Application of a Computerized Herd Management & Production Control Program in Costa Rica

Abstract

The development of computerized data recording techniques in recent years has greatly facilitated concise monitoring of herd health and production parameters. Various computer software programs have been described for use in large animal practice¹. Whether the program was developed for analyzing reproductive health in dairy herds² or to estimate the cost of raising dairy replacements³, each aimed at improving farm management and optimizing farm income. A herd health and production management program for dairy farms has been described extensively elsewhere⁴. The program is supported by a software package called VAMPP (Veterinary Automated Management and Production control Program), which has been adapted for use in microcomputers.

Presently this program is being used widely in the Netherlands and other countries for monitoring dairy cattle and swine farms⁵. A spanish version of VAMPP, was introduced in 1987 in Costa Rica by the Veterinary School of the Universidad Nacional (UNA) as part of a teaching and research program in herd health and production management.

With an annual per capita gross domestic product of US $ 1424 in 1988⁶, Costa Rica still qualifies as a developing country. However, unlike many other developing countries, Costa Rica can boast a stable democracy, a literacy rate of 93 % in 1989⁵, a good road and communication system and a fairly reliable and extensive electricity supply. This infrastructure in combination with the importance of the livestock sector for both the national requirements and the export industry provide a suitable basis for the introduction of a sophisticated computer program to assist farmers in improving farm management. Optimizing the livestock industry is of paramount importance to Costa Rica since an annual human population growth rate of 2.25 % in 1990⁶ and pressure for agricultural land has resulted in extensive deforestation during the past decades. An effective measure to prevent further deforestation, is to optimize the production of existing livestock units per hectare.

Computerized recording techniques can provide the farmer as well as the extension worker with production figures to monitor the performance of individual cows, while herd averages can be compared with regional index figures or livestock industry production goals. Thus, livestock production and farm income can be assessed and optimized using the existing pasture areas without the need for expansion.