Spring and fall are busy times of year for agriculture operations, whether preparing fields for the new cropping season or harvesting those crops. In many cases, those two times of the year also involve pumping manure to evacuate the pits and fertilize the soil.

On a dairy farm, obvious challenges surface every day, perhaps a displaced abomasum or mastitic quarter. These problems are readily diagnosed and usually treated successfully.

The components of manure reflect the components of the cow’s internal and external environment, including a variety of potential disease-causing microorganisms. Proper manure management and attention to detail as part of a whole-farm approach to pathogen control can help limit your herd’s exposure to these harmful pathogens.

Harmful pathogens lurk everywhere on a dairy. Taking a whole-farm approach to pathogen reduction can break the cycle of infection and re-infection that may prevent your herd from performing at its best.