Defining health standards through economic optimisation: The example of colostrum management in beef and dairy production

PloS One
Didier RaboissonE Maigne

Abstract

There is extensive literature addressing acceptable practices of colostrum distribution to new-born calves; however, no economic analyses are available concerning the profitability of this practice. Moreover, the health standards associated with colostrum management have been defined through the observation of reference farms without explicit reference to economic assessments. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the profitability of farm colostrum management and to define the optimal economic situations for given livestock systems and farm situations. The herd-level net value was calculated using the value of calf products, the cost of passive transfer failure and the cost of prevention. This value was determined for various beef and dairy scenarios and the various time periods spent managing colostrum. The maximal net values defined the optimal economic situations and enabled the determination of the optimal times for colostrum management and respective health standards (i.e., the prevalence of disorders at optimum). The results showed that the optimal time farmers should spend on colostrum management is approximately 15 min per calf. Furthermore, farmers should err on the side of spending too much time (> 15 mi...Continue Reading

References

Nov 13, 1998·Journal of Dairy Science·J D Quigley, J J Drewry
Feb 27, 2008·The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Food Animal Practice·Sandra Godden
Sep 4, 2008·American Journal of Veterinary Research·Munashe ChigerweJames N Spain
Sep 4, 2008·Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·Munashe ChigerweBarry J Steevens
Mar 17, 2009·Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·Munashe ChigerweDusty W Nagy
Jun 23, 2012·Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·Munashe ChigerweJill V Hagey
May 18, 2016·Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology·Chris J Hedegaard, Peter M H Heegaard

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat to the continued successful use of antimicrobial agents for the treatment of bacterial infections.

Antimicrobial Resistance (ASM)

Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat to the continued successful use of antimicrobial agents for the treatment of bacterial infections.