The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team is hosting a “Virtual Chat” to discuss the latest information on the mystery illness effecting dairy cows in the Southwest on Tuesday, March 26 at 7 pm.

The knowledge on the illness is growing almost hourly, so this program is on short notice to keep producers and industry consultants informed with the most current, research-based information.

Dr. Jardon graduated from the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine. He completed his Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine (MPVM) and Dairy Production Medicine Residency at UC-Davis.

Jardon has been in private practice and industry for 35 years with particular interest in transition cow diseases. Dr. Jardon worked as a Dairy Technical Consultant with Elanco Animal Health in California for the last eleven years and is currently a Dairy Extension Veterinarian at ISU.

Producers, dairy consultants, and industry reps are encouraged to attend the free virtual chat at 7 pm on Tuesday, March 26. No registration is required.

Please click this URL to start or join.

https://iastate.zoom.us/j/4776808475?omn=97940843515

password: 904903

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state veterinary and public health officials, are investigating an illness among primarily older dairy cows in Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico that is causing decreased lactation, low appetite, and other symptoms.

As of Monday, March 25, unpasteurized, clinical samples of milk from sick cattle collected from two dairy farms in Kansas and one in Texas, as well as an oropharyngeal swab from another dairy in Texas, have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Additional testing was initiated on Friday, March 22, and over the weekend because farms have also reported finding deceased wild birds on their properties. Based on findings from Texas, the detections appear to have been introduced by wild birds. Initial testing by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories has not found changes to the virus that would make it more transmissible to humans, which would indicate that the current risk to the public remains low.

Continue reading “HPAI Detected in Kansas, Texas Dairy Herds” →

Commodity prices on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) trended mostly downward in March according to the Upper Midwest Dairy News. Barrels, blocks, whey, and nonfat dry milk (NFDM) all saw decreases in price, while butter alone saw a price increase compared to last month. Compared to last year’s prices at this time, the same pattern emerges. Barrels, blocks, whey, and NFDM are all down, but butter is up.

The CME barrel price for cheddar cheese on March 19 was $1.50 per pound, down 10¾¢ from February and 45¼¢ below last year. Meanwhile, the CME 40-pound block price for cheddar cheese was $1.45 per pound, down 7¼¢ from last month, and54¢ below last year.
The CME butter price on March 19 was $2.82 per pound, up 4½¢ from last month and 41¢ above last year.
The CME price for NFDM on March 19 was $1.12½ per pound, down 6¾¢ from February, and 4¼¢ below last year.
The CME whey price on March 19 was $0.43 per pound, down 8¢ from last month and 1¾¢ below last year.

Slaughter cow prices are driven by the price of 90 percent lean beef trimmings (90s), which posted a price of $317.36/cwt. the first week of March. This is a record high price for 90s in data back to 1978 and undoubtedly an all-time record weekly price. Dairy cow slaughter is down 15.0 percent and beef cow slaughter is down 11.4 percent year over year according to a recent report from Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Ag Economist.

Continue reading “Slaughter Cow Market Soars” →

The I-29 Moo University 2024 Dairy Webinar Series continues Wednesday, April 17 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. CST. The webinar will feature a discussion on fly control with Dr. Phillip Jardon, Iowa State Extension Dairy Veterinarian.

This webinar will cover the four main flies that are considered pests on dairies (house flies, stable flies, horn flies, and face flies).  These flies all have some things in common but there are big differences in where they reproduce and where they eat that guide our the control methods used for each.  Come learn how can we use facts about flies to help us limit their populations.

Continue reading “I-29 Moo University to Dairy Pest Control: Fun With Flies On April 17” →

Topics will include reproduction and growth management, facilities and economics

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host three heifer field days in late March, focused on reproduction and growth management, facilities and economics.

Continue reading “Heifer Field Days to be Offered in Three Locations in March” →