By Brock Ortner
Wildfires occurring in western and central Nebraska mirror a broader trend of increasing wildfire frequency and magnitude across the western United States. While the immediate impacts of wildfire are devastating to beef production and rural communities, the effects of wildfire smoke may also pose risks to both human and animal health. In the weeks and months following a wildfire event, producers should remain vigilant and monitor calves for signs of respiratory disease or illness.
Combustion of biomass during wildfires produces carbon dioxide and water vapor but also generates ash, a mixture of inorganic compounds. Of particular concern is ultrafine particulate matter (< 2.5 µm), which can travel deep into the lung alveoli and enter the bloodstream. In humans, these particles have been associated with inflammation and oxidative stress.
Limited research has examined wildfire smoke exposure in cattle. However, work conducted by Ranches and others (2026) in a small group of Simmental × Jersey calves reported increased concentrations of cortisol, an indicator of stress, following exposure to smoke from a wildfire approximately 10 miles away from the study site. In the same study, concentrations of ceruloplasmin, a marker of systemic inflammation, were elevated following the wildfire event. Antibodies including IgM and IgA were also increased, suggesting activation of the immune system.
Source : unl.edu