Publication Database

Estimating disease costs for common fresh cow disorders using current market conditions in Germany (2023)

Art

Vortrag

Autor

Borchardt, Stefan (WE 19)

Kongress

European Buiatrics Congress and ECBHM Jubilee Symposium

Berlin, 24. – 26.08.2023

Quelle

Kontakt

Tierklinik für Fortpflanzung

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

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Objectives
Health issues in early lactation (i.e., milk fever, retained placenta, metritis, ketosis, mastitis, displaced abomasum) have a major impact on dairy farm profitability by altering milk production, culling policy, and reproductive performance. The economic impact of a certain disease largely depends on the current market conditions (e.g., milk price, feed costs, slaughter price, replacement costs). These have drastically changed in the last year. It is suggested that modeling is an essential tool to understand economics in the dairy production system. The objective of this study was to estimate disease costs for common fresh cow disorders using current market conditions.

Materials and methods
A deterministic partial budget model was created to estimate direct (e.g., veterinary treatment costs) and indirect costs (e.g., milk loss, culling risk, reproductive performance) per case of disease occurring during the first 30 days of lactation. Model inputs were selected from the available literature, or when none were available, from herd data. Veterinary treatment costs were based on a survey among 10 bovine practices using the latest fee schedule for veterinarians. Estimates for indirect effects were based on a large dataset (n = 44,085) from 2 commercial dairy farms with excellent health records. These estimates have been calculated separately for primiparous and multiparous cows. Milk loss was calculated based on the second test 305-d mature-equivalent milk projection using a GENLINMIXED model. The impact of disease on culling risk and reproductive performance was calculated using a Cox proportional hazard model. Lactational culling risk, including deaths and animals sold, was derived from the herd data set. The number of deaths and cullings that were attributable to each disease was calculated using population attributable fraction. Market conditions represent the current dairy economic climate, including milk price (0.55 €/kg), feed price (0.25 €/kg DM), and replacement costs (2,200 €/head).

Results
In primiparous cows, the 3 most expensive diseases were displaced abomasum (880 €/case), retained placenta (491 €/case), and mastitis (385 €/case). In multiparous cows, the 3 most expensive diseases were displaced abomasum (1,126 €/case), retained placenta (600 €/case), and mastitis (509 €/case). Across all diseases, 21.0 % and 24.7 % of the total costs per case were veterinary treatment costs in primiparous and multiparous cows, respectively.

Conclusions
This study examined the cost of common fresh cows disorders during the first 30 days in milk by using estimates of its effects on milk loss, culling risk, and reproductive performance. It reflects current market conditions and management practices in Germany. The findings show that a majority of the costs associated with disease in the first part of lactation are indirect costs that occur over the remainder of that lactation that are more difficult for producers to “see” because they do not require a direct cash outlay (e.g., future milk production, premature culling and replacement, and reproductive losses). However, these indirect costs reflect lost opportunity and impact the economic viability of the dairy and thus it is important for producers to recognize these costs. The model inputs can be customized to specific situations and updated to current economic conditions.