32 Biosecurity sheets by ITAVI (Farm Innovation)

 

 

Significant Impact Group(s): Biosecurity \ Internal biosecurity; Housing and welfare
Species targeted: Poultry;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary: This website consists of several educational sheets, about Avian influenza and biosafety measurements which can be taken on-farm. A farm-specific selection can be made; with differentiations like broilers, layers, breeding poultry, game, etc. The according sheets vary from ‘staff training’ to ‘plan of circulation’ or ‘pest and wild bird control’.
Additional sheets are separate PDF-documents.
32 Farm Innovation – Biosecurity sheets by ITAVI
Where to find the original material: (in English)
http://influenza.itavi.asso.fr/;
Country: FR

32 Farm Innovation – Biosecurity sheets by ITAVI

31 H@tch vet expert by Merial (Farm Innovation)

 

 

Significant Impact Group(s): Pathogen management \ Vaccination ; Housing and welfare
Species targeted: Poultry;
Age: Young;
Summary: Altitude has developed the H@tch Vet Expert application. This application, developed for the Merial and Chêne Vert Conseil laboratories, is intended to be used during audits in hatcheries.
Veterinarians fill out a predefined questionnaire in the application during their visit to the farm. This questionnaire, the responses of which appear in the form of notes, text, multiple choice questions, etc. then makes it possible to create statistics but also to position the farms in relation to previous audits or in relation to other farms of the same type.
The questionnaires and statistics can be managed from the application but also from the website.
31 Farm Innovation – H@tch vet expert by Merial
Where to find the original material: (in English)
http://www.altitude-creation.fr/realisation/htch-vet-expert/;
Country: FR

31 Farm Innovation – H@tch vet expert by Merial

30 COLISEE study by ITAVI (Farm Innovation)

 

 

Significant Impact Group(s): Housing and welfare ; Feed / gut health
Species targeted: Poultry;
Age: Young;
Summary: This scientific document is about starting conditions for broilers which are influencing antibiotic use and death rate in the first 10 days of a chick’s life. A protocol has been developed to judge the chicks; within 24h after arrival at the farm and several other critical points. Several good practices are advised.
30 Farm Innovation – COLISEE study by ITAVI
Where to find the original material: (in French)
https://www.itavi.asso.fr/download/9461;
Country: FR

30 Farm Innovation – COLISEE study by ITAVI

24 Development of a flaming machine for the disinfection of poultry grow-out facilities (Research paper; Raffaelli, 2013)

 

 

Significant Impact Group(s): Biosecurity \ Internal biosecurity \ Housing

Species targeted: Poultry;
Summary: Research was carried out to set up a new machine for floor disinfection of poultry houses by open flame. The trials were run in controlled conditions in the laboratory of the University of Pisa, Italy, and on a private farm. The results obtained were very promising. Test bench trials showed a substancial reduction in E. coli, and microbial determinations carried out on-farm did not show any difference between thermal and chemical treatment. In addition, the cost estimation showed that thermal disinfection is approximately 4-fold cheaper than chemical sanitation methods. The effective working capacity of the machine was approximately 1700 m2 h–1, and the LPG consumption was approximately 16 kg per 1000 m2. Flame disinfection of poultry grow-out facilities could represent a valid alternative to chemical disinfection.
24 Research paper – Raffaelli – 2013 – Development of a flaming machine for the disinfection of poultry grow-out facilities. Raffaelli, M., Fontanelli, M., Frasconi, C., Innocenti, A., Dal Re, L., Bardasi, L., Galletti, G. and A. Peruzzi 2013 Journal of Agricultural Engineering 44: 22-28
Where to find the original material:
https://www.j.agroengineering.org/index.php/jae/article/download/jae.2013.e4/pdf/; https://doi.org/10.4081/jae.2013.e4
Country: IT

24 Research paper – Raffaelli – 2013 – Development of a flaming machine for the disinfection of poultry grow-out facilities

13 Predict and Prevent by Prognostixs (Farm Innovation)

 

 

13 Farm Innovation
Predict and Prevent by Prognostixs
Significant Impact Group(s): Housing and welfare \ Climate; Precision Livestock Farming & Early detection
Species targeted: Poultry;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary: Predict and prevent by Prognostixs:
The data captured from all the sensors is clearly visualised through our PrognostiX software application and can be integrated into other existing software platforms.
Tracking and analysing performance is a key aim with the Predict & Prevent Platform. The solution measures and compares key environmental and health indicators captured by the sensors or manually input via a mobile tablet device to improve efficiency and allow for rapid and informed on farm management decisions.
Key features, among others, are:

• Quick access for multiple herds across hundreds of farms across the UK via a single dashboard anywhere in the world (customizable to exact requirements)
• Software instantly transforms data inputs into clear, visual representations that enable users to monitor performance over time and quickly identify trends or discrepancies
• In-built alert system allows user to easily identify where data readings fall outside thresholds i.e. where performance is off target
13 Farm Innovation – Predict and Prevent by Prognostixs
Where to find the original material: (in English)
https://www.prognostix-uk.com/product-and-prevent-platform/;
Country: UK

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Predict and Prevent using this platform for better result in poultry.

12 Soil bacteria by Pruex (Farm innovation)

 

 

Species targeted: Dairy; Age: Adult;

Summary: Pruex – additives ‘animal house stabaliser’ and ‘Water cleaner’
Ensuring that animals get clean water that’s not dominated by infection causing bacteria is essential in the fight against disease and majorly influences the need to treat sick animals with antibiotics.
Disease instances such as mastitis, foul of the foot, calf scour and pneumonia have all reduced significantly on this Scottish dairy unit since they have applied Pruex protocols with the aim of ensuring; dry bedding, clean air, feet and water.

David Finlay discusses what they have observed since they have worked with Pruex with the objective of reducing the environmental challenge their animals face from disease causing agents.

Where to find the original material: (in English)
https://www.pruex.co.uk/blogs/news/tagged/mastitis;

Country: UK

5 Enriched Housing Reduces Disease Susceptibility to Co-infection with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Virus (PRRSV) and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (Research paper; Van Dixhoorn, 2016)

5 Research paper

Enriched Housing Reduces Disease Susceptibility to Co-Infection with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Virus (PRRSV) and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (A. pleuropneumoniae) in Young Pigs by van Dixhoorn, I.D.E., Reimert, I., Middelkoop, J., Bolhuis, E.J., Wisselink, H.J., Groot Koerkamp, P.W.G., Kemp, B., and N. Stockhofe-Zurwieden, 2016 PLOS ONE 11: 24p.
in Significant Impact Group(s): Housing and welfare \ Enrichment

Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young;
Outcome Parameter(s): Lower disease susceptibility to PRRSV and A. pleuropneumoniae; Improved welfare
Summary: Stress can reduce the ability of the immune system to fight disease, increasing an animal’s susceptibility to infection. Interventions that reduce stress may have positive effects on an animal’s immune system. This study investigated the effect of social and environmental enrichment on the impact of disease in pigs that were infected with PRRS virus and A. pleuropneumoniae bacteria. They compared groups of pigs housed in enriched pens to groups housed in barren pens. Enriched housed (EH) pigs showed faster clearance of the virus in blood and had less lung damage from infection – barren housed (BH) pigs had more lung lesions and tissue damage than EH pigs. EH pigs showed less stress-related
behaviour and differed immunologically and clinically from BH pigs. The research concluded that enriched housing reduces disease susceptibility to PRRSV and A. pleuropneumoniae in pigs. Enrichment positively influences behaviour, immune response and clinical outcomes in pigs. Until today, antimicrobial drugs have been the therapy of choice to combat bacterial diseases. Resistance against antibiotics is of growing concern in man and animals. Stress, caused by demanding environmental conditions, can reduce immune protection in the host, influencing the onset and outcome of infectious diseases. Therefore psychoneuro-immunological intervention may prove to be a successful
approach to diminish the impact of diseases and antibiotics use. This study was designed to investigate the effect of social and environmental enrichment on the impact
of disease, referred to as “disease susceptibility”, in pigs using a co-infection model of PRRSV and A. pleuropneumoniae. Twenty-eight pigs were raised in four pens under barren conditions and twenty-eight other pigs were raised in four pens under enriched conditions. In the enriched pens a combination of established social and environmental enrichment factors were introduced. Two pens of the barren (BH) and two pens of the enriched housed (EH) pigs were infected with PRRSV followed by A. pleuropneumoniae, the other two pens in each housing treatment served as control groups. We tested if differences in disease susceptibility in terms of pathological and clinical outcome were related to the
different housing regimes and if this was reflected in differences in behavioural and immunological states of the animals. Enriched housed pigs showed a faster clearance of viral PRRSV RNA in blood serum (p = 0.014) and histologically 2.8 fold less interstitial pneumonia signs in the lungs (p = 0.014). More barren housed than enriched housed pigs developed lesions in the lungs (OR = 19.2, p = 0.048) and the lesions in the barren housed pigs showed a higher total pathologic tissue damage score (p<0.001) than those in
enriched housed pigs. EH pigs showed less stress-related behaviour and differed immunologically and clinically from BH pigs. We conclude that enriched housing management reduces disease susceptibility to co-infection of PRRSV and A. pleuropneumoniae in pigs. Enrichment positively influences behavioural state, immunological response and clinical outcome in pigs. In our study, the enrichment stimulated the EH pigs psychologically differently as compared to the barren housed pigs and diminished (chronic) stress in the animals. Chronic stress in general is considered a potential influencing factor on disease susceptibility, however the complex pathways that mediate the effects of stress on infectious diseases, are not completely understood [1]. The better psycho-physiological and immunological state of the EH pigs likely positively affected their immune and inflammatory responses [67–71], and in this way, diminished the clinical manifestation. Our results are also in line with the increasing epidemiological evidence in humans and other species that environmentally induced adaptations, occurring at crucial stages of life, can potentially change behaviour, disease susceptibility and survival also known as the ‘early origins of
the adult disease susceptibility’ hypothesis [4, 72]. In conclusion, enriched rearing leads to a less severe onset and outcome of a PRRSV A. pleuropneumoniae co-infection. The enriched housed pigs showed a remarkably reduced impact of infection and were less prone to develop clinical signs of disease. We found more support for implementation of
psychoneuro-immunological intervention strategies to reduce the impact of infectious diseases and by this reducing antibiotics use. Future research should investigate the possible involved explanatory pathophysiological pathways.
5 Research paper – van Dixhoorn – 2016 – Enriched Housing Reduces Disease Susceptibility to Co-Infection with Porcine Repro
Where to find the original material:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5015855/;
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0161832
Country: NL

 

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Sheep wellbeing – a holistic approach to management

The wellbeing of livestock requires a holistic approach to management.  One UK Superfine Merino wool grower demonstrates excellent sheep husbandry that goes above and beyond minimum standards.  

Firstly, biosecurity – keeping a closed flock, breeding all replacements on farm and strict biosecurity measures for any farm visitor (i.e., vets/shearers/hauliers)The flock are certified Scrapiefree and Maedi Visna accredited, which demands a better price for the wool but this poses challenges finding breeding animals of equal status.  

The sheep are housed in any wet weather limiting damage to the fleecewhich is the farm’s main product. The sheds are large, airywith plenty of bedding and space in the pens, and even toys for the sheep to interact and play with when housed. The opportunity to play and space to socialise with (or avoid) certain flock members are important aspects to sheep wellbeing 

The flock is of high genetic merit and the farmer uses embryo transfer (ET) to maximise the genetic potential and performance of her sheep. They cope well with the steep land and have little issue with their feet – there is not even any detectable footrot on farm. This is attributed to not buying in stock and not trimming feet or footbathingTo ensure their wellbeing, natural mating still occurs alongside artificial mating, which recognises the need for rams to mate. 

To facilitate correct dosing when using anthelminticsthe farmer makes use of a weigh crush that is built into a race and handling system. Here she can automatically identify individuals by electronic ear tags, record weights and administer medicines. The handling system reduces stress for workers and sheep. Handling the flock calmly, quietly and with compassion are key elements to good stockperson-ship.  

Outdoor Autumn Calving System on a UK dairy farm

The majority of UK dairy cows have access to pasture for a portion of the year. This is governed by the weather and ground conditions. Here we hear why calving outdoors for a UK dairy farmer works for their Autumn block calving system.

Calving outdoors on well managed pasture works for this farming family – they like the cows to be out in the fresh air and it fits in with the rest of their farm managementThe near to calving cows are bought in from the calving field once a day for an extra feed and the grass is grown slightly longer than the other grazing fields to provide more fibre in the calving cow diet. This alleviates any metabolic issues, such as milk fever associated with lack of fibre in the diet The farmers also make sure the cows get fresh patch of grass every day and where they laid the day before is fenced off. This helps keep the cows clean and avoids any build-up of bugs that could cause mastitis around calving. The mastitis rate is ~13% for this herd and they have very low rates of lameness (~6/100 cases per year). They also find calving outdoors is cheaper as there is no need for bedding material and further cleaning. In winter, all the cows are bought in due to poor weather conditions. To optimise cow comfort, soft mattresses are used in the cubicle sheds and there is plenty of space so that every cow can lay down at once. When the cows are grazing, they come in for milking at their own pace and are foot bathed daily with Formalin. These are key factors in preventing lame cows and reducing the need for antibiotics for this farm  

Mastitis reduction in an indoor-housed herd (use of sand beds)

Mastitis is one of the leading causes of antibiotic use on UK dairy farms. A high yielding herd housed all-year-round has reduced their mastitis rate to 13% through a series of measures, as seen in this video.

These include installing an Automatic Dipping and Flushing (ADF) system for the teat clusters, swapping from straw bedding in cubicles to sand and changing their pre-dipping routine to using an iodine-based dip and paper towels. 

This has resulted in a drop in environmental mastitis caused by E. coli and Strep. uberis. These types of bugs thrive in dirty bedding, which is now less of a problem for this farm since they made the change to sandBugs in the environment can cause mastitis when pre-dipping routines are poor, so attention to effective cleaning of teats before milking is key. The ADF system ensures the spread of bugs through the milking equipment is also minimized 

Not only has a lower mastitis rate meant reduced antibiotic treatments, which has also saved the farm money, but the farmers have also eliminated the use of Critically Important Antibiotics (CIA). The CIA were often used for mastitis cases and now the farmers find there is less need for them. The farmers also found taking part in a farmer-led research project with the University of Bristol and being benchmarked against other farms in their producer pool very helpful in learning which products were CIA and focusing on specific changes to help prevent disease.