AHV PROGRAM – UDDER HEALTH
Optimal production and yields, cost-savings and fewer financial damage
Optimal udder health is of vital importance to the quality of the milk, as the milk supplied must be suitable for human consumption, and meet the standards of the industry and consumer market.
The AHV Udder Health Program (AHV UHP) supports your animal’s natural resistance for optimal production, longevity and development of the herd, which leads to cost-savings and fewer financial losses (see below), improved well-being of your cow and better job satisfaction for the dairy farmer.
We offer a range of innovative udder health solutions alongside a full-service concept, including tailored advice and additional (veterinary) support, data-driven approaches, and training for monitoring and identification.
AHV UDDER HEALTH PROGRAM
The AHV Udder Health Program (AHV UHP) includes;
- Tailored guidance and training for the correct, proactive use of AHV Udder Health Solutions (see below) for optimal results in, for example, milk quality (fat, protein, lactose), longevity, production and yields, and more.
- Training in analyzing milk control records to identify challenges proactively.
- Free additional in-depth veterinary data-driven analysis and consult.
- Opportunities to actively take part in the AHV CommUNITY & Innovation Program; sharing experiences and learning curve courses with other farmers through a variety of platforms, such as organized workshops and study clubs, facilitated or supported by AHV.
“AHV are the first to enable us to change our approach on farm, and to get more control over our business results. The return on investment with the AHV udder health solutions is just fantastic. I don’t think we can work without them anymore.”
Richard Walker, dairy farmer (Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland)
RETURN ON INVESTMENT
This indicative calculation is based on an average U.S. farm with 273 dairy cows (FADN, 2018), using national validated KPIs and validated average costs, such as labor costs and herd size management costs, but also the prevention of loss of production and thus additional yields (Liang et al., 2017; Cho & Yoon, 2014; Charles, 2020).
Economic advantage AHV UHP – Short term: $93,994
Economic advantage AHV UHP – Mid term: $100,068
Economic advantage AHV UHP – Long term: $100,023
Your average annual economic benefit of working with the AHV Udder Health Program can amount to $98,028.
BENEFITS
OPTIMAL MILK YIELD
Figure 1 shows the relationship between the corrected daily milk yield*, compared to MPR 0 and the two following MPRs, with correction for days in lactation, made with a custom Wilminks formula (see below; research methodology) (Hoonhorst et al., 2020).
The research population of 250 lactating cows all faced udder health challenges, of which a population of 44 cows was in the AHV Udder Health Program starting between MPR 0 and 1, following first or second significances in data analysis. A group of 206 cows with udder health challenges did not enter the AHV UHP, but have been monitored after one significance in data analysis (yellow) or 2 significances in data analysis (red) as control groups.
The corrected daily milk yield increases the most with the AHV UHP population, compared to the expectation (baseline in the graph). The 206 other cows groups increase as well, but the average increase is smaller, compared to the control group. However, this is not the case for the second population (yellow), and the final population (red) is increasing the least of all groups, compared to the expectation (baseline in the graph).
The three MPRs for all cows were carried out between days 60 and 250 (days in lactation).
“I love how with AHV, we analyze the milk control first, and based on this data, we identify which cows should enter the AHV health plans.“
Hans Habben Jansen, dairy farmer (Kamerik, the Netherlands)
MILK YIELD
Figure 1 – Corrected milk yield trends with AHV Udder Health Program (Hoonhorst et al., 2020)
BLUE: Cows in AHV Udder Health Program (after significances in data)
YELLOW: Cows not in AHV Udder Health Program (1 significance in data)
RED: Cows not in AHV Udder Health Program (2 significances in data)
LACTOSE & HEALTH
Lactose in milk is an indicator for the nutritional status and health of cows (Umer Chhalgari, 2014; Mäntysaari et al., 2019). Its composition and concentration is influenced in particular by the udder health, energy balance and metabolism of the cow (Costa et al, 2019).
According to Pyörälä (2003), udder health problems have a negative effect on the lactose content. She suggests that the lactose content can also serve as an indicator for udder health problems; the lactose content in general shows few deviations during both a lactation and in between different lactations. In the case of udder health problems, the lactose content decreases, and among other things, the enzyme activity is reduced, but this percentual decrease is relatively small (Pyörälä, 2003).
When certain parameters of the milk control data show an increase as soon as udder health problems occur, the lactose level decreases (Malek dos Reis et al., 2013; Çardak, 2016; Kul et al., 2019).
LACTOSE & ENERGY CORRECTED MILK
Figure 2 (see below) shows the trend of lactose levels and energy corrected milk (lb) per year for a dairy farm (Biddinghuizen, the Netherlands) with an average of 91 dairy cows, between 2014 and 2019* (Machado-Sleutjes, 2020). This farm has been working with AHV Udder Health Solutions since 2014.
The amount of lactose, together with protein and fat contents per kilogram (2.2lbs) of milk, influence the milk yield (van Zessen, 2013).
The FrieslandCampina guaranteed price applies to 100 kg (220lbs) of milk with standard levels of protein (3.57%), fat (4.42%) and lactose (4.53%), excluding VAT. The amounts apply to an average annual delivery of 850.000 kg (1.8m lbs) of milk (FrieslandCampina, 2020).
* Between 2015 and 2016 the farm faced forced discharge due to renovations of its facilities. In 2019 the farm faced udder health challenges due to the purchase of new dairy cows.
“I have been working with AHV’s solutions since November 2019 and I am achieving good results with them, especially in terms of udder health. I haven’t really needed anything else since I started using the AHV solutions.“
Thijs van Gastel, dairy farmer (Nispen, The Netherlands)
LACTOSE
Figure 2 – Average lactose levels and energy corrected milk (kg) per cow per year, based on bulk milk (Machado-Sleutjes, 2020)
ORANGE: Energy corrected milk (kg, 2.2lbs) per cow per year
ORANGE DOTTED: Average energy corrected milk (kg, 2.2lbs) per cow per year
BLUE: Lactose content (%)
BLUE DOTTED: Trend line lactose (%)
For more information, please make an appointment with one of our Advisors Animal Health.
AHV UDDER HEALTH SOLUTIONS
AHV EXTRA
AHV Cow Extra Tablet is a mineral supplement for lactating dairy cows.
Packaging: 10 tablets
AHV QUICK
AHV Cow Quick Tablet is a mineral supplement for lactating dairy cows.
Packaging: 10 tablets
AHV ASPI
AHV Aspi Liquid is a liquid mineral supplement for dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep and goats.
Packaging: 16 x 17 fl oz (500 ml)
For more information, please make an appointment with one of our Advisors Animal Health.
