HERD HEALTH

Great strides have been made recently in improving the fertility of dairy cows, with significant focus on genomics and improvements in sync programs.

There are now stricter regulations of antibiotics commonly used in the animal-feeding industry. Livestock and poultry producers alike have been accused of overfeeding various antibiotics, largely for growth promotion purposes (i.e., for increased feed efficiency and profitability).

Intravenous (IV) fluids are the fastest and most effective way to reverse severe dehydration in a calf, and an intravenous catheter allows for extended fluid therapy.

After parturition, the uterus recovery (involution), the regeneration of the endometrium (uterus “skin”), the return of the ovarian cycle and the control of pathogenic bacteria in the uterus are required before a cow is ready for a successful conception.

Clostridial diseases can be among the most puzzling problems on a dairy. That’s because C. perfringens and other clostridia species occur naturally in soils, water and throughout the dairy environment.

Many dairy farmers have seen animals suffering from multiple tumors in the lymph nodes; this is just the tip of the iceberg. Many infected animals will not be clearly ill but are not producing to the best of their capabilities.