Better health for cows - fewer antibiotics
The VerLak project shows new ways for dairy farming
The Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Research Centre for Agriculture and Fisheries (LFA), together with the Frankenförder Forschungsgesellschaft and the Institute for Reproduction of Farm Animals Schönow, launched the MuD animal welfare project "Extension of the lactation period and selective drying off to minimise the use of antibiotics in dairy cows" on 1 January 2021 with the aim of minimising the use of antibiotics in dairy farming through a combination of two innovative management methods. These include the extension of the lactation period and farm-specific selective drying off. Extending the lactation period leads to fewer births per cow and farm and should help to reduce the critical phases (calving and first month of lactation) with a higher risk of disease and lower milk yield for drying off. This automatically reduces the number of dry periods in the total utilisation period per cow and thus also the measures (mastitis prophylaxis) for drying off. 12 farms, including 6 test herds, were acquired for the project.
The immediate aim of the project was to introduce practical concepts and methods for reducing the use of antibiotics in dairy farming.
Keeping cows healthy while achieving good milk yields is a major challenge in modern agriculture. There are many problems, especially around calving. A lot of medication is often used during this time.
The aim was to reduce the use of antibiotics and improve animal welfare at the same time.
A new tool was developed for this purpose: the TBS calculator.
It allows each farm to calculate the best time for the first insemination for each cow. In this way, each cow is considered individually - and not according to the "all the same" scheme.
The results are impressive:
- Cows became pregnant with fewer inseminations.
- The animals remained in lactation longer - without losing performance.
- Body condition was better.
- There were fewer critical phases of illness.
- The use of antibiotics was reduced.
And most importantly, the cows' health did not suffer from the longer inter-calving periods. On the contrary - in many cases the animals even benefited.
VerLak makes it clear: animal-specific insemination can combine profitability, sustainability and animal welfare.