Health and Care
Find information on dairy cattle health, including prevention and control of mastitis. Resources on hoof health, lameness, heat stress, vaccines, and overmilking are also available in this section. Learn body conditioning scoring techniques.
Dairy Cattle Health Care
Dairy herd health is dependent on farmers’ expertise and readiness to prevent, diagnose, control, and treat common cow diseases and health issues.
The Pennsylvania Dairy Health and Biosecurity Manual is a comprehensive guide designed to help dairy farmers keep their herds healthy and economically productive. Compiled by Penn State Extension’s team of experienced veterinarians, it’s a practical and up-to-date resource on all cow-health related problems.
In addition to herd health care, dairy producers should also manage the biosecurity risks associated with cattle farming. Here you can find resources on how to reduce the risk of spreading infectious diseases and pathogens.
Dairy producers could also benefit from the body condition scoring technique and use it when troubleshooting cattle health and nutrition problems. Information on cow vaccines and schedules is also available in this section.
Udder Health and Mastitis: Prevention and Control
Mastitis, an inflammation of the cow’s udder, is the most common dairy cattle disease in the United States. It is also the most expensive issue on dairy farms, costing the average US dairy farm $110 per cow each year.
Proper diagnosis and treatment are necessary to avoid costly veterinary treatment and milk product loss. Learn how to conduct initial mastitis testing, how to culture milk to identify bacteria, and determine the cause of the mastitis with the On-Farm Milk Culturing for Mastitis Control online course.
Mastitis in cattle can be caused by contact with milking machinery or by infection. Get practical advice on the best milking practices for mastitis prevention.
Here you’ll find additional resources on udder health, overmilking, teat cleanliness, teat-end health, and rapid milk flow. For more information on the effect of mastitis on milk quality, visit the Dairy Production and Milk Quality section of this site.
Other Dairy Cattle Diseases
Information on this site is intended to help producers diagnose and treat other common diseases, such as foot rot and lameness, milk fever, endometritis, and ketosis in dairy cattle. Research on bovine tuberculosis is also available.
Get advice on hoof health, prevention, and control of foot problems in dairy cows, and learn methods to reduce lameness in new and existing housing systems.
Penn State Extension resources can also help producers identify and treat dairy cattle diseases and conditions, such as grass tetany, Johne's Disease, bovine leukemia virus, milk fever, and heat stress.
One of the toughest decisions livestock producers have to make when raising and caring for animals is deciding when euthanasia is the appropriate and humane choice. Find advice on how to determine if is it time for euthanasia and instruction on how to choose and perform appropriate euthanasia techniques.
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WebinarsFree
Social Science Research in Dairy: Past, Present, and Future
When 04/14/2026Length 30 minutesEvent Format Virtual | LiveThis webinar explores how social science research examines roles, values, and decision-making in dairy farming and highlights new research on farmers' views of methane-reduction strategies. -
Workshops$15.00
Herds and Her: Empowering Women in Dairy
When 03/11/2026Length 4 hours, 30 minutesEvent Format In-PersonHands-on, boot camp–style workshop for women in dairy covering farm safety, selective dry cow therapy, financial foundations, and calf behavior related to health and housing. -
ArticlesSpringtime Brings Tick Risks to People and Cattle Alike
The Asian Longhorned Tick (ALT) has been identified in at least 18 states. Rapid explosions of this tick can be detrimental to cattle. -
ArticlesAntibiotic Stewardship: Can It Really Save Your Dairy Money?
Improving animal health offers a rewarding way to reduce antibiotic use. -
ArticlesReducing Heat Stress Can Help Lower Somatic Cell Counts
With hot weather, the main concern is often loss of milk production, but heat stress can also cause cows to experience a seasonal high SCC as well. -
VideosThe Strip Yield Test
Length 4:32In this video, you will learn about an easy test that can be performed on your farm to test if overmilking is occurring. With these results, you can monitor unit removal as well as adjust unit take-off to reduce stress on teat ends. -
VideosLearn To Score Body Condition
Length 12:10Learn to assign body condition scores for dairy cattle on a 5-point scale by evaluating specific areas of the pelvis and loin. -
ArticlesLameness: It's Costing You
Lameness can have negative implications beyond cow comfort. Lameness contributes to reduced milk production, reduced reproduction and increased costs related to treatment and prevention. -
ArticlesExamples of Cows at Various Body Condition Scores
Photos demonstrate dairy cows with a range of body condition scores. Each photo includes key observations at that score. -
ArticlesThe Target Cow Concept: Finding the Right Cows at the Right Time
This article introduces the Target Cow concept, which focuses on identifying and proactively managing high-risk groups of animals during the transition period. -
ArticlesHealth Events in Dairy Cattle: Prevent Them All for Optimal Repro!
This article describes the intricate relationship between animal health and reproductive performance in dairy cattle. -
ArticlesBenefits of Meeting Animal Welfare Standards
Recommended management practices benefit both the animal and the farm viability. -
ArticlesFarm Blindness and How it Could be Affecting Your Dairy
Take a look at your farm through a different lens. -
ArticlesConsider More Than Days of Age When Weaning Calves
For many operations, the decision to wean calves is based solely on the age of their calves. If calves are experiencing growth slumps, the transition period may need some changes to ensure that calves are ready to make this nutritional change. -
ArticlesOn-Farm Culture: The Smart Approach to Clinical Mastitis Treatment
On-farm culturing allows for more informed decisions to be made regarding treatment and can help answer questions about whether to treat a quarter or not. -
ArticlesFarm Biosecurity: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
The recent outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) have left many farms in a dire situation. Use readily available resources to help you develop a farm emergency plan. -
Tools and AppsColostrometer Adjustment Spreadsheet
Adjust readings from a colostrometer to provide the value expected if colostrum was tested at 68°F. -
WebinarsFree
Manejo Aplicado de LecherÃa: Mejores Prácticas para Terneros Recién Nacidos y en Pre-Destete
When 12/15/2025Length 1 hour session, 6 daysObtenga estrategias prácticas y respaldadas por la investigación para mejorar la salud de los terneros en esta serie bilingüe de seminarios, que aborda el calostro, el parto, el cuidado pre-destete y los efectos del estrés por calor. -
WebinarsFree
Applied Dairy Management: Newborn/Pre-Weaned Calf Best Practices
When 12/15/2025Length 1 hour session, 6 daysEvent Format Virtual | LiveGain practical, research-backed strategies to support healthier calves in this bilingual webinar series covering colostrum, calving, pre-weaning care, and the impacts of heat stress. -
WebinarsFree
Strong Foundations: Raising Resilient Calves
When 02/12/2026Length 1 hourEvent Format Virtual | LiveExplore science-based practices for calf care, biosecurity, and health management in this free Penn State Extension webinar series. -
VideosUsing a Colostrometer
Length 3:10Demonstration of using a colostrometer to estimate IgG content in colostrum. -
ArticlesTrouble Shooting Colostrum Management: Colostrum Calculator
Use the Colostrum Calculator spreadsheet to investigate factors related to IgG absorption in calves. -
VideosRFID: How to Apply the Tag
Length 4:12This video explains tagging requirements for livestock and demonstrates how to apply the RFID tag properly. -
ArticlesNew Thoughts, Old Question: Should We Feed Calves Forage?
Feeding forage to calves has been debated for years. Fermentation of grain is essential for rumen development, but sometimes calves perform better with hay. -
ArticlesCustomized Dairy Heifer Growth Chart
Generates a growth chart from mature size and age at first calving. Compares heifer performance to growth required to meet herd goals, not to a breed standard.
