Winter Dairy Management 2010
The following topics will be presented at various sites across NY as part of the Winter Dairy Management Program. These topics will work well as discussion topics for Dairy Profit Discussion Groups. The topics are taken from the QMPS/NYSCHAP Bulk Tank Monitoring Program, NYSCHAP Foot Health modules and Cattle Welfare Certification program. Please contact the listed contacted person to make arrangements
Topics
QMPS Bulk Tank Monitoring Program
Contact person Tonya Van Slyke, QMPS, tmv5@cornell.edu, 877-645-5522
Discuss the value of bulk tank surveillance of mastitis pathogens for mastitis control, milk quality and animal health.
Discussion Group ideas for this topic:
- Groups could meet at a farm to review the program and its value for farms.
- A test farm from the group could enroll in the Monitoring Program and discuss the results and their implications with the group.
What’s tested for:
- Mastitis Control - The program tests for streptococcus agalactiae, staphylococcus aureus, mycoplasma, streptococci, coliforms, and prototheca.
- Milk Quality - food borne pathogens that are tested for are listeria monocytogenes, salmonella, e.coli 0157:H7 and other STEC’s
- Animal Health - pathogens tested for are BVD, Johnes, Q-Fever and campylobacter. Discussion could include the cost and process for enrolling in the program.
Foot Health and Animal Welfare
Contact person Kathy Finnerty, NYSCHAP, kdf2@cornell.edu, 607-253-3910
Foot Health Modules
Prevention - Use risk assessment to conduct herd level analysis, including stall use, stocking, time budgets, ventilation, floors, nutrition, transition cows.
Application for Discussion Groups:
- Group could meet at a farm and conduct the risk assessment. Review data, construct best management practices to implement.
- Assessment could be done prior to meeting and data shared as above.
Identification of individual cows - Review locomotion scoring system, identification of cows that need to be worked on and record systems.
Application for Discussion Groups
- Use Zinpro video showing 1-5 locomotion scores as a training tool.
- Visit farm or use videos of cows moving to practice scoring.
- Discuss the importance of early detection and treatment to avoid cows progressing to 4 and 5.
Dealing with Lame Cows - Review anatomy of the foot, diseases affecting the feet, treatments and the importance of treatments. This would include a discussion of foot trimming and foot baths. Protocols for dealing with lame cows will be empathized.
Applications for Discussion Groups:
- Presentation to the group on the pertinent information. Work as a group on developing protocols for dealing with problem animals.
Cattle Welfare Certification: Discuss national issues and programs - Review requirements for NYSCHAP welfare certification.
Applications for Discussion Groups:
- Discuss the focus areas
- Conduct a pre-certification of an interested farm prior to the meeting. Have the group meet at the farm to discuss deficiencies.
- Work on protocols as a group.