Developing a Practical On-Farm Tool to Assess Calf Health Under Poor Air Quality Conditions

Commodities

Practices

Poor air quality from on-farm activities and increasing wildfire-related air pollution in the western United States poses a growing threat to dairy calf health and long-term herd productivity. Coarse and fine particulate matter are associated with respiratory inflammation, reduced lung function, impaired growth, and increased morbidity in pre-weaned calves. Despite growing evidence of these impacts, dairy producers lack practical, evidence-based decision-support tools that link air quality conditions directly to calf health outcomes. The goal of this project is to develop a practical, low-cost calf health monitoring tool that integrates animal-based indicators with air quality measurements to support timely management decisions during poor air quality events. The study will be conducted on two commercial dairies in Idaho and Washington. Pre-weaned calves (0-60 days old) will be monitored for respiratory rate, rectal temperature, and standardized health scores alongside continuous measurements of particulate matter, ambient air temperature, and relative humidity. Statistical modeling will be used to identify air quality thresholds associated with meaningful changes in calf health indicators. Project outcomes will include a producer-friendly monitoring rubric that translates research findings into clear, actionable guidance for on-farm use. Designed especially for producers, this tool provides calf health thresholds linked to air quality, enabling them to take action only when necessary to protect herd health and profitability. Extension and outreach activities, including fact sheets, blog posts, and an in-person workshop, will promote adoption and strengthen producer capacity to mitigate air quality-related risks, enhancing the long-term sustainability and resilience of western dairy systems.

Research Objectives

• Quantify the relationship between particulate matter exposure and calf health indicators (respiratory rate, rectal temperature, and standardized health scores) in pre-weaned dairy calves.
• Identify air quality thresholds associated with meaningful changes in calf health indicators.

Educational Objectives

• Develop a producer-friendly calf health monitoring rubric linking air quality metrics to calf-based clinical indicators to provide an evidence-based calf health-air quality threshold categories that can serve as early-warning indicators for on-farm decision-making.

• Provide clear decision-support guidance to help producers determine when management adjustments are warranted during poor air quality events.