The costs of production diseases in dairy herds in England.

Economic losses due to common health problems in dairy cattle were investigated in 90 Friesian/Holstein herds (average size 152 cows), which calved in England during the 1992/1993 season with an average annual yield of about 6000 l per cow. By using only the direct costs of common production diseases and other health problems (mastitis, lameness, vulval discharge, treatments for oestrus-not-observed, retained foetal membranes, milk fever, twinning, calf mortality and aid at calving), the cost of ill health in a 100 cow herd with average rates of these problems (compared with target levels) was estimated at Pounds 6300 per year. The costs ranged from Pounds 1200 (average of the top 10%) to Pounds 13600 (average of the worst 10% of the herds). The main losses were due to mastitis and lameness (38 and 27% of health cost, respectively).

Impact of udder disorders on culling of dairy cows.

Data from a prospective longitudinal study carried out from 1986 to 1990 in 47 commercial Holstein dairy herds from western France were used to quantify the effects of udder health disorders on the risk of culling. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between 4 udder health disorders and early and late culling. Teat injuries were associated with an increased risk of early culling in the current and following lactations. Mastitis and high milk cell count were associated with an increased risk of late culling in the current and following lactations, respectively.