Control of Reproductive Disorder and Monitoring of Herd Health Programme for Improvement of Dairy Production in Thailand

I. Survey of Data Base of Dairy Farming at Ratchaburi and Nakhon Pathom

Abstract

Artificial insemination has helped improving dairy cattle in Thailand since 1956. However, several problems remain to be investigated then solving and prevention can not be made due to lack of data base. The present study was aimed at using questionaire to survey data base of dairy farming and factors involved in Ratchaburi and Nakhon Pathom provinces. Stratified sampling was performed, 20% of the target populations was chosen, 294 farms and 2,289 heads of dairy cow including heifers which had been inseminated at least once. Three forms of questionaires were used, the first one was general characteristic of the farm to be questioned, it dealed with rearing system, feed and feeding, reproduction and pathology. The second form was about the composition of the herd as a whole including condition of individual animal. And the third one dealed with breeding record of each individual cow and heifer and fertility, fecundity, prolificity and abortion rate were computed. In addition, 2 blood samples were collected from each cow, one for serology survey of reproductive diseases, the other blood sample was investigated for haematology and blood parasites. All the data were computerized, the findings revealed characteristic of dairy farming, reproductive performance, etc. which will be very beneficial for further investigation.