Removing breeding material is the foundation of fly control, says Roger Moon, entomologist. And spring is the time to get ahead of the fly population. If flies gain a foothold on the dairy, animals and their caretakers will pay the price as the summer wears on. Source: Dairy Herd Management, April 13, 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: Now is a great time to remind producers how to … [Read more...]
Manage dry cows to reduce future mastitis
Two important factors related to dry cow management include proper procedures for drying off cows and a clean, dry environment. Turning them out with limited oversight doesn’t optimize the dry off resting period. Amber Yutzy with Penn State Extension presents the importance of proactive management of this stage in dairy cows’ life. Source: Dairy Herd Management, October … [Read more...]
Down cow dos and don’ts
Shaw Perrin, DVM, offers advice on how to best assist down cows, along with some practices to avoid. His dos and don’ts list provides a good outline for educating dairy teams on farm or sharing on social media or in newsletters. Down cows require immediate attention with assistance from a trained rescue team. Source: Dairy Herd Management, April 5, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Calves and flies don’t have to coexist
Calves are a popular target for fly breeding grounds because their bedding and feed are perfect havens for flies to multiply en masse. Entomologist Roger Moon and dairy producer Merri Post shared experiences and ideas about reducing flies and their impact on herd health. Source: Dairy Herd Management, April 12, 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: For salespersons and veterinary teams, … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 11, 2021
Ionophores help control coccidiosis and more Source: Dairy Herd Management, March 4, 2021. Link. Ionophores promote calf health and performance through a combination of disease control and improved feed efficiency. They also have shown numerous benefits in dry, transition, and lactating cow rations. 5 signs indicate the time to consult a professional obedience … [Read more...]
Drafting heifer contracts that stick
Many handshake agreements have blown up over misunderstandings on what was said or what was agreed upon. Penn State University dairy Extension specialists recommend a full contract that sets a comprehensive fee for the grower to raise heifers for a specific length of time. Well-written legal contracts protect both parties in a business relationship by laying out the terms and … [Read more...]
Detecting transition cow problems
Overall production problems can usually be traced back to a cow’s dry/transition period. Virginia A. Ishler says it is helpful to know if that is really the issue before solving the problem. She shares information from the DHIA 202 summary report to help determine if a problem is occurring related to transition. Source: Dairy Herd Management, June 8, 2020. Link. If two out … [Read more...]
Knowing why a cow is culled is important
Think about it! Was the cow culled voluntarily or non-voluntarily? While both affect cull rate calculations, voluntary is a proactive decision; non-voluntary is a reactive decision. There are opportunities for herd management improvements that increase potential revenue and profits In the nuances. Source: Dairy Herd Management, October 30, 2021. Link. Evaluating the … [Read more...]
75 days to prep for calving
Say what?! It’s time to plan for calving season as the first of the 2021 crop will start dropping around March 1. Greg Henderson provides tips to help producers prepare: Assess the body condition of your cows and heifers Review the herd health plan Conduct an inspection of your calving facilities to make sure everything is in working order Check your calving … [Read more...]
Animal welfare through an animal activist’s eyes
Dairy farmers met an activist during a recent Dairy Cattle Welfare Council webinar. Taylor Leach reports on the discussion, including the biggest three concerns from activists’ point of view: Individual calf housing Tie-stall barns Bull calf treatment Source: Dairy Herd Management, December 2, 2020. Link. Being aware of what animal welfare is – that it’s going … [Read more...]
Role of veterinarians, nutritionists changing on dairies
University of Kentucky Extension professionals say the role of veterinarians in the dairy industry is everchanging. The size and sophistication of dairies has reduced the hands-on need for exams and treatments. Now veterinarians play an intrinsic role in establishing protocols, especially as they relate to treatments with antibiotics, pain management and training farm employees … [Read more...]
Floor resurfacing reminder
Providing confident, non-skid footing for dairy cattle is vital to their health, performance, and well-being and is one of the basic elements required in any dairy housing system. Dan McFarland discusses various surfaces and the importance of stable footing for cows. Source: Dairy Herd Management, May 26, 2020. Link. Reconditioning flooring surfaces cattle use may seem like … [Read more...]
Free water necessary for rumen development
It’s challenging to feed water to young dairy calves in the freezing months of winter, but it’s also highly important. And, the earlier calves get access to free water the better! Milk or milk replacer does not constitute free water, because it bypasses the rumen and reticulum and travels straight to the abomasum via the esophageal groove, which is active in calves until about … [Read more...]
Detecting heat in high production cows
High producing cows exhibit fewer overall standing events, coupled with a high proportion of heat periods classified as short duration and low intensity. This makes the practice of using tail paint rubs less precise. Joseph C Dalton discusses milk production specifically from the many factors that influence mounting and standing activity. Source: Dairy Herd Management, … [Read more...]
Diagnostics important with bloody calf scours
Treating calf scours requires more than a one-approach-fits-all treatment plan. Keith Poulsen asserts that the source of calf scours changes over time. He cites three main causes of calf scours and presents the importance of diagnostics to sort out whether the cause is a bacteria, virus or parasite. Source: Dairy Herd Management, May 10, 2019. Link. Poulsen identifies these … [Read more...]
Calves: Start them off right
How calves are fed and managed can affect their lifelong health and productivity. The Dairy Herd editors cover four early life areas to help calves now and throughout their lives: Tips to improve colostrum What to provide for calves so they can perform Keep scours down when feeding volumes go up Feeding transition milk; another tool in the toolbox Source: Dairy … [Read more...]
Infection control. Back to basics.
Commentary What? Again? Yes, absolutely! The topic of infection control and disinfection products, protocols and methods dominated media and discussions starting in February 2020. Medical and veterinary hospitals hurried to update protocols, train staff and implement checks and balances to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission. Through all the confusion, animal health … [Read more...]
Warm beer = bad vaccine?
Monitoring the performance of refrigeration units is critical to vaccines and pharmaceuticals labeled for temperature control. Older units may develop inconsistent temperature zones with items freezing in one area and getting too warm in another. The context for the article is dairy, but almost any veterinary clinic or on-farm drug storage area can have the issues shared in … [Read more...]
Don’t kiss the calves.
We’ve featured more than a few posts about not kissing chickens. The same caution applies to calves. According to Jeff Bender, DVM, MS, DACVPM, the Centers for Disease Control reported 59 disease outbreaks tied to animal contact in 2017. Of these, 25 were linked to farm livestock and 15 to poultry. Source: Dairy Herd Management, September 14, 2020. Link. The zoonotic … [Read more...]
Rats on the rise during the pandemic?
Researchers at three universities indicate the number of people reporting rat sightings has increased since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Citing past examples, researchers share that rat populations increase after natural catastrophes. Source: Dairy Herd Management, August 31, 2020. Link. The two most common rats found in the United States are Norway and Black rats. Both … [Read more...]
Lameness prevention starts in the heifer pen
At least two of the “famous five” causes of lameness; foot rot, digital dermatitis (DD), sole ulcers, white line lesions and toe lesions can have their origins in the heifer lot, according to Nigel Cook. Heel warts and toe lesions can start early. Providing the right environment early in life will help to prevent the hoof diseases and mechanical issues that can otherwise … [Read more...]
Hutches can contribute to calves’ heat stress
Producers who raise preweaned dairy calves frequently use calf hutches. For all their advantages, their lack of climate control makes heat stress monitoring and prevention important. Jud Heinrichs and Colleen Jones write about how high temperatures, excessive humidity and the sun take a toll on calves. Air movement, moisture, hair coat, bedding and rumination activity are … [Read more...]
Body condition score still impacts reproduction success
Okay, we know this right? Paul Fricke and Milo Wiltbank reemphasized the BCS story at a recent, virtual Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference. According to the article, success with artificial insemination is so high that when conception rates decline, the tendency is to adjust the AI protocols. The data shows BCS is the first place to look. We have good … [Read more...]
Be sure you’re welcomed on the farm
As farmers and ranchers work to ensure employee and family safety from Covid-19, angst may be elevated for some. A recent Farm Journal survey shows 45 percent of them have reservations about allowing reps on their farms. Thirty six percent are not concerned. Source: Dairy Herd Management, July 13, 2020. Link. Which of the following would you require to allow input suppliers … [Read more...]
Cows and second careers
Cull cow weight and cull cow price are two of the more important factors in dairy herd profitability. However, prioritizing cull cow weight first without calculating the cost of gain may cost producers more than the value they receive. Source: Dairy Herd Management, June 22, 2020. Link. Selectively feeding cows that are thin (BCS less than 3), but still healthy and mobile, … [Read more...]
Dang those flies!
Flies are a nasty nuisance. Whether on the farm, acreage or in the backyard, they are an insidious challenge for animal owners and people alike. It’s summer. When the temperatures go up, fly numbers rapidly increase. If not controlled, adult flies continue to lay eggs and increase the fly population. Managing larvae and adult flies should be a continuous process. Every … [Read more...]
Dairy topics: Milk fever, dry cows, inbreeding, heat stress, sperm dose
Here are worthwhile topics to discuss with dairy producers during National Dairy Month. Veterinarians and direct-to-dairy representatives often find a third-party article opens the door to discussions beyond normal dialogues and details. The pandemic has taught us the importance of educational communications. Share these in person, on social media or in … [Read more...]
Dairy topics: cow lying time, evaluating colostrum and virtual dairy tours
Keeping cows resting, improving measurements for failure of passive transfer and preparations for June Dairy Month are all actionable topics for animal health pros working with dairy producers. The Undeniably Dairy educational resources may interest people in your networks who plan to extend home education during summer. Take a few minutes to watch this virtual tour. < … [Read more...]
Hand hygiene is an EVERYDAY practice
We should know this, right? Ginger Fenton shares handwashing reasoning for dairy farms, but her message is a One Health message, too. Developing and implementing hygienic practices can be beneficial for all involved in protecting humans from diseases carried by animals and the reverse as farmers protect their animals from diseases that are spread by humans. Source: Dairy Herd … [Read more...]
Somatic cell counts spike in spring
Bacterial and somatic cell counts are used by dairy farmers and processors as indicators of milk quality. In general, the higher the counts, the lower the milk quality. Warm, wet spring weather provides the perfect opportunity for bacteria to breed and wreak havoc on milk quality. In order to stay ahead of a springtime spike, producers should focus on cow comfort, cow … [Read more...]