8/11/2022: 

In the first quarter of 2022, there was once again a large number of incoming cattle with a status lower than leptospirosis-free. The risk of infections with Leptospira Hardjo therefore increased at dairy farms, with major consequences for business operations.

Veekijker veterinarian Linda van Wuijckhuise: “Leptospira Hardjo is a disease that can be transferred from cattle to people. This was reason enough for the dairy sector to initiate a control programme back in 1994. This resulted in an extremely rapid decline in the number of infected farms (2021: a mere 0.7 percent of infected dairy farms and 0.8 percent of infected non-dairy farms). For many years, an active infection was detected at only one farm every two years. Unfortunately, we have seen an increase in re-infections in recent years (2020: 12 farms and 2021: 8 farms). The main cause is still the import of cattle. The (financial) consequences are severe for these farms. All the more reason to monitor the combating of this disease.” Read the interview with Mona van Spijk, Dutch Dairy Association

Other subjects in Monitoring Animal Health

• Severe lameness of veal calves due to laminitis and necrotic coffin bone 
• Risk of intoxication with rat poison at a dairy farm 
• Uterine flushing using a substance registered for oral use 
• Stall bedding and udder infections
• Animal health of cattle in the Netherlands in the first quarter of 2022

Monitoring and surveillance