Herd Health

There are certain times on a dairy when it is necessary to take a moment to assess performance in key management areas. There are TMR audits, parlor audits, reproduction audits and other assessment programs that help gauge successes and, most importantly, outline areas for continuous improvement.

Nothing good can be built on a faulty foundation. On a cow, that foundation is its hooves. Therefore, it’s time to look at what the foundation is comprised of and how the foundation is built. We are still talking cows and hooves, though, right?

As milk alternatives continue to fill the shelves, it’s important for dairy producers to pay attention to how their product stacks up.

Bulk tank testing is a powerful monitoring tool that enables producers to make the best management decisions possible, by placing knowledge of their herd health into their hands.

Most transition diseases occur during the three weeks after calving, many of which are triggered at birth. Creating a low-stress calving pen can have positive impacts on dairy cow welfare by limiting the amount of time cows spend in labor and allowing cows to perform maternal behaviors.

A dairy manager’s ability to walk a pen of cows and notice those that need a closer look or additional support is an invaluable asset. This cow sense has always been the staple of a well-managed dairy herd that optimizes cow health and performance, as well as farm profitability.