Cow Welfare [DA.AHW.CW]
Prevalence of Heat Stress in Dairy Cows – A Summary of the A-SHED Project
The global climate is changing, with the UK experiencing warmer average summer temperatures and an increasing frequency of heatwaves. While Scotland and northern England are not traditionally regions associated with…
Read More >Post-calving: Are we getting it right?
Calving is a major event for a cow, ensuring the post-calving period is correctly managed provides the cow with the best opportunity to recover and have good future health. Cows…
Read More >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…
Read More >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…
Read More >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…
Read More >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…
Read More >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…
Read More >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…
Read More >MMN November 2024 – Waterbeds – the Ultimate in Cow Comfort?
Ensuring good cow comfort is critical to welfare and productivity and a new type of lying surface is gaining momentum – waterbeds! First developed in Europe over 15 years ago,…
Read More >MMN November 2024 – A Recap on Winter Lameness Management: Prevention is Better than Cure
The estimated average cost of a case of lameness in dairy cows is £180. Whilst we are all aware of the risks and costs of cattle lameness, it can sometimes…
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