Biosecurity is always of the utmost importance on beef operations. That importance is amplified at calving time due to two groups of animals being more susceptible to infectious diseases: new calves and their dams.
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Tag Archives calving
Enhanced calving biosecurity pays off
Creating a plan to prevent the spread of disease is crucial when cows and calves are more vulnerable to infection
Dry hay can help with dairy transition
Research finds hay can help in some conditions where cows already have acidosis or inflammation
Hay fed to dairy cows for a couple of days after calving can help those that have health issues. Cows are fed high starch diets at calving as they ramp up milk production, which helps manage ketosis and fatty liver, but it also increases risk of acidosis and inflammation. Why it matters: Providing hay post-calving […] Read more
Pro tips for a calving crisis
When is it actually time to call in the vet?
Glacier FarmMedia – The calf was breech. Standing a few feet away, Brandon veterinarian Dr. Grayson Ross coached producer at the rear of the cow through the potential disaster. “Get it in your mind’s eye,” he said. “You’ve got the rump of a calf right in front of you. The tail’s there. You’ve figured out […] Read more
System delivers suite of dairy data every 2.2 seconds
Connecting data to the cloud, not on-site computers helps to increase speed of data interpretation
A new technology from dairy equipment company DeLaval helps monitor in-barn cow behaviour, with updates every 2.2 seconds. The company used the 2023 Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show for the official North American launch of its DeLaval Plus Behavior Analysis tool for monitoring in-barn cow behaviour and herd health. Why it matters: Advancements in artificial intelligence […] Read more
Solutions available for common calving malpresentations
It requires sharp observational skills and a little know-how
Glacier FarmMedia – Calving problems have been greatly reduced over the years but there are still issues we can’t control. One of these is malpresentations of the fetus. Some cows can deliver a calf with a foot back, but these are rare and most cows require birthing assistance. Producers must maintain sharp observational skills to […] Read more
Transition milk continues to show benefits
Improved gut health and reduced mortality are some benefits
A recent study shows that dairy farms are encouraged to feed transition milk to calves following the colostrum feeding. Transition milk is defined as the second to sixth milking after calving. “It’s low in IGG (immunoglobulin G) concentrations, but higher in other bioactive molecules like hormones and oligosaccharides and antimicrobials that have other benefits for […] Read more
Aspirin may ease calving stress in dairy cows
Cows can experience inflammation and stress during calving, which can increase the risk of diseases such as mastitis
Glacier FarmMedia – Aspirin could become another inflammatory medication to provide pain relief for dairy cows. A year-long American research study found cows that received a short course of acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin or ASA) after calving had lower metabolic stress and produced more milk than untreated cows. Why it matters: Decreasing inflammation for cows that […] Read more
The right time for calving depends on your farm — and you
While many producers are calving earlier, some have gone the other way
Calving season looks different on every operation — there is no one right method or time of year to calve a cow herd. While more producers in Western Canada have moved to later calving, some have gone the other way. Here are the experiences of three ranching families. Late summer/Fall calving Taralea Simpson has been […] Read more
Success with beef starts at the calf level
A veterinarian says farmers cut back on animal health as a cost saving
Glacier FarmMedia – Calf health is the No. 1 priority for success on a beef operation. The top third of producers invest the most in genetics, nutrition and animal health. They do not cut back on feed because they do not want calves to lose weight, said veterinarian Joe Gillespie of Boehringer Ingelheim. Why it […] Read more
Lowering winter beef cow feed costs
There are opportunities to decrease the highest expense on beef farms
Katie Wood, assistant professor in ruminant nutrition and physiology at the University of Guelph recently offered five tips to lower winter feeding costs in beef herds. Speaking at the Ontario Beef Symposium at the University of Guelph on Jan. 18, Wood outlined the key steps: Test feed; Optimize alternative feeds; Know the herd’s body condition […] Read more
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