Animal Health Diagnostic Center

Improving the health of animals, animal populations and wildlife

F.A.R.M. v4 Checklist

The following is a checklist based on National Milk’s F.A.R.M. v4.0 to help dairy farms understand and prepare their farm protocols and procedures. There are 3 levels of action: Immediate (I), Mandatory (M) and Continuous (C). Each item that falls into one of these categories is highlighted accordingly. Non-highlighted or items with no (I), (M), or (C) are encouraged for best management practices.

Immediate Action (I)

Requires that the standard is met immediately.

  • The facility compiles with the ban on routine tail docking. (I)

Mandatory Action (M)

Requires that the standard is met within nine (9) months or less.

Veterinary Involvement

  • Do you have a signed Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship annually with your vet? (M)
  • Has your veterinarian reviewed and signed off on your written herd health plan annually (see below for list of protocols needed for herd health plan)? (M)
  • Has your veterinarian reviewed and signed off on your written treatment records annually (see below for what is included in treatment records)? (C)

Animal Care and Continuing Education

  • Annual signed cow care agreement for any non-family employees with animal care responsibilities (M)
  • Continuing Education – Annual continuing animal care and handling education for non-family employees with animal care responsibilities - Pre-weaned calf care; Non-ambulatory animals; Euthanasia; Determining animals are fit to transport (M)

Herd Health Plan Components (12)

1. Pre-Weaned Calf Protocol and Practices (M)

  • Facilities are designed to have a calving area that is clean, soft, dry, well-lit and well-ventilated.

  • All pre-weaned calves are moved by lifting, walking or the use of clean, properly designed mechanical transport devices. (M)

  • All pre-weaned calves (heifers and bulls) receive colostrum or colostrum replacer within 6 hours after birth, even if immediately transported off the farm. (M)

  • All pre-weaned calves (heifers and bulls) receive a volume of milk or milk replacer to maintain health, growth and vigor until weaned or marketed. (M)

  • All pre-weaned calves (heifers and bulls) are offered fresh, palatable starter feed by day 3 to maintain health, growth and vigor. (M)

  • All pre-weaned calves (heifers and bulls) have access by day 3 to clean, fresh water appropriate for climatic conditions. (M)

  • All calves are disbudded before 8 weeks of age. (M)

  • Pain mitigation for disbudding is provided. Pain mitigation is expected to be used when disbudding calves for any method (cautery, paste, etc.). It is expected that producers work with their veterinarians to determine the appropriate pain mitigation to use for disbudding. (C)

2. Non-Ambulatory Animal Protocol and Practices (M)

  • The written Herd Health Plan has a written protocol for non-ambulatory animal management that includes language specific to areas of non-ambulatory animal management.
  • Facilities are designed to have a location to segregate weak, sick or injured animals.
  • The location for weak, sick or injured animals provides animals: feed, water, protection from heat and cold for typical climatic conditions, isolation from other ambulatory animals and protection from predators. (M)
  • Non-ambulatory animals are moved using proper methods including the use of special equipment. (M)
  • Non-ambulatory animals are provided prompt medical care. (M)

3. Fitness to Transport Protocol (M)

  • The facility has an effective written protocol for fitness to transport that includes the definition of animals that are eligible to be marketed. (M)
  • Outlines adherence to milk and meat withdrawal times. (M)

4.Euthanasia Protocol and Practices (M)

  • Criteria used to identify animals that are to be euthanized and outlines the immediate action of euthanasia when the criteria are met. (M)
  • Euthanasia techniques follow the approved methods of AABP and/or AVMA. (M)
  • Carcass disposal is conducted using the appropriate method in accordance with applicable local ordinances. (M)

5. Treatment of Common Diseases Protocols

  • Mastitis
  • Displaced Abomasum
  • Metritis
  • Pneumonia
  • Milk Fever
  • Diarrhea
  • Ketosis

6. Lameness – Prevention and Treatment Protocol

  • Routine surveillance for lame cows with prompt, effective treatment
  • Routine use of foot baths
  • Improved flooring
  • Providing adequate time for daily rest by minimizing time out of the pen to less than 3 hours per day
  • Avoid overstocking
  • Maintaining thermal neutral zone
  • Preventive hoof trimming

7. Vaccination Protocols

  • Age(s) when vaccination given
  • Product used
  • Dosage administered
  • Route of administration
  • Withdrawal times

8. Milking Procedure Protocol

  • Cows should be moved without excessive vocal or physical interaction, resulting in calm movement in the parlor.
  • Animal handlers should walk against the flow of cows coming into the parlor, paying attention to the reaction of the cattle and adjust for balking or stopping. To return to their starting positions, animal handlers should use a path that does not impede the flow of cattle movement.
  • Gates and restraining equipment should operate smoothly, quietly and safely.
  • Goal for time out of pen for each milking <1 hour.
  • Holding area control to prevent injuries and ensure cow comfort (flooring, fans, sprinklers, etc.)
  • Milking preparation routing
  • Maintenance of milking equipment.

9. Emergency Action or Crisis Plan

  • The facility has names, telephone numbers and the site address posted in a prominent location, in the languages understood by family and non-family employees with animal care responsibilities, for emergency preparedness.
  • The facility has a written Emergency Action/Crisis Plan to effectively manage emergencies or crises that may occur. Plans should include:
  • Identification of potential emergency situations
  • The following components for each potential emergency situation:
    • Actions to take in an emergency situation
    • Designated people in charge of performing those actions
    • Individuals given authority to perform specific action when emergency occurs
    • Communication flow for quick and accurate information share
    • Data and information related to: site, utilities, evacuation routes, road condition, equipment/materials involved, injuries and locations of resources
    • Emergency supplies and equipment
    • Training and documentation of the training on the execution of the emergency plan for all involved including employees and first responders
    • Response scenarios options
    • Sheltering in place

10. Difficulty Calving (Dystocia) Protocol

  • When to intervene
  • Appropriate equipment to use

11. Biosecurity Protocol

12. Pest, Fly and Parasite Control Protocol

Continuous Improvement (C)

Requires that action has been taken to meet the standard within three years or less.

Animal Care and Continuing Education (C)

  • Annually signed cow care agreement for any family employees with animal care responsibilities. (C)
  • Continuing Education – Annual continuing animal care and handling education for family employees with animal care responsibilities - Pre-weaned calf care; Non-ambulatory animals; Euthanasia; Determining animals are fit to transport. (C)

Pain Management (C)

  • Pain management practice and protocol for disbudding (C)

Treatment Records (C)

  • Has your veterinarian reviewed and signed off on your written treatment records annually (see below for what is included in treatment records)? (C)
  • Permanent written or electronic drug treatment records are maintained (C)
    • Date of treatment
    • Animal treated identification
    • Name of treatment
    • Disease/condition being treated
    • Dosage administered
    • Route of administration
    • Duration of treatment
    • Withdrawal times for milk and meat

Antibiotic Stewardship Checklist

  • The facility adheres to all withdrawal times for milk. All official samples of sold milk have tested negative for antibiotics in the last 3 years.
  • The facility adheres to all withdrawal times for meat. All meat tissues from animals sent for meat production have tested negative for violative residues in the last 3 years.

Animal Observations Benchmark (C)

  • Body condition score: 99% or more of all age classes of animals have a body condition score of 2 or greater on FARM Body Condition Scorecard. (C)
  • Hock/Knee: 95% or more of the lactating and dry dairy herd score 2 or less on the FARM Hock/Knee Scorecard. (C)
  • Locomotion: 95% or more of the lactating and dry dairy herd score 2 or less on the FARM Locomotion Scorecard. (C)
  • Broken Tails: 95% or more of all age classes of animals do not have broken tails. (C)
  • Hygiene: 90% or more observed animals (Lactating Cows, Pre-Weaned Calves, Post-Weaned Heifers, Pre-Fresh Cows and Heifers/Dry Cows) score 2 or less on the FARM Program Hygiene Scorecard

Facility Checklist (C)

  • Feed and Water access for all age classes with rations that provide required nutrients for maintenance, growth, health and lactation. (C)
  • All age classes of animal are protected from heat and cold for typical climatic conditions.
  • All age classes of animal have housing that allows for the ability to easily stand up, lie down, adopt normal resting postures and have visual contact with other cattle without risk of injury.
  • All age classes of animals have a resting area that is clean, dry, provides traction at all times when away from the milking facility and does not pose risk of injury.
  • All age classes of animals have a method of daily exercise (weather permitting, if outdoors).
  • Facilities are designed to prevent injuries, slips and falls of animals and unnecessary contact with electrical currents.
  • Facilities are designed to have adequate lighting for safe animal observation.
  • Facilities are designed to provide proper ventilation in all housing facilities that reduces odors, dust and/or noxious gas.