THE LINK BETWEEN UDDER HEALTH AND DRY COW MANAGEMENT
Last month we talked about why dry cow management is critical, though often overlooked. This month I wanted to dive further into the dry period’s importance to udder health. During this time, the cow’s udder repairs itself, her immune system gets back on track, and her body builds up reserves for the next lactation. If […]
WHY DRY COW MANAGEMENT IS THE FIRST STEP TO A PRODUCTIVE SEASON
We need to stop treating the dry period as just a rest between lactations and understand that it’s a significant biological reset that impacts the health and productivity of the next lactation. While the transition period is often considered the most important time, what happens during the dry period sets the stage for success. Managing […]
WHY SUMMER MINERAL SUPPLEMENTATION SHOULD BE EVERY DAIRY FARMER’S PRIORITY
Summer challenges dairy farming in unique ways. Heat stress, paired with changes in pasture quality, can affect milk composition and overall productivity. However, an often-overlooked solution is targeted mineral supplementation, which offers a pathway to maintaining milk quality and profitability through the warmer months. Why milk quality suffers in summer As the temperature rises, cows […]
PREDICTING HEAT STRESS – HOW DO WE DO THIS AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Heat stress in dairy cows isn’t just about temperature – it’s a combination of temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind. Even mild heat stress can impact a cow’s milk production, feed intake, and overall health, leading to financial losses. New Zealand research shows heat stress costs around 6kg MS per cow in the Waikato, equating […]