It’s a fact in the life of any dairy cow that her immunity levels are depressed at calving. To counter that, she might have an inflammatory response to a disease challenge. But that inflammatory response is a double-edged sword, particularly if it becomes acute, says Barry Bradford, a […]
Holstein calves have recently been discovered to be demonstrating a new genetic defect. The USDA, university researchers, and dairy genetics companies are working together to tackle the defect, currently labeled a “Calf Recumbency.” Affected newborn calves with the defect are characterized by being weak and unable to stand […]
Approximately 18,000 cows were killed in a blast at a Texas dairy farm earlier this week, according to local authorities. The explosion, at South Fork Dairy near the town of Dimmitt, also left one person in critical condition. Authorities believe that machinery in the facility may have ignited […]
In less than 10 years, a wholescale shift has occurred in the interaction between the dairy and beef sectors in the U.S. fed cattle market. And it’s almost all positive, according to Dale Woerner, Professor and Cargill Endowed Professor at Texas Tech University. On a recent webinar presented by […]
One quick glance is usually all it takes to distinguish the difference between colostrum and milk; the consistency and color of colostrum typically give it away. However, we know that this first secretion from the mammary gland following calving differs from mature milk in more ways than what […]
Colostrum, or first milk produced by the mother after birth, is high in nutrients and antibodies. A newborn calf lacks disease protection because antibodies do not pass across the cow’s placenta to the fetus’ circulatory system. Antibodies in colostrum provide calves with their initial protection. Calves need about […]