Herd Health

For more than three decades, Vic Larson has been traveling the Minnesota countryside, taking care of dairy cows’ hoof-trimming needs.

Milking times are the most stressful points of a cow’s day. Removing as much stress as possible from the holding area and parlor can help improve milk let-down and ensure a complete milking.

Dairy producers are committed to improving animal welfare every day, but the needs of the animal caregivers play heavily into it, said Dr. Michelle Calvo-Lorenzo, technical consultant for Elanco Animal Health.

The transition cow is one of the most important animals in your operation. A successful transition sets her up for a great lactation and the potential to stay in your herd for years to come.

Three dairymen who installed rumination and activity monitoring systems over five years ago share their experiences and advice from the East, Midwest and West regions.

The benefits of a healthy transition period are more than simply the convenience of not having to deal with cases of ketosis or twisted stomachs.