Animal Health and Welfare [DA.AHW]

Managing and Preventing Udder Oedema

Successfully transitioning heifers into the milking herd is essential for achieving a strong performance in the first lactation, and there are several things to keep an eye out for when…

How to Minimise Heat Stress in the Dairy Herd

As the UK sees increasingly prolonged spells of warm weather, managing cattle during the summer months is becoming more challenging for producers. For dairy farmers, heat stress has been found to…

Managing Mastitis Risk During the Grazing Season

Mastitis is often associated with the housing period, when the risk of infection is typically higher. However, the grazing season also presents challenges. Environmental and clinical mastitis can occur at…

Too Much of a Good Thing? Copper Oversupply in Dairy Herds

Trace minerals are essential for reproductive performance, immunity, and productivity in dairy herds. They play a key role in maintaining enzyme systems and immune defences. Traditionally, mineral supplementation strategies have focused on preventing deficiencies whilst accounting for interactions that may reduce absorption. However, this approach alongside…

The Dairy Labour Crisis – Who will Milk the Cows Tomorrow?

Across the dairy sector, margins are under increasing pressure. Following the recent milk price drops and ongoing market volatility, rising input costs and heightened environmental regulations often dominate headlines. For many producers, labour is no longer just…

Heat Lamps for Neonate Calves

Rearing strong calves is key to business efficiency and profitability. Neonatal, low birth weight, or sick calves have a reduced capacity for thermoregulation. Heat lamps can be used to mitigate…

How to Assess and Improve Cow Cleanliness

Keeping cows clean when housed can often be a challenge but is an important part of ensuring good udder health and prevention of environmental mastitis. If the udder and legs…

Calf Milk Replacer Guide – What to Use and Why

There are many benefits of feeding a calf milk replacer (CMR) over whole milk, including: Reduced risk of disease transfer (particularly Johne’s) High bacterial load Antibiotic residues Consistency However, there…

Is Subclinical Ketosis Draining Your Profits?

Clinical ketosis is easily identifiable, with affected cows showing rapid condition loss, a significant drop in milk yield and reduced appetite. These cows will also have an acetone odour in…

Uterine Prolapse in Dairy Cattle

Uterine prolapses are more serious than vaginal or rectal prolapses, and almost always occur within 24 hours of calving. They are easily distinguished from vaginal prolapses, which tend to occur…

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