Dairy Basics - Herd Health: Featured article
Effects of heat stress on colostrum quality During heat stress cows exhibit reduced feed intake, decreased activity, increased respiratory rate, and increased peripheral blood flow in sweating. When heat stress is experienced close to calving an additional negative side effect is impaired transfer of maternal IgG's to colostrum. A study which proved this phenomenon grouped 1st calf heifers in either a cool (Temperature Humidity Index (THI) of 65) or hot environment (THI of 82 f...
Extreme heat can negatively influence a cow's ability to produce high quality colostrum. Heat stress can also negatively affect a calf's ability to absorb IgG from colostrum. Favorable environmental conditions are vital to promoting calf health, minimizing disease risk and mortality, subsequently encouraging growth rates. Two main reasons heat stress negatively influences successful passive transfer of immunity are discussed below.
Effects of heat stress on colostrum quality During heat stress cows exhibit reduced feed intake, decreased activity, increased respiratory rate, and increased peripheral blood flow in sweating. When heat stress is experienced close to calving an additional negative side effect is impaired transfer of maternal IgG's to colostrum. A study which proved this phenomenon grouped 1st calf heifers in either a cool (Temperature Humidity Index (THI) of 65) or hot environment (THI of 82 f...
Calving - Herd Health
The calving pen is one of the most strategic locations on the farm. The four objectives of good calving pen management include: comfort and low stress for the dam, low health risk to dam and calf, opportunity for seclusion by dam, and, convenience for people working with the cow and calf.
Calf Health - Herd Health
Calf raisers are responsible for the dairy herd's future - the next generation of healthy, high producing milking cows. The Wisconsin Herd Health Working Group has set out the 5 C's to a healthy start for newborn calves as: Colostrum, Calories, Cleanliness, Comfort and Consistency.
Metabolic Disease - Herd Health
Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is a common problem for many North American dairy herds, affecting 20 to 30 percent of cows in high-producing dairy herds.
Udder health - Herd Health
Milk quality is dependent on three key areas: the milking routine, the cows and their environment, and the milking equipment. A common reason why many milk quality programs fail is due to the neglect to look at all three areas together.
Udder health - Herd Health
For decades, the legal limit for the bulk tank somatic cell count (BTSCC) in the U.S. has been 750,000 cells/mL. Above which, producers cannot ship their milk for sale. However, there has been a movement to lower the legal limit.
May 20th 2012
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