How to Care and Protect Dairy Cows After Delivery

Key points of Postpartum care and accurate records

The main points of Postpartum care in our ranch are as follows:

(1)Limb and hoof health:Newborn cows have soft limbs and poor load-bearing capacity,requiring two weekly hoof baths.Veterinary personnel evaluate the limbs and hooves.

(2)Body temperature monitoring:A 10 day monitoring plan,with the first calf being appropriately extended to 14 days.

(3)Health monitoring:detect the level of blood ionic calcium of dry milk,perinatal and newly born cattle every week.The incidence of low blood calcium,especially subclinical low blood calcium,is higher in post natal cattle.There are no obvious clinical symptoms and it is easier to be ignored.Every time E50 is collected in the delivery room,milk ketone testing is also conducted;Greenhouse cattle herd,weekly monitoring for ketosis,and timely treatment once detected.

(4)Strengthen patrol inspection:detect the true stomach displacement,observe the behavior,auscultate with Stethoscope,and timely diagnose the true stomach displacement.

(5)Correct recording:

Accurately record the relevant inspections,tests,and other situations throughout the entire production management process.For example,record the incidence rate of cattle and hoof disease without placenta.Keep a good record of calving and undergo birth canal strain testing after delivery.

Monitoring and inspection of newly produced cattle

(1)After the cow is put on the shelf,observe its mental state in front of the feeding trough:mental depression,loss of appetite,sagging ears,deep sunken eyes,dry nose,and excess material.

(2)Later observation:whether the placenta is excreted,whether the birth canal is damaged,cleanliness of the hindquarters,filling of the rumen,sparse feces,diarrhea,breast edema,whether there is a fever,whether the back is arched,and whether the tail is raised.

(3)Milk output per tide(check the output per tide according to Bomet software 2060)

Postpartum Monitoring Management Procedure

Elevated body temperature

1.Normal calving

(1)Find out what caused the temperature increase.

(2)Check if there is mastitis in the breasts(milking separately from normal cows,sampling for bacterial culture,injecting 2ml of pituitrin into the tail root,wiping the breasts with warm water at 40-50 degrees Celsius,treating with broad-spectrum antibiotics,metformin,calcium,sodium bicarbonate,and saline solution,and selecting antibiotics sensitive to bacteria based on laboratory results).

(3)If the cause cannot be found(nameless fever):use Uterine contraction drugs,Metaga,broad-spectrum antibiotics,and fluid replacement therapy.After the body temperature is normal,it will take 1-2 days to consolidate.

2.Abnormal calving

(1)Placenta not falling:a.12 to 18 hours after calving,inject A3(3 tubes)to promote ovulation.If the temperature is above 32 degrees Celsius,inject HCG5000U the next day with broad-spectrum antibiotics,rehydration,sodium bicarbonate,and Methacin for treatment.

(2)Difficult delivery,fetal overgrowth,twins,excessive midwifery:Newborn cows experience pain symptoms such as kicking,contracting,moaning,restlessness,dull eyes,and arched back.

(3)Observe if there is lochia discharge(if there is no lochia,inject PG2ml and estradiol 2mg;check for uterine rupture.Use broad-spectrum antibiotics,fluid replacement,sodium bicarbonate,and metformin for treatment).

Normal body temperature

1.Normal calving:Monitor body temperature continuously for 10 days.If the body temperature rises,follow the temperature rise plan.

2.Abnormal calving:Uterine contraction medicine was injected on the first day,and the temperature was monitored continuously from the second to the tenth day to observe the changes of the spirit and appetite of the cattle.

Normal body temperature,loss of appetite(for metabolic diseases)

1.Normal calving:a.Check ketone bodies,supplement glucose,and glucocorticoids.b.Check the digestive system,weak gastrointestinal peristalsis(administered with stomach strengthening drugs,treated with ruminant promoting fluid,sodium bicarbonate,and sugar calcium),undergo surgical treatment for abomasal displacement,and replenish energy.

2.Abnormal calving:(dystocia,retained placenta,birth canal strain,twins)25ml of cefotaxifur(Haizheng),continuous for 3 days,with pain symptoms,non steroidal drug intramuscular injection.

Postpartum paralysis

Take blood samples to test the level of Ca and P,and supplement calcium according to the situation.If the effect is not obvious,repeat it 8 hours later,and inject 25 ml strychnine nitrate into Baihui point,or inject it subcutaneously into the limb of the cow to see which limb is weak.

Postpartum health care methods

1.Postnatal soup infusion(30kg):propylene glycol 300ml,brown sugar 500g,yeast 20g,Leonurus japonicus ointment 500g,salt 30g.The temperature is 20-30 degrees.This can quickly replenish energy,fill the void in the abdominal cavity,and reduce the occurrence of four stomach diseases.

2.Administration of calcium supplementation(Bowei calcium):Take one pill after delivery,and repeat it for cows with poor physical condition after 12 hours

3.For cases of birth canal injury,dystocia,midwifery,and retained placenta,twin cows should receive 25ml once a day for 3 consecutive days

4.Cows with pain are injected with non steroidal drugs(medaka)once every 3 days.

Common postpartum diseases in dairy cows

Due to the weak body mass and poor resistance of newly born cattle after childbirth,they are prone to four stomach displacement,ketosis,hoof disease,and reproductive diseases.

1.To prevent the occurrence of digestive tract diseases,the irrigation and application of postpartum soup,feeding some Arrhenatherum elatius before feeding,improving palatability,reasonable ratio of fine to coarse,and combining conservative and surgical treatment.

2.To prevent the occurrence of metabolic diseases,anions should be added before delivery,a reasonable diet formula should be used,urine pH value should be tested during the perinatal period,and early treatment and prevention of obese cows should be carried out.Treatment with Kedezhuang and propylene glycol should be used.

3.Reduce the incidence rate of hoof disease:general repair of hooves during dry milk,hoof bath during dry milk and postpartum,evaluation of limbs and hooves,and encourage employees to report abnormal cattle.

4.incidence rate of metritis:strictly disinfect the uterus during delivery and cleaning,and treat it with hormone and intrauterine antibiotics.

Strengthen postpartum feeding management

1.Adjust the diet formula to increase the energy and protein concentration of the diet.

2.Make high-quality roughage such as alfalfa grass and Arrhenatherum elatius,and increase the intake of dry matter.

3.Adding molasses to the diet improves its palatability.

4.Use additives such as probiotics and monensin to improve rumen fermentation function.Ø

5.Use TMR to improve the quality of ration mixing.

6.Add bricks for free consumption and supplement minerals.

7.The rumen buffer sodium bicarbonate/magnesium oxide was added to prevent rumen acidosis.

Measures to increase postpartum estrus rate

1.Strict disinfection should be done during delivery to reduce uterine infections caused by improper midwifery.

2.Add Ve to the feed to increase dry matter intake.

3.Observe the condition of lochia in postpartum cows every day and analyze the early treatment for uterine inflammation.

4.Regularly check the condition of the ovaries,and if any abnormalities are found,use hormone therapy.

The method adopted by our ranch site is to observe whether the lochia is normal 4,7 and 10 days after delivery;Three PG treatments were used(11-12 days,25-26 days,39-40 days);Choose medication for uterine flushing treatment based on the severity of the uterus.