Livestock Management RANCHING
Herd Health Planning: A 9-Step Process
Excerpt from Ranching 101, February 2014, presented by Dr. Glenn M. Rogers, DVM, MS, DABVP, Grassy Ridge Consulting
H
ERD HEALTH PLANNING IS NOT A NEW SUBJECT. HOWEVER, after decades of discussing the need for com- prehensive herd health programs, many beef
cow operations have not gone through the steps neces- sary to look at the health goals of their operation and develop a document that summarizes an annual plan for herd health activities. There are many reasons why it is important not only to go through the process of protocol development but also to put it in written format. A health management calendar can be easily posted,
possibly laminated, and serve as a handy reminder of scheduled activities. A written summary of the year’s herd health activities can serve as an excellent plan- ning tool and reminder system to assure that not only are the right products purchased, but also that they are used at the right time. When this planning process is performed with
your veterinarian, there is tremendous opportunity for improved communication and understanding of the specifi c health needs of the individual operation. Improving the local veterinarian’s knowledge of clients’ individual herd events allows for better coordination, especially when services such as pregnancy examina- tion and breeding soundness examinations are to be performed.
72 The Cattleman August 2016 This planning process serves as an educational tool
by pointing out opportunities for potential management improvements. Following are examples of questions that may arise in this process. • Could there be potential for improving reproductive performance by enhanced product selection and moving cow vaccinations from the fall to spring, prior to the breeding season?
• If this step were taken, could a springtime deworm- ing program be initiated simultaneously to provide a more strategic approach to control of internal parasites?
• Are some handling “events” based on tradition, rather than optimizing animal health inputs? High profi t, low cost producers are adept at con-
stantly improving effi ciency, while simultaneously de- creasing overall costs. A herd health-planning program is essential for improving effi ciency and decreasing costs. Following is a nine-step process for developing a comprehensive herd health program. 1) Work with your local cattle-oriented veterinar- ian! The veterinarian is an important resource for any cow/calf operation, but all too often, little time is spent developing a written herd health plan. Developing a health plan tailored for your unique
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