English

Timely culling of dairy cows

By Mireille Chahine, University of Idaho

Timely culling of dairy cows is a strategic decision that supports economic, operational and animal welfare goals in the dairy business. Consumer demand has the greatest impact on beef demand. Therefore, animals should be culled and sent to the slaughterhouse as soon as health issues affecting their welfare, such as severe lameness, become apparent. If cows are not culled in a timely manner, the dairy farm risks losing 100% of the cow’s value if its carcass is condemned. For this reason, animals should be culled and sent to the slaughterhouse as soon as possible, before their health condition progresses to advanced stages, making them ineligible for slaughter.
 
Make sure to follow these four rules when culling animals:

1. Do not sell culled animals that pose a public health threat or have a terminal illness. Pay special attention to animals showing neurological signs or zoonotic disease symptoms.
2. Use treatment products correctly and observe withdrawal times to prevent harmful residues. Ensure that ALL animals sent to the slaughterhouse have properly completed the withdrawal period for drug residues. Drug residues in meat can pose serious health risks to consumers, including allergic reactions and antibiotic resistance. Proper withdrawal periods ensure that the meat is safe for human consumption. Laws and regulations require that animals sent to slaughter have completed the withdrawal period for any medications administered. Failure to comply can result in legal penalties, fines or loss of licenses for the dairy operation.
3. Do not send culled animals to the slaughterhouse if they are non-ambulatory or have advanced eye injuries. Such cows include animals that are unable to stand and walk (“non-ambulatory” or “downers”) or have severe eye injuries, as this is considered inhumane and is typically prohibited by regulations in most jurisdictions; these animals, instead, should be humanely euthanized. 
4. Sell culled animals BEFORE they become severely emaciated.

Remember that cows that are no longer productive can become a financial burden due to feed, healthcare and maintenance costs. Culling them at the right time ensures that resources are directed toward more productive animals. Delaying culling can lead to a decrease in the cow’s market value, as health or condition may deteriorate over time. Additionally, cows culled in good health typically fetch a higher price in the beef market. Waiting too long may result in poor body condition or health issues, reducing their value.

Spanish

El Descarte de Vacas de Leche en Forma Oportuna

1. No venda animales descartados que representen una amenaza para la salud pública o que tengan una enfermedad terminal. Preste especial atención a los animales que presenten signos neurológicos o síntomas de enfermedades zoonóticas.
2. Use los productos correctamente y respete los tiempos de eliminación de residuos para prevenir residuos dañinos. Asegúrese que TODOS los animales enviados al matadero hayan cumplido adecuadamente el periodo de retiro de residuos de medicamentos. Los residuos de medicamentos en la carne pueden representar graves riesgos para la salud de los consumidores, incluyendo reacciones alérgicas y resistencia a los antibióticos. Cumplir con los periodos de retiro garantiza que la carne sea segura para el consumo humano. Las leyes y regulaciones exigen que los animales enviados al sacrificio hayan cumplido con el periodo de retiro para cualquier medicamento administrado. El incumplimiento puede resultar en sanciones legales, multas o pérdida de licencias para la operación lechera.
3. No envíe al matadero animales descartados que estén postrados o tengan lesiones oculares avanzadas. Esto incluye vacas que no puedan mantenerse en pie o caminar ("no ambulatorias" o "caídas") o que presenten lesiones oculares severas, ya que esto se considera inhumano y, generalmente, está prohibido por las regulaciones en la mayoría de las jurisdicciones. Estos animales deben ser sacrificados humanamente.
4. Venda los animales descartados ANTES de que estén severamente emaciados.

DCRC’s February 3 webinar addresses employee training and retention

Register for the Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council’s (DCRC) next webinar – Employee training and retention – set for Feb. 3, starting at 2 p.m. Central time (Chicago time). Robert Hagevoort, New Mexico State University associate professor and extension dairy specialist, will lead the free, one-hour webinar.
 
Employee performance is the “Achille’s heel” of the dairy industry. Also, it exacerbates the struggle to find people willing to do the daily jobs that power dairy farms. How do we solve these challenges? Robert Hagevoort, the webinar presenter, urges dairy producers to manage their current talent. It is a mindset shift from finding the right person to developing them.
 
Go to: https://bit.ly/DCRCFeb3Hagevoort to register for this DCRC webinar. If you are a DCRC member and cannot attend the live program, you may access the webinar at www.dcrcouncil.org by Feb. 17.
 
Hagevoort, a native of The Netherlands, started working at NMSU in 2005. Prior to that time, he spent more than 10 years working as an independent dairy management consultant – primarily in California’s Southern and Central Valley. As an extension specialist, he has been working closely with the dairy industry in New Mexico and across the West regarding many regulatory and environmental issues. A key component of his current program is the development and implementation of a comprehensive dairy workforce training and safety program. A great deal of his time is spent working individually with dairies and collectively with producer associations on implementing and evaluating comprehensive workforce training programs in dairy safety, animal handling, parlor performance, calf care, feeder performance and hospital and maternity care.
 
Veterinarians may earn one Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) credit for attending this DCRC webinar. To learn more about this opportunity, contact JoDee Sattler at: jodee@dcrcouncil.org.