Dry period feeding crucial for health

Having cows in proper condition at calving, followed by proper feeding after calving, will go a long way towards eliminating health problems.

* Milk Fever: Feeding 4-5 ounces of pre-calver mineral per day for about six weeks before calving helps. Three to four ounces of limestone flour fed at calving and again 12 hours later is helpful in problem cases. Avoid having cows too fat at calving.

* Ketosis:Symptoms are dullness, going off feed, sudden drop in milk production and a characteristic smell from cow’s breath, milk and urine. Contact your vet for treatment at the first sign of the problem. A low level of the problem throughout the herd causes poor performance or ill health, but ketosis can cause serious losses.