Latest Newsletter

Dairy — page 13

Photos: Deimagine/Getty Images
Cow health, Dairy, Livestock

Dairy producers watch for signs of HPAI in cows

‘We are still learning,’ says southwestern Ontario vet

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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
So far, the virus has not been lethal to cattle and causes very different symptoms than it does in poultry.
Cow health, Dairy, Livestock

Why dairy and not beef?

Several factors favour bovine influenza A detection on dairy versus beef farms

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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
(John Greig photo)
Cow health, Dairy, Livestock, News

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

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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
Illness during the transition period has significant effects on cow success during the rest of her lactation.
Cow health, Dairy, Livestock, Transition cows

AUDIO: New thinking on health of transition cows

There’s now more concern about fresh cow blood calcium levels after day four post-calving

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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
VIDEO: Calves for a Cause draws crowds, top genetics
Dairy, Genetics, News

VIDEO: Calves for a Cause draws crowds, top genetics

Funds go to the London Children’s Hospital

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The fourth annual Calves for a Cause sale brought together more than 100 lots to raise funds for the London Hospital Foundation. The sale, which was hosted by the Canadian Dairy Xpo (CDX), brought together about 40 top genetic calves, but also rare semen, embryos from top cows and even old, rare dairy sales catalogues […] Read more
Foucauld Thery, CEO of Farm Medix, introduced the Dermashield leg band, which helps control cow foot diseases, at the Canadian Dairy Xpo.
Cow health, Dairy, Livestock

New leg band helps manage dairy foot disease

The band slowly releases copper ions, providing an alternative to foot baths

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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
It’s predicted that an increase in the number of heat stress days will increase butterfat by one per cent, so ventilation will play a crucial role in reducing this increase.
Barns, Dairy, News, Nutrition

Dairy management changes may offer answers to butterfat equation

With feed additive, analyze the numbers to see if it pays

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Enhancing ventilation may be one of the most cost-effective ways to increase butterfat content in a herd’s milk over the long term instead of using feed additives, according to two experts from Lactanet. Economist Simon Jetté-Nantel and director of innovation and development Débora Santschi spoke to dairy producers about butterfat, and what pays back, at […] Read more
A genetic defect was discovered last year as a cause of muscle weakness (calf recumbency) in Holstein calves.
Calf health, Cow health, Dairy, Genetics, Livestock

Carrier status for two dairy defects available soon

Lactanet will publish evaluations for defects affecting Holstein and Brown Swiss

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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
cow at a milking machine
Cow health, Dairy, Livestock, News

Avian influenza detected in U.S. dairy cattle

Testing occurred after dairy cows in Kansas, Texas and New Mexico had symptoms of decreased milk production, low appetite

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Chicago | Reuters— Samples of milk collected from sick cattle in Kansas and Texas tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, but the nation’s milk supply is safe, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said on Monday March 25. The USDA, along with the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are […] Read more

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