Veterinary session

The competition among dairy herds in the EU is getting even harder. This situation caused the recognition in herd managers that the main sources of losses related to herd health should be discovered.

Udder health is a basic determinant of milk production level, milk quality and farm profitability. Subclinical mastitis together with the clinical form are deemed to be the main diseases threatening udder health. Reproductive health status is an other important factor in the profitability of dairy farming. Losses can be greatly reduced by optimizing calving interval, days open and other reproduction parameters.

The object of this study was to quantify average annual losses due to mastitis and reproductive disorders in dairy herds. The study included 4 Hungarian herds with 3884 Holstein-Friesian cows, altogether.

The results showed that the milk production of cows suffering from subclinical mastitis was reduced with 3,36 kg per day in comparison with the healthy ones. That means 13 196 HUF (48 euros) loss per cow per year. The amount of discarded milk, involuntary culling due to mastitis and drug costs were responsible for 14 571 HUF (53 euros), 12 324 HUF (44,8 euros) and 3 520 HUF (12,8 euros) extra cost, respectively. So the average annual loss due to mastitis was 43 612 HUF (158,6 euros) per cow in 2010. Milk losses, involuntary culling and drug costs caused 63,7% (101 euros), 28,3% (44,9 euros) and 8,1% (12,7 euros) of the total amount of losses, respectively.

Annual loss of income related to reproductive disorders almost reached 60 000 HUF (216 euros)! Increased calving interval caused the majority of this loss (70,1%, 151,5 euros). Involuntary culling due to reproductive reasons also had heavy economic impact, causing 15,5% (33,4 euros) of the total loss. Treatment cost meant 17,3 euros expense (8%), while increased semen usage was responsible only for 6% (13,7 euros) of the total expenditures.

According to the results, I suggest that primarily new reproductive management measures should be implemented in the study herds, but herd managers should also improve udder health.