Episode #21
Ep 21 - NEW SERIES Ep 3 - Using blood test data to measure springer cow success
In this episode of the myCOW podcast, Shaun Balemi looks at how blood testing can help farmers understand what is happening in springer cows, colostrum cows and milkers through transition and early lactation. Shaun explains when to collect blood samples, which cows to test and what different blood markers can tell you about mineral balance, liver function, condition loss, oxidative capacity and inflammation. The episode covers calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, NEFA and BHB, along with other measures such as haptoglobin, albumin, cholesterol, GPX and vitamin E. He also discusses how blood results can be used to assess DCAD balance, mineral supplementation, condition loss and cow recovery after calving. Shaun explains why blood data is most useful when considered alongside cow numbers, rumination, body condition, wearable data and other information from the herd. Takeaways: When to blood test springer cows, colostrum cows and milkers How to select cows for representative blood testing What calcium, magnesium and phosphorus results can tell you How NEFA can indicate the amount of body condition cows are mobilising How BHB can help assess how the liver is handling mobilised fat What blood results can show about transition and early lactation nutrition How oxidative capacity and inflammation can be assessed through blood testing Why cow data should be considered alongside blood test results How blood testing can support discussions with vets, nutritionists and rural advisers Keywords: Dairy cow blood testing, springer cows, transition cow nutrition, early lactation, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, NEFA, BHB, dairy cow performance.
