From Break-Even to Long term Viability: Why keeping her udder healthy is key

The longer a cow remains healthy and productive, the more profitable she becomes for your dairy farm; it’s a simple yet powerful truth. 

Research indicates that it typically takes a cow three lactations to break even, five lactations to reach peak production, and 8 to 9 lactations to achieve optimal economic benefits (Pinedo et al., 2014; CRV, 2022). This means that by keeping her udder healthy and implementing the right care and management, each lactation completed not only adds significant value but also lays the groundwork for the profitability and sustainability of your dairy farm.

Despite this potential, In the UK, cattle are typically removed after approximately 3.6 lactations (Hanks and Kossaibati, 2019). In this survey of 500 farms, the bottom 25% cows exited the herd with fewer than 3.2 lactations on average. The top 25% saw cows exiting the herd with at least 4.0 lactations on average. About 7% of farms reached averages of 5 lactations or more. The main reasons for culling? Poor udder health, reduced fertility, and lameness. 

Early culling incurs a significant cost to dairy farms, in terms of herd replacements and lost production due to a less mature herd profile. At the same time, this will significantly increase the carbon footprint of farms. Despite considerable efforts and investments in managing udder health, we are simply losing too many young cows. So, how can we change this status quo, achieve more lactations and drive greater farm profitability?

Challenges in Keeping Her Udder Healthy

In Udder Health, the status quo is failing. To improve it, farmers have traditionally focused on cleanliness in cubicles and parlours. However, while keeping the environment clean is important, bacteria are everywhere, making it impossible to achieve complete prevention through cleanliness alone. Bacterial invasions in the udder are common, and over time, cows accumulate bacteria in their mammary glands. As cows age, they’re more likely to carry high bacterial loads, leading to persistent high cell counts and severe udder problems.

This situation is highly inefficient. Farmers invest in nurturing promising young cows, only to witness them face severe udder issues that don’t respond to treatment by their second or third lactation. This not only wastes the initial investment but also reduces the overall productivity of the herd.

Moreover, bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to conventional treatments, which further complicates the management of udder health. These challenges highlight the urgent need for innovative and proactive solutions that can effectively address bacterial infections and support the long-term health and productivity of the herd.

AHV Innovative in Udder Health

Ten years ago, researchers at the then-newly formed company Animal Health Vision (AHV) recognised this problem. Over the years, they developed a ground-breaking new approach to cleanse both the tissues and the cow’s environment in order to effectively address bacterial challenges. 

First, in the lab, they identified compounds capable of breaking down the biofilm of bacteria commonly affecting ruminants and formulated these compounds into tablets that cows can easily ingest. Second, they included essential minerals and nutrients in these tablet-based supplements to support a robust immune response. Third, they incorporated plant-based immune system modulators to facilitate a strong yet non-destructive immune response.

With these innovations, AHV created a completely new approach that allows for a truly proactive approach to supplementing and protecting cows. This approach is the innovative AHV Udder Health Programme.

The AHV Udder Health Programme

The Udder Health Programme (Udder HHP) supports cows by cleansing the udder at the start and finish of each lactation. This proactive approach effectively tackles bacterial build-up, interrupting the cycle of escalating issues that can result in permanent damage and decreased productivity.

It’s essential to acknowledge that 60% of udder health challenges originate in the dry period (Santos et al., 2010), when bacteria and biofilm accumulate within the udder. Removing this build-up is vital to ensure that cows begin their lactation free from udder challenges that could hinder their production.

For optimal lactation support, The Udder Health Programme recommends administering the AHV Extra Tablet in conjunction with AHV Aspi Tablet and AHV Booster Tablet on day 7 after calving. Furthermore, a second round of Extra Tablet and Aspi Tablet is recommended 4-8 weeks before dry-off.

This combination of products is targeted to effectively;

• Break Down Biofilm: The AHV Extra tablet contains patent pending compounds that effectively break down biofilm, allowing for a thorough cleansing of unfavourable bacteria from the udder.
• Supports Immune Response and Recovery: AHV Aspi Tablet promotes cow comfort, regulates the immune response and enhances blood flow to encourage rapid recovery.
• Promote Metabolism and Overall Health: AHV Booster Tablet supports liver and rumen function, helping the cow to utilise more energy from her feed and start her lactation with a positive energy balance.

What makes the AHV approach so effective in keeping her udder healthy long term?

The AHV difference lies in its proactive approach to udder health, intervening at the earliest possible stage in the cows productive lifespan and well before udder health challenges become apparent. AHV targets bacterial build-up proactively, addressing it before it reaches a damaging degree.

This proactive method significantly reduces the likelihood of future udder health issues, promoting sustained milk yields and enhancing the overall health and well-being of the cow.

It’s important to note that removal of biofilm and microorganisms (cruds and dirt) from the udder may take several days to weeks. While this process may initially seem concerning as udder health appears to worsen before it improves, this is actually a vital part of the cleansing process, indicating that the remedy is effectively clearing out the udder and promoting its recovery.

Proven Success with the AHV Udder Health Programme

The AHV Herd Health Programme (HHP) has demonstrated notable success in reducing severe udder health challenges on farms. This achievement is coupled with a notable decline in the reliance on emergency treatment methods.

Farmers enrolled in the HHP consistently observe a welcome sight: their sick pens are emptier, liberating precious time and reducing ongoing disruption.

Moreover, by alleviating cows of having to fight persistent bacterial infiltrations in the udder, more energy is redirected towards production and fertility, thereby supporting better overall performance. 

Table 1: Change in average Key Performance Indicators on the first 6 Herd Health Plan (HHP) herds to mature to a full year on the Plan. Performance on the HHP was compared to that of the 12 months prior to the start of the HHP. Three herds were on the ‘Udder HHP’, three herds were on the extended ‘Longevity HHP’.

This evidence indicates that AHV has pioneered a genuinely revolutionary approach. For the first time, cows are undergoing proactive and sustainable cleansing, resulting in healthier herds and more efficient farm operations. The impact of AHVs methods is evident: fewer health issues, and improved overall well-being and performance.

To speak to an AHV Consultant in your area or our Veterinary Technical Manager please fill out our short contact form below.

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Sources

Pinedo, P. J., Daniels, A., Shumaker, J., & De Vries, A. (2014). Dynamics of culling for Jersey, Holstein, and Jersey× Holstein crossbred cows in large multibreed dairy herds. Journal of dairy science, 97(5), 2886-2895.

Hanks and Kossaibati, (2019). A study of herd performance in 500 Holstein/Friesian herds for the year ending 31st August 2019 (VEERU), School of Agriculture Policy & Development, University of Reading, 59 https://panlivestock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Holstein-Friesian-500herds-Aug2019.pdf.

Santos, J. E. P., Narciso, C. D., Rivera, F., Thatcher, W. W., & Chebel, R. C. (2010). Effect of reducing the period of follicle dominance in a timed artificial insemination protocol on reproduction of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 93(7), 2976-2988. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2009-2870