title: Herd health status and management practices on 16 Irish suckler beef farms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There have been few studies published internationally which document herd health management practices in suckler beef herds and no published Irish studies. The study objective was to document herd health status and management practices on sixteen Irish suckler beef herds over a two year period (2009-2010). The farms used in the study were part of the Teagasc BETTER farm beef programme. The mean (s.d.) herd size, stocking rate and farm size was 68 cows (27.6), 2.0 LU/ha (0.3) and 64.3 (21.6) adjusted hectares, respectively. Two questionnaires were designed; 1) a farmer questionnaire to collect information on farm background and current herd health control practices and 2) a veterinary questionnaire to collect information on the extent of animal health advice given by veterinarians to their clients and identification of any on-farm herd health issues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dystocia, calf pneumonia, and calf diarrhoea, in that order, were identified as the primary herd health issues in these Irish suckler beef herds. In addition, substantial deficiencies in biosecurity practices were also identified on these farms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study may serve as the focus for future research in animal health management practices in Irish suckler beef herds.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Shaughnessy
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mee
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Crosson
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Grady
authors.affiliation: Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co,, Meath, Ireland. bernadette.earley@teagasc.ie.
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Earley