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Bovine coronavirus commonly found in calf respiratory screenings
There may be a link between respiratory infection and intestinal infection.
MSD says coronavirus needs to be taken seriously by vets and cattle industry.

Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) has become the most common virus found in routine screenings conducted during calf respiratory disease outbreaks, UK studies have shown.

Calf serology on 59 UK farms with history of respiratory disease issues between 2021 and 2022 revealed that 91.5 per cent of samples were positive for BCoV.

Calf respiratory disease is considered to be widespread, and has been highlighted as a critical area for overuse of antibiotics. MSD Animal Health say that there is an under use of vaccination in the UK cattle sector.

There are also concerns that there may be a link between respiratory infection and intestinal infection, as the virus is produced in the respiratory tract and then swallowed with excess mucus generated by the infection.

Speaking at the National Youngstock Conference, Dr Kat Baxter-Smith from MSD Animal Health UK called for veterinary practitioners and the UK cattle industry to take bovine coronavirus more seriously, just as human health experts changed their mindset during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr Baxter-Smith said: “While BCoV is a relatively well-known cause of neonatal calf diarrhoea – and the same virus as the respiratory variant – its role and impact in calf pneumonia has been less well defined. However, our latest diagnostic data certainly shows its overwhelming presence during calf respiratory disease outbreaks in the UK”

She added that BCoV is frequently isolated against other respiratory disease pathogens, such as BRSV, M. haemolytica, Pi3 and M. bovis, which may suggest interplay between the organisms.

Dr Baxter-Smith continued: “Research has already shown that BCoV infection disturbs the protective mucus lining of the thoracic tract. It may therefore be that BCoV ‘open the doors’ for the other viral and bacterial pathogens to establish themselves and cause disease.

“Whilst the pathogenicity of BCoV within the BRD complex remains an unknown quantity, its ubiquitous presence in the UK cattle population – and the recent human experience of coronavirus as a significant respiratory pathogen – suggests the need for some re-evaluation.”

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

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News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."