Population Health Flashcards
What’s wrong with the traditional veterinary services on farms?
Cost:benefit ratio may not favour intervention with treating single animalsFocus on treatment means the cost of disease is replaced by the cost of treatmentSub-clinical disease often ignoredNo integrated approach meaning many diseases influenced by husbandry
What can be key in eliminating a vast number of diseases on farms?
Good animal management
What is the best approach to dealing with disease on farms?
Herd/flock health approachFocus on preventionIntegrate health management with husbandry and business managementProduce a health plan
What are the 7 steps in investigating problems on farms?
- Define problem2. History3. Distance examination4. Clinical examination +/- PME5. Ancillary aids/further diagnostics6. Analysis and decision making7. Reporting back and further monitoring
What are the two key problems on farms?
DiseasePoor production
What should we refine with herd problems?
Whether the whole group is affected or only certain individuals
What data can we use to define the problem with herd problems?
WeightsSlaughter recordsScanning/PD resultsCalving/lambing data
How can slaughter records help us with defining a problem?
Tells us if it is taking the farmer longer to reach slaughter weight each yearSuggests poor gain and possible an area to investigate
How can scanning results be used to help define herd problems?
Tells us if the animals are pregnant in the first placeAlso where animals are being lost
What are the main things to check with history taking on farms?
General things - type of sheep, number etc.ManagementPredisposing factorsClinical signs and progressionTemporal and spatial patterns - time of the year/pastureMedicines book
When does the environment examination on the farm begin?
As soon as you drive onto the farm
What does a large amount of wool on wire fences suggest?
Parasite problem - sheep scab
What things should be picked up on when examining the group?
Are they all OKAre there individuals that need looking atScourDiarrhoeaNasal discharge
What should be done if individual animals are indentified as sick?
Removed from herd and carefully examined
What things can we look at in an individual animal with a herd problem?
AgeBCSTemperatureHeart rateRespiration rateRumination rateHydration statusMucous membranes
What parasite can be diagnosed by pale mucous membranes, diarrhoea and weight loss?
Haemonchus spp.
If no dead animals are present what is an alternative to carry out a PME?
Kill a small number of the herd as low individual value
What needs to be ensured with PME to determine disease?
Sample size is correct - how sure are we about certain diseases
What should also be done when carrying out a PME?
Collection of samples for further analysis
What do PME costs need to be balanced against?
Cost of disposalAnte-mortem testsOther animals dyingProduction loss
What should you have before carrying out further diagnostic tests?
A pretty clear idea of what is occuring on the farm
What should diagnostic tests be used for in herd problems?
Confirming your diagnosis and giving a good basis for carrying out treatments
What do you need to be able to do if you decide to carry out diagnostic tests?
Justify every test you do - will the result allow you to move onto the next step
What needs to be decided with herd problems?
Is an abnormality present?If so, what is it?Is treatment possible or warranted?
What areas may it be better to focus attention and funds instead of treatment?
ControlPrevention
What are the two things to be thought about when preventing/minimizing the problem?
Short term goalsLong term goals
What are many production animal problems related to?
Management - intervention or change required for long term prevention
What are some examples of management changes that can help control disease?
Reduce stocking densityChange nutrition or feeding systemDon’t mix groupsBuy from disease-free herdsQuarantine of new animals
What do all changes to management need to be?
Justified
What needs to be decided when looking at diseases?
What are the predisposing factors?How can we reduce factors?Is a vaccine available and is it economically justified?Can it be eradicated?Is it feasible to do so?
Why are reports useful in herd health problems?
Clarify thoughts for both you and farmerWritten document that can be referred back toPoor record keeping is often a problem in large animal practice
Why is future monitoring important in herd health problems?
Correct course of action in many casesOn-going contact with farmerMay lead to further work/greater involvement
Define poor thrift
Failure to achieve target weight at a certain ageVery low BCS
What is poor thrift in young animals?
Failure to gain weight as expected
What do you need to know with poor thrift in young animals?
Target growth rates
What will target growth rates vary with?
SpeciesBreedAgeFeeding systemFarm management
What sort of problem is poor thrift in farm animals?
Herd/flock problemLarge numbers affectedVery expensive