Building up health registrations – the Austrian concept C. Egger-Danner,1, B. Fuerst-Waltl

A project to establish an Austrian wide health monitoring system for cattle is currently being implemented. Within the project diagnostic data, which have to be documented by law (law of drug control) are standardised and recorded into a central database. All farms under performance recording are free to join the project. To increase the health status of the animals by management measures health reports are elaborated. The first health reports are already available for participating farmers and veterinarians. Responding to an increasing interest in health issues, already 9,500 farms are participating end of May 2007 with more farms continuously joining. In some federal states the percentage is already above 70 % of farmers under performance recording. At the same time the recording of diagnostic data has started. For their recording in daily work, the motivation and awareness of farmers and veterinarians are essential. First experiences show that the recording of diagnostic data follows an earlier published model about adoption and diffusion of innovations. An overall aim of the project is the development of a genetic evaluation for health traits for the main Austrian cattle breeds