NEWS
Surprises
We all get surprises we like and those we detest.
Some veterinarians got an unpleasant surprise when dairy inspectors started cracking down on extra-label use of some antibiotics, Albon in particular. Phizer has provided some literature to clarify any misunderstanding. The team at CDN greatly appreciates the quick response made by Pfizer and their allowance of us to distribute this information in our newsletter.
Spring always brings surprising weather to Colorado and we have had our fill this spring. Footing in our dairies has changed from dry and hard to wet and soft several times. On that note, we have some information from the University of British Columbia Research Center on lameness, the primary cause of which in dairy cows is foot problems.
Surprisingly, the melamine disaster in China has negative effects on our milk prices. Finally and not so surprisingly, we have included new USDA information on reproductive practices on dairy operations from CSU graduate Dr. Jason Lombard.
Ragan Adams,
Editor CDN
Extra-label Use of Drugs in Lactating Dairy Cows
Some veterinarians have been approached, and cited, by dairy inspectors in association with extra-label prescription of Albon. The veterinarians involved were surprised to learn that extra-label prescriptions for sulfas exacted the same level of scrutiny as prescriptions for Clenbuterol, Diethylstilbestrol and Phenylbutazone in cows 20 months of age and older.
In response to this and to better inform their customers, Pfizer Animal Health has provided an informational letter, a table of Approved Uses for Albon (sulfadimethoxine) Products in Lactating Cows, and a question and answer sheet. Please read this material carefully.
 Click here for the Albon Customer Letter
Click here for the Question and Answer Sheet
Lameness in Dairy Cattle
Information from The University of British Columbia Dairy Education and Research Center 1. Lameness Workshop for Producers, Hoof-trimmers and Veterinarians
Katy Proudfoot, Kiyomi Ito and Núria Chapinal
According to Dr. Gerard Cramer, an Ontario producer, hoof trimmer, veterinarian, and researcher working on hoof health, "lost income per lame cow is approximately $520...total lost income for a 200 cow herd with 40% incidence is $41,600." In November of last year, The University of British Columbia presented a two-day lameness workshop that began by identifying the major risk factors for lameness and practical solutions that addressed these factors.
Click here to read more
2. Lame Cows Improve When Given Access to Pasture
Omar Hernandez Mendo, Marina von Keyserlingk, Doug Veira and Dan Weary
Freestall housing systems are designed for ease of management, but are also associated with a greater risk of hoof injury and disease leading to lameness.
The primary objective of this study was to test whether a relatively short period on pasture would help lame cows recover. Time on pasture may reduce lameness by providing access to more comfortable standing and lying surfaces.
Click here to read more
3. Moving the Neck Rail Helps Lame Cows Recover
Dan Weary and Marina von Keyserlin
Neck rail placement affects the cows' ability to stand in the stall. Cows with neck rails positioned over the range of values found on commercial farms ranging from a restrictive placement of 130 cm from the rear curb, to a much more generous 190 cm from the curb. outside of the stall were tested. The more restrictive the neck rail, the more time the cow spent perching (standing with the front hooves in the stall) and the less time she was able to stand fully in the stall. If standing outside of the stall increases the risk of lameness, and stall design can change where the cows stand, could simply moving the neck rail decrease the incidence of lameness?
Click here to read more
4. Effects of Bedding Quality on Lying Behavior of Dairy Cows
Jose Fregonesi, Marina von Keyserlingk, Doug Veira and Dan Weary
A growing body of research now demonstrates that the surface provided for cows is one of the most important factors in designing a suitable lying area. Cows clearly prefer lying surfaces with more bedding and spend more time lying down in well-bedded stalls than those with little or no bedding. Unfortunately, even well designed stalls still need to be well maintained in order for cows to be comfortable.
Click here to read more
Recession and Melamine Scandal Hit US Dairy Exports
By Caroline Scott-Thomas, 02-Mar-2009
Dairy Reporter
The Dairy Reporter describes a Babcock Institute report that export volume this year (2009) is forecast to shrink by 25 to 50 per cent from a record $4bn last year. US dairy exports have been hit by lower global demand on the back of worldwide recession and the Chinese melamine scandal.
Click here to read more
USDA Research Presents Current U.S. Reproductive Practices
USDA Dairy Specialist and Veterinary Epidemiologist Dr. Jason Lombard received his veterinary and epidemiology degrees from CSU. Now he leads a large section of the USDA that organizes, executes and analyzes national trends in the dairy industry. The most recently released USDA study investigated reproductive programs throughout the United States. Learn more about what the study means for producers today and the study's implications for setting reproductive goals.
Click here to view the study in the Dairy Cattle Repro Newsletter
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EVENTS CALENDAR |
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May 18 - June 26, 2009
Southern Great Plains Advanced Dairy Herd Management Courses
College Station, Texas
CLICK HERE FOR INFO
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May 17-20, 2009
Alltech 2009 International Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium
Lexington, Kentucky
For more information, contact your local Alltech representative at symposium@alltech.com, or visit www.alltech.com/symposium
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May 26-29, 2009
Technical Hoof Trimming Course in Spanish
Baraboo, Wisconsin
Phone: (888) 384-3834
CLICK HERE FOR INFO
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May 26-28, 2009
Farm Bureau Safety and Health Conference
Fort Collins, Colorado
For information, contact Richard Connell at (970) 242-5590
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May 27-28, 2009
California Animal Nutrition Conference
California State University, Fresno
For information, call Ann Quinn at (916) 441-2272 or email aquinn@cgfa.org
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Click here for more
information about ILM activities
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Colorado Dairy News is published monthly as a service to those people interested in the health and welfare of the Colorado dairy industry.
Issues from 1995-2006 are available on the ILM website.
For further information, contact:Dr. Ragan Adams, Editor, ILM, CSU-VTH 300 West Drake Rd Ft Collins, CO 80523 (970)297-0371; radams@lamar.colostate.edu
Material published in the Colorado Dairy News is not subject to copyright. Permission is therefore granted to reproduce articles although acknowledgement of the source is requested. |
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