VOR, Cetiofur, and Flunixin Forms Most dairies have filled out the annual forms, but if you have not the yellow or blue forms are included with your statement. If you have any questions, please talk with one of the doctors or call the office.

Dr Hardesty attends Ohio Dairy Vets Farm Financial Analysis and Transition Planning. This included risk management, financial statements, understanding client burdens, and a bonus designing robotic dairies.

Histophilus/Haemophilus Somnus Bacteria have survived by constantly changing. We seem to be in the middle of a change in haemophilus from incidental finding (preventable with a common vaccine) to a causative agent of disease in multiple forms (requiring a different vaccine). Haemophilus is a gram negative bacteria transmitted in groups of cattle. Historically it caused respiratory disease in fed cattle with occasional meningitis. A few years ago, we diagnosed a cardiac form in fed cattle and our traditional Vision 7 Somnus vaccine did not provide protection. We found a vaccine called Somnu Shield that has a long acting adjuvant in oil. It has controlled infection spread in the affected groups. The cardiac forms and resistant respiratory forms have now moved into growing dairy heifers. When you review your vaccination programs with your herd health doctor this winter you may want to include Somnu Shield if you've had any haemophilus diagnosed. Somnu Shield comes in 50 dose bottles and we plan to keep it in stock.

More Dr. Fox Last month we reviewed Dr. Fox's talks up to where he started to discuss Cow Signals. Cow Signals learn & earn:

• Cows deserve a longer and better life.

• Farmers deserve a better income and more working pleasure.

• Together we need to earn appreciation of the milk drinkers.

• Evolving social license is rapidly occurring in animal agriculture.

What is the most efficient lactation number for a dairy cow? Cows in their 11th lactation produce more than first lactation cows. Lactations 4 to 8 have the highest production. How do we make them last? Cows want the 6 freedoms of pasture: Feed, Water, Light, Air, Rest, and Space all resulting in Health. We can create these in barns, but too many barns create the handicaps of too much standing resulting in 25% lameness and 30% wounds. Resolving the handicaps requires "Observe and See with a Look, Think, Act attitude." Ask: What do you see? What are the reasons? What to do? Start with the big picture at the barn level, then focus on individual cows in motion, next take a close look at standing cows. Ask why? Why's make you wiser.

Give thought to unexplained notable observations. Observe waiting cows for intention movements. Focus on animals at risk, areas, periods, groups.

Health and Welfare Check Points:
Nasal Discharge - Respiratory Sunken eyes - Sick
Neck Bump - Feed Rail too low Backbone bumps -Laying against stall divider Empty rumen - Has eaten too little BCS < 2 - Chronic physical problem Uplifted tail -Pain in Birth Canal Pus on Tail - Metritis
Wound on Flank - Wet resting surface
Hocks Swollen, Hair Loss - Stall surface too firm, abrasive.
Swollen coronary band, crust, leg lifting, shifting weight - Hoof Disease
Teat end calluses - Milking machine
Dirty Udder -Dirty Resting area and floors
Uplifted belly - poor gut fill, Pain/poor feed intake Broken Ribs -Stall Divider
Long Curled toes -Hoof Trimming too late Carpal Joints swollen, Hairless - Stall surface too firm, too little head space.
Shoulder bump -Poorly designed feed fence, Feed too far away.

Swollen hocks develop from impact with hard surfaces:

1. Hard Stall Floor

2. Head space / Lying Space

3. Slippery stall floor

4. Moist surfaces

5. Weak cow

6. Lame cow

7. Rumen Acidosis

8. Sharp Sawdust

Critical control points for food and water:

1. Every cow - 1:1 space

2. Always - 24 hours

3. Access - Space, floor, crossovers, rails

4. Sufficient - 5X + pushup

5. Tasty -Palatable

6. Right content Composition

Rumen Fill Score: The take home is that high producing cows have a 3.5 or better rumen fill. We achieve this by meeting the critical control points of food and water and not having waiting cows. This includes meeting their time budget.

High performing cows have healthy feet. Do they all get trimmed 2-3 times yearly to maintain alignment? Are infectious causes of hoof issues controlled with foot baths?