Disease resistance - Articles

New calf traits will allow producers to select for disease resistance

Holstein and Jersey breeders will soon be able to genetically select for calves with improved resistance to respiratory problems and diarrhea thanks to two new traits developed from herd records in the National Cooperator Database.

April 19, 2026

Kristen Parker Gaddis

Genetic and genomic evaluations for Resistance to Diarrhea (DIA) and Resistance to Respiratory Problems (RSP) will represent the expected resistance of an animal’s offspring to these issues in a herd with average management conditions. Final approvals are being wrapped up, with the goal of introducing these traits for Holstein and Jersey breeders soon.

Breeding the future of alfalfa: Driving innovation amid industry consolidation

The alfalfa industry continues to evolve, with fewer breeders and changing grower needs shaping the marketplace. Leaders from DLF, Forage Genetics International and Legacy Seeds share insights on their breeding programs.

November 28, 2025

Marian Viney

DLF, Forage Genetics International and Legacy Seeds share how alfalfa breeding is evolving to meet grower needs and industry challenges.

Salmonella Dublin flies under radar

Salmonella Dublin is rising globally, causing major economic and herd health risks. Prevention, testing, biosecurity and farmer awareness are critical for control and eradication.

August 26, 2025

Lynn Grooms

Beware Typhoid Mary in your herd. She may not be showing signs of infection, but could be carrying and shedding Salmonella Dublin, a bacterium that can be transmitted from lactating cows to calves.

Methods to circumvent autotoxicity in mature alfalfa stands

Few plants can match alfalfa in terms of harvest frequency, yield and protein content, but incorporating sainfoin is a good way to avoid autotoxicity.

May 6, 2025

Joseph Sagers

Sainfoin presents a compelling alternative for forage producers seeking to thicken old alfalfa stands or diversify their forage systems.

A persistent culprit: Mycoplasma bovis

A well-executed Mycoplasma bovis control program encompasses an awareness of the distinctive disease characteristics and timely interventions for lasting well-being and productivity.

December 3, 2024

Jason Anderson

Among the more problematic pathogens affecting cattle, Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) stands out for its involvement in chronic infections. The interaction between the outer makeup of the microorganism and the animal’s immune response contributes to its insidious nature, making treatment as well as prevention difficult.

IgG + IgY = A powerful team

IgY in conjunction with IgGs can provide improved disease protection for young calves when they’re most vulnerable to disease.

September 17, 2024

Roger L. Saltman

When you combine the IgG in colostrum with IgY fed in milk or milk replacer, you can boost the level of antibodies in the calves’ gastrointestinal tract so that they can better resist pathogen challenges during the first few weeks of life.

Research Review: From the Journal of Dairy Science: Health traits and adaptations of immune function in calves

June 27, 2024

Pedro Nogueira

Explore how fluctuations in daily milk yield can indicate disease resilience in Holstein cattle, potentially transforming breeding practices for better health and productivity.

The next generation of high-performance potato varieties

While standard varieties such as Russet Burbank, Russet Norkotah and Ranger Russet pose agronomic challenges such as disease susceptibility and high input requirements, emerging varieties from research programs offer notable improvements.

May 27, 2024

Rhett Spear

Standard varieties, like Russet Burbank, Russet Norkotah and Ranger Russet, are still widely grown even with agronomic issues including high input requirements, internal and external defects, lower yields and disease susceptibility. Despite their widespread use, these standard varieties are slowly being displaced by new varieties that have been selected and developed to address detrimental issues and improve grower returns.

Do old genetics hold the key to reduced mastitis susceptibility?

Research shows that cells from a group of unselected Holsteins might hold the capability of reducing mastitis in modern cows.

May 23, 2024

Kaitlyn Sarlo Davila

Research at the USDA National Animal Disease Center (NADC) is focused on using genomic and mitigation strategies to control mastitis. A key aspect of this research is a herd of Holsteins from the University of Minnesota that have not undergone any genetic selection since 1964.