Herd & Flock Health: Population Medicine Flashcards
what is the on farm approach (5)
1 understand the farm
- investigate the problem
- relate findings to the farmer
- facilitate decision making
- establish monitoring
how do you take a farm history
5-10 year plan
staff
walk and observe the buildings and animals
walk and observe the land
what does the investigation on the farm entail (4)
- define the problem (what and how much?)
- identify groups for comparison (who, when, where)
- evaluate potential risk factors and identify key determinants (why)
- develop recommendations for treatment and prevention and follow up to assess the effectiveness of the intervention
how do you define the problem on farm
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
how do you identify groups for comparison
Collect all relevant info on diseased and non-diseased groups
how do you evaluate potential risk factors and identify key determinants
Supplement your evaluation by collecting additional data to support your hypothesis
Clinical examination/necropsy/sample collection
what samples might you collect
Blood, feces, milk, soil, tissue, urine, feed
how do you collect samples from a representative group
Consider
Age groups
Management groups
Number of animals
Prevalence of disease
Cost of test
how do you develop recommendations for treatment and prevention and follow up to assess the effectiveness of intervention
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
what is herd health
Maintenance of animal health and production at the most efficient level that provides competitive economic returns to the animal owner
how does animal health relate to herd health
Absence of disease (clinical & subclinical)
Complete physicals, mental and social well-being
Preventative medicine and animal welfare
how does production relate to herd health
Food production (milk, beef, lamb, pork etc)
Food safety (pre-harvest risk reduction)
how does efficiency relate to herd health
Environmental and economic efficiency lead to sustainability
Efficient and sustainable food production
how does economics relate to herd health
Collaboration with the farmer
Farm business advisor/consultation role
Economic success of the farm business
what does herd health and production management (3)
- understaind the farm
- herd health cycle
- communication
what is the red tractor farm assurance dairy scheme
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
what is farm assurance certification
not herd health planning
All farms must be inspected and re-certified every year by an independent inspector
what is the ideal herd/flock health plan
Active
Bespoke
Contains accurate and current data
Key information sources appraised (appropriately) frequently
Client should be charged appropriately
what is the herd health cycle
what does the herd health plan allow opportunity to
- increased vet input to herd management
- increasing use of herd health cycle
- preventative medicine
leads to
- increased welfare
- increased food safety and quality
- increased farm efficiency
what does herd health plan lead to
leads to
- increased welfare
- increased food safety and quality
- increased farm efficiency
what are flock objectives in a herd health scheme you need to be asking about (8)
- health scheme
- farm assured
- hill/lowland/upland
- selling stores/finished
- organic
- pedigree
- hobby
- other enterprises? beef, farm shop
what records can you look at for flock health plan (5)
- abattoir feedback
- # sold (lambs/ewes)
- fallen stock records
- scanning data
- practice records
what is the sheep cycle
what are lambing records
lambs born alive/dead
ewes lamed
twins, singles, etc
lambs dying <1week
Prolapses
Abortions
Caesarians
what is the vet input for flock health at grass
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
what vet input can occur at pre breeding/weaning
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?
what vet input can be made at scanning sheep
Divide flock for feeding
Investigate low %
- Disease
- Nutrition
- Tup
Keep records
Check vaccine plans
