Application of HACCP principles in dairy herd health and production management

摘要

Dairy farming has changed dramatically in the past few decades. Despite an increase in the global demand for dairy products, increasing production costs have led to declining profit margins. Dairy farmers have responded by intensifying production. Consolidation of farms has led to a decline in the number of farms while the average herd size continues to increase. Production diseases and declining fertility associated with intensification has a negative impact on both profitability and welfare. The motivation towards improved farm efficiency has led to the development of herd health programmes thataim to improve farm profitability through the reduction of clinical and subclinical disease. Primary benefits in animal productivity and welfare are targeted; however, from a food safety point of view, herd-based preventative medicine leads to healthieranimals that are less likely to harbour zoonotic pathogens and require fewer antimicrobial treatments.