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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ArticlesAnimal Welfare Objectives for Dairy Facility Design
This article provides a simplified context for animal welfare in relation to engineering design features of dairy housing. -
ArticlesImpacts of Lameness – Part 1: Preventing Lame Cows
Potential risks that can lead to lameness arise from flooring, barn hygiene, trauma, handling, cow comfort, lack of effective fiber and feeding management, metabolic disorders, and infectious diseases. -
ArticlesAntibiotic Labels Have Changed, Time to Consider Selective Dry Cow Therapy
Work with your veterinarian to determine if selective dry cow therapy can work for your farm and improve antibiotic stewardship. -
ArticlesThe Endemic Calf Parasite Cryptosporidium Parvum
What is it, and how to identify dehydration in calves with scours. -
ArticlesProper Care for Non-ambulatory Dairy Animals
Producers are encouraged to have a written protocol for non-ambulatory animals and treat them as a medical emergency. -
ArticlesTackling Hypocalcemia and Systemic Inflammation During the Transition Period
Hypocalcemia and systemic inflammation are normal physiological processes in a transition cow, but when exacerbated they can predispose cows to develop diseases and have a poor performance. -
ArticlesReducing the Risks of Pathogenic E. Coli Infections
The information in this sheet is intended to provide advice for animal owners and animal caretakers whose animals may be accessible to the public. -
ArticlesHeat Stress Reminders: Warm Weather is Here
Heat stress begins with spring warm weather. Spring is the time to focus on cow comfort, feed and water intake to buffer some of the effects of heat stress. -
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. -
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. -
Online Courses$49.00
Dairy Skills: Transition Management
Sections 6Length 3 hours, 30 minutesLearn the basics of the transition period for dairy cows, including housing and nutrition needs, parturition, colostrum management, and signs of common diseases. -
ArticlesAntibiotic Stewardship: Can It Really Save Your Dairy Money?
Improving animal health offers a rewarding way to reduce antibiotic use. -
ArticlesMaximizing Feed Intake: Key for Transition Cow Success
Transition cow management should be primarily aimed at preventing and monitoring ketosis and hypocalcemia. -
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. -
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. -
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 lense. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
ArticlesSafety Risk from Manure Storages of Dairy Cows Bedded with Gypsum
Findings from on-farm monitoring of dairies using gypsum as stall bedding show a link has been found to highly toxic levels of hydrogen sulfide gas during manure movement and agitation. -
ArticlesDon't Skimp on Health Costs
Regardless of high or low profit margins, the investment in health care for calves, heifers, and cows should not waver. -
Online Courses$49.00
Dairy Skills: Calf and Heifer Health
Sections 4Length 3 hours, 30 minutesLearn how to meet the proper housing, nutrition, and health needs of dairy cows ranging from newborn calves through breeding age heifers. -
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. -
ArticlesRegistros Escritos a Mano Para las Vacas de Transición
Precisos registros de salud y producción ayudan a los productores a tomar decisiones importantes y pueden ser una herramienta eficaz. Se incluye un modelo de plantilla para registros escritos a mano.
