Is there a best way to monitor ketosis? Ketosis is underrecognized on most farms and is associated with several clinical diseases, lost milk, breeding problems, and greater risk of early culling. You should...
To boost transition success, focus on feed bunk space, pen moves, ample-size free stalls or bedded packs, surface cushion, and effective screening of cows needing attention. In 2005, we surveyed the transition...
How can the dairy industry tackle Johne's disease head-on? Here's a right-to-the-point summary. Veterinarians • Become a Johne's certified veterinarian. This task is done easily and affordably by...
What is the best test? How do diagnostic tests fit into a Johne's disease control program? Experts agree that it's prohibitively expensive to do a fecal culture or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test...
Don't buy your Johne's. In the U.S. today, roughly 5 percent to 10 percent of random source dairy replacements are infected with M. paratuberculosis. Five experts arrived at a consensus opinion on the...
It's not just about Johne's. To help limit disease it is important to keep calves individually housed and eliminate contact with other calves, as well as manure from the adult cows. Controlling Johne's...
Proven Practices for Johne's Disease Control and Prevention.Despite greater awareness of Johne's disease, the negative impact it has on dairy farms continues to grow
Claw disorders generally are related to a combination of rumen acidosis issues and problems that result in too much weight being handled by parts of the hoof. Infections, such as warts, foot rot, heal...
Hoof care, foot disorders, and lameness issues have evolved greatly since the original Hoof Atlas was published over a quarter century ago. With that in mind, the International Lameness Committee developed...
Summer's heat and humidity are upon us. Are you ready to minimize summer stresses on your cows? Two main responses cows usually have to heat and humidity are to eat less feed and produce less milk. Another...
Salmonella infections continue to be a problem in both calf raising operations and dairy herds. Infections with these organisms can range from asymptomatic to severe intestinal and systemic disease
How you can identify and correct abnormal calving positions. That heifer is definitely in labor. Sometimes you can just tell. She is straining and looks uncomfortable. Plus, there has been little progress...
Often, it's replacer or electrolyte mixing errors, intentional or otherwise. Scours vaccinations may help. Offering water to calves can help control bloat, as well as help growth rates. Be as consistent...
The whys, do's, and don'ts of drug use. Milk and meat are our products, but we work with animals, living beings that require care and management to ensure their welfare
Misuse of grinders can lead to removing too much of the hoof's outer wall. Your goal is to balance the weight bearing between the inner and outer claws, correct the altered displacement of weight from...
At our 2009 annual Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council meeting, Maarten Drost, D.V.M., professor emeritus, University of Florida, spoke about on-farm management of obstetrics. His expertise and perspective...
Don't Forget to Consider BVD Unexplained breeding problems and calf losses are warning signs. Recently, I had the opportunity to work with a small Jersey herd that was losing more and more calves. They...
Whether you are treating a cow for mastitis, uterine infection, diarrhea, or a number of other diseases, fluid therapy frequently is recommended. Many of these "sick" cows become dehydrated - meaning they...
