Breeding mastitis-resistant cows
Selecting for disease- resistant cows has become a reality for farmers around the globe as genetic developments continue to advance.
While farmers prepare their herds for mating they should keep the milking team focused on preventing mastitis says Dairy Australia's animal health and fertility programme manager, Dr Kathryn Davis.
Research shows that sub-clinical and clinical mastitis can damage the fertility of dairy cows.
Any type of inflammation in the cow's body can affect her reproductive system. Inflammation produces chemicals that can affect the release of hormones (required for reproduction) from the cow's brain, and directly affect the function of the ovaries and uterus.
"If a cow gets mastitis before mating, it affects the production of oestradiol (a hormone which allows expression of heat) and therefore the time before mating and calving will be longer than for those cows not affected by mastitis; in fact research has shown a delay of up to 22 days," says Davis.
In 2013, Countdown 2020 estimated the financial cost of each clinical case of mastitis to be A$277 which can add up to costs in the thousands for a herd-wide outbreak. Dairy Australia's Countdown shed guides and countdown mastitis toolkit app help prevent or minimise outbreaks.
Davis says while problems caused by mastitis were well known including extra labour, discarded milk, reduced milk production in the remaining lactation, cow welfare issues, medication costs, increased culling rates and the risk of antibiotic residues, the effects on fertility are more difficult to see and can occur months later.
Dairy Australia's Countdown shed guides and videos for farmers and their staff remind milkers of the recommended practices to reduce the risk of mastitis, she says.
The European Union Ambassador says the new free trade agreement (FTA) between the bloc and New Zealand will bring significant benefits to both parties.
Less Wellington bureucracy and more local, on-farm common sense was the focus of recent meetings held in South Canterbury as part of the Government's National Woolshed tour program.
'A lot of interest and positive responses' appears to be the way farmers are viewing the Government's initiative to hold a series of woolshed meetings around the country.
A Southland farming leader wants the regional council to delay a proposed regional rates hike, much of which is intended to fund flood protection works.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) says access to personal banking services in rural communities is fundamental to promoting outcomes that benefit Kiwi consumers.