HERD HEALTH

After calving, a cow needs about three times more calcium than before calving. This increase in calcium requirement is in part due to colostrum production, which requires about 50 grams of calcium or 10 times the amount of calcium circulating in the cow’s bloodstream.

Milk fever, caused by low levels of calcium in the blood, is one of those conditions that can be a real pain. Providing intravenous (IV) calcium and managing down cows can be one of the most challenging parts of a dairy farmer’s job.

The “transition period” is the point in time when a dairy cow transitions from pregnant and not milking to milking and not pregnant. It is somewhat akin to launching a rocket from a standstill to orbit in a matter of weeks.

From growing up on a dairy farm to leading research efforts around hoof health and lameness, Dr. Gerard Cramer has devoted his life to improving the quality of life for dairy cows.

The sole on a cow’s claw protects it from outside harm, similar to the sole of a shoe on a human foot. Having thin soles is similar to wearing thin or worn shoe soles in that the feet are more vulnerable to ground surfaces when they lack that extra layer of protection.

Lameness affects nearly 25% of dairy cows worldwide. Data from the last five years suggests that when lesions occur in first lactation or before, there is a high probability the same lesion will occur again in consecutive lactations.