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Abstract
Cattle Diseases and Their Effects on Economic and Productive Efficiency of Dairy farms
The aim of the present investigation was to determine the influence of some diseases affecting cows, heifers, and calves on economic and productive efficiency of dairy farms. For these purposes, the present study was carried out during the period extended from 2004-2006 on random samples of private and governmental farms. Three localities were the area of research; Behera, Kafr El-Sheikh, and Alexandria. The data of this study were obtained from the performance records of 4000 Holstein-Friesian cows, 1884 calves, and 170 heifers.
Results can be summarized in the following:1. Cows
1.1 Mastitis.
• It was found that the incidence of clinical mastItIS averaged 15.5 %. It was significantly higher in high-producing cows than low-producing ones, pluriparous cows than primiparous ones, autumn-calving cows than others, in 2004 than 2005 and 2006, and in one-quarter cows affected than two and three-quarters affected.
• Milk yield of mastitic cows averaged 2958.5 kg (305-MY) less than unaffected control cows. The loss of milk was significantly greater for high-producing mastitic cows than low-producing ones, for pluriparous than primiparous cows, in Behera province than other localities, autumn-calving cows than other seasons of calving, in private sector than governmental one, in 2004 than 2005 and 2006, and for threequarters affected than one and two-quarters.
• It was found that mastitis prolong calving interval by 113.10 day more than unaffected controls. Moreover, mastitic cows costed 47.49 L.E as service cost more than free-cows and costed 93.40 L.E as a treatment cost.
• Total costs averaged 2867.83 L.E per mastitic cow more than total costs of unaffected control. In addition, high-producing mastitic cows costed more total costs (3202.51 L.E) than low-producing ones (2533.15 L.E). Moreover, primiparous, winter-calving, governmental, two-quarters mastitic cows and cows of Kafr EI-Sheikh province and that of 2004 costed more total costs than their comparable when their values substracted from their matched unaffected controls.
• Total returns averaged 4109.88 L.E per mastitic cow less than total returns of unaffected control. The loss in total returns was greater for high-producing cows (5053.13 L.E) than low-producing ones (3166.63 L.E). Furthermore, the loss was found to be greater in pluriparous, cows in Behera province, winter-calving, private sector, cows in 2006, and three-quarters mastitic cows when evaluated to their comparable.
• Costs of a kg of mastitic milk from total veterinary management averaged 3.63 piasters greater than unmastitic milk (2.55 piasters). It was significantly greater among high and low-producing cows, primiparous and pluriparous ones, different localities, among season of calving, sectors, years, and quarters affected when compared to their matched unaffected controls.
1.2 Lameness.
• The incidence of lameness averaged 11.30 %. It was significantly higher in highproducing cows, pluriparous, Behera province, autumn-calving, private sector, and in 2004.
• Milk yield of lame cows was significantly less than their matched controls. As lame cows produce on average 2809.05 kg less than controls. In addition, high-producing lame cows losted more milk (4166.3 kg) than low-producing ones (1451.8 kg) when deviated from their matched controls. Moreover, pluriparous, autumncalving, private, cows in Behera province and in 2006 losted more milk than their comparable.
• It was cleared that lameness prolonged calving interval by 62.54 d more than unaffected cows. Therefore, lame cows costed on average 51.32 L.E as service cost greater than free-cows. In addition, costs of treatment averaged 157.68 L.E.
• Total veterinary management costs were significantly greater for lame cows (244.97 L.E) than unaffected controls (221.37 L.E). In addition, these costs were significantly greater among high and low-producing cows, primiparous and pluriparous, different localities, different season of calving, sectors, and different years when compared to their matched controls.
• Total costs of lame cows averaged 1973.64 L.E more than total costs of non-lame cows. High-producing, pluriparous, summer-calving, governmental sector, Behera province, and cows in 2005 required more total costs than their comparables.
• Total returns of lame cows averaged 4321.74 L.E less than total returns of nonlame cows. The loss in returns was greater in high-producing, pluriparous, Behera, summer-calving, governmental sector, and in 2005.
• Costs of kg of Milk from veterinary management for lame cows were significantly greater (3.85 piasters) than milk obtained from healthy cows (2.41 piasters).
1.3 Cystic ovarian disease.
• It was found that the incidence of cystic ovarian disease in dairy farms averaged 7.3 %. It was significantly higher in high-producing cows, pluriparous, Kafr El-Sheikh province, spring-calving, private sector, and in 2006.
• Cows contracted C.O.D produce 2854.80 kg less milk than unaffected controls.
High-producing cows significantly losted more milk than low-producing ones. Furthermore, pluriparous, cows of Behera province, spring-calving cows, governmental, and cows of 2004, respectively losted greater amount of milk.
• Cystic ovarian disease significantly prolonged C.I by 115.56 d than healthy cows.
Therefore, cystic ovarian cows costed 46.61 L.E more than costed healthy cows. C.I was significantly prolonged among high and low-producing cows, primiparous and pluriparous, different localities, different season of calving, sectors, and different years.
• Total costs of cystic ovarian cows were significantly greater (3052.41 L.E) than total costs of healthy unaffected cows. Low-producing, primiparous, cows of Alexandria province, spring-calving, private sector, and cows in 2005, respectively required more total costs than their comparable.
• Costs of kg of milk from total veterinary management for cystic ovarian cows were significantly greater (3.98 piasters) than healthy unaffected cows (2.36 piasters).
1.4 Endometritis.
• It was cleared that the incidence of endometritis in dairy farms averaged 7.9 %. It was significantly greater in high-producing, Behera province, winter-calving, and in 2006.
• Milk yield of endometritis cows showed lesser amount (1281 kg) than healthy cows. The loss in milk yield was greater for high-producing cows, primiparous, Behera province, winter-calving, private sector, and in 2006.
• A significant increase of C.I (123.09 d) was observed for endometritis cows rather than healthy ones. Costs of inseminations required for endometritis cows to be served were greater (51.07 L.E) than unaffected controls.
• Endometritis cows required significantly greater total veterinary management (276.82 L.E) than unaffected cows (230.66 L.E).
• Total costs of endometritis cows were significantly greater (3509.54 L.E) than total costs of healthy cows. While, total returns of endometritis cows averaged (3010.23) less than total returns of healthy control cows.
1.5 Retained placenta.
• The incidence of retained placenta averaged 8 %. It was significantly higher in Kafr El-Sheikh province, winter-calving, governmental, and in 2005.
• Cows contracted R.P losted 1671.4 kg of milk more than their matched unaffected controls. High-producing, primiparous, Kafr El-Sheikh, winter-calving, private cows, and in 2004 losted more milk than their comparable.
• A significant prolongation in calving interval of retained placental cows than health ones was detected (66.74 d) which led to increase in the service costs required (34.08 L.E).
• Total costs ofR.P cows averaged 1801.28 L.E more that required by healthy cows.
In addition, the total returns of R.P cows were significantly lower (2286.25 L.E) than total returns of healthy unaffected cows.
• Total veterinary management for kg of milk obtained from R.P cows were significantly greater (3.46 piasters) than healthy cows (2.51 piasters).
2. Calves
2.1 Diarrhea.
• It was found that t:le incidence of calf diarrhea averaged 51.09 %. It was significantly greater in winter season than other seasons.
• The weight gain of diarrheic calf was significantly lower (60.87 kg) than healthy one (69.01 kg). Moreover, costs of treatment averaged 24.93 L.E per diarrheic calf. Furthermore, total costs of diarrheic calf were significantly greater (635.18 L.E) than control calf(610.25 L.E).
2.2 Pneumonia.
• The incidence of calf pneumonia averaged 38.46 %. It was significantly greater in spring season than other seasons.
• The weight gain of pneumonic calf was significantly lower (62.96 kg) than healthy one (67.35 kg). Moreover, costs of treatment averaged 17.47 L.E per pneumonic calf. Furthermore, total costs of pneumonic calf were significantly greater (642.06 L.E) than pneumonic calf (627.45 L.E).
3. Heifers
3.1 Delaved puberty.
• It was cleared that the incidence of delayed puberty averaged 29.41 %. In addition, costs of treatment averaged 20.07 L.E per heifer.
• Heifers suffered delayed puberty losted 2973.15 L.E as milk loss when compared to their unaffected controls. Furthermore, costs of feed were significantly greater (2967.51 L.E) than healthy heifers (2384.10 L.E).
CONCLUSION
On the basis of th~ present study, it could be concluded that the most important economic diseases affecting dairy cows under Egyptian conditions were mastitis, lameness, cystic ovarian disease, endometritis, and retained placenta and the total costs per cow contracted such diseases were 11623.18, 11749.57, 12790.80, 13635.62, and 11669.35 L.E, respectively. Furthermore, the most important economic diseases affecting calves were diarrhea and pneumonia and the total costs per calf affected were 635.18 and 642.06 L.E, respectively. Meanwhile, the most important economic disease affecting heifers delayed puberty and the total costs per heifer affected were 3105.21 L.E.
In general, the present study revealed that veterinary management costs constituted a very little fraction (2.57 %) of total costs. This may be considered beneficial to producers in terms of reduced costs but, it also means that producers still follow little disease control programs, and don’t concern with the scientific veterinary supervision.