Prioritising Hygiene, Milk Data, and AHV Solutions deliver Udder Health Success

Nestled in the hills of South Wales, the Owen’s family farm has evolved significantly over its 45 years in business. Second-generation farmer Alan Owen now runs the farm alongside his son, Steven. Together, they manage 140 cows that calve year-round, each producing an impressive 28 litres of milk. The Owen’s family have recently purchased a neighbouring farm where they are hoping to increase the herd to 200 and by using AHV solutions they feel this will be much easier to reach.

With a focus on sustainability and disease prevention, the Owen’s farm is a closed herd. By breeding their own replacement animals, they strive to maintain a healthier, more controlled environment for their cows. However, managing udder health with traditional methods presented a significant difficulty in reaching this goal.

Pictured above is Dairy Farmer Steven Owens, Alan Owen’s son.

The Challenge of Udder Health

“Traditional methods were working sometimes,” Alan recalls, “but often, they took a lot of applications to get a result. We generally lost a quarter, and the same issues kept coming back.”

In March 2022, a consultant introduced Alun to the AHV Udder Health Programme. Initially cautious, Alan decided to try it on one cow. The results were encouraging. “During her next milking, she was better and kept improving. I can’t say for sure that traditional tubing would have worked, but I think we got a better result with AHV.”

The combination of AHV products, Extra, Aspi and Booster recommended by the Udder Health protocol have made a noticeable difference. “SCC is now much lower and we’ve seen fewer serious cases and fewer cows losing quarters,” Alan notes.

Integrating AHV for Udder Health

Since the success of the first trial, the Owen’s have embraced the AHV approach. “We haven’t needed to use anything else for udder health since then.”

Here’s how the AHV Udder Health Protocol is integrated into their daily operations:

1. Extra Tablet: activates the immune system and helps to clear out any bacteria that built up in the udder while the cow was dry, so she starts lactation with clean, healthy udders.
2. Aspi Tablet: modulates the cow’s immune system and keeps her comfortable and active.
3. Booster Tablet: ensures the cow has the energy she needs to mount an effective immune response and maintain a positive energy balance going into lactation.

All three tablets are administered at once using a triple bolus shooter at 7 days post-calving, making the process quick and easy with minimal disturbance to the cow.

Benefits of Milk Recording Analysis (MPR)

A key part of their success is the support from their AHV Consultant, who visits the farm every month when the latest MIlk Recording becomes available and walks through the findings with the Owen’s.

“The MPR report is great. It helps us see what cows need to be looked at for energy and Somatic Cell Count (SCC). Having a monthly overview means we can stay ahead of issues and keep on top of everything,” explains Alan.

The MPR’s benefits extend beyond just identifying current issues. It offers a comprehensive overview of the herd’s overall health and productivity trends. This regular monitoring allows the Owen’s to track improvements over time, assess the effectiveness of their management strategies, and make informed decisions to optimise their practices.

An Effective Strategy for Long-Term Success

Looking ahead, the Owen’s aim to further reduce the use of traditional antibiotics and continue adopting sustainable practices. Alan believes this shift will become increasingly necessary due to regulatory pressures and consumer demand.

Alan is confident in recommending AHV to other farmers. “We find it works. We wouldn’t be using it if it didn’t. We’re confident now with the product and when to use it.”

We have a lot less issues on the farm and a clean parlour, good hygiene practices are all part of the solution, alongside the AHV Udder health protocol,” Alan says.

The Owens’ story shows how innovative health strategies can improve herd health and farm sustainability. If you’re considering a similar transition, contact your local AHV consultant to explore how these solutions can support your farm’s future.