Dairy Cattle Management & Health (University of Alberta) PDF

DAIRY CATTLE MANAGEMENT & HEALTH September 27, 2024 Today’s objectives Demonstrate knowledge of common dairy cattle management systems in Canada Identify some important infectious and non-infectious diseases in dairy cattle 2 3 4 5 Dairy ca...

DAIRY CATTLE MANAGEMENT & HEALTH September 27, 2024 Today’s objectives Demonstrate knowledge of common dairy cattle management systems in Canada Identify some important infectious and non-infectious diseases in dairy cattle 2 3 4 5 Dairy cattle are cared for and handled according to the National Farm Animal Care Council code of practice 6 How are dairy cattle managed? 7 8 9 10 Housing In Canada, most dairy cattle are housed in barns Free access to outdoors is not always provided 11 Tie stall 12 Tie stalls are being phased out!!! Free stall 14 Bedded open housing 15 Milking systems Rotary system Pipeline Robotic milking → Cows are milked 2-3 times per day 16 Common non-infectious diseases Most non-infectious diseases occur around calving Often nutrition related 17 Milk Fever (hypocalcemia) 18 Ketosis Caused by negative energy balances esp. 1-2 wks post calving Clinical signs: low appetite, weight loss, decreased milk production Prevent by maintaining good BCS 19 Johne’s Disease Also called paratuberculosis Caused by mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis: closely related to bacterium causing tuberculosis and leprosy Can be asymptomatic ~50% of Alberra dairy herds infected Grows slowly and therefore delays immune response and detection Only about 5% of those infected develop disease 20 Johne’s Disease Usually clinical signs 18m+ especially when other stressors occur Clinical signs: intermitten diarrhea, ventral edema, progressive weight loss, dehydration, rough haircoat, decreased milk production but normal appetite. Diagnostic challenge: grows too slowly for feasible detection, unreliable blood tests, intermittent bacterial shedding No vaccine, no treatment. It is a notifiable disease. 21 Mastitis 22 Digital dermititis Extremely contagious and causes painful foot lesions, decreased milk production and fertility issues Suspected bacterial (Treponemes: gram - spirochete) Caused by poor hygiene Treated w/5% copper sulfate, good management, and keeping a closed herd 23 Bovine Leukosis virus (BLV) Caused by retrovirus that slowly replicates in B cells Clinical signs seen in about 5% of cases: weight loss, inability to stand, enlarged lymph nodes, tumours Testable but untreatable Eradicated in some countries through test and cull or test and segregate plans Notifiable disease 24 Many infectious and non-infectious diseases caused by poor management  Announcements No class on Monday (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation October 7th midterm will cover lectures up to October 2nd Labs next week for review and questions