A research project led by Nathalie Bissonnette at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) – Sherbrooke and Kapil Tahlan at Memorial University in Newfoundland is investigating genetic markers in dairy animals that may be associated to Johne’s disease susceptibility or resistance.

Before you are able to implement new management practices on your dairy, or before your nutritionist or vet can recommend a new practice, you and they must – or at least should – consult what has been proven through research.

Do cows experience pain after calving? This might sound like a silly question – especially for those who have experienced childbirth. But because cows are pain tolerant, it can be difficult to know when they’re in pain.

Many years ago, when I was a “baby” vet, I was working with an old bachelor who milked 30 cows. During pregnancy checks, I asked how his calves were doing. “If I ever get a sick calf, I go to the liquor store and buy a bottle of whiskey.

Methionine (Met) has been recognized as the limiting or co-limiting amino acid for milk production for many years. More recently, there has been a lot of interest in the benefits of supplementing methionine to transition cows as well.

We often take vaccination for granted and think it’s just something we have to do, but we don’t necessarily stop to think about what we are trying to achieve. By vaccinating your cows, you want to keep your herd healthy by preventing some infectious diseases, as well as ensuring productivity and profitability.

Warmer weather is nearly here, and with it comes high temperatures, high humidity and increased chances of heat stress. According to a 2019 Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research study, the U.S. dairy industry experiences $1.5 billion in losses to heat stress annually.