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The U.S. ag industry produces the safest food in the world. However, drug residues in beef are drawing increased scrutiny from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Unfortunately, dairy cows are 20 times more likely than beef cows and more than 400 times more likely than feedlot cattle to be flagged for carcass residue. Contaminated meat or milk from a dairy operation can result in significant expense, unfavorable publicity and even loss of market access.
Recent advances in laboratory analytical techniques now allow scientists to detect organic compounds at very low concentrations, in the parts-per-billion to parts-per-trillion range.
As detection limits have dropped and as scientists have begun to test for more and more chemicals, previously undetected organic chemicals are increasingly being found in streams, lakes and groundwater.
These previously undetected chemicals, typically synthetic chemicals released from human activities on the land surface, are now popularly referred to as “emcons” or “emerging contaminants.”
Imagine if your tank average dropped by 15 percent one month. Or you had to dump 15 percent of your milk each pick-up. Think of that impact on your bottom line.
Dairy producers may find themselves in a similar situation if they don’t practice food safety as actively with cull cows as they are with milk. Cull cows and bull calves can represent between 10 to 15 percent of gross farm income, according to most industry statistics.
So while not as significant as the milk check, revenue from cull cows is an important income stream, and steps should be taken to protect it.
Click here to read an update to this article.
I have been in the hoof care business for more than 16 years and have seen my herds expand in size over and over again.
The industry has integrated from mid-size herds in tiestalls and cows spending much of their time on pasture to larger freestall operations with cows spending most or all of their time walking on concrete.
TRENDING TOPIC ARTICLE: HERD HEALTH
Published: March 22, 2011 print issue
In this past article, IntraCare’s Koos Vis discussed the cause and symptoms of foot rot as well as the treatment and preventative steps to take.
He also provided information about how to distinguish foot rot from other hoof health problems. to jump to the article.
He wrote, “If your cow is lame for a long period of time, the cause most likely is not foot rot. The foot may smell and look ‘rotten,’ but the inflammation is quite probably not caused by foot rot and we’re dealing with another cause of lameness.”
Within any confined dairy or cattle operation, ectoparasites such as house, stable, face and horn flies pose a significant threat to overall cow health, comfort and performance, and the economic losses to the operator can be severe if not proactively and aggressively addressed.
The primary goals in reducing fly populations, specifically on dairy farms, are to increase cow comfort (thus maximizing milk production) and reduce the potential spread of disease pathogens.
Dr. Chris Connelly is a dairy veterinarian from Pennsylvania Furnace, Pennsylvania. He obtained an undergraduate degree in animal sciences from Penn State in 1999 and finished his doctorate at Virginia Tech in 2003.
Connelly currently works for Centre Herd Health Services, based in Centre Hall, Pennsylvania, and serving mostly dairy clients in central Pennsylvania. He explains the five things he can't do without for his career.
Technology. Innovation. Modernization. Change. Are these “scary” words for you?
As dairy producers, I’m sure you hear and read about all the new and innovative technologies available to you that will help improve profits, safety and time. But how many of these changes will truly generate a return on your investment?
As we walk through dairy operations, we help producers determine what they need to do to profitably produce higher quantities of higher-quality milk. Sometimes our recommendation is focused on udder hygiene.
Leptospirosis is a disease that can impact the bottom line of every dairy producer, mainly through lost reproductive efficiency. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic bacterial disease that affects mammals worldwide. The definition of a zoonosis is a disease that can be transmitted from animals to people.
Leptospires are gram-negative bacteria that can survive for considerable periods of time in moist soil or standing water. Warm, moist conditions are ideal for the spread of leptospirosis.
The world today seems to be moving at an increasingly rapid pace. Agriculture has seen more challenging times to remain profitable and sustainable. This pressure can affect our decisions when designing, building or modifying dairy facilities that can influence cow comfort.
Providing adequate cow comfort has a direct impact on milk production, health, reproduction, longevity and profitability. This article will focus on some of the key areas including stall design, bedding, overcrowding and flooring.
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