The health management of the breeding herd is a fundamental part of animal production. To ensure the health and well-being of your animals, it is necessary to implement an adequate health plan. In this article, we will explore best practices and strategies for maintaining a healthy and productive herd.
Importance of health management:
Sanitary management of the breeding herd plays a crucial role in the successful reproduction and overall well-being of the animals. To achieve a quality weaned calf, it is necessary that the cows be in optimal reproductive conditions. This involves keeping them in good body condition and guaranteeing their health, as well as that of the newborn calf.
Preparation of a health plan:
The first step for good health management is to develop an adequate plan. To do this, we must take into account several factors:
Category of animals to clean: Identify the different categories of animals in the herd, such as calves, first-service heifers, pregnant cows, bulls, among others.
Disease history: It is crucial to know the disease history of the farm and the region to take appropriate preventive measures
Prevalent causes of deaths: Identify the most common causes of death in the establishment, such as respiratory diseases, clostridiosis or other diseases that can affect the productivity of the herd.
Herd management: It is important to prioritize animal well-being in all management activities (from birth to the animal's exit from the system) such as weaning, pregnancy diagnosis and entore. Proper management reduces stress, minimizing the risk of contracting diseases.
Environmental impact: Consider the effects of parasiticides and other products used in sanitary management on the environment. It is essential to use them responsibly to minimize negative impacts on local fauna and flora as well as delay the development of resistance to the active ingredients. For this purpose, a rotation of drugs is applied.
Health plan chronology:
To better understand the health management of the breeding herd, we are going to review the recommended measures at each stage of the animal's life:
Calves: Once the calves are born, they will be weaned from the mother at approximately 60 days of age. At this time, a health care program consisting of respiratory, clostridial and keratoconjunctivitis vaccines will be carried out, as well as an antiparasitic. After 30 days, respiratory and clostridial vaccines will be repeated.
About year: At this stage, a respiratory vaccine booster and vaccination against reproductive diseases will be carried out. Additionally, an antiparasitic will be administered if necessary. The vaccination protocol against reproductive diseases is composed of two doses separated by 21, the second dose will be administered approximately 30 days before insemination.
Pregnant animals: during this period, inoculation with a vaccine against diarrhea is carried out, thus seeking to achieve immunity of the calf in its first months of life. In addition, the health of the pregnant cows continues to be monitored and provided with adequate nutrition. Regular veterinary checks can be performed to make sure everything is in order.
Bulls: two reproductive evaluations are carried out per year for this category, as well as rigorous health care consisting of vaccines and regular deworming. Maintaining their health in optimal conditions is essential to ensure successful reproduction.
Control and follow up:
It is necessary to carry out rigorous control and monitoring of all the health measures implemented. It is recommended to perform periodic stool examinations to evaluate the effectiveness of antiparasitic treatments. In addition, it is important to analyze the health report issued by the slaughterhouse when sending animals to slaughter, which provides valuable information about the health of the herd.
Environmental considerations:
When using health products, such as parasiticides, it is essential to do so responsibly and respecting the environment. The recommended instructions and doses must be followed, avoiding contamination of soils, bodies of water and delaying the appearance of parasite resistance to the different active ingredients available on the market. The control of parasiticides in animals destined for slaughterhouses is rigorous, respecting the waiting time expressed by the manufacturer.