CalfScan

Functionality & Mechanism

CalfScan provides a graphical interface for the systematic storage and evaluation of calf lung ultrasonography results. The system is designed to implement the thoracic ultrasound scoring methodology described by Dr. Terri Ollivett. The interface facilitates the entry of findings based on a systematic lung examination, generating standardized scores to track subclinical and clinical respiratory disease over time. This structured data capture enables longitudinal monitoring of lung health within a herd and assists in executing health management protocols.

Evidence & Research Context

• A longitudinal cohort study of preweaned dairy calves (N=233) demonstrated that lung consolidation identified via ultrasound was associated with significantly lower average daily gain (0.73 kg/d vs. 0.85 kg/d).
• The same cohort study supported the use of a simplified 2-level ultrasound score (presence/absence of consolidation) as a practical method for identifying at-risk calves on-farm.
• A prospective validation study (N=25) established the high diagnostic accuracy of the underlying method, thoracic ultrasound, with 94% sensitivity and 100% specificity for detecting lung lesions compared to postmortem examination.
• Associated research advocates for routine thoracic ultrasonography to monitor herd-level respiratory health, noting the low sensitivity of producer-based visual diagnosis for subclinical disease.

Intended Use & Scope

This system is intended for veterinarians and trained farm personnel for the surveillance and management of bovine respiratory disease in preweaned calves. Its primary utility is as a data capture and scoring tool to standardize lung health assessments. CalfScan facilitates diagnosis but does not replace a comprehensive clinical examination, which is required for definitive management decisions.