At Zonneveld Dairies in Laton, California, Lawrence Simas oversees a large-scale operation milking approximately 10,500 cows, with around 20,000 animals on-site. Like many dairy producers, his team faced significant challenges during the recent bird flu outbreak—an uncertain situation with limited treatment options and high pressure to protect herd health and production.

Facing Bird Flu with Practical Solutions

“When bird flu hit, nobody really knew what to do,” Simas explains. The priority quickly became clear: support cows effectively while minimizing stress and labor. By introducing AHV’s Booster and Aspi tablets, the team found a practical approach that delivered noticeable results.

Within a single day, cows were treated and returned to their pens. According to Simas, most animals responded quickly: “About 80% recovered well after the first treatment, and the remaining group just needed one more round.” Compared to traditional drenching methods, which can be labor-intensive and stressful for cows, administering tablets proved significantly easier and faster.

The outcome? Cows maintained better production levels and recovered more smoothly. “You could see they were more comfortable and working their way back within a day,” Simas notes.

A More Efficient Approach to Dry-Off

Zonneveld Dairies also transitioned from traditional dry cow tubes to AHV’s tablet-based approach with StopLac. The difference in workflow was immediate. Instead of handling cows multiple times and carefully managing withdrawal periods, the process became streamlined:

• Cows were treated immediately after milking
• No need for repeated handling or complex tracking
• Reduced risk for staff and animals

“Milk them, give them the tablets, and they go straight to the dry lot—we’re done,” says Simas.

He also observed faster reduction in milk leakage and fewer complications such as “balling,” which can occur with tube treatments. Importantly, herd health remained stable. “We didn’t see any increase in mastitis or somatic cell count. That was our biggest concern, and it held steady.”

No Antibiotics, No Compromise

One of the key advantages noted was maintaining performance without relying on antibiotics. Simas emphasizes the importance of this from both a management and financial perspective. Without milk withdrawal periods, fresh cows could return to the tank immediately—eliminating several days of lost production.

Additionally, fewer losses and more flexible herd management contributed to overall profitability. “You don’t always see it at first, but all those small gains add up,” he says.

Confidence Moving Forward

After years of working with traditional methods, Simas now fully trusts the AHV approach. “Based on what I’ve seen, I would absolutely use it again,” he concludes.

ZONNEVELD DAIRIES USES THE FOLLOWING AHV PRODUCTS: