Animal Production
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Research has demonstrated that proper dry-off methods are vital in promoting udder health during the nonlactating period and at calving. For high producing cows, it may be necessary to decrease dietary energy over the last 1-2 weeks of lactation by increasing fiber and eliminating grain. Abrupt cessation of milking is probably as good as intermittent milking with a diet change for low and medium producing cows; however, intermittent milking is recommended for high producing cows to decrease milk yield and minimize leakage at dry-off, which could lead to mastitis. First lactation cows should be given a 50- to 60-day dry period, but multiparous animals fare well with a 35- to 45-day dry period. Selective dry cow therapy with non lactating cow antibiotics plus teat seal is as effective as blanket dry cow therapy with non lactating cow antibiotics plus teat seal for cows with SCC less than 200,000/ml. However, blanket dry therapy with both products is recommended for cows that dry off with greater than 200,000/ml. It is important to follow recommended infusion techniques to preserve the protective components of teat canal keratin and the sphincter muscle. And lastly, use of coliform vaccines will enhance immunity over the dry period and reduce clinical coliform mastitis in early lactation. This publication address these topics in more detail in order to help producers prevent mastitis in their dairy herds.
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Certain algae can cause serious problems when they become very abundant in drought, hot weather, unusual rainfall patterns, or after nutrient accumulation in pond water. Fortunately, most ponds do not experience toxin problems or dense algal blooms. Watching for the warning signs that lead to toxic algal bloom development is the best way to prevent toxin problems.
This publication describes how to effectively monitor for potential toxic conditions, control algae, and improve water quality in ponds.
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When it comes to managing a dairy herd, infections and inflammation of the cow’s uterus can have negative implications for animal welfare, milk production, and rebreeding capacity. Maintaining uterine health is essential for proper ovarian function and the creation of a uterine environment that is favorable for successful pregnancy. Although all production species can suffer from disruptions to uterine health after parturition, the prevalence of endometritis is notably greater in dairy breeds when compared to other breeds of cattle. Producers should be willing and able to assess uterine health through reproductive records and visual observations (with or without additional tools), and work with their veterinarian for identification and treatment of subclinical cases of endometritis if an issue is apparent. This bulletin provides information on how to minimize the risk of endometritis.
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In recent years, global climate change has been one of the most frequently discussed scientific ideas in the popular press. Terms like “global warming” and “greenhouse gas” have been politicized with little discussion of what they really mean, shedding more heat than light on scientific discussions of changing climate. Concerns about the relative contributions of greenhouse gases from different industries have caused much finger pointing without making it clear how the gases are produced and what options are available for management of the gas emissions. In particular, agriculture has been identified as one of the major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, and this has caused consumers to question the production practices used in modern agricultural systems. Specific focus has been placed on cattle production because these animals digest feed by a process called “enteric fermentation,” which produces methane as a by-product. The purpose of this bulletin is to explain the basic debate surrounding methane production from livestock, in particular how it is produced in the rumen.
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Mastitis continues to be a major livestock disease afflicting the U.S. dairy industry. As the industry strives to improve milk quality to meet consumer as well as exportation demands, the legal limit for bulk tank sec will likely be reduced from 750,000/ml to 400,000/ml in the near future. It is estimated that between 10 and 20% of US dairy farms, mostly located in the Southeast, are currently at or above the 400,000/ml SCC limit and will have to adopt stricter methods for controlling mastitis in their milking herds, dry cows, and heifers.
This publication reviews the survey results of adoption rates for mastitis control measures and shows that there is much room for improvement.
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Vaccines are an integral part of a comprehensive herd health program. When used in conjunction with other management tools, vaccines can reduce both the risk and impact of disease in beef cattle herds. Nevertheless, when used inappropriately, vaccines can be virtually useless and, in some cases, result in impaired productivity and significant economic losses.
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This publication contains an Excel spreadsheet to help researchers determine the correct poultry population size for their experiments.
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Prevalence of mastitis in unbred, breeding-age and pregnant dairy heifers is higher than formerly realized. Infected
mammary quarters, especially those with Staph. aureus IMI, exhibit reduced mammary gland secretory
potential, marked leukocyte infiltration and the accompanying inflammation. Both nonlactating and lactating
commercial antibiotic infusion products have been used successfully to cure existing infections and reduce SCC,
and nonlactating therapy prevents new IMI with environmental streptococci. However, the goal is to prevent
new infections from occurring in these young dairy animals through management strategies aimed at vaccination,
use of teat seals, fly control and dietary supplementation. As global milk quality standards
become more stringent, management practices based on curing existing infections and preventing new IMI
in heifers will ensure that these young dairy animals enter the milking herd free of mastitis and with low SCC.
Such practices should be considered for incorporation into dairy herd health programs in herds suffering from a
high prevalence of heifer mastitis, especially mastitis caused by Staph. aureus. Not only do these practices reduce
new infections in first-calf heifers at parturition, they also reduce the introduction of Staph. aureus to the milking
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In today’s farming environment of extreme price volatility and large debt commitments, most livestock producers need the security of one or more of the advantages offered by price risk management. Livestock producers who are selling products or purchasing inputs can do one of two things when making pricing decisions: accept the market price when they are ready to deliver products or purchase inputs, or reduce input and product price risks by using price risk management tools. One of these price risk management opportunities is available through futures markets contracts. This publication explains how livestock producers can use futures markets to manage price risk.
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