The effect of change in the treatment protocol of late pregnant dairy cows and their offspring

Abstract

It may be concluded from the results of this study that the farming operation as a whole needs to be harmonized. The health of all the livestock on the farm is the highest priority for the farmer. Securing the health of the livestock will ensure an efficient, economic and productive farm. A dairy farm needs to ensure that the most dangerous period for the cow, namely the transition and postpartum period, is managed as safely as possible for both the cow and the calf. If a farmer experiences a high number of cow losses, a high incidence of milk fever or a high rate of calf mortality (as they did at the Greven dairy farm) the response should be to tackle the problems quickly and resolve them satisfactorily. Sometimes it is necessary to make major changes like changing the feed consultant and perhaps also the veterinarian. Change can bring a whole new outlook to old problems.