Animal Health
All Animal Health Content
Management Minder Tool: Staying Organized on the Ranch
Daily life is busy on the farm and ranch and it seems as if once calving season is done, there is barely time to rest before fields must be planted or hay made.
Combating Heat Stress in Lactating Dairy Cows
With summer temperatures and higher humidity levels upon us, dairy producers need enact their heat abatement strategies on farm for all livestock.
Public Perception and Animal Well-Being
So you ask why is public perception and animal well-being important? Well, did you know that there is just a little over 1% of the population involved in production agriculture, today? Did you know that 98% of the people have no direct connection with how their food is produced?
Water Importance in Lactating Dairy Cows
When considering the importance of water in lactating cow diets, we need to remember that milk is 87 percent water, and its consumption is directly correlated with milk production and feed intake. Water also makes up anywhere from 55 percent to 70 percent of the body weight of a lactating dairy cow, depending upon the phase of the lactation cycle.
Understanding and Mitigating Heat Stress in Young Dairy Animals
We often don’t focus as much on heat stress in young dairy calves and tend to focus more on cold stress. However, it is just as important and producers or calf raisers should have a plan in place to help mitigate heat stress in these animals also.
Ensuring Quality Milk Replacer Through Proper Storage
Milk is the source of nutrients in newborn mammals. When mother’s milk is not available, a milk replacer is utilized. To ensure the proper growth and health of the young newborn, it is critical provide a quality milk replacer and proper storage of this product is a key component for success.
Keeping Pre-weaned Dairy Calves Healthy and Growing in Cold Weather
Cold stress can result in calves turning to stored body fat to generate body heat, essentially losing weight. In addition, calves experiencing cold stress will have compromised immune systems making them more susceptible to disease.
Managing Un-Weaned Dairy Calves During Cold Weather
Winter can present extra challenges for dairy producers and heifer growers as they try to keep calves alive and growing adequately in frigid temperatures.
Evaluating Feedstuffs on Nutrient Cost-Comparison Basis
Feed costs in dairy diets typically make up half or more of the input expenses of a ration. Thus, it is imperative to keep a handle on input costs by comparing ingredients on an apples-to-apples basis when looking for cost-effective diet solutions.
Fly Population Management on Dairies
Fly control on dairies is an important pest management consideration that impacts the bottom line by affecting overall animal productivity and health.