Animal Health

Tips to reduce mastitis risk at calving

For most cows, the highest risk period for new mastitis infections will be the calving period — we consider this to be from two weeks before she calves until two weeks after she has calved. During this stressful period, cows’ natural defence...

Rod Dyson

17 May 2019

Animal Health

Farm safety: Why take the risk?

Even experienced farmers with good cattle handling skills and facilities cannot completely mitigate the risks associated with working with large animals and heavy-duty equipment. Dairy cattle are semi-domesticated which can sometimes lead to staff...

Gemma Chuck

17 May 2019

Animal Health

Proof how critical calf care is

Half of a cow’s lifetime height and growth is achieved in the first six months of its life, according to a visiting American calf-rearing specialist. David Kuehnel was raised on a family farm in Wisconsin, which reared 1200 specially-fed veal...

Dairy News

19 Apr 2019

Animal Health

Proof how critical calf care is

Dairy News

19 Apr 2019

Animal Health

Raising babies

Animal adviser Bob James provided an animated and colourful lesson in calf rearing for the crowd attending the South Australian Dairy Conference in March. The American scientist encouraged, cajoled and inspired the group to raise healthier calves...

Dairy News

19 Apr 2019

Animal Health

Know your poison

There are more than 1000 plants in Australia that have been recorded as toxic to animals. This article discusses some common plant toxicities that can affect cattle. Nitrate/nitrite High levels of nitrate in plants is toxic to grazing cattle...

Gemma Chuck

19 Apr 2019

Animal Health

Budgets and compromises

Tough conditions in the dairy industry have seen every farm closely scrutinising costs in an effort to allocate available funds to the most cost-effective options in virtually every area of their operation. The cost of treatment at drying-off is one...

Rod Dyson

19 Apr 2019

Animal Health

Questions and compromises

It is now several years since we had been to John’s* farm. Back then he was milking 600 cows in a rotary dairy and had a significant problem with clinical cases of mastitis, mostly caused by Strep uberis. Some key changes to milking setup, dry-off...

Rod Dyson

19 Mar 2019

Animal Health

Time to be vigilant on pinkeye

Pink-eye is a highly contagious, painful and debilitating disease that can severely affect animal productivity. In summer, increased sunlight and dust make the eye more vulnerable to the disease. Long grass and flies help to spread the infection...

Jeff Cave

19 Mar 2019

Animal Health

Disease focus: Rye Grass Staggers

Perennial Rye Grass Staggers (PRGS) is a common condition of cattle, sheep, camelids, and horses in many regions of Australia. It tends to occur in late summer and autumn and is caused by a fungus found within the rye grass plant. Unlike annual...

Gemma Chuck

19 Mar 2019

Animal Health

Managing the risk of mastitis in hot weather

TWO RECENT discussions were a reminder of how hot weather can significantly influence the risk of mastitis in dairy herds. The first was a farm which uses a mechanical teat scrubber as part of the pre-milking routine to clean teats prior to cups on...

Rod Dyson

15 Feb 2019

Animal Health

Shining a spotlight on facial eczema

FACIAL ECZEMA (FE) can significantly affect dairy cattle productivity, health and welfare through animal deaths, reduced weight gain, reduced milk yield and reproductive performance. While FE is mainly seen in east Gippsland, it has also been...

Gemma Chuck

15 Feb 2019

Animal Health

Fonterra to sell NZ livestock division

FONTERRA NEW Zealand has announced it will sell the Farm Source livestock division to Carrfields Livestock — an established livestock agency provider. Fonterra Farm Source stores director Richard Allen, said the decision to sell was made in the...

Dairy News

15 Feb 2019

Animal Health

Keep cows cool this summer

CLIMATE CHANGE is leading to warmer Australian summers with an increased number of hot days and warmer nights. This increases the risk of heat stress, leading to adverse effects on herd health and farm profitability. Effects of heat stress Reduced...

Gemma Chuck

13 Dec 2018

Animal Health

No flies on us — eventually

PAUL* HAD made some small but significant changes to both his milking equipment and milking routine after our initial visit had exposed some mastitis risks that he had been unaware of. A change to a different liner, a small change to the system...

Rod Dyson

13 Dec 2018

Animal Health

Is it too hot in the ‘kitchen’?

SUMMER IS almost here, and there will be some consistently high temperatures as well as some very hot days coming, especially in some of our warmer regions. Unfortunately, heat and sunlight can be an enemy of many products used on farms. One of the...

Rod Dyson

16 Nov 2018

Animal Health

Look out for cancer eye

THE WARMER weather is just around the corner for many of the dairying regions in Australia. The longer summer days can bring new animal health concerns, one of which is cancer eye. This article discusses the most common types of cancer eye in cows...

Gemma Chuck

16 Nov 2018

Animal Health

Udder health costs dairy $150 m each year

MORE THAN $150 million is lost to Australian dairy farmers each year through poor udder health. Mastitis is the major cause of this loss as it reduces milk yield and leads to poor quality milk. The investigation of mastitis does not rely on the...

Gemma Chuck

12 Oct 2018

Animal Health

An assumption is just an assumption

WE REGULARLY find that our milking time and farm visits are quite illuminating. Not only do they allow us to demonstrate and reinforce procedures that have been discussed both at training courses and on the farm, they also allow us to see firsthand...

Rod Dyson

12 Oct 2018