Diagnosing Stray Voltage
There are many symptoms of stray voltage. While most of them can have multiple causes, it is imperative that stray voltage is part of the differential diagnosis early in the process of looking for the cause of herd issues.
Observational Symptoms
These are symptoms that can be observed while working with the herd or evaluating records
- Poor Milk Letdown
- Incomplete milk out
- Kicking during milking
- Decreased Milk Production
- Lapping or slurping water
- Swinging tails in the absence of flies or other irritation
- Leg Lifting
- Refusing to enter an area such as a parlor
- Jumping across thresholds
- Increased Somatic Cell Count
- Increased Incidence of Mastitis
- Poor Reproductive Performance
- Abortions
- Sudden death
- Increased Death Loss
- Abnormal Number of Fall Related Injuries
- Increase in Foot Problems including Abscesses, Hairy Warts and Sole Ulcers
- Short or intermittent urination streams
Files coming soon.
Biological Symptoms
These are symptoms that have an underlying biological cause.
- Mid and Late Lactation Low Blood Calcium Levels
- Muscle Deterioration and Weakness - most often manifests itself as a seemingly healthy cow who may fall and not be strong enough to safely get up.
- Immune Dysfunction
- Increased Incidence of Illness
- Increased Incidence of Infections and Abscesses
- Inability to successfully treat a cow with early and standard treatment protocols
- Unexplained Deaths following Necropsy
- Increased incidence of birth defects ranging from heart murmurs to incomplete digestive tracts
- Increased Incidence of Metabolic Disorders at periparturition (at or around calving) - but can also occur in mid and late lactation cows*
- Displaced Abomasum
- Ketosis
- Milk Fever
- Hypocalcemia - Low Blood calcium
- Metritis
- Reproductive problems
- Failure of cows to reach peak milk
- Poor colostrum
- Increased incidence of Retained Placenta
- Poor immune response to vaccination protocols
* To read a review of how stress causes these conditions, go to the Horst, Kvidera and Baumgard Review in the Journal of dairy Science. Although the study was reviewing the period surrounding parturition, the same observations can be attributed to the stress that cows are under when subjected to stray voltage.
Other Symptoms
Not all symptoms occur in the dairy herd.
- Premature failure of electronics
- Premature failure of motors
- Leaking in plumbing
- Lighting ballast failure
- Increases electric bills
Files coming soon.
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