Latest News From Animal Welfare

Robots make calf feeding fun.

In late 2010 or early 2011, any dairy processor exporting to the European Union will need to certify that each farm that supplies milk for those exports is below 400,000 somatic cell count.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Citizens' Board voted unanimously yesterday to pull the permit of Excel Dairy, Thief River Falls, Minn.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has modified requirements for moving cattle from those states, but states have the option of keeping tighter testing procedures.

A Federal Order has been issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to suspend enforcement of a portion of the bovine tuberculosis (TB) regulations in the U.S.

Pennsylvania's Department of Agriculture announced April 8 that the permit for Pasture Maid Creamery to sell raw milk for human consumption was suspended April 5 after testing found Campylobacter in its raw milk samples.

The production dairy industry is full of myths that relate to milk quality. These myths are alive and well, and living in an area near you.

From June 2005 through November 2009, Osterkamp Dairy achieved a milk quality bonus for 52 out of 53 months—a 98% success rate. Those results, says owner Mark Osterkamp, don't happen without teamwork. In fact, getting milkers to buy in to the team concept is key to making everything work, he says.

Three years ago, Tillamook Cooperative Creamery switched to using the Foss Bactoscan for determining bacterial counts of milk samples. We also decided to test every load of milk received rather than testing weekly.

Bonus content: National Milk Drug Residue Datebase FDA May Change Antibiotic Screening in Milk The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that the number of antibiotic-positive milk tankers was just 0.026% for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2009. That's a decrease of 7% from the previous year.

Optimum efficiency of nutrient conversion into milk and milk components occurs when both the nutrient requirements of the cow and rumen microbes are met and in synchrony.

Come August, dairy producers and calf raisers will no longer be able to buy milk replacers with Neomycin-Terramycin in the tried-and-true 2:1 ratio formulation.

From birth, provide calves with a clean, comfortable environment with good colostrum management, consistent feeding and management practices and plenty of dietary calories

Dollars and Sense contributors discuss milk quality on their farms.

Many dairy producers and their veterinarians find that using on-label extended therapy, defined as administering intramammary mastitis treatment for up to eight days, offers a better chance for a complete cure.

Bonus content: Rational Approaches to Making Treatment Decisions on the Farm Many dairy producers and their veterinarians find that using on-label extended therapy, defined as administering intramammary mastitis treatment for up to eight days, offers a better chance for a complete cure.

Tune in to AgDay Television tomorrow to hear Dairy Today Editor Jim Dickrell discuss the new European Union/Somatic Cell Count controversy.

Land O'Lakes Animal Milk Products is pleased to announce the launch of its Calf Care™ line of products designed to maintain calf health through greater focus on supportive care for the calf, especially during periods of health challenges. Products include LAND O LAKES® Bovine lgG Colostrum Replacement, LAND O LAKES® Electrolyte System, LAND O LAKES® Electrolyte Complete, LAND O LAKES® Gammulin®, LAND O LAKES® Calf Insure®, and NT Concentrate.

Research conducted over the past 30 years suggests that stimulation of at least 20 seconds, along with a total prep lag time of 60 seconds, reduces milking unit attachment time and increases milk flow rate, when compared to no stimulation at all.

Tail docking of dairy cows was already an uncommon and diminishing practice in California when a state legislator introduced a bill in February 2009 to ban the practice.

The NAHMS report found that 38% of cows are docked nationwide

Tail docking (removal of the lower portion of the tail including the switch) must not be routinely performed on the dairy herd. If performed due to tail injury, docking should be under the direction of a licensed veterinarian on an individual cow basis.

En el ABC de la cría de becerras, saltéese la A y la B y concéntrese en la C, nos dice Sheila McGuirk, veterinaria de la Facultad de Veterinaria de la Universidad de Wisconsin.

La antigua formula de Neo-Terramicina será removida del mercado en Agosto En Espanol

Three years ago, Tillamook Cooperative Creamery switched to using the Foss Bactoscan for determining bacterial counts of milk samples.

Obtaining the most efficient use of feed nutrients is essential for profitability on dairy farms. Optimum efficiency of nutrient conversion into milk and milk components occurs when both the nutrient requirements of the cow and rumen microbes are met and in synchrony.

Milk quality, however, does not just fall from the sky and come to our dairy. It is a part of our business that takes time and effort, with training and maintenance of a relatively simple protocol.

Milk quality is a top priority at Crandall Dairy Farms LLC. The quality of the end product we produce, milk, may be the best way to evaluate our overall success. High-quality milk can only come from healthy cows and can only be harvested by the best of people.

When thinking of how we produce quality milk, I look at four key factors

One fairly unique thing we do, however, is use an on-farm culture lab. My wife, Sybil, has a background in microbiology and molecular biology. So it seemed logical to ask her to set up our lab as well as manage it.

Robotic calf-feeding system provides flexibility, reduced labor, weight gain

A coalition of California dairy groups today announced the launch of a statewide program to promote and verify responsible animal care on the state's 1,750 family dairy farms.

The majority of operations, 59.2%, hand-fed colostrum to calves from bottles or a bucket. But on average, calves received hand-fed colostrum 3.3 hours after birth. Veterinarians and calf specialists typically recommend feeding colostrum within an hour of birth to optimize absorption of critical nutrients and to transfer immunity.

Careful observation of dairy cattle can detect problems early. En Espanol.

Metritis risk, En Espanol

Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.'s (DFA) board of directors and management are taking a series of proactive steps to emphasize its commitment to proper treatment of animals.

As pinkeye season approaches, it's time for dairy producers to take preventive steps to control this contagious, costly disease

The dairy industry was addressing global warming long before that was cool. We're producing 59% more milk with 64% fewer cows than in 1944. We use 77% less feed, 65% less water, 90% less land, produce 76% less manure and have a 63% smaller carbon footprint per gallon of milk produced than we did 66 years ago.

Since Elanco acquired Posilac from Monsanto in 2008, it has made re-education about the dairy production technology a priority. The Indiana-based company has reached out to the entire dairy food chain to promote Posilac's safety and its role in affordability and sustainability, says Dennis Erpelding, director of corporate affairs for Elanco's international business division.

Livestock and poultry groups hosted educational briefings on Capitol Hill to share the facts about the importance of tools like antibiotics in raising healthy food animals.

The crew at the Michigan State University (MSU) dairy farm has been able to overcome these obstacles for two consecutive years to be awarded the distinction of being a National Dairy Quality Award (NDQA) Platinum level dairy farm.

Dutch veterinarian Joep Driessen gives producers a pretty straightforward formula for correcting common cow management bottlenecks: •Look at cows closely to detect problems. •Think about what's causing those problems. •Act to correct them.

Metritis, a common reproductive disease, occurs in 10% to 30% of dairy herds. Typically diagnosed during the first 10 days in milk, metritis is associated with other transition and fresh cow challenges.

Bonus content: Spanish Translation Manage corn mold More on mold Dairyland Labs   Rock River Lab Warm spring weather could bring its own set of nasty surprises as mold on stored grain starts growing again.

The Food and Drug Administration reports that the number of antibiotic-positive milk tankers was just 0.026% for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009. That's a decrease of 7% from the previous year.

Taking a stand against pinkeye requires a three-pronged approach that includes vaccination, fly control and environmental management. Like a three-legged stool, leaving out any of these key elements can bring down your entire control program. Norm Stewart, D.V.M., M.S., a Manager of Dairy Technical Services for Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, offers management tips on fighting pinkeye.

A case of metritis is estimated to cost producers between $304 and $354 from losses in production and performance

Veterinarian Joep Driessen is a big advocate of bedded packs or compost barns for dry cows and transition cows for three weeks before and after calving, which he dubs "the stress-free calving line.”