Animal welfare: ADAS advisory campaigns for 2004/2005
Promotion of Welfare advice
A list of all the campaigns for 2004-2005 in the poultry, dairy, pigs and beef & sheep sectors is listed below:
| Poultry | |
| Dairy | Milking Management and the Mastitis Management Action Plan |
| Pigs | Management of sick and injured pigs Welfare in the outdoor unit |
| Beef & Sheep | Lamb survival |
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
- Dairy - Brian Pocknee at ADAS on 01522 521310
- Pigs - Mike Brade at ADAS on 01704 823173
- Beef & Sheep - Kate Phillips at ADAS on 01694 751729
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
Managing cage & barn egg layers to minimise feather pecking & cannibalism
A series of workshops on the subject of beak trimming and cannibalism were held during November 2003 for free range egg producers. The purpose of the meetings was to brief delegates on the progress of the Beak Trimming Action Group to date and also to provide a forum to discuss best practice with regard to reducing the risk of feather pecking and cannibalism and also to identify gaps in knowledge. The general view subsequent to this first round of meetings was that these objectives were well met and provided some useful information for the Action Group.
These new campaigns will continue this process to provide a similar forum
for cage egg producers with a separate (though smaller) round of meetings
for those involved in barn egg production.
These meetings have now finished.
A fact sheet on heat stress
in poultry 
(162 KB) is available.
Heat stress in broilers – reducing the risks
Notwithstanding the severe problems experienced by the industry in 2003, heat stress continues to be an issue that challenges broiler producers (to a greater or lesser extent) every summer. It is ten years since the issue was the focus of a co-ordinated promotional campaign, during which time much has changed within the industry both in terms of personnel, structure and size and also in terms of technical developments with regard to hot weather ventilation and management.
In the wake of the Summer of 2003, the issue of heat stress is once again at the forefront of welfare concerns, making it an opportune time to revisit the subject – particularly in the light of technological developments. In the slightly longer term, the proposed EU broiler Directive may (ultimately) give renewed weight to the issue if the 3 celsius temperature lift becomes a statutory requirement, and the industry needs to consider how this requirement might be achieved.
The campaign will include carrying out a series of in-house workshops
for broiler producers concentrating on ‘making the most of technological
developments’, and devising individual strategies for mitigating
the effects of hot weather.
These meetings have now finished.
A fact sheet on heat stress
in poultry
(162 KB) is available.
Dairy Campaigns
Milking Management and the Mastitis Management Action Plan
The Mastitis MAP was developed in 1999 by ADAS and VLA as part of a MAFF Animal Welfare Campaign. It built on the strengths of the CVL/NIRD Five Point Plan, particularly addressing environmental mastitis (an issue which was not as serious in the 1960's and '70's as now). The 1999 campaign was highly successful and ad hoc meetings have been delivered subsequently at the request of veterinary surgeons and farmer discussion groups.
The latest research and practical experience can benefit the principles of the Mastitis MAP, such as the advantages of the concept of "prep lag time" which has the benefit of reducing milking unit on time and minimises teat injuries and therefore mastitis. The ad hoc meetings have better focused on one or two points of the Mastitis MAP to give a better understanding of mastitis control, as requested by farmers and vets.
A set of two meetings will be held in each of the SVS Divisions (England)
concentrating on specific areas of the Mastitis MAP and incorporating
milking management and video clips to assist in highlighting good practise.
These will include the affects of poor cluster position on milk flow and
teat injuries, the affects of over-milking at the start of the milking
process where there is insufficient udder stimulation and practical tests
by farmers at each milking to ensure the milking machine is functioning
correctly.
These meetings have now finished.
Handout from Meeting 1
(229 KB)
Handout from Meeting 2
(288 KB)
Pig Campaigns
Management of sick and injured pigs
In the last three to four years, the onset of PMWS/PDNS has severely affected the rearing and finishing herd in the UK. Levels of post-weaning mortality have increased several fold on many units with figures of 15% not uncommon, sometimes rising as high as 25%+ on some units. In tandem with these increased levels of mortality there has been a dramatic increase in the number of sick and recovering pigs seen on many units, which together represent a serious welfare challenge to the industry.
Safeguarding the heath and welfare of sick and injured stock requires
careful and skilled management of the hospital pen. The view that the
hospital pen is merely a ‘holding area’ for pigs that will
probably die anyway, needs to be challenged at every opportunity and the
concept of active management of sick & injured stock needs
to be promoted. This forms the main focus of this campaign which covers
all aspects of management of the hospital pen including the design of
facilities and the day-to-day husbandry and management of affected stock.
This subject has common appeal to all sectors within the pig industry
e.g. breeders, rearers and finishers.
These meetings have now finished.
Welfare in the Outdoor Unit
The use of outdoor systems has steadily increased in recent years. June 2003 census results indicate over 27% of the UK herd is now based outdoors. The welfare of outdoor herds (and the husbandry demands made on those operating these systems) are clearly much more dependent upon weather conditions than their indoor counterparts. Recent periods of extended wet weather (and cold snaps in winter) have highlighted the importance of correct site selection and skilled husbandry and management on the welfare of outdoor herds.
The campaign will focus on all those issues that contribute to the welfare and well-being of pigs kept in extensive systems. These will be cross-referenced with the Welfare Code requirements and will include the following:
- Site selection (drawing on the existing Defra booklet on the subject)
- Housing requirements and management and maintenance
- Provision of shelter and shade wallows
- Provision of feed and water
- Biosecurity and health emergency planning,
- Handling systems / sow mixing practice
- Service management systems / use of A.I.
Given the special demands placed on producers operating these systems
in terms of achieving high standards of pig welfare, this campaign will
provide real scope for not only addressing the key welfare issues, but
also for driving up standards of husbandry and management where gaps or
weaknesses are identified.
These meetings have now finished.
Sheep Campaigns
Lamb survival
It has been demonstrated that the most successful flocks rear the most lambs and that lamb output is the key to profitability. Lamb survival is still however a significant problem on-farm and losses remain at about 15 % (or more) of lambs born. This is clearly a serious and on-going welfare issue. In recent years the problem has been exacerbated by the reduced availability of labour on farms – both skilled and unskilled, and there is little to suggest that this situation will improve in the foreseeable future. As a consequence of this, it is going to be increasingly important for those staff that are available to have a much better understanding of the welfare issues involved coupled with the appropriate husbandry knowledge and skills.
The welfare campaign will cover all aspects of lamb survival, including:
- Feeding
- Management
- Disease prevention (VLA)
- Hypothermia and early lamb survival
- Ewe and lamb behaviour
- Breeding.
Page modified: 7 March 2005.