2009 DecemberCost of Hot Cows
Cost of Hot Cows
Recently, I was travelling back from a day in Melbourne. It was a hot evening and herds were leaving the dairies. I observed a number of herds where the cows were struggling to get a drink.
The following article is from: www.coolcows.com.au.
How much does heat stress cost you?
Most farmers notice falls in milk production when cows get hot. This results in substantial losses in milk income, but reduced in-calf rates, low milk protein and fat tests, live weight loss, higher somatic cell counts, more clinical mastitis cases and other cow health problems can often double these losses.
Benefits of heat stress management
If you can develop an effective heat stress management program there are substantial benefits to be gained. These include:
· Higher summer milk production
· Increased 6-week/100-day in-calf rates
· Reduced loss of embryos
· Increased calf birth weights.
The impacts on cow fertility, health and welfare last well beyond the hot months.
Impact on feed intake and nutrition
The impact of heat on feed intake
↑ 20-30% more maintenance energy needed to compensate for the effort of keeping cool
↓ Dry matter intake drops by 10-20% – short term or long term depending on the length and duration of heat stress
↓ Rumination and cud chewing decreases
↓ Cow’s ability to digest and absorb nutrients in feed decreased
Impact on fertility
↓ 6-week/100 day in-calf rates decreased
↑ Not-in-calf rates increased
↓ Length and intensity of heats decreased
↓ Conception rates decreased
↑ Risk of embryo death increased
↓ Calf birth weight and viability reduced
Impact on milk production
↓ Milk production drop by 10-25% or more in high heat stress and by 40% in extreme circumstances
↓ Milk composition is affected with high to severe heat stress:
↓ Milk protein percentage decreased by 0.2-0.4%
↓ Milk fat percentage is more variable day to day, and may be severely depressed if ruminal acidosis occurs.
Impact on milk quality
↑ Sediment may increase if cows’ teats are allowed to be contaminated with mud and dung
↑ Risk of udder infection increased, which, if occurs, results in increased somatic cell counts
Impact on cow health
↓ Rumen buffering capacity decreased
↓Decrease in rumen pH
↑ Risk of ruminal acidosis and ketosis increased
↑Risk of laminitis increased
↓Immune function suppressed
↑Risk of mastitis increased
What can you do to reduce heat stress?
Natural shade from trees Plant trees on the western side of the dairy yard
Access to cool drinking water Install a large water trough on the exit side of the dairy
Milking times Delay afternoon milking until 5 pm during the hot season.
Wet down the yard On hot days, wet the dairy yard for an hour before cows arrive
Sprinkling Cows Set up a sprinkler system at the dairy yard. Sprinkle cows for 30 to 60 minutes while standing in the dairy yard waiting for afternoon milking on hot days or when cows breathing rate exceeds 60 breaths per minute or the THI is above 78
Summer nutrition program and further information
In hot weather, provide cows with the highest quality pasture available to graze overnight when they are cooler.
Increase your cows grain / concentrate feeding rate, feed high-quality forage fibre and higher-quality protein sources, and increase cows intakes of potassium, sodium and magnesium
Sprinklers In very hot days, if you don’t have a shade shed, bring the milking herd back to the dairy yard around midday and use the sprinkler system to cool cows - if possible give them access to high quality hay or silage.
Mate more cows Mate more heifers to compensate for lower in-calf rates expected in milkers during the hot season to help maintain your desired calving pattern. For more information visit www.coolcows.com.au
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Developing a Biosecurity Plan
While there are many ways to prevent and control cattle disease, management is increasingly recognized as a key factor. Biosecurity is one management strategy that producers can view as insurance from disease. Implementing biosecurity practices on a dairy can increase profitability by reducing clinical disease and improving production efficiency. One of the steps when developing a biosecurity plan is to identify the risk factors that affect how diseases are introduced or spread.
Diseases can move from one dairy to another (between-herd transmission) or spread within a single dairy (within-herd transmission). Both within-herd and between-herd transmission needs to be considered for a control program to work. Evaluating how pathogens are introduced to the dairy differs for each disease. Some of the risk factors to consider include:
Key Between-Herd Risk Factors
1. Bringing new cattle to a herd.
2. Failure to quarantine cattle.
3. Failure to determine disease status before introducing cattle.
4. Cattle returning from exhibitions and shows.
5. Allowing other animals contact with cows, feeds, or water
6. Allowing spread through people, vehicles, or equipment.
Key Within-Herd Risk Factors
1. Using calving area for sick cows.
2. Not separating sick from healthy cows.
3. Using manure-handling equipment to mix feed or feed cows.
4. Manure-contaminated drinking water.
5. Feeding contaminated feeds.
6. Feeding waste milk to calves.
7. Animal contact with cows, feed, or water.
8. Failure to vaccinate.
9. Allowing spread via people, vehicles, or equipment.
10. Improper and/or lack of teat disinfectant use, dry cow treatment, and/or udder hygiene practices.
Source: “Biosecurity on Dairies”, published bythe Bovine Alliance on Management and the National Mastitis Council 2009..
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Piliguard - Start planning for pinkeye now
This exciting vaccine has greatly assisted farmers to cope with the annoying problem that is pinkeye. It increases an animal’s natural immunity to Morexella bovis; the bacteria that cause pink eye. It is designed to reduce the incidence and severity of the disease.
The vaccine comes in a 50-dose pack; it is administered by a single dose 2ml injection. It is recommended to give the injection under the skin in the neck. It can be administered at the same time as 7 in 1 provided they are given on opposite sides of the neck. The vaccine comes with a specific vaccinating gun that replaces air into the non-collapsible container. TVG can provide these guns and if stored correctly they can be used year after year.
The recommendation is to vaccinate all at risk animals greater than one week of age, 3-6 weeks prior to the expected onset of the pinkeye season, ie from October onwards.
It is important to note that we may still see pink eye in vaccinated animals. We should see significantly fewer cases and that the disease would be less severe.
To adequately control pinkeye it is important to address the factors that propagate the disease, these may include:
· Using fly control such as Arrest Easy Dose
· Minimising yarding of at risk stock by performing routine procedures (vaccinating and drenching) before the spread period
· Minimising exposure of at risk animals to dusty environments
Who should use the vaccine?
· Anyone intending to sell heifers for export
· Properties that have had a history of pink eye
· Properties who send heifers out on agistment or to out paddocks where regular checking of heifers is difficult
We would urge you to begin vaccinating ASAP to create immunity before you expect to see pink eye.
For more information or to order vaccine contact TVG. 55586666
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Rapid Feed Analysis
Farmers can now get rapid feed test results through George Weston Feed Lab. A pilot program is being trialled in western Victoria where farmers can get standard feed testing performed for only $45 per sample. You don’t even have to leave the farm to get the samples tested as the samples bags are collected by the milk tanker driver. All you have to do is place the feed samples in the sample bags, fill in the forms and place the packs next to the vat. The results are faxed or emailed to you, and to your chosen dairy advisor. It is that easy.
To collect your yellow sample bags call into TVG or ask your factory field officer.back to top
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
We wish all our clients a very merry Christmas and Happy New Year
TVG will operate an after hour’s emergency service during the Christmas and New Year Period
Call 55586666
TVG CLINIC OPERATION OVER CHRISTMAS NEWYEAR
Friday December 25 –Closed
Saturday December 26 –Closed
Sunday December 27-Closed
Monday December 28-Closed
Friday January 1-Closed
Saturday January 2 –Open
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