BACKGROUND In the past years, it became apparent that health status and performance differ considerably within dairy farms in Northern Germany. In order to obtain clues with respect to possible causes of these differences, a case-control study was performed. Case farms, which showed signs of health and performance problems, and control farms, which had none of these signs, were compared. Risk factors from different areas such as health management, housing, hygiene and nutrition were investigated as these are known to be highly influential. The aim of this study was to identify major factors within these areas that have the strongest association with health and performance problems of dairy herds in Northern Germany. RESULTS In the final model, a lower energy density in the roughage fraction of the diet, more pens with dirty lying areas and a low ratio of cows per watering spaces were associated with a higher risk for herd health problems. Moreover, case farms were affected by infections with intestinal parasites, lungworms, liver flukes and Johne's Disease numerically more often than control farms. Case farms more often had pens with raised cubicles compared to the deep bedded stalls or straw yards found in control farms. In general, the hygiene of the floors and beddings was worse in case farms. Concerning nutrition, the microbiological and sensory quality of the provided silages was often insufficient, even in control farms. Less roughage was provided to early lactating cows and the feed was pushed to the feeding fence less frequently in case farms than in control farms. CONCLUSIONS The results show that milk yield and health status were associated with various factors from different areas stressing the importance of all aspects of management for good animal health and performance. Moreover, this study confirmed well-known risk factors for health problems and performance losses. These should better be taken heed of in herd health management.

中文翻译：

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在德国北部，与牛奶产量下降和奶牛健康状况下降相关的因素进行了病例对照研究。

背景技术在过去的几年中，很明显，德国北部的奶牛场内的健康状况和性能差异很大。为了获得有关这些差异的可能原因的线索，进行了病例对照研究。比较了显示出健康和性能问题迹象的案例农场和没有这些迹象的对照农场。调查了来自不同领域的风险因素，例如健康管理，住房，卫生和营养，因为已知这些因素具有很高的影响力。这项研究的目的是确定这些地区内与德国北部奶牛场的健康和性能问题最密切相关的主要因素。结果在最终模型中，日粮粗饲料中的能量密度较低，更多的产区肮脏的围栏和每个浇水空间的奶牛比例低与成群健康问题的风险较高有关。此外，案例农场受到肠道寄生虫，肺虫，肝吸虫和约翰尼氏病感染的影响在数量上要多于对照农场。与在对照农场中发现的床铺较深的摊位或稻草场相比，案例农场更经常使用带有凸起小隔间的围栏。一般而言，在养猪场中，地板和被褥的卫生状况较差。关于营养，即使在对照农场中，所提供的青贮饲料的微生物学和感官质量也常常不足。与对照农场相比，在案例农场中，提供给早期泌乳母牛的粗饲料更少，并且将饲料被推到饲喂围栏的频率更低。结论结果表明，牛奶的产量和健康状况与来自不同地区的各种因素有关，这些因素强调了管理各个方面对于改善动物健康和表现的重要性。此外，这项研究证实了众所周知的健康问题和性能下降的危险因素。在牧群健康管理中应更好地注意这些问题。