Ongoing research

Adapted by Alejandro R. Castillo, UCCE Merced County An on-farm survey was carried out on 40 commercial dairy farms in Merced County, California to study the effects of feed and feeding management variables on feed conversion (FC) and nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE).

Adapted by Michael Payne, DVM, PhD. Program Director, CDQAP According to the current USDA data available in 2008 cull dairy cows accounted for just over 7% of all cattle slaughtered in the US, but were responsible for approximately 90% of carcasses in which drug residues were detected.

Adapted by Michael Karle, DVM- Mid-Valley Veterinary Hospital and Synergy Cattle Group, Inc. and Betsy Karle- UCCE Glenn and Tehama Counties Earlier this year, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) updated guidelines for the euthanasia of animals.

Jennifer Heguy, UCCE Stanislaus & San Joaquin and Jed Asmus, Independent Nutritionist You cannot simply take one dairys diet, feed it to another herd, and expect the same production results. The reason - there are many variables that impact a cows ability to make milk.

Adapted by Noelia Silva-del-Ro, UC Vet Med Dairy Extension Specialist To understand what is the right order of ingredients into the mixer wagon, we must consider the physical properties of the ingredients that affect mixing such as size, shape, density, water absorption capacity (hydroscopy), static...

Adapted by Noelia Silva-del-Rio, UC Vet Med Dairy Extension Specialist Fresh cows have the greatest production potential in a dairy. However, fresh cows are very susceptible to diseases.

Adapted by Dr. Pat Blanchard - California Animal Health and Food Safety Lab In October, CAHFS laboratory in Tulare received dead cows and heifers from 3 dairies after animals were fed pistachio hulls contaminated with pistachio shells.

Adapted by John Adaska, California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory Jejunal or intestinal hematoma is a condition that is recognized as a cause of death in adult dairy cows.

Adapted by Jennifer Heguy UC Dairy Advisor, Ed DePeters - UC Davis, & Jed Asmus Independent Nutritionist High quality forages are a staple in California dairy rations.

Adapted by Betsy Karle, UCCE Glenn & Tehama Counties While we dont have control over the price of milk or the amount of rain in the Midwest, we can still exert some influence over how we spend money on our dairies.