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Descriptive epidemiological study on culling and deaths in eight dairy herds
1Department of Animal Science, University of Sydney, Camden, New South Wales.
Australian Veterinary Journal
|August 13, 1998
Summary
Culling risks in dairy herds increase with parity, especially due to calving and udder disorders. Reducing these issues can lower involuntary culling rates in dairy cows.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Epidemiology
- Dairy Herd Management
- Animal Production
Background:
- Dairy herd productivity and reproductive efficiency are critical for economic viability.
- Understanding culling patterns is essential for sustainable dairy farming.
- Non-seasonally calving herds present unique management challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize production and reproduction in a specific dairy population.
- To compare this population to non-seasonally calving dairy herds.
- To identify culling patterns and high-risk periods in the production cycle.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal population study design.
- Involved eight non-seasonally calving dairy herds.
- Data collected in the Camden district of New South Wales.
Main Results:
- Production and reproduction aligned with the NSW Agriculture Dairy Herd Improvement scheme.
- Culling risk increased with parity, linked to calving, reproductive, and udder disorders.
- Highest culling risks occurred within 9 days post-calving and around 300 days post-calving.
Conclusions:
- Addressing calving disorders can reduce involuntary culling.
- Improved reproductive management is key to lowering culling rates.
- Mastitis control strategies are vital for dairy herd retention.