The Dairy Industry
MyCaert - Part 2
Objectives
• Determine the facility and equipment needs
in dairy production.
• Identify common diseases and disorders that
affect dairy cattle and determine appropriate
prevention and treatment methods.
• Demonstrate the ability to complete the
California Mastitis Test.
What facilities and equipment are
required in dairy production?
• Dairy cattle production facilities and
equipment need to be designed to reduce
labor, cleaning, feeding, and handling.
• The production of dairy cattle requires a
greater level of labor than
any other livestock
enterprise.
• A. Modern dairy cattle
farms commonly house
cattle in free-stall (or loose) housing systems.
What facilities and equipment are
required in dairy production?
• B. Other types of housing used in dairy cattle
production are cold housing and warm
housing.
• Cold housing is housing that is kept cold in the
winter and is unheated.
– The use of natural wind allows for ventilation,
removes moisture, and keeps the building cold.
• Warm housing is housing that has insulation
and is kept warm throughout the winter.
– The animal’s body heat warms the building, while
the insulation keeps the warmth inside.
What facilities and equipment are
required in dairy production?
• 1. Each type of building is designed to use the
free-stall housing system.
• 2. Many dairy cattle producers install rubber or
another type of nonslip flooring in their barns
to increase the ease of movement among their
cattle.
• 3. Bedding used in dairy cattle barns can range
from waterbeds to sand beds to mattresses
made of rubber or foam.
• 4. In some dairy barns, fans and misters are
used to keep cows cool and comfortable
during warm days.
What facilities and equipment are
required in dairy production?
• C. Dairy calves do not normally nurse their
mothers.
– Commonly, calves are
removed from their
mothers and fed milk
replacer up to eight
weeks
of age.
– Calves are housed in calf hutches.
– These hutches usually have one open side and
provide a healthy environment for the babies.
What facilities and equipment are
required in dairy production?
• D. Milking parlors have become more and
more common in the United States.
– A milking parlor speeds up the milking process,
reduces labor, and increases cleanliness.
What are common diseases and disorders that affect
dairy cattle, and what are appropriate prevention
and treatment methods?
• Several diseases and disorders can affect dairy
cattle.
• Good management
systems, nutrition, and
prevention programs
can control these.
• A. Metabolic disorders can occur in dairy
herds.
• A metabolic disorder is a disease resulting in
the inability of an animal to make proper use
of nutrients.
What are common diseases and disorders that affect
dairy cattle, and what are appropriate prevention
and treatment methods?
• 1. Milk fever is the most common metabolic disorder in dairy
cattle.
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Approximately 6 percent of U.S. dairy cattle will be affected yearly.
Usually milk fever occurs shortly after calving.
The disease is caused by an acute deficiency of calcium.
Older cows and cows with a history of high milk production are more
prone to milk fever than heifers.
Signs of milk fever are weakness; small tremors in the triceps; and
possible loss of consciousness, with the head curled toward the body.
Milk fever can be treated with injections of calcium gluconate.
Cows are likely to die if they are not treated or if milk fever is severe.
Prevention of milk fever is good nutritional management of dry cows.
What are common diseases and disorders that affect
dairy cattle, and what are appropriate prevention
and treatment methods?
• 2. Ketosis is a metabolic disorder in dairy cattle and commonly
occurs during the first six weeks after calving.
– It is caused by extra ketone bodies in the blood, urine, and milk.
– These give off an odor that characterizes ketosis.
– Other signs are low appetite, low milk production, weight loss, and
constipation.
– If a cow is eating, treatment can be put into grain to increase blood
sugar levels.
– To prevent ketosis, a producer should use high-quality hay, provide
sufficient proteins, avoid fattening cows at the time of calving, and
increase concentrates once a calf is born.
What are common diseases and disorders that affect
dairy cattle, and what are appropriate prevention
and treatment methods?
• 3. Grass tetany is classified as a metabolic disorder and is
caused by poor levels of magnesium in the blood.
– This disease is most likely to occur in lactating cows on lush, spring
pastures.
– Pastures with low levels of magnesium and high levels of potassium
and nitrogen are the most common cause.
– The primary sign of grass tetany is a twitching of the muscles.
– Cows may also have trouble breathing and fall while grazing.
– Intravenous injections of magnesium salt are a treatment.
– A preventive is the feeding of a free-choice supplement containing
magnesium.
What are common diseases and disorders that affect
dairy cattle, and what are appropriate prevention
and treatment methods?
• B. Bloat is a disorder that causes discomfort to cattle and
could lead to death.
– Bloating is the swelling of an animal’s left side.
– This could cause pressure on the diaphragm and lungs, resulting in
breathing trouble.
– There is no exact cause of bloating.
– Alfalfa hay, high levels of concentrate feeds, and high levels of legume
pastures have been shown to create bloating symptoms.
– A veterinarian should be consulted regarding treatment.
– To prevent bloating, feed dry forages before allowing grazing on
legume pastures, keep salt and water available, and avoid a rapid fill to
cattle stomachs when they are empty.
What are common diseases and disorders that affect
dairy cattle, and what are appropriate prevention
and treatment methods?
• C. Anaplasmosis is a disease of cattle
symtomized by increased body temperature,
weight loss, and poor appetite.
– This disease is caused by a parasite usually carried
by horse flies, stable flies, or mosquitoes.
– However, it can also be spread by contaminated
instruments, such as needles, tattoo equipment,
and dehorning saws.
– The disease has several forms.
– Treatment consists of antibiotics.
What are common diseases and disorders that affect
dairy cattle, and what are appropriate prevention
and treatment methods?
• D. Mastitis is an inflammation
udder.
of the
– Signs include fever, depression,
decreased milk production,
abnormal milk, hardening or
sensitivity of the udder, and loss of appetite.
– Sometimes signs are not visible.
– Bacteria can spread through wash rags, milking
machines, or dirty lots and bedding.
– Several types of bacteria can cause mastitis.
– Cleaning and controlling the environment, drying
teats after milking, and avoiding overmilking are
just a few methods of prevention.
What are common diseases and disorders that affect
dairy cattle, and what are appropriate prevention
and treatment methods?
– Several testing techniques help a producer
determine the type and cause of mastitis.
– The California Mastitis Test is a simple test that
can be used.
– Treatments are sensitive to the severity of each
case.
– An infected cow should be moved to an individual
pen, and a veterinarian contacted.
– Once treatment for a cow has been determined,
evaluation and review of the animal’s
performance should be closely monitored.
What is the California Mastitis Test, and
how is the test performed and scored?
• The California Mastitis Test (CMT) is a simple
test used to detect
mastitis in its
early stages.
• A positive test result allows
the producer to start treating
an
animal immediately.
• A. Needed for the test are a CMT paddle and
CMT solution.
What is the California Mastitis Test, and
how is the test performed and scored?
• B. The steps of the CMT are as follows:
• 1. About 1 teaspoon of milk is taken from each
quarter.
• 2. About 1 teaspoon of the CMT solution is
added to each compartment on the paddle.
• 3. The CMT paddle is rotated in a circular
motion to mix the milk and the solution.
• 4. The results are read.
What is the California Mastitis Test, and
how is the test performed and scored?
• C. The CMT is scored as follows:
• 1. If no thickening of the mixture occurs, the
score is N.
– This means Negative (not infected).
• 2. If a slight thickening occurs and the reaction
disappears as rotation of the paddle continues,
the score is T.
– This means Trace (possible infection).
• 3. If the mixture has a distinct thickening but does
not form a gel, the score is 1.
– This means Weak Positive (infected).
What is the California Mastitis Test, and
how is the test performed and scored?
• 4. If there is immediate onset
of thickening and a slight gel
starts to form, the score is 2.
– This means Distinct Positive (infected).
• 5. If a gel forms and the mixture elevates, the
score is 3.
– This means Strong Positive (infected)
• D. Paddles should be rinsed after each test.
• E. Tests should be performed on lactating
animals monthly, and records kept.
Review
• What facilities and equipment are required in
dairy production?
• What are common diseases and disorders that
affect dairy cattle, and what are appropriate
prevention and treatment methods?
• What is the California Mastitis Test, and how is
the test performed and scored?