Herd Health
Ask 10 dairy producers what they believe is an effective vaccination program for calves, and you’ll likely get 10 unique answers. That’s OK, because there is no effective one-size-fits-all strategy.
Most producers will tell you their No. 1 goal is simple: strive for cow comfort. That goal continues as dairies look to build a new barn or even retrofit an existing facility. The key is to begin with the end in mind.
Cows still milking heavily at the end of lactation have a hard time switching gears when they enter the dry period.
On June 11, FDA’s Guidance for Industry #263 brings 91 over-the-counter antimicrobial products from OTC to prescription oversight. Three experts weigh in on why you need to prepare for this change now.
In just a few months, you no longer will be able to stop at your local farm store and pick up a bottle of penicillin or box of mastitis tubes.
There are some sources of feed shrink you might not think of that can be causing substantial losses in terms of feed used, ration formulation and poor performance.
Dairy cow mortality rates have come down marginally, but are higher when compared to beef production.
The focus on cow comfort and what that means for facility design has come a long way in the past 30 years.
Ruminants walk a fine line in their ability to utilize cereal grains while maintaining digestive integrity.
Beginning June 11, 2023, most livestock antibiotics will no longer be available over-the-counter. Ohio State University dairy veterinarian Kevin Jacque shares his thoughts on adapting to the new rules.
Household units and mini fridges are often unsuitable for maintaining veterinary products, according to a recent study by Emmanuel Rollin, DVM, College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia.
Scoring teat ends tells a story of how happy a cow is with how she is milked and treated. It also provides insights into whether the milking process is harmful to the animal and needs to be changed.
On June 11, 2023, the following antibiotics will no longer be available for purchase over-the-counter.
The new indication is for control of pyrexia in dairy cows due to acute mastitis. There is a short milk withhold of 48 hours.
Every farmer has that one cow who just doesn’t want to get pregnant. But if she doesn’t get pregnant soon, her time left to stay in the herd is limited.
Good footing is essential to the health and performance of dairy cattle, especially in areas of high traffic.
Detecting respiratory disease in calves early – when treatment is most effective – should start by examining the head and facial features, according to veterinarian Tiago Tomazi with Merck Animal Health.
Megan shines bright in all that she is involved with on the farm and off. Her latest endeavors includes sharing dairy messages on her TikTok account, that has reached millions.
Somatic cell counts have long been an indicator of milk quality and udder health. But can a cow’s SCC get too low?
The acceptable threshold for broken tails in adult dairy cows listed in the National Dairy FARM Program standards is 5%. Does your farm meet this target?
While normally any moisture to the Golden State would be welcomed, the massive “Bomb Cyclone” storm hitting California is far from normal. High winds, heavy rain and power outages have impacted California farmers.
Just because we have easy access to the thousands of beef-on-dairy cross calves eventually headed for feedyards doesn’t mean we should be vaccinating them every week, according to Dan Thomson.
Launching transition cows into a successful lactation fundamentally relies on feed and dry-matter intake. At Singing Brook Farms, they help encourage close-up cows to eat with a top dress of a pelleted electrolyte.
By using precision technologies such as automated milk feeders and pedometers combined with machine learning, dairy producers can detect illness earlier and make informed decisions about treatment.
That jolt from your morning java also could be a handy helper in stimulating struggling newborn calves. Caffeine could help calves before they receive colostrum, or at other times when calves appear dull and lethargic.
It has been well-documented that feeding preweaned calves on a higher plane of nutrition improves calf health and performance. However, providing calves more nutrients may also promote wound healing.
Researchers continue to learn more about transition cow health and how it impacts subsequent milk production and reproductive outcomes. And the more they learn, the more they have discovered how inter-connected the elem
Move over, artificial insemination. There’s a new “A.I.” in town, and it’s more intelligent than you.
Without intervention, 40% of calves that need more than minor assistance at birth will die.
If cows come into the dry period overconditioned, which is likely if they took longer to get pregnant, they’re already preconditioned to breeding delays in their next lactation.