THE COSTS OF PRODUCTION DISEASES IN DAIRY HERDS IN ENGLAND

Economic losses due to common health problems in dairy cattle were inv estigated in 90 Friesian/Holstein herds (average size 152 cows), which calved in England during the 1992/1993 season with an average annual yield of about 6000 1 per cow. By using only the direct costs of commo n production diseases and other health problems (mastitis, lameness, v ulval discharge, treatments for oestrus-not-observed, retained foetal membranes, milk fever, twinning, calf mortality and aid at calving), t he cost of ill health in a 100 cow herd with average rates of these pr oblems (compared with target levels) was estimated at pound 6300 per y ear. The costs ranged from pound 1200 (average of the top 10%) to poun d 13 600 (average of the worst 10% of the herds). The main losses were due to mastitis and lameness (38 and 27% of health cost, respectively ).