TECHNOLOGY

Lameness can be the most costly disease on dairies, even more so than mastitis. This is due to the high incidence of lameness on dairies. It is not uncommon to find 30 percent yearly incidence or higher on dairies, yet lameness is one of the least entered and tracked diseases.

This month’s VAS DC305 tip is on transition. How well animals transition will greatly affect how they will do in their next lactation.

This month’s VAS DC305 tip is on replacement management. On many dairies, improvement in replacement management offers significant opportunity for economic gains.

This month’s VAS DC305 tip is on reproduction. Reproduction is one of the most important areas on a dairy and can decide the level of success a dairy has. It not only provides the replacements and next generation of superior genetics, but also affects the cash flow on the dairy.

This month’s VAS DC305 tip is on transition. How well animals transition will greatly affect how they will do in their next lactation. Poor transition will not only affect the production of the animal for the next lactation, but will also affect reproduction, somatic cell count and lifetime in the herd.

This month’s VAS DC305 tip is on clinical mastitis. Clinical mastitis is a very costly disease. Although poor milk procedures, dirty environments and faulty equipment can predispose cows, most mastitis is caused by an infectious agent.