Each cow’s life phase, from calf to cow, comes with its own unique challenges.
By closely monitoring the herd, dairy farmers can detect diseases early, reducing the impact of the disease and decreasing the need for antibiotics, and ultimately increasing milk yield.
Monitor every stage
Every stage in a dairy cow’s life has potential health risks that can impact milk production. From respiratory issues in calves to metabolic diseases in lactating cows, recognising these phase-specific risks is a challenging task.
Monitoring from calf to cow 24/7 enables proactive care.
Calves: In the early weeks, calves are vulnerable to diseases like diarrhoea and pneumonia. These conditions can lead to setbacks, affecting future milk production. Monitoring calf health closely enables early treatment, helping calves grow into healthy heifers that contribute to milk yield later.
Heifers: As heifers grow, reproductive health becomes critical. Diseases such as bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) or infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) can impact fertility, delaying a heifer’s first calving and affecting her future milk production per day. Monitoring these risks ensures these heifers are healthy and ready for breeding, and eventually the parlour.
Lactation: Lactating cows face risks from mastitis, ketosis and milk fever, all of which can quickly lower milk yield if not detected at an early stage. Real-time monitoring technology helps identify subclinical signs of these issues, allowing for timely intervention, which can help keep milk production steady.
Transition: During the transition period, cows are vulnerable to diseases that may affect their next lactation. Issues such as metritis and retained placenta post-calving can delay return to peak milk production per day. Monitoring during this pre-fresh phase and taking timely action supports a smooth transition back into lactation.
Keep them comfortable
Increasing milk production is achievable through a combination of good nutrition, advanced health monitoring, and a focus on reducing stress and improving cow comfort.
Herd comfort is key.
By integrating these practices and leveraging modern technology, dairy farmers can maintain high numbers of milk yield.
The result is a more productive herd, healthier cows, and a more profitable dairy operation.
Trust the data
Working with data-driven solutions is a modern approach to improving milk production.
Technologies that monitor cow activity, health and rumination provide dairy producers with real-time insights, ensuring timely intervention.
This data can guide management decisions for improving nutrition and overall herd health, which ultimately can help increase milk production per day.
A decreased milk yield can severely jeopardise the economic potential of a dairy operation.
As the industry faces increasing pressures, such as growing public concern over dairy calf and cow welfare, the integration of advanced health monitoring technology has become essential.
Examine the role technology can play in improving herd performance and maximising farm profitability. Visit: www.cowmanager.com
Written by Renee Braam for CowManager.
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