Udder issues during summer
Warm weather and heat stress can significantly impact udder health in dairy cows, primarily by increasing the risk of udder issues, loss of milk, reduced milk production and more replacements. Because cows with heat stress stand more often and for longer periods of time to release heat to the environment, their hooves are subjected to additional stress, which leads to hoof problems. The warm weather puts pressure on the cow’s immune system. Heat stress creates an unfavorable environment for the cows in the barn and increases the risk of udder health problems.
A negative energy balance affects the cow’s immune system, as neutrophils, an important immune cell in preventing (udder) infections, are less able to do their job. The activity of the immune cells decreases, increasing the risk of disease and infection.
AHV’s Solution
Support udder health before & during summer challenges. Help your herd stay productive and healthy when temperatures rise. AHV offers support by:
Increasing profitability due to improved lifetime milk yield and quality
Zero withdrawal and zero risk to bulk tank, safeguarding milk sales
Reducing the need for antibiotics due to healthier cows
The Protocol
1x AHV Extra Tablet
1x AHV Aspi Tablet
(Re)active AHV products for Udder Health
These products are for cows at high risk of udder health issues (active) or to support during udder health issues (reactive).
Active – For cows at high risk of udder health issues
Reactive – Support during udder health issues
Science & Validation
Backed by Science, Trusted in the Field
Recent field trials in the UK including a farm a with 500 cows showed that cows receiving the Udder Health Program showed:
68% decrease in antibiotic usage for udder health issues
1.1 year increase of age at culling
9,217 liter increase in lifetime production
70 extra heifers sold
Compared to the control group (whole herd prior to implementation of Udder Health Program).
Another trial in The Netherlands including 56 farms and 2,161 cows showed that cows had:
8,653kg milk higher lifetime production
€0.40 more revenue per day of life
Became 8 months older
19.8% less replacements
Compared to the control group.
For more information, contact your local AHV Consultant.
Summer Support Video
What Farmers Say
5 tips for udder health
- Apply strict milking hygiene
Wash and dry teats well before milking and use a pre-milking disinfectant and forestripping. Only attach the milking machine when teats are clean and dry. After milking, use a post-dip to prevent bacteria.
- Maintain and check your milking robot or parlour
Good hygiene is crucial during milking. Make sure your milking robot and parlour are clean and free from damages that could cause wounds. Blockages or dirty parts can quickly lead to bacterial infections.
- Keep cubicles and slatted floors clean and dry
Bacteria like E. coli and Streptococcus uberis multiply rapidly in warm, damp conditions. Dirty and wet lying areas significantly increase infection pressure. Regularly add fresh bedding or sawdust and check for wet spots. Also, ensure urine and manure drainage works well and keep slatted floors clean.
- Regularly monitor somatic cell count
Watch for increases in somatic cell count as it may indicate (early) mastitis. The CMT test (California Mastitis Test) helps detect subclinical mastitis early so you can act before it becomes clinical.
- Prevent lasting udder damage in heifers with fly control
Heifers that get warts (wrang) in summer suffer lasting udder damage, leading to cows that start lactation with mastitis or only three well-functioning quarters. Start fly control early in summer and reduce breeding sites by preventing standing water.
What our farmers say
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FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have any questions about udder health? Would you like to know when it poses a risk to cows and in what stages of the life cycle you need to pay extra attention? Read our FAQ here!
How does udder health affect a cow’s overall health?
Udder health is one of the most complex challenges facing dairy farmers. After all, a healthy udder is crucial for producing high-quality milk. In addition, when udder health is optimal, the cow feels comfortable, eats better, and requires less attention from the farmer. This reduces the need for traditional remedies. The risk of reduced udder health is highest during the first 100 days after calving. The consequences of reduced udder health can be significant.
Fresh, dry cows and calves are particularly vulnerable. Udder health also comes under pressure: heat stress reduces the cow’s resistance, giving harmful bacteria more opportunity to thrive, resulting in an increased risk of mastitis and other infections.
Without timely and targeted measures, heat stress can seriously affect the performance of your herd and your business results. At AHV, we are happy to help you get through the summer! We help you proactively tackle heat stress with knowledge, practical tips, and customized support.
What are the risks for udder health in summer?
Because cows with heat stress stand more often and for longer periods of time to release heat to the environment, their hooves are subjected to additional stress, which leads to hoof problems. The warm weather puts pressure on the cow’s immune system. Heat stress creates an unfavorable environment for the cows in the barn and increases the risk of udder health problems.
A negative energy balance affects the cow’s immune system, as neutrophils, an important immune cell in preventing (udder) infections, are less able to do their job.
The activity of the immune cells decreases, increasing the risk of disease and infection.
How does udder health affect the immune system?
An energy deficiency also affects the immune system. Immune cells function less effectively, making cows more susceptible to infections. The warm and often humid conditions in the barn also increase bacterial pressure. This increases the risk of udder problems such as mastitis.
How is udder health affected by heat stress?
Because cows with heat stress stand more often and for longer periods of time to release heat to the environment, their hooves are subjected to additional stress, which leads to hoof problems. The warm weather puts pressure on the cow’s immune system. Heat stress creates an unfavorable environment for the cows in the barn and increases the risk of udder health problems.
A negative energy balance affects the cow’s immune system, as neutrophils, an important immune cell in preventing (udder) infections, are less able to do their job.
The activity of the immune cells decreases, increasing the risk of disease and infection.
What role does biofilm have?
Biofilm linked to recurring udder health challenges
It’s essential to acknowledge that 60% of udder health challenges originate in the dry period (Santos et al., 2010), when bacteria and biofilm accumulate within the udder. Removing this build-up is vital to ensure that cows begin their lactation free from udder challenges that could hinder their production.
A negative energy balance affects the cow’s immune system, as neutrophils, an important immune cell in preventing (udder) infections, are less able to do their job.
The activity of the immune cells decreases, increasing the risk of disease and infection.
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