Mastitis remains the single-most costly dairy herd health issue in terms of lost productivity, profitability and compromised product quality.

Proper management of dairy cows during the transition period is critically important for both the productivity and profitability of any dairy herd. Nutrition, housing and management during this period all have a direct influence on the health, production and reproduction of cows in the subsequent lactations.

I’m not sure who sent the stray voltage to the groundhog in February, but I think he was a little off-target this year. While spring yielded to summer early in the South, Old Man Winter clung to some parts of the country when the May flowers were supposed to arrive.

Heat stress and the problems associated with it can be costly to your dairy operation. Not only are there losses in milk production, but studies are also linking heat stress to lower reproduction rates, changes in dry matter and water intake as well as increased rates of lameness.

Dairy cows are very susceptible to heat stress and will adapt by reducing their milk production. Only half of that milk reduction is explained by a lower dry matter intake; other metabolic changes are involved, including a shift in the use of glucose by the mammary gland to other tissues, reducing its availability for milk production, a reduction in rumination and nutrient absorption, and an increase in maintenance needs to dissipate heat.

Compost-bedded pack barns are an alternative to traditional freestall barns, typically offering additional space for roaming and lying down for lactating, dry and special-needs cows.

Today’s technology is offering ways to enhance cow comfort using labor-saving robots, automated equipment and computerized health monitoring systems. With such a wide array of options available, selecting those that fit the individual needs of your dairy can be challenging.

Producers should consider maternity care, dry cow health, overstocking and social stressors when looking for ways to improve cow comfort.

For several years, Shiloh Dairy in Brillion, Wisconsin, was troubled by an epidemic of twisted and turned-up toes on cows’ and heifers’ front feet, but with the help of a committed consultant, they have successfully taken control of corkscrew claws.

A good doctor does not come up with a successful treatment or prevention plan without obtaining the facts to make a proper diagnosis. The same goes for your hygiene specialist in order to prescribe the teat dip to prevent mastitis on your dairy.