User:Robert dawkins/myhealthyherd

MyHealthyHerd
Myhealthyherd is an online application which allows vets and farmers to work together to improve cattle health.

Myhealthyherd.com is a web based system of measuring, managing and monitoring cattle health on dairy and beef farms, and uses simple health indicators to assist the vet and farmer to develop priorities for health care on the farm

The program will help farmers and vets understand how health can be improved on the farm by managing risks and using health tools ( vaccination,lab testing) more effectively.

Veterinary Practices interested in disease control, health planning and are seeking to work closely with their farmers will benefit from the use of the program.

Farmers who wish to take advantage of online information, health plans, disease assessment and generally "making their herd healthier" will want to become members of myhealthyherd.com

There are 4 core modules within myhealthyherd:


 * Biosecurity risk assessment and plans


 * Infectious disease management and control


 * Farm Assurance and health plans


 * Health Evaluation and disease costs

The performance of the herd is measured by basic inputs provided by the farmer, vet, or both, using data that is readily accessible from farm records or health data, and avoids repeating data collection that already exists. The system is easy to use and will suit any cattle farm using any management system. The system is herd based, and does not record data of individual animals.

The system can be accessed by farmers direct via the internet using a secure password or can be accessed by their own vet on their behalf using information gathered via paper based inputs. Farmers need not have access to the internet to use the program.

Myhealthyherd.com uses a simple visual system of risk assessment and management to assist farmers to keep their herds healthy and free of disease, and helps to assess the health status of their herd, providing a Red-Amber-Green indicator of risk and health status. This system can be used, not only to measure, manage and monitor infectious disease, but also to indicate health status for the purposes of trade.

Options for the management of disease risks, including guidance on practical advice and structures to keep disease out of herds, and also control disease within a herd, are provided and can be used to fit the specific needs of the Member's herd with veterinary guidance.

The easiest module to start with is farm assurance and any vet who has attended a BCVA Health Planning course will be able to complete this with ease.

Biosecurity health planning and health evaluation are relatively straight forward.

Infectious disease management is best attempted in a step wise fashion and after further training via BCVA.

See the www.myhealthyerd.com website for further information or to join.

The infectious disease management currently covers the following diseases: BVD, Neospora, Johne's, IBR, TB, Lepto and Bluetongue.

The myhealthyherd web site can be used to produce British Cattle Veterinary Association approved farm assurance plans, this will be covered at the next BCVA congress