However, some are more dangerous than others, primarily because of unknown and uncontrolled factors that could come into play and result in painful consequences. Obviously the risk takers who survive are the ones who prepare ahead of time to stack the deck in their favor and reduce the chances of failure. All it would take is the introduction of one or two animals shedding a contagious but not necessarily visible, disease to financially bring down the entire dairy. Either one of these conditions could spell huge economic losses for any dairy producer. Imagine what could be possible if you introduce both or other diseases at the same time-especially during the time of dairy expansion and critical cash flow.
Maximum production requires, among other things, minimal exposure to disease-causing organisms.
T able 1 represents just a partial listing of infectious diseases that can be found in dairy operations. If your herd is currently free of any of these problems, the only way that the disease can gain access to your herd is by introduction from the outside. Pictured here, Dr. Gregory Quakenbush, D.V.M,.Technical Services, Pfizer Animal Health. While this loss could be considered small, this represents the economic impact of just one disease introduction. Imagine what the losses would be if two or three diseases were simultaneously present causing similar or greater economic losses.