Herd health programme to prepare for biosecurity challenges launched

A NEW herd health programme aimed at preparing Irish dairy farmers for the biosecurity challenges of herd expansion has started at the Teagasc Dairy Production Research Centre, Moorepark.

Two research projects, one focusing on mastitis and milk quality issues, and the other on infectious diseases, have commenced, led by John Mee and colleagues. Two veterinarians have been employed to work on these projects.

Farmers in Ireland are losing financially through penalties imposed due to various milk quality issues.

The idea of using a team-based approach to solving milk quality issues is one the University of Wisconsin explored with great commercial success.

The Teagasc team-based milk quality/mastitis control plan is being designed at Moorepark and is based on some concepts of the US approach.

These are team-based, involving realistic targets, identifying strategic management changes, accountability and regular re-assessment.

The plan will commence with a pilot programme involving 20 farms. The teams will be made up of Teagasc advisers, manufacturing outlet milk quality advisers, vets, milking machine technicians and the host farmer.

Preparation for the pilot will include training workshops for all parties involved, aimed at improving the skills required for milk quality issues on farm.

Farmers are being recruited to participate in the programme, which will run for nine months.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that dairy and tillage farmers are the most innovative groups of Irish farmers.

The initial results shows the most frequent type of innovative activity relates to organisational and process issues.

Factors that influence farmers’ attitudes to innovation include their age, farm size and whether or not they are clients of Teagasc.

Other factors are their interaction with discussion groups and monitor farms.