Euthanasia of cattle is never a pleasant task. Literally translated, “euthanasia” means “good death.” Please keep in mind that, if we have an animal that has given their life for food production and that animal is suffering, the least we can do is give them a good death.

With 10% to 35% of cows experiencing mastitis each lactation, grappling with its cost is a reality of milking cows. A Canadian study showed mastitis costs dairy farmers roughly $660 per cow per year, making it the costliest disease of dairy cattle.

When it comes to optimizing animal health in food-producing operations, there are many factors to consider. I have covered several of them in previous articles, such as providing a comfortable and clean environment, excellent nutrition and adequate disease monitoring protocols. 

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Jenn Coyne visits with Jason Anderson and Pam Selz-Pralle regarding the recently updated Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) Gold Standards.

Cow comfort and sustainability are probably two of the biggest buzz words right now in the dairy industry.

Dairy farming can be unpredictable, and even with the best management, accidents can happen. For example, a cow may slip exiting the parlor and go down. This could happen even on the best employee’s watch and while following all correct protocols.