Planning your herd’s health

The health of your herd has an impact on productivity, management and nutrition.

A healthy animal is not just an animal that isn’t sick. It is an animal that is highly productive and performs well in the herd. Infectious disease is an important factor affecting the health of every herd. But the subject of herd health also includes many other areas of management and nutrition, all of which can affect productivity.
What is herd health planning?
  • Its purpose is to maintain good animal health to gain maximum economic advantage
  • The Herd Health Plan document outlines the main management procedures on the farm
  • Putting these procedures into practice will mean improvements in overall health status, fewer health problems and better production performance
  • The Herd Health Plan is best completed in conjunction with your veterinary practitioner and other farm advisors.

 

The health planning process includes four key steps as part of the overall Herd Health and Management Cycle:

Herd Health Plan

The Herd Health Plan document, compiled with professional veterinary assistance, outlines the management procedures needed to maintain a healthy and productive herd. It addresses priority management issues identified during a review of recent animal health performance. The Plan will help improve animal health, performance and production.

 

Herd Health Plan template

A usable blank copy of the Herd Health Plan can be found in the GIIL Milk Suppliers Calendar. It may be used on-farm to meet the required standards. It is not compulsory to use this template. However, if an alternative is used it should cover all elements within the template document.

 

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