Identify Cows Early with New Analysis Service in Ireland

A data-focused, game-changing software is now being introduced to Irish dairy farmers as another weapon to help prevent cows from becoming chronic, so they stay in the herd for longer, by monitoring and maintaining good udder health.

The Milk Production Record (MPR) Analysis Service by AHV is a free service to help Irish farmers take control of udder health, maximise productivity, and increase longevity. Following its tremendous success in the UK, Netherlands, Germany, France, and Belgium, it is now being rolled out across Ireland.

Early Detection for Effective Management

Udder health issues often develop long before clinical symptoms appear, making early detection crucial. With MPR analysis, AHV identifies cows with elevated somatic cell counts (SCC), and/or energy imbalances— key indicators of underlying challenges. By working closely with your AHV consultant, farmers receive expert guidance on how and when to implement the right support, ensuring timely interventions that prevent clinical signs of cruds and/or cows from becoming chronic.

Harnessing Your Own Data for Better Udder Health

MPR Analysis takes your milk recording data and translates it into clear, actionable insights. Using a bespoke energy algorithm to assess individual cow’s SCC trends, milk yields, and history to identify which animals need attention before problems escalate. Additionally, the MPR service tracks cows at risk of severe negative energy balance, helping to identify metabolic issues that could compromise overall herd health.

Figure 1: Median Somatic Cell Counts for AHV-supported cows in the L, P and R category cows, as identified by the MPRs (shaded areas depict the 25% and 75% quartiles). Time point zero depicts the SCC at the time of support with subsequent time points the SCC at subsequent monthly milk recordings. NB: Note that the R category cows start off from a higher SCC than the other categories.

A Smarter Approach: Risk Categorisation for Targeted Support

After each milk recording, the AHV MPR service tracks the SCC history of individual cows and analyses ‘spike patterns’—the number of SCC increases over a certain threshold within a set time frame. Cows are then categorised into risk groups based on their SCC trends:

• ‘L’ Cows – Showing early signs of udder health challenges.
  • ‘P’ Cows – Indicating more established udder health challenges.
    • ‘R’ Cows – Classified as ‘repeat offenders’ with persistent high SCC.

This categorisation reflects the level of bacterial load in the udder and determines the appropriate level of AHV product support. The key aim is to intervene early at the ‘L’ and ‘P’ stages, reducing the proportion of cows progressing to the problematic ‘R’ stage over time.

The Power of Proactive Support

As Figure 1 shows, by acting early, AHV-supported ‘L’ cows typically see SCC reductions to below 200,000 cells/ml within one milk recording. ‘P’ cows also respond well, though they take slightly longer to reach a stable level. ‘R’ cows, carrying a heavier bacterial load, experience SCC reductions but often require more time and may not reach optimal levels.

To quantify success, AHV defines it as either a drop below 200,000 cells/ml or, in extreme cases where SCC is in the millions, at least a 50% reduction. Results as depicted in Figure 2 show:

• 53% of ‘R’ cows show success by the third recording, with continued improvement over time.
  • 78% of ‘L’ cows achieve ‘success’ by the next milk recording.
    • 67% of ‘P’ cows reach success by the second recording post-support.

Figure 2: Success rates for SCC reductions after AHV support, depicted over time.

The Transition & Fertility Programme, has been developed to provide essential energy and minerals before calving, while ensuring comprehensive support for the cow’s recovery as she starts lactation and resumes her reproductive cycle. 

Moving Beyond Firefighting: Proactive Udder Health with AHV 

By combining quorum sensing technology, ongoing MPR monitoring, and expert consultant support, AHV offers Irish farmers a proactive, preventative strategy that delivers real, measurable improvements in herd performance.  

Applied post-calving, AHV solutions effectively ‘cleans out’ bacteria that has built up in her udder during the dry period, ensuring she starts her lactation strong. 

This means healthier udders, easier udder health maintenance- all while supporting long-term milk quality and production.

A Smarter Approach to Udder Health 

The future of animal health is about prevention, not reaction. With AHV’s free MPR Analysis, you can harness your farm’s own data to make informed decisions, safeguard your cows’ health, and protect your bottom line. 

Signup for Free MPR Analysis is simple! Contact your local AHV consultant or call AHV Ireland on 05786 88858 to learn more and get started.