Dairy Cattle Diseases : Prevention, Signs, and Treatments

Dairy cattle are the heart of your farm — healthy cows produce more milk, remain productive for many years, and contribute to your profits. However, diseases can undermine their health, reduce milk production, and compromise food safety. In this blog, we’ll walk you through common dairy cattle diseases, their prevention, symptoms, and treatments — helping you keep your herd healthy and strong.

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🔹 Common Dairy Cattle Diseases 🔹

Some of the most frequently encountered disorders in dairy cows include:

✅ Mastitis
Signs : Swelling of the udder, redness, abnormal milk (clumping or pus), and reduced production.
Prevention : Proper milking routines, disinfecting equipment, and maintaining a clean, comfortable environment.
Treatment : Antibiotics (under veterinary guidance), proper draining, and careful follow-up care.

✅ Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) 
Signs : Diarrhea, poor appetite, weakness, reduced growth in calves, abortion in pregnant cows.
Prevention : Implement a strong herd vaccination program and avoid adding new, untested cows.
Treatment : Supportive care (fluids, nutrients) and separate sick cows from healthy ones.

✅ Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) 
Signs : Blisters in the mouth and on the feet, drooling, lameness, fever, reduced feed intake.
Prevention : Strict biosecurity, proper disinfection, and vaccines.
Treatment : Supportive care, antibiotic therapy to ease secondary infections, and movement controls to avoid spreading the disease.

✅ Ketosis
Signs : Loss of appetite, drop in milk production, weakness, sweet-smelling breath.
Prevention : Proper energy intake during late pregnancy, careful diet formulation, and stress reduction.
Treatment : Glucose therapy (drench or injection) and addressing underlying stressors.

✅ Milk Fever (Calcium Deficiency)
Signs : Muscle weakness, difficulty standing, collapse, seizures in severe cases.
Prevention : Provide a well-balanced diet rich in calcium and magnesium and close-up diet control.
Treatment : Immediate administration of calcium (typically through an injection by a veterinarian).

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Disease Prevention Tips

✅ Implement a strong herd health and vaccines schedule.

✅ Provide proper, clean, and comfortable living conditions.

✅ Monitor your herd daily for signs of disease.

✅ Isolate sick cows promptly to avoid spreading disease.

✅ Maintain proper record-keeping to track health trends and respond quickly.

✅ Provide a well-balanced diet to keep their immune systems strong.

Final Words

Healthy cows produce healthy milk — the foundation of a successful dairy farm. Proper prevention, vigilant observation, and swift treatment can make a huge difference in herd health, productivity, and profits. Always collaborate with your veterinarian for tailored herd health programs and follow their guidance for disease control.

for more information visit delmergroup.com