Effects of cattle breed and production system on veterinary diagnoses and administrated veterinary medicine in alpine dairy farms

Abstract

The aim of the following study was to investigate the effect of dairy production systems, including housing, farm management, pasture access and concentrate supplementation on veterinary diagnosed diseases as well as on administrated drugs in local dual-purpose Alpine Grey (AG) cattle and specialised Brown Swiss (BS) cattle in alpine dairy systems. In the final dataset 916 veterinary diagnosis from 524 cows farmed in 6 low-concentrate Alpine Grey farms (LAG), 9 low-concentrate Brown Swiss farms, (LBS) 11 high-concentrate Alpine Grey farms (HAG) and 15 high-concentrate Brown Swiss farms (HBS) were available for the statistical analysis. The most diagnoses referred to udder health (mastitis, dry-cow therapy) followed by parasite infections and reproduction disorders. In detail, BS had a higher occurrence for mammary infections than AG while HBS farms showed a significant higher incidence for udder diseases compared to all other farm categories. Pasture access had in tendency a beneficial effect on udder health but was detrimental for cows fertility. For latter, special attention should be put on providing sufficient energy supply to grazing animals for avoiding severe negative energy balances and resulting metabolic disorders which reduce fertility. Finally, to reduce the use of antimicrobials classified as highly critical by the WHO in terms of resistance, selective therapies, particularly for mammary infections and dry-cow therapies as well as the inclusion of preventive strategies in every days farm management should be encouraged. Highlights Pasture access has a favourable effect on udder health Selective veterinary treatments for udder infections and dry-off practice should be promoted Brown Swiss cows are more susceptible to mammary infections than Alpine Grey cows