Transcript Genetic Architecture of Complex Traits

Use of analgesic treatments records for
wellfare assesment in sow herds
Kristian M Knage-Rasmussen1, Hans Houe2, Tine Rousing1, and Jan Tind Sørensen1
1Aarhus University, Department of animal science
2University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Life science, Department of large animal science
Objective
Method
To quantify the use of medicine recorded in a central
database as well as information on housing system
Herds and animals:
To explore how well this information reflects the ‘true
welfare state’ of the sows.
The study has focus on the use of analgesic
medication in sow herds and will compare these
measures with a measure from an on farm clinical
examination.
33 conventional sow herds was selected. Mean herd
size: 530 (Max: 1750 Min: 130).
Housing systems:
1. Loose housing (loose housing throughout the
gestations period). n = 13
2. Crates + Loose (Crates until 4 weeks after
mating/insemination, loose housing in the remaining
gestation period). n = 14
Doses analgesic use pr year pr sow
3. Crates (Crates throughout the gestation period). n =
6
2.5
Treatment data:
2.0
The use of analgesics was recorded by veterinarians
and pharmacies and reported to the database Vetstat.
For each drug specification of : animal species, age
group and diagnostic group: “Joints, limbs, hooves,
CNS and skin”.
1.5
1.0
0.5
Animal measures:
0.0
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
Mean herd lameness score
Figure 1 ‘Mean herd lameness score’.plotted ‘doses
analgesic use pr year pr sow’ with a trend line
0 – Normal gait
1 – The animal have difficulties working but is still using
all legs,
1
2
Doses analgesic use pr year pr sow
A total of 30 gestation sows were clinically examined.
We selected lameness as representative for a clinical
welfare indicator. Lameness was categorised as:
2 – The animal is severely lame and it resist bearing
weight on the affected limb
2.5
1.5
3 – There is no weight bearing on the affected limb or
the animal is unable to walk
1.0
Data analyses:
2.0
A descriptive analyses was conducted.
0.5
Results/discussion
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0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
Mean herd lameness score
Figure 2 ‘Mean herd lameness score’ plotted ‘doses
analgesic use pr year pr sow’ by housing system 1 and 2 with
trend lines.
Introduction
Animal welfare assessment systems – such as Welfare
Quality – are based on animal based welfare indicators
as well as on farm resource measures. These
measures are rather cost intensive. It is therefore
relevant to identify less expensive welfare indicators by
the use of information from central and official
databases. Vetstat is a central and official database of
the use of medication in Denmark. We assume that use
of analgesic medication could be an indication of
painful events and therefore a valid welfare indicator.
- The trend line of the sow herds in fig. 1 shows that
‘doses analgesic use pr year pr sow’ (ADD) is
independent of ‘mean herd lameness score’
(lameness). There were found no significant linear
regression between ADD and Lameness.
- The trend lines of housing system 1 and 2 shows that
ADD could be dependent of Lameness. However more
herds should be included in the study as there are not
significant linear regression between ADD and
Lameness for housing system 1 or 2.
Conclusion
The using ‘doses of analgesic treatments pr year pr
sow’ as welfare assessment has to be investigated
further. It might have potential if it is combined with
other welfare indicators as housing system and herd
size.
Contact:
E-mail: [email protected]