“A 3rd of our cows are dried up with out antibiotics”
Two years in the past, Lilian and Patrick Gaillard systematically handled all their cows with an antibiotic on the dry interval. Like a big majority of breeders. “We used to do it out of behavior.say the 2 brothers, on the head of a herd of 55 dairy cows weighing 6,400 liters in Vercors blue AOP. As we had 100% of the cows cured utilizing a broad-spectrum antibiotic, we had by no means actually requested ourselves the query of working towards in another way.. »
Drying off is certainly the most effective time to deal with an contaminated cow, “ extra Though the antibiotic can remedy cows that arrive contaminated on the dry interval, it doesn’t defend towards new infections that will happen in the course of the dry interval. Even when it stays within the udder for a very long time,” insists Samuel Bouchier, advisor to Adice Conseil levage.
Studying to do with out antibiotics on wholesome cows
“We weren’t conscious of this in any respect.admit the breeders. We knew it was potential to make use of plugs for cows that did not have quite a lot of cells, however we had by no means taken the plunge. We most popular to play it protected somewhat than danger taking a card that might price us dearly. » The companions needed to combine a examine proposed by their adviser to mirror on selective therapy at drying off, to experiment with it, and to comprehend that they may do with out antibiotics on wholesome cows.
” Decreasing antibiotics is within the air, they proceed. After which, if the shutters make it potential to restrict new infections, we can have extra probability of pocketing the bonus of 10 euros per 1,000 liters paid when the milk doesn’t exceed 100,000 cells per milliliter on a month-to-month common. »
As a part of the examine performed for the 12 months 2021, solely cows with greater than 100,000 cells obtained an antibiotic on the dry interval. Obturator, alternatively, was administered to all cows. “It is very important have a easy protocol to win the assist of breeders”, considers Samuel Bouchier. Beforehand, a analysis had dominated that the Gaec was “appropriate selective drying off”, that’s to say with none prohibitive danger issue on the housing and administration of the herd.
No new infections at calving
The outcomes of this primary 12 months are encouraging. Of the 37 dry-offs carried out, 13 have been executed with out antibiotics, solely with the obturator. Nonetheless, 100% of the cows confirmed lower than 300,000 cells on the first examine and 89% lower than 100,000. Regardless of a decrease common cell fee and a barely greater variety of mastitis in 2021, there was no no new infections (in comparison with 13% in 2020, with three “millionaire” cows). As for the remedy fee(1)it remained secure with 100% of cows cured at calving.
So, will the Gaec proceed on this path? ” Sure, technically we noticed we might get by with out antibioticsPatrick concedes. Even enhance the scenario by limiting new infections on wholesome cows because of the shutter. » Economically, its systematic use generates an extra price, however “which must be put into perspective”, says Samuel Bouchier. For breeders, the reflection goes past the monetary stakes. “It is all about consciousness, Lillian concludes. I am unable to think about going again and treating cows that do not want it. »
(1) Proportion of animals with greater than 300,000 cells/ml on the dry interval which drop to lower than 300,000 cells/ml after calving.
Remedies are dearer, however…
“I’m sure that the Gaec is there financially even when the price of therapy is dearer”, argues Samuel Bouchier, of Adice Conseil levage. By evaluating the all-antibiotic technique (€11.60/DV) with that of selective therapy with stoppers (€10.60/DV) for all of the cows, to which antibiotics are added on two-thirds of the animals, the outcomes are seems to be adverse (€240). “However you additionally should take note of the very fact that there have been no new infections at calving, which was not the case the 12 months earlier than when three ‘millionaire’ cows lowered the typical cell depend of the herd for a number of months earlier than being reformed. »
With this protocol, breeders have doubtlessly gained three reforms and the bonus of €10/1,000 l paid within the months when the typical cell depend is beneath 100,000 cells/ml.
Key figures
302,000 l produced
41.3 VG and 34 TP
118,000 cells/ml on common
45% of milk at lower than 100,000 cells/ml
5 mastitis per 12 months
A examine on fifty farms in progress
A subject examine, piloted by the Livestock Institute, was carried out on a fifty farms in 2021. The protocol was the identical for all farms. All of the animals obtain an obturator and people with lower than 100,000 cells on the final management aren’t handled with antibiotics.
“Given the outcomes from the twenty farms that I adopted, the outcomes are passable”, says Samuel Bouchier, of Adice Conseil levage. The vast majority of the farms obtained encouraging outcomes with a lower within the variety of new infections and a stabilization of the therapeutic outcomes. It additionally emerges from the examine that this apply shouldn’t be essentially throughout the attain of all breeders. Some have given up because of lack of motivation or hygiene, or because of particular epidemiological conditions. Some additionally dry off their cows two months after the final management, which poses an issue as to the relevance of the cell depend taken under consideration.
Full outcomes are anticipated this fall.
Warning
In uncooked milk or in sectors such because the Vercors AOP utilizing thermised milk with constraints much like these of uncooked milk by way of milk high quality, the necessities by way of cell concentrations are excessive. Therefore the elevated significance of getting as many wholesome animals as potential at calving. ” The objective right here is to have 95% of cows that reveal with lower than 300,000 cells “, factors out Samuel Bouchier, of Adice.
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