PLANNED HEALTH AND PRODUCTION IN BEEF SUCKLER HERDS

Planned health and production provides an integrated approach to improving herd efficiency in beef suckler herds, When the veterinary surgeon visits the farm on a regular basis to perform routine monitoring he becomes more familiar with the overall running of the farm and with the general health and condition of the animals. Farm policies can be discussed in detail, which is impossible during the usual fire-brigade visits to see single cases, The main benefits perceived by farmers fall into three main categories: a) Increased awareness/enlightenment/confidence; b) Gaining an objective outside view of management; c) Creation of a problem solving situation.