Environment

Providing animals with a clean, dry, comfortable environment which provides for their physical, social and mental needs can improve production, health and welfare by reducing negative stress.

Using appropriate disinfectants, bedding and flooring substrates is important for maintaining clean, dry, comfortable housing. Management routines that include regular cleaning, removal of waste and topping up of clean, dry bedding and litter materials can help limit disease transmission. Animals should be provided with adequate space and facilities in which to rest, exercise and perform species-typical behaviours. Suitable social and environmental enrichment encourages rewarding physical and mental stimulation and grooming activities which can buffer the effects of stressful situations and reduce abnormal behaviours and associated injuries. However, it is important to consider how to provide suitable social environment without compromising health e.g. by avoiding overstocking, keeping social groups stable, and adhering to good hygiene and biosecurity measures.  Providing an environment in which animals are happy, comfortable and content can contribute to lower susceptibility to disease and easier management.

516 AMBIDEM by ITAVI (Tools & Checklists)

Best Practice Guide: Optimal Housing

13 Predict and Prevent by Prognostixs (Farm Innovation)

12 Soil bacteria by Pruex (Farm innovation)

Sheep wellbeing – a holistic approach to management

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

Preventing and treating respiratory disease in calves

Preventing streptococcal infections 

Optimal housing for healthy and less stressed dairy cattle

The influence of low temperature on dairy cows

The prevention and control of mastitis in sheep

Optimal housing conditions for sheep

Prevention of lameness in dairy herds

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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