New nutrition recommendations published in the Annals of Internal Medicine < link > say that red and processed meats are not bad for us, contradicting current guidelines. A panel of 14 persons working in various fields related to nutrition used a research approach that rates the certainty of the evidence. They focused on the absolute risk rather than the relative risk of … [Read more...]
Mastitis hurts
Pain recognition and mastitis were discussed recently at the 2019 Total Dairy Seminar. Dr. Jim Reynolds, professor at Western University in California, outlined the welfare aspects of mastitis and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories to reduce pain caused by a mastitis infection. Learn what behavioral changes Dr. Reynolds identified that indicate a cow is experiencing … [Read more...]
Long-term effects of postpartum clinical disease in dairy cows
Researchers continue to study various effects of postpartum clinical disease to dairy production. The transition period will make or break a lactation and quite possibly the entire productive life of a cow. Considering the performance of a dairy cow over several years and lactations makes disease incidents during her production lifetime important considerations. A recent … [Read more...]
Opinion – Addressing push-back on cows, emissions, planet benefits (video)
Our September 3, 2019 post, Cows really do benefit the planet! < link > ruffled some readers’ feathers. Each day our industry understands more about the impact we have on animals, food resources, the planet and, of course, human beings. In those posts, we offered information that debunks the 2006 United Nations claim that cattle were the greatest contributors to … [Read more...]
Burdock plants and cows don’t mix
Eye problems in livestock can be caused by foreign material. One of the more challenging problems is burdock slivers, according to Heather Smith Thomas. A tenacious and invasive weed, burdock is readily spread to new areas by burrs stuck to animals or clothing. When ripe, the burrs release hundreds of microscopic barbed slivers that contain tiny seeds. If a sliver gets into an … [Read more...]
Beef bulls + dairy cows can compromise milk production
Unable to return a surplus of female calves, dairies are assertively seeking to breed and sell surplus calves for meat production. However, many strongly antagonistic traits associated with calving performance and carcass merit can be detrimental to the cows’ ability to calve and re-establish pregnancy early postcalving without any compromise in milk production. Researchers … [Read more...]
New foot-and-mouth disease vaccine granted license by The Pirbright Institute
The Pirbright Institute has granted MSD Animal Health (known as Merck Animal Health in the U.S.) an exclusive commercial license for a new vaccine to protect livestock against several serotypes of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus. Offering greater stability than current FMD vaccines, it’s less reliant on a cold chain during distribution which is hugely beneficial in regions … [Read more...]
Cows really do benefit the planet!
People still think it’s cows that are causing climate change, writes Amanda Radke. She offers resources to help continue to offset the false 2006 claim made by the United Nations and marketing claims made by makers of of plant-food products. Source: BEEF, August 31, 2019. Link. INSIGHTS: More ammunition for meat vs. meatless diet debates. … [Read more...]
Rumen soup, a jigsaw of cow gut microbes
Agricultural Research Service scientists and their cooperators are using high tech tools to better understand the microbial "soup" of the cow's rumen. The rumen is the first of four stomach chambers where tough plant fibers are turned into nutrients and energy. Derek Bickhart, a research microbiologist, estimates there are more than 30,000 species of rumen-dwelling organisms. … [Read more...]
Boosting immunity in cattle may mean more productivity
Barry Bradford with Kansas State University presented new information from his study of immunometabolism at the American Society of Animal Scientists in July. He researched inflammatory responses during times of stress, especially those that impact on liver health. The interactions between normal organ function and the immune system are becoming much tighter than we used to … [Read more...]
Strategic deworming important to cattle management
“Controlling parasites is a proven practice to improve performance in all stages of cattle production while also giving a significant return on investment,” says Boehringer Ingelheim’s Joe Gillespie, DVM. He reinforces the importance of understanding parasite life cycles and strategic treatment to improve cattle performance in all stages of production. Source: Feedstuffs, … [Read more...]
Temperature-humidity index heavily affects dairies
Research from dairy scientist Sha Tao reveals two important takeaways about the negative impact of heat stress on milking cows and growth performance in dairy calves: When cows are exposed to a temperature-humidity index above 68, milk production levels begin to decrease Feeding large amounts of milk replacer twice per day, may not be a valid option to improve calf … [Read more...]
How-to videos educate dairy personnel
A series of how-to videos from Dairy Herd Management is available to help educate dairy personnel about key practices. Titles include: Culture to achieve a bacteriological cure Identify cows with mastitis Protect the cow after milking Properly attach milking units Prepare a cow for milking Get anovular cows pregnant Pay attention to injection … [Read more...]
Handle MLVs with care (includes video)
Modified-live vaccines must be handled and stored properly if they are to be efficacious. This article and a YouTube video cover basics that are helpful for newbies and old hands alike. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, July 3, 2019. Link. Incorrect storage, exposure to sunlight and delayed administration all can reduce or even eliminate the effectiveness of an MLV, cautioned New … [Read more...]
Plastic bags kill horses and cows
Single-use plastic bags can kill cows and horses if they eat them. Death can be slow or quick. Neither speed is pretty. The best bet is to not let them get loose in the first place. The second best bet is to pick up every one you see around corrals, stalls and pastures. Source: The Texas Tribune, August 14, 2019. Link. When West got to the pen, the colt had already swallowed … [Read more...]
Largest dairy locations shown in 2017 Ag Census
Serving the dairy industry is a big undertaking for animal health pros. The 2017 USDA Ag Census reported data on scores of ag statistics, including dairy cow inventory by county. For the first time, it included data on dairies with more than 5,000 cows. California and Idaho are tied with the most dairies with more than 5,000 cows. Texas has 25. Wisconsin and Minnesota rank … [Read more...]
DVM shares farm safety tips
Dairy veterinarian Kelly Reed reminds us how easily people can get hurt during routine farming activities. She promotes protocols to cover aspects a farmer may not typically consider. This includes when to treat a worker on-farm instead of calling emergency services and which supervisor to contact in off hours based on who can respond quickest to a specific location. In … [Read more...]
Hot topics in bovine veterinary medicine
Citing constant changes in bovine medicine, Brittany Bowman assembled past article on topics worthy of sharing again: Coccidiosis affecting young calves, Bovine Veterinarian, June 7, 2017. Link. Cattle rabies is no laughing matter, Bovine Veterinarian, November 12, 2018. Link. Prime the pump, Bovine Veterinarian, April 22, 2019. Link. “Purple gut” in calves can … [Read more...]
IPPC report does not say, “eat less meat” (includes video)
Recent media buzz (see second source below) claimed the newest Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPPC) suggested consumers eat less meat in order to curb climate change. The report < link > focused on land use and land use change, it didn’t tell consumers to eat less meat. Frank Mitloehner, UC Davis, says by focusing on eating less meat, consumers are being … [Read more...]
Teach aseptic technique in the kitchen, reduce salmonellosis
“The most formidable challenges of my veterinary career in food safety can be boiled down to the two primary foodborne pathogens of poultry: Salmonella and Campylobacter. I consider them my professional nemeses,” writes Foster Farms’ Robert O’Connor, DVM, MAM. He explains his approach to avoiding these pathogens in the kitchen. O’Connor reminds us that while chicken and other … [Read more...]
Ongoing training essential to animal welfare
Good animal care must become a habit and part of the culture, writes Dave Sjeklocha, DVM. Training workers and family members on animal handling and care has never been more important. Documenting this training equally important. And we must continue to train, retrain and redocument, he says. Dr. Sjeklocha recently reviewed recent activities by animal rights groups. He … [Read more...]
Heed OSHA heat stress requirements for dairies
Dairymen always worry about cows dropping milk production because of the heat, but may forget to keep workers cool, as well. Anna-Lisa Laca shares the Cal/OSHA rules for helping employees avoid heat stress when the temperature exceeds 80° F. Source: Milk, July 16, 2019. Link. Remember: When temperatures exceed 95 degrees, employers must implement "high heat" procedures, … [Read more...]
Boehringer Ingelheim introduces BVDVTracker.com
Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is an ongoing challenge facing the cattle industry. The virus often goes undiagnosed and the consequences are severe. To help producers address the challenges BI launched BVDVTracker.com. The website’s mission is to support veterinarians, producers and industry professionals in the control of BVDV. Source: Drovers, July 16, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
Lack of understanding of livestock production driving trends
According to market intelligence firm IRI, 57 percent of U.S. consumers are motivated to purchase products based on factors within social strategy and cultural alignment. Animal welfare certifications on packaging and companies that promote responsible production are moving rapidly to capitalize on the growing influence of millennial and Gen Z purchasing power. For … [Read more...]
Weaning basics keep calves healthy
Heather Smith Thomas is bringing a series of articles about ranch management basics to help educate those new to the beef industry and dust off the knowledge of long ime cattle producers. These basics are especially important as we seek to gain value from preconditioning programs. She reviews two lower-stress weaning methods: fence-line weaning and nose flaps. There are many … [Read more...]
Black vultures perplex cattlemen, sometimes kill newborn animals
Missouri cattlemen have drawn attention to a little known predatory behavior of black headed buzzards (aka Black Vulture). Even Audubon describes the perplexing behavior in their description of the bird, “. . . May kill and eat young of some birds, sea turtles; sometimes eats newborn young of larger mammals.” < link > The black vultures hang out primarily during calving … [Read more...]
Activity monitors pay on dairy operation
Using neck collar activity monitors to measure individual cows’ activity plus rumination has paid for Hardscrabble Dairy in Wisconsin. Instead of blanket health or reproductive protocols for all cows, producers can treat and breed each cow at the best time for it. Dairies can find considerable savings in health costs and labor with payback in less than 24 months. Source: … [Read more...]
CRISPR may add more humaneness to the livestock industry
Alison Van Eenennaam’s research may revolutionize how we select for preferable traits of livestock. The University of California – Davis animal scientist is using the gene editing process known as CRISPR < link > for a series of experiments, including helping cows deliver more male offspring. She sees her research as making changes in animals faster than producers can. … [Read more...]
Preconditioning STILL pays
Too many cow-calf producers still ignore the benefits of preconditioning. For as long as I can remember discussing cattle production health topics, pre-conditioning has been near the top of the list of economic factors. As animal health pros, we believe we’ve told the benefits to producers dozens of times. But, as with vaccination compliance, preconditioning is still not … [Read more...]
Assessing fat in colostrum
Kudos to the lab researchers who are digging into all the benefits of colostrum instead of just valuing colostrum by the level of colostral immunoglobulins. By studying herd data and a small test group they have concluded that fat, not protein, represents the primary energy source the cow packages into colostrum for the calf. The term fat broadly encompasses related compounds … [Read more...]