From reactive to proactive animal health approach

Since 2014,  Animal Health Vision (AHV) International has been doing everything it can to optimize animal health worldwide. The first solutions arrived on the market in 2017. The products were initially utilized in the typical reactive approach we are accustomed to in animal health. However, we rapidly changed our approach from reactive to proactive. Are you curious how this metamorphosis happened? In this article you can read more about the journey AHV took with its customers.

History AHV International

The origins of the company date back to 2014, when veterinarian Gertjan Streefland and Jan de Rooy founded the company AHV International. Before entering the market, AHV spent three years of extensive research on the correct formulation and function of their products. In 2017, AHV then entered the market with the still well-known products:

• AHV Extra Tablet
• AHV Quick Tablet
• AHV Milk Start Tablet
• AHV Booster Powder and Tablet
• AHV Metri Liquid (later this was changed to a Tablet, the well-known AHV Metri Tablet)
• AHV ProLife-S
• AHV Calf Start Powder
• AHV Calf Start Tablet

The above products marked the start for AHV International in dairy farming. However, this was only the beginning as these products were mainly focused on reactive use. Soon, more products were added, and some existing products were reformulated due to feedback from the producers or to further improve the products.

Expansion of dairy portfolio

Initial results and feedback from the market were good, but AHV was not settled. They set out to find an addition to improve efficacy and make the animal feel better during reactive uses of the current products.

After testing various formulations, the well-known AHV Aspi was finally launched on the market. It has been a valuable supplement mainly for reactive use of AHV products or in case of an expected strong reaction of the animal. AHV Aspi supports the immune system during recovery periods and promotes the animal’s well-being.

In addition to the AHV Aspi, other new products, new compositions, and new administrations have also been developed for some existing products, often from the advice of you, the producer. For example, AHV Aspi is now available as a tablet as well as a liquid variant, and AHV Milk Start and Booster are now available as a paste as well as a tablet. This is to give you, the farmer, the option to choose between a short or long-term release.

All of this to not only improve the formulation and effect of the products, but also to increase the user-friendliness for you as a dairy farmer.

From product to program use

AHV has seen many positive results since 2017 regarding the deployment of individual products. However, it quickly became clear to us that when deploying the right combinations of products at the right time, even more impact can be delivered in terms of animal health and profitability for you as a livestock farmer. There are still programs that focus on reactive use to get the animal back on its feet as quickly and well as possible in the case of health challenges, but the focus is increasingly shifting to proactive use of our products.

When proactively applying our products and programs, we not only ensure a healthier herd, but you also see that less reactive products are needed. A cow has a cycle that repeats itself on average every13 months, if you know at what times a cow is vulnerable, you can proactively respond to it. This is something we have done in recent years and are still trying to optimize. When used at the right moment in the cycle, we not only see positive results in terms of animal health, but also in terms of more and better milk production. In addition, when cows stay healthier, there is also less need for reactive products such as antibiotics. The bottom line is a healthier herd and improved profitability, which is what we want to achieve and expand together with you in the coming years!

From proactive approach per cow to proactive approach per herd

We have seen in recent years both on farms and based on data that animal health improves with the right proactive approach. This brings us to our future plans of moving towards a proactive approach for the entire herd. To help with this, you will receive specified guidance from your AHV Farm Advisor, and you will receive regular visits from an AHV Veterinarian. Over the past two years, we have been running a lot of on farm trials and have been seeing great results in terms of:

• Increasing average age on the farm
• Reduced calf mortality
• More and  higher quality milk production
• First heat detectable faster
• Fewer open days
• Insemination is successful faster
• Replacement rate decreases
• Fewer reactive health challenges

We hope to enter the market in 2024 with our new approach called AHV Herd Health Plan. In this way, we not only continue to develop our products, but also the optimal use and effect of our products in programs. We aim to continue to optimize animal health on your farm and make life as easy and profitable as possible for you as a farmer.