Evaluation of a data-driven tool to monitor youngstock rearing in dairy herds: Perception by its users and validation of improvement options.

Since 2018, dairy farmers in the Netherlands have access to a census data-driven tool to monitor calf rearing quality, called "KalfOK". Participants (N ≈ 12,000; 95 % of the population of dairy farms) receive a quarterly farm report with a score ranging between 0 and 100 points. The score is built on points graded for the value of 12 indicators for youngstock rearing quality (e.

Evaluation of a data-driven youngstock rearing quality system in Dutch dairy herds (2019-2022).

In recent years, the Netherlands exhibited an increased focus on improving youngstock rearing. Several data-driven tools were developed to assess and benchmark calf rearing practices based on key indicators, stimulate farmers to improve their youngstock rearing and reduce calf mortality. KalfOK is such a data-driven tool in which a farm-level overview with 15 indicators of youngstock rearing quality is communicated to participating farmers.

Predicting Positive ELISA Results in Dairy Herds with a Preferred Status in a Paratuberculosis Control Program.

Dairy herds participating in the Dutch milk quality assurance program for paratuberculosis are assigned a herd status on the basis of herd examinations by ELISA of individual serum or milk samples, followed by an optional confirmatory fecal PCR. Test-negative herds are assigned Status A; the surveillance of these herds consists of biennial herd examinations. Farmers falsely believing that their Status A herds are Map-free may inadvertently refrain from preventive measures.

Quantification of vertical and horizontal transmission of Neospora caninum infection in Dutch dairy herds.

Ninety-six of 108 randomly selected Dutch dairy herds had one or more cows with a positive serostatus for N. caninum. In these 96 herds, we have quantified the probabilities of vertical transmission (VT) and horizontal transmission (HT) of N.

Factors associated with variation in Neospora caninum bulk-milk S/P ratios in initially bulk-milk negative testing Dutch dairy herds.

We conducted a study on 81 initially bulk-milk ELISA negative dairy herds taken from a random sample of Dutch dairy herds to evaluate variation in bulk-milk S/P ratios and to study reasons for bulk-milk conversion. These herds were repeatedly (3-month intervals) tested between April 2004 and August 2005 and serostatus of all animals had previously been established as negative (N), low-positive (LP) or high-positive (HP). Of these herds, herd- and test-related factors associated with variation in sample over positive (S/P) ratios were analysed using a multivariable linear-mixed model with 'herd' as random effect.

Effect of Neospora caninum-serostatus on culling, reproductive performance and milk production in Dutch dairy herds with and without a history of Neospora caninum-associated abortion epidemics.

We quantified the effect of Neospora caninum (NC)-serostatus on culling and (re)production in 83 herds randomly selected from the Dutch dairy herd population (random group) and in 17 herds that had experienced an abortion epidemic associated with NC infection (epidemic-abortion group). In the random group, a single whole-herd blood sampling was done during the spring of 2003, while in the epidemic-abortion group whole-herd blood sampling was done repeatedly at least once a year starting after the abortion epidemic during the period 1997-2000 until the summer of 2004. Serological test-results for NC were given as 'negative' (N), 'low-positive' (LP) and 'high-positive' (HP).