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.