Fog fever is not an uncommon condition in adult beef cattle this time of year. It is often sudden in onset and can be a cause of sudden death affecting a significant number of mature cows. It has nothing to do with “fog,” it is linked to nutrition not infection, and body temperature in affected cattle is typically normal unless associated with exertion and breathing difficulties.
Fog fever is one of the common names for a specific pneumonia of adult cattle, scientifically known as acute bovine pulmonary emphysema and edema (ABPEE). A related condition called atypical interstitial pneumonia (AIP) occurs in feedlot cattle.