Dairy Animal Services

Did you know that a 550kg dairy cow normally has a blood calcium level of around 3 grams? Once she calves, in lactation she requires approximately 23 grams per day! Recent studies in NZ have shown the average herd-level prevalence of subclinical milk fever is…

Calves get their antibodies (that set up their immune system) from the cow via colostrum. This is termed “Passive transfer”. You may hear the term FPT or failure of passive transfer used. This happens when the calves don’t get enough colostrum, quickly enough after birth.…

Cows with a healthy udder Produce more milk Are easier to milk Have less mastitis Suffer less pain A more likely to get in calf Have a longer productive lifetime Provide more profit Mastitis is caused by bacterial infection of the udder, the only way…