Integrated Livestock Management

The Integrated Livestock Management program at Colorado State University was established in 1996 to focus on animal health and production challenges in the livestock industries. We engage directly with producers to conduct field-based research using a graduate studies model that develops highly skilled professionals of the future. We develop problem-solving information and education for producers and veterinarians.

This website provides access to research results from studies of numerous cattle health challenges, including dairy cow mastitis, dairy mortality, dystocia, Johne’s disease, high mountain disease (bovine pulmonary hypertension), cattle sulfate toxicity, and malignant catarrhal fever. Refer to the research projects below or find them all in our reserch page. The site also provides producer friendly tools and educational programs we have developed to help manage some of these frequently occurring problems in cattle production systems.

Producer Information Research

In 2020 CSU began developing the AgNext program, a university-based initiative with the mission of identifying and scaling innovation that fosters the health of animals and ecosystems to promote profitable industries that support vibrant communities. Integrated Livestock Management is one part of AgNext, contributing animal health research, education, and innovation as important components of thriving, sustainable animal agriculture systems.

research project

Characterization of Naturally Occurring Coliform Mastitis

Mastitis remains the most common infectious disease of dairy cattle and the most costly disease affecting the dairy industry.

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research project

Dairy Cow Mortality

All dairy cows eventually leave the farm. Ideally, they leave as healthy animals, either being sold for production or sold for slaughter when they are no longer productive.

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research project

Hemmorrhagic Bowel Syndrome

Hemorrhagic Bowel Syndrome is a newly emerging, highly fatal intestinal disease of adult dairy cows in the United States.

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research project

Johne’s Disease

We are currently collaborating on a multi-year to study being conducted by 18 states across the country and coordinated by collaborators at NAHMS. There are approximately 60 dairy and 15 beef operations enrolled.

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research project

Research

View all research projects.

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Publications

Conceptual modeling of postmortem evaluation findings to describe dairy cow deaths.

McConnel, C. S., Garry, F. B., Hill, A. E., Lombard, J. E., & Gould, D. H. (2010). Journal of dairy science, 93(1), 373–386. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2009-2296

Herd factors associated with dairy cow mortality.

McConnel, C., Lombard, J., Wagner, B., Kopral, C., & Garry, F. (2015). Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience, 9(8), 1397–1403. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731115000385

Conceptual modeling of postmortem evaluation findings to describe dairy cow deaths.

McConnel, C. S., Garry, F. B., Hill, A. E., Lombard, J. E., & Gould, D. H. (2010). Journal of dairy science, 93(1), 373–386. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2009-2296

A necropsy-based descriptive study of dairy cow deaths on a Colorado dairy.

McConnel, C. S., Garry, F. B., Lombard, J. E., Kidd, J. A., Hill, A. E., & Gould, D. H. (2009). Journal of dairy science, 92(5), 1954–1962. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2008-1505