[The economic significance of mastitis in current and altered agricultural policies (author's transl)].

Animal diseases continue to cause considerable losses among dairy cattle in the Netherlands. A considerable part is due to mastitis, previously quantified at Dfl. 125.-per average cow present, which would account to as much as Dfl. 165.-at current production and price-levels. A major part is caused by milk which was not produced. Under the present market and price policy, the same price is paid for each kg of milk, whatever the quantity produced per farm. In this situation, the milk which is not produced is therefore valued at the current price of Dfl. 0.60 per kg. If a quota-system were to be imposed per farm, an additional kg of milk would have to be valued at a lower price. Yet the losses due to mastitis and conversely, the profits of reducing the disease, remain almost unchanged in this situation. Instead of increased production per farm, there is a possibility of achieving a similar production per farm with less cows and at reduced cost. Calculations show that when a quota-system is imposed on each farm, the economic profitableness of improved health continues to be important.