Name some of the biggest health problems within a dairy herd. You’re likely saying ketosis, displaced abomasums and milk fever. Now, think of what all of these problems have in common. The answer is dry cows.

Fresh cow metabolic problems are likely the factor with the most devastating effects on milk production and reproductive performance in dairy cattle because a lot of them go unnoticed.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in both preweaned and weaned dairy calves. The syndrome is initiated by stress, but calves are more susceptible with partial or complete failure of passive transfer.

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team conducted a survey in 2015 of producers managing a transition cow program – defined as 60 days pre-calving to 30 days post-calving.

“You need to take into account the cow’s natural ability to tell you what she needs, no computer necessary,” said Richard Holliday, DVM. “Put the minerals out, and let the cows choose it, if they need it.”

The transition period is a very challenging period for the dairy cow. Her metabolism needs to adapt rapidly from a non-lactating to a lactating stage, and the reproductive system is preparing new ova for the next breeding period.

There is no doubt that dehorning (also referred to as disbudding) is painful. Given that much of the horn as well as the skin surrounding the horn is highly innervated, dehorning elicits immediate and acute reactions from calves.

When you’re raising replacement heifers, your goal is to build animals that will achieve long, healthy, productive lives. The care and nutrition they receive in their first days and weeks of life can have lasting effects on how well they fare in the longer race.

“Calf health is built on colostrum, nutrition, environment and calf health maintenance,” Dr. Sheila M. McGuirk, DVM, University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, said. “Depending on the farm, one may be more important than another.” (Figure 1)

In recent years, a great deal of attention has been focused on the significance of ash in calf milk replacers (CMRs). In order to understand the importance of ash in today’s CMRs, we first need to define it.