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Dairy Technical Notes
The production of the following Technical Notes has been funded by The Scottish Government under "Public Good Funding".
Further Technical Notes are available to subscribers to SAC's consultancy services. For more information, contact your local FBS office.
Technical Notes
- Stockowner Biosecurity
- Stockowner Biosecurity (PDF: 364 kB)
- Authors: Sandy Clark, Colin Mason
- ISBN: 1854828975
- Published:Apr 2009
- The prevention of infectious disease to livestock farm herds and flocks is more important as margins tighten and exotic diseases threaten. Constant attention to detail and vigilance for signs of disease are vital for the protection of your animals and business. Stockowners need to consider the disease risks when employing contractors, helping neighbours, attending livestock auctions, agricultural shows and visiting any facility where animals are kept. There are guidelines which, if adhered to, can prevent unnecessary disease incursion with the associated loss of income and hardships.
- Biodiversity And Animal Health
- Biodiversity And Animal Health (PDF: 386 kB)
- Authors: D J Roberts, S Stewart, and C Mason
- ISBN: 1854828827
- Published:Mar 2009
- Both biodiversity and animal health are important issues on livestock farms. Carefuly integrated farm management can benefit both wildlife and livestock and reduce diffuse pollution. This note summarises some of the examples where improving biodiversity can also improve animal health and other examples where there is a potential conflict between the two areas.
- Preventing Lameness In Dairy Cows: Hoof Lesions; Their Identification, Treatment, Management And Prevention
- Preventing Lameness In Dairy Cows: Hoof Lesions; Their Identification, Treatment, Management And Prevention (PDF: 416 kB)
- Authors: Colin Mason & Jill Offer
- ISBN: 1854828754
- Published:Apr 2007
- Lameness in every dairy herd can be split into three main categories: claw horn (hoof) lesions, skin lesions and non-foot lameness.
- Woodchip Corrals
- Woodchip Corrals (PDF: 463 kB)
- Authors: Dave Merrilees & Seamus Donnelly
- ISBN: 1854828592
- Published:Jan 2007
- Woodchip corrals have been used as a cost-effective system for overwintering cattle compared with conventional housing. Operational performance in Scotland and elsewhere indicates that not only is stock health and welfare better from rearing outdoors but economic performance is also enhanced.
- Condition Scoring The Modern Dairy Cow
- Condition Scoring The Modern Dairy Cow (PDF: 460 kB)
- Authors: Dr Geoff Pollott
- ISBN: 1854828444
- Published:Jan 2007
- The condition score of a cow is a useful piece of information to have, particularly when it is recorded periodically throughout lactation and acted on.
- Managing Body Condition Score In Dairy Cows
- Managing Body Condition Score In Dairy Cows (PDF: 164 kB)
- Authors: Derek Kennedy
- ISBN: 1854828436
- Published:Dec 2007
- Dairy cows, like most other animals, mobilise bodyfat during early lactation to meet the substantial energy demands of milk production. This is especially characteristic of modern dairy cows. By keeping cows in the correct body condition, good productivity can be achieved and health and welfare problems reduced.
- Biosecurity – Vehicles Visiting The Farm
- Biosecurity – Vehicles Visiting The Farm (PDF: 183 kB)
- Authors: Derek Kennedy, Mark Crawshaw
- ISBN: 1854828428
- Published:Dec 2007
- There are a number of actions individual farmers can take to minimise the risk of vehicles bringing disease onto their farms. In the event of an infectious disease outbreak, farmers should have a contingency plan. In some cases, the authorities may specify what minimum biosecurity measures they would expect farmers and farm visitors to adhere to.
- On-farm Biosecurity Strategy For A Notifiable Disease Outbreak: The 4 S's
- On-farm Biosecurity Strategy For A Notifiable Disease Outbreak: The 4 S's (PDF: 201 kB)
- Authors: D J Roberts & Mark Crawshaw
- ISBN: 185482838x
- Published:Feb 2007
- The following strategy has been developed to help farmers plan what action they would take on their farm with respect to biosecurity in order to deal with an outbreak of a contagious, notifiable disease, such as foot and mouth, occurring in the UK.
- Ragwort Poisoning In Livestock: Prevention & Control
- Ragwort Poisoning In Livestock: Prevention & Control (PDF: 180 kB)
- Authors: Ken Davies
- ISBN: 1854828231
- Published:May 2005
- Importance of controlling the weed ragwort in grassland and prevention of posioning of livestock.
- Health Status Of Breeding Cattle For Sale
- Health Status Of Breeding Cattle For Sale (PDF: 54 kB)
- Authors: George Caldow, Sheila Rusbridge, Mark Crawshaw, George Gunn
- ISBN: 1854827715
- Published:Feb 2003
- The health status of animals at sale is important for two reasons. Firstly the animal itself needs to be free from the major diseases if it is to breed successfully and have a long and productive life. Secondly these animals should be free from the major diseases so that they do not endanger either the health of the other animals at the sale or the health of the herd that they are sold in to.
- Design Of Cattle Farm Steadings For Maximum Biosecurity
- Design Of Cattle Farm Steadings For Maximum Biosecurity (PDF: 60 kB)
- Authors: Mark Crawshaw, Basil Lowman, Jack Bishop, George Caldow
- ISBN: 1854827421
- Published:Jan 2003
- It is obviously difficult to redesign existing farm steadings to provide maximum biosecurity. Knowing the ideal layout to minimise the entry of infectious disease will allow any future modifications/extensions etc to enhance rather than detract from the biosecurity of the unit.
- Herd Biosecurity For Cattle
- Herd Biosecurity For Cattle (PDF: 67 kB)
- Authors: Mark Crawshaw, George Caldow, George Gunn, Sheila Rusbridge
- ISBN: 1854827340
- Published:Apr 2002
- Information on the role of biosecurity in the control of infectious diseases and the implementation of herd biosecurity for cattle.
- Johne's Disease In Cattle
- Johne's Disease In Cattle (PDF: 59 kB)
- Authors: George Caldow, Sheila Rusbridge, Mark Crawshaw, George Gunn
- ISBN: 1854827499
- Published:Feb 2003
- The disease, Crohn’s disease, Diagnosis and diagnostic tests, Prevalence in the UK herd, Significance for the UK dairy herd, Significance for the UK beef herd, Options for control
- Leptospira Hardjo Infection In Cattle
- Leptospira Hardjo Infection In Cattle (PDF: 176 kB)
- Authors: Sheila Rusbridge, George Caldow, Mark Crawshaw, George Gunn
- ISBN: 154827480
- Published:Mar 2004
- Leptospira hardjo infection is associated with infertility and abortion and the weak calf syndrome. Infection is nearly always introduced into a herd by the purchase of infected cattle.
- Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR)
- Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) (PDF: 41 kB)
- Authors: Mark Crawshaw, George Gunn, Peter Nettleton, George Caldow
- ISBN: 1854827103
- Published:Aug 2004
- Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis is an acute infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that commonly affects cattle aged 6 months or more.
- Recommendations For The Design Of New Safe & Efficient Cattle Handling Systems
- Recommendations For The Design Of New Safe & Efficient Cattle Handling Systems (PDF: 166 kB)
- Authors: Dr Simon Turner
- ISBN: 1854828061
- Published:Oct 2004
- Investing in a new handling system is a major commitment and design faults will either have to be corrected at a later date or contended with for the life of the system. Spending time at the outset developing a safe and efficient design appropriate to your needs is therefore easily justified. As the ease and safety of handling depends largely on how well the behaviour of the animal is exploited, the starting point in the design process should be understanding what features encourage calm movement.
- Modifying Existing Handling Systems To Improve Human Safety
- Modifying Existing Handling Systems To Improve Human Safety (PDF: 143 kB)
- Authors: Dr Simon Turner
- ISBN: 1854828053
- Published:Oct 2004
- By examining the Health and Safety Executive annual statistical reports, it is apparent that there has been no reduction in the number of human fatalities whilst handling cattle in the UK since the 1970s, despite a reduction in the total rate of agricultural fatalities.
- Treatment And Control Of Liver Fluke In Sheep And Cattle
- Treatment And Control Of Liver Fluke In Sheep And Cattle (PDF: 1.0 MB)
- Authors: George Mitchell
- ISBN: 1854827987
- Published:Nov 2003
- Due to the increased risk of liver fluke disease it is essential that stockowners investigate any unexplained losses or disease entities