In January 2012, the University Farm Animal Veterinary Practice (ULP) held a information evening for their dairy farmers. In total 240 people showed up. On request of the ULP I gave a presentation to show how much there is to be gained by improving animal health on dairy farms. Currently, pushed by society, the government and the dairy industry, farmers have to change a few things. The most dominant changes are the need to reduce the use of antibiotics (especially the 3rd and 4th generation antibiotics) and the need to increase the longevity of cattle. A reduction of diseases through proper preventive measures (and not by culling diseased animals) will have a positive effect on both and on the same time can make you money.
In this presentation the costs of mastitis, claw health and young stock raising are given. Averages as well as farm specific data are shown. New data on the costs of young stock raising on farms in the ULP as well as the farmers (under) estimation of these costs are given.
For me, it is important that farmers get insight in the costs of diseases and thus make decisions with regard to diseases. Because data show that farmers tend to underestimate the costs of dsieases and of young stock raising farm specific calculations, for instance by the advising vet in a herd health program can help farmers making well-informed decisions.
18. Totale kosten jongveeopfok Ongeveer € 0,06 per kg melk = 13 % van de kostprijs Vergelijk: veevoer: € 0,08 per kg melk gezondheidszorg: € 0,02 per kg melk
29. Beheers vs faalkosten Source: McInerney et al., Prev. Vet. Med, 1992 Hoge verliezen, lage beheerskosten Lage verliezen, hoge kosten voor beheersen Optimaal
The 1% to 99% percentiles is €0 to €186 ² The 1% to 99% percentiles is €28 to €55 ³ The 1% to 99% percentiles is €0 to €27 4 The average loss per successful reared heifer was calculated as the sum of average loss of dead young stock (€8/successful reared heifer) and culled heifer (€26/successful reared heifer). The calculation for the losses can be referred to equation 2. 5 The average total costs of successful reared heifer’s 5% to 95% percentile were not possible to be determined because it was summed up with the average loss per successful reared heifer. The 5% to 95% percentiles of average subtotal costs per successful reared heifer varied from €1423 to €1689
The 1% to 99% percentiles is €0 to €186 ² The 1% to 99% percentiles is €28 to €55 ³ The 1% to 99% percentiles is €0 to €27 4 The average loss per successful reared heifer was calculated as the sum of average loss of dead young stock (€8/successful reared heifer) and culled heifer (€26/successful reared heifer). The calculation for the losses can be referred to equation 2. 5 The average total costs of successful reared heifer’s 5% to 95% percentile were not possible to be determined because it was summed up with the average loss per successful reared heifer. The 5% to 95% percentiles of average subtotal costs per successful reared heifer varied from €1423 to €1689