Herd Health

Moving Bred Cows? This Hidden Risk Window Can Cost You Pregnancies

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:16:18 GMT

A four-hour truck ride might feel routine. The timing of that move, however, can quietly work against you if cows are newly bred. This was the topic of discussion between Kansas State animal health experts on a recent episode of “ BCI Cattle Chat .”

Transport stress during early pregnancy is a management risk that often goes unnoticed. The issue is not just whether to move cows, but when.

The Critical Window

Early pregnancy is not equally stable from day to day. Specific windows carry a higher likelihood of pregnancy loss, and one stands out above the rest.

“There are a couple of times in pregnancy where we lose more fetuses, and one of those is maternal recognition of pregnancy, about two weeks after conception. That time is a really critical time, we lose a fair number of pregnancies right around that time so I don’t want to do anything to stress an animal then, like putting them on a truck for four hours,” says Bob Larson, professor in production medicine at Kansas State University.

That 14-day time point is roughly when the embryo signals its presence to the dam. Disruptions during this period can increase the likelihood of pregnancy loss.

This is not the only vulnerable stage.

“Probably the most loss is during that first two weeks. The next most is over days 28 to 35, and still some out to day 50,” Larson explains.

Taken together, much of the first 50 days of gestation carries elevated risk, with peaks at key developmental milestones.

Why Transport is a Problem (Even When it Seems Minor)

It is easy to assume only long hauls pose a threat. Distance alone misses the bigger picture.

“A lot of the risk or stress really comes from the gathering and loading, and in some ways, it hardly matters how far they go,” Larson says.

From a physiological standpoint, stress is cumulative. Gathering cattle, sorting and handling, loading onto trailers, the ride itself, and unloading all contribute to the total stress load. Even short trips can stack multiple stressors into a narrow window, especially when handling is rushed or facilities are limiting.

Is There Any Safer Time to Move Them?

If cattle must be moved around breeding, one narrow window appears more forgiving.

“There is one period of time when the cow is pretty protected, and that’s actually during the first week of pregnancy. That early embryo is still up in the uterine tube and is pretty protected up there,” Larson says.

During this stage, the embryo has not yet entered the uterus, which may provide some buffer against external stressors. The window is limited. Moving cattle later increases the likelihood of overlapping with more vulnerable stages of pregnancy.

Trucking Versus Walking: Not All Movement is Equal

Not all movement carries the same level of risk, and the way cattle are handled can significantly influence outcomes. Lower-stress handling appears to reduce the overall impact of movement, particularly over short distances.

“If you’re talking about walking cows slowly under low-stress conditions, one, two, maybe three miles somewhere, you’re probably okay,” Jason Warner, cow-calf specialist at K-State, explains. “Cattle handling is always an important aspect. So it’s not just distance or just putting them on a trailer, it’s how. Acting calmly with not a lot of dogs, not a lot of yelling, just really calmly. That’s a key component.”

This highlights an important distinction: while short, low-pressure movement may be tolerated, trucking often concentrates multiple stressors into a short period. Gathering, sorting, loading, transport and unloading all stack together, increasing the total stress load on the animal.

Practical Takeaways: Managing Stress and Timing in Early Pregnancy

Across all scenarios, the same principle applies: Minimizing stress during early pregnancy is essential for maintaining fertility. Whether managing bull turnout, coordinating pasture moves or planning transport logistics, early gestation is a high-risk period where even routine decisions can have measurable reproductive consequences.

From a practical standpoint, timing and handling decisions should work together:

Avoid moving cows around day 14 post-breeding
- This is the highest-risk window for pregnancy loss
Exercise caution throughout the first 50 days
- Risk declines over time but remains elevated
Move earlier rather than later when possible
- The embryo may be more protected the first week post-breeding
Focus on handling, not just distance
- Stress from gathering and loading is a major contributor
Prioritize low-stress stockmanship
- Calm movement reduces overall physiological strain

Transporting bred cows is not automatically a problem, but poor timing can be.

When moves overlap with early pregnancy, especially around the timing of maternal recognition, the cost may show up later as open cows and a stretched calving window. Management decisions made during this period carry more weight than they might appear.

The key question remains simple: Are you moving cows at a time when the pregnancy can handle it?

The Eye in the Sky: Why Computer Vision is the Next Great Leap for Dairy Management

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:04:46 GMT

For decades, the gold standard of dairy management was the keen eye of a seasoned herdsman. It was the ability to walk a pen and instinctively know which cow was beginning to favor a foot or which one had dropped a few pounds of body condition. But as herds have grown considerably over the last decade, that human eye has been stretched to its limit.

Enter the era of computer vision (CV).

As Jeffrey Bewley, executive director of genetic programs and innovation at Holstein USA, recently shared at the High Plains Dairy Conference in Amarillo, Texas, the dairy industry is on the cusp of a visual revolution. It is a shift from reactive management to a world where the eye in the sky never sleeps, never tires and — thanks to a decade of breakthroughs in artificial intelligence — is becoming more accurate than the humans it assists.

The ChatGPT of the Barn

To understand why camera technology is exploding now, we have to look outside the barn. Most of us have experimented with ChatGPT, the AI that can write a poem or summarize a legal brief in seconds. As Bewley points out, the engine powering ChatGPT is the same engine now powering the best computer vision systems on dairies.

“Every dollar invested in ChatGPT-style AI lifts all AI — including farm vision,” Bewley says.

The massive global investment in AI (projected at $200 billion in 2025) has created a tidal wave effect. It has made high-powered hardware cheaper, algorithms smarter and a talent pipeline of researchers available to solve agricultural problems.

In 2012, a breakthrough called AlexNet proved deep neural networks could “see” with human-level accuracy. By 2015, a system called YOLO (You Only Look Once) allowed cameras to detect and classify multiple objects in real-time, even in the chaotic, low-light conditions of a dairy barn. Today, that technology isn’t just a university prototype; it’s a commercial reality.

From Geometry to Gold: Body Condition Scoring

One of the most immediate wins for computer vision is body condition scoring (BCS). Traditionally, BCS is subjective and infrequent. One person’s 3.0 is another person’s 2.75.

A variety of camera systems use 3D depth sensors to measure the “geometry” of a cow. By analyzing the angles of the posterior hooks and the spring of the ribs, these systems estimate BCS automatically every time a cow walks under the lens.

The ROI is staggering. Bewley highlights research showing 3D cameras can return 200% to 500% annually, costing roughly $1 per cow per month. This is because the camera detects a downward trend in condition two to three weeks earlier than the human eye. In the high-stakes world of transition cow management, those three weeks are the difference between a simple ration adjustment and a clinical case of ketosis.

The Gait Keeper: Early Lameness Detection

If BCS is about geometry, lameness detection is about symmetry. Tech systems use pose estimation to track landmarks on a cow’s body as she walks. The AI analyzes gait symmetry frame-by-frame, assigning a locomotion score based on how the animal moves.

In a traditional setup, a cow is often only treated once she is visibly “three-legged lame.” By then, the loss in milk production and the cost of treatment have already taken a bite out of the bottom line. Computer vision flags the asymmetric walker long before she becomes the lame walker, allowing for early intervention and significantly higher recovery rates.

Rib-Arrow Dairy in Tulare, Calif., has implemented the Nedap SmartSight vision technology.

“A lame cow used to be something you could see — she was limping,” Ribeiro says. “But the camera showed us we have problems with feet long before there is a limp. It’s like wearing the same running shoes for a year on concrete. That subclinical pressure on the joints, ankles and knees starts a decline we can’t visually pick up until it’s too late.”

The impact is most visible in first-lactation animals. These bulletproof heifers often hide discomfort, but the vision tech caught the subtle crooked gait that leads to chronic issues. At the start of the program, lameness prevalence in first-lactation cows was 6%. Today, overall and severe lameness rates have been slashed to just 2% — one-third of what they were.

Beyond the Cow: Management Visibility

The power of the camera doesn’t stop at the animal’s hide. Computer vision is now being used to monitor the environment that surrounds the cow:

Feed Availability: Cameras can determine exactly when feed events happen and, more importantly, when the bunk is empty, sending alerts to the feeder in real-time.
Bird Detection: Innovative systems use AI cameras paired with guided laser beams to detect and deter birds, protecting feed quality without the use of chemicals or loud noises.
Employee Safety & SOPs: In the parlor, cameras can monitor for missed post-dip events or track phone time, ensuring the farm’s standard operating procedures are being followed when the owner isn’t looking.

The Pitfalls: It’s Not All Plug-and-Play

Despite the promise, Bewley is quick to offer a reality check.

“Camera systems are not plug-and-play,” he warns.

The marketing brochure rarely mentions the physical problems that plague dairy tech: manure splatter, dust, ammonia corrosion and the rural broadband problem.

A single 4K camera stream requires 10 to 20 Mbps of bandwidth. Many rural farms struggle to get 25 Mbps for the entire office. To solve this, the industry is moving toward edge computing — where the thinking happens on the camera itself, only sending a small alert to the cloud — and the adoption of Starlink to bridge the connectivity gap.

There is also the garbage in, garbage out factor. An AI trained on clean, perfectly lit university cows will often fail when faced with a sand-bedded freestall barn full of shadows and dirty coats. Success requires models trained on real-farm data.

The Human Factor: Your Team is the Technology

Perhaps the most critical takeaway from Bewley’s insights is that the best camera system in the world is worthless if nobody acts on the data.

“The #1 predictor of precision technology success on farms isn’t the technology. It’s the people using it,” he says, noting every successful system needs a champion (someone who owns the data), a skeptic (to ensure the alerts are accurate) and a responder (someone with a clear SOP to fix the problem the camera flagged).

The Big Question: Should You Invest?

So, is it time to hang cameras in your barn? Bewley breaks it down into three categories:

Invest Now: If you have a specific, quantifiable problem (like high lameness rates) and reliable internet.
Invest Soon: If you are planning a renovation. It is 50% cheaper to build camera infrastructure into a new project than to retrofit an old one.
Wait & Watch: If your internet is unreliable or your team isn’t yet comfortable using data to drive daily decisions. Focus on wearables first.

The Bottom Line

Computer vision is no longer a someday technology. It is happening now. As labor becomes scarcer and the margin for error in dairy production becomes thinner, the ability to see every cow, every minute of every day, will become the baseline for the modern dairy.

“Technology should serve the animal and never lose sight of the cow,” Bewley exclaims.

The transition to computer vision doesn’t mark the end of the traditional herdsman; rather, it represents the evolution of the craft. By augmenting human intuition with digital precision, producers can finally reclaim the individual attention that large-scale operations often struggle to maintain. As the industry moves forward, the competitive edge will belong to those who can bridge the gap between the barn and the byte. Ultimately, while the engine of the dairy may be changing, the mission remains the same: providing the best possible care for the cow, one frame at a time.

The Hardest Call in Cattle Health: When to Treat Disease

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 19:55:53 GMT

“Are we better off treating disease early or treating disease precisely?” Veterinarians of Kansas State University posed this question a recent episode of BCI Cattle Chat .

Deciding when to initiate treatment is one of the most consequential judgment calls in cattle health management. The tension between acting early and waiting for diagnostic certainty persists because there is no single correct approach. Each decision carries both biological and management consequences.

“To me, I’m looking at this and framing the question as should I be sensitive or specific in my diagnostic approach,” says Dr. Todd Gunderson, clinical assistant professor in beef production medicine at K-State.

A sensitive approach prioritizes catching disease early, accepting that some animals will receive treatment they might not truly need. A specific approach limits treatment to animals that clearly meet disease thresholds, reducing unnecessary intervention but increasing the risk of missing cases that would have benefited from earlier action. The trade-off is unavoidable.

Gunderson puts forth different clinical scenarios where either approach could be beneficial or detrimental.

“Treating scouring calves and, as a result, creating more scouring calves because I’m contaminating equipment, I’m contaminating my clothes … I’m overly aggressive at going into the calving pen,” he says.

On the other hand, waiting too long could negate any help treatment might offer.

“[If] I wait until the animal is at a pathological state where they have consolidation, they already have fibrinous pleuritis of the chest cavity or adhesion and fibrous attachments,” he says. “That animal has enough pathology that even if I kill every microbe in that animal’s system that’s causing disease, it would still not recover.”

Disease Treatment as a Dynamic Process

Rather than viewing treatment as a one-time, irreversible decision, a more effective framework treats intervention as a dynamic process. Choosing not to treat immediately does not mean choosing inaction; it means committing to close monitoring and reassessment over defined time intervals.

“I don’t get trapped into thinking that I have to make the decisions that I’m going to stick with,” says Dr. Bob Larson, professor in production medicine at K-State. “Let me make a decision today and act on it and then reassess it in 12 hours and reassess it in another 12 hours, and be flexible because I’m not good enough today to predict the next 12, 24, 72 hours and be right all the time.”

Repeated evaluations allow decisions to evolve as new information emerges, improving accuracy over time.

“Just because I acted doesn’t mean that now all my thinking is over,” Larson says. “If I act, I need to maintain vigilance, observations, reassess, be willing to change my mind.”

Make Decisions Based on the Herd

Treatment decisions should also be considered in the context of the group not in isolation. Individual animal signs can be ambiguous, but herd-level trends provide valuable context. During times of disease pressure, subtle changes might warrant treatment, while the same signs in an otherwise healthy group could justify continued observation.

“We sometimes take these decisions and try to make them in a vacuum, and you can’t do that,” says Dr. Brad White, Professor and Production Medicine Director of the Beef Cattle Institute at K-State. “Often, that individual animal is a part of a group. My expectations for that group today should impact my decision.”

This includes the recent health of the herd and the number of animals presenting as ill.

In addition, environmental and situational factors should further shape treatment thresholds. Weather conditions and recent stressors both impact disease risk and recovery potential. Incorporating these variables into treatment decisions expands diagnostic accuracy beyond the animal itself.

5 Livestock Diseases That Could Impact U.S. Food Security and Economic Stability

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 20:44:58 GMT

Production animal disease outbreaks are not only animal health events but threats to economic stability and food security. A new report from The Farm Journal Foundation , The Mean Sixteen: Biosecurity Threats Facing U.S. Agriculture, estimates the collective annual costs to U.S. agriculture due to outbreaks of the top five livestock diseases could top $300 billion without proper preparation.

“It is absolutely crucial that the U.S. should support mechanisms to protect farmers from risks and make sure that our food supply chain can remain resilient even when challenges occur,” wrote Stephanie Mercier, senior policy adviser at Farm Journal Foundation.

Mercier identifies five diseases with the potential to disrupt U.S. livestock production, trade and response infrastructure at scale. These include foreign animal diseases as well as ongoing threats:

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)
African swine fever (ASF)
New World screwworm (NWS)
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS)

Foot-and-Mouth Disease: Trade-Stopping Risk to U.S. Livestock

Foot-and-mouth disease, an infectious and sometimes fatal viral disease affecting a range of ungulates, remains one of the highest-impact foreign animal disease threats to U.S. agriculture. While the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are classified as FMD-free, outbreaks in Taiwan (1997), the United Kingdom (2001), and this year in Germany and Hungary, represent how relevant this disease remains as both an animal health and economic threat.

Modern production systems characterized by high animal density and frequent interstate movement would complicate containment efforts in case of an outbreak. In 2015, a report from Kansas State University found an FMD outbreak beginning in a U.S. state with high populations of vulnerable livestock could cost nearly $200 billion to the U.S. economy if no emergency vaccine program was implemented.

A 2018 provision to the farm bill mandated the establishment of an animal vaccine bank; FMD was chosen as the first disease for vaccine stockpile. While FMD vaccines reduce an animal’s chance of being infected, they are generally not administerd in FMD-free regions as it is difficult to distinguish between vaccinated and FMD-infected animals in a clinical setting. Further, World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) protocols allow for trade bans to be imposed on countries using these vaccines.

African Swine Fever: Persistent Threat to U.S. Pork Production

African swine fever has expanded globally over the past decade and remains one of the most significant threats to the U.S. swine industry causing hemorrhagic fever with high mortality rates. In 2018, a massive ASF outbreak in China resulted in the loss of half of the country’s swine herd, approximately 225 million animals, and cost the country’s economy around $111 billion. Since then, ASF cases have been reported in countries across much of Asia and Europe .

(Farm Journal Foundation)

It has been estimated an ASF outbreak in the U.S. would cost the economy nearly $80 billion, due to loss of exports and reduced industry revenue, but could also affect the crop sector due to decreased feed demand. The extensive feral hog population across much of the country would further complicate containment efforts.

There is no globally available ASF vaccine; however, in May 2025, the WOAH adopted their first international standard for ASF vaccines . This was followed by the release of field evaluation and post-vaccination monitoring standards in July.

New World Screwworm: Reintroduction Risk and Surveillance Dependence

The NWS fly lays eggs in an animal’s skin, often at wound sites, and the hatched larvae burrow into the animal, consuming the flesh. Prior to 2025, NWS had been largely absent in the Western Hemisphere north of Panama; however, since the beginning of the year, outbreaks have been creeping northward, with most recent detection being just 120 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The USDA estimates that if NWS were to cross the border into Texas, it could cost the state’s economy at least $1.8 billion while putting the rest of the U.S. beef sector at risk. In an effort to tackle this threat, the USDA announced a five-pronged plan to combat the pest including sterile fly production, closing of the U.S.-Mexico border to cattle trade and increased communication with state animal health officials.

The same sterile male fly technique that eradicated the pest in the U.S in 1966 is being applied for the current outbreak, with sterile fly production facilities open in Tampico, Mexico and opening in Edinburg, Texas .

While no NWS cases have been detected in the U.S. yet, the fly is still having an impact on the economy. With the U.S.-Mexico border closed to cattle imports , the already reduced U.S. cattle herd could shrink even further. With strong demand supporting U.S. beef prices, Omaha Steaks CEO Nate Rempe predicts ground beef prices could reach $10 per pound by the third quarter of 2026.

(Farm Journal Foundation)

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza: An Ongoing Multispecies Challenge

Highly pathogenic avian influenza remains an evolving threat to U.S. animal agriculture. Twice in the past decade, major outbreaks in the U.S. have devastated poultry operations with losses of over 50 million commercial birds from 2014 to 2015. The latest HPAI outbreak began in 2022 and has since been detected in flocks in all 50 states resulting in an estimated loss of 169 million birds as of April 2025.

(Farm Journal Foundation)

HPAI is a zoonotic disease with reported infections in humans, hogs, cats and dogs. In March 2024, HPAI was detected in dairy herds in Texas and Kansas. Since then, HPAI outbreaks have been confirmed in over 300 dairy herds across the U.S. in 14 different states.

The 2014 to 2015 HPAI outbreak is estimated to have cost U.S. agriculture over $1 billion when accounting for losses to both the poultry and animal feed sectors, as well as losses in land value. Both this outbreak and the subsequent 2024-25 outbreak caused significant spikes in egg prices, with March 2025 prices rising to 350% of those of the previous year. U.S. milk prices have not yet been affected by the outbreak.

(Farm Journal Foundation)

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome: Endemic Disease, National Cost

The infection of hogs by PRRS has had a significant impact on the U.S. pork industry. First detected in the U.S. in 1987, PRRS infection causes pregnancy loss in sows and respiratory problems in pigs of all ages leading to poor performance. Unlike other animal diseases, PRRS infection can go undetected until issues with pregnant sows occur.

Analysis from Iowa State University shows PRRS caused an estimated $1.2 billion per year in lost production in the U.S. swine industry from 2016 to 2020. This marks an 80% increase over numbers reported a decade earlier.

With no cure at present, disease impact is minimized through biosecurity practices, vaccinations and management of infection with antibiotics. In April 2025, FDA granted PIC approval for the gene edit used in its PRRS-resistant pig. This technology could have a large impact on animal welfare, production costs and pork prices if adopted, though any impact is likely many years out.

Policy and Preparedness Implications for U.S. Animal Health

Across these diseases, the report identifies recurring gaps in U.S. animal health preparedness that extend beyond individual pathogens and suggests some key policy and infrastructure needs to help mitigate these threat risks:

Improved national biosecurity coordination including culling guidelines
Training for veterinarians for outbreak identification and reporting
Support for vaccine stockpiling programs and prioritized regulatory approvals for prevention and treatment products
Increased research support for both international collaboration and domestic work on biological control techniques of pests and pathogens, and disease-resistant genetic traits

“Investing in agricultural research, development and the long-term viability of our food supply chain is critical for protecting our national security and economy, and we are hopeful that our nation’s leaders will rise to meet this challenge before it’s too late,” Mercier writes.

The Farm Journal Foundation is a farmer-centered, non-profit, nonpartisan organization, created by Farm Journal in 2010, working to advance agriculture innovation, food and nutrition security, conservation and rural economic development.

Emergency FDA Approval Sought for Tick-Borne Cattle Disease Treatment

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 19:00:04 GMT

The Ranchers Cattleman Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) has submitted a request to USDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine requesting emergency approval for the medication buparvaquone to treat cattle infected with theileriosis, the disease transmitted by the Asian longhorned tick (ALHT).

The letter , penned by R. M Thornsberry, chairman of the R-CALF USA Animal Health Committee, asks the FDA to take action to combat the disease, which has been spreading in the United States since 2017 when its carrier was introduced. Since then, the ALHT has been identified in 21 states, most recently as far west as Kansas .

“As a food animal veterinarian, I can prescribe appropriate treatment protocols for tick control, but I must watch my client’s cattle die because I have no approved therapeutic protocols to treat a properly diagnosed case of theileriosis,” Thornsberry writes.

Buparvaquone has a history of use for the treatment of theileriosis in other regions including Asia, Africa, Pacific Island nations and the Middle East. R-CALF USA proposes extended withdrawal times to ensure food safety.

Signs of theileriosis infection in cattle include:

Weakness
Fever
Loss of appetite
Difficulty breathing
Reduced milk production
Foamy nasal discharge

Pregnant cows and calves are most susceptible to infection, and once infected, cattle can be lifetime carriers.

As the ALHT continues to expand its range, the approval of this medicine could be very important for nationwide cattle health.

For more information:
Theileria and the Asian Longhorned Tick: What Beef Producers Need to Know

Tips to Make Informed Culling and Cow Longevity Choices in a Dairy Herd

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 15:54:27 GMT

How long a cow should remain in a milking herd is a tricky question without a straightforward answer. Some people will argue that increased herd longevity is a good thing. Nigel Cook from the University of Wisconsin outlines how this argument has been presented to him:

“People think longer lives result from healthier cows and that reflects better animal welfare, decreased environmental footprint (raising fewer replacements can decrease our methane emissions per pound of milk), and we can improve our economics because we’re keeping cows longer,” he says.

However, if you look a little deeper, this reasoning may be flawed. When comparing real herds, there are a variety of situations that may explain why there is no one-size-fits-all for turnover rates in a dairy.

“There are herds with lower turnover rates, with great welfare and excellent health. They sell heifers or build another barn, they expand. But there are also herds with lower turnover rates that have low turnover rates because they have to keep cows. Those cows may be high somatic cell count cows, mastitic cows or lame cows, and that impacts their overall performance and fertility,” Cook explains.

On the other hand, high turnover rates can also reflect good herd management.

“There are herds with high turnover rates that can support those rates because of good health and good fertility. They have the replacement supply they need to do it,” Cook continues.

Avoid Hasty Culling Choices

In the U.S, the average time for a dairy cow to remain in the herd is 2.5 lactations. Over the past 10 years, many improvements have been made in dairy herds: cattle are producing more milk with improved component contents, fertility rates are up and somatic cell counts are down. Despite these changes, herd turnover rates have remained fairly constant. Cook proposes this is because producers follow breeding, and not necessarily culling.

“The process of culling is enormously variable,” Cook says. “Few farms use relatively well organized, high quality summaries of data to help them select cows early enough in lactation to decide which cow leaves.”

Cook highlights how a lot of farms put too much focus on the cow’s immediate production history instead of their lifetime production.

“They have a heifer, they have a slot. They’re just making that decision that day without a lot of prior planning. I wish we could change that,” he says.

This can lead to hasty cull decisions that may not be the best move for the herd overall. This was confirmed in an unpublished survey of over 60 Wisconsin dairy herds. Cook and colleagues found that 29% of cows culled for production reasons were better performers than half of the cows in their own herds.

“We should be holding our farms accountable to the quality of the cows leaving the herd, not the quantity,” Cook says.

The Economics of Culling Decisions

Mike Overton, global dairy platform lead for Zoetis, suggests letting herd economics be a driving factor when making the decision to cull and selecting cull cows.

“When we look at [culling decisions], we’re trying to replace an inferior cow, and that represents an opportunity to improve the herd,” Overton says. “It comes down to timing. We do it too late, we cost the herd money. If we do it prematurely, we cost the herd money.”

Consider the predicted value of the incoming and potential cull animals. If you replaced that animal, what would the improvement in milk production be? How about the improvement in herd genetics? One additional consideration is the revenue for the current cow when she leaves.

“When you have a heifer calving into a herd and her predicted value is greater than the lowest value cow in the herd, replace that cow. If not, that heifer should go elsewhere,” Overton says.

While Overton advocates for more aggressive replacement strategies, he says he is often countered with the idea of whether the departing cow has ‘paid for herself’.

“The decision to replace the cow should never account for when she’s paid for herself. That’s flawed logic,” Overton says. “This line of thinking might work for your average and above average animals, but your lower producing cows, the ones you should be culling sooner, will end up staying in the herd longest.”

Also consider older cows have a higher risk of health complications, as well as a lower market value per pound at slaughter. The salvage value of a cow should play into your culling decisions.

“Most people assume a low replacement rate equals greater profitability,” Overton explains. “It would be true all things being equal. If you think about if all cows were healthy and equal in production and market value, and the only reason for replacement was mortality, a lower replacement rate is going to be better. But we also know that cows are not equal in value or productivity.”

It’s possible to fall into the trap of trying to hit longevity, productivity or replacement rate benchmarks; however, these may cause lower performing cows to be kept for longer. Cull decisions should be well informed and tailored to each herd.

“Don’t be afraid to replace poor producing animals, even first lactation animals, if you’ve got heifers available to take their place. Never restrict replacement just to try and hit a benchmark,” Overton says.

Better Groups, Better Cow Flow: Unlocking Your Robotic Herd’s Potential

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 20:43:33 GMT

How cows are grouped can play a major role in the success of a robotic milking system. Smart grouping keeps cows moving efficiently, reduces stress and helps the herd and the robots perform at their best. Poor grouping, however, can create bottlenecks, slow milk flow and leave both cows and herd managers frustrated.

Every farm has its own layout, labor availability and herd size, but some grouping strategies for robotic herds stand out for their benefits as well as their trade-offs. Katelyn Goldsmith, Dairy Outreach Specialist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, emphasizes that grouping decisions should never be an afterthought.

“Considering how cows are grouped is essential for optimizing cow flow and ensuring the success of automated milking systems,” she says.

Goldsmith notes there are several common ways to group cows, and choosing the right approach depends on herd size, layout and management goals.

Mixed Pens

For many robotic herds, the simplest approach is to keep all cows together in a single group, regardless of age or stage of lactation. This reduces regrouping stress, minimizes social disruption and helps maintain steady robot traffic. It also saves labor because cows don’t need to be moved between pens.

“For smaller dairies, this mixed approach may be the most practical option, and it can work well when rations and stocking rates are managed carefully,” Goldsmith says.

The main drawback of mixed pens is nutrition.

“Feeding all cows the same ration creates a nutritional balancing act,” she explains. “Feeding to meet the needs of top producers can lead to overfeeding and weight gain in lower-producing cows, while formulating to the average may limit the performance of high producers.”

Still, Goldsmith notes it’s worth considering how grouping choices influence both efficiency and cow performance.

“Thoughtful grouping is key to cow flow and overall success in robotic systems,” she adds.

Production-Based

Sorting cows by milk production is another approach that allows producers to tailor diets to the specific needs of each pen. High producers get the energy they need, while lower-producing cows avoid being overfed. However, this approach requires more management. Cows need to be moved as their production changes, and multiple rations must be maintained. Moving cows from high- to lower-energy diets can also cause temporary drops in milk yield. The financial benefit depends on whether feed savings outweigh any lost production.

“Grouping by production level is most successful when farmers and nutritionists routinely evaluate ration costs, monitor milk production and body condition score, and assess the overall economic return of the strategy,” Goldsmith says.

Robot traffic must also be considered. Most herds target 50 to 60 cows per robot, but high-producing cows might visit the system four or more times per day, while lower-producing cows might visit only twice. Pens with frequent milkers typically require lighter stocking, while slower groups can accommodate more cows.

Days-in-Milk (DIM) Grouping

Grouping cows by days in milk can make routine tasks, such as breeding, dryoff or veterinary work, more efficient. This method is common in conventional barns and works well in robotic systems when paired with automatic sort gates. A separation pen can achieve similar efficiency by sorting individual cows after milking rather than rearranging entire groups.

“Separation pens are most practical when working with a small number of cows each day,” Goldsmith notes. “They may be less sensible when large groups need to be sorted, such as during hoof trimming or large herd health checks.”

Fresh-cow pens are often the most valuable DIM-based group in robotic herds. These pens reduce competition, make it easier for new cows to access the robot and allow farms to feed a targeted diet during early lactation.

Age Grouping

First-lactation cows often struggle when mixed with mature cows, particularly during the early weeks of lactation. They tend to be more submissive, which can lead to longer waits at the robot.

“Grouping by age helps create a more equitable social environment, which can improve access to the robot and reduce stress,” Goldsmith notes. “It also maintains a balanced distribution of lactation stages across the pen, helping to maintain consistent robot flow at typical AMS (automated milking system) stocking densities.”

This strategy allows heifers to learn the robot without competition and supports consistent robot flow. The main trade-off, again, is managing nutrition for cows at different production levels within the same pen.

Special Needs

Many robotic herds dedicate space for cows that require extra attention, such as fresh, lame or sick animals. These pens, usually located close to the robot, help maintain milking frequency while reducing walking strain for compromised cows.

“While special needs pens require additional investment in infrastructure, they can offer flexibility for managing cow health without compromising AMS efficiency,” Goldsmith says.

Thoughtful Grouping Drives Success

How cows are grouped can have a big impact on the day-to-day operation of a robotic milking system. The right approach helps cows move efficiently, supports production and makes routines easier to manage.

No single strategy works for every herd, but farms who regularly assess their grouping choices and adjust based on herd behavior, production and labor needs are better positioned to keep cows healthy, reduce stress and maximize the efficiency of their robotic system.

5 Factors for Transitioning Beef Cattle from Fall to Winter

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 16:30:35 GMT

As temperatures drop and daylight shortens, the transition from fall to winter marks one of the most critical periods in the beef production cycle. Nutritional demands rise, environmental stressors increase, and management routines shift. This seasonal shift offers a valuable opportunity to help producers fine-tune cow condition, ensure herd health heading into calving, and preempt disease risks linked to cold stress and nutritional deficits.

The fall-to-winter period is a high-value window of time for veterinary input with key interventions being body condition assessment, forage testing, mineral management, and parasite control. Fall management planning helps ensure cattle enter winter with adequate nutrition and resilience to minimize losses and support performance.

Body Condition and Energy Demands

By late fall, cows should be entering winter at an optimal body condition score of 5 to 6 for mature cows and 6 for first-calf heifers. Once cold stress sets in, regaining lost condition becomes difficult and costly. Nutrition plans are essential for this conditioning and forage analysis is required for formulation to fit requirements. Vets and producers can work together to create a management map based on an inventory of feed resources.

Energy needs increase roughly 1% for every degree Celsius below the animal’s lower critical temperature: 0°C/32°F for cattle with a winter coat and -8°C/18°F for cattle with a heavy winter coat. This is very important when cows are thin or forage quality is low. Regular monitoring of manure consistency and cow appearance can provide early warning signs of inadequate nutrition. Small interventions in November can prevent big problems in January.

Trace Minerals and Immune Function

Trace mineral status often dips as cattle transition from green pasture to stored forages. This is particularly important as immune competence is closely tied to copper, selenium and manganese levels. Inadequate trace mineral status has been linked to increased susceptibility to respiratory disease and reduced vaccine response , particularly in young animals. Fall supplementation programs should be tailored to forage tests and regional deficiencies as mineral content can vary widely by geographic region and storage method.

Injectable trace minerals and free-choice mineral mixes can be strategically timed prewinter or precalving to support both cow and fetal immune systems. This supplementation can affect both fetal development and colostrum quality .

Reproductive Success

Fall is the ideal time to evaluate herd efficiency. Pregnancy checks allow for the identification of open cows and allow producers to market cows that will not create revenue the next year. This can save significant resources and shorten the future calving interval. These checks also help with winter nutrition planning, allowing cows to be separated by gestation stage to match energy requirements.

Post-breeding bull evaluation is also important. Assessing body condition, soundness and breeding records can reveal fertility or injury issues from the season. Bulls that underperformed or lost excessive condition may need replacement or rest before the next breeding cycle. Reviewing performance and updating genetic selections based on conception data and herd goals ensures retained bulls contribute meaningfully to productivity and long-term herd improvement.

Parasite and Disease Control

The fall-to-winter transition also marks the ideal window for parasite control. Strategic deworming in the fall can reduce overwintering larval contamination, improve feed efficiency and set cattle up well for the spring. Deworming after a hard frost can help minimize recontamination of pastures. Performing this treatment during pregnancy checks on bred females is a great way to be efficient with chute time. Consider integrating fecal egg count monitoring to confirm product efficacy and any resistance trends.

Respiratory disease remains a winter concern across production stages. Cold, damp housing and poor ventilation increase the risk of bovine respiratory disease. Focus on ventilation optimization, stocking density and vaccination review — especially for feedlot entries.

Herd Health Planning

Late fall is an efficient time to update vaccination protocols and review overall herd health performance. A focused review now can reduce clinical disease and emergency calls later in winter.

For both cow-calf and feedlot operations:

Confirm vaccination timing for respiratory and reproductive pathogens
Assess biosecurity and animal movement plans before winter consolidation
Review mortality and morbidity data to identify recurring issues

The transition from fall to winter is a pivotal management window to maintaining herd performance and health. This period offers the best opportunity to assess herd efficiency, adjust preventative health protocols, and align nutrition and reproduction strategies before environmental stress intensifies. Proactive management now ensures cattle enter winter with the condition, immunity and resources needed for sustained productivity.

Emergency Use of Animal Drugs Approved to Combat New World Screwworm

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 16:09:22 GMT

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a declaration on Aug. 19 allowing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for animal drugs to treat or prevent infestations caused by the New World screwworm (NWS).

This declaration applies only to drugs for animals. NWS infests warm-blooded animals, including livestock, pets, wildlife, and, in rare cases, humans, causing severe tissue damage and sometimes death. The risk to human health in the U.S. remains very low, but the potential future threat to animal populations and the food supply chain requires proactive action.

Although eradicated from North America and Central America decades ago, NWS has progressed north since 2022 and is now approaching the U.S. border with Mexico. This parasite poses an emerging threat to livestock and food security, with potential impacts on both national security and animal health.

“Today we are taking decisive action to safeguard the nation’s food supply from this emerging threat,” says HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “This authorization equips FDA to act quickly, limit the spread of New World Screwworm, and protect America’s livestock.”

Currently, there are no FDA-approved drugs for NWS in the U.S. The FDA through an EUA can authorize the flexible, faster use of certain animal drug products that may be approved for other purposes, or available in other countries, but not formally approved for NWS in the U.S. This ensures veterinarians, farmers, and animal health officials have timely access to the tools they need to protect pets, livestock and the nation’s food supply.

“Thank you to my friends and partners Secretary Kennedy and Commissioner Makary who are answering the call and supporting our aggressive plan to push back and ultimately defeat this devastating pest. This emergency use authorization is another tool we can use in the fight against New World Screwworm,” says Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “Our cattle ranchers and livestock producers are relying on the Trump Administration to defend their livelihoods. Stopping this pest is a national security priority and we are linking arms across President Trump’s cabinet to defend our borders and push back this threat.”

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H., adds, “Our priority is to safeguard both animal health and the nation’s food supply. FDA is acting swiftly and responsibly to help ensure we have the necessary tools to prevent and control New World Screwworm, minimizing risks to agriculture and public health.”

FDA will provide future guidance to veterinarians and stakeholders on the appropriate use of any products authorized for emergency use and update the New World Screwworm: Information for Veterinarians page.

What Do Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreaks in Europe Mean for the U.S.?

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 16:58:21 GMT

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is rearing its ugly head in Europe. After an outbreak in water buffalo in Germany in January, an outbreak in cattle in Hungary in early March and an outbreak in cattle in Slovakia last week, why now? What is the U.S. doing to keep this foreign animal disease out and protect the country’s livestock industry?

“FMD is caused by a virus that affects cloven-hoofed animals so that can include cattle, pigs, sheep and goats,” explains Megan Niederwerder, DVM, who serves as the executive director of the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC). “It does not affect humans and is not a threat to food safety, but it has significant trade implications once it is introduced into a country.”

FMD has been fairly quiet in these European countries – with no cases reported for decades. Other parts of Europe have seen outbreaks more recently like the 2001 outbreak in the United Kingdom that caused a crisis in British agriculture and tourism and resulted in the cancellation of the World Pork Expo held in Des Moines, Iowa.

“FMD really decimated the United Kingdom,” says Barb Determan who was serving as president of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) at the time. “It became very apparent that we couldn’t guarantee the safety for our U.S. pig herd because of the high numbers of international travelers that would be at the show. We had to cancel World Pork Expo out of an abundance of precaution.”

Although there is still a lot to be discovered about how FMD was introduced into these populations, it’s a significant warning to the U.S. to be on alert.

(Lori Hays)

That was the first time, but not the only time World Pork Expo was canceled. The event was also canceled in 2019 because of the African swine fever outbreak in China and again in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“That was a hard financial decision,” Determan says. “We had just completed the separation agreement between NPPC and the National Pork Board. NPPC was very tightly budgeted at that time, so it was a huge hit.”

However, keeping the U.S. pig herd safe was the most important thing on everyone’s mind. She says they made their decision after hearing reports from veterinarians who had been to England to better understand the extensiveness as well as from the USDA that had sent veterinarians over to help.

“At that time, we didn’t have near the biosecurity practices and things that we do now with the disinfectant foot mats,” Determan says. “We also don’t have live pigs on the on the grounds now compared to how we did things many years ago. We used to have live pigs everywhere on the fairgrounds in the early 2000s from genetics companies with pigs in their displays to the pigs in the live shows.”

The Truth About FMD
The clinical signs of FMD are similar to what the name implies. It can cause vesicles or blisters on the feet, mouth and tongue of animals that are infected. The U.S. has not had a case of FMD since 1929.

“We certainly want to keep it that way, as the economic implications for producers are significant if the virus is introduced,” Niederwerder says.

Compared to many viruses, FMD is a highly stable, non-enveloped virus that allows it to be infectious for longer periods. It’s very contagious and highly transmissible. Not only are there risks with transmission of the virus through infected meat products that may come in through illegal trade, but it can also be carried on contaminated clothes or equipment or supplies of humans.

“The human would not be infected, but certainly people can carry the virus on contaminated clothing,” Niederwerder says. “That’s why it’s really important as we think about prevention of entry into the U.S.”

FMD causes fever and pain. It results in excessive salivation and causes reduced milk production in dairy cattle.

“When you think about the impact, certainly there’s an impact on animal health with regards to the clinical signs, but even further is this impact on trade restrictions and the economic losses for producers,” Niederwerder says. “When you try and contain the virus, that oftentimes results in those infected animals being culled or euthanized so the disease no longer has the chance to spread.”

Why Should the U.S. Pay Attention?
When a virus moves into a new geographical range or is reintroduced into a country that has maintained a negative status for a long period, Niederwerder says it’s critical to reassess the risk to the U.S.

“In January, Germany reported their first case in over 30 years in water buffalo near Berlin,” she explains. “It was 14 animals, and those animals were all culled after the infection was confirmed but certainly trade restrictions and implications on surrounding areas of that Berlin farm were significant.”

Fast forward to March when two additional countries have reported cases. Hungary reported FMD in a single farm of cattle in the north part of the country for the first time in over 50 years. Shortly thereafter, the virus appeared in Slovakia (who also hadn’t seen a case in over 50 years) in multiple herds of cattle.

“Just recently, another herd was a suspect herd in Slovakia, near the southern border near Hungary,” Niederwerder says. “This is certainly concerning about how this virus is being reintroduced. Is it associated with contaminated fomites that may be in the country or traveling to new locations? Is it associated with wild boar? Could it be associated with infected hay?”

Although there is still a lot to be discovered about how FMD was introduced into these populations, it’s a significant warning to the U.S. to be on alert .

“We need to do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t get reintroduced into the U.S.,” Niederwerder says. “How can we amp up any biosecurity measures that are necessary to reduce our risk? We also need to think about reducing the risk of introduction into our country through travel and illegal trade.”

Be on Alert
Livestock operations should reevaluate biosecurity protocols. If any of your farm’s employees travel to areas where there are infected animals, implement a quarantine period for entry back into your U.S. farm, she advises.

“Be vigilant,” Niederwerder urges. “One of the challenges of FMD is that it does cause these characteristic lesions of vesicles or blisters on the mouth, nose or the hoof. What becomes very tricky is that those clinical signs are indistinguishable from other vesicular diseases such as Senecavirus A. If producers and veterinarians see these lesions, they must report it immediately so it can be investigated and confirmed that it is not FMD virus.”

FMD is not just a disease of pigs and cattle, she points out. Sheep, goats and cloven-hoofed zoo animals may also be impacted by FMD. This increases the breadth of what the industry needs to monitor.

“The world is very small now,” Niederwerder says. “Not only do people travel more internationally, but animals move around more than ever, too. It’s extremely important for those of us that are producers to keep our eyes open and pay attention to what’s going on worldwide so we can be as prepared as possible for any change in disease risk.”

That’s one of the ways that SHIC is trying to help producers. SHIC provides timely domestic and global disease updates to producers.

“Watching the SHIC global disease report is really important for producers,” Determan says. “It comes out every month and really gives you a feel for what’s happening in the entire world from a swine health standpoint. The biggest lesson we learned from the 2001 FMD outbreak is that looking farther out than just our own farm gate is so important.”

Keep Reading:
An Update on Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Serotype O in Germany

Hungary Confirms Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreak in Cattle

Slovakia Records First Foot-and-Mouth Cases, Minister Says

Protecting the Herd from New World Screwworm

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 20:43:00 GMT

by Kim Brackett, NCBA Policy Division Chair

Every cattle producer knows that pests are a challenge to our operation, but some pests are far more dangerous than others. One of the new threats to our herd comes from the New World screwworm, which is currently advancing through Central America into southern Mexico and could soon be at our border.

The New World screwworm (NWS) is a fly that has a particularly gory way of harming our cattle. Female NWS flies lay their eggs in open wounds or body orifices and when the larvae hatch, they burrow deep into the skin like a screw driving into wood. These maggots feed on cattle’s tissue, causing larger wounds as they go.

NWS flies and their burrowing larvae cause extensive damage to cattle and infestations can spread rapidly. In 1966, we eradicated screwworms in the United States through sterile insect technique. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) bred sterile male NWS flies that mated with wild female screwworms and failed to produce offspring. Eventually, these flies died out in the U.S. and now they only exist in a handful of South American countries.

Unfortunately, these flesh eating flies are now on the march north.

Since 2022, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of New World screwworms in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala. Just last month, screwworms were discovered in southern Mexico, which raised red flags for us at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).

Once in Mexico, it is easy for screwworms to travel north and appear on our southern border. These flies can hitch a ride on people, livestock, or wild animals, not to mention the thousands of vehicles and cargo containers traveling through Mexico to the United States.

We know how devastating it would be if New World screwworm returned to the United States, which is why NCBA is raising the alarm now. First, we are communicating with Mexico’s cattle industry leaders so they can begin the process of screening for these flies and push for eradication efforts in their country. We are also supporting USDA-APHIS to bolster the use of sterile flies. Recently, we have been concerned that our existing sterile flies might not be getting the job done, and NCBA is pushing for more flies and better flies that will help us beat back these pests.

Although we haven’t confirmed any New World screwworms in the United States, we need you to be on high alert. New World screwworms have orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body, and three dark stripes across their backs. If you see any suspicious flies, please alert your local veterinarian, extension agent, or contact USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services.

Please also pay close attention to your cattle and watch for any open wounds or sores. If cattle exhibit irritated behavior, head shaking, you notice the smell of decaying flesh, or spot maggots in a wound, seek treatment from a veterinarian immediately. Proper wound treatment and prevention is the best way to protect your farm or ranch from a screwworm infestation. NCBA is also sharing the latest updates through our website. I encourage you to visit www.ncba.org/NWS for all the latest information on how to protect your operation.

NCBA is always on the clock to protect the U.S. cattle industry from threats like New World screwworm. Through your vigilance and NCBA’s advocacy, we can protect the United States cattle herd.

Kim Brackett is an Idaho rancher and serves as Policy Division Chair of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).

Protecting Potency: Best Practices for Effective Vaccine Storage on the Farm

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 21:16:58 GMT

Vaccines are only as effective as the conditions in which they are kept. That’s why paying a bit of extra attention to storage can go a long way when it comes to ensuring these immunizations do their job.

According to Curt Vlietstra, DVM at Boehringer Ingelheim, improper storage or handling can result in ineffective vaccines. Temperature fluctuations, exposure to light and improper handling can all impact a vaccine’s potency, reducing its protective power. Vlietstra advises farmers to pay close attention to vaccine storage conditions to help maintain effectiveness.

Top Vaccine Storage Pitfalls

Vaccines are sensitive biological substances that need specific conditions to maintain their potency. Three issues Vlietstra commonly sees when it comes to vaccine storage include:

Improper Temperature: Most vaccines must be stored between 35°F and 46°F. Any exposure to freezing or excessive heat can denature the active ingredients, making them ineffective.
Exposure to Light: Many vaccines are sensitive to light, which can also degrade their quality. These vaccines should be protected from UV light once removed from the refrigerator.
Expired Vaccines: Use older vaccines first and always check expiration dates. Storing newer stock at the back and keeping older doses at the front makes it easier to avoid using expired vaccines and helps maintain the effectiveness of your supply.

Steps for Proper Vaccine Storage

Vlietstra suggests implementing the following steps to help ensure vaccines are stored properly.

Invest in Reliable Refrigeration: “Don’t go with the cheapest fridge you can find,” Vlietstra advises. Instead, he recommends investing in a quality refrigerator that is designated solely for medical usage.

“I don’t want your lunch or drinks in there because the more time it gets open and closed, the more changes you have in the temperature. Plus, there’s a higher likelihood that it doesn’t get closed all the way.
Use Temperature Monitors: Implement temperature monitoring systems that alert staff if the vaccine storage deviates from the optimal range.

“Usually, a fridge doesn’t go bad overnight,” Vlietstra says. It slowly starts to lose its effectiveness. Having a good thermometer can warn you when your barn fridge is on its way out. Some of these thermometers even have wireless alerts that can connect to an app on your phone.”
Handle With Care: When it comes to vaccine handling, keeping doses at a stable temperature is crucial, even after mixing. Whether it’s hot or cold outside, Vlietstra recommends storing mixed vaccines in a transportable cooler to help protect them from extreme temperature fluctuations and sunlight.

“How we mix, handle and store these vaccines matters,” Vlietstra adds. “Have conversations with your veterinarian and consider implementing a training day to review proper storage and handling SOPs with your team. Regularly refreshing this training ensures everyone is on the same page, which can make a real difference when it comes to herd health.”

Your Next Read: Play Offense on Clostridia in Calves

Navigating HPAI: Supporting Producers and Safeguarding Cows

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 17:04:24 GMT

The first person who will notice illness in the herd is the one who works hands-on with the cows. It’s a cow that just looks off, a drop in production or changes in cow activity and behavior that triggers a call to the vet, monitoring or treating. Treatment is on a case-by-case basis, depending on which cow it is and what’s going on.

But for matters of trade and human health, the health of the entire U.S. herd must be addressed systematically. Rosemary B. Sifford, DVM; Deputy Administrator; USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service says disease monitoring actually looks very similar on the state and national level. “Except, of course, we’re looking across all the herds. In some cases, we do have surveillance programs in place for diseases that we that we know are of concern for us.”

She adds, “Our trade partners are very interested in what controls we put in place and how we eradicate diseases, so we share that information, and that helps to build their confidence, and allows us to trade, even sometimes in the face of an outbreak.”

Top of mind right now is Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), and Sifford says that although this battle has been a long one, the USDA team can effectively follow protocols that have been laid out for other viral diseases in the past.

“Our action strategy is really made up of four key parts,” she says. “Understanding the virus in the cattle, understanding how it’s moving and what the effects are on the cattle, how it’s distributed amongst the cattle herd, and being able to address that by mitigating the movement of the virus, and then providing support to the producers to ensure business continuity.”

Ken McCarty, one of the owners of McCarty Family Farms in western Kansas identifies factors that are largely beyond their control as events they are closely watching. Events such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and their subsequent effects on fuel and commodity markets exemplify these difficulties.

“Those sort of ‘black swan events’ that used to be once in a decade now appear to be occurring yearly or every couple of years,” McCarty explained. In response, the farm aims to price-proof their operations, ensuring they can withstand these unpredictable shifts.

HPAI was not on the 2024 radar for McCarty Farms. Nonetheless, their prior planning for foreign animal disease outbreaks allowed them to quickly adapt and take necessary actions. As they put it, “It’s those types of events that are midterm challenges that we’re always trying to prepare for.”

Sifford emphasizes that farmers are not alone in prevention or treatment for HPAI. “We do have a number of financial incentives available to help producers through all of this, from covering the testing and some of the veterinary costs, to having somebody come out and help you with a biosecurity plan or audit, personal protective equipment for employees,” she says.

“We really encourage producers to be involved in the status program, because this is an important way for us to understand where the virus is and what’s going on, and it gives producers a level of confidence that they’ve maintained the biosecurity necessary to keep from having to worry about the virus.”

Find more HPAI resources and support at www.aphis.usda.gov .

Your Next Read: Will Record Milk Prices See an Encore Performance in 2025?

Dry Period Cues for Better Lactation Performance

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 19:29:48 GMT

For decades, dairy research and conventional management have pointed to 60 days as the optimal standard for dry period length between lactations.

But Barry Bradford, Professor of Dairy Management and Nutrition at Michigan State University, sought to challenge this traditional standard, armed with two arguments regarding the research data upon which that recommendation was formulated:

The short dry periods in many of these studies were unplanned and likely mostly composed of cows that calved early for various reasons; and
The suggestion that long dry periods result in lower milk production could be based on a false correlation between the two factors. Low milk production is often the cause of early dry-off. So, the data from older studies on long dry periods was likely based on cows that were lower producers in general.

At the Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Bradford presented findings from a study he lead to examine these issues with a different lens.

Bradford and his team sought to conduct a fresh data analysis on gestation length and dry-period length that removed these biases. Added to the mix were variables including previous lactation length, and milk and component production across lactations. They evaluated a data set from 16 U.S. dairy herds totaling 32,182 lactation records.

They hypothesized that cows with a dry period deviating from their intended dry-period length due to biologically shorter or longer gestation lengths have more severe impacts on cow productivity compared to cows with management-intentional variations in dry-period length.

Their data mining from these cow records resulted in the following conclusions:

Shorter gestation length is the main contributor to poor performance in the following lactation. In other words, calving early – which creates a shortened dry period – is associated with worse outcomes than the dry period length itself.
There is little to no evidence of negative impacts from moderately short (40-50-day) dry periods, when gestation length is normal.
Cows with greater production potential (e.g. those with higher previous-lactation milk yield) were most negatively impacted by short gestation.
Managing for shorter dry periods (e.g. 45 days vs. 60) appears to be feasible, with a few caveats. Cows that dried off with high milk yield seemed to benefit the most from a “full” dry period. And cows with short dry periods and an average gestation length had, on average, greater somatic cell counts at first test.
Cows with long lactations followed by long dry periods are at greater risk of removal after calving, likely due to poor metabolic health. These cows had a 24% increased removal rate compared with the reference population.
The long-dry-period group also showed greater fat:protein ratios in early lactation, and these relationships were even more extreme for cows with both a long previous lactation and long dry period. Bradford said this data points clearly to a subset of cows that become over-conditioned prior to calving, resulting in excessive body fat mobilization, poor fertility, and greater culling rate.

Bradford said that because high-producing cows tend to benefit the most from a full-lengthy dry period, “delaying dry-off because of concerns about cows giving too much milk may be counter-productive.”

Finally, a rather compelling conclusion was that modern Holstein cows have an average gestation length of around 276 days, several days shorter than current references typically suggest.

The “Big 3” Energy Wasters for Cows

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 13:35:27 GMT

With feed inputs representing the #1 expense for most dairy operations, and little relief in sight in terms of feed prices, efficient utilization of feedstuffs is a dairy sustainability imperative, according to Dr. Isaac Salfer, Assistant Professor of Dairy Nutrition at the University of Minnesota.

“The most important metric for determining a herd’s whole-farm feed efficiency is feed cost per hundredweight of energy-corrected milk sold,” Salfer stated.

In a recent publication , he cited data that showed the top 10% most profitable dairy farms in Minnesota (in terms of net return) spent 60% as much on feed per cwt. of milk ($9.58) compared to the lowest 10%, who spent $15.61/cwt.

Salfer said outright loss of feed – due factors like shrink and refusals – is one of the two overarching factors that affect whole-farm feed efficiency. The other is the digestive and metabolic efficiency of the cow herself. He identified the following factors that contribute to losses of energy that are wasted on anything other than milk production:

(1) Fecal and urinary losses – Salfer said fecal energy losses occur due to inadequate digestion of feeds, improper feed processing, poor ration formulation, and/or feeding high concentrations of low-digestibility feeds. Digestive efficiency also can be negatively influenced by poor bunk management, decreased eating frequency, heat stress, disease, poor water quality, and even noise. Overfeeding protein can add to urine energy loss because more energy is required to excrete excess nitrogen.

(2) Gas emissions – Rumen fermentation produces byproducts of methane, carbon dioxide, and other gases that are expelled by the cow and lost to the environment.

(3) Heat energy – Rumen fermentation also generates heat, as does metabolism, as nutrients are utilized further in the digestive process. “The total amount of heat an animal loses can be reduced by lowering the total number of chemical reactions – particularly ‘wasteful’ reactions – in digestion,” he stated. He noted feed additives like ionophores can help minimize wasteful digestive processes. Reducing stress also can stem heat energy losses, because any activation of the immune system, which may be triggered by factors like heat stress and metabolic stress, results in unproductive energy consumption.

Salfer pointed out that minimizing wasted energy in cows has dual benefits for both the dairy operation and the environment. Strategically balancing for protein – and, more precisely, specific amino acids – can lower feed costs while also reducing the nitrogen load in the environment. Reducing gas emissions has received much recent attention from an environmental standpoint. “But it also benefits farmers because gases can represent a loss of up to about 10% of total feed energy,” explained Salfer.

Reducing methane emissions without negatively impacting rumen microbial growth is a delicate dance, according to Salfer. He said most ration-based approaches to reducing methane focus on increasing concentration of the volatile fatty acid propionate, because propionate consumes hydrogen that would otherwise fuel methane production.

Finally, Salfer said higher milk production can promote feed efficiency, even if it requires more feed. Lactating cows require about 14-16 pounds of dry matter for basic maintenance of functions like breathing, muscle contraction, digestion, and hormone production. “Because maintenance energy needs are fixed, increased milk production decreases the percentage of energy intake used for maintenance functions compared to milk production, even if total feed intake increases,” Salfer explained.

VIDEO: Meet Trust In Beef Partner U.S. Roundtable For Sustainable Beef

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 00:59:15 GMT

This article was written by Nate Birt, Vice President of Trust In Food, a Farm Journal initiative. Learn more at www.trustinfood.com

Across the U.S., beef producers are taking the next step on their sustainability journey. To highlight the voice of those making a difference, Trust In Beef™ proudly introduces a video series spotlighting the collaborative value chain program’s partners. In this video, watch as Dr. Justin Welsh, executive director of U.S. livestock technical services from Merck Animal Health, shares how the company is helping producers along the way.

“Trust In Beef™ is a platform that allows us to partner with our cattle producers in their sustainability journey and help bring their stories to life,” says Tom Schad, director of communications North America, Merck Animal Health. “We’re excited to be a foundational partner of Trust In Beef™. The program allows us to advocate for our customers on their sustainability journey and highlight their love of animals and the land.”

Watch the video to learn more about Trust In Beef™ and about how Merck Animal Health helps to support beef producers succeed with their sustainability investments.

Consistency Rules in Preventing Abomasal Bloat in Calves

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 18:28:00 GMT

Most dairy calf raisers unfortunately have familiarity with abomasal bloat. It’s the rapid accumulation of gas in the abomasum, which causes abdominal distension, depression, pain, diarrhea and often death. It can come on so quickly that calves appearing perfectly healthy at one feeding are found dead at the next.

According to Brian Miller, DVM, Senior Veterinarian for Merck Animal Health, abomasal bloat is not difficult to diagnose, but it is difficult to treat. Miller told the audience of a recent Dairy Calf and Heifer Association webinar that 50-60% of cases are fatal, even with veterinary intervention.

“Abomasal bloat occurs most commonly in calves from 5 to 14 days of age, but it can happen up to 21 days,” shared Miller. He said calves in this early stage of life are essentially monogastric, with all milk or milk replacer being digested in the abomasum. This makes abomasal function critical in young calves.

Researchers do not fully understand the cause of this frustrating disease, but Miller said there are three speculative sources:

Gas-producing bacteria in the abomasum (most likely Clostridium perfringens or Sarcinia ventriculi).
An excess of readily fermentable carbohydrates, along with fermentative enzymes, in the abomasum.
Anything that delays the abomasal emptying rate.

Miller said clostridium bacteria are native to both the digestive tract and the cattle-housing environment. But they can become problematic when something fuels their exponential growth in the digestive tract, resulting in vast quantities of gas and potent toxins being produced.

“Milk-based as well as plant-based milk replacers are commonly fed to calves. Problems may arise when there are issues with osmolality which affects how the abomasum handles a meal. High- or low-osmolality solutions delay abomasal emptying which allows bacteria extra time to ferment nutrients,” he explained. “This leads to excessive gas production/bloat. Factors that can affect osmolality include: variations in total solids, addition of electrolytes to milk or milk replacer without additional water; improper mixing (agitation); milk replacer mixing errors; or feeding a poor-quality milk replacer that does not stay in solution.”

The veterinarian noted that accelerated liquid feeding programs delivering large quantities of milk or milk replacer have become the gold standard for feeding that potentially allow calves to reach their genetic potential for growth and future milk production. Rather, than a “step up” diet, it is more beneficial to place young calves on high-volume milk diets as quickly as possible after receiving colostrum to help them achieve early puberty, faster breeding and younger age at first calving.

Accelerated feeding programs also have been implicated as a cause of abomasal bloat. Miller does not believe that is the case because volume is not the issue as long as the quality is there. “Osmolality must be kept in a healthy range because high total solids in an accelerated program certainly can contribute to abomasal bloat,” he said. “That is why it is strongly recommended to offer free-choice water post-feeding to dilute out high total solids that may be present due to potential mixing errors.”

According to Miller, the most important means of prevention of abomasal bloat in calves is consistency, consistency, consistency. “The hardest part of raising healthy calves – and avoiding this disease in particular – is doing the simple things consistently, over and over again,” he advised. They include:

Measure total solids when feeding whole milk – Using a Brix refractometer and an evaluation standard of “Brix +2,” regularly test the milk delivered to the first, middle and last calf. Although imperfect, it is a field test that allows calf raisers to measure dietary consistency. Used on a regular basis, it allows caretakers to manage the diet for consistency and spot changes that might contribute to potential issues. If there is greater than a 2-point swing in total solids, there will be variation in appetites and potential for issues including abomasal bloat. A safe goal for total solids is 12-14% (don’t exceed 15%).

Mix properly – Follow the same protocol for assembling and agitating every batch of milk or milk replacer. Total solids also should be evaluated before every batch is fed. Hospital milk can vary greatly in solids content.

Include additives carefully – Avoid multiple additives, as this may alter the osmolality of a finished formula to unacceptable levels.

Monitor feeding temperature – Again, access at first, middle and last calf. Extremely cold weather may require extra measures to ensure the temperature remains the same from the first to the last calf.

Acclimate calves to large-volume feedings – Once calves are fed a large-volume colostrum meal, start them on large-volume feedings from the start and stay consistent. This reduces the risk of this disease, enhances growth rates and improves immunity. Although 3X a day feeding would be ideal, in absence of this, there is increasingly strong evidence that the “step up” diet is not needed.

Deliver feedings consistently – Ensure the same feed from first to last calf -- from one feeding to the next -- and consistency between feeders. Replace worn nipples to prevent excessive drinking speeds.

Sanitize feeding equipment – Follow routine protocols for cleaning and sanitizing all equipment used to mix and feed the liquid ration. Monitor sanitation regularly using ATP swabs.

Provide water – Deliver clean, free-choice water within 20 to 30 minutes of liquid feedings.

In addition to consistent feeding formulation and practices, a healthy calf starts with a healthy cow. For dry cows and replacement heifers, provide excellent colostrum management; adequate bunk and resting space; a clean, dry, low-stress environment; good ventilation and heat-stress abatement; and focused maternity pen management. These practices improve both cow and calf health.

Vaccination with 7-way clostridial vaccines and scour-prevention formulations also can help manage the bacterial piece of the disease. Miller suggested administering clostridial vaccines to late-gestation dams to fortify their colostrum, then implementing herd-wide programs to deliver the same vaccine to calves at 3 and 4 months of age; at prebreeding; and again in late gestation. Pre-calving administration of scours vaccines also provide colostral protection against organisms like E. coli, rotavirus and coronavirus, in addition to Clostridium perfringens.

Miller advised working collaboratively with both the herd veterinarian and nutritionist to evaluate the causes, preventive measures and treatment protocols for abomasal bloat in individual herds. “The most successful calf raisers are those who pay attention to detail, establish protocols, and follow the same routine, regardless of what else is happening on any given day,” he said. “Controlling the things you can will help your calves overcome the things you can’t.”

Don’t Let Cold Weather Leave You Chapped: Protecting Teats in the Winter

Chapped lips and hands aren’t the only things we need to worry about now that we are in the middle of the winter season. Winter weather has a significant impact on teat skin. Cold weather can lead to teats drying, cracking, and chapping, providing more surface area for bacteria to thrive. Preparing for changes in the weather can help promote better teat health and reduce mastitis cases.

Manage the environment

We often talk about keeping cows clean and dry to prevent mastitis, but the environment can also impact teat health in cold temperatures. Teat skin is unique because it has no sweat, oil glands, or hair follicles. These characteristics make teats especially susceptible to cold temperatures. A wet environment increases the likelihood of damaged teats.

Chapping can occur when teats are exposed to air movement and drafts. Prevent cows from being directly exposed to wind as they leave the parlor and avoid rapid cold air movement in their housing area.

To dip or not to dip

Cracking and chapping of teats usually occur at temperatures less than 0° F. Temperatures can also impact which teat dips should and could be used. Teat dips that were being used during other times of the year can be used until temperatures drop below the freezing point. Check teat dip labels for suggested temperature ranges and freezing points. Symptoms of cold weather exposure may not become visible for 2 to 3 days. Avoid using barrier dips during cold spells because these dips tend to have a slower drying time because of the film they create.

At 20° F below zero, teats are at risk of frostbite. Winter dips are designed to be used during when teats could freeze. However, they often cost much more than a regular dip. Because the cold weather can impact the teat skin, high-emollient dips can be beneficial to teat health. Most high-emollient dips consist of at least 50% teat conditioners, which will hydrate and soften teat skin, leading to less chapping. However, these dips can have a slower drying time.

The goal of any teat dipping protocol should be to provide an effective germicide and teat conditioner. What should be avoided is allowing excess dip to freeze at the end of the teat. We are safe from this on most winter days, but dabbing the drop off the teat end will prevent teat end damage on bitterly cold days or cold wind chills.