On-farm udder health monitoring

Summary

In this article an on-farm monitoring approach on udder health is presented. Monitoring of udder health consists of regular collection and analysis of data and of the regular evaluation of management practices. The ultimate goal is to manage critical control points in udder health management, such as hygiene, body condition, teat ends and treatments, in such a way that results (udder health parameters) are always optimal. Mastitis, however, is a multifactorial disease, and in real life it is not possible to fully prevent all mastitis problems. Therefore udder health data are also monitored with the goal to pick up deviations before they lead to (clinical) problems. By quantifying udder health data and management, a farm is approached as a business, with much attention for efficiency, thought over processes, clear agreements and goals, and including evaluation of processes and results. The whole approach starts with setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Acceptable, Realistic, Time-bound) goals, followed by an action plan to realize these goals.

Zusammenfassung

In diesem Artikel wird eine Vorgehensweise für ein Eutergesundheitsmonitoring auf Herdenebene dargestellt. Eutergesundheitsmonitoring beinhaltet die regelmäßige Sammlung und Analyse von innerbetrieblichen Daten und Arbeitsabläufen in einem Milchviehbetrieb. Das letztendliche Ziel besteht darin, kritische Kontrollpunkte im Bereich des Eu tergesundheitsmanagements, wie Hygiene, Körperkondition, Zitzenkondition oder Behandlung erkrankter Tiere so zu managen, dass die Ergebnisse (Eutergesundheitsvariablen) immer optimal sind. Eutergesundheitsstörungen stellen multifaktorielle Erkrankungen dar und in der Realität lassen sich nicht alle Störungen der Eutergesundheit verhindern. Somit sollten Eutergesundheitsdaten auch deshalb dokumentiert und bewertet werden, um Abweichungen zu erkennen, bevor diese zu (klinischen) Problemen führen. Durch die Quantifizierung von Eutergesundheitsdaten und der zugehörigen Arbeitsabläufe kann ein Milchviehbetrieb effizient ausgerichtet auf die jeweiligen Prozesse auf der Basis klarer innerbetrieblicher Vereinbarungen und Ziele und mit regelmäßiger Evaluierung der Prozesse und der Ergebnisse wirtschaftlich geführt werden. Die Vorgehensweise beginnt mit der Festlegung von vernünftigen Zielen (spezifisch, messbar, nachvollziehbar, realistisch, befristet), gefolgt von einem Aktionsplan zur Erreichung dieser Ziele.

Keywords

Monitoring - mastitis - management - control

Schlüsselwörter

Monitoring - Mastitis - Management - Bekämpfung

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