Cows

Many producers are aware that gastrointestinal parasites can reduce cattle performance, and accordingly, take measures to protect their animals.  This article outlines several steps to follow in order to establish a judicious and effective deworming program.

Traditional dry cow management strategies recommended treating every cow with intramammary antibiotics at dry-off. This strategy, also known as “blanket dry cow treatment”, was recommended to help 1) cure any existing mastitis infections and 2) prevent new mastitis infections from occurring during the dry period. Title: Considerations for Selective Dry Cow Therapy; Author: Sarah Potts, Ph.D., Extension Specialist, Dairy & Beef

The Maryland Milk Moos (June 16, 2022, Vol. 3, Issue 2) is a quarterly newsletter published by the University of Maryland Extension that is focused on dairy topics related to Nutrition and Production, Herd Management, and Forage Production.

We commonly see ketosis as an energy disorder of the modern dairy cow, a telltale that things are not going well, and one that hints at poor fertility, reduced lactation performance, and an increased risk for the development of early lactation diseases. In practice, ketosis is diagnosed by the measurement of beta-hydroxy butyrate (BHB), one of two major ketones, that becomes elevated in blood, urine, and milk of fresh cows. In this way, ketosis is used as a cow-side test for identifying sick cows, and as means to direct our efforts to “problem cows” (for example with propylene glycol administration) before it is too late. Despite our efforts for ketosis prevention and treatment over the last 5-7 decades, our understanding of ketosis as a disease, as well as our ability to reverse it and to prevent the arrival of other associated disorders (for example displaced abomasum, infection, fatty liver, milk fever), remain limited.Title: Ketosis in the dairy cow: Friend or Foe?; Authors: Naghme Bagheri, Ph.D., and J. Eduardo Rico, Ph.D.

Resources for dairy reproductive management.

This goal of this pilot study was to examine the effect of making moderate improvements to pasture management on dairy heifer performance. Producers looking to improve grazing systems on their farm should begin by exploring simple management changes such as fertilizer application and the implementation (or increased intensity) of rotational grazing practices. Incorporation of an annual forage into the grazing system may also help improve performance by offsetting the reduced summer growth (i.e. summer slump) in perennial pastures and mitigating palatability and forage intake issues associated with endophyte-infected fescue pastures during the summer.

The Maryland Milk Moos (March 10, 2022, Vol. 3, Issue 1) is a quarterly newsletter published by the University of Maryland Extension that is focused on dairy topics related to Nutrition and Production, Herd Management, and Forage Production.

Information on the detection, the causes, and the approaches to reduce subclinical mastitis.

Many dairy producers grew up during a time when all heifer calves born on the farm were retained and reared as replacement candidates. However, improvements in pre-weaned calf management, heifer nutrition, and reproductive management have enabled dairy producers to maintain herd size while raising fewer replacements.

Whether you are a dairy producer or a beef producer, raise your animals on pasture or in confinement, or prefer crossbreds to purebreds, at the end of the day, a bovine is a bovine. Regardless of your goals or operation size, calving is a universal process and its physiology is essentially the same for all bovines. Understanding the physiology of calving can help you better understand when and if intervention is necessary to ensure the health and wellbeing of your cows and calves.