dairy cow health

problems getting or staying pregnant

• infections

• BCS

• heat stress

• postpartum disorders

• dystocia

signs of calving

• unsocial and restless

• standing up/ laying down

• isolation

• reluctance to feed

• water bag emerges

• cow may rest for a short while

• front feet appear

• push

• standing or laying

• once head is through calf dives out

dystocia causes

• breeding

• over conditioned dam

• malformation of the calf or dam

• lengthened gestation

• foetal maternal incompatibility- heifers are at risk

• malposition

• other conditions eg milk fever or twisted uterus

other calving/post calving issues

• haemorrhage

• prolapse.- dystocia, large calf, milk fever

milk fever (hypocalcaemia)

• incorrect dry cow nutrition

• breed

• stress

LINKED TO

• calving problems

• RFM

• uternine prolapse (weaken uterine contractions)

• metritis, mastitis (weakens immunity)

• poor appetite

• displaced abomasums

• ketosis

• delayed return to oestrus

retained foetal membranes

• failure to expel foetal membranes within 12-24hs after calving

• potential infection acting as a week

• risk factors include Abortion ▪ Stillbirth ▪ Twins ▪ Dystocia ▪ Metabolic disorders, especially milk fever ▪ Specific infections such as: o Brucellosis o Leptospirosis o Listeriosis o IBR

downer cow- calving paralysis

cow has nerve and muscle damage from trauma of calving

• calf not presented properly

• large calf

• calving too long

downer cow diagnoses and treatment

• history of hard calving

• cow is usually alert eating drinking

• normal temp

treatment

time

lifting

anti inflammatory agents

metritis/ endometritis

• infection of uterus

• usually observed 2 weeks post calving

• hygiene at calving key

• calving difficulties- consider antibiotics

• cows with twins more at risk

displaced abomasum

• left more likely than right

• costly

• during pregnancy, the uterus displaces the abomasum.

• following calving, the empty uterus and poor rumen fill leave more space in the abdomen for the abomasum to float

• milk fever or ketosis can make the abomasum not contract normally - filled with gas

ketosis

• usually result of undersupply of energy in comparison to demand

• poor dry matter intake

• low energy density of rations

• typically occurs 3-8 week post calving as energy demand for milk production increases

• moderate milk drop and reduced feed intake

• dung firm

• pear drop smell on breath

• some get nervous symptons- disorientation, excessive licking

ketosis diagnosis

• blood test

• high beta hydroxybutyrate levels

• often blood test during herd routine at appropriate stage of lactation

too fat

• problem with calving- fat around birth canal

• risk of fatty liver

factors impacting negative energy balance

• feed given

• feed eaten

• energy/ protein intake

• dry matter intake

• group management

• breed 

• age 

• genetics

• BCS

grass only feeding

• low cost

• limited to summer milk production where milk prices are lowest

• Cows do not achieve sufficient DMI from grass alone to meet demand for lactation – leads to greater loss of body condition score

• risk of hypomagnesaemia

• spring time diarrhoea

nutrition and reproduction

• feeding level can influence reproductive success

• large decrease in BCS during early lactation have difficulty getting back in calf

• excessive fat can be difficult getting back in calf

• Glucose supporting rations aim to improve milk yield and can improve reproductive success

• High dietary protein levels diets can lead to reduced fertility and can be assessed indirectly through blood urea-nitrogen levels.

lactaton period feeding systems- feeding for peak yield

• amount of milk produced at peak yield helps set overall lactation yield

• high peak yield= high lactation yield

• give a high concentration allowance for first 6 weeks of lactation

• but risk of rumen acidosis, prone to lower reproductive success

lactation period feeding systems- buffer feeding

• feeding additional energy to high yielding grazing cows

• often as maize silage plus brewers grain for 3hr indoor before afternoon milking

• to increase and balance nurient intake in relation to lactation demand

• usually provided when DMI is low

lead feeding

increasing concentrate feeding during last 3 weeks of pregnancy to adapt rumen flora to the switch to a high concentrate ratiion at the onset of lacation

• to reduce requency of ketosis and acidosis associated with high levels of grain feeding

• can increase risk of milk fever

DCAB feeding

• decreasing ratio of cations to anions in the feed during last 3 weeks of pregnancy

• helps minimise risk of milk fever

• encourages mobilisation of calcium from bone

• unpalatable

transition feeding

• specific diet 3 weeks before and 3 weeks after calving

• better rumen adaptation

monitoring rumen health

• milk fat content more than 4 percent

• VFA spectrum

• fibre content

• rumen acidosis

• more than 60 lying and ruminating

• faecal scoring

when to score lameness

• after milking on way back to bed

• concrete surface

• not rushed

• every 2 weeks/montly

what is lameness associated with

• winter housing

• poor floor hygiene indoors

• long walking distances on hard tracks

• inadequate foot care

• sharp angular stones on the ground

assessing lameness

• gait scoring

• uneven weight bearing on feet

• arched back when standing and walking

• foot exam

mobility scores

0- walks with even weight bearing and rhythm on all 4 feet and flat back. long fluid strides

1- steps uneven or strides shortened. affected limb(s) not immediately identifiable

2- uneven weight bearing on limb immediately identifiable and or obviously shortened stride. usually arched back

3- unabale to walk as fast as brisk human pace. lame leg easy to identify. very lame.

infectious foot lesions

• digital dermatitis

• interdigital dermatitis

• heel erosion/ slurry heel

non infectious foot lesions

• sole ulcer

• sole hemorrhage

• white line disease