Health control costs in dairy goat herds in western France

Dairy-goat farming systems in the region of Pays de la Loire (western France) are characterised by a high milk production level, and large herd size. Most of herds are fed in zero-grazing systems using maize silage, hay and dehydrated alfalfa complemented with high levels of concentrates. Despite high levels of mortality (Malher ei al., 1996), health economics are poorly documented in such farming systems. The objectives of this study were (1) to describe health control costs (HCCs) at herd level in dairy-goat herds in the region of Pays de la Loire, involved in the national milk recording scheme and economic follow-up programmes, and (2) to relate these costs to the herd economic results.