Four Tips to Better Gut Health Management
It is more important than ever to be sure your herd is protected from health challenges that can negatively impact your bottom line. Your herd's productivity is directly related to feed intake, rumen function, digestive efficiency, gut integrity and immune status. Failure to meet any of these requirements can result in lowered efficiency and increased costs.
Symptoms of a gut health challenge in your herd may include:
- Increased incidence of disease (increased treatment costs)
- Variable manure or scours
- Decreased production efficiency
- Reduced milk yield
- Increased somatic cell count
- Reduced feed intake
- Rough coat
- Irregular heat cycles and other fertility issues
These symptoms can be caused by one or many gut health concerns including rumen acidosis, salmonella, E. coli and one or several types of mycotoxins impacting overall health. A combination of factors can contribute to symptoms and health issues are often underestimated.
In order to take control of digestive dysfunctions, you must look at your gut health program as a whole.
- Work with your nutritionist and veterinarian to evaluate your feeding program and determine if you are utilizing theappropriate fiber lengths.
- Review your fiber and starch levels, test forages for molds and mycotoxins.
- Assess available technologies to help ensure proper gut health function.
- Don't forget the basics in cow comfort and management practices to ensure productivity and reduce the spread of infectious diseases.