Animal Health and Welfare [DA.AHW]

MMN July 2024 – Contagious Mastitis: Tackling High SCC’s

Being above the standard litre target for somatic cell count (SCC) can have a significant impact on your milk cheque. High levels of contagious mastitis within a herd often result…

Managing Johne’s Disease Within Your Herd

Johne’s disease is a chronic, contagious bacterial disease of the intestinal tract mainly seen in ruminant species, particularly dairy cattle. It is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium avium subspecies Paratuberculosis…

MMN May 2024 – Reducing White Line Disease in Dairy Cows

White line disease (WLD) is the second most common cause of claw disease in dairy cows, with an average of 5.5 cases per 100 cows per year (Barker et al.,…

MMN May 2024 – Colostrum Beyond Antibodies: What is New?

Project: Identifying critical control points for colostrum contamination and Mycoplasma bovis prevalence in first milking colostrum from Scottish dairy herds. When colostrum quality is discussed, it is tempting to think…

MMN January 2024 – What is the Cost Benefit of Whole-Herd Routine Foot Trimming?

As many herds are now halfway through the housing period, the incidence of lameness may become more apparent. Prolonged exposure to damp/soiled passageways may have contributed towards additional foot infections…

MMN November 2023 – The Low-Down on Winter Dysentery

Every year we hear reports of winter dysentery outbreaks in dairy herds. The clinical signs of the disease can be dramatic, with a significant reduction in milk production in conjunction…

Veterinary Declaration Requirements for EU Exports

From the 13th of December 2023, a new veterinary declaration rule is coming into force across the country. The new rule requires farmers to certify that any POAO (Products of…

Cattle Mineral Supplementation

Throughout the year and production cycle, the cow goes through different phases with varying nutritional requirements depending on her stage of production. Minerals are an essential part of a cow’s…

MMN September 2023 – Water Quality: is it up to scratch?

We all know the importance of water to a dairy cow. High yielding cows can consume over 200 litres a day and so fresh, palatable water is essential to maintain…

MMN July 2023 – Keeping Mastitis Under Control in Summer

Mastitis is one of the biggest causes of economic loss in the dairy herd and can be even more prevalent during the grazing season. Exposure to new bacterial pathogens and…

Sign up to the FAS newsletter