Labor Systems for Caring for Sick Cows

Abstract

The process by which care and treatment are applied to sick animals by farm personnel is often more critical to a successful outcome than the medical prowess of the veterinarian. All health problems in dairy cattle are best viewed as "diseases of cows caused by people". To make them "diseases of cows cured by people" in an efficient manner, a systematic approach developed with the involvement of the farm labor force is needed. A labor system for sick cow care should include a description of the job(s) and requisite skills, strategies for labor management and a description of the system and its component programs.