Health Column
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There are lots of similarities between a veterinary practice and a dairy farm. Both are typically small businesses with employees, and the people involved have a love for the dairy industry and cows. One difference, however, is that dairy farms are producers of goods, while veterinary practices are a service-based business, yet we have the same goal — a successful, healthy dairy farm.
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Conduct a physical exam on your milking system
Just because you perform regular maintenance on your milking system, such as rebuilding pulsators, it does not mean that a routine system evaluation is unnecessary.
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Disinfectants 101
Six considerations when selecting and using a disinfectant.
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What makes a cow stop eating?
You know that the cost of feeding cows is milk production’s highest expense.
Therefore, much attention has been given to proper ration formulation, ration monitoring, feeding high quality forages and evaluating the cost of ration inputs to get maximum milk production and maintain cow health.
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How to deal with neurological conditions
Neurologic diseases in cows are not uncommon, but they are not something that we see every day. Often, when dairy producers find a cow with neurological signs they assume it is something very severe and elect to euthanize the cow.
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People power
Several years ago, I asked a dairy farmer if it was easier for him to manage his cows or his employees. He responded with a laugh and said “the cows are much easier.”
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Harvest-floor revelations
The Cargill Regional Beef Plant in Pennsylvania harvests about 1,600 head of cattle per day, with about 70 percent of the total being market (cull) dairy cattle.
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A message from Mother Nature
Here’s some advice to keep your cows and calves warm and cozy this winter.
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Tips to manage and prevent DAs
Left displacement of the abomasum (LDA) is one of the most common surgical diseases we see in dairy cattle. The incidence rate of LDA varies widely between dairy farms, but a reasonable goal would be less than 3 to 5 percent of fresh cows developing a LDA.
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If you don’t seek, you won’t find
I find that certain diseases or conditions go unrecognized on many dairies because a complete exam is not done on a routine basis. But if you don’t look for it, you won’t find it.
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Load 'em up, head 'em out
Here are some considerations to help cows prepare for a transportation event.
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