Use of pain control methods during dehorning by veterinarians and calf raisers has been increasing, especially since dehorning was identified by the National Dairy FARM program as a medical procedure requiring pain management. Even so, adoption and use of consistent… Continue Reading
I recently received an email about a dairy farm in Ireland where as many as 50 newborn calves developed abnormal rapid breathing after birth. The herd had blood, silage and soil samples tested. Values appeared to be normal, except iodine… Continue Reading
The National Dairy FARM Program (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management)1 introduced several updates to it’s calf management guidelines which took effect January 1, 2017. The 2017 revision places greater emphasis on employee training and the Veterinarian-Client Patient relationship. Painful medical procedures and… Continue Reading
Nutritional Support Coupled with Heat Stress Abatement Can Improve Animal Performance The conversation about environmental heat stress on dairy cows usually focuses on early lactation where it has serious effects on feed intake, milk production, health and reproductive performance. Heat… Continue Reading
I recently had the opportunity and privilege to work with True Farms in New York, documenting their transition from an acidified waste milk feeding system for calves to a computerized feeding system where they feed milk replacer. The folks at… Continue Reading
Anyone who has spent time taking photos or shooting video footage often finds when they get home from a camera outing, a sizable collection of images on their SD card that just missed the mark — especially action shots. The… Continue Reading
For many of us, fly season is right around the corner. So it’s back to the routine of fly baits, traps, sprays and fly predators. Combine that with renewed efforts with calf bedding, mowing, feed management, sanitation and clean-up. Whew!… Continue Reading
This is a seasonal reminder about the importance of effective fly control in calf management. Actually, with the warm weather many of us have experienced so early this year, flies may already be a nuisance. When it comes to calves,… Continue Reading
~updated August 10, 2017. On a recent trip to Torreon, Mexico I came across a two day old calf whose showed a rapid shallow breathing pattern. It was still early in the day so environmental temperature wasn’t a factor. As… Continue Reading