The Role Of Questionnaires In Health Control Of The Dairy Herd Affected By The Subacute Rumen Acidosis

The study was carried out in the framework of the State Research Project (AgroBioRes) No. 2014.10-4/VPP-7/5. The objective of this study was to create a questionnaire for herd health control visits to diagnose and investigate causes of the subacute rumen acidosis (SARA) in dairy herds. The questionnaire was created using information of scientific literature and practical experience; it was evaluated in four dairy herds. This publication presents results of two visits in loose holding type herd "X" of 660 dairy cows. Questions were divided into two parts: general information of the herd and special inspection of cows and facilities. The most important data obtained for SARA diagnosis are: milk fat content below 3%, rumen fluid pH below 5.5; animal clinical signs - cud chewing less than 55 times, salivation, rumen fill -2 points, faeces consistence -2 or 1 point with undigested grain and mucus, breathing frequency above 30 times/min, more than 30% of cows lame (2 or 3 points). The following SARA causes were observed in herd "X": mistakes in preparing total mix feed - too much concentrates, not enough chopped hay, possibility of sorting feed, unevenly distributed feed and too rarely pushed in the trough. SARA problem has been reduced until the second herd health visit: fewer cows had milk fat below 3%, and there were fewer lame cows. The total mix feed content was improved. In conclusion it is possible to say that a computerized questionnaire helps a veterinarian to organize the archive of herd health visits, provides a comprehensive investigation of SARA in the herd and selects information for solving this problem.