Use of benchmarking to monitor and analyze effects of herd size and herd milk yield on cattle health and welfare in Austrian dairy farms.

The modernization and intensification of the dairy industry has led to larger herd sizes and higher milk production, both globally and in Austria. Benchmarking allows the monitoring of animal health and welfare as well as the identification of potential for improvement by comparing certain parameters with other farms with similar management environments. Using data from the Austrian routine recording system of various traits of milk production, fertility, and health, farmers and their veterinarians (with the consent of the farmer) can compare farm parameters with detailed data available from their district or state and ensure more efficient herd management. The aim of the present study was to provide an overview of dairy milk production in Austria based on the annual herd health reports and to examine the effects of herd size and milk production on fertility and health parameters. Annual herd health reports from all farms participating in the health monitoring system were considered, and analyses were conducted across breeds. A large variation between farms was observed. The results showed that, based on parameters of milk yield and herd size for the range of farms within this study, it cannot be concluded that these circumstances automatically lead to poor animal health. Farms with very small herd sizes differed significantly from those with larger herd sizes. Overall herd size effects were however small in Austria. Higher milk production based on a single farm does not necessarily cause more health and fertility problems; however, we detected a tendency for an increased risk of fertility, udder, and metabolic diagnoses. An active health management program might result in higher incidence rates for fertility or udder diagnoses, as a veterinary treatment might be economically superior if, for example, the calving interval can be shortened or the somatic cell count can be reduced. The results of the present study showed that it is advisable to use different benchmarks in combination for monitoring health, as well as for deciding on strategies to improve overall herd health management. Animal health reports on Austrian dairy cows are continuously being developed and new parameters integrated.

Retrospective analysis of Austrian health recording data of antibiotic or nonantibiotic dry-off treatment on milk yield, somatic cell count, and frequency of mastitis in subsequent lactation.

Typically, dairy cows are dried off at the end of lactation. During the dry period, intramammary infections may be cured or persist, and new infections may occur. Traditionally, antibiotics (AB) have been used at dry-off. However, blanket antibiotic dry-off treatment may no longer be justifiable and, recently, selective use of antibiotics at dry off has been proposed and different decision criteria suggested. The objective of the study was to evaluate cows receiving antibiotic treatment at dry off (AB group) compared with cows dried off without antibiotics (non-AB group) using a large data set. Primary outcome parameters were milk yield, somatic cell count (SCC), and frequency of mastitis in the subsequent lactation. Additionally, we aimed to calculate cut-off values to determine, at the cow level, whether antibiotic dry-off treatment is indicated. A data set of 88,534 lactations was used; 27,723 cows were dried off using antibiotics (AB group; 31.3%) and 60,811cows were dried off without antibiotics (non-AB group; 68.7%). Milk yield in previous and subsequent lactations was higher in the AB group. Cows in the AB group produced, on average, 91 kg more milk in the subsequent lactation. The average SCC during the final 90 d of the previous lactation and at dry-off did not differ between the 2 groups. The probability of drying off using antibiotics increased almost linearly with higher milk yield and with higher SCC. The use of antibiotics resulted in an average decrease in SCC of 1,500 cells/mL in the subsequent lactation. The frequency of clinical mastitis during the previous lactation was higher in the AB group than in the non-AB group. Independently of the dry-off treatment, this difference remained in the subsequent lactation within 90 d in milk. The use of antibiotics at dry-off had no significant effect on the frequency of mastitis within 90 d in milk of the subsequent lactation. The study indicates that Austrian farmers and veterinarians are applying selective dry-cow treatment using milk yield and, to a lesser extent, SCC and mastitis frequency, for decision-making. However, even though a large data set was used, cut-off values with sufficient diagnostic value for selective dry-cow treatment could not be identified. It is likely that cut-off values must be identified at the herd level or in combination with additional parameters (e.g., results of bacterial culture).

Recording of direct health traits in Austria--experience report with emphasis on aspects of availability for breeding purposes.

A project to establish an Austria-wide health-monitoring system for cattle was launched in 2006. Veterinary diagnostic data subject to documentation by law [Law on the Control of Veterinary Medicinal Products (Tierarzneimittelkontrollgesetz)] are standardized, validated, and recorded in a central database. This Austria-wide project is a collaboration among agricultural and veterinary organizations as well as universities, and is also supported by the Austrian government. In addition to providing information for herd management and preventive measures, further objectives of the project include estimating breeding values for health traits and monitoring the overall health status of Austria's cattle. To ensure a high level of participation from farmers and veterinarians, data security issues are extremely important. Valid data are the prerequisite for the efficient use of health records. The challenge hereby is to distinguish between farms with low frequencies of diseases and incomplete documentation and recording. Measures were undertaken to establish a routine monitoring system for direct health traits. A routine genetic evaluation for direct health traits as part of the joint breeding value estimation program between Germany and Austria was introduced for Fleckvieh in December 2010, based on diagnostic data from 5,428 farms with 147,764 Fleckvieh cows. In 2010 to 2011, the reporting of direct health traits as a compulsory part of performance recording and the breeding program was introduced as well. The overall challenge is the availability of sufficient valid direct health data for reliable breeding values. Practical experience gained in Austria in setting up a health registration system, focusing mainly on the availability of direct health data for breeding purposes with its successes and difficulties, is described.