A survey of some factors relevant to animal welfare on 249 dairy farms in the Republic of Ireland Part 2: Data on incidence of disease, culling and biosecurity measures

This survey was conducted by questionnaire. The animal population surveyed comprised 12,067 cows and 2,955 heifers in 249 herds. In 48 herds that part icipated in the "Dairymis" programme, the questionnaire was completed by th e visiting technician in consultation with the farmer; in the other 201 her ds it was completed by a practicing veterinary surgeon in the presence of t he farmer. The principal diseases recorded were mastitis (affected 1,540 an imals: 10 per cent), lameness (1,430 animals: 9.5 per cent) and infertility (1,126 animals: 7.5 per cent). The animal mortality and culling rates were one per cent and 17 per cent, respectively. Magnesium supplementation was used in 75 per cent of the 249 herds surveyed, anthelminthic dosing in 72 p er cent and vaccination in 66 per cent of the herds. There was Less uptake of disease prevention measures in smaller farms (Less than 30 cows).