Using herd records to monitor transition cow survival, productivity, and health.
There is no single monitor that can fully characterize the success of a transition cow management program in a herd. Rather we must rely on a group of key monitors. Table 5 outlines the key indices and targets that we use in herd investigations. By using these monitors, effective transition cow programs can be differentiated from problematic ones, and many of the problems can be resolved for the good of the herd owners, dairy laborers, and most of all, the cows. Development of more sophisticated monitors and software with stronger epidemiologic structure will allow for better analysis of programs in the future.
Nordlund
Kenneth V
KV
Department of Medical Sciences, Food Animal Production Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA. nordlund@wisc.edu
Cook
Nigel B
NB
D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D003612:Dairying / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D036801:Parturition; D011247:Pregnancy; D011996:Records / Q000662:veterinary*; D012098:Reproduction; D016019:Survival Analysis