TheDairySite Newsletter - 3 September 2010

TheDairySite Weekly Newsletter

Friday 3rd September 2010

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Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial: Improving Herd Performance

In Malaysia, scientists are testing a vaccine that spreads by itself, as a solution to the highly infectious hemorrhagic septicemia.

The disease causes losses of millions of dollars a year in many African, Asian and Middle Eastern countries.

The vaccine can be sprayed up an animal's nose and when it breathes out, the vaccine will remain airborne and be inhaled by other surrounding animals.

After vaccinating 30 per cent of a herd, self-vaccination does the rest, leading to 80 per cent immunity overall. The animals remain immune for up to four months while the vaccine itself survives for just two weeks in the environment.

Researchers in the US have determined that test-tube calf embryos have higher survival rates in heat-stressed cows than those produced by conventional artificial insemination.

The research shows that not only do pregnancy rates double, but there is also an increase in the proportion of heifers born.

Charlotte Johnston

This Week's Feature Articles

We have 3 new features this week:

Changing The Dry Cow Mindset
This paper, from Jantijn Swinkels and Rinse Jan Boersma of Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, reviews the principle issues and attitudes concerning the dry cow period and the role of 60-day antimicrobial dry cow therapy. Summarised by Charlotte Johnston, TheCattleSite junior editor.

Beef From Market Cows: Feeding
The third in this three part feature from the Center for Research & Knowledge Management in the Department of Research, Education & Innovation at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association looks at the classification of market cows.

Irish Situation And Outlook For Dairying
A sharp rise in international butter and powder prices, coupled with favourable exchange rate movements has seen a strong recovery in Irish milk prices in the peak milk production season. With overall production costs largely unchanged, this means that 2010 will see a significant improvement in dairy farm margins relative to 2009.