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Collaborative project: Data integration into an innovative management system based on HERDEplus® to improve calf health on German dairy farms - subproject A (Jungviehmodul)
Project
Project code: 281C804A21
Contract period: 01.11.2023
- 31.12.2026
Budget: 142,268 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: cattle, prevention, antibiotics, animal welfare, diagnostics, animal husbandry
Animal welfare and protection is of paramount importance for social acceptance with regard to milk production. Calf mortality continues to be a major problem in modern dairy farming. From the farmer's point of view, heifer rearing represents a large proportion of production costs and provides the future generation of dairy cows. Nevertheless, it is often neglected and usually judged on the basis of the average age at first calving. This has several disadvantages and does not do justice to the complexity of this process. The use of sensor technology makes it possible to 1) improve calf health and rearing management on dairy farms and 2) reduce the use of antibiotics by monitoring animal behavior. In this regard, automated feeding technology offers a special opportunity, since here, in comparison to adult cows, data about feed intake are available. In addition, it is required that specifically the consumption of antimicrobial substances in all animal production systems is recorded (VO EU 2019/6). To date, there are no good solutions for farmers and/or veterinarians in the field of dairy farming and heifer rearing. The aim of this project is to combine the information generated in the context of calf and heifer rearing and to process it in such a way that the farmer can easily use it and integrate it into his/her herd management in order to reduce the use of medication and thus make rearing more efficient and sustainable. In addition, it should be easier for the farmer and the veterinarian to document diseases and treatments.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal Husbandry
- Animal health
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Department of cloven-hoofed animals
