Category Archives: Animal Health: Welbeing, Hygiene, Disease Prevention

Mastitis severity is often driven by how a cow’s immune system reacts, says Dr James Breen at Nottingham Uni Most producers have had it – a sudden and unexpected case of toxic mastitis in a freshly calved cow, sometimes curable, sometimes fatal. But why are there different responses to treatment, and why do some cows […]

Cows mobilise muscle around calving, which then needs to be replaced The dry period is a key phase in a cow’s life, and getting it right is critical for her future success. So how can precision nutrition help? British Dairying reports. For a long time, the dry period was seen simply as a holding period […]

Tackling lameness starts with prevention, clear planning and consistent, proactive herd management Lameness remains a persistent issue on many dairy farms, but a new survey hopes to identify new approaches to tackle the problem. British Dairying reports. Poor mobility and foot health problems are present on all dairy farms, with the national average incidence around […]

Employing a season-long worm and fly control strategy may not only provide protection, but also result in less labour and reduced animal stress. British Dairying reports. Gut and lung worms can hamper productivity on dairy farms, affecting youngstock weight gain, carcass quality and milk production. The annual cost of worms through lost production and treatment […]

High temperatures around birth can negatively impact calf performance Heat stress in dry cows has been found to affect the lifetime production of their offspring. And recent studies show that this in-utero heat stress reduces growth rates and mammary development in the post-weaning phase. British Dairying reports. Warmer temperatures in the lead up to and […]

At one week old calves are moved from individual housing to group pens, with up to six calves per group A dairy farm in Lancashire has seen calf mortality rates drop and growth rates improve after introducing targeted management and a structured vaccination policy.  British Dairying finds out more about this success. Richard and Jenny […]

Anti-rodent sprays can be useful to deter gnawing on wires and ducting, particularly around machinery As new rodent control legislation comes into force, dairy farmers face significant changes to how they manage vermin on their farms. British Dairying finds out more. Rodents pose multiple threats to dairy businesses, ranging from issues with hygiene and biosecurity […]