria that can cause lameness and mastitis.

Always keep an eye on long term forecasts when managing stock indoors.