Dairy Health This Week: Stronger Biosecurity, Better Herd Resilience

This week, dairy farmers near Addo Elephant National Park should contact their state veterinarian before moving susceptible animals, tightening routine biosecurity while veterinary authorities assess the outbreak. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) was confirmed in two kudu in the park; an estimated 5% to 10% of the kudu population was showing lameness. Red hartebeest and eland were also showing clinical signs, but infection in those species had not been confirmed, according to Farmer’s Weekly. The park, about 180,000ha near Gqeberha, is under quarantine.

The practical message is not to diagnose wildlife or livestock from a distance. It is to check current local movement restrictions and risk assessments, keep records of people and vehicles entering the dairy, and report suspected FMD promptly to the local state veterinarian. FMD can spread through infected animals and products, as well as contaminated people, clothing, equipment and vehicles.

Start with movements and the farm gate

SANParks says susceptible cloven-hoofed animals may not enter or leave Addo without veterinary authorisation following a risk assessment. Farmers bordering the park should coordinate with veterinary services, observe restrictions and maintain strict biosecurity. Do not assume that previously reported vaccination figures mean every nearby herd is covered: coverage immediately around Addo and required follow-up doses have not been independently confirmed.

For the dairy, make this week’s check concrete: review who is authorised to enter; ask visitors about recent contact with livestock; limit unnecessary vehicle access; and clean equipment and footwear where appropriate. Avoid bringing in animals unless essential. If animals must be purchased, use a planned isolation, quarantine and testing programme before joining them to the resident herd. The same discipline applies to home-raised animals returning after leaving the premises. Separation should prevent exposure through feed, air space, manure or urine, and shared equipment.

FMD warning signs can include depression, mouth sores, reluctance to eat and lameness. These signs are not proof of FMD, but they warrant prompt veterinary advice, especially where local risk is elevated. Do not move a suspect animal or try to manage an outbreak alone; follow directions from the state veterinary service.

Use vaccination as a veterinary plan, not a guess

Ask your veterinarian or state veterinary service to check the herd’s vaccination status against current local risk, product instructions and any applicable response measures. Farmer’s Weekly reported that vaccination of 418,176 farm animals across Sarah Baartman District and Nelson Mandela Bay had previously been reported. That figure does not establish coverage on every farm bordering Addo, nor confirm that required follow-up doses have been given. Keep animal identification and vaccination records accessible so gaps can be checked quickly.

The same principle applies to vaccines for other diseases: build the programme around the farm’s disease risks and breeding calendar, with veterinary guidance. A current Irish report of bluetongue virus serotype 3 cases is not evidence of BTV-3 in South Africa. It is a reminder not to import overseas vaccination schedules as local advice; discuss locally relevant vaccines and timing with your veterinarian.

Protect the next generation before calving

A strong biosecurity plan includes the calf, not just the milking herd. Prepare before calving: assess cow health and pre-calving nutrition, then check the newborn and the quality and quantity of colostrum. A South African Farmers’ Weekly calf-management article recommends the first colostrum feed as soon as possible, ideally within one to two hours after birth; it also advises discussing suitable vaccination programmes with a veterinarian, since appropriate pre-calving vaccination can increase targeted antibodies in colostrum.

Make the routine repeatable: test colostrum quality, keep a bank of good-quality colostrum available, and feed promptly at a suitable temperature. The MaxMedia calf guidance stresses high-quality colostrum immediately after birth, followed by transition milk for three days, clean and consistent milk feeding, dry warm bedding and clean water. Work from the youngest calves towards older groups to reduce the risk of carrying disease from older animals to vulnerable young calves.

Check tick control and cow comfort

In KwaZulu-Natal, the provincial Veterinary Services distributed dipping chemicals to 126 diptanks in the AbaQulusi area outside Vryheid as part of routine tick control. The department links dipping to control of ticks that transmit redwater, gallsickness and heartwater. Its advised summer intervals are every 14 days inland and every seven days in coastal districts; confirm the schedule that applies locally, as well as product instructions, with veterinary staff. The handover forms part of routine distribution to 2,238 diptank facilities across the province. If your herd relies on communal or local dipping infrastructure, check whether supplies are available and confirm timing, dilution and animal-handling procedures.

Also use the week to watch cows closely around calving and early lactation. Daily changes in eating behaviour and rumination can help flag an animal that is not coping; earlier observation allows earlier action. Review dry-cow nutrition and comfort rather than allowing cows to lose condition or face avoidable stress. These routines do not replace diagnosis or veterinary care, but they make problems easier to spot and help reduce preventable exposure across the herd.

The next lactation is already being shaped before the cow calves. This week, walk the dry-cow group, check whether feed and water are consistently available, and make sure the calving area and colostrum equipment are ready. Avoid treating the far-off dry period as a stretch in which cows can be left to lose condition: MaxMedia’s dairy reference warns against sending dry cows to poor-quality veld and says they need a balanced diet and a break from nutritional stress.

Start with the dry cow, not the calf

A newborn’s first protection depends partly on what happened before birth. Colostrum is produced in the final weeks of gestation, and the farm’s vaccination and nutrition plan for the dam can influence the quality of the antibodies available to the calf. MaxMedia’s calf-health material recommends strategic cow vaccination and nutrition that supports the immune system. Review the dry-cow vaccination programme with your veterinarian: match products and timing to local disease risks and the herd’s breeding calendar rather than adopting an overseas schedule by default.

The current international headlines are a reminder to keep that distinction clear. Dairy News Today reported 48 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in Ireland on 25 October, with the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association estimating that vaccination covered about half of mature breeding stock. That is not evidence of BTV-3 in South Africa. The practical lesson for local farms is to discuss disease-specific vaccination and logistics with a South African veterinarian, not to transfer Irish recommendations directly to the herd.

Make colostrum a measured routine

Set the calf team up before calving begins: assign responsibility for collection and feeding, test colostrum quality, and keep a labelled reserve available in a colostrum bank. MaxMedia’s reference recommends testing with a colostrum meter and having good-quality colostrum ready in the freezer.

Timing matters. A South African Farmers’ Weekly calf-management article published on 22 October advises giving the first feed as soon as possible, ideally within one to two hours after birth. MaxMedia’s material likewise stresses prompt feeding, with its guidance pointing to the first hour as the target and a second feed within six hours. Set up a simple birth-time and feed-time record so that a busy calving shift does not turn “soon” into an uncertain estimate. Feed a suitable volume of high-quality colostrum; MaxMedia’s references give practical targets of 2–4 litres or about 10–12% of birth weight, while the exact requirement should be set for the calf and farm protocol.

If the dam is ill, the calf is weak, or there is doubt about colostrum quality or intake, seek veterinary advice promptly. Farmers’ Weekly also recommends assessing the newborn and colostrum quality and quantity, addressing cow illness and pre-calving nutrition, and discussing suitable vaccination programmes with the veterinarian.

Protect the transition with steady routines

A clean, dry, warm calf environment and consistent feeding help the young animal cope with the demands of early life. MaxMedia’s calf-team guidance calls for warm milk of consistent composition and supply, hygienic equipment, dry bedding and a clean workflow. Work with the youngest calves first, then move to older groups, reducing the chance of carrying disease from older animals to the most vulnerable. Keep fresh, clean water available and offer starter feed as the calf grows.

For the cow, make observation part of the daily routine around calving. Record cases of illness and note cows that are not eating normally; MaxMedia’s management reference identifies changes in eating behaviour and rumination as useful early signals for individual follow-up. Act on a change by checking the animal and discussing persistent concerns with the farm’s veterinarian or nutrition adviser. The goal is a consistent transition plan, not a one-off intervention after a cow or calf is already struggling.

Turn this week’s preparation into a repeatable system

Before the next calving, confirm who is responsible for dry-cow checks, vaccination records, colostrum testing and feeding records. Check that the colostrum meter and feeding equipment are clean and ready, and that frozen reserves can be thawed gently and promptly. Review the plan with the veterinarian and adjust it to the farm’s conditions, available vaccines and actual disease risks.

These steps connect dam management to calf survival and later performance. A balanced dry-cow period, an appropriate locally agreed vaccination plan, and prompt, measured colostrum feeding are practical management decisions the farm can make before the next birth—not after the first signs of a problem.

Make one change to your routine this week: give every milking group a deliberate second look for cows that are eating less, ruminating less, producing differently, or moving awkwardly. Put those animals on a short follow-up list, note what you observe, and check them again at the next milking. Early observation gives you a chance to investigate while a problem is still limited to one cow, rather than discovering it later through a drop in output or a cluster of cases. MaxMedia’s dairy-health material notes that earlier changes in eating behaviour and rumination can support earlier individual action.

Turn observation into a repeatable routine

Choose a consistent time and place to watch cows: at the feed barrier, as they leave the parlour, or during another calm daily check. Look for a change from that cow’s normal pattern, not just an absolute threshold. Record the cow’s identification, the sign noticed, when it began, and what follow-up was done. If several cows show similar signs, record that pattern too and contact your veterinarian for advice.

Eating behaviour includes feed intake, chewing and rumination. A cow with lameness may not initially show a direct fall in rumination, but the severity of the problem can reduce how often she visits the feeding table. That makes the combination of gait, feeding visits and rumination more useful than relying on one indicator alone. Where your farm uses monitoring technology, treat alerts as prompts for a hands-on check, not a diagnosis; where it does not, regular observation and simple records still provide a practical starting point.

Mastitis: notice the cow and the milking pattern

At milking, watch for a cow that is uncomfortable, reluctant to enter or stand, or whose milk or udder looks different from her usual. Record which quarter is affected and whether the change is new or recurring. A sound mastitis-prevention and treatment programme is essential, and milk procedures, equipment and housing all affect the conditions under which infection can spread.

Use observations to trigger a consistent response: follow your farm’s established mastitis protocol, keep affected cows and milk handling clearly identified, and seek veterinary guidance where signs are severe, recurring or not improving. Review milking routines and equipment with the people who use them, rather than assuming every case is an isolated treatment issue. The knowledge base stresses that commercial milking systems can create opportunities for mastitis to move between cows, whether management is good or poor.

Lameness: look beyond the obvious limp

A cow does not need to be severely lame before her behaviour changes. Watch how she walks, rises and reaches the feed, and note whether she is visiting the feeding table less often. The relationship between lameness and feeding behaviour can be subtle: rumination may not drop at first, while feeding-table visits may decline depending on severity.

Make the check useful by noting the cow’s identification and the specific change in movement or behaviour. Arrange assessment and treatment through your farm’s hoof-health and veterinary procedures; do not let an alert or a brief glance substitute for examining the animal. Also review whether the same issue is appearing in more than one cow, since a pattern may call for a broader look at the herd’s environment and management.

Act on the record, not on guesswork

A short, consistent record helps distinguish an isolated event from a trend. Review your follow-up list with the herd manager and veterinarian, especially when signs persist, recur, or affect several animals. The aim is not to diagnose from a spreadsheet: it is to make sure a cow that changes is noticed, checked and followed through.

This approach complements, rather than replaces, prevention. MaxMedia’s material identifies disease resistance, reduced exposure to pathogens, and control and monitoring of animals, equipment and people entering the dairy as components that need to work together. Keep those farm-wide safeguards in place while using daily observation to catch individual problems early. Each week, ask whether the same cows are reappearing on the list, whether follow-up happened promptly, and whether the pattern suggests a need to review the relevant routine with your veterinarian.

Disease resilience is built in the ordinary spaces between outbreaks: the calf pen, the water trough, the dipping facility and the gate where animals, people and equipment enter. This week, walk those routes in that order. Look for preventable exposure, check that routine controls are actually working, and contact your veterinarian or local Veterinary Services about risks specific to your district. South Africa’s recent foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) news is a reminder to rely on local instructions, not assumptions drawn from overseas reports.

Start where young animals are most exposed

Calves depend on management as much as on treatment. MaxMedia’s calf-rearing guidance describes colostrum as the calf’s first major defence: test quality, have a supply plan, and make sure the calf receives an adequate first feed promptly. A South African Farmers’ Weekly article published on 22 October says the first colostrum should be given as soon as possible, ideally within one to two hours after birth. It also advises preparing before calving, assessing the newborn and colostrum, and discussing appropriate vaccination with a veterinarian.

In practice, identify who is responsible for each birth and feed, and keep the equipment and colostrum handling process consistent. The house guidance recommends feeding the youngest calves first, then moving to older groups, to reduce the chance of carrying disease from older animals to the most vulnerable. It also calls for clean, fresh water at all times and dry, warm housing with deep bedding. A clean teat, bucket and pen are not cosmetic details: they are part of the calf’s disease barrier.

Make hygiene and water checks routine

Walk calf accommodation for wet bedding, accumulated manure and equipment that is shared without cleaning. Keep the work sequence from youngest to oldest, and avoid carrying soiled footwear or tools from sick animals into healthy groups. The knowledge base stresses that biosecurity is not one measure: herd resistance, reduced exposure to pathogens, and control of cattle, livestock, equipment and people entering the dairy all need attention together.

Check troughs for visible contamination and confirm that water is available and appealing. The house reference notes that algae blooms can occur in warm, sunlit, nutrient-rich, slow-moving trough water and may cause diarrhoea and weakness; it advises starting with water analysis to establish whether a problem exists before choosing treatment. If intake or quality is in doubt, investigate the source and test rather than treating blindly.

Use vaccination as a local plan, not a borrowed calendar

Vaccines can support resistance, but the correct programme depends on farm risks, timing and product instructions. Ask your veterinarian to review the herd’s vaccination records, the next due dates and whether any pre-calving vaccination is appropriate to the diseases being targeted. Farmers’ Weekly’s October calf-management report specifically recommends discussing suitable programmes with a veterinarian; when appropriate vaccines are available, pre-calving vaccination can increase targeted antibodies in colostrum.

International headlines are not South African instructions. Ireland’s ICMSA reported 48 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 and estimated vaccination coverage at about half of mature breeding stock. That is not evidence of BTV-3 in South Africa. The relevant lesson is to plan vaccination with a local veterinarian around farm disease risks, breeding dates and vaccine logistics, rather than importing an overseas schedule.

Keep tick control and FMD response grounded in local advice

In KwaZulu-Natal, the provincial Veterinary Services distributed dipping chemicals to 126 diptanks in the AbaQulusi area outside Vryheid. African Farming reported that the routine programme supports control of ticks that transmit redwater, gallsickness and heartwater. The advised summer intervals in that report are every 14 days inland and every seven days in coastal districts, but farmers should confirm the applicable schedule, product instructions, dilution and safe handling with veterinary staff. KZN’s distribution is part of routine provision to 2,238 diptank facilities across the province; if your operation depends on communal or local facilities, check supply and timing rather than assuming they are available.

The immediate FMD alert is specific: Farmer’s Weekly reported confirmation in two kudu at Addo Elephant National Park, with an estimated 5% to 10% of kudu showing lameness. Red hartebeest and eland were also showing clinical signs, but infection in those species was not confirmed. SANParks said susceptible cloven-hoofed animals may not enter or leave the park without veterinary authorisation following risk assessment. Neighbouring dairy farms should coordinate with state veterinary services, follow movement restrictions and risk assessments, and maintain strict biosecurity. Do not infer local vaccine coverage from regional totals: the report did not independently confirm coverage immediately around Addo or required follow-up doses.

Turn prevention into a farm habit

Choose one person to check the calf area, water points, visitor and vehicle access, vaccination records and tick-control arrangements this week; record what needs fixing and who will do it. Review the routine with the veterinarian and staff, then repeat it. Strong herd health is not a single vaccine, dip or cleaning day: it comes from reliable resistance, reduced exposure and controlled entry, applied together.

Disease control on a dairy farm is only as strong as the weakest route by which infection can enter or spread. This week, review who and what crosses your farm boundary, how incoming livestock are assessed, and whether staff can act quickly if disease is suspected. South Africa’s current foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) developments make that practical work urgent, but the same systems also support calf health and control of tick-borne disease.

Build three barriers, not one

MaxMedia’s herd-health guidance frames disease prevention as three jobs carried out together: raise the herd’s resistance, reduce exposure to pathogens on the farm, and control and monitor cattle, livestock, equipment and people entering the dairy. Neglecting any one of these can let disease gain ground. Turn that model into a written farm plan: name who checks arrivals, where new or returning animals are held, how visitors and contractors are managed, and who contacts the veterinarian if an animal is unwell. The specific steps and restrictions should be agreed with your veterinarian and state veterinary services, not improvised during an outbreak.

Treat Addo as a signal to check the boundary

Farmer’s Weekly reported on 22 October that FMD was confirmed in two kudu in Addo Elephant National Park, with an estimated 5% to 10% of the kudu population showing lameness. Red hartebeest and eland were also showing clinical signs, though infection in those species had not been confirmed. The park, about 180,000ha near Gqeberha, is under quarantine while veterinary authorities assess transmission. For neighbouring dairy farms, the instruction is to coordinate with state veterinary services and follow movement restrictions and risk assessments—not to assume wildlife signs establish infection in farm stock.

Movement rules need veterinary authorisation

SANParks said susceptible cloven-hoofed animals may not enter or leave Addo without veterinary authorisation following a risk assessment. Its response is being coordinated with veterinary authorities, and it has urged bordering farmers to maintain strict biosecurity and ensure livestock are vaccinated in collaboration with state veterinary services. A previous report of 418,176 farm animals vaccinated across Sarah Baartman District and Nelson Mandela Bay does not confirm coverage immediately around Addo or whether required follow-up doses are complete. Ask the state veterinarian what applies to your farm and verify each animal’s vaccination status and next dose; do not treat a regional total as proof of protection on your property.

Make everyday hygiene part of the barrier

Biosecurity is not just a gate sign. Keep younger calves first in the work sequence, then move to older animals, so the most vulnerable group is not exposed to pathogens carried from older stock. Use clean feeding equipment, and keep calf bedding dry and warm; good feeding, hygiene and comfort all help support health. In the wider herd, record animal movements and visitor or equipment access according to the farm’s plan, and have a clear route for reporting suspicious illness. A veterinarian can help adapt the plan to a pasture-based or housed system and to local disease risks.

Tick control: check the service and the label

A separate, practical reminder comes from KwaZulu-Natal. The provincial Veterinary Services distributed dipping chemicals to 126 diptanks in AbaQulusi outside Vryheid as part of routine tick control. The report links dipping to control of ticks that transmit redwater, gallsickness and heartwater. It gives advised summer intervals of every 14 days inland and every seven days in coastal districts, but farmers should confirm the applicable local schedule and product instructions with veterinary staff. The handover forms part of routine chemical distribution to 2,238 diptank facilities across KZN. If your dairy relies on communal or local dipping infrastructure, check whether supplies are available and confirm timing, dilution and safe animal handling with the responsible service.

Vaccinate for your risks, not someone else’s calendar

Vaccination works best as part of a veterinarian-led disease-control plan, with records of products, dates and follow-up doses. The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association recently reported 48 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in Ireland and estimated vaccination covered about half of mature breeding stock. That is not evidence of BTV-3 in South Africa, nor a local vaccination schedule. The useful lesson is to plan with a South African veterinarian around your herd’s risks, breeding calendar and vaccine logistics, rather than copying an overseas programme. For calves, the farm’s biosecurity foundation also includes colostrum management, dam vaccination where appropriate, nutrition and reducing environmental stressors.

Keep the response route clear

Write down the phone number for your private veterinarian and state veterinary office, the person responsible for notifying them, and the movement records they may need. If FMD is suspected, seek veterinary direction promptly and comply with official restrictions; do not move susceptible animals without authorisation. At the same time, keep routine prevention dependable: control entry and contact, protect calf hygiene, review vaccination records, and maintain locally appropriate tick control. Those systems matter whether the immediate concern is a wildlife-linked FMD risk or a familiar seasonal parasite challenge.