Extension
Date of this Version
1996
Abstract
Maintaining a healthy herd is a constant challenge to today's dairy producer. This NebGuide suggests ways to increase and maintain the quality of your dairy herd. Maintaining a healthy herd is a constant challenge to today's dairy producer. Each year an average of 20 to 25 percent of dairy cows are culled due to poor reproductive performance or other health problems. Many factors influence the health and performance of a dairy herd. These include the entire scope of management factors from "on farm" activity to the associated business and financial interactions. All of these are controllable but require knowledge and consistent effort by the producer. The 20,000-pound or greater herd is increasingly common. Special care is necessary to achieve and maintain these levels. Producers must address dairy animal health (calves, replacement heifers and cows), reproductive performance, genetics, nutrition and udder health (mastitis control) to be successful.
Comments
© 1996, The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska on behalf of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension. All rights reserved.