Producers are being urged to monitor livestock closely during hazy days as we've had in the Portage la Prairie area for several days due to wildfire smoke.
Saint Claude-based veterinarian Marc Philippot with the Saint Claude Veterinary Clinic says there is no formal alert or advisory from Manitoba’s livestock authorities regarding smoke exposure in cattle, but he confirms it is a concern that vets are watching.
“As a veterinarian, of course it's something that we keep watching because it is certainly a stressor on cattle and it can lead to creating other secondary problems like, say, pneumonia and such.”
Philippot says prolonged exposure to smoky conditions can weaken cattle by reducing appetite and activity.
“The cattle aren't moving around much or eating well… and then they become more susceptible to other infections… because of that as a stressor.”
While some producers have mentioned concerns about pneumonia, he says there haven’t been direct calls to his clinic about smoke-related illness.
“We haven't heard anything in our area… I think if they did see something, most likely they probably aren't associating it with that at the moment.”
Still, he agrees there could be a link between the current conditions and elevated risk.
“There is obviously an effect of something.”
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