FAC2: Production Disease in Dairy Cattle and Costs

Question 1

How much of the dairy herd is replace annually?

Answer 1

1/5

Question 2

How long is the average lifespan of dairy cows in the UK?

Answer 2

3.04 lactations

Question 3

Define Forced or Involuntary Cull.

Answer 3

Animals that must be culled due to death, disease, or poor reproductive performance

Question 4

What are the top three reasons for forced culling?

Answer 4

Infertility, mastitis, and lameness

Question 5

Define selected or voluntary culls.

Answer 5

Farmer chooses to cull for reasons such as poor milk yield, old age, poor conformation, temperament, etc.

Question 6

What common characteristics unite production diseases?

Answer 6

• They are all associated with the peri-parturient cow and in particular the metabolic stress of early lactation
• They all have a multifactorial aetiology
• They may not be seen as spectacular individual cases, and the farmer may be unaware of the extent of the problem
• There will be a far greater number of subclinical cases that will be inhibiting milk production
• They are inter-related and can increase susceptibility to each other
• They all cost money

Question 7

What are the direct costs associated with disease?

Answer 7

Treatment costs (drugs)

Vet costs

Labour costs

Discarded milk

Reduction in milk yield

Mortality

Question 8

What are the indirect costs associated with disease?

Answer 8

• Increased culling rate
• Possible risk of fatality
• Susceptibility to other diseases
• Extended calving interval
• Extra services per conception

Question 9

What are the major economic costs of mastitis?

Answer 9

Treatment costs

Cost of discarded milk

Lower milk yields

Higher Cull rate

NB: the cots due to treatment and vets time are relatively minor, with the majority of the costs coming from the cost of discarded milk, reduction in yields, and direct costs.

Question 10

What are the main economic loses to lameness?

Answer 10

• Poorer fertility due to increased calving interval and increased number of services per conception
• Higher culling rate
• Lower milk yields
• Predisposition to other diseases

Question 11

At what lactation do heifers start to make a profit for the farmer?

Answer 11

Heifers need to reach the 3rd lactation

Question 12

What is the cost of infertility per day on a 365 calving index?

Answer 12

£4/day due to lost revenue for milk, extra food and housing for longer dry period, reduction in calf production, extra services per cow