Juan Piñeiro - Disease Prevention in Dairy Cattle - Nutrition and Maintenance

Summary

This video provides an in-depth look at the nutritional strategies and management practices on a dairy farm, focusing on the health and productivity of cows. Key aspects include tailored feeding diets for different groups of cows—such as fresh cows and close-up cows—using high-quality forages like Bermuda grass and corn silage. The farm also employs ionic salts to prevent metabolic disorders, maintains cleanliness with regular equipment upkeep, and utilizes heat abatement technologies to ensure cow comfort. Through these practices, the farm aims to optimize cow health, improve production, and ensure smooth transitions during lactation.

Takeaways

• 😀 Different diets are used for cows at various stages: dry cows, close-up cows, fresh cows, and milking cows, each with specific nutritional needs.
• 😀 Ionic salts are fed to pregnant cows to prevent metabolic disorders like milk fever and displace alpha-masons.
• 😀 The close-up diet is monitored by checking calcium urine pH levels to ensure proper metabolic health for fresh cows.
• 😀 Milking cows don't require as much energy in their diet due to lower stress levels, as they spend less time standing and burning energy.
• 😀 Fresh cow diets focus on providing high-quality, digestible forages, such as Bermuda grass and corn silage, to aid in the transition to lactation.
• 😀 Bermuda grass, especially coastal varieties like Tifton and Jigs, is a primary forage source for fresh cows, supplemented with high-quality corn silage.
• 😀 Maintaining the cleanliness of the cows' environment is critical for disease prevention, with special attention to manure lanes and heat abatement systems.
• 😀 Effective maintenance of equipment, such as vacuum machines and headlocks, is essential for employee efficiency and overall cow well-being.
• 😀 Vacuuming of manure lanes is done twice a day in summer and four times a day in winter to maintain cleanliness in the cows' environment.
• 😀 Bedding management involves using fine sand, which is added twice a week and regularly raked to remove manure, ensuring a clean and comfortable resting surface for cows.

Q & A

What role do ionic salts play in the diet of close-up cows?

Ionic salts are fed to close-up cows to prevent metabolic disorders, especially milk fever. By regulating calcium intake through monitoring urine pH, these salts help maintain proper calcium balance, which is crucial during calving.

How do the diets of fresh cows differ from those of close-up cows?

Fresh cows, which are in early lactation, receive a balanced, middle-of-the-road diet designed for a smooth transition into lactation. In contrast, close-up cows are fed a specific diet with ionic salts to prevent metabolic disorders around calving.

What factors influence the energy requirements in milking cows' diets?

Milking cows in a low-stress environment, where they are not standing or moving as much, have lower energy expenditure. As a result, they do not need as much energy in their diet while still maintaining good body condition.

What forages are used in the diet of fresh and milking cows?

The farm uses high-quality Bermuda grass, including varieties like Tifton and Jigs, in silage form. Fresh cows also receive some Bermuda grass hay to provide more effective fiber. Corn silage is also part of the diet for all cows.

How does the farm manage the transition period for cows?

The farm focuses on providing highly digestible forages and a balanced diet to fresh cows during the transition period. This helps minimize the risk of metabolic disorders and ensures a smooth transition into lactation.

Why is urine pH monitoring important in the diet of close-up cows?

Urine pH monitoring is crucial because it helps ensure the correct balance of calcium in the close-up cows' diet, preventing metabolic issues like milk fever and other disorders related to calcium imbalance.

What maintenance practices are in place to ensure farm cleanliness?

The farm regularly cleans manure lanes twice a day in the summer and four times a day in the winter. They also vacuum manure and ensure fans are clean and functioning to maintain airflow and comfort for the cows.

How does the farm manage heat abatement for cows?

The farm uses heat abatement technologies, including fans, to keep cows cool, particularly during warmer months. They maintain and clean these systems to ensure proper airflow and comfort for the cows.

What bedding material is used, and how is it managed?

The farm uses fine sand as bedding, which is considered the gold standard for cow comfort. Sand is replenished twice a week, and manure is raked off the beds after cows are milked to maintain cleanliness.

Why is it important to provide employees with the right tools and equipment?

Providing employees with the right tools, such as functional vacuum machines, headlocks, and clean fans, ensures they can perform their tasks efficiently. This not only makes employees' jobs easier but also contributes to better cow health and productivity.