Sheila McGuirk, University of Wisconsin emeritus professor of veterinary medicine discussed clostridial disease during a recent Dairy Girl Network winter calf webinar. She explained that clostridial disease in calves almost always is caused by an overgrowth of Clostridium perfringens. She said calves sometimes die even before they develop diarrhea. If diarrhea does break, it … [Read more...]
Winter brings lousy conditions, literally
“Lice are the forgotten winter parasite,” Jerry Bertoldo said. “They tend to ‘bloom’ during the initial surge of cold weather. Lice will be more obvious after calves are weaned, although their exposure may have happened as early as the calving pen,” he said. Source: Dairy Herd Management, November 10, 2016. Bertoldo said visual diagnosis of lice is challenging because they … [Read more...]
Robotics make milking easier in Kansas dairy
A Palmer, Kansas, family dairy operation spent five years researching robotics and deployed a system a year ago. Duane Meier reflects on the positive results of the effort. Source: Dairy Herd Management, October 21, 2016. Now, six people are taking care of 720 cows with more time to actually manage the cows and take care of 600 acres of crops. Milk production increases are … [Read more...]
50th World Dairy Expo ends
Here are some photos and moments from the World Dairy Expo that took place last week in Madison, Wisconsin. If you could not attend or have never been there, these will help you experience it minus the ice cream, milk and cheese samples. Source: Dairy Herd Management, October 7, 2016. There are plenty of sights to take in while attending the 50th World Dairy Expo in … [Read more...]
California dairies going nuts
Many California dairies have joined the burgeoning almond industry. The diversification helps with farm economics and even a by-product to feed to the cows. Source: Dairy Herd Management, September 26, 2016. Dairymen are also reaping an added bonus; A complimentary crop that will continue to be viable into the future. That's a by-product to feed their livestock. ‘This is … [Read more...]
BVD war turns 70
After 70 years, BVD still wages war on cattle health and producers’ wallets, writes Wyatt Bechtel. He presents economic losses for dairy, beef, stocker/feedlot and all cattle and calves as documented by studies in the U.S and summarized by Derrell Peel, livestock marketing specialist with Oklahoma State University. Source: Dairy Herd Management, September 2016, page … [Read more...]
Baxter Black: The curious cow
We think you’ll get a laugh from this Baxter Black story about on-farm adventures of a cow and a chicken. Source: Dairy Herd Management, September 12, 2016. By Ag Day TV. … [Read more...]
Tail docking on the way out
The National Milk Producers Federation has confirmed that tail docking will not be permitted under the National Dairy FARM Program (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) as of January 1, 2017. The American Association of Bovine Practitioners has opposed the practice for 20 years and California banned it in 2009. Yet, some owners still engage in it. The Journal of Dairy … [Read more...]
World Dairy Expo turns 50
Dairy Herd Management celebrates the 50th anniversary of the World Dairy Expo in this commemorative edition. No doubt about it, the annual event champions much of the progress that strengthens the dairy business, domestic and foreign. When Expo started in 1967, cows averaged just 8,800 lb. of milk per year. We needed no fewer than 13,500 million of them to produce 120 … [Read more...]
Wilting black (wild) cherry leaves pose livestock risk
As little as 1.2 to 4.8 pounds of wilted black cherry leaves could constitute a lethal dose for a 1,200 pound dairy cow, says Rory Lewandowski, Ohio State University Extension educator. Recent storms in Michigan and across the country make this reminder valuable. Veterinary teams and retailers can offer this information in posts, websites and newsletters for customers in areas … [Read more...]
Routine use of dry cow therapy under investigation
USDA National Animal Health Monitoring Survey data shows more than 80 percent of U.S. dairy herds managers treat 100 percent of their cows’ quarters at the end of dry off. Plus, almost all herds treat a majority of all quarters. This practice is now undergoing a reexamination of the use of antibiotics on dairies with the goal of using them responsibility and only for animals … [Read more...]
Dairying is a people business
It is easy to ignore the influence dairy production has in our world. The infographic here shows how many people are involved in dairy enterprises. It is worthwhile information. Source: Dairy Herd Management, July 2016, page 6. 6 billion of the 7.4 billion people in the world consume dairy products daily. 1 billion people are involved with production and processing … [Read more...]
Metabolic disorders hurt dairy cows
Garret Oetzel, a veterinary professor at the University of Wisconsin, reminds us that dairy cows are prone to six metabolic disorders that can knock them out of the game. This is due to the tremendous load on their metabolism to perform. Veterinary hospital teams and sales personnel who call on dairies will find this article to be a resource when working with dairy producers to … [Read more...]
Optimize calves’ welfare during dehorning
Using appropriate dehorning or disbudding procedures and minimizing the associated pain are essential for a well-managed calf program. Developing protocols for calf care and pain management can ensure that everyone caring for calves follows the same procedures on farms. Several changes being implemented in the National Dairy FARM program in January 2017 address best practices … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Dairy heat stress
The combination of heat and humidity can compromise a cow’s ability to get rid of excess body heat. Cooling systems and heat abatement programs are important, but even with routine summertime diet and cooling techniques in place, a cow can experience physiological changes with which she cannot cope. Source: Dairy Herd Management, June 28, 2016. Link to TechMix – Dairy Heat … [Read more...]
Nationwide tail docking ban coming soon
Gerard Kramer, DVM, University of Minnesota, discusses alternatives to tail docking. The National FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) Program is set to ban tail docking nationwide January 1, 2017. Source: Dairy Herd Management, July 2016. Page 27. Dr. Kramer discusses the advantages and disadvantages of three alternatives to managing tail switches: … [Read more...]
Colostrum valuable at transition
The benefits of mom’s milk, in promoting long-term health and optimal physiological development, do not end with the first feeding of colostrum, says Mike Van Amburgh, Cornell University professor of animal science. Source: Dairy Herd Management, April 29, 2016. Van Amburgh advised the following colostrum delivery regimen for the first four days of life: First-milking … [Read more...]
Billboards attack at conventional food production
The Animal Health Digest team helps show animal health professionals information media presents to business-to-business business-to-consumer audiences. Some of this information is actionable. Some is more for your information. This article is one of the latter. Review it to determine how you may wish to respond within your own community. Source: Dairy Herd Management, April … [Read more...]
Steps to a more satisfying life
There is at least one tip for everyone in this article. Here are four of eleven tips offered: Set appropriate expectations at home, at work and in the community. Spend 10% of your time creating and monitoring your life plan. Be present in all that you do. Multitasking is not being present. Measure accomplishment by results rather than by hours worked. Source: … [Read more...]
The changing Holstein
Many of us were taught that every Holstein is genetically the same as the next. This article sheds light on how crossbreeding has changed the dairy cow, its production potential and the profit stream that flows from these living manufacturing units. Source: Dairy Herd Management, April 20, 2016. We needed a heartier cow in the late 1990s. A cow that can maintain some body … [Read more...]
Large herds, less lameness
Research from the University of Minnesota study debunks animal rights activists’ assertions that large dairy herds equal less care and more welfare issues. The study reveals variances based on bedding type, footbath use and robotically milked dairies. Source: Dairy Herd Management, April 15, 2016. The one factor that seemed to make a difference was whether a herd had a hoof … [Read more...]
Milk replacer feeding levels studied for growth, transition
Milk replacer is important in dairy operations. However, a recent study suggests that calves need moderate amounts of milk replacer to more successfully transition to dry feedstuffs post-weaning. Source: Dairy Herd Management, April 6, 2016. The study, published in the April 2016 issue of the Journal of Dairy Science, and summarized by Colleen Chapman, PhD candidate the … [Read more...]
Reduce needle stick injuries
Jeff Bender, DVM, MS, ACVPM, University of Minnesota, encourages veterinarians and herd managers to continuously train employees, create awareness of the dangers of needle sticks and encourage a working environment that minimizes risk. Bender referenced the UMASH website, at the University of Minnesota, during a recent webinar. The website contains fact sheets and videos about … [Read more...]
Understanding the vet bill
Mel Winger, DVM, addresses vet bill dynamics in this concise article. His financial perspective indicates the value of a herd veterinarian that never shows up on an invoice. Dairy veterinary hospital teams and reps who support them will find the information valuable for staff meeting discussions. Source: Dairy Herd Management, February 14, 2016. Even though the vet bill … [Read more...]
Social studies for calves
The headline stopped me. Dairy veterinarians and reps servicing dairy accounts need to consider the practice of pairing calves based on the study this article references. It is surprising separation anxiety is not referenced given our experiences with early and post-weaning stress in most animals. This is not unlike trying to lessen anxiety by pairing two puppies or two … [Read more...]
74,650 in 365 days – a new record
200-plus pounds of milk each day from a single cow? Astounding! It’s all the more reason I often see the dairy cow as a living manufacturing plant, or a milk-making machine. Stories like this underscore the continuous need to maintain preventive health protocols, in addition to optimizing nutrition. In a cow like Gigi, even the slightest health problem could negatively … [Read more...]
Winter storms’ impact
The devastating effect of winter storms Goliath and Jonah will hurt livestock producers for months. The former killed more than 50,000 dairy and beef cattle. The latter’s effect on dairy, swine and poultry won’t be known for weeks. An untold number of veterinary hospital visits that were scheduled before the storms will likely never be rescheduled. Keeping those businesses … [Read more...]
VFD regulations affect dairies
We will tire of VFD articles almost before we get started. However, compliance and understanding come with repetition and multiple perspectives. Fred Gingrich, an Ohio DVM, concisely discusses VFD regulations from a product perspective. Source: Dairy Herd Management, January 5, 2016. It is important to recognize what products are affected by these rules. For cattle, the … [Read more...]
Mastitis update
Mastitis continues to steal dairy profits. This article provides information about mastitis research, management and the resulting economics. If dairymen are reading at this level, then veterinarians and sales representatives need to be familiar with it, as well. Source: Dairy Herd Management, January 2016. According to data and a cost estimation model from the National … [Read more...]
Editorial – Tough “Goliath” start to 2016 in cattle industry
Holiday storm Goliath will hurt the beef and dairy industries for months to come. An estimated 40,000 dairy cattle were lost to the storm. Beef losses will be from lost weight gains. For veterinarians and suppliers, helping customers find ways to replace lost animals will help ensure ongoing revenue from animal health products and services. Source: Dairy Herd Management, … [Read more...]