AHW Flashcards
Define animal husbandry
the breeding, rearing and daily care of domestic animals
List key choices about animal husbandry
- indoors/outdoors
- shelter/housing
- food/water
- breeds/reproduction
- handling
- people
- biosecurity
Consequences of poor husbandry on animals
- discomfort
- hunger/thirst
- abnormal behaviour
- fear/distress
- disease
- can’t express normal behaviour
Consequences of poor husbandry on people
- zoonotic disease
- emotional toll
- treatment costs
- poor performance
- production losses
- injuries
Consequences of poor husbandry on the environment
poor health > decrease in milk, eggs, meat > increase environmental impact > unsustainable food supply
So good husbandry decrease the negative environmental effect of farming
what do obesity, crib biting and lameness in cows all have in common?
They’re caused by poor animal husbandry
What is the role of a vet in promoting good animal husbandry?
- responsible for advising clients on best animal husbandry practices
- to support owners as they implement changes
- to ensure veterinary medicines aren’t used to compensate for poor husbandry
List factors that affect the animal husbandry system
- availability of labour
- food availability
- legal requirements
- public health
- economics
- seasonality
- culture and ethics
- consumer demand
List factors that need assessing when conducting an audit of any husbandry system
- health and welfare of animals
- legal requirements
- handling
- breeds and reproduction
- housing and hygiene
- biosecurity
- routine procedures
- food and water
- owner abilities
Key differences between companion and production animals with regards to husbandry and its assessment
- need to observe large groups of animals
- provide reassurance to consumer that certain standards of care have been provided and that food is safe
- common diseases are usually diagnosed and treated by farmer
List 4 ways the husbandry system can be assessed
- analysis of records
- evaluation of resources
- animal assessments
- people assessments
Pros and cons of using analysis of records as a way to assess a husbandry system
PROS: specific info, can measure monitor and interpret changes over time, potentially extremely useful
CONS: relies on owner to record, easy to manipulate, time cost, often no records exist
Pros and cons of evaluation of resources
PROS: objective measurements, assessor doesn’t need expertise in area so inexpensive
CONS: no account of how well animal copes with environment, resources can meet standards and still be poor, rarely done in small animal practice
Pros and cons of animal assessments
PROS: direct assessment of animal within their nature environment, takes into account how well animals cope with their environment
CONS: requires expertise so more expensive, assessments may be more subjective in nature
Pros and cons of people assessments
PROS: major influence on health and welfare
CONS: requires diplomacy, people lie