Animal welfare: ADAS advisory campaigns for 2003/2004
Promotion of Welfare Advice
A list of all the campaigns for 2003-2004 in the poultry, ruminant and pig sectors is listed below:-
If you would like any further information about any of these campaigns or want to express an interest in attending a particular meeting, please contact:
- Poultry - Stephen Edge at ADAS on 01626 779541
- Ruminants - Brian Pocknee at ADAS on 01522 521 310
- Pigs - Mike Brade at ADAS on 01704 823173
For any other information on Animal Welfare, please see our Contacts page.
As in previous years, the cost of providing meetings for all these campaigns will be met by Defra.
Poultry Campaigns
Best Management Practice to Reduce Feather Pecking and Cannibalism in Laying Hens
The Beak Trimming Action Group was set up by Defra in 2002 to co-ordinate information, research and best practice on the subject with the overall aim of enabling the UK poultry industry to successfully adapt to the introduction of the ban on beak trimming in 2011. The group represents a broad cross section of interested parties including producers, breeders, industry associations, researchers and welfare bodies.
Since the formation of the group, a number of initiatives have been introduced, including the development of a code of practice for beak trimming, and a detailed review of the scientific literature. This series of meetings are intended to disseminate the key findings of the Action Group to date, and in particular, to provide a forum for further discussion on practical management of feather pecking and cannibalism in the field.
Seven regional meetings were held in a series of strategic locations throughout England. These meetings have now finished.
Planning for the Future - Working within the Proposed EU Broiler Directive
Although the final form of the EU Broiler Directive is yet to be agreed, it is clear that there are a number of consistent themes contained within the Directive that, if implemented, will have a significant impact on broiler production in the UK in the future.
The purpose of these meetings is to brief broiler growers and the poultry processors on the contents of the proposed Directive and to provide an additional opportunity for consultation at ‘grass-roots’ level. The comments and views expressed at these meetings will be summarised and documented which may help Defra in subsequent discussions with European partners on the subject. A programme of eighteen workshops is proposed to reflect the size and geographical distribution of the various broiler packers. These workshops have now finished.
Ruminant Campaigns
Control of Sheep Parasites - including sheep scab
There is increasing concern over the control and treatment of endo-and ectoparasites in sheep. Both pose a considerable threat to the health and welfare of the national flock and improved understanding of the diseases and their control will be fundamental to improved sheep welfare and productivity in the future.
Sheep scab is a serious debilitating condition involving wool loss, intense irritation and scab formation and in severe outbreaks losses can be high. Since de-regulation of compulsory dipping the number of reported cases of sheep scab have increased dramatically and cases are occurring with increasing frequency all round the country. This is a serious welfare issue where sheep are left untreated or where inappropriate treatments are given. The presence of parasitic worms is also a continuing problem and anthelminthic resistance may be increasing.
Significant emphasis will be put on spread of disease and the need to treat new sheep coming on to the farm. Practical guidance on the need for correct diagnosis, effective treatment and good flock security are likely to improve sheep welfare significantly and save considerable amounts of time and money.
ADAS sheep consultants, together with a veterinary surgeon will be attending sheep sales this autumn with a comprehensive series of display boards giving guidance on the control of sheep parasites. These meetings have now finished.
Sheep Lameness / Foot Rot
Lameness is one of the most widespread welfare problems in the UK sheep flock. It is a significant cause of discomfort and pain and is a major source of economic loss to the sheep industry. A previous campaign carried out for MAFF in 2000 was a considerable success with an average of around 100 farmers attending each farm demonstration. An animal suffering from lameness is less able to compete for food, and will often decline in body condition. The aim of this campaign is to improve sheep welfare by reducing the incidence of foot problems on farms by providing practical advice to farmers on:
- prevention and control of lameness
- correct diagnosis of the causes of lameness,
- treatment and control of the common causes of feet problems in sheep.
A series of 10 seminars and workshops took place during 2003. These workshops have now finished.
Caring for the Dairy Beef Calf
The UK dairy herd is made up of about 2.5 million cows. Approximately 60% of these animals are bred pure which results in the birth of approximately 750,000 male pure-bred calves per annum. A further one million dairy cross calves are born per annum.
In practice, it is found that welfare problems are more likely to be associated with pure-bred (Friesian and Holstein) calves. As babies, many have a very low market value which when coupled with possible eligibility for the, Beef Special Premium Headage Payment, can make beef production appear to be a financially viable proposition. However, it has been found that many calves are being reared in situations where the standard of resource and husbandry skills available is well below what is necessary and animal welfare is being jeopardised.
Without the specialist knowledge necessary to rear such animals from calves through to 12 to 18 months however, there is the potential for welfare problems to occur. A campaign focusing on rearing of livestock will aim to address this problem.
These meetings have now finished.
Reducing injuries to Dairy Cows
The dairy cow can be subject to a variety of injuries which can cause pain, distress and suffering either on a short or long term basis. Injuries can be broadly classed as ‘acute’ or ‘chronic’, depending on the nature and duration of the effects. Examples of acute injuries include ear damage caused by poor application of tags and/or tags being ripped out, and lacerations caused by poorly maintained fencing, crushes etc and trodden teats due to inadequate housing (poor stocking rates or poor cubicle design/dimensions). Examples of chronic injury and illness include lameness and mastitis (although of course these can also be acute such as severe teat congestion caused by faulty pulsation) which continue to be both serious welfare and economic issues and are major causes of pain and suffering to cattle. These chronic conditions often have their roots in simple physical trauma (e.g. poorly maintained tracks and inadequate cubicle size / milking machine damage) which gradually impact over time.
This campaign will address both acute and chronic conditions, but with particular emphasis on leg injuries and mastitis – which together represent by far the biggest welfare insults to the dairy cow.
These meetings have now finished.
Pig Campaigns
New Pig Welfare Code
The new Welfare Code for Pigs were published in March 2003. As before, the code provides advice across the full range of husbandry and management issues but is now much more closely linked to the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003 No 299) which were also approved by Parliament and came into force in February 2003.
The new Code incorporates the three main provisions of the new Regulations. These are :
- All pigs to have permanent access to manipulable materials
- An increase in the minimum weaning age from 21 to 28 days
- Minimum space allowances for sows and gilts
As these are ‘new’ provisions it is important that all producers are aware of what the requirements are, and how best they can be implemented at farm level. In addition to these new requirements, there are a series of other issues – most notably that of tail docking, that producers need to be clear about – both in terms of their statutory obligations, and how these obligations can be met in practice.
A series of 14 seminars will be held with the aim of briefing pig producers and stockmen on the recommendations contained in the new Pig Welfare Code and to help them consider how best to implement the new requirements on individual farms.
These meetings have now finished.
Modified: 20 April 2004
Page published: 5 August 2002