Who doesn’t admire age and longevity? I certainly do. Raised in New England amongst Yankees, I am accustomed to homes, towns and farms that are centuries old. Whether a centenarian, an animal or a farm family, the ability to stand the test of time and weather adversity demonstrates the possession of traits well suited to survival.

The transition period before and after calving is a critical time in the cow’s life and the period when she’s most susceptible to disease, so it’s important to prioritize her nutritional and management needs during this time more than any other.

Nutrition in the postfresh pen may be the true determination of a successful lactation. Often referred to as the most critical time in a cow’s life, the transition period sets the stage for milk production, reproduction and overall health. While this time frame extends three weeks on either side of calving, the majority of research has focused on the nutritional demands of the prefresh cow.

As most producers are aware, sick cows behave differently than healthy cows. However, recent research now shows that certain behaviors may also help us identify cows that will become sick in the future. This topic has been a focus of researchers working at the University of British Columbia’s Animal Welfare Program, focused primarily on early behavioral indicators of metritis and lameness.

Observation skills and experience are extremely beneficial to managing the health and performance of a dairy herd. Perceptive practitioners of animal husbandry can often tell you at a glance whether an animal is under the weather or is feeling perfectly fine by walking pens, observing feed intakes and monitoring cow behavior for important hints. And they are investing in technology like rumination monitoring to help with this essential task.

Dr. Grooms, president of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, defined what vaccines do for our cattle and the industry, the types of vaccines and how to properly store and administer vaccinations in a webinar he led Jan. 13 titled “Basic Vaccinology: Why Vaccines Work or Don’t Work.”

As hoof trimmers, we rely on the cooperation of dairymen to make our routine visits effective and efficient, and there are a few simple things you can do to make this possible. I have often thought the reason professional hoof trimmers have a niche occupation is because it is a difficult job. While this might be partially true, I believe I speak for myself and my hoof-trimming contemporaries when I say it is a combination of several unique challenges that make it a love-hate occupation.

It was not long ago that I had a farm visit where I found a substantial lameness issue. The producer was at his wit’s end. He had tried it all, and nothing seemed to be a solution. This had been going on for a number of years, and there seemed to be no end in sight. I could hardly imagine the cost and loss figures for this herd: early culling or death, milk loss, endless footbath solutions and wasted time.

My day starts at 3:30 a.m., feet on the floor and spending time with the Lord. Fueling up for a long day of trimming starts with a hearty breakfast. This morning’s meal consists of sausage, eggs, biscuits, blackberry jelly and a big cold glass of milk (more about the jelly later). I loaded my truck the night before so I am ready to tackle today’s work schedule.

Spreading hydrated lime where cows lay has been a common practice in the battle against mastitis since the 1940s. This form of disinfecting and drying the area below the bedding barrier to protect teats and udders from pathogens worked very well in a 1960s-style tiestall barn.