Brad R. LeaMaster, D.V.M., Ph.D. Veterinary Extension Specialist Department of Animal Sciences College of Tropical Agric

1. Brad R. LeaMaster, D.V.M., Ph.D. Veterinary Extension Specialist Department of Animal Sciences College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources University of Hawaii, Manoa

2. Overview of the Dairy Cattle Industry

3. CHANGES IN THE PAST 20 TO 30 YEARS: • reduction in the size of the national dairy herd • increased annual production/cow • reduced number of dairy farms • increased size of dairy farms

4. Changes in the past 20 to 30 Years (con’t) • increased specialization • increased purchase of farm inputs • changed transportation patterns

5. Fewer farms, larger herds, and more production per cow are continuing trends.

6. This improvement in production / cow reflects the impact of developments in the sciences of: • genetic selection programs, • nutritional management, • and management of the health and production of dairy cattle.

7. Specialization also has resulted in a geographic centralization of dairy farming in the Midwestern Great Lakes, Northeastern U.S. and California. Approximately 50% of milk production in the U.S. is centralized in five leading dairy states: Wisconsin, 17.8%; California 10.2%; New York 8.6%; Minnesota, 7.4% Pennsylvania, 6.5%.

8. Two types of farms are attempting to achieve economic viability. 1. Family dairy farms with 40 to 80 cows handled by one person 2. Farms with >100 cows handled by a multiple person staff.

9. These smaller farms need to have high milk yields per cow with skilled, high quality labor and efficient operations.

10. In the 1950's --Cows commonly were pastured and fed minimal grain during the summer months and were housed in stanchion barns or loose housing barns. --Bucket milkers and milk cans were in common use. --Artificial breeding technicians carried liquid semen from a limited selection of predominantly unproven bulls.

11. Today • Most dairy cows are fed stored feed such as haylage, corn silage, and high moisture grains, which are fed using highly automated and mechanized feeding systems throughout the year. • The use of free stall housing has expanded rapidly.

12. Today • Manure handling and storage have been mechanized, with improved environmental protection. • Milking parlors and pipelines in stanchion barns have replaced bucket milkers.

13. Today • Milk cans have been replaced by bulk tanks of varying sizes that cool the milk effectively, and alternate day pickup has replaced daily pickup of inadequately cooled cans of milk.

14. Today --Frozen semen, which can be stored indefinitely, has replaced fresh, liquid semen. --More information and new methods for evaluating the genetic merit of bulls --In turn, the percentage of AI sires with superior genetic ability to improve milk production has increased dramatically.

15. Computers are now in general use throughout the dairy industry.

16. The use of computers for • recording, • calculating, • tabulating, • summarizing, • and analyzing production information for dairy herd improvement herds----> are now used by all DHI organizations.

17. Computerized records are used for • culling guides, • genetic evaluation of cows, • feeding guides, • breeding records, • and other management information.

18. Most of the dramatic changes in the dairy industry have been the result of economic pressures

19. Economic pressures produced by: • the high cost of hired labor, • the rapid increase in interest rates on capital invested in a dairy farm, • the large investment in facilities and equipment on a per cow basis, • and the increasing costs of energy.

20. One way in which costs can be kept down is by an increase in efficiency of milk production through a planned animal health and production program

21. Veterinary involvement in dairy operations has evolved dramatically over the last 20 years. • The components of a production medicine program consists of: • Record Keeping • Nutrition and feedbunk management • Reproduction

22. Production Medicine: • Milking management, udder health, and milk quality • Dry cows • Replacement rearing • Disease treatment, prevention, and control.

23. Production Medicine • Culling practices • Producer education and personnel training • Residue avoidance. (Dairy Quality Assurance)

24. The goal of such a program is: • to maximize herd income by optimizing milk production within the unique constraints presented by each dairy operation. (These include physical constraints such as available facilities and feedstuffs, and the attitude and aspirations of the herd owner manager and personnel.)

25. Records are a vital part of every herd health program. • If a program is to be successful people must be able to see where they have been, where they are, and where they are going. ( Dairy management hasbecome very complex.)

26. Fundamental Concepts in Disease Control and Prevention

27. Fundamental Concepts • Exposure opportunity (# of organisms) Virulence and Stress promote disease whereas resistance prevents disease. • Manipulation of any of these factors can change the outcome (Disease).

28. Fundamental disease prevention and control concepts are: • Sanitation, • Isolation, • Testing, • Culling, • Vaccination, • and Nutrition.

29. Sanitation • Sanitation reduces the number of disease organisms in the environment and thereby decreases the risk of exposure. • Sanitation involves both physical removal of organisms and chemical inactivation of organisms (disinfectants).

30. Isolation • Isolation of sick or newly purchased animals will limit disease spread. • Infected animals shed disease organisms into the environment. • If sick animals are isolated, the number of disease organisms available to expose other animals decreases.

31. Testing • Testing is a preventive measure. • The chances of introducing a specific disease organism into the herd can be reduced by confirming that new additions to the herd are free of infection.

32. Culling • Culling diseased animals from the herd can also be considered a preventive measure for the remainder of the herd.

33. Vaccination • Vaccination of animals is an effective way to build and immunological barrier to disease. • Vaccines stimulate the animal to produce antibodies and/or increase the CMI response.

34. Nutrition • Nutrition is fundamental for herd health programs. • Proper nutrition maintains the animal’s disease resistance and plays a major part in preventing metabolic disease problems.

35. Example of a Preventive Health Program: *Calf Management *Heifer Management *Cow Management *(Bull?)

36. Calf Management (Birth to 12 Months)

37. Calf Management (Birth to 12 Mo.) • The risk of exposure to pathogenic organisms can be greatly reduced by having the cow calve in a clean environment. • The newborn calf has virtually no immunity to infection until it nurses. Immunity (antibody) is transferred from the mother to the calf in the colostrum.

38. Calf Management (Birth to 12 Mo.) • These maternal antibodies can protect the calf for several weeks or months. • Colostrum should be provided as soon after birth as possible and in adequate amounts. • Treat navel with iodine (7% tincture is best).

39. Common Calf diseases: • Diarrheas, Scours, Enteritis (infectious and noninfectious) • Respiratory disease

40. Heifer Management (12 months to Calving)

41. Heifer Management • Proper nutrition during the heifer’s growing period very important. (Regular weighing allows for accurate monitoring.) • Routine internal and external parasite control. • Vaccination program.(IBR, BVD, PI-3, BRSV, Clostridials, Lepto, others?).

42. Heifer Management • Magnet. • Breeding should begin at about 15 months (if sufficient body weight). • Goal is to have 1st calf by 24 months.

43. Example of a Preventive Health Program: *Calf Management *Heifer Management *Cow Management *(Bull?)

44. Cow Management

45. Cow Management • Health programs for cows are concerned primarily with reproduction and mastitis. • Conditions at calving have a profound effect on a cow’s subsequent reproduction performance. • Nutrition, especially in the dry period, plays an important role in the reproductive health.

46. Cow Management • Thirty day post calving check. (Rectal exam). • Uterus involution • Ovary function. • Vaccination boosters. • Breeding at 45 to 60 days post calving.

47. Cow Management • Pregnancy check. (45 to 60 days post breeding). • If open, appropriate corrective measures. • A mastitis control program should be in effect. • (testing/surveillance/treatment/biosecurity

48. Mastitis Control

49. Mastitis Control

50. Mastitis Control