Peer Group  We have planned peer group meetings for you at Speedway Lanes 455 N Herman St. New Bremen, OH.  Pizza will be available at 11:30 with discussion beginning at 12:00 noon.

February 19, 2026 : Dr. Dave Erf (Zoetis)“Genetic Selection for Better Health, What can we achieve?”

“Historically we have placed a great amount of emphasis on production in our genetic selection. In the past 10 years, we have tools to improve health of dairy cattle. We will take a look at our progress in the quest to breed for more trouble-free dairy cows.”

March 26, 2026: Dr. Joel Franks “The Stimulated Cow”

“I briefly describe the cow’s let down physiology (‘how’ milk is letdown). Building around that with the ‘whys’ of a good pre-milking procedure and ‘what’ that looks like.  After which, I bring in the VaDia to show how it can access milking time events.

Prep procedures and milk let down seem to be very elementary, but I am continually amazed how educated cow people try to break the rules, and when they do, they are surprised with the negative outcomes.”

Drs. Stayduhar and Hardesty at ODV The Ohio Dairy Vets meeting in Columbus focused on “Dairy, Data and Technology.” It featured ODA and USDA updates along with OSU research.  Dr. Miel Hostens of Cornell was the featured speaker on Artificial Intelligence.  Platinum sponsor presentations were given by EHV and FerAppease. Other topics included Genetic Technology, Precision Technology and Corn Silage Management.

What does she weigh?  A socially unacceptable question in some circles, but more important than we may have considered when treating cattle. 
 

Underdosing occurred in 36% of cattle treated using a set dose protocol, risking poor response.   42% were overdosed, increasing expense and risking residue issues.  Sure, a scale would be great, and some have them.  Cheaper, and accurate enough is to use a weigh tape when fresh cows are first caught post freshening to receive calcium.  Many herd management programs have a place to record the weight.  That weight should be closer than a guess for the entire lactation.  We have weigh tapes on our route truck and Zoetis says they can get us more.  Once you have a weigh tape, you may choose to weigh heifers when they are handled for any reason.  It is good decision making information and will sharpen your eye.

FerAppease -Not just for breaking heifers.  We’ve had maternal appeasing compound for a few years. It’s most common uses are breaking heifers to parlor or robot, grouping calves, and receiving feeder cattle.  The most recent submission to the Journal of Dairy Science studied the administration of FerAppease at the time of insemination.  Treated cows had a 60.2% conception rate, while controls are 47.7% pregnant.  Current dosing for adults is 10 cc on the bridge of the nose and 5 cc behind the poll.

Metritis has the longest lasting negative effects on milk production of all the postpartum diseases.  Florida researcher Dr. Jose Santos applied FerAppease to 909 cows at freshening with 816 serving as controls.  19.3 % of the control cows got metritis while only 8.7% of the treated cows were diagnosed with metritis.  Cutting metritis in half is significant.  Several years ago, we cut metritis in half by giving oral calcium and Inforce at freshening.  Nasalgen should have the same effect as Inforce.  It would be interesting to see if FerAppease has an additive effect on reducing metritis with calcium and intranasal respiratory vaccine.
 

Smart Calf Rearing  (From the webinar)

Health, Nutrition, Welfare, Management/ Physiology- Does positive immune outcome improve health?  We need better data.  For example, injectable vitamins improve immune function but health results are mixed.  Calf gut microbiomes adjust twice.  Once at colostrum ingestion and again when the rumen develops.  A healthy microbiome results in immune system development and vaccine efficacy.  Negative impact on microbiome occur with antibiotics in milk, including waste milk.

Scours is a significant health concern and usually some diagnostics give us direction.  We have more tools available than ever.  Respiratory is the next challenge.  There are many details to prevent respiratory disease, which I presented in my April Hoard’s article.  There is a recipe for creating respiratory disease; have diarrhea, limit calories, cold stress, stale air, stacked stressors, and genetics.  The experts were asked what they would change in management to create a healthy biome. They said, “they would not have prophylaxis as a regular part of their program and they would not feed waste milk.”  I think they are right, but may not be looking at reality on some farms.  Their response to the question what they would like to see more widely adopted was, “lung ultrasound and comprehensive and complete data.” Once again, I agree, but these practices are only as good as what you do with the information.  It is especially important as animals have high value to know their history.  Which ones will preform and which should you turn into cash?

Nutrition is the foundation of health.  Colostrum limits calf immune activation and balanced immunity.  Feeding colostrum until day 3 to 14 has immune and growth value.  Total protein should be taken between days 1 to 3.  The new NRC (NASEM) is good for preweaned calves but postweaning results in transitional slump.  We need to feed the rumen with at least 10% MP of the total protein intake.  High milk diets result in higher grain intake.  Consider phase feeding whereby you increase protein as you decrease milk amount.

Welfare specialists are targeting transportation as an issue. I would say clean, dry bedding and water availability are bigger issues. There are 5M calves transported in the USA.  There are advocates for resting calves on long transits.  Rested calves have greater NEFA’s due to weight loss. Off loading and reloading are major stressors. The most important factors for hauling calves is that they got colostrum and they have had multiple meals before hauling.  I suggest to feed milk in the morning, electrolytes right before loading, and team drive the calves straight through. Calves should be more than 3 days of age to transport.  Two to four weeks is proposed, but not reasonable.

There is a push toward cow/calf transition pairs.  The experts called this poor welfare, increased labor and it should not be done. Not here, not anywhere.

Social housing is popular in some circles.  Calves exhibit more social behavior, increased grain intake, and adapt to stress challenges.  There can be a problem with cross sucking.  Having less than a one week gap in age, pair at less than 2 weeks, and 2 or 16 are optimum group sizes. “The number of calves in a pen will correct itself to 16.”  Autofeeders work best with great ventilation, solid dividers, less than 3 week age spread and All In/ All Out.  Sanitize with chlorous dioxide to less than 10,000 cfu.  There will be increased health issues, but they will be easier to detect. Avoid early life unrewarded visits and provide at least 40 square feet per calf.

Trends are to increase individual housing in barns with pairing.  We don’t wash pens in the building.