RUMINATIONS By Tom Wright Precision management New technologies developed and adapted to give you better information faster to improve milk production M onitoring dairy cows to detect a metabolic disease like ketosis always poses a challenge during the transition period. While assessing feed intake, taking temperatures and using cowside tests have become more common, these labour-intensive routines yield limited information in some cases. A better solution could be in the offing. Dairy scientists have recently been researching the potential of a sophisticated handheld tool originally designed for people with diabetes. They are trying to determine whether it can detect subclinical ketosis in cows. Some diabetics are at higher risk of developing ketoacidosis, a condition with blood chemistry characteristics in common with ketosis in cows. These people use devices commonly known as glucose meters to measure blood ketones. A similar meter is being tested on dairy cows. The meter for detecting ketosis is just one example of the next wave of industry innovations. Lately, the dairy service industry has been exploring the benefits of advanced technologies not always designed originally for dairy farm use. These innovations will encompass tools, software and sensor technologies associated with what is known as Precision Dairy Management—a new model of labour-efficient dairy production. Handheld meters are being tested to detect subclinical ketosis. Potential increasing rapdily Some well-known technologies, such as robotic milking and automated calf feeding, are already providing labour savings on dairy farms today. The potential to apply practical new technologies to many other aspects of dairy production is increasing rapidly. Controlled trials and field studies are underway by private companies and universities to research precision technologies to detect heath and welfare events. These include: lameness and transition cow diseases; activity level monitoring to identify breeding events; and in-line milk sensors to analyse milk quality and assess an individual cow’s mammary gland health. Ruminations is prepared by Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs livestock technology specialists to provide information you can use on your farm. 36 | September 2009 | MilkPRODUCER
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Milk Producer - September 2009