Ruminations
The CDQAP Ruminations series offers detailed, but brief, reference materials on key animal care issues with a specific focus on methods that are beneficial to both improved animal care and the dairy producer’s bottom line.
Each Ruminations article provides scientific statistics, economic assessments, and links to resources on the subject matter addressed.
Ruminations are published quarterly.
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CDQAP Ruminations: Dairies and Drought
There’s no silver bullet, but there may be actions you can take to prepare for the future. Dr. Michael Payne Director, California Dairy Quality Assurance Program The U.S. is experiencing themost expansive western drought of the century. Between scant snowfall and warm...
CDQAP Ruminations: Dairy Fly Control and Your Bottom Line
By Dr. Michael Payne and Dr. Alec Gerry (Original posting date: January 6, 2016) What you need to know about fly control and your bottom line: Biting flies, including stable flies and horn flies, increase animal stress and reduce time spent feeding, thus slowing...
CDQAP Ruminations: Vigilance in Hiring: Protecting the Farm from Undercover Activists
By Dr. Michael Payne Over the last two years more than a dozen California dairies have received fictitious employment applications from undercover animal rights activists. In 2020 one of these dairies was startled to learn that they had unwittingly hired an activist...
CDQAP Ruminations: COVID-19 and Dairy Worker Safety: Efficient Compliance with State & Federal Rules
Dr. Michael Payne. As in other states the COVID-19 epidemic has affected animal agriculture in California. A poultry processing plant in Livingston was forced to shut down in June after 358 employees tested positive and eight workers died. Three deaths occurred in...
CDQAP Ruminations: New FARM Animal Care Standards
New FARM Animal Care Standards: Annual training for specialized jobs By Dr. Michael Payne, UC Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine and Director, CDQAP Every three years,vto reflect evolving practices and science, the National Dairy FARM Animal Care Program is updated....
CDQAP Ruminations: Food Defense for Dairy Processors – Efficient, low-cost compliance with new FDA rules
Food Defense for Dairy Processors: Efficient, low-cost compliance with new FDA rules. Starting in July 2019 the FDA is requiring food processors to develop plans and training to help prevent intentional adulteration of food. Below are some free on-line tools to help...