Herd health is a critical aspect for all dairy farms, especially as we attempt to trim cost from the production system and improve the efficiency of the cows and heifers on the farm. On some farms herd health can be viewed as an area to target financial cut-backs.

However, this can be counterproductive and ultimately result in depressed herd performance and increased veterinary intervention. A key aspect of animal health for all farmers is first identify the current health status on the farm. It is only when you establish a basis line for the herd health that you can develop a plan to deliver improvements in herd health.

From the outset Dairylink Ireland has identified animal health as a key driver of farm profit. Fit and healthy stock are central to an efficient production system - and over the next few weeks I will be looking at project farms’ health plans and discussing some of the health issues project farms are experiencing.

Bill Brown Millisle, Co Down

As part of the Dairylink project I started looking at animal health from a cost-saving perspective. As a consequence of this, I now prepare an annual health plan in conjunction with my local vet, highlighting all treatments for cows and heifers on the farm including the current vaccination policy complete with the product to use, dosage and timing of the treatment.

I also take random bulk tank milk samples and blood samples to test for animal health issues throughout the year. Last month, a bulk tank sample revealed the herd to be positive for Leptospirosis and fluke.

Our veterinary and animal health cost is significant, accounting for 1.5ppl of the cost base. I would like to reduce this. However, approximately 60% of the cost is on vaccination work, which I view as essential to prevention. The remaining 40% is fertility and emergency vet work.

In reality, the vaccination cost will not be reduced on the farm, as I am keen to prevent health issues. The bulk milk samples and blood tests indicate that I need to vaccinate. This leaves the remaining 40% up for consideration, where a more structured approach to the animal health prevention policy on the farm in terms of better timing and administering of vaccine will reduce the emergency work required.

As can be seen from the summarised health plan above, we vaccinate for all diseases, and there is a comprehensive fluke and worm policy in place on the farm. We also bolus cows at the start of the dry period with trace elements and treat cows with Rotavec to avoid scour problems in calves. These two treatments alone cost £12.50/cow, but are justified with blood samples highlighting a deficiency in trace elements and a history of calf scour on this farm in previous years.

Heifers weights

Heifers have performed excellently on grass this year, with very little purchased feed going in to the maiden heifers. Since May, the group due for service in January 2017 have grown at 0.95kg/day on grass – ahead of target. The heifer-rearing enterprise has been a cost-reduction focus area on the farm this year. In previous years, we have held heifers in the house for longer and fed more silage and concentrate. This year, good grass management and an early turnout have dramatically reduced heifer-rearing costs on the farm. These heifers will be weighed again just before breeding. The target breeding weight this year is 380kg. This group has now been housed two weeks and I expect a slow-down or short stop in growth as heifers settle into the house.