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Subject to the same diseases and parasites as beef cattle

However, dairy cattle do have some health considerations that need to be emphasized

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 foro Brucellosiso Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR)o Bovine Virus Diarrhea (BVD)o Parainfluenza-3 (PI3)

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

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

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

Program identifies critical control points that help herd owners produce a high quality product

Emphasis is placed on following a preventative health program

Serious economic problem Causes losses by

o Lowering milk production from infected cowso Increasing the cull rate in the herdo The cost of treatmento Loss of infected milk that must be thrown awayo Increased labor cost to treat infected cowso Possible loss of permit to sell milk if infection

becomes serious enough

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

Inflamed udder Swollen, hot, hard, tender quarter Drop in milk production Abnormal milk

o Lumpy, stringy, straw-colored, contains blood, yellow clots

Cow goes off feed, shows depression, dull eyes, rough hair, chills

Death may result

Abnormal milk-clots, flakes, watery Slight swelling and hardness of udder that comes

and goes Sudden decrease in milk production

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

White blood cells that fight infection Mastitis increases their presence

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 150,000-200,000 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

Daily per head losses increase as somatic cell counts increaseo 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

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

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

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 o Slight precipitation show a low counto A heavy gel and purple color show a high count

Lab Chemical Electronic

The following practices should be followed for an effective mastitis control program:

o Maintain milking equipment in proper operating condition

o Practice proper milking procedureso Identify the bacteria causing the infection and

determine the extent of the infection in the herd

o Promptly treat identified cases of mastitiso Treat all quarters of cows when at drying off

timeo Cull cows with chronic mastitis problems that

do not respond treatment

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

o Poor appetiteo Reduced fecal dischargeo Soft or pasty feceso Diarrheao Drop in milk productiono Dull, listless, thin appearance

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

A condition in which the placenta is not discharged within 12-24 hours after calving

Normal for 10-12% of dairy cowso A higher rate indicates a problem that needs attention

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.

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

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

Feed a properly balanced ration Common Treatments

o Glucose injections into the bloodstreamo Hormone injections (cortisone or adrenocorticotrophic

hormone)o Oral feeding of propylene glycol or sodium propionate

Feeding molasses will not cure Ketosis

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

calving

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

Feed a properly balanced ration to dry cows Keep the calving area clean and sanitary Treat with intrauterine antibiotic drugs

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

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

Feed a balanced ration to dry cows with the correct calcium-phosphorus ratio

Treat by intravenous injection of calcium

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

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

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.