Animal welfare: ADAS advisory campaigns for 2006/2007
Promotion of welfare advice
A list of all the campaigns or 2006-2007 in the poultry, dairy, pig and beef & sheep sectors is listed below:
| Transport | |
| Poultry | |
| Dairy | |
| Pigs | |
| Beef |
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 & Transport - 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.
The new Transport Regulations - How will they affect you?
EU Regulation 1/2005 on the Welfare of Animals During Transport comes into effect on 5 January 2007. These rules will affect a very large number of individuals and companies that are involved in the movement of animals, both hauliers and livestock producers. Additionally they will also have implications for those involved in markets and other gatherings of animals. These meetings will tell you what the implications are on all those involved in transporting farmed animals and will give clear and practical advice on how to meet the requirements of these new Regulations.
Note: These meetings have now finished.
Poultry campaigns
Pododermatitis and Broiler Litter Management
The link between litter quality and pododermatitis (and hock burn) is well established, both from a wealth of field experience and from research.
Despite major successes in reducing these problems throughout the mid 1980s and 1990s, in recent years there has been a resurgence in both the incidence and severity of both pododermatitis and hock burn – the latter particularly in heavier birds. This resurgence can be correlated with a chronic decline in litter quality over the same period, which has proved difficult to reverse despite, in many cases, strenuous efforts from within the industry.
Last year Defra funded a series of successful workshops for broiler producers on pododermatitis and litter quality.
The meetings focused on the producer’s statutory obligations and provided the up to date information and research on the topic.
During the autumn and winter of 2006/2007 there will be series of further workshops for broiler producers.
Note: These meetings have now finished.
Rearing Litter and Organic Replacement Pullets
In recent years, there has been steady growth in the rearing of pullets on litter systems. The continued development of free range egg production has been an important factor in this trend.
Good bird welfare in lay and successful laying performance is only possible if the pullets received at the laying site are of the highest quality. It is well established that rearing pullets in litter-based systems – particularly those destined for organic egg production systems - presents greater challenges and uncertainties than for those reared in cages.
A conference will be held for pullet rearers this autumn in which a wide range of topics on health and welfare will be presented to producers and will also include the opportunity for discussion. Topics to be presented include current health and welfare issues, beak trimming, the new Transport Regulations and the new salmonella Directive.
Note: This conference has now been held.
Dairy campaigns
Dairy Cow Lameness - Practical Solutions to a Persistent Problem
Lameness in Dairy Cattle continues to be a problem for farmers, with little change over the past 20-30 years. However, over this same period there have been significant changes in the breeding and milk output of dairy cattle in the UK which are considered to be factors which would put an upward pressure on the level of lameness.
Lameness has been the focus of previous Defra campaigns for farmers but more up-to-date information is now available on dairy cattle lameness, including husbandry and physical effects, veterinary aspects and treatment. Work evolving from various Defra funded research programmes and from research and practical experience around the world is providing more information on how this problem can be countered.
A series of workshops will he held around England during March 2007, which will include information on the causes and prevention of lameness, husbandry and environmental factors relating to lameness. The workshops will also include practical sessions on locomotion scoring and housing assessments.
Note: These meetings have now finished.
Farmers handout on Dairy Cow Lameness 
(418 kb) is available here.
Pig campaigns
Minimising Stress in Pig Production
Stress has a profound detrimental effect on the pig’s immune system, reducing the animal’s ability to cope with disease and other potential health and welfare insults. A stressed animal is more susceptible to diseases already present on the farm as well any other diseases that are circulating in the locality. A classic example of how stress increases disease susceptibility was seen with the explosion of postweaning multisystemic wasting disease (PMWS) in many units during the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in 2001. In this case, stress caused by overstocking due to FMD movement restrictions was the trigger for the pig wasting disease.
Stress can be caused by a wide range of management and husbandry practices. Very often the problems can be prevented by simple changes to management practices. However, some may not be as obvious or straightforward to rectify.
Examples of stressors include:
- mixing pigs
- moving pigs
- change of housing
- rough handling
- transport
overstocking
dirty conditions
extremes of temperature
discomfort (e.g. wet conditions, draughts)
change of feed
inadequate access to water/feed
barren environment
Addressing these issues in turn can markedly reduce the effects of diseases present on the unit.
There will be a series of ten meetings across England for pig producers which will focus on identifying areas of stress and ways of minimising their effect. It is anticipated that the meetings will highlight the content of a new Defra DVD on this topic.
Note: These meetings have now finished.
Beef campaigns
Beef Breeding Management
Good reproductive efficiency is a vital component of profitable suckled calf production. A good measure of performance is the number of calves reared per annum, expressed as a percentage of the number of cows put to the bull. Typically, this ranges from 80% to 95% but lower performance levels are not unusual. Losses can be mainly attributed to shortcomings in herd health, nutrition, cow body condition, choice of bull, bull fertility, general husbandry and stockmanship.
Suckled calf production is the main cornerstone of quality beef production in the UK and it is carried out under a very wide spectrum of farming conditions and enterprises. The sustainability of suckler production is vital for the survival of a large number of farming businesses and also for the preservation of important habitats. It is only through correct management and husbandry that a high welfare and health status will be achieved.
A series of twenty workshops for producers will be held throughout England during November and December 2006. The meetings will focus on topics such as the condition of breeding females, bull selection, heifer management and the use of breeding techniques such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer.
Note: These meetings have now finished.
Page modified:
13 April, 2007
Page published: 11 August, 2006