Health guide
Herd health guide
Metabolic, hoof and other common disorders in dairy and beef cattle: what they are, how to spot them early and how nutrition and management help prevent them.
Metabolic disorders
Most metabolic disorders start in the transition period, three weeks before to three weeks after calving. They are linked: one problem often leads to the next.
- Milk fever
- Ketosis
- Fatty liver
- Subacute ruminal acidosis
- Acute rumen acidosis
- Displaced abomasum
- Grass tetany
- Bloat
- Milk fat depression
Hoof disorders
Lameness is one of the costliest problems on dairy farms. Some hoof disorders are driven by nutrition and cow comfort, others by infection and hygiene.
- Laminitis
- Sole ulcer
- White line disease
- Digital dermatitis
- Foot rot
- Heel horn erosion
- Interdigital hyperplasia
Other health problems
Udder, uterine, urinary and feed-related problems where nutrition plays a clear role in prevention.
- Mastitis
- Retained placenta & metritis
- Urinary stones
- Mycotoxicosis
This guide is educational and focuses on prevention through nutrition and management. Diagnosis and treatment of sick animals are the job of your veterinarian.