Herd Health

As demand for low-spore raw milk increases, and with it prospects for premiums, the dairy industry needs evidence-based recommendations to give producers the tools to take advantage of this opportunity.

Fat supplementation of dairy cattle diets is a common practice to increase dietary energy and to thereby enhance milk and milk fat yields.

The transition period from pregnancy to lactation is one of great adaptation for dairy cattle, which too often can lead to metabolic disease and consequently subpar performance throughout lactation.

By now most have heard the comparison made between a dairy cow and an Olympian. Many articles have described the cow as a bovine athlete, secreting high volumes of milk with an ever-increasing percentage of milk solids.

Postpartum ketosis, or hyperketonemia, is defined as an excessive increase of ketone bodies in the blood and is a common metabolic disorder of dairy cows.

Mastitis is one of the most common and costly diseases facing the dairy industry today. Annually, over $2 billion are lost to mastitis alone, with an average per-case cost estimated at $444.