474 – Rearing healthy calves by Dairy Australia (Tools & Checklists)

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474 Tools & Checklists – Rearing healthy calves by Dairy Australia

474 Tools & Checklists
Rearing healthy calves by Dairy Australia
In Significant Impact Groups: Young stock Management and early rearing
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Young stock
Summary:
The way we care for all calves on dairy farms can have major and long lasting effects: not just at the farm level, but throughout the industry, where issues such as animal welfare, animal diseases and food safety can have significant consequences. Rearing Healthy Calves provides a practical guide to all aspects of calf management on Australian dairy farms. It includes contributions from a wide range of experts including farmers, animal scientists and veterinarians to identify best practices in calf rearing to ensure their health and well-being. Dairy farmers make decisions every day that can affect the health and welfare of their calves. This manual combines clear and concise explanations with practical examples to help you see a range of approaches in action.

Where to find the original material: https://www.dairyaustralia.com.au/resource-repository/2020/07/09/rearing-healthy-calves-manual–second-edition
Country: Australia;

449 – Effect of welfare standards and biosecurity practices on antimicrobial use in beef cattle (Research report – Diana – 2020)

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449 Research report – Diana – 2020 – Effect of welfare standards and biosecurity practices on antimicrobial use in beef cattle

449 Research report
Effect of welfare standards and biosecurity practices on antimicrobial use in beef cattle by Diana, A., Lorenzi, V., Penasa, M., Magni, E., Alborali, G. L., Bertocchi, L., & De Marchi, M. 2020 Scientific Reports 10: 13-Jan
In Significant Impact Groups: Housing and welfare \ Weaning age and management; Biosecurity
Species targeted: Beef;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
This study aimed to investigate the impact of welfare standards and biosecurity on AMU in beef cattle. Data on performance traits and AMU were collected over a 3.5 year time from 27 specialised beef farms and a treatment incidence was calculated using the defined daily dose for animals. An on-farm assessment was carried out. The highest average score was obtained for the welfare section (76%) followed by emergency management (39%) and biosecurity (24%). This suggests that major focus on strategies for the implementation of biosecurity measures and emergency management is needed, due to the low scores reported. A statistically significant lower AMU was observed with improved level of welfare. These results may be helpful for farm benchmarking and highlight the importance of improved animal welfare for an efficient antimicrobial stewardship
449 Research report – Diana – 2020 – Effect of welfare standards and biosecurity practices on antimicrobial use in beef cattle
Where to find the original material: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33262402/; 10.1038/s41598-020-77838-w
Country: IT

Best Practice Guide: Optimal Housing

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272 – Early postnatal rearing conditions of broilers influencing antibiotic use and mortality in the first 10 days (Research paper – Rousset – 2017)

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272 Research paper – Rousset – 2017 – Early postnatal rearing conditions of broilers influencing antibiotic use and mortality in the first 10 days

In Significant Impact Groups: Housing and welfare \ Weaning age and management; AMU reduction strategies
Species targeted: Poultry;
Age: Young;
Summary:
The first 10 days of poultry rearing are a critical period for the chick development. A study was conducted to identify the early postnatal rearing conditions of broilers influencing antibiotic use and mortality in the first 10 days. 50 broilers flocks were investigated in Brittany. Visits were conducted 24 hours after the arrival of the chicks (V1) and 3 days later (V2). The average mortality rate was 1.9%, and 47 % of the flocks received antibiotic treatment. Data analysis revealed that flocks with a mortality rate higher than the overall flocks (2.3 %), were frequently treated with antibiotics (58 % of the flocks), were characterized by presence of E. coli in chicks in V1 and lameness in V2 chicks, generally had higher concentrations of CO2 in V1 (> 3 000 ppm), were located further from the hatchery (> 200 km) and did not use detergent to wash the poultry house.

Where to find the original material: https://www.itavi.asso.fr/content/le-demarrage-des-poulets-de-chair-jeuneaviplus;
Country: FR

271 – Control of environmental conditions during a long wait for the day-old chick at the hatchery before breeding – What are the impacts on the quality and (Research paper – Puterflam – 2019)

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271 Research paper – Puterflam – 2019 – Control of environmental conditions during a long wait for the day-old chick at the hatchery before breeding_ what are the impacts on the quality and

In Significant Impact Groups: Housing and welfare \ Weaning age and management; Biosecurity
Species targeted: Poultry;
Age: Young;
Summary:
The robustness of day-old chicks is a crucial parameter to optimize welfare, to limit their mortality, and to reduce the use of antibiotics. The age of the breeders and the time at the hatchery can have a negative impact on their robustness. The aim of this study was to test optimized environmental conditions during a prolonged wait (24 hours) before breeding of two sets of day-old chicks from breeders at the beginning of laying (DP) and at the end of laying (FP). Results show that chicks placed in cases of lower density, in controlled environment, and with empty space between each box to improve air circulation significantly have less in weight loss between hatching and arrival at the farm, a significant increase in weight at D12 in FPs, a cloacal temperature greater at D1, and at slaughter a higher breast yield.

Where to find the original material: https://www.itavi.asso.fr/content/maitrise-des-conditions-dambiance-pendant-une-attente-prolongee-du-poussin-dun-jour-au;
Country: FR

268 – Starting of Label Rouge broiler production – Preserve the welfare and performance of animals (Research paper – Pertusa – 2019)

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268 Research paper – Pertusa – 2019 – Starting of Label Rouge broiler production_ preserve the welfare and performance of animals

In Significant Impact Groups: Housing and welfare \ Weaning age and management; AMU reduction strategies
Species targeted: Poultry;
Age: Young;
Summary:
Early rearing phase represents a key period in breeding and requires special technical and sanitary management to ensure the competitiveness of poultry production and welfare. 30 Label Rouge poultry flocks were sampled. Data on the environment, feeding, watering, cleaning and disinfection management, body weight and body condition monitoring were collected and a questionnaire was also sent to the farmer to identify its practices. The selected variables of interest, were: weight, homogeneity of the batch, rate of pododermatitis, mortality and welfare rating at 15 days. From the study it was found that the origin of the chicks had a significant impact on the weight, the homogeneity of the batch and the mortality at 15 days. Access to specific start-up feeding equipment also appears to influence the weight, homogeneity and rate of pododermatitis at the end of the start. This rate is also influenced by the quality of the litter in breeding.

Where to find the original material: https://www.itavi.asso.fr/content/le-demarrage-en-production-de-poulets-de-chair-label-rouge;
Country: FR

266 – Chick vocalizations – Development of a recording and analysis method (Research paper – Michaud – 2019)

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266 Research paper – Michaud – 2019 – Chick vocalizations_ development of a recording and analysis method

In Significant Impact Groups: Housing and welfare \ Weaning age and management
Species targeted: Poultry;
Age: Young;
Summary:
This study aims to develop a method for recording and analysing chicks vocalisations emitted during the first 3 days of life (D0 to D3). First, a bibliographic review identified vocalizations categories emitted by chicks (comfort, distress, snuggle, fear or pleasure trills) and identified their sound characteristics. Then, two programs developed under Matlab, made it possible to automate the recording of sound sequences and to detect and identify comfort and distress vocalizations. The study defined optimal sound recording conditions allowing an optimal analysis of sound signals: a group of ten chicks, omni-directional microphones, 2-minute recording sequences. Between D0 and D3, chicks emit short sounds with a limited frequency range (2000 – 5000 Hz). The program developed allowed to characterize the several sound indicators of importance, and count the chicks’ comfort and distress vocalizations.

Where to find the original material: https://www.itavi.asso.fr/content/vocalisations-du-poussin-developpement-dune-methode-denregistrement-et-danalyse;
Country: FR

Keeping dairy cows and calf together – how to manage biosecurity and health

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Separation of cow and calf at birth has been common practice for decades. The interest in keeping cow and calf together for a longer time is increasing among both farmers and consumers. Before you start practicing this you must consider a few things first. Biosecurity is vital if you want to succeed.  

 

Uncover the risks 

Take a critical look at your farm – consult your veterinarian. Uncover the risks for introduction of new infectious diseases, but also the risk of spreading diseases already present at the farm. When you know the risk factors on your farm, you can take care of them. 

 

Small groups 

It is important to keep the cows and calves in smaller groups. Larger groups mean more options for contact between animals and a higher risk for spreading of diseases.  

 

Monitor colostrum quality and uptake 

Colostrum is critical for the newborn calf. You can not be sure that a calf that is only nursed by the cow gets enough colostrum. Up to 60 % of the calves will suffer to failure of passive transfer of antibodies. It is necessary to monitor both quality and amount of colostrum the calves ingest. Feeding the calf colostrum is a safe way to secure sufficient immunization. Always keep good quality colostrum in a colostrum bank, so you have colostrum to supply calves born from cows with little or to poor colostrum.  

 

Monitoring the calves  

Monitoring calf health is vital. Do not expect that the cow can do this job or that health monitoring is less time consuming when calves and cows are kept together. When calves are bucket fed twice daily, it is quite easy to monitor wellbeing of the calf, appetite and drinking speed. You do not get the same information if the cow is the caretaker. Therefore, the person responsible for monitoring the calves must look for the small signs of illness, so proper intervention can be carried out before it is too late.  

Castration of beef calves

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The purpose of castrating calves is to reduce the production of male hormones so that males become calmer. The implications of castrating calves for meat production are biological, managerial, veterinary and impact the quantity and quality of meat. Thus, sperm production stops in males, there is no risk of fertilization, males can be kept on pasture or in the stable with cows, which greatly reduces housing costs and worker safety is much higher. Also, males are less aggressive, all the energy accumulated through food is used for meat production. Due to the lack of testosterone, the meat is more tender, the animals do not move much and the muscle fiber is not very strong, which is appreciated by consumers.

The most effective method of castration is the non-surgical one by using the elastrator, a special tool that has the role of applying a rubber ring over the upper part of the testicles (~ 0.5 cm), not at the base of the scrotum. By this method, castration is done in the first weeks of life (maximum 3 weeks) to avoid complications. As the animal gets older, there is a risk that the method will not be effective and that complications will occur. If the elastic band is not applied properly, there is a risk of infections. This method has the advantage that there are no open wounds exposed to the septic environment, which require the consumption of antibiotics.