A multidisciplinary approach to dairy herd health and productivity management

Abstract

AbstractThere is concern that the substantial increases in production in dairy herds that can be achieved will bring greater health and fertility problems. Despite considerable advancements in the understanding of the biology of reproduction and its control, fertility apparently continues to decline. As many factors, including health and nutrition, influence reproductive performance it is generally agreed that a multidisciplinary approach is necessary if improvement in fertility is to be achieved Herd health schemes have evolved to improve health, fertility, productivity and profitability but the uptake of such schemes in the UK has been low. The veterinary input to many farms is at best routine fertility visits, confined to examination of the reproductive tract, and at worst occasional emergency calls. The Dairy Herd Health and Productivity Service (DHHPS) provides the opportunity for veterinary surgeons to lead a multidisciplinary team which can monitor health, fertility and production and can plan, when necessary, remedial action. Over a period of twenty years it has continued to identify infertility, mastitis and lameness as the main reasons for the involuntary disposal of dairy cows, although on some farms BSE has been a major factor. The trend in the last few years has been for an increase in culling for reasons of disease rather than for age or yield. The average disease rates have remained high with over 100 treatments per 100 cows each year for conditions which may directly or indirectly influence reproduction. Blood profiling and condition scoring demonstrated that at least a third of the cows sampled were mobilising excessive fat during transition from the dry period to early lactation. Improving both health and nutrition, before and after calving, would greatly improve reproductive performance in many herds. A team approach, with farmers, veterinarians, nutritionists and other advisors working together with well defined goals and objectives, is necessary if progress is to be made in improving reproductive performance. High yield can not always be the excuse for poor fertility.