5.4. Zoonotic diseases There are also increasingly important infectious diseases that are endemic in the
national herd that also affect fertility. These include Leptospirosis, Johne’s Disease, BVD and Neospora. Some of these have zoonotic implications as well. Cattle passports
are now mandatory, as is the recording of the use of pharmaceutical products. Records of the cow’s health and fertility mean that the necessary inspections and cross-checks
can be carried out. Some buyers have even specified the detailed records and reports on performance in terms of fertility and health that they must have analysed.
5.5. MoÕement records There are further demands on recording systems today. Movement records have now
become essential. Complex national animal identification and cattle movement recording services have been installed in the wake of the BSE crisis. These should be incorporated
in a national integrated database. Unfortunately, they are not.
6. Disease recording — development of herd health schemes
Ž .
There is also an interest in good recording linked to herd heath schemes HHS , where veterinarians carry out scheduled herd visits and help to raise the standards of
fertility management. These schemes are underpinned by the use of computerised records with regular feedback of information delivered by the practitioner. The aim of
HHS is to produce optimum animal health and production. This implies that sufficiently
Ž good standards of fertility are reached and perfection is not the target Blood et al.,
. 1978 . HHS and preventive medicine routines have been shown to be highly cost
Ž effective when carried out properly. A three to one return is found £60 per cow extra
. Ž .
income vs. £20 extra costs Wassell and Esslemont, 1992 . The quality of the advice is
important in preventive medicine, which remains a problem of attitude. To make the detailed recommendations about the herd’s health and fertility the veterinarian, or any
Ž other adviser, now needs more data not only on all aspects of fertility the traditional
. starting point of a herd health scheme but also on production and other diseases.
6.1. Recording of subclinical disease Subclinical disease is recognised today as one of the most important contributors to
reduced animal efficiency. One of the best ways of spotting such an underlying problem may be by noticing reduced output in terms of milk, its quality, low rates of fertility or
poor growth and body condition. There is a great need for the appropriate data if these conditions are to be spotted and dealt with in their early stages.
6.2. Recording of infectious diseases There are a number of important infectious diseases still widespread in the UK dairy
farms. Many of these affect the fertility of the herd and are economically very important.
They are not receiving much attention in terms of eradication nor vaccination at present. These diseases include Leptospirosis, BVD, TB, IBR and Leucosis. Abortion is a
problem in dairy cows and while Brucella is under control in many countries, there is a major problem looming with Neospora. Salmonella and Escherichia coli are ever
present on dairy farms and they are the sources of health problems for those working with animals. Details of the results from blood and other tests on the individual animals
and the herd should be stored on the recording system.
7. Development of an integrated database — type of recording systems
