Thriving after calving: Key cow care and recovery tips | Ep. 82

Talking Dairy

In this episode of Talking Dairy, we cover the important topic of preventing down cows during the calving period and providing essential care and recovery for those that do go down. Join our host Jac McGowan and guest Mitch Cooper, a veterinarian and DairyNZ’s Senior Technical and Policy Advisor, as they talk about strategies, share insights and practical advice.

Mitch, who brings a decade of experience as a dairy vet in Waikato, shares his expertise on prevention, early signs to look out for, and practical steps for treatment, care and recovery.
More information:
Down cow care | DairyNZ

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Chapters

1. Introduction (00:00:00)

2. How to prevent cows going down after calving (00:01:56)

3. What are the early signs of an unwell cow (00:04:58)

4. What can cause a cow to go down and how to assess the issue (00:05:50)

5. Care and treatment for down cow recovery (00:06:43)

6. The best ways to care for a cow and help her recover (00:09:05)

7. Why shivering is a good sign during treatment (00:10:53)

8. How to support a down cow to move to a nursing area (00:12:00)

9. Why it’s important to roll a down cow regularly and how to do it (00:14:21)

10. When it’s time to call your vet (00:16:06)

11. Getting farm teams involved in on-farm policy for proactive animal care (00:19:10)

12. Episode summary (00:21:46)