Animal Health

Animal Health

Know your fodder: feed testing facts

THIS SEASON there is the potential for a fodder supply shortage across Australia’s dairy regions. In times of low pasture supply, it is essential to carefully plan what the likely feed requirements will be for your herd and actively manage the...

Dairy News
Animal Health

Nutrition will aid heifer growth

WELL-GROWN HEIFERS are more likely to reach their full potential for milk production and recover their rearing costs earlier, therefore it is key to have a management plan for your heifers and not neglect them. The critical times for feeding young...

Dairy News
Animal Health

The rise and fall of antibiotics

PERHAPS ONE of the greatest medical breakthroughs of our age was the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Flemming in 1928. New antibiotics were rapidly discovered which revolutionised the means by which infectious diseases were treated. Common...

Gemma Chuck
Animal Health

Colostrum key to calf development

The research, An investigation of dairy calf management practices, colostrum quality, failure of transfer of passive immunity, and occurrence of enteropathogens among Australian dairy farms by Dr Abuelo, NSW DPI dairy development officer Peter...

Dairy News
Animal Health

Winter warmers

WITH MUCH of Australia blanketed by a cold and wet winter, our attention once again turns to calves and the challenges associated with rearing during these chilly months. Some farms will observe an increase in morbidity (sick calves) and mortality...

Gemma Chuck
Animal Health

Preventing lameness in your herd

LAMENESS IN cattle can occur at any time of the year but extremely wet conditions are associated with higher rates of lameness in dairy cows. This is because prolonged exposure to moisture causes the hoof to soften and increases the risk of...

Gemma Chuck
Animal Health

Trace minerals issue universal

A TECHNICAL services veterinarian from the United States visited Numurkah last month to speak about cattle multi-mineral injection Multimin. Dan Tracy addressed a small group of farmers at MG Trading on June 18, and spoke about the research on the...

Dairy News
Animal Health

Farm activist inquiry

FARMERS ARE being urged to prepare submissions for a Victorian parliamentary inquiry which will look into how to protect farms from invading animal activists. The inquiry follows a series of farm invasions around Australia, and a public...

Dairy News
Animal Health

Welfare key in rearing calves

THERE IS not much Bernie McManus doesn’t know about rearing calves, after all he has been doing it for most of his life and has got the skill down to a fine art these days. Mr McManus and his wife Carol milk 130 spring calving Jerseys on their...

Dairy News
Animal Health

Farm security preparation

WITH THE intensification of farming and threat of emerging antimicrobial resistance in animals and humans, the demand for more preventative health measures is increasing. This includes proactive planning around biosecurity. Biosecurity is defined as...

Gemma Chuck
Animal Health

Swine fever impact

THE UNPRECEDENTED contraction in the supply of pork from China, due to African swine fever, will have a spill-over impact on the global dairy sector, according to a new report from global agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank. The report, African...

Dairy News
Animal Health

Beware of feed risks

FARMERS WHO are using alternative feed sources as a strategy to manage dry seasonal conditions are urged to be aware of potential risks. Agriculture Victoria animal industries development officer Richard Smith said with the reduction of available...

Dairy News
Animal Health

Is your water just water?

WATER IS a basic resource. On a dairy farm it is used to grow feed, provide drinking water to stock, for washing, cleaning and a myriad of other tasks. And water is just water, right? Well, yes, but no! Water sources are many and varied on farms...

Rod Dyson
Animal Health

Tips to reduce mastitis risk at calving

For most cows, the highest risk period for new mastitis infections will be the calving period — we consider this to be from two weeks before she calves until two weeks after she has calved. During this stressful period, cows’ natural defence...

Rod Dyson
Animal Health

Farm safety: Why take the risk?

Even experienced farmers with good cattle handling skills and facilities cannot completely mitigate the risks associated with working with large animals and heavy-duty equipment. Dairy cattle are semi-domesticated which can sometimes lead to staff...

Gemma Chuck
Animal Health

Proof how critical calf care is

Half of a cow’s lifetime height and growth is achieved in the first six months of its life, according to a visiting American calf-rearing specialist. David Kuehnel was raised on a family farm in Wisconsin, which reared 1200 specially-fed veal...

Dairy News
Animal Health

Raising babies

Animal adviser Bob James provided an animated and colourful lesson in calf rearing for the crowd attending the South Australian Dairy Conference in March. The American scientist encouraged, cajoled and inspired the group to raise healthier calves...

Dairy News
Animal Health

Know your poison

There are more than 1000 plants in Australia that have been recorded as toxic to animals. This article discusses some common plant toxicities that can affect cattle. Nitrate/nitrite High levels of nitrate in plants is toxic to grazing cattle...

Gemma Chuck

Trending stories

Dairy

Strathmerton dairy farmer takes the spoils during on-farm challenge

The Northern Victoria Ayrshire Cattle Club held an on-farm challenge on October 25, with Lachlan Park Tessa, owned by Strathmerton’s Lachlan Forster, taking out the Senior Champion title. Lachlan Park Tessa was also awarded Champion Best Udder and...

Rodney Woods
News

Creating careers with cows

After caring for a calf for three weeks, students across northern and north-eastern Victoria were awarded at the Cows Create Careers Presentation Day. The students came from nine schools, from towns as far as Yanco to Benalla, to celebrate the...

Jamieson Salter
Dairy

NSW Farmers Association to highlight competition flaws in dairy industry

The NSW Farmers Association will be using the upcoming Senate inquiry into the dairy industry to highlight flaws with the competition framework for dairy farmers. NSW Farmers Association dairy committee chair Colin Thompson said the benefits of...

Rodney Woods
News

Controversial change to dairy code draft

A key element of the proposed code of conduct which would prevent retrospective milk price changes, has been altered, Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie has conceded. She also says the dairy code of conduct will not be in place by the start of...

Geoff Adams