Johne’s Disease – An Old Dairy Problem with New Solutions

Technology has greatly improved our ability to monitor individual cows to catch problems early, intervene before clinical signs appear, and improve our overall care of dairy cows. In a larger view, herd rumination time is a technology-enabled metric that can change the way we manage dairy cows for the better.

This chronic, contagious disease can rob dairies of profit and slow genetic progress. But new testing options are making Johne’s disease control more strategic and precise.

Johne’s disease is widely regarded as a “dairy” disease, but beef cattle are equally susceptible to it. The consequences are a bit different for beef herds, but ultimately, it’s a disease that can severely affect a herd’s bottom line.

Technology offers us powerful tools that can help improve cow health and animal welfare, plus improve efficiency, sustainability and profitability of dairies. Each producer must choose the ones best suited for their operation.

Cow-monitoring technology has improved our ability to monitor and care for cows. Here’s how to implement in the fresh-cow pen.

Wearable technology for cows does not replace the value of trained human observation. In fact, the best fresh-cow monitoring programs use a combination of both to improve animal welfare, reduce treatment and culling cost, and optimize milk production and cow longevity.

Use these steps to collect an aseptic milk sample anytime you need to culture or test a milk sample.

The first case of HPAI in dairy cows occurred March 2024 in Texas. The following month a Colorado dairy tested positive for it. Here’s what we have learned this past year about helping dairy cows successfully recover from bird flu.

Planning and preparation can help minimize the impact of HPAI on your dairy. Here’s what we have learned since bird flu first arrived in Colorado in April 2024.

‍At The Dairy Authority Lab we strive to offer all of the types of milk testing that you may need to help manage your dairy. 

Examining lungs from the outside in can assess future productivity of individual calves and evaluate broader calf management systems.

Our goal is to provide top-notch training for your dairy. The Academy is a web-based platform that uses short, informative videos where our veterinarians explain and demonstrate the essential tasks of animal care. The training is provided in both English and Spanish.

Positive feedback should include both praise and constructive criticism. Employees need and want both in order to meet job expectations, learn new skills and feel appreciated.

Employees who work in an environment that provides positive feedback are more likely to report feeling satisfied in their job and tend to stay and grow in your business.

New research examines the impact that management decisions and social environment have on transition cows’ health, milk production, reproduction and culling. 

We have used selective dry cow therapy in herds averaging over 100 lbs. of milk/cow/day with no detrimental effects.

Doing so can reduce cost, minimize risk for antibiotic residues and help preserve the power of antibiotics for when we really need them. 

While good pay may help attract new employees, it takes more than just pay for them to stay long term at your dairy.

New research estimates that 12 diseases that impact dairy cows cost producers worldwide $65 billion each year. That is just the cost of lost milk production, reduced fertility and culling.

New research shows that monitoring rumination time during the week before calving can help identify which cows are more likely to develop health issues during the transition period, produce less milk, have problems breeding back and eventually be culled.

We provide quick, accurate results that you can depend on. Dry matters, harvest panels, nitrates and NIR analysis – we do it all in-house, six days a week.

Does it matter if cows are carrying extra condition at dry-off? New research suggests it does.

In addition to milk samples, couriers also pick up BVD ear notches, blood for ELISA tests, feed, tissue, bedding, towels, and DHIA samples, and they can deliver sampling supplies to your dairy. 

The people who operate a dairy day-to-day are the backbone of the business’ success. Here are 7 ways to help retain them long-term.

A minimally invasive procedure can tell us a lot about the nutritional status of your cows.

Not all fats are created equal. The three individual fatty acids that are most abundant in milk fat — palmitic, stearic and oleic — are also the three best individual fatty acids to supplement in the cows’ ration to improve cow performance and health. However, the key to success is knowing the correct blend of these fatty acids to use at different stages of lactation.

New dairy research evaluated several fatty acid blends in the diets of mid-lactation cows to determine the optimal ratio that helps high producing, mid-lactation cows maximize production performance. 

New research shows that postpartum health records used with activity monitors to detect estrus can help identify which cows will most likely need targeted reproductive interventions to get bred back.

New dairy research shows that positioning fans above freestalls to deliver cooling air flow at cow resting height can provide substantial benefits.

Highlighting the importance of effective 'Day One' protocols, this blog focuses on the crucial role of colostrum and advocates for simplicity and excellence in newborn calf management

'Day One' protocols for newborn calves, focusing on the vital steps for proper identification to ensure health, performance tracking, and traceability throughout a calf's life.

Discover the art of newborn calf care: an insightful exploration into the essential practices of dehorning, vaccination, and navel dipping to ensure a thriving start for dairy calves.

Uncover strategies to enhance calf immunity and health from conception through effective maternal vaccination protocols and management practices, focusing on Modified Live Viral and Calf Scour vaccines.

Discover the impact of beef-on-dairy breeding strategies on dairy management, focusing on the benefits of using sexed and beef semen and the implications for gestation length and feeding schedules.

Learn about the shift in dairy breeding protocols towards using activity monitors for reproductive management, reducing hormone use while enhancing herd health and efficiency.

Discover essential strategies for managing pregnancy loss in dairy herds, including understanding causes, diagnostics, and prevention to improve overall herd health.

Discover Greg Goodell, DVM's strategies for BVD prevention in dairies, focusing on vaccination and management practices to combat this challenging virus.

Boost Milk Production & Quality! Uncover the Power of PCR in Your Dairy. Discover How PCR Can Transform Your Dairy Business Today.

Spot subtle BVD signs in vaccinated herds. Misdiagnoses can mask its presence. Learn about BVD detection at The Dairy Authority Lab.

There once was a time when performing rectal palpation to diagnose pregnancies was a fundamental component of virtually every dairy veterinarian’s practice.