Dairy Well

The farm should have a written herd health plan with standard operating procedures (SOPs) for at least the following:

• Vaccine schedule for all age groups
• Parasite prevention
• Hoof health
• Sick cattle monitoring
• Udder health

These SOPs should be developed with the guidance of the VOR while meeting all expectations as put forth by the AVMA and AABP.

National Dairy FARM Program

A written herd health plan should be developed with the veterinarian of record (VOR) that includes written protocols for all of the following:

• Air quality
• Milking routine
• Vaccinations
• Daily observations for disease/injury
• Maternity/newborn and milk-fed calf management
• Painful procedures
• Personnel training
• Diseased or injured cattle management
• Non-ambulatory animal management
• Euthanasia
• Parasite and pest control
• Lameness prevention and treatment
• Fitness for transport

A sample of this comprehensive plan is provided at www.nationaldairyfarm.com.

All documents related to farm management should be written and available for all employees and provided in their understood language.

Validus

The farm should have a written herd health plan with standard operating procedures for herd health including at least the following:

• Biosecurity
• Nutrition management
• Special needs:
  • Euthanasia
  • Non-ambulatory animals
  • Maternity management
  • Record-keeping
• Animal handling
• Transport
• Daily observation
• Caretaker training
• Needle tracking
• Milking process
• Pain intervention
• Parasite and pest control program

This plan must be reviewed at least annually by the manager and the herd veterinarian for effectiveness of treatment protocols and herd morbidity issues.