ABSTRACT
The veterinarian makes regular visits to survey the health and reproduction program. The veterinarians closely supervise both preventive medical aspects and disease and reproductive management aspects of large dairy cattle herds. Some Pennsylvania dairymen bed the stalls with sand in the summertime, if it is cheap enough. Bedding in free-stalls should be higher in front than behind. In free-stall barns the floors and alleyways are an important building consideration. Fencing is another dairy herd facility that directly affects herd health. Feeding and watering troughs should provide ample space and be designed to prevent cows from defecating into them. In reality, basic prevention is to milk, wash, and dry udders with clean, dry equipment. The strip cup and the California Mastitis Test are the two basic tools to use for mastitis surveillance. The dairyman and his veterinarian can cooperatively provide the dairy herd with a health program that develops procedures to prevent problems.
