▶️ Watch: Biosecurity During a Disease Outbreak
This video provides an overview of biosecurity during disease response.
Herd Health
Articles
Resources for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus in Cattle
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus is an emerging issue that poses a significant threat to the health and well-being of dairy herds.
Fresh cows: Milk fever
Even though hypocalcemia, commonly known as milk fever, has been a fresh cow problem for years, it has been addressed through nutritional management during the dry period and early lactation to decrease clinical cases to less than 1%. However, 73% of 3rd and greater lactation animals have had subclinical hypocalcemia.
The Fresh Cow: Ketosis
Clinical and subclinical ketosis are the most common metabolic disorder in high-producing dairy cows, costing up to $289 per case. According to the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, 93% of ketosis cases occur between 5 and 30 days post-calving.
Administering reproductive hormones to dairy cattle
Using proper injection techniques for animal health products, including reproductive hormones, helps ensure products work effectively. In addition, it is important to safely handle animals and health products to protect both farm workers and animals.
Cleaning and sanitizing multi-dose syringes and transfer needles
Properly cleaning, sanitizing, and storing multi-dose syringes and transfer needles will reduce contamination from many viruses, bacteria, and fungi. The steps described here use only tap and distilled or deionzed (purified) water and do not render the equipment sterile.
Animal drugs by a different name
Shopping for deals and managing inventory are two ways to lower livestock drug costs. Have you ever been confused by the different brands available? How do you know which is the better buy?
Managing worms at spring turnout
Green is my favorite color. Green tree buds, lawns, and pastures signal that winter is finally over. It’s very tempting to turn young stock out onto newly green pasture. We are tired of indoor feeding and cleaning, and we have fieldwork and other chores to attend to. However, tempting as it is to open the pasture gate, first remember these worm management steps.
Fresh cows: Finding the “off” cow
Fresh cows are the most important, and most vulnerable, group of cows in the barn. The first few weeks post-calving is the highest risk period for several diseases. Most infections, diseases, and/or metabolic disorders, such as milk fever, ketosis, retained placentas, metritis, mastitis, and displaced abomasums, or DAs, occur during this time.
Fresh cows: Finding the sick cow
Fresh cows have the greatest production potential in a dairy, but they are very susceptible to disease. The post-calving period is a critical time in a cow’s life for its well-being and performance. Fresh cow metabolic disorders can hinder lactation and subsequent reproductive efficiency.
Managing transition cows on the smaller farm
Why is it that dairy farms in my area are averaging under the Wisconsin average of 24,884 pounds of milk per cow? This question got me asking questions to some farmers and agri-service providers. One piece of the puzzle that emerged is that we may need to be paying closer attention to transition cows in our smaller herds. Care of the transition cow is not a new concept, but management strategies for the smaller farm may be overlooked when recommendations are shared.
Hoof health starts with the heifer
Hoof health is essential for not only the overall health of the animal, but also for her welfare. Digital dermatitis (DD), or hairy heel warts, is an extremely painful condition for dairy cattle, reducing their ability to walk to and from the milking parlor, or to the feed bunk. Based on USDA NAHMS 2017 data, 16.8% of all cows and 2.6% of bred heifers have lameness on a dairy operation.
