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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NewsAvian Influenza Identified in Dairy Cattle
Date Posted 3/19/2024This is an ongoing situation. Check back here for updates. -
ArticlesDairy Farm Transformation: Artificial Intelligence
This article explains the concepts of precision livestock farming, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the importance of identifying a dairy farm’s goals for a technology before making a purchase. -
WebinarsFree
Closing the Gateway of Diseases: Hypocalcemia Control
When Watch NowLength 1 hourRecorded Feb 13, 2024Discover strategies to prevent milk fever and optimize transition cow health. Join our webinar for insights and effective dietary management. A must for producers aiming to enhance herd productivity. -
WebinarsFree
Monitoring Subclinical Ketosis and Equipping Farmers with Practical Solutions
When Watch NowLength 1 hourRecorded Jan 24, 2024Learn to spot and prevent subclinical ketosis (SCK) in lactating dairy cows, a widespread herd problem. Uncover monitoring methods, early detection, and effective strategies to cut economic losses from lower milk yield and quality changes. -
WebinarsDairy Biosecurity for Avian Influenza
Length 1 hourImplementing principles, practices, and enhanced biosecurity strategies to mitigate the Foreign Animal Disease risk will be discussed. -
ArticlesStop the Suck: Avoiding Cross-sucking with Automated Feeders
Cross-sucking is an abnormal behavior linked to management factors. This article summarizes individualized milk feeding strategies with automated milk feeders that limit cross-sucking in calves. -
ArticlesWhy Do Dairy Calves Cross-suck Each Other: A Success Guide
Cross-sucking is an abnormal behavior that involves suckling the body of another calf which can become a lifetime habit. This article summarizes management factors to minimize calf cross-sucking. -
ArticlesUsing Calf Jackets to Avoid Heat Loss
Calf jackets can assist in giving your calves a healthy start. -
ArticlesMastitis Management: Don't Forget Your Heifers!
Learn how to limit mastitis issues in non-lactating heifers and calves. -
WorkshopsMilk Quality Workshop: Tools to Reduce Mastitis on Your Farm
Length 4 hours, 30 minutesParticipate in this workshop as we delve into creating and executing protocols aimed at mastitis prevention, identifying its causes for improved cure rates, leveraging records for more effective treatment decisions, and establishing protocols to enhance treatment decisions. -
Online Courses$49.00
Dairy Skills: Milking Management
Sections 7Length 3 hoursLearn management techniques and milking practices that can help reduce or eliminate the spread of mastitis on your dairy farm. -
ArticlesPreventing Dry Cow Mastitis
The dry period is an important time for all dairy cows. Minimizing physiological and nutritional stressors can give your cows the best chance to have optimal milk production in their next lactation. -
ArticlesColostrum: Your Calf's Health Depends on It!
Incorporate a colostrum monitoring program into your herd health program to make sure your calves get the best start possible. -
ArticlesPassive Transfer of Immunity and its Impact on Calf Health
Dairy calves are born with little to no immune system, so it is important that they receive high-quality colostrum for passive transfer of immunity to occur. -
ArticlesComplete Navel Care: It's Not Just About Navel Dip!
Originally published in Lancaster Farming October 2020 -
ArticlesManaging Dry Cows to Reduce Mastitis in the Future
Proper dry cow management is important in preparing cows for the next lactation. -
ArticlesImpacts of Lameness – Part 2: Strategies for Identifying Lame Cows
Lameness can have a detrimental effect on cow welfare, milk production, reproduction performance, and overall health of cows. In addition, the economic impact of lameness is significant. -
ArticlesUsing the Body Condition Scoring Excel Spreadsheet Series
Instructions for the Body Condition Scoring spreadsheet series, used to evaluate body condition in cows and heifers. Spreadsheet series is designed for a scale of 1 to 5. -
ArticlesNutrition, Immunity and Mastitis
The role of nutrition in mastitis prevention is reviewed relative to its impact on immune response of dairy cows -
ArticlesNatural Ventilation for Dairy Tie Stall Barns
Tie stall barns require a ventilation system that allows close control of air exchange and temperature to prevent the barn from reaching freezing temperatures. -
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.
