Data-driven approach to using individual cattle weights to estimate mean adult dairy cattle weight

Hannah Schubert; Sarah Wood; Kristen Reyher; Harriet Mills

doi:10.1136/vr.105471

Data-driven approach to using individual cattle weights to estimate mean adult dairy cattle weight

Hannah Schubert^*, Sarah Wood, Kristen Reyher, Harriet Mills

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

262 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background Knowledge of accurate weights of cattle is crucial for effective dosing of individual animals and for reporting antimicrobial usage. For the first time, we provide an evidence-based estimate of the average weight of UK dairy cattle to better inform farmers, veterinarians and the scientific community.

Methods Data were collected for 2747 lactating dairy cattle from 20 farms in the UK. Data were used to calculate a mean weight for lactating dairy cattle by breed and a UK-specific mean weight. Trends in weight by lactation number and production level were also explored.

Results Mean weight for adult dairy cattle in this study was 617 kg (sd=85.6 kg). Mean weight varied across breeds, with a range of 466 kg (sd=56.0 kg, Jersey) to 636 kg (sd=84.1, Holsteins). When scaled to UK breed proportions, the estimated UK-specific mean weight was 620 kg.

Conclusion This study is the first to calculate a mean weight of adult dairy cattle in the UK based on on-farm data. Overall mean weight was higher than that most often proposed in the literature (600 kg). Evidence-informed weights are crucial as the UK works to better monitor and report metrics to measure antimicrobial use and are useful to farmers and veterinarians to inform dosing decisions.

Original language	English
Article number	540
Number of pages	8
Journal	Veterinary Record
Volume	185
Issue number	17
Early online date	25 Sept 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.105471
Publication status	Published - 1 Nov 2019

Keywords

dairy cattle
weight
automatic milking systems
antimicrobial usage
medicine dosing

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This is the author accepted manuscript (AAM). The final published version (version of record) is available online via BMJ Publishing Group at https://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/185/17/540 . Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher
Accepted author manuscript, 237 KBLicence: CC BY-NC

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title = "Data-driven approach to using individual cattle weights to estimate mean adult dairy cattle weight",

abstract = "Background Knowledge of accurate weights of cattle is crucial for effective dosing of individual animals and for reporting antimicrobial usage. For the first time, we provide an evidence-based estimate of the average weight of UK dairy cattle to better inform farmers, veterinarians and the scientific community.Methods Data were collected for 2747 lactating dairy cattle from 20 farms in the UK. Data were used to calculate a mean weight for lactating dairy cattle by breed and a UK-specific mean weight. Trends in weight by lactation number and production level were also explored.Results Mean weight for adult dairy cattle in this study was 617 kg (sd=85.6 kg). Mean weight varied across breeds, with a range of 466 kg (sd=56.0 kg, Jersey) to 636 kg (sd=84.1, Holsteins). When scaled to UK breed proportions, the estimated UK-specific mean weight was 620 kg.Conclusion This study is the first to calculate a mean weight of adult dairy cattle in the UK based on on-farm data. Overall mean weight was higher than that most often proposed in the literature (600 kg). Evidence-informed weights are crucial as the UK works to better monitor and report metrics to measure antimicrobial use and are useful to farmers and veterinarians to inform dosing decisions.",

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author = "Hannah Schubert and Sarah Wood and Kristen Reyher and Harriet Mills",

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N2 - Background Knowledge of accurate weights of cattle is crucial for effective dosing of individual animals and for reporting antimicrobial usage. For the first time, we provide an evidence-based estimate of the average weight of UK dairy cattle to better inform farmers, veterinarians and the scientific community.Methods Data were collected for 2747 lactating dairy cattle from 20 farms in the UK. Data were used to calculate a mean weight for lactating dairy cattle by breed and a UK-specific mean weight. Trends in weight by lactation number and production level were also explored.Results Mean weight for adult dairy cattle in this study was 617 kg (sd=85.6 kg). Mean weight varied across breeds, with a range of 466 kg (sd=56.0 kg, Jersey) to 636 kg (sd=84.1, Holsteins). When scaled to UK breed proportions, the estimated UK-specific mean weight was 620 kg.Conclusion This study is the first to calculate a mean weight of adult dairy cattle in the UK based on on-farm data. Overall mean weight was higher than that most often proposed in the literature (600 kg). Evidence-informed weights are crucial as the UK works to better monitor and report metrics to measure antimicrobial use and are useful to farmers and veterinarians to inform dosing decisions.

AB - Background Knowledge of accurate weights of cattle is crucial for effective dosing of individual animals and for reporting antimicrobial usage. For the first time, we provide an evidence-based estimate of the average weight of UK dairy cattle to better inform farmers, veterinarians and the scientific community.Methods Data were collected for 2747 lactating dairy cattle from 20 farms in the UK. Data were used to calculate a mean weight for lactating dairy cattle by breed and a UK-specific mean weight. Trends in weight by lactation number and production level were also explored.Results Mean weight for adult dairy cattle in this study was 617 kg (sd=85.6 kg). Mean weight varied across breeds, with a range of 466 kg (sd=56.0 kg, Jersey) to 636 kg (sd=84.1, Holsteins). When scaled to UK breed proportions, the estimated UK-specific mean weight was 620 kg.Conclusion This study is the first to calculate a mean weight of adult dairy cattle in the UK based on on-farm data. Overall mean weight was higher than that most often proposed in the literature (600 kg). Evidence-informed weights are crucial as the UK works to better monitor and report metrics to measure antimicrobial use and are useful to farmers and veterinarians to inform dosing decisions.

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KW - automatic milking systems

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KW - medicine dosing

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Data-driven approach to using individual cattle weights to estimate mean adult dairy cattle weight

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One Health Drivers of Antibacterial Resistance in Thailand

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Data-driven approach to using individual cattle weights to estimate mean adult dairy cattle weight

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One Health Drivers of Antibacterial Resistance in Thailand

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