Herd Health

Dairy cows are most susceptible to new intramammary infections (IMIs) during the dry period. IMIs acquired during the dry period can have a significant impact on milk production, milk quality, herd removal and reproductive performance post-calving.

A basic understanding of why core-antigen vaccines are an effective tool during the dry period can help clear up common myths surrounding their usage.

Since I graduated from veterinary school almost 30 years ago, there have been big shifts in the types of mastitis found on farms.

We often take vaccination for granted and think it’s just something we have to do, but we don’t necessarily stop to think about what we are trying to achieve. By vaccinating your cows, you want to keep your herd healthy by preventing some infectious diseases, as well as ensuring productivity and profitability.

One of the primary goals of all livestock producers is to keep their herds healthy. Unfortunately, however, illness is often unavoidable – and some very easily transmitted but deadly ailments can be traced back to one source: clostridium.

Many dairy farmers have experienced at one time or another a challenge with high bacterial cell counts in the milk tank. And, if you have, you know the struggle to reverse it. It seems no matter what you do, the bacteria keep coming back.