Dairy Herd Improvement: Recording and Analyzing Production, Breeding, Feeding and Profitability Records

Project Description

The objective of the training program was to provide participants of BiH with information and latest know-how of modern dairy herd management systems and programs aiming to support BiH dairy producers to improve milk production technology and management and to become more profitable. The training program demonstrated experiences and practical working methods of dairy herd improvement systems and programs in Germany and was meant to be the initial point to lead BiH in a process of setting-up a DHIP in their country. The focus of those meetings was to get a better understanding how to utilise milk recording under different circumstances of a specific farm and/or dairy herd and how the cost/benefit ratio can be evaluated. The participants should understand the options and organisational requirements of dairy herd improvement and service systems and the advantages of farmers to use better and up-to-date information to improve the profitability of dairy farms. Also the participants received detailed knowledge about the management and organizational aspects of dairy farm services and could observe practical working methods in recording, analysing production, breeding, feeding and profitability records. Finally the training program initiated and supported a discussion of participants and trainers about ideas and concepts and future programs to improve dairy herd management and related services in BiH under the specific conditions of the country.

A second aim of the training program was to facilitate a proper understanding of the back-office infrastructure and functions to maintain a professional DHIP. The participants should receive a good understanding of minimum standards of the system, of potential investment costs for technical equipment, of operating costs depending on the scope and scale of services and of necessary human resources and qualification.

Services provided:

Preparation of an legislative and regulatory framework for an EU-compliant small ruminant I&R system
Preparation and introduction of an Animal ID system for small ruminants in the Southern part of Albania (including design and procedures for tagging of ear tags, data capture, central database, hardware, training, awareness campaign and others)
Assessment of the disease surveillance system and introduction of preventive control measures
Identification and assessment of training needs of central and field veterinarians in epidemiology, development of a training programme
Introduction of an QMS system and preparation of the certification and accreditation of the Veterinary Institute
Provision of problem-oriented professional training and up-grading at the Veterinary Institute
Changing of the existing IT solution for bovine I&R by inclusion of a Web-client in order to allow remote data entry and data retrieving through the Internet
Introduction and testing of a comprehensive IT solution for the animal disease management
Assessment of relevant existing veterinary legislation with regard to EU-compliance and amending of existing legal documents including I&R legislation