Every case of mastitis is costly to the dairy producer. It may be in terms of decreased milk production, treatment expense, lower milk quality premiums and possible culling or death of the affected animal. Indirectly, it takes extra time during milking to properly identify a treated cow and discard her milk, and there is always the risk of antibiotic residues if a treated cow is accidently milked into the tank.

On Dec. 23, 2013, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published in the Federal Register a proposed rule to allow the importation of fresh (chilled or frozen) beef from certain regions of Brazil.

BVD disease is one of the most complicated viral diseases in dairy cattle worldwide. Terms associated with BVD such as “cytopathic” vs. “noncytopathic,” “persistent infection” vs. “transient infection,” “types I and II” and “immunosuppression” make understanding this virus a difficult task. However, the results of this disease are very clear – economic losses due to poor performance, loss of milk production, open cows, abortions, calf sickness and death. In order to control this problem, producers must first know if the virus is circulating in their herd.