zum Inhalt springen

Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin


Service-Navigation

    Publikationsdatenbank

    Short communication: survey of fresh cow management practices of dairy cattle on small and large commercial farms (2010)

    Art
    Zeitschriftenartikel / wissenschaftlicher Beitrag
    Autoren
    Heuwieser, W.
    Iwersen, M.
    Gossellin, J.
    Drillich, M.
    Quelle
    Journal of dairy science : JDS
    Bandzählung: 93
    Heftzählung: 3
    Seiten: 1065 – 1068
    ISSN: 0022-0302
    Sprache
    Englisch
    Verweise
    DOI: 10.3168/jds.2009-2783
    Pubmed: 20172227
    Kontakt
    Tierklinik für Fortpflanzung

    Königsweg 65
    Haus 27
    14163 Berlin
    +49 30 838 62618
    fortpflanzungsklinik@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

    Abstract / Zusammenfassung

    The objective was to conduct a survey of current fresh cow management practices that have an effect on health and diseases postpartum considering different herd sizes of commercial dairy farms. A mail survey regarding aspects of the fresh cow program including general management issues, calving, diseases, and veterinary service was conducted utilizing a convenience sample. A total of 429 survey forms were returned (12.0% response rate) and could be used for final analysis. Only 21.6% of the farms had a designated fresh cow pen. Almost every farm executed some type of fresh cow examination. Only 18.5% of farm managers documented the observations. Most of the dairy managers used more or less subjective criteria such as general appearance (97.0%) and appetite (69.7%). Only a minority of the responding dairy managers monitored their fresh cows using objective (fever 33.6%) or semiquantitative measures (subclinical ketosis 2.8%; body condition score 36.4%). On most farms, the veterinarian visited the herd only if needed (72.6%). Most cases of retained fetal membranes were treated by manual removal (72.3%) and antibiotic pills (89.5%). Several challenges and opportunities were identified to improve cow management practices.