Compost bedding packs that get too wet can be bad news and result in problems with slower composting, milk quality and the need to add more bedding. Those are findings from recent research projects on Ontario dairy farms, conducted by students at the University of Guelph, including Angie Wilson, who is completing her post-doctoral research […] Read more
Cow health — page 6
Moisture management is key in compost-pack barns
Compost barns could be a transition option for those who now milk in tie stalls
Shorter dry periods make sense, with caveats
Farmers should be able to target a dry period of 45 to 50 days, says researcher
Dairy farmers have given their cows 50 to 60 days off each lactation, but research suggests that a shorter period could make sense – for farmers and the cows. Barry Bradford, a dairy management and nutrition professor at Michigan State University, says that in some circumstances, cows will perform well down to 40 to 50 […] Read more
Make your dairy processes lean and clean
Stopping and observing are the first steps to efficiency
Dairy farmers work through similar processes every day, but taking another look at ordinary tasks can yield significant time and financial savings. Process evaluation has many names, including lean, Kaizan or Six Sigma, but the concepts are similar: constantly improve, find bottlenecks and reduce waste, says Dr. Chris Church, a master’s student at the Lang […] Read more
Canada expands bird flu surveillance in dairy cattle
Government issues requirements for testing bird flu in dairy cattle and milk
The Government of Canada and stakeholders are taking new precautions to help prevent the emergence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Canadian dairy cattle. Late last week, the feds announced intentions to expand its avian flu surveillance by: -Requiring negative HPAI test results for lactating dairy cattle being imported from the United States to […] Read more
Dairy producers watch for signs of HPAI in cows
‘We are still learning,’ says southwestern Ontario vet
Dairy farmers in Canada remain on guard for signs the virus may have turned up in their herds as mandatory testing for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) came into effect on April 29 for all cattle moving across state boundaries in the United States. So far for the large-animal veterinarians serving southwestern Ontario’s Kirkton Veterinary […] Read more
Why dairy and not beef?
Several factors favour bovine influenza A detection on dairy versus beef farms
Recent detection in the United States of a highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus in dairy cattle is the first instance of this strain in bovines. The World Organization for Animal Health said the detections “have raised concerns since such infections of cattle could indicate an increased risk of H5N1 viruses becoming better adapted to mammals, […] Read more
Domestic birds host for bovine influenza A virus
Epidemiologist says there is “still lots” to investigate about how virus jumped from from birds to dairy cattle
Domestic birds that live in and around barns have been confirmed as the avian hosts of an outbreak on dairy farms in the United States of highly pathogenic avian influenza. An April 16 update from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed the avian host in this outbreak wasn’t migratory waterfowl, as has […] Read more
AUDIO: New thinking on health of transition cows
There’s now more concern about fresh cow blood calcium levels after day four post-calving
New research on transition cows shows that dairy farmers should adjust traditional ways to manage post-calving calcium levels and ketosis. More than half of dairy cows in high managed herds go through the transition period to milking with at least one health problem. Recent research shows those problems lower the cow’s chance of success throughout […] Read more
New leg band helps manage dairy foot disease
The band slowly releases copper ions, providing an alternative to foot baths
A New Zealand company with a Canadian connection has a new leg band it says can replace the use of footbaths to control dairy cow foot diseases. Dermashield was introduced to dairy farmers at the Canadian Dairy Xpo in Stratford. Why it matters: Managing foot problems is one of the largest costs on a dairy […] Read more
Carrier status for two dairy defects available soon
Lactanet will publish evaluations for defects affecting Holstein and Brown Swiss
Lactanet says dairy producers will soon have access to genetic information on tested bulls and females that carry the defect for muscle weakness (Holsteins) and the BH14 haplotype (Brown Swiss). Why it matters: To prevent potential spread of the fatal defects, breeders must avoid mating two recessive carrier-status animals. Dr. Allyson Fleming, a geneticist with […] Read more
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