Population health

Question 1

Outline the seven step plan in herd/flock investigation

Answer 1

1) Define problem
2) History
3) Distance examination
4) Clinical examination
5) Ancillary aids/further diagnostic test
6) Analysis and decision making
7) Reporting back and further monitoring

Question 2

When approaching herd health what is the main focus?

Answer 2

On PREVENTION of the disease

Question 3

When doing diagnostic tests what should you not do? Why?

Answer 3

‘Fishing expeditions’ such as doing bloods for the sake of it - most notifiable diseases aren’t detectable on a blood test

Question 4

What are the two definitions of poor thrift in young animals?

Answer 4

Failure to gain weight as expected - Poor body condition scoring

Question 5

Why are thin adult animals a problem? Give examples

Answer 5

If thin at certain times of the year causes economic problems
Mating (poor fertility) - Early pregnancy (lower placental development) - Late pregnancy (increased risk of metabolic disease) - Lactation (decreased milk production)

Question 6

What are common causes of whole group poor thrift?

Answer 6

When there is normal feeding but inadequate nutrition (under-feeding quantity/quality) - Trace element deficiency - Maldigestion/malabsorbtion (parasites eg nematodes, liver fluke, coccidiosis)

Question 7

What are the common causes of sub-set group poor thrift?

Answer 7

Normal appetite and adequate nutrition (Johne’s disease, Tumours, Chronic pneumonia) - Abnormal appetite won’t eat (dental disease, lameness)