Dairy Calendar
Below is a brief outline/reminder by month of key animal health events as you go through the year.
Dairy Calendar
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Month
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Event
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June
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- RVM’s for the season – prescription for over the counter medications
- Heifer teat sealant (3-4 weeks before heifer PSC)
- Pre-calving vaccinations: Rotavirus (3 weeks prior to PSC), Leptospirosis, Salmonella. All three cannot be given at the same time. Please talk to a vet about when it’s best to dose your cows.
- Check your transition diet
- Sign up for BVD bulk milk monitoring – talk to a vet
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July
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- Pre-calving blood tests: especially magnesium, cobalt/vitamin B12, copper and selenium
- Calf pens cleaned out ready for action
- Check your calving kit: fresh lube, gloves, ropes, metabolic solutions
- Staff training for calving, downer cows, sick calves
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August
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- CALVING!
- Calf colostrum management and feeding is vital
- Post-calving blood tests if ketosis is an issue
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September
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- Dehorning calves (when 4 weeks old) and first vaccinations
- Metrichecking: check from 2 weeks after calving
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October
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- Pre-mating blood tests
- Pre-mating heat detection: identify those cows not cycling so you can treat them as early as possible
- Non-cycler programmes: the best financial return is when done early, aim to have CIDRs being pulled out on the first day of AB
- Heifer synchrony
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November
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- Bulls out with the cows: check they are BVD blood tested, vaccinated and you have adequate numbers
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December
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- Weaning calves
- Drenching calves, 4 weeks after being out on pasture
- Leptospirosis and Clostridial vaccinations for calves if not done earlier
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January
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- 1st round of pregnancy testing: aging of the AB pregnancies
- Spore counts
- Zinc dosing for facial eczema
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February
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- Final pregnancy testing: at least 7 weeks after the bull is away from the cows
- Zinc blood testing – check levels are effective and protective
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March
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- Annual herd lepto vaccinations before you send cows away for grazing
- Lepto vaccinations for carry overs and R2 heifers
- Liver analysis of empty cows going to the works
- Autumn calving cows start (see spring months notes above)
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April
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- Milk Quality Consult and dry off planning
- Herd worm drench – at dry off or pre-calving? Talk to a vet
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May
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- Liver biopsies – especially heifers
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