HERD HEALTH

Digital dermatitis (DD) is the number one cause of lameness among dairy cows around the world, but some herds are saying “no” to these painful lesions with a “zero tolerance” policy that works.

Many dairy producers point to freezing winter weather as a reason to reduce or eliminate footbath use.

With most animal welfare audits currently assessing bodily injuries to our dairy cows, there is growing interest into their causation and significance.

Over the last decade, dairy production, on average, in Canada has been increasing and shows no signs of slowing down. This increase in production, however, brings its share of challenges and often places dairy animals under a lot of stress.

The transition period is the most critical period for a successful lactation. Many factors play a crucial role in the success of this period, such as comfort and ventilation, the overall health of the animals, the quality of the feed served, as well as the feeding strategy used.

The ideal pre-fresh period is 21 days. Too much corn silage makes heifers fat. Excess dietary salt causes udder edema. The younger the age at first calving, the better.