Associations between farmer participation in veterinary herd health management programs and farm performance

Abstract

In the past few decades, farms have increased in size and the focus of management has changed from curative to preventive. To help farmers cope with these changes, veterinarians offer veterinary herd health management (VHHM) programs, whose major objective is to support the farmer in reaching his farm performance goals. The association between farm performance and participation in VHHM, however, remains unknown. The aim of this paper was to compare farm performance parameters between participants and nonparticipants in VHHM and to differentiate within participation to evaluate the possible added value of VHHM on the farm. Five thousand farmers received a questionnaire about the level of VHHM on their farm. Farm performance parameters of these 5,000 farms were provided. For all respondents (n = 1,013), farm performance was compared between participants and nonparticipants and within level of participation, using linear mixed and linear regression models. Farmers who participated in VHHM produced 336 kg of milk/cow per year more and their average milk somatic cell count (SCC) was 8,340 cells/mL lower than farmers who did not participate in VHHM. Participating herds, however, had an older age at first calving (+12 d), a lower 56-d nonreturn rate percentage (−3.34%), and a higher number of inseminations per cow (+0.09 inseminations). They also had more cows culled per year (+1.05%), and a lower age at culling (−70 d). Participants in the most-extended form of VHHM (level 3) had a lower SCC (−19,800 cells/mL), fewer cows with high SCC (−1.70%), fewer cows with new high SCC (−0.47%), a shorter calving interval (−6.01 d), and fewer inseminations per heifer (−0.07 inseminations) than participants in the leastextended form of VHHM (level 1). Level 3 participants, however, also had more cows culled per year (+1.74%) and a lower age at culling (−103 d). Discussing specific topics with the veterinarian (milk production, fertility, and udder health) had only marginal effects on improving the farm performance parameters related to those topics. Given the relevance of fertility on the farm and the focus on longevity by society, it is important to determine underlying reasons for the negative associations of these topics with participation in VHHM. A longitudinal study could provide answers to this. For now, veterinarians should be aware of the associations. The increased milk production and milk quality could help the marketing of VHHM to farmers.

Efficiency of dairy farms participating and not participating in veterinary herd health management programs

“…VHHM dairies had a higher milk production, a lower SCC and a lower age at first calving, consistent with Derks et al (2014). Under the quota system in The Netherlands, one would expect that higher milk production per farm would reduce feed costs per cow or kg milk, if that higher farm production is linked with a greater production per cow.…”

Dairy farm profit according to the herd size, milk yield, and number of cows per worker

“…Nevertheless, we found no significant differences in culling rates according to HERD or CW, except that the highest mean incidence of culling due to the movement disorders, at 19.94 ± 2.31%, occurred with the lowest CW ≤ 39 and the highest mean at 21.17 ± 2.50% occurred when HERD < 750. Culling rates often increase when a herd expands as a result of buying cows from various sources (Alvasen et al 2012;Derks et al 2014). Also, generally the average parity number in cows reportedly decreases as the rate of expansion accelerates and as herd size increases (Olegginy et al 2001;Alvasen et al 2012).…”

Beyond traditional dairy veterinary services: ‘It’s not just about the cows!’

“…The economic benefit of a VHHM programme and its longevity is difficult to measure. There were many challenges and confounders: causality could not be examined; the response rate was poor; the quality of the veterinary advice was unknown; it was possible that poor communication and understanding existed between veterinarian and farmer; variable farmer compliance was noted and an increased need for advice might have been precipitated by problems (Derks et al 2014 ).…”