Economic aspects of reproductive failure in dairy cattle. I. Financial loss at farm level

Some years ago, systematic research was initiated to improve quantitative insight into the economic impact of diseases and disease control in livestock. This paper deals with the financial loss at farm level caused by reproductive failure in dairy cattle. Economic calculations concerning the calving interval of cows which differ in age, relative production level and persistence of milk production during lactation were made. On average, an optimal interval of 1 year or less was established, while the loss per day lengthening of the interval (norm-loss) amounted to 1–2 Dutch guilders (Dfl.). Also, 676 norm-losses due to forced replacement because of reproductive failure were determined, dependent on age and relative production level of the culled cow and average herd life of the farm. On average, this norm-loss was determined to be almost Dfl. 500 per culled cow. Based on 71 farms in an investigation in the province of Overijssel, total loss per farm was determined, using the calving interval data, forced replacement data and norm-loss rate described above. On average, the calculated loss amounted to Dfl. 63 per cow per year, of which Dfl. 35.50 resulted from sub-optimal calving interval and Dfl. 27.50 from forced replacement due to reproductive failure. Costs for veterinary treatment and drugs were not included in these elements. Total loss due to reproductive failure was estimated to average about Dfl. 80 per cow per year, which equals about 2% of the gross production value or 10% of an average farmer's income.Finally, considerable differences in loss between farms have been determined. The difference between the 20% of farms with the highest and the 20% of farms with the lowest calculated loss is even more than the average loss. Thus improvment may be achieved on many farms, e.g., with the help of a herd health programme.