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Culling in 50 dairy herds in England

R J Esslemont1, M A Kossaibati

  • 1Department of Agriculture, University of Reading, Berkshire.

The Veterinary Record
|January 11, 1997
PubMed
Summary
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Dairy herd culling rates in England averaged 23.8% annually. Poor fertility was the primary reason for culling, while mastitis and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) were leading causes of death.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Science
  • Animal Husbandry
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Dairy farming is economically significant, with herd management crucial for productivity.
  • Culling and mortality rates directly impact herd sustainability and profitability.
  • Understanding reasons for disposal is vital for improving herd health and management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the annual culling rates in Friesian/Holstein dairy herds in England.
  • To identify the primary reasons for cow disposal (culling and death).
  • To analyze mortality causes within these dairy populations.

Main Methods:

  • A three-year survey (1990-1992) of 50 Friesian/Holstein dairy herds.
  • Data collection on culling rates, reasons for disposal, and causes of death.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Calculation of average annual culling rates and breakdown of disposal reasons.

    • Main Results:

    • The average total annual culling rate was 23.8% (22.0% sold, 1.8% died).
    • Poor fertility (36.5%) was the leading cause for culling, followed by mastitis (10.1%) and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) (7.4%).
    • Mastitis (8.9%) and BSE (11.5%) were common causes of death, with 46% of deaths having unknown causes.

    Conclusions:

    • Fertility issues significantly drive culling decisions in English dairy herds.
    • Mastitis and BSE represent substantial health challenges leading to both culling and mortality.
    • A significant proportion of dairy cow deaths remain unexplained, highlighting a need for improved diagnostic approaches.