Drying-off Management : Essential guides on cattle farming

Authors: Jiménez Galán, Luis Miguel
Release date: 2018
Pages: 82
Binding: Soft cover. Wire-o
Dimensions: 17 x 11

ISBN: 9788417225667

The objective of this guide is to describe the main events that take
place during the dry period, both in the udder and in the cow, and
to show how they can influence the subsequent lactation period.
The book also provides basic guidelines for a proper drying-off
technique and management of cows during this period in order
to reduce the prevalence of intramammary infections and achieve
optimal milk production.

Table of contents

1. Introduction

  The importance of the dry period

  Udder health

  Strategies

  Financial impact

2. Udder physiology during the dry period

  Mammary involution

    Active involution phase

    Steady state phase

    Colostrum production phase

  Immunity in the mammary gland

    Active involution phase

    Steady state phase

    Colostrum production phase

3. Risk of intramammary infections

  Factors affecting susceptibility

    Udder quarter-related factors

    Cow-related factors

    Herd-related factors

4. Welfare of the dairy cow

  Welfare of the dairy cow

    Consequences of drying-off

    Stress caused by pain

    Stress caused by nutritional changes

    Stress caused by heat

5. Strategies to prevent new infections

  Drying-off methods

    Advantages and disadvantages of drying-off methods

  Dry cow therapy

    Intramammary therapy

    Systemic therapy

    Blanket therapy

    Selective dry cow therapy

  Teat protection

    Internal sealants

    External sealants

  Nutritional management

    Effect of reduced dry matter intake

  Immune system support

  Environmental control

    Pasture

    Cubicle housing

    Straw yard housing

    Compost bedded pack barns

  Precalving milking

  Epidemiological control during the dry period

6. References

The author

Luis Miguel Jiménez Galán

He graduated in veterinary medicine from the Complutense University of Madrid in 1992.
He is the technical manager of SERVET TALAVERA S.L., a company specialised in mastitis
and milk quality control and dedicated to developing and implementing integrated mastitis
and milk quality control programmes since 1994, taking into account all the factors that
may affect milk quality.
He also works as a consultant for veterinary practitioners specialised in milk quality and
the control of mastitis in Spain and other countries such as the United States, Argentina,
Mexico, Colombia, etc. He organises annual seminars on dairy cattle in Talavera de la
Reina, with a special emphasis on milk quality.