Differences between Dry Cow Products
| Active component | Name | Duration of Action | Minimum Dry period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500mg Cloxacillin | Orbenin DC, Noroclox | Medium | 30 days |
| 600mg Cloxacillin | Enduro,Duro Dry | Long | 35 days |
| Cephalonium | Cepravin | Very Long | 49 days |
In General cure rates are probably superior with 600mg products versus 500mg products and prevention of new infections extends longer with the longer acting products.
It is important to keep in mind the minimum dry periods of each product. Ensure cows are dried off to allow adequate dry periods for the dry cow product that is used, bearing in mind some cow may calve up to 2 weeks prior to there due date.
The product that bests suits your herd and farm is a decision which can be made looking at farm history, clinical case records, herd test figures and milk culture results in conjunction with one of our vets.
What information do I need to help choose which Dry Cow Product to use?
- Herd average BMCC for the past 12 months
- Clinical Case Records
- Herd test ICCC summary for all cows in herd
- Results of any milk cultures taken from your herd (will be on file at clinic)
Should I use Dry Cow on the whole herd (Blanket DCT) or only on some of the herd (Selective DCT) ?
The decision to use selective or blanket is based on a number of factors. Click here to see a flow chart to help with this decision.
Click here to view the rest of the 2002 February newsletter.