Some observations on disease incidence among dairy cattle in North Taranaki

Authors: Cagienard B
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 21, Issue 8, pp 170-174, Aug 1973
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Cattle, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Subject Terms: Abortion/stillbirth, Biosecurity, Inflammation, Integument/skin/wool/hair/fur/feather, Disease/defect, Disease surveillance, Epidemiology, Mycotoxicosis, Liver/hepatic disease, Reproduction, Fungal/yeast, Metabolic disease, Parturition, Photosensitivity, Toxicology, Reproduction - female
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: In recent years there has been increasing interest in schemes for disease eradication and preventive medicine. Any such schemes depend upon a clear definition of the expected animal health risk in a particular area and season, but precise information on disease incidence is still conspicuous by its absence in veterinary literature, and much of what is available has relied upon informed guesswork. The Animal Health Laboratories are now undertaking electronic data processing of laboratory reports to help fill this gap in our knowledge. However, this will only supply data on the type of case from which samples are submitted. These data will have undergone a double process of selection and deletion, first by the farmer selecting the cases for which he will summon professional assistance, and secondly by the veterinary practitioner selecting the cases for which he requires laboratory investigations. In this practice, the writer has been recording the numbers and types of cases encountered over a period of 4 years, and feels that the information derived could be of more general use. Analysis of the results has altered some preconceived notions of disease incidence in this area, and the procedures are recommended to other practices.

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