Herd Health
Sometimes called “sudden death syndrome” or “bloody gut,” Hemorrhagic Bowel Syndrome is characterized by dark, tarry, and sometimes bright red, bloody feces; dehydration; and decreased feed intake.
Inflammation creates additional stress at calving.
The transition period, 3 weeks before and after calving, is challenging for all cows. But for first-calf heifers, it’s likely the scariest and most stressful time in their young lives.
Focused management, proper nutrition and diligent monitoring can help reduce metabolic disorders.
Health records key to estimating costs of BRD in your herd
When cows are forced to compete for feed, they consume fewer, larger meals with reduced feeding time.
Another story that continues to unfold is the shift of herds inland. Tanner Ehmke with CoBank says this long-term trend of migration from the coastal areas to the central states where costs are lower will continue.
Castration is an essential management procedure for the cow-calf producer that is often performed for both handling and economic reasons.
Oftentimes, estimating cow value around the time of culling is oversimplified.
Aggressively consuming dry feeds is the gateway to healthy weaning for young dairy calves.
“Similar to Staph aureus and mycoplasma, Prototheca [mastitis] is hard to detect, has no known cure, and is contagious by intermittently shedding from cow to cow.”
Giving a second feeding of colostrum to dairy calves can help increase successful passive transfer.
On June 11, 2023, over-the-counter antibiotics will no longer be available through traditional retail channels. Instead, these antibiotics will now require a prescription from a licensed veterinarian.
Creating a herd where all the individuals are healthy and normal increases your chances of economic success.
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.
With tightening margins, higher feed cost and more attention to environmental consequences, there are opportunities to refocus on just how much or how little protein is needed to sustain high production and returns to the herd.
It’s almost accepted as gospel that a high somatic cell count (SCC) cow in a small herd can throw off the entire bulk tank even if the rest of the herd is doing well. When it comes to large herds, the conventional wisdom is that a few high-count cows can get diluted by their herdmates.
A comfortable cow is a happy, productive cow.
One strategy used by Midwest dairy managers in 2009 when feed prices were high and milk prices were at record lows was feeding more forages.
Balancing dairy rations for rumen-protected amino acids is often an exercise in confusion. There are few hard and fast rules.
The challenge is to utilize wet corn correctly in your dairy rations
Mark Wustenberg suggests simple places to check for a dairy’s source of bacteria problems in milk counts.
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.