Publications

Cattle health schemes are designed to help farms monitor and eliminate the six most important endemic diseases, which are prevalent in the UK and are costing many thousands of pounds on individual farms. There are several licensed schemes available, and these are regulated and overseen by the Cattle Health Certification Standards (CHECS). This Dairy Insight explores the benefits of health schemes to monitor and eliminate diseases on your farm.

Get the ambient environment right in a calf building and you'll be rewarded with healthy, well-grown animals. Get it wrong, and you could be facing an uphill battle. That's why it's essential that all buildings – new or existing – are set up to provide calves with a dry, clean environment with plenty of fresh air, but no draughts. This Dairy Insight explores the ambient environment of calf buildings and how you'll be rewarded with healthy, well-grown animals, setting them up for their life in the dairy herd.

Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) has been recognised for over 50 years as a pathogen in cattle. It is associated with bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and joint ill in calves, and mastitis and arthritis in adult cattle. The costs to the UK dairy industry are unknown, however farms costs can be significant in the form of reduced growth rates, reduced milk production, cattle deaths and veterinary costs. Recently the disease has become more widely diagnosed. This insight publication explores the M. bovis bacteria, modes of transmission as well as treatment and prevention.

(Pronounced "yo-knees" or in some regions of the UK – John's) Johne's disease or JD is a chronic enteritis of cattle (and sheep) caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis or MAP. The bacteria infect the lining of the intestines and reduce its capacity to absorb fluid and nutrients. The main clinical signs of JD are progressive weight loss and chronic green bubbly diarrhoea. Due to regular screening and culling of MAP infected cattle, clinical Johne's disease is rarely seen on farm. This Insight publication looks at the spread of Johne's on farm and what measures can be introduced to reduce or eliminate the risks.

Johne's disease costs farmers up to 50% of their annual net profits and the estimated 10-year average annual losses totalling £25.5 million in the UK and 364.31 million euros across losses in the EU. Johne's disease is also the disease which causes the highest GHG emissions in cattle. This Research Insight explores how microRNA Biomarkers […]

Parasites, both ectoparasites (external parasites) and endoparasites (internal parasites) can be a major cause of disease in dairy cattle. They will not only contribute to poor animal health and welfare, but ultimately, they will impact productivity, through reduced appetite and feed intake. Historically, control of parasites has largely been through the use of chemicals, such as anthelmintics, flukicides, and ectoparasiticides. This dairy insight is the second of a two-part series exploring the control of parasites by using preventative methods and the correct control, where necessary. Detailing the most important and commonly found ectoparasites to UK cattle herds.

This insight explores how blood profiling can help you identify problems with the cows and the ration they are being fed – if interpreted correctly. Interpreting the results from blood profiling is complex and requires professional input. This note provides an overview of what's involved, allowing you to have a more informed discussion with your vet or nutritionist.

Of the three main milk solid components; fat, protein and lactose, lactose has the highest concentration in bovine milk. However, it has the lowest commercial value per unit of weight, and as a result of this, not much attention has been focused on the quality of milk lactose in the past. More recently, some milk buyers have added lactose to their regular testing suite. This DAIRY insight explores milk lactose levels, what is considered normal and what affects lactose levels in milk, to help you make informed management decisions on farm.

Q (Query) fever, caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetti, is an important disease of cattle, sheep and goats. As well as causing potentially significant losses in dairy herds, it is a zoonotic disease, which means it can cause illness in humans. However, despite this, awareness of the disease across the farming industry is considered to be very low. This dairy insight aims to improve your knowledge and understanding of the disease and how you can manage it on your farm.

Knowing and understanding mineral nutrition for your dairy cows, is vital to overall cow performance. An adequate dietary mineral supply and balance is a prerequisite to ensuring optimal production, health, and fertility in your cattle. Without the appropriate balance of minerals, cows will not perform as well as they could or may develop health issues. This dairy insight explores the role of trace minerals for dairy cattle and highlights the value in analysing the mineral levels in your stock as well as your grass, forage, and water to determine if there is an over or under supply.

Vaccines have been available from the 1930's, since then they have made a major contribution to improving cattle health and welfare. They are vital components in preventing, managing and eradicating diseases on farm and ultimately improving productivity and profitability. This DAIRY insight looks at improving animal health outcomes by getting the most from your vaccines on farm.

There is no treatment or vaccination for Neospora, good biosecurity policies which aim to reduce the risk of introducing Neospora to the herd is essential, as is routine screening to identify infected animals and having a plan as how to manage them. This DAIRY insight will explore how Neospora can infect your herd, how to identify it and how it may affect individual livestock.