For Nutritionists, Veterinarians and Consultants

As a consultant on a farm, you are in a unique position to provide an outside view of a farm's well-being. If a client comes to you believing they may have a problem with stray voltage or if you see the potential symptoms of stray voltage, there are things you can do to help improve the herd's chance of surviving. Take mental and physical notes on your observations of your client's herd. This will help you see trends that fall outside the normal trends of other herds you work with. 

It's important to understand the immensely negative impact stray voltage has on a herd's production, reproduction and health. Stray voltage has undoubtedly played a role in the demise of uncountable herds in the last 5 decades around the world. Based on on-farm observations, cows can each respond differently to the effects of stray voltage. Some cows seem to decrease milk production while others appear to suffer reproductively. Some might get thin while others put on weight. Depending on the resistance of each cow and the length of time they are subjected to the current and the level of current, will determine the intensity of their poor response. Nutritionally, what farm's see is a herd not responding to changes to the diet that one would expect to see. Intakes may stay at levels that are expected, but production will lag behind. This is because they are utilizing their diet to try and maintain their immune system. It is well documented in both human and animal medicine, that stress will trigger the immune system. And the immune system requires a tremendous amount of energy to sustain. One farm that corrected their stray voltage problem maintained the same intake before and after getting the stray voltage problem fixed. Despite no increase in intake or a change to the ration, the herd saw a 12-pound increase in milk production plus an improvement in milk components. One veterinarian noticed cows cycling sooner after calving and larger CL's after the stray voltage was fixed. 

Because their immune system has been compromised, cows will also not respond to medical treatment as one would expect. Simple case of mastitis (not e-coli or klebsiella) treated early have resulted in cows going down and never recovering. Another anomaly that is common in herds with stray voltage are cows with mid and late lactation low blood calcium levels as well as muscle weakness. Cows will fall down and not have the strength to get up without assistance and often times injure themselves in the meantime. Farms also will often times have cows that die suddenly with no sign of struggle. These cows could be cows that the day before appeared healthy and produced a normal amount of milk. Necropsies on dead animals will often be inconclusive. 

Farmers may or may not know what level of disease or death is "normal" for their farm. Stray voltage is a slowly progressing issue that whittles away at the herd. Good records and data analysis is valuable in detecting abnormal trends. You may need to go back several years to see the trend. A flat line or decrease in milk production is a good indicator as we know milk production should increase 1-3% yearly just due to genetic gains. The point is, you need to take seriously the farmer's concern about stray voltage and work with them to mitigate the effect it has on their herd until they are able to get the problems resolved. 

Nutritionists: You must be proactive in paying close attention to what the cows are telling you in regard to the ration. What works on other farms will likely not work on a farm with stray voltage. Gut health needs to be the priority. Whatever you can do to keep the rumen and hind gut in a healthy state of digestion, is critical. You may need to run the diet with a bit more forage than you prefer or do something different with the starch levels or availability. Any little stress added to the big stress of stray voltage will result in an additive response from the cow in a negative way. Stray voltage stress is a constant (chronic) stress that always has cows on the edge. Acute stresses are impossible to prevent all together, but it is important to do all you can to prevent and mitigate them as early as possible. This is where the additives can help. Keep a minimum level of a mold/toxin binder/inhibitor so you are not trying to play catch up after it is detected. Products that help provide buffering and promote healthy microbial growth can also help. 

Since many of the additives that are needed to help keep the herd stable will come at an additional cost, at a time when your client's finances may be tight, you will need to help the farmer understand how all of the stresses play a role in the cow's health and work together to find that balance that offers protection while not breaking the bank. 

Stray voltage problems can often go on for months or years without resolution. This is an incredibly difficult time for that farm and the people working with the cows. It can also take its toll on your mental health, since there will be times where you feel you are not able to offer the help the farmer needs. Fight the urge to leave, they need your expertise. Work with the herd's other consultants and professionals with a team approach. Also, be on the watch for mental health issues of the people working with those cows. Ask them how they are doing and offer whatever support you can, including encouraging them to seek professional mental health services, (there is a list of rural mental health services on the Expert Resources: Farmers page). It is impossible to not be affected when you work closely with animals, trying to nurse them back to health for days or weeks, just to find them dead. The mental health stress of working on and with a farm dealing with stray voltage is very real and damaging. Take care of each other and advocate in any way you can for them to get the issue resolved.