Source: proAction
Body Condition Score (BCS) is a tool for determining if an animal is too thin, too fat or in ideal condition. BCS charts range from 1 (emaciated) to 5 (fat).
Assess body condition of the animal to determine...
Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs
Where Do They Live?
Bedding, soil or water that is contaminated with manure.
How is Infection Spread?
From the environment to the udder at any time. The risk of new infection is highest around calving...
Source: Dairy Research and Extension Consortium of Alberta
Why is this important?
The University of Saskatchewan Rayner Dairy herd recently experienced a Salmonella Dublin outbreak. S. Dublin poses significant risk to the health and productivity of dairy, veal, and beef herds,...
Source: National Farm Animal Care Council Code of Practice for the care and handling of farm animals – Dairy Cattle, Section 3.5
Lameness among dairy cows is widely recognized as one of the most serious (and costly) animal welfare issues affecting...
Source: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Fact Sheet written by: Vanessa Taylor – Milk Quality Assurance Program Lead/OMAFRA.
Introduction
Looking for one change in a cow’s udder health status may not give you enough of a warning that something is...
Source: Canadian Bovine Mastitis and Milk Quality Research Network
Contagious and Environmental Bacteria
The main bacteria responsible for causing mastitis can be divided in two categories: contagious bacteria and environmental bacteria. This distinction is very useful since it helps in taking...
Source: Manitoba Agriculture Food, and Rural Initiatives
A common way of measuring heat damaged protein is to analyze a feedstuff for acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN). This measures the amount of nitrogen that is bound to the indigestible part of the...
Source: National Mastitis Council
Introduction
Pathogenic microorganisms that most frequently cause mastitis can be divided into two groups based on their source: environmental pathogens and contagious pathogens. The major contagious pathogens are Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Mycoplasma spp. With the exception...
Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs
Fact Sheet written by: Jack Rodenburg - Dairy Cattle Production Systems Program Lead/OMAFRA
Every dairy producer has cattle that are too fat or too thin for their stage of lactation. Failure to recognize...
Source: proAction
Two methods can be used for scoring lameness in dairy cattle: Gait Scoring or Stall Lameness Scoring. Please see the Quick Guide to Stall Lameness Scoring for a description of that protocol.
Gait Scoring or Locomotion Scoring
Preferred method...