A HEALTH PROGRAM FOR COMMERCIAL DAIRY HERDS

Abstract

The development of a computerised data handling and analysis system to aid the operation of a health and management program for commercial dairy herds is described. The aims for the system are outlined, and the development of the system over a period of 8 years to meet these aims is described. The documentation used in the current system is described in relation to the various procedures involved in the operation of the dairy herd health program. Two features which make this system unique are its use for the selection of problem and high risk cows for examination and treatment, and the provision of analyses of recent performance in a number of facets of health and production, which aid in the identification of emerging problems. It is considered that future improvements in the system will be in the areas of milk production recording and calf rearing and disease recording.