At AHV, We Keep Your Livestock Healthy Resulting in Reduced Need for Antibiotics

Ensuring and maintaining animal health is crucial, not only for the well-being of your livestock but also for the sustainability of your business. At AHV, we are committed to breaking outdated perceptions and practices in the industry and working towards a high-quality and healthy food chain, supported by our own breakthrough technology. We are improving animal health and productivity worldwide. In doing so, we aim to positively influence the global footprint and social understanding of food production

At AHV, we place a strong emphasis on proactive animal health, recognising that healthier livestock are the cornerstone of a successful and sustainable farming operation. By prioritising the well-being of our animals, we empower farmers to respond more effectively to challenges and adapt their practices with greater ease. This commitment to health translates into numerous benefits across all facets of farm management.

Enhanced Financial Stability and Animal Welfare through Proactive Care

A proactive approach to animal health leads to a more organised and resilient farm structure. When animals are healthy, they require less emergency care, allowing farmers to maintain a more predictable and efficient workflow. This improved time management means farmers can focus on preventive measures and long-term planning rather than constant crisis management.

Financial stability is another significant advantage of maintaining healthy livestock. Healthier animals typically have higher productivity rates and lower mortality, directly contributing to better financial outcomes. Farmers save on intervention costs and reduce the economic impact of severe health challenges, ensuring a more stable and profitable operation.

Moreover, a proactive health strategy reduces the need for antibiotics, fostering a more sustainable farming practice. By keeping animals healthy, we reduce the reliance on antibiotics. This not only promotes animal welfare but also addresses public health concerns related to antibiotic resistance. This approach aligns with growing consumer demand for responsibly raised and healthy animals, enhancing the overall reputation of the farming operation.

Longevity and Quality Improvement with AHV

The AHV InSight data team has conducted comprehensive analyses over the years, revealing remarkable improvements in the longevity and quality of life on dairy farms utilising AHV products. Our specialised programmes, such as the AHV Udder Health Programme, Transition & Fertility Programme, and Longevity Programme, consistently deliver impressive outcomes.

Recent evaluations of 39 farms across the Netherlands and the UK underscore the substantial benefits of our approach. By focusing on critical areas such as udder health, reproductive success, and overall longevity, AHV helps farmers achieve sustained improvements and greater operational efficiency.

Healthier Animals lead to 53.8% less need for Antibiotics in Udder Health

On 33 Dutch farms (5,530 dairy cows) and 6 UK farms (1,344 dairy cows), AHV’s programmes have led to a significant improvement in animal health. Through improved animal health, these initiatives have successfully reduced the need for antibiotics for udder health by 53.8% in the Netherlands and an impressive 74.8% in the UK. This significant decrease underscores the effectiveness of our proactive care approach. 

Healthier animals experience lower dropout rates and enjoy longer lifespans. Our AHV Farm Consultants play a crucial role in this success, providing expert support and guidance to farmers worldwide.

Improved Data Analysis for Better Herd Health

For data analysis, 33 Dutch dairy farmers granted AHV access to their farm data. Along with health parameters, these farmers provided detailed information on their use of traditional treatments. In the Netherlands, antibiotic use is measured in daily doses per animal year (DD/DJ). By implementing the AHV Udder Health Programme in three distinct ways—proactively, actively, and reactively—we observed significant improvements in animal health.

• Proactive: Herd-wide treatments to optimise performance and reduce the risk of health issues.
• Active: Targeted treatments for cows at high risk of developing health issues in the short or long term, or those showing visible deviations in health parameters.
• Reactive: Interventions for cows with directly visible health issues, often indicated by changes in behaviour and attitude

These tailored approaches have demonstrated substantial health benefits, leading to a marked reduction in antibiotic use as an indirect effect of overall improved herd health.

Figure 1: Antibiotic usage on AHV farms vs. Dutch average.

€3,009 in More Milk Per Cow

Using the AHV Udder Health Programme, farmers have seen substantial improvements in udder health and overall animal well-being. As a result, cows using AHV products have been observed to live an average of 8.4 months longer. AHV additionally shows a direct positive impact on milk production in the same lactation compared to expected production (Streefland et al., 2023).

Research by Streefland et al. (2023) and Herrema et al. (2023) highlights the economic advantages of AHV’s approach. On average, cows on the AHV programme produce €0.42 more milk per day, representing a 1.6% increase in milk yield per lactation. This additional daily production based on extended life span and improved milk yield accumulates to a significant €3,009 more in milk yield over each cow’s lifetime.

Moreover, the enhanced health of the livestock has led to a noteworthy reduction in the need for antibiotics, as demonstrated in Figure 1. This reduction not only lowers costs associated with veterinary care but also supports the global effort to combat antibiotic resistance.

Herd Health Plans (HHPs) Deliver Positive Impacts on Reproduction, Production and Overall Health

Over a year ago, AHV UK & Ireland introduced Herd Health Plans (HHP), designed to proactively support farmers with our products and expert advice to enhance the health of the entire herd. These comprehensive plans have yielded positive impacts on reproduction, production, and overall health parameters, leading to significant cost savings for farmers.

One of the most notable outcomes of implementing HHPs is the improvement in animal health which led to a substantial reduction in the need for antibiotics. In the first year alone, the use of antibiotics for udder health decreased by an impressive 74.8%. This reduction is particularly evident when comparing data from the first year of HHP implementation to the previous 12 months. Farms utilising both the Udder Health and Longevity programmes experienced remarkable improvements, showcasing the effectiveness of these tailored health plans.

By focusing on proactive herd health, HHPs have not only enhanced animal welfare but also contributed to more sustainable farming practices. The decreased reliance on antibiotics  due to improved animal health is a testament to the success of these plans, reflecting increased productivity across participating farms.

Table 1: Results AHV Herd Health Plans

AHV: Pioneering Healthier Livestock for a Sustainable Future

The results from these 39 dairy farms, encompassing a total of 6,874 cows, provide a comprehensive picture of the significant impact AHV has on livestock health and productivity. 

The implementation of HHPs further exemplifies AHV’s commitment to advancing animal health and supporting farmers in achieving long-term success. Through proactive management and expert guidance, we continue to drive positive change in the dairy farming industry, promoting healthier herds and more efficient operations.

These positive developments benefit not only the animals but also align with societal shifts towards more sustainable and ethical farming practices. Consumers are increasingly demanding healthier livestock that require fewer conventional drugs. AHV’s innovative approach to animal health makes this vision a reality, meeting consumer expectations and promoting more responsible farming.

Sources

Streefland, G.-J., Herrema, F., & Martini, M. (2023). A Gradient Boosting model to predict the milk production. Smart Agricultural Technology, 6, 100302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2023.100302

Herrema, F., Bieleman, H., Hoekstra, M., & Gomes, J. (2023). Longevity and Milk Production Improvement in Dairy Cows Using Plant-Derived Products. J Vet Heal Sci, 4(3), 128–140. https://www.opastpublishers.com/open-access-articles/longevity-and-milk-production-improvement-in-dairy-cows-using-plantderived-products.pdf