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
How to remember 4 ways of assessing a husbandry system
CARE C- client A- animal observations R- records E- environment and resources
List reasons for housing animals
- protection from weather, predators
- ease of management
- protection of land from animals
- purpose built handling facilities
- increased stocking densities
- control over feeding temp etc.
- increased production effectivity
list areas to consider that could predispose to poor health in a housing system
- building structure and design
- ventilation, temp, humidity
- flooring, bedding, lighting
- social groups
- spacial allowances
- feeding and watering systems
- waste disposal systems
- handling facilities
- health and safety
- legal requirements
why is good ventilation required?
- replenish depleted oxygen
- prevent build up of excreted gases CO2 and NH3
- prevent accumulation of moisture and dust particles
- removes pathogens
what could inadequate ventilation cause?
- increased incidence of disease
- reduced appetite/productivity
- condensation problems
what could excessive ventilation cause?
- environmental chilling
- stress
- increased disease susceptibility
what are the 2 types of ventilation?
- natural
- artificial
what is the stack effect? \how does it work?
- warm air outlet at top and cool air inlets at side
- animals in the building warm the air, warm air rises and escapes through outlet at the top
- cool air is drawn in through Yorkshire boarding, the building is ventilated
give examples of simple practical tests used to assess ventilation
- smoke test/ cobwebs
- use your nose
- observe the animals
- min/max thermometers
- relative humidity monitor
