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 […]
SUPPORTING OUR FARMERS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES
Groundswell NZ is a grassroots volunteer-driven advocacy group seeking a halt to, and rewriting of, unworkable regulations which unfairly impact farmers and rural communities. The group seeks effective solutions to environmental issues, and has been providing a strong advocacy voice for rural communities across NZ since 2020.
Agvance supports all of our clients who are directly affected by the current unfair legislation placed on our farming communities across New Zealand. We are committed to standing up with those in our communities against unworkable regulations, and thank those who were able to attend, stand up and speak at the recent protests.
As an agricultural based country, this poorly thought out piece of legislation and policies developed in silos won’t only affect every farmer, the repercussions will flow into every part of our society for many years to come.
We believe that these regulations, legislation and the unfair costs associated with it will ultimately impact the cost of living for every New Zealander at every level of our society. Having such specific legislation and policies introduced by those that do not work on the land every day and understand the nuances of our farms and communities across the country should not hold such power over our livelihoods.
At Agvance, we see two big issues with the current legislation. The belief that livestock ‘emit’ carbon, and that every farm is the same across the country.
MASTITIS PREVENTION DURING DRY OFF
The end of lactation when cows are dried off is one of the few times during the seasonal calendar when both farmers and their cattle can take a breather from the daily grind of milking. The dry period is a critical phase in the seasonal cycle of every dairy cow, as it allows them time to rebuild the mammary tissue required for milk production in the next season. This is also a critical time for cows to build up their natural immunity before the next calf is born.
Milk producing cells within the udder are rapidly dying and being replaced while the cow is lactating. During the dry period the udder rapidly regenerates these cells in order to build maximum milk production capacity, in anticipation of the next lactation. Planning sufficient time to allow these processes to take place will ensure your herd is less likely to suffer from the effects of mastitis, which is an infection caused by bacteria or injury to the udder.
A farmer’s decisions at dry off can influence a herd’s mastitis prevalence for up to the following 6 to 12 months. As you know, it’s good practice to dry off lighter cows earlier; this is when body condition scores are imperative. This can also be a good time to either treat (dry cow therapy) or cull cows that have a history of mastitis.
Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland, which is caused by either infection or trauma, and leads to decreased milk production. Contagious mastitis can spread quickly during milking, as milk from an infected quarter can be spread to the teat skin via dirty gloves, teat cup lines and cross flow of milk between teat cups.
While there is no milk being produced during dry off, the average dry cow will require as little as 10kg of dry matter in order to maintain their condition. If the cow is light in body weight, she may need more feeding. However, overfeeding during this period in the hope of building condition may risk additional metabolic issues around calving.
In order to build resilience and strength for a stress-free season, the dry period can be an important time to get mineral levels right. Minerals such as selenium, zinc, and copper, can increase the bodies resistance to udder infections early in the next lactation, while also ensuring better reproductive outcomes later in the season.
Every farm is different. Herds are drying off at different times, and they will have different diets and differing deficiency challenges. By using a custom mineral blend in conjunction with Agvance, farmers can defend against the likelihood of infections, by supporting the specific nutritional needs of their herd at this key time.