[An overview of fertility statistics and milk production data of 15 dairy operations in southeast Friesland].
In 1988 the collection of data on fertility and milk production was initiated by the veterinary practice in Oosterwolde in the context of a veterinary herd health programme. An automated management and production control programme, VAMPP, was used for this purpose. Although it is not possible to give the precise effect of veterinary herd health programmes on technical farm results, because a control group is lacking, it is possible to discern trends in data collected over 10 years. The field data, show that the first insemination pregnancy rate decreased by 10.1%, from 55.5% to 45.4% (p = 0.002). The number of cows showing first heat decreased by 1.3% (p = 0.46) between 0-15 days post partum, 2.6% (p = 0.41) between 15-30 days post partum, by 4.9% (p = 0.07) between 30-50 days post partum and by 11.4% (p = 0.008) between 50-70 days post partum. In the same period, the milk production increased from 7558 kg 4% fat corrected milk in 305 days to 8744 kg (p = 0.0004). These data may be useful for veterinarians working in veterinary herd health on dairy farms. Furthermore, the described trends and especially the discussed differences between farms may be a stimulus for both farmers and veterinarians to continue with herd health programmes.
Jorritsma
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Dierenartsencentrum Oosterwolde.
Jorritsma
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D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D003612:Dairying / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D007774:Lactation; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012984:Software