Evaluation of the association between the introduction of data-driven tools to support calf rearing and reduced calf mortality in dairy herds in the Netherlands.

Between 2009 and 2017, calf mortality in the Dutch dairy sector showed a slight but steady increase. The Dutch dairy industry decided to act and supported the development of several data-driven tools that were implemented from 2018 on. The tools informed farmers about their calf mortality rates and stimulated them to improve.

Surveillance of cattle health in the Netherlands: Monitoring trends and developments using routinely collected cattle census data.

Since 2002, a national cattle health surveillance system (CHSS) is in place that consists of several surveillance components. The CHSS combines enhanced passive reporting, diagnostic and post-mortem examinations, random surveys for prevalence estimation of endemic diseases and quarterly data analysis. The aim of the data-analysis component, which is called the Trend Analysis Surveillance Component (TASC), is to monitor trends and developments in cattle health using routine census data.

Schmallenberg virus in Dutch dairy herds: potential risk factors for high within-herd seroprevalence and malformations in calves, and its impact on productivity.

In November 2011, the new orthobunyavirus Schmallenberg virus (SBV) was identified in dairy cows that had induced fever, drop in milk production and diarrhoea in the Netherlands (Muskens et al., 2012. Tijdschrift voor Diergeneeskunde 137, 112-115) and a drop in milk production in cows in Northwestern Germany (Hoffmann et al.

[Diarrhea and loss of production on Dutch dairy farms caused by the Schmallenberg virus].

At the end of August and the first two weeks of September 2011 dozens of veterinary practitioners reported to GD Veekijker (Animal Health Service) several dairy herds with cows with sudden decreased milk production, watery diarrhea and sometimes fever. In the beginning these reports came from the Eastern region of the Netherlands, after that also from the other three regions. The percentages of diseased herds per veterinary practice varied from a few till dozens per cent.