Animal Welfare
Neil Michael, director of technical services for ABS Global, says many herds consistently achieve pregnancy rates of 20% to 25%, with many commercial dairies already exceeding 35% to 40%. He lists eight influencers of reproductive success that every dairy should monitor.
“Genomics is a big step forward, but we still need daughter information,” says says Kent Weigel, University of Wisconsin dairy geneticist. “We’re not yet at the stage where we can identify the next sires of sons without using conventional genetics tools.”
A comfortable cow is a happy, productive cow.
Evidence is mounting that cows housed in deep-bedded sand freestalls are outperforming cows on mattresses.
The National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative unveiled its final principles and guidelines at World Dairy Expo in October.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
From birth, provide calves with a clean, comfortable environment with good colostrum management, consistent feeding and management practices and plenty of dietary calories
‘See It? Stop It!’ initiative to be a component of National Dairy FARM Program.
Animals learn to be handled if they’re handled calmly.
Morning Fresh Dairy bottled milk and the Noosa Yoghurt brands have grown along with the Bellvue, Colo. farm that supplies the milk.
Given the current high temperatures, cattle could be under heat stress. It’s important to know the signs so producers can manage and reduce livestock heat stress.
Just because a cow is resting does not mean that she is recovering properly. In order to maximize optimal rest on your facility, analyze these key areas.
Researchers are exploring whether cattle would benefit from pain management associated with calving.
While udder edema is a common occurrence on dairies, there are several methods to help prevent it from happening.
No one wants to have a down cow, but unfortunately it does occasionally happen.
Skeptics question health claims. Want kale with those fries?
BIVI will pick up the $25-$50 certification fee for beef or dairy producers who are interested in becoming certified or recertified under the Beef Quality Assurance program.
For a second year, your checkoff-funded Beef Quality Assurance program is giving you the chance to become certified for free thanks to a partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. and the Beef Cattle Institute housed at Kansas State University.
Dairymen should be cognizant of daily management practices that impact beef and dairy products reaching the public’s dinner plate.