Herd & Flock Health: Population Medicine

Question 1

what is the on farm approach (5)

Answer 1

1 understand the farm

2. investigate the problem
3. relate findings to the farmer
4. facilitate decision making
5. establish monitoring

Question 2

how do you take a farm history

Answer 2

5-10 year plan

staff

walk and observe the buildings and animals

walk and observe the land

Question 3

what does the investigation on the farm entail (4)

Answer 3

1. define the problem (what and how much?)
2. identify groups for comparison (who, when, where)
3. evaluate potential risk factors and identify key determinants (why)
4. develop recommendations for treatment and prevention and follow up to assess the effectiveness of the intervention

Question 4

how do you define the problem on farm

Answer 4

Measure extent of problem and compare to published benchmark, historical expectation, goal of farmers, performance of local farmers

Ask open ended questions

Collect herd records

Question 5

how do you identify groups for comparison

Answer 5

Collect all relevant info on diseased and non-diseased groups

Question 6

how do you evaluate potential risk factors and identify key determinants

Answer 6

Supplement your evaluation by collecting additional data to support your hypothesis

Clinical examination/necropsy/sample collection

Question 7

what samples might you collect

Answer 7

Blood, feces, milk, soil, tissue, urine, feed

Question 8

how do you collect samples from a representative group

Answer 8

Consider

Age groups

Management groups

Number of animals

Prevalence of disease

Cost of test

Question 9

how do you develop recommendations for treatment and prevention and follow up to assess the effectiveness of intervention

Answer 9

Control options might include management changes, mass vaccination, selective culling, quarantine

Always include a plan for follow up and future monitoring

Promote realistic expectations of results of any intervention

Question 10

what is herd health

Answer 10

Maintenance of animal health and production at the most efficient level that provides competitive economic returns to the animal owner

Question 11

how does animal health relate to herd health

Answer 11

Absence of disease (clinical & subclinical)

Complete physicals, mental and social well-being

Preventative medicine and animal welfare

Question 12

how does production relate to herd health

Answer 12

Food production (milk, beef, lamb, pork etc)

Food safety (pre-harvest risk reduction)

Question 13

how does efficiency relate to herd health

Answer 13

Environmental and economic efficiency lead to sustainability

Efficient and sustainable food production

Question 14

how does economics relate to herd health

Answer 14

Collaboration with the farmer

Farm business advisor/consultation role

Economic success of the farm business

Question 15

what does herd health and production management (3)

Answer 15

1. understaind the farm
2. herd health cycle
3. communication

Question 16

what is the red tractor farm assurance dairy scheme

Answer 16

Run by a board of farmers, industry leaders and veterinarians

Standards are set by a Technical Advisory Committee

Independent certification organizations carry out compliance checks

Strict rules on use of Red Tractor Logo

Question 17

what is farm assurance certification

Answer 17

not herd health planning

All farms must be inspected and re-certified every year by an independent inspector

Question 18

what is the ideal herd/flock health plan

Answer 18

Active

Bespoke

Contains accurate and current data

Key information sources appraised (appropriately) frequently

Client should be charged appropriately

Question 19

what is the herd health cycle

Answer 19

Question 20

what does the herd health plan allow opportunity to

Answer 20

1. increased vet input to herd management
2. increasing use of herd health cycle
3. preventative medicine

leads to

1. increased welfare
2. increased food safety and quality
3. increased farm efficiency

Question 21

what does herd health plan lead to

Answer 21

leads to

1. increased welfare
2. increased food safety and quality
3. increased farm efficiency

Question 22

what are flock objectives in a herd health scheme you need to be asking about (8)

Answer 22

1. health scheme
2. farm assured
3. hill/lowland/upland
4. selling stores/finished
5. organic
6. pedigree
7. hobby
8. other enterprises? beef, farm shop

Question 23

what records can you look at for flock health plan (5)

Answer 23

1. abattoir feedback
2. # sold (lambs/ewes)
3. fallen stock records
4. scanning data
5. practice records

Question 24

what is the sheep cycle

Answer 24

Question 25

what are lambing records

Answer 25

lambs born alive/dead

ewes lamed

twins, singles, etc

lambs dying <1week

Prolapses

Abortions

Caesarians

Question 26

what is the vet input for flock health at grass

Answer 26

Preventative parasite control strategy

Nematodirus

In face of anthelmintic and flukicide resistance

Monitoring of drug efficacy

Record growth rates

Losses investigated (PM etc)

Opportunity for EID

Question 27

what vet input can occur at pre breeding/weaning

Answer 27

BSC ewes

Check genetics (AI or tup)

Biosecurity of buying tups/replacement females

• Footrot
• Scab
• EAE
• Resistance GIT parasites
• Orf
• CLA

Tup MOT (scrotal circumference)

Vaccines to replacements?

Question 28

what vet input can be made at scanning sheep

Answer 28

Divide flock for feeding

Investigate low %

• Disease
• Nutrition
• Tup

Keep records

Check vaccine plans