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Know How / Dairy / Health and welfare

Good health and welfare is an essential feature of dairy herd management. Read up-to-date information on major welfare issues and diseases affecting dairy animals including infectious disease such as bovine TB and BVD, respiratory disease, mastitis, lameness and keep up to date with the latest welfare requirements.

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Case studies

YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT

How passive transfer testing gives calves a good start

On-farm blood testing to check dairy calves for successful passive transfer from colostrum has helped a 780-cow herd validate its protocols. Within six months, correlating the outcomes with calf health,…

DAIRY

How video monitoring helped halve a dairy’s antibiotics use

A Pembrokeshire dairy farming family have made significant strides in reducing their antibiotics use on-farm by using technology and working closely with their vet. Stephen and Daniel James, who farm…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Four ways tenant dairy unit manages consistent feeding 

Adding maize and an alkaline fibre nut to the feed ration has helped a Cumbrian farm maintain rumen health through a period of challenging production years. Andrew Barraclough took on…

DAIRY

Why low-mastitis herd helps keeps tabs on medicines cabinet

The downside of a dairy herd with less than 5% mastitis is having to maintain a stock of in-date antibiotics. This is the case for the Hodginkson family, who run…

DAIRY

How a Somerset dairy cut mastitis cases by 40% in two years

A free monthly report summarising mastitis and somatic cell count patterns prompted changes to dry cow management and milking routine at Westford Park Farm, Chard. Together, these led to a…

DAIRY

How three dairy farmers maintain high-yielding herds

What is the secret to achieving high yields of more than 10,000 litres a cow a year? Asked how they maintain high levels of production in their dairy enterprises, three…

Practical advice

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HEALTH AND WELFARE

What farmers can gain from a vet discussion group

With both farming and veterinary industries constantly evolving, discussion groups are a great way to keep in touch with current recommendations. Oakhill Farm Vets have been running the Red Rose…

DAIRY

6 tips on delivering water for dairy cows

Many dairy farms have outgrown their water supply as they have increased cow numbers. Yet investment in water infrastructure often is not considered until a problem arises. Phil Evans is…

LIVESTOCK DISEASES

Farmers urged to be on alert for bluetongue re-emergence

Farmers are being urged to remain vigilant as temperatures rise and the threat of bluetongue virus re-emerges.   The Animal Health and Plant Agency (Apha) has raised concerns that mildly…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

Advice on disinfection of livestock trailers

Washing hands and wearing gloves while cleaning and disinfecting livestock trailers can help to reduce the spread of zoonotic pathogens as well as antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Following government guidelines for cleaning…

DAIRY

Advice on vaccination protocols for dairy herds

Failure to adhere to vaccine protocols could prove to be an expensive mistake for dairy farms. Vet Sophie Prichard says such herds will not have optimal protection against disease and…

CALVING

Benefits of giving heifers pain relief at calving

Giving all heifers a pain relief injection after calving will help them through the transition process of joining the milking herd and thereby prevent metabolic issues and lameness. In the…

Insights

DAIRY

Lungworm vaccine cuts wormer use by nearly 90%, study shows

Vaccinating youngstock for lungworm has resulted in an 87% reduction in the use of macrocyclic lactone wormers among dairy farmers who took part in a Welsh study. The trial was…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

How data analysis helped dairy herds cut mastitis cases

A project involving multiple dairy farms across Wales has demonstrated why collecting data to establish the mastitis “red flags” specific to an individual herd can be key to reducing disease…

LIVESTOCK

Feed efficiency research reveals importance of cow grouping

Breeding dairy herds for feed efficiency can be negatively impacted on-farm by managing lactating cows in mixed parity groups. This is because of competition at the feed bunk and a…

DAIRY

Cow health strategy rethink needed after bolus loss

Dairy farms need to review their strategies for preventing metabolic disease in transition cows as monensin boluses are no longer on the market, said independent veterinary consultant Dr David Charles.…

LIVESTOCK

Why a congenital defect could cause calf losses

Ask a dairy or beef farmer if they have ever had a calf born with atresia, a condition commonly known as “waterbelly”, and the chances are they will say no.…

LIVESTOCK

Benefits of giving dairy calves toys on farm

Giving dairy calves plastic “toys” to play with helps them express their natural behaviour which, in turn, benefits their mental wellbeing. As a result, they are less likely to display…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

Analysis: What farmers need to know about bluetongue

The current outbreak of bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) is likely to get worse in the coming weeks before it improves, warn industry leaders. Since the first case in this…

YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT

How a ‘big squeeze’ could help dummy calves to suck

Neonatal maladjustment syndrome in calves – also known as “dummy calf” syndrome – can be a challenge for dairy farmers to manage, often requiring extra labour to tube-feed youngstock. Typically,…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Excess copper found to impair liver function in heifers

Feeding excess copper to dairy heifer calves can compromise liver function, leading to poorer fertility and lower milk yields in first lactation. This is according to AHDB-funded research at Harper…

LIVESTOCK

Are milk fever and negative energy balance under control?

Milk fever and negative energy balance are issues for many dairy herds, despite most dairy farmers recognising the importance of the dry period to cow health and productivity. According to…

LIVESTOCK

Why simple, relevant data is focus of cow behaviour research

Business lore says that what gets measured can be managed or improved. Yet dairy farmers are at risk of being overloaded with information now that cow tracking technology can record…

LIVESTOCK

6 livestock tech developments to look out for

From driverless tractors to cameras for identifying diseases, several high-tech innovations are coming down the track. Farmers Weekly looks at six highlights. See also: NI farm transforms slurry and food…

Online resources

Nadis livestock disease A-Z - Cattle

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Nadis livestock disease A-Z - Sheep

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Nadis livestock disease A-Z - Pigs

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Nadis livestock disease A-Z - Poultry

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HEALTH AND WELFARE

What farmers can gain from a vet discussion group

With both farming and veterinary industries constantly evolving, discussion groups are a great way to keep in touch with current recommendations. Oakhill Farm Vets have been running the Red Rose…