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A “measure to manage” approach is being applied to herd health by Dairylink Ireland participants.
This involves using veterinary tests and records of sick and culled animals to develop herd health plans for individual farms.
The plans are drawn up in consultation with each farmer’s local vet. It identifies the main health risks that livestock are exposed to and sets out steps to minimise them.
A critical review of the farm set up and animal health protocols by a vet will help identify issues in the likes of biosecurity, hygiene, drug usage, as well as morbidity (sickness) and mortality rates.
Farmers give details of antibiotic usage, mortalities and culling in each livestock group on the farm over the past year. Records from periodic weighing of replacement heifers can also help inform vets if there are any potential health issues among young stock.
Changes in test results and on-farm records are then monitored over time to see if the measures implemented as part of the health plan have led to improvements, or if more is needed.
Read more in this week's Irish Farmers Journal and at www.ifj.ie/dairylink
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