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We’ve heard a lot of buzz over the last couple years about subclinical ketosis in fresh cows, different methods for testing and how subclinical ketosis affects cows.
In the spring of 2012, we started an on-farm survey to determine the level of subclinical ketosis present in several Upper Midwest herds using Abbott’s Precision Xtra blood meter.
The transition from late pregnancy to lactation requires enormous physiological adaptations from the dairy cow.
One of the most important changes that occurs involves the balance of calcium.
Cows unable to maintain adequate blood-calcium concentrations are susceptible to higher rates of early postpartum metabolic disorders and produce less milk.
As combines start to cruise through this year’s harvest, simple management routines can often be overlooked on the dairy. One of these practices is providing a consistent milk routine for the herd.
As summer comes to an end, we must remember to keep our cool when it comes to heat abatement for our dairy herds.
We may be enjoying some cooler weather, but for our high-producing dairy cows, the temperature is still running plenty warm for peak production.
The old adage “knowledge is power” certainly rings true when it comes to cow health. Entire management protocols and systems are designed around the quest to identify cows that are feeling subpar, perform needed interventions and quickly get them back on track.
In the beef and dairy industries, technologies such as drawing blood for pregnancy detection are gaining in popularity.
With this increase in use, many adopters of this technology are looking to maximize their efficiencies by performing as many tests as they can using the same blood sample.
As summer winds down, many dairies may see a little relief in sight as temperatures begin to cool down and the incidences of heat stress decrease. While heat stress is a common concern during these months, many producers may want to consider how the temperature is affecting their milk production and milk quality.
According to the National Mastitis Council, poor milk quality isn’t cheap. The average case of mastitis costs a farmer $184, with two-thirds of that amount due to loss in milk production.
“What group does that cow go in?” This was a question posed to me a couple of years ago by a young man trying to re-organize a neglected dairy.
He had so many questions that I ended up writing a three-part article titled “How to Bring Your Dairy Back to Life” back in 2011 for this fine magazine.
At certain times of the year and in certain climates, environmental bacteria can be a real challenge. Bedding conditioners have been developed to help reduce bacteria levels in the stall.
The organic milk market is competitive, and consumer demand continues to grow: The organic category continues to be one of the fastest-growing segments of the food industry, averaging double-digit growth year over year, and is now a $31.4 billion segment.
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