1. Dairy Herd Health
Animal Science I
Unit 44

2. Introduction Subject to the same diseases and parasites as beef cattle
However, dairy cattle do have some health considerations that need to be emphasized

3. Herd Health Plan
Needs to be developed for maintaining the health of the dairy herd
Effective plans put emphasis on the prevention of problems
Vet services should be used on a regular and planned basis
A regular planned program of testing and vaccination should be carried out for the herd for
Brucellosis
Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR)
Bovine Virus Diarrhea (BVD)
Parainfluenza-3 (PI3)

4. Herd Health Plan Keep health records Follow a parasite control program
Follow a planned program for mastitis control
Keep accurate reproduction records
Follow a planned calf health care plan

5. Management Practices to Reduce Herd Health Problems
Proper feeding of the herd
Good facilities with ventilation
Using dry, clean bedding
Proper cleaning and sanitation
Controlling disease carriers- flies, birds, rodents
Raising replacements needed for the herd
Requiring health records of replacement animals and isolating them for 30 days
Isolating sick animals
Using a vet
Controlling access to dairy herds
Require visitors to wear protective footwear
Do not allow visitors unlimited access to where cattle are kept
Have bulk milk and feed delivery points as far away from cows as possible

6. Dairy Quality Assurance Program
Designed to help dairy farmers produce high quality milk
Participation is voluntary
Developed by the National Milk Producers Federation and the American Veterinary Medical Association
Producers are certified by going through a 10 point check list of management practices with a Veterinarian

7. Dairy Quality Assurance Program
Program identifies critical control points that help herd owners produce a high quality product
Emphasis is placed on following a preventative health program

8. Use of Drugs for Treatment of Dairy Cows and Calves
See p. 804 and 805 for the itemized list

9. Mastitis Control Serious economic problem Causes losses by
Lowering milk production from infected cows
Increasing the cull rate in the herd
The cost of treatment
Loss of infected milk that must be thrown away
Increased labor cost to treat infected cows
Possible loss of permit to sell milk if infection becomes serious enough

10. Mastitis Control
Caused by bacteria that enter the udder through the teat opening
Bacteria may also enter through injury to the teat
May be acute or chronic

11. Acute Mastitis Symptoms
Inflamed udder
Swollen, hot, hard, tender quarter
Drop in milk production
Abnormal milk
Lumpy, stringy, straw-colored, contains blood, yellow clots
Cow goes off feed, shows depression, dull eyes, rough hair, chills
Death may result

12. Chronic Mastitis Symptoms
Abnormal milk-clots, flakes, watery
Slight swelling and hardness of udder that comes and goes
Sudden decrease in milk production

13. Chronic Mastitis May not show any symptoms Often not treated
Sometimes does not respond to treatment
More of an economic problem than the acute form
Both acute and chronic mastitis may cause permanent udder damage

14. Leukocytes White blood cells that fight infection
Mastitis increases their presence

15. Somatic Cells and Somatic Cell Count and Mastitis
Somatic cells are leukocytes and other blood cells
All normal milk contains some somatic cells
Goal of the dairy herd should be an average of no more than 150, ,000 cells per milliliter
90% of the herd should be below 200,000 cells per milliliter
Somatic cell count can vary greatly from month to month in cows that have mastitis infection

16. Problem Somatic Cell Counts
Daily per head losses increase as somatic cell counts increase
Ranging from 1.5 lbs at 72,000 cells/milliliter to 6.0 lbs at over 1 million cells/milliliter
Somatic cells counts over 500,000 usually indicated a bacteria infection, a cow in late lactation, udder injury or an old cow
Problem cows should be culled

17. Bulk Grade A Milk
Picked up at the farm it cannot have a somatic cell count exceeding 750,000 cells/milliliter
Violation results in the loss of the farms Grade A permit

18. Testing for High Somatic Cell Counts
Several test
Most common is the California Mastitis Test (CMT)
Used to test the herd for mastitis and should be used at least once a month

19. California Mastitis Test (CMT)
A small paddle with 4 cups is used
About 1 teaspoon of the first milk from each quarter is placed in each cup, each quarter must be checked separately
A chemical that reacts with the milk is placed in each cup
The presence of leukocytes is shown by the reaction
Slight precipitation show a low count
A heavy gel and purple color show a high count

20. California Mastitis Test
k5riEc&feature=related

21. Other Methods of Testing
Lab
Chemical
Electronic

22. Controlling Mastitis
The following practices should be followed for an effective mastitis control program
Maintain milking equipment in proper operating condition
Practice proper milking procedures
Identify the bacteria causing the infection and determine the extent of the infection in the herd
Promptly treat identified cases of mastitis
Treat all quarters of cows when at drying off time
Cull cows with chronic mastitis problems that do not respond treatment

23. Displaced Abomasums Also called DA
Condition where the abomasums moves out of place in the abdominal cavity
More common in dairy cattle than beef
Majority of cases occur shortly after calving
Symptoms
Poor appetite
Reduced fecal discharge
Soft or pasty feces
Diarrhea
Drop in milk production
Dull, listless, thin appearance

24. Displaced Abomasums Type of ration being fed appears to be involved
Too rapid an increase in grain feeding just before calving increases the chance of DA
Poor quality, moldy roughage or too much silage in the ration also increase DA
Do not over feed silage and concentrates to dry cows
Increase the amount of concentrate slowly at calving time

25. Retained Placenta
A condition in which the placenta is not discharged within hours after calving
Normal for 10-12% of dairy cows
A higher rate indicates a problem that needs attention

26. Causes of Retained Placenta
Infection in the reproductive tract during pregnancy
Deficiencies of vitamin A or E, iodine, and selenium
Calcium to phosphorus ratio in diet out of balance
Cow too fat
Stress at calving
Breeding a cow too soon after calving
Good management is the best practice to prevent retained placenta.

27. Ketosis Nutritional disorder in dairy cattle
Blood sugar drops to a low level
Caused by not feeding enough high energy feeds to meet the cows needs for high milk production
Usually occurs in the first 6-8 weeks after calving

28. Symptoms of Ketosis Cows go off feed shortly after calving
Drop in milk production
Loss in body weight
Cows become dull and listless
Odor of acetone in breath, urine and milk

29. Preventing and Treating Ketosis
Feed a properly balanced ration
Common Treatments
Glucose injections into the bloodstream
Hormone injections (cortisone or adrenocorticotrophic hormone)
Oral feeding of propylene glycol or sodium propionate
Feeding molasses will not cure Ketosis

30. Metritis Infection of the uterus
Affects cows within 1-10 days after calving
Higher rate is seen in cows that are too fat at calving

31. Symptoms of Metritis Loss of appetite Fever Drop in milk production
Abnormal (thick, cloudy, grey, foul odor) discharge from the vulva
Standing with the back arched
In severe cases, rapid death

32. Prevention and Treatment of Metritis
Feed a properly balanced ration to dry cows
Keep the calving area clean and sanitary
Treat with intrauterine antibiotic drugs

33. Milk Fever Parturient paresis
Caused by a shortage of calcium salts in the blood
More common in older, high producing cows
Usually occurs within a few days after calving

34. Symptoms of Milk Fever Loss of appetite
Reduction in quantity of feces passed
In early stages excitement
Staggering
Depression
Cold skin, dry muzzle
Paralysis
Lies on brisket with head turned back toward side
Later stages, lies on side with head stretched out
Bloating
Death, if not treated

35. Prevention and Treatment of Milk Fever
Feed a balanced ration to dry cows with the correct calcium-phosphorus ratio
Treat by intravenous injection of calcium

36. Internal Parasites Follow a regular program of treatment
All mature dairy cows should be treated for worms after each lactation
Replacement heifers should be wormed near the end of their pregnancy

37. External Parasites Use care when using insecticides on the dairy
Use only insecticides approved for dairy animals and facilities
Follow label directions carefully to avoid illegal residues in the milk

38. Summary Effective herd health plan emphasizes prevention
Good management helps prevent health problems
Mastitis is the most serious disease that affects dairy cattle
Use care when using drugs to avoid illegal residues in the milk
Good herd health plans increase net profits
Control internal and external parasites.

39. Assignment Complete Unit 44 Review Questions—due Thursday Dec 2
Review for Test Dec 2
Test over units 39, 40 and 44 on Friday
Dairy Anatomy Test December 8th