September 2020
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Drug residues in meat and milk are closely monitored by the FDA. If you have a violation, the following actions can be taken against your dairy:
August 2020
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The number of daily visits a cow makes to an automated milking system has a notable impact on overall milk production. The value of frequent milkings starts right after calving.
July 2020
During the transition period cows experience a drop in dry matter intake, an increase in nutrient demands and depression of the immune system functions.
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Photo Credit Penn State Extension |
It is well known that the period encompassed between three weeks before and after calving, known as the transition period, is one of the most challenging times for dairy cows. During this period cows experience a drop in dry matter intake, an increase in nutrient demands and depression of the immune system functions (LeBlanc, 2010). On top of these challenges, cows suffer systemic stress and inflammation during the days before and after calving (Comline et al., 1974; Uchida et al., 1993).
Read more … Modulating Inflammation After Calving May Improve Cow Health and Performance
July 2020
Bunching of animals is a common problem on dairy farms during summer months. Cows in freestall barns sometimes congregate together in one part of the barn, with ample free space that is not being utilized. Youngstock in group housing and cattle in lots or pastures may also exhibit this behavior. It can be a very frustrating problem as it is often difficult to determine what is causing cattle to bunch and what can be done to prevent it.
Read more … Cattle Bunching on Dairy Farms: Causes and Solutions
May 2020
Spring is in the air, with the tulips and daffodils starting to bloom, and alfalfa fields coming back to life. It is also the time when our barn ventilation systems roar back to life to keep our cows and calves cool. While an inefficient system may not create problems now, it is wasting energy, and by summer, it will be creating problems when your livestock are experiencing heat stress. Ventilation systems often consume between 20 to 25% of the total energy used on the farm.
Read more … Keeping Cows and Calves Cool Through Ventilation System Maintenance
August 2019
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( Taylor Leach ) |
Peak milk is the highest recorded test day milk production in a cow’s first 150 days in milk (DIM). Historically, producers used peak milk as a measure of the success of dry period and early lactation nutrition and management. Peak milk indicates how well the cow responds to feeding practices during the dry period, calving and early lactation periods.
Read more … 10 Ways to Improve Early Lactation Performance and Peak Milk Yield
October 2019
Abstract
Transfaunation is supposed to stimulate normal rumen function and has been used as an ancillary treatment for indigestion. Although it is widely recommended, there are little research data on the efficacy and the necessary volume.
The objective of the prospective clinical trial was the evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of two different transfaunation volumes which can be obtained under practical conditions.
Forty‐five cattle suffering from indigestion were included in the study. A scoring system for the classification of rumen fluid was used. Scores were given in accordance with the importance of the parameter as an indication of microbial dysfunction. Animals with disturbed rumen fluid composition and activity were randomly assigned into 3 groups. Group 1 received 1 L of rumen fluid, group 2 received 5 L of rumen fluid and group 3 (control group) received 5 L of body temperature water. Rumen fluid analysis was repeated on days 1 and 4 after transfaunation. The feed intake of the animals was recorded.
After the transfaunation of 1 L and 5 L, the rumen fluid score improved significantly from day 0 to days 1 and 4. Rumen fluid samples in the control group showed no significant improvement from day 0 to day 1.
No significant differences were observed between the two treatment groups. But significant differences between the improvement of group 1 and the control group on days 1 and 4 and significant differences between group 2 and the control group on day 1 were detected. Small volumes of rumen fluid are easily obtainable by stomach tubes fitted with suction pumps. In summary, the transfaunation of as little as 1 L of rumen fluid caused significant improvement in the activity of rumen flora in cows suffering from indigestion.
Simone Steiner, Nina Linhart, Anita Neidl, Walter Baumgartner, Alexander Tichy, Thomas Wittek
https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.13232
December 2019
ABSTRACT
Flunixin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and the most commonly prescribed analgesic in cattle in the United States. Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a transdermal formulation of flunixin for control of pyrexia associated with bovine respiratory disease and the control of pain associated with foot rot. The transdermal formulation is not currently approved for use in lactating dairy cattle in the United States, but extra-label use in dairy cattle is permissible under US regulations. The objectives of this study were to determine the pharmacokinetics in milk of dairy cows treated with transdermal flunixin and determine an appropriate withdrawal time for milk. Ten lactating Holstein cows were enrolled into the study in mid lactation. Following treatment, cows were milked 3 times per day through 144 h. Milk samples were collected for drug analysis using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The geometric mean maximum concentration for flunixin in milk was 0.010 μg/mL and was 0.061 μg/mL for the active metabolite, 5-hydroxyflunixin. The geometric mean terminal half-life was 20.71 h for flunixin and 22.62 h for 5-hydroxyflunixin. Calculations to approximate a withdrawal time in milk following transdermal flunixin administration were accomplished using a statistical tolerance limit procedure. This analysis indicated that it would be prudent to observe a withdrawal period of 96 h following the last treatment. This is more than twice as long as the labeled withdrawal period of 36 h following use of the injectable formulation. The withdrawal period suggested by this work should be applied carefully, as this study was not conducted under the full quality control practices required by the US FDA for a full drug approval study. Caution should be taken when applying this withdrawal time to diseased animals, animals that are milked with different milking frequencies, and those in different stages of production as these have all been shown to affect drug depletion from milk.
P.J. Gorden, M.D. Kleinhenz, R. Warner, P.K. Sidhu, J.F. Coetzee
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-16639
August 2019
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Seasonal SCC highs since 2015 are now below the seasonal low for 2008. ( Farm Journal, Inc. ) |
A report by the Upper Midwest Federal Milk Marketing Order shows that somatic cell counts (SCCs) in the Upper Midwest have fallen to 182,000 cell/mL on a weighted volume basis, the lowest level ever. The report is based on data for 2018.
Read more … Somatic Cell Counts Fall to Lowest Levels Ever in Upper Midwest
July 2019
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DSM, a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and sustainable living, has filed for EU authorization for a new feed additive for dairy cows that will reduce methane emissions by around 30%.
Follow this link for the full article - https://www.dairyreporter.com/Article/2019/07/23/DSM-feed-additive-could-cut-methane-emissions-by-30
Jim Cornall
Dairy Reporter.com
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