Castration of beef calves
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.
Management in batches in pigs
With the development and professionalization of the pig sector, it is necessary to work with homogeneous production groups and for this purpose the reproductive management in batches has some interesting advantages from the point of view of personnel management and work organization, but it also has health and biosecurity advantages.
Sow farms can select from several different options to form their production batches, in a weekly group or choose every 2, 3, 4, or even every 5 weeks.
– Health benefits: one of the main positive points when changing a farm to batch management is the health improvement it brings. This management in groups of piglets separated several weeks in their birth, usually allows us to make a much stricter management when not mixing ages-lots, so the transmission of pathogens between groups of animals of different ages is minimized. Depending on the design of the farm, we will be able to prevent a production batch from coming into contact, at any time, with its “siblings” in the anterior and posterior batch, so the spread of pathogens is further minimized.
– Biosecurity benefits: Concentrating tasks in specific weeks can help us to improve the biosecurity of our farm. As an example, instead of having weekly loads of piglets, we will have a monthly load, which reduces the risk of introduction of pathologies through transport. All this will help us to concentrate more efforts to avoid the external entrance of agents in the precise moments in which we have the risk.
94 Projecting Social Science into Defra’s Animal Welfare Evidence Base – A Review of current research and evidence base on the issue of farmer behaviour (Research report; Escobar and Buller, 2013)
4 Research report
Projecting Social Science into Defra’s Animal Welfare Evidence Base A Review of current research and evidence base on the issue of farmer behaviour by Escobar, M.P. and H. Buller
2013 Final Report to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs : 94p.
in Significant Impact Group(s): Housing and welfare
Species targeted: Dairy; Sheep;
Summary: This report reviews Defra’s social science evidence base on the issue of farmer behaviour,
particularly with regards to animal welfare. The report recommends that the Department would benefit
from understanding and interacting with social science beyond the fields of psychology and behavioural
economics.
Rather than attempting to address the “perfect farmer” by aiming to influence their psychology,
interventions could seek to impact the social interactions and the cultural context within which farmers
take actions and decisions. Four specific farmer practices around animal welfare are reviewed in the
report, presenting suggestions that could help coordinate social science research with farmers’ actions
and decisions around animal welfare. Three main areas for further research are highlighted in this report:
the importance of farmer – vet relationships, the dynamics of auditing and inspection, the role of cultural
ideas about farming and “good” farming practices in farmers’ actions and decisions.
Three main areas for further research emerge from the selected case studies:
1. farmer – vet relationships
2. the dynamics of audit and inspection regimes
3. the complex role of cultural ideas about farming and “good” farming practices in farmers’ actions
and decisions.
Besides these three main areas we also point to five other specific themes to integrate a social science
research agenda:
– a better understanding of society’s interpretations of animal welfare as a social issue;
– an evaluation of the literature and lessons emerging from participatory, collective and dialogue-based experiences of behaviour change;
– a better understanding of the influence of issues of affect, care and empathy within human-animal relations on farmers’ actions and decisions;
– the effect of information demands and information flows on farmers’ practices of record-keeping
and record-usage;
– the lessons to be learnt from other areas where voluntary and non-regulatory approaches have
been implemented in order to generate changes in actions and decisions, such as agri-environment
schemes and climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.
94 Research report – Escobar – 2013 – Projecting Social Science into Defra’s Animal Welfare Evidence Base A Review of current
research and evidence base on the issue of farmer behaviour
Where to find the original material:
https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/projecting-social-science-into-defras-animalwelfare-evidence-base(29b27372-4f93-4c7d-b193-454287d09100).html;
Country: UK
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Open in new tab Vaccination of in-calf cows and housing practices against calf scour (Neonatal calf diarrhea)
Calf scour (Neonatal calf diarrhoea) is the most common cause of disease and death in calves during the pre-weaning period. Scour can be due to both infectious (e.g., viruses and bacteria) or non-infectious causes (such as poor nutrition). Symptoms are most often diarrhoea that might be green, yellow or grey in colour, weak animals, dehydrated animal (especially when very young) causing sunken-eyes, etc.
Good hygiene, colostrum provision and biosecurity are important for minimising the chances of an outbreak occurring, independent of the cause of scour. Calves are most at risk from infectious scour in the first 3-4 weeks of life and need a continuous source of protection. In collaboration with their herd veterinarians, farmers can vaccinate in-calf cows against calf diarrhoea a few weeks before calving, while increasing the quantities of colostrum given to the calves at birth. After doing this, cases of diarrhoea in the calves should usually drop.
In addition, it is important to segregate calves by age to prevent passing infectious agents from older calves to younger more vulnerable ones and to maintain clean, dry housing with good ventilation. For example, individual pens (which are easier to clean, transport and disinfect) could be used to rear these calves.
90 Calf reception by LTO calf group (Industry Innovation)
Significant Impact Group(s): Housing and welfare \ Weaning age and management ; Pathogen management
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Young;
Outcome Parameter(s): lower antibiotic use; lower mortality; improved animal welfare; improved animal health; better technical results
Summary: With the ‘Calf Reception’ project, the veal calf sector (initiator is the Branch Organization for the Calf Sector (SBK)) wants to improve the reception of newborn calves on the veal calf farm. The project focuses on the management of the veal farmer during the first four weeks, including the release of the calves in groups. During this period, improvements in management can lead to lower antibiotic use and loss, better animal welfare and health, more job satisfaction and better technical results. The main target group of the project are the 1,300 veal veal farmers in the Netherlands. Group meetings and workshops are organized, but individual conversations with veal farmers and advisers are also possible. Aspects that will be discussed include a clean barn, clean feeding troughs and teats, temperature in the barn on arrival, CO2 and humidity, feeding milk.
90 Industry Innovation – Ontvangst Kalveren by LTO calf group
Where to find the original material: (in Dutch)
https://www.nieuweoogst.nl/nieuws/2019/03/28/vleeskalversector-start-nieuw-project;
Country: NL
90 Industry Innovation – Ontvangst Kalveren by LTO calf group
88 KS Kempfarm systems by KS Kempfarm systems (Farm Innovation)
Significant Impact Group(s): Housing and welfare \ Manure management ; Pathogen management
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Outcome Parameter(s): lung problems
Summary: A manure belt underneath the (slatted) floor is used in a stable for fattening pigs. The system is called ‘Kempfarm system’ and separates the urine from the manure. This decreases the ammonia production. The solid manure is turned out of the shed twice a day. The basis is an optimal stable climate, which prevents lung problems. Direct manure separation and daily manure removal from the barn is an advantage for this.
88 Farm Innovation – KS Kempfarm systems by KS Kempfarm systems
Where to find the original material: (in Dutch)
https://www.pigbusiness.nl/artikel/6503-investeren-omdat-het-beter-kan/;
Country: NL
88 Farm Innovation – KS Kempfarm systems by KS Kempfarm systems
61 Effect of udder health management practices on herd somatic cell count (Research paper; Dufour, 2011)
Significant Impact Group(s): Pathogen management \ Managing sick animals ; Housing and welfare
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Adult;
Outcome Parameter(s): herd somatic cell count
Summary: Thee scientific literature on relationships between management practices used on dairy farms and herd somatic cell count (SCC) is reviewed in this study. A large number of management practices have shown consistent associations with herd-level SCC when used in usual dairy settings. These practices should be the basis of udder health recommendations to dairy producers. Although many management practices have shown interesting associations with SCC, the lack of consistency observed should moderate reliance on their use.
61 Research paper – Dufour – 2011 – Effect of udder health management practices on herd somatic cell count
Where to find the original material:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002203021100004X; https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2010-3715
Country: CA
37 The impact of dairy cows’ bedding material and its microbial content on the quality and safety of milk – A cross sectional study of UK farms (Research paper; Bradley, 2018)
Significant Impact Group(s): Housing and welfare ; Biosecurity
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Adult;
Outcome Parameter(s): Bacterial counts in bedding; Bacterial counts in milk
Summary: UK herds bedded on recycled manure solids, sand or sawdust were compared. Bacterial load varied significantly within and between bedding materials. Bedding type did not affect bulk milk bacterial counts. Foremilking was associated with a reduced total bacterial count in milk.
37 Research paper – Bradley – 2018 – The impact of dairy cows bedding material and its microbial content on the quality and safety of milk
Where to find the original material:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168160517305445; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2017.12.022
Country: UK
33 Biosecurity video by ITAVI (Farm Innovation)
Significant Impact Group(s): Biosecurity \ Internal biosecurity; Housing and welfare
Species targeted: Poultry;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary: This video illustrates the main stages of cleaning and disinfection in poultry buildings. Based on testimonials (veterinarian, cleaning professional), it highlights the key messages to remember. It also illustrates points of vigilance, such as deratting procedures, cleaning of pipes and supply silos or even maintenance of the routes. It will be a practical support for training, technical support or to be viewed directly by breeders.
33 Farm Innovation – Biosecurity video by ITAVI
Where to find the original material: (in English)
https://www.itavi.asso.fr/content/nettoyer-et-desinfecter-un-batiment-delevage-de-volailles-volailles-de-chair;
Country: FR
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This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 817591
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This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 817591
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