Managing a healthy dairy herd
Also see Cattle ticks and cattle tick control
A multi-parasite approach to buffalo fly control
To delay buffalo fly resistance to regularly used chemicals the treatments should be alternated and combined with other parasite control treatments.
Avoid aflatoxin poisoning of livestock, and the potential for residues in milk and meat
Avoiding aflatoxin poisoning of livestock
Bloat in cattle
The different forms of this condition of cattle are discussed.
Botulism in dairy cattle - Economic benefits and animal welfare considerations of vaccination programs
Economic beneifits and animal welfare considerations of vaccinating dairy cattle against botulism
Botulism in dairy cows - why annual vaccination may be crucial
Botulism can be devestating to dairy farmers. Vaccination is essential and annual vaccination is still recommended for many dairy farmers despite the availability of long term vaccines.
Botulism: A potential disease problem in intensively fed beef and dairy cattle
Specific advice on how to deal with outbreaks of botulism is provided.
Advice on vaccination programs is included. In high risk situations, vaccination against botulism is the only effective way to prevent botulism from occurring.
Bovine ephemeral fever (BEF or Three day sickness) in dairy cattle - Economic benefits and animal welfare considerations of vaccination programs
Bovine ephemeral fever (three day sickness) in dairy cattle: economic benefits and animal welfare considerations of vaccination programs.
Cattle diseases - Campylobacteriosis or vibriosis
Campylobacteriosis, or vibriosis, is a venereal disease of cattle caused by a bacterium that lives in the lining of the reproductive tract. Infection in a herd reduces reproduction and prolongs the calving period.
Cattle diseases - EBL
Enzootic bovine leucosis (EBL) is a viral disease which affects only cattle. It has been common in dairy herds in Queensland but is now being controlled by the accreditation scheme. This note discusses how this is done.
Cattle diseases - Grasstree poisoning
Grasstrees and yacca are common names given to plants belonging to the genus Xanthorrhoea. These plants, with their long flower spike, are capable of causing a peculiar disease which is often called `wamps'.
Cattle diseases - Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a common and contagious cattle disease. It affects beef production by decreasing branding percentages, and dairy production by lost lactations and greatly reduced milk yield.
Clostridial diseases in dairy cattle - Vaccination program
Economic benefits, animal welfare and human health considerations of vaccination programs.
Colibacillosis in dairy cattle - Vaccination program
Economic benefits and animal welfare considerations of vaccinating dairy cattle against colibacillosis
Common treatments for external parasites of cattle (March 2007)
A general guideline for users of treatments for external parasites of cattle.
Correct disposal of food wastes minimises the risk of emergency animal disease outbreaks
Advising of the responsibility to ensure that food wastes containing animal matter are disposed of correctly so that the risk of an emergency disease outbreak is reduced.
Dairy replacement heifers - 1. Growth targets: age and live weight
How we manage our replacement heifers can have a substantial effect on potential production and profit. The way we rear these heifers influences herd productivity.
Dairy replacement heifers - 2 . Growth targets: benchmarks of performance
If we are to achieve our goal for dairy heifers - grown to 85% of their mature size to calve at 2 years of age, we need to be able to assess their performance along the way to ensure that growth targets are achieved at the desired age.
Dairy replacement heifers - 3. Feed requirements and forage quality
Feed requirements for growing heifers are defined in relation to their size or age, as farms will always have small groups of animals of varying ages requiring differential feeding, depending on their specific needs and the quality of pasture available.
Dairy replacement heifers - 4. Feed management: birth to weaning
Comprehensive guide outlining all major health, nutrition and development topics to consider when rearing replacement heifers.
Dairy replacement heifers - 5. Feed management: post-weaning to calving
A comprehensive guide outlining major considerations for feeding calves post weaning to 24 months.
Diseases of dairy heifers - Management and vaccination
This DPI&F Note covers common disease problems and causal organisms, management - disease prevention, vaccinations and vaccines.
Enzootic bovine leucosis control scheme
A scheme for the protection of Queensland's dairy industry against EBL. The scheme is administered by QDO, Qld Milk Processors, AVA and DPI&F.
Exclusion of animals from landfill sites - Exotic animal disease prevention
All stock must be kept out of landfill sites used for the disposal of household and other food waste material.
Exotic disease - Think the worst first
This note contains information about the effects of such a disease, how to detect, what to do and also lists the twelve major diseases that are most feared.
Healthy dairy heifers - Managing external parasites: Buffalo fly
Buffalo flies are a serious problem for the Queensland dairy industry. In heifers the main loss in production is due to reduced growth as feed intake is reduced with fly irritation.
Healthy dairy heifers - Managing internal parasites: worms
Round worms (nematodes) and flat worms (platyhelminthes - fluke and tapeworm) can seriously impair growth of young animals (weaning to about 8 months) causing loss of condition, scours, anaemia and, in cases of severe infestation, death.
Introduction to the M5 project
Background to the Mutdapilly Farmlet Study
Ketosis (acetonaemia)
Inadequate feed intake at calving can lead to utilisation of fat stores by the cow and the subsequent release of fatty acids. This leads to a build up of ketone bodies which produce the signs of ketosis.
Leptospirosis in dairy cattle - Economic benefits, animal welfare and human health considerations of vaccination programs
Economic benefits, animal welfare and human health considerations of vaccination programs.
Managing cattle health risk with chicken litter fertiliser
When using chicken litter as a dairy pasture fertiliser it is important to apply appropriate management techniques to maximise the benefits and minimise cattle health risks.
Managing health risks to human health when using chicken litter as a fertiliser on pastures
Chicken litter may contain pathogens (potentially harmful organisms), antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes, hormones and heavy metals. The potential risks and how best to manage the risks are presented.
Milk fever (hypocalcaemia)
This DPI&F Note contains information on milk fever (a common metabolic disease of dairy cattle), including cause, symptoms, treatment and prevention.
Neospora caninum - A major cause of bovine abortion in Australia
Neospora caninum, a microscopic protozoan parasite, was first described a little over a decade ago and has since been shown to be a major cause of bovine abortion throughout the world.
Q fever in dairy cattle - Human health considerations for vaccination
Q fever in dairy cattle: human heatlh considerations of vaccination programs
Rearing the dairy calf - 1. The importance of calf rearing
The future of any dairy farm depends on the successful rearing of calves and heifers for herd replacements. Successful calf rearing is very dependent on the skill, experience and empathy of the stock person looking after the animals.
Rearing the dairy calf - 2. Birth of the calf
Most cows can calve and produce a healthy calf without assistance from the owner or herdsman. Cows should calve in a clean, well grassed, sheltered paddock near the house or dairy where she can be observed in case calving difficulties develop.
Rearing the dairy calf - 3. Rumen development
The goal for rearing healthy dairy heifers successfully and economically is to quickly develop the calf's rumen to be able to digest solid feeds and reduce her nutritional dependence on milk.
Responses - Enzootic bovine leucosis (EBL) control
Enzootic bovine leucosis (EBL) is a viral disease, which causes leukaemia in cattle. This page outlines Queensland's control and eradication measures in regard to this disease.
Swill feeding - Why is it banned?
Swill feeding involves using food (or food scraps) containing animal matter as feed for pigs, poultry or ruminants. The practice is illegal in Australia because of the serious risk of introducing diseases that are not present here.
Vaccinating dairy cattle against disease - Economic considerations
Vaccinating dairy cattle against disease: economic considerations
Vibriosis (bovine genital campylobacteriosis) in dairy cattle - Economic benefits and animal welfare considerations of vaccination programs
Vibriosis (bovine genital campylobacteriosis) in dairy cattle: economic benefits and animal welfare considerations of vaccination programs.
You play a critical role in keeping Australia free
The role of the public in ensuring emergency animal diseases do not enter Australia.
