Key Points of Sanitation and Disease Prevention Techniques in Dairy Cattle Farming
In cattle production, the principle of "preventing disease is more important than treating disease" should be upheld, preventing and eliminating dairy cattle diseases, especially infectious diseases and metabolic diseases, so that dairy cattle can better perform their productive potential, extend their useful lifespan, and improve the economic benefits of cattle farming.
(1) Disease prevention work for infectious and parasitic diseases
1. Routine preventive measures
(1) Dairy cattle production areas should be separated from living areas. A disinfection pool and disinfection room (equipped with ultraviolet lamps and other disinfection facilities) should be set up at the entrance to the production area, and the disinfection pool should maintain a 2%-4% sodium hydroxide solution or other disinfectant year-round.
(2) Non-production personnel should be strictly controlled from entering the production area. When entry is necessary, they must change work clothes, shoes, and hats, and may only enter after disinfection in the disinfection room.
(3) Necropsies are not permitted in the production area, and keeping dogs, pigs, or other livestock and poultry is not allowed. Mosquitoes and flies should be eliminated regularly.
(4) Quarantine testing for tuberculosis, brucellosis, and paratuberculosis should be conducted once each in spring and autumn every year. Cattle testing positive or showing suspicious reactions should be promptly handled according to regulations. After quarantine testing is completed, a thorough large-scale disinfection of the inside and outside of the cattle barns and equipment should be carried out promptly.
disinfection.
(5) Examinations for external parasites such as mange should be conducted once each in spring and autumn. From June to September, regular inspections and tick control work should be carried out in areas where piroplasmosis is prevalent. In October, a preventive deworming treatment against liver flukes and other parasites should be conducted for the herd. In spring, screening and deworming for coccidia should be carried out in calf groups.
(6) Newly introduced cattle must hold legally required quarantine certificates, and a strict isolation and quarantine system must be implemented. They may only join the herd after being confirmed healthy.
(7) Herdsmen should undergo at least one physical examination each year. If anyone is found to have an infectious disease that endangers humans or cattle, they should be promptly transferred away from the position to prevent transmission.
2. Emergency control measures when an epidemic occurs
(1) An epidemic prevention team should be formed immediately, a definitive diagnosis should be made as quickly as possible, and the epidemic situation should be promptly reported to the relevant higher authorities.
(2) Sick cattle should be rapidly isolated. For highly dangerous infectious diseases, blockade zones should be promptly established, with a blockade belt set up. Entry and exit of personnel and vehicles must be strictly disinfected, and the contaminated environment must also be strictly disinfected. The conditions for lifting the blockade are that no new cases appear within two incubation periods after the last sick cow recovers or is slaughtered, and after comprehensive large-scale disinfection and approval from the higher competent department, the blockade may be lifted.
(3) Reasonable comprehensive control measures should be implemented for sick cattle and cattle within the blockade zone, including emergency vaccination, antibiotic therapy, specific therapy with hyperimmune serum, chemotherapy, and supportive therapy to enhance physical constitution and physiological function.
(4) Carcasses of cattle that died of disease must be disposed of in strict accordance with epidemic prevention regulations.
(2) Monitoring of metabolic diseases
Due to the intensification of dairy cattle production, high-standard feeding, and the development of directional breeding, the productive performance of dairy cattle and the economic benefits of farming have improved, and progress in research on nutritional and metabolic issues has been promoted. At the same time, however, if there is even slight negligence in feeding management conditions and techniques, nutritional and metabolic diseases will inevitably occur, seriously affecting the health, milk yield, and useful lifespan of dairy cattle. Therefore, attention must be paid to the monitoring of metabolic diseases in dairy cattle.
(1) Metabolic profile test (MPT): Randomly collect blood samples from 30-50 dairy cows each quarter, and measure a series of biochemical indicators such as blood urea nitrogen content, blood calcium, blood phosphorus, blood glucose, and hemoglobin, in order to observe the metabolic status of the herd.
(2) Measurement of urine pH and ketone bodies: From one week before calving to 2 months after parturition, measure urine pH and ketone bodies every other day. Promptly treat cattle testing positive or suspicious, and pay attention to the condition of the herd.
(3) Adjust the ration formula:
① Determine the content of various nutrients in the balanced ration at regular intervals.
② For high-yielding, emaciated, and weak dairy cows, promptly adjust the ration formula to increase nutrition, so as to prevent the occurrence of related diseases.
(4) For high-yielding dairy herds during peak lactation, appropriately add additives such as sodium bicarbonate and magnesium oxide to the concentrate.
(3) Hygiene and health care of the udder and hooves
1. Keep the cattle barn, cattle beds, exercise area, cattle body, and udder clean at all times. The cattle barn, cattle beds, and exercise area should also be kept level, dry, and free of debris (such as bricks, stones, cinders, discarded plastic bags, etc.).
2. During milking, the udder must be washed with clean water, then dried with a clean towel. After milking is completed, each teat must be dipped in a 3%-4% sodium hypochlorite solution or other disinfectant for several seconds.
3. Monitoring for subclinical mastitis should be carried out 10 days and 3 days before dry-off. Cattle testing positive should be treated promptly, and cattle testing negative both times may be dried off.
After dry-off, continue teat dipping for 1 week, and regularly observe changes in the udder. Resume teat dipping 1 week before the expected calving date, twice daily.
4. Monitoring for subclinical mastitis should be carried out in January, March, June, July, August, September, and November every year. Comprehensive prevention and treatment measures should be adopted for mastitis with clinical manifestations, and dairy cows that remain uncured after prolonged treatment should be promptly culled to reduce sources of infection.
5. Check and trim hooves once each in spring and autumn every year, and promptly treat cattle with limb and hoof diseases. During seasons with a high incidence of hoof disease, spray the hooves with 5% copper sulfate solution twice a week to reduce the occurrence of hoof disease. For herds with a high incidence of hoof disease, pay attention to the condition of the entire herd.
6. The semen of bulls with genetic defects for limb and hoof diseases is prohibited for breeding.
7. Regularly test the composition of various feeds, and frequently inspect, adjust, and balance the nutrition of dairy cattle rations, especially when the incidence of hoof disease reaches 15% or more.