One of the most frustrating situations for a dairy owner is to find a dead or dying cow and not understand the cause. In the case of sudden death, hemorrhagic bowel syndrome (HBS) should be considered, especially if you own a large, high-producing herd.

On July 22, 2017, New Zealand’s Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) confirmed the first detection of Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) in New Zealand in a dairy herd in South Canterbury, a region on New Zealand’s South Island.

Twenty-one countries have eliminated bovine leukemia virus (BLV) from their cattle populations. The U.S. is not one of them. Years ago, it deemed the effort cost-prohibitive.

Chances are, you don’t spend a lot of your day thinking about the various bacterial or other microscopic species that inhabit your dairy. And much of the time, these unseen organisms don’t affect your herd to a point that warrants your attention.

The area of most confusion related to herd health management on dairies continues to be the vaccine program. It is rare to find just one vaccine protocol for any farm.

A good start in life and lactation are paramount to dairy profitability, and Kathryn Proudfoot, assistant professor at Ohio State University, explored using cow behavior as a management tool for maternity pen design.

It will be two years in August since Mike Biadasz tragically lost his life while agitating a large, outdoor manure pit. The silent killer: hydrogen sulfide gas.

Progressive Dairyman invited several prominent companies and organizations to discuss the current state of antimicrobial drug use on dairy farms. Those contacted said most producers do an exceptional job; this roundtable highlights areas to further perfect.

Manure spills are rarely a planned occurrence. Therefore, it is important to plan your emergency response methods in advance. Progressive Dairyman Editor Karen Lee reached out to three environmental experts to learn what dairy producers, farm employees and other manure handlers should be prepared to do in the event of a manure spill.