Reproduction is at the heart of most successful, and sustainable, farming operations. Whether seasonally focused, as in New Zealand, or spread over a wider expanse of the year, there is no room for debate: a successful calving or lambing season will impact significantly on bottom line profitability. Measurement of the numbers and percentages linked to reproductive performance will usually reflect in the financial success of the farm business.
On dairy farms the incidences of metabolic disease and mastitis, and more fundamentally mortality rate, as well as the actual number of cows calving, all become critical to future profitability. And the situation is very similar in the flock down the road; if the spring lambing gets off to a great start, the foundation of a good season is ensured. And while “Planning Prevents Poor Performance” there are other factors, such as the weather and off farm costs, which are beyond the control of the farming operation and yet impact negatively on the end of year result.
It will come as no surprise to hear the oft repeated message of these pages, that animal health is critical to reproductive performance and that veterinarians, particularly the increasing number who practice proactively, are important members of the farm team. And such a team, when functioning well, will have a positive impact on animal health and thus profitability. “Planning for Parturition”, which involves ensuring that livestock are in the correct body condition; that, where possible, they are well transitioned onto their production diets and that routine animal health tasks, such as vaccination, have taken place at correct time, are all important drivers of a successful and profitable spring. But is this focus on profitability too narrow? There are more ‘P’s’ at play these days, especially when some aspects of market access for products are linked to a more sustainable farming approach.
The triple bottom line reporting structure has been around for many years. Put simply, this is an approach to measuring the performance of a business which is broader and increasingly more relevant. The three ‘P’s’ of a Triple Bottom Line approach are often listed as:
Profitability
People
Planet
Once more I suspect that it will come as no surprise for readers to learn that, at VetSalus, we believe that animal health and welfare are critical factors in generating positive outcomes for all three of these ‘P’s’. That good animal health quickly translates into reduced losses and improved production is obvious but, in the blur of a busy spring, it is sometimes easy to forget about the positive impact a positive animal health result can have on the people working on farm. A reduced number of crises and emergencies, fewer deaths, a shorter milking routine (because there are fewer sick animals to treat) all have positive feedback on the well-being of workers and will ultimately increase job satisfaction and reduce “churn”. Recruiting new staff in the middle of a busy season is difficult and expensive, but the strain of being understaffed will also exact a more insidious toll. So good animal health is ultimately a human resource tool and you can include it in your triple bottom line analysis.
But what about the planetary aspect? There are so many elements to this that it is difficult to know where to start. Market access for meat and dairy products is being increasingly linked to a sustainable approach and the science of climate change, linked inevitably as it is to greenhouse gas emissions, is unavoidable. The focus on methane emissions from livestock, erroneous as it undoubtedly is, features frequently in the popular media. (And for more information on this controversial topic, please visit our website: www.vetsalus.com)
However, one unavoidable fact remains: animal health is fundamentally linked to greenhouse gas emissions. Every dead cow, every stillborn lamb, every reduction in production output carries a carbon levy which is linked to the maintenance cost of an unproductive animal. For example, in round figures, a New Zealand dairy cow emits around 3,000Kg CO2e in a lactation but a non productive cow will still have emitted a significant percentage of this amount, thereby increasing the farm’s carbon cost per Kg of product. This is a complex topic which has been addressed more fully in a series of articles “How Vets Reduce Carbon Footprints.” These are available on our website and will soon be produced in a booklet form. As technology focuses on reducing methane emission by genetic selection or dietary manipulation, this contribution of good animal health to a reduced carbon footprint is fundamentally available on every farm today.
In summary, a Preventative, Proactive approach to the Pending Parturition Period will have a Positive impact on Profitability, People and the Planet!