Long-term trends suggest the dairy industry has a mixed record when it comes to maintaining the health of our cows. On the one hand, we have seen a substantial decline in somatic cell counts. Improved management, a shift of cows to drier climates and aggressive culling of problem cows thanks to replacement heifer availability and high beef prices deserve much of the credit for this favorable udder health trend.

Respiratory disease is not a threat exclusive to the calf barn. It can occur in adult cows, too. In fact, pneumonia is to blame for 11 percent of adult cow deaths, according to a USDA dairy producer survey. Fortunately, these losses can be minimized with good management and herd health practices.

Dairy farm families have historically called on their veterinarian consultants for prevention and treatment of diseases on the farm. Traditionally, their role has been to look for problems associated with maintaining herd health. And, while this has impacted production, the role of the veterinarian has evolved to have an even greater impact on profitability by helping the farm management team take a broader look to identify potential opportunities for efficiencies on the dairy.

Dairies that have mastered the art of the transition period have a handful of things in common – and surprisingly, good nutrition is not the only one. Dr. Ken Nordlund from the University of Wisconsin – Madison shared his top five findings for transition cow success during the Minnesota Dairy Health Conference held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 20-22.

Johne’s disease and mastitis are two of the most economically important diseases affecting the Canadian dairy industry.

To improve the control of these infectious diseases and reduce the limiting effects they have on the productivity of the industry, Dr. Herman Barkema from the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine was appointed as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Industrial Research Chair in Infectious Diseases of Dairy Cattle.

Dairy cattle face numerous sources of stress, expected and unexpected, throughout their life cycle. One of the most predictable is heat stress, which can compromise cow health and production, both of which can have a significant economic impact on the profitability of a dairy. The effects of heat stress are estimated to cost the dairy industry up to $1.5 billion annually. Primary economic losses may include lower milk yields, reduced reproductive efficiency and even death.

As the global need for milk protein and dairy products in general continues to increase, greater expectations are placed on the dairy cow to produce more milk in an efficient manner. Rations are now being formulated to maximize animal health and production by incorporation of feed supplements, such as immune-stimulating additives.

Nearly 36 million hooves from 9 million dairy cows are making their imprint on U.S. dairy farms, according to recent USDA statistics. With that many cows in production, hoof health becomes an important factor for the dairy industry in maintaining overall dairy wellness. The Dairyland Initiative from the University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Veterinary Medicine examines the impact housing environments have on dairy cow health and well-being. This includes the use of footbaths and their role on hoof health.