Transcript Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep “SCOPS”

Animal Health and Welfare
in the UK
- the perspective of a Practising
Veterinary Surgeon
Roger Scott BVM&S MRCVS
Scott Mitchell Associates
Hexham
Member of XLVets UK Ltd
University of Newcastle - Conference December 2010:
Current issues affecting Animal Health and
Welfare in the UK in 2010
Disclaimer!
• Not peer reviewed
• No attempt to back up with
referenced research or
evidence
• Not necessarily the views of
the Profession or XLVets or
ScottMitchellAssociates
Two footprints
Different sizes
Equally important
Local Practice
XLVets
What is “health”?
- the state of being free from
illness or injury
Oxford English Dictionary
What is “welfare”?
- the health, happiness and
fortunes of an individual or
group
Oxford English Dictionary
Do we understand our
definitions with respect to
animals?
Animal Health
• Quite definable and
qualitative especially simple
disease
• Can be very quantitative
especially (perhaps
ironically) in complex
disease where performance
is used as measure of the
problem
What is animal welfare?
As said .....in humans it’s.....
1. Health
2. Happiness
3. Fortune (“chance force
affecting lives”)
ie “subjective” in true sense
Animals are not subjective
Subjective – based on or
influenced by personal
feelings
Oxford English Dictionary
Or are they?
Anthropomorphism
- The treating of animals, gods
or objects as if they have
human feelings
Oxford English Dictionary
Could be true? Unlikely? Why?
In animals welfare could be..........
The Five Freedoms?
1. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst - by ready
access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full
health and vigour.
2. Freedom from Discomfort - by providing an
appropriate environment including shelter and a
comfortable resting area.
3. Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease - by
prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
4. Freedom from Fear and Distress - by ensuring
conditions and treatment which avoid mental
suffering.
5. Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour - by
providing sufficient space, proper facilities and
company of the animal's own kind.
Veterinary Profession promotes
good health and welfare
(a) For the primary benefit of the
animal
(b) For the secondary benefit of the
owner ie “profit”
What form does “profit” take?
Farm Animals = money
Work Animals = performance
Companion animals = pleasure
Vet’s doctrine
- Health and Welfare
inextricably linked
- And furthermore linked to
........................
-
profit
An incentive (as if one should be needed!!)
But are they?
Health, Welfare and Profit
link can be real
Big health and welfare issues in the
Animal Industries that lose “profit”
(and we know they do) are...........
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Lameness
Mastitis
Respiratory Disease
Enteritis
Skin disease
Dystocia
Malnutrition
Thermoregulation failure
•Lameness
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Mastitis
Respiratory Disease
Enteritis
Skin disease
Dystocia
Malnutrition
Thermoregulation failure
Lameness in poultry, sheep,
pigs, cattle, horses, dogs.
Lameness determinants
• Nutritional
• Environmental
• Infectious
• Genetic
• Occupational/Sport
• Lameness
•Mastitis
•
•
•
•
•
•
Respiratory Disease
Enteritis
Skin disease
Dystocia
Malnutrition
Thermoregulation failure
Mastitis in dairy cows, beef
cows and sheep
Mastitis determinants
•
•
•
•
Genetic
Milking machines
Wet/dirty environment
Flies
• Lameness
• Mastitis
• Respiratory Disease
•
•
•
•
•
Enteritis
Skin disease
Dystocia
Malnutrition
Thermoregulation failure
Respiratory Disease in cattle,
pigs, poultry and horses
RD determinants
•
•
•
•
•
•
Housing
Crowding
Mixing
Humidity
Stress
Cold
• Lameness
• Mastitis
• Respiratory Disease
•Enteritis
•
•
•
•
Skin disease
Dystocia
Malnutrition
Thermoregulation failure
Enteritis in pigs and calves
Enteritis determinants
•
•
•
•
Crowding
Faecal build up
Infection
Lack of immunity
(colostrum)
•
•
•
•
Lameness
Mastitis
Respiratory Disease
Enteritis
•Skin disease
• Dystocia
• Malnutrition
• Thermoregulation failure
Skin disease in sheep, pigs,
poultry, dogs and rabbits
Skin disease determinants
•
•
•
•
•
Lack of treatment/prevention
Mixing
Crowding (cannibalism)
Boredom (self mutilation)
Presence of agent eg scab
•
•
•
•
•
Lameness
Mastitis
Respiratory Disease
Enteritis
Skin disease
•Dystocia
• Malnutrition
• Thermoregulation failure
Dystocia in cattle, sheep and
dogs
Dystocia determinants
• Genetic
• Nutritional
• Managemental interference
•
•
•
•
•
•
Lameness
Mastitis
Respiratory Disease
Enteritis
Skin disease
Dystocia
•Malnutrition
• Thermoregulation failure
Malnutrition in all species
Malnutrition determinants
• Macronutrient deficiency or excess
• Micronutrient deficiency or excess –
major elements and trace elements
• Access
Subtle malnutrition
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Lameness
Mastitis
Respiratory Disease
Enteritis
Skin disease
Dystocia
Malnutrition
• Thermoregulation failure
Hypothermia
Hyperthermia in pigs and
poultry
Determinants of failed
thermoregulation
•
•
•
•
•
Weather – outdoor lambs, pigs
Genetics in pigs
Transport
Stress
Faulty housing
Here it is obvious that these
diseases impair welfare
Not always that simple?
What about when welfare is
impaired but in the absence of
obvious disease?
And what about when welfare is
impaired and profit does not
necessarily suffer
e.g. 1
Inappropriate environment,
boredom, depression, anxiety,
displacement behaviour
e.g.2
Some systems of intensification:
Broiler units
Intensive Pig units
Hen Batteries
Feedlots
“Super-Dairies”
or is the welfare actually ok?
Is the welfare of intensification ok?
What’s wrong with it?
Are the freedoms satisfied?
Are intensive farms designed
for labour force rather than
animal?
Can they not actually be
excellent?
Things that go wrong
•
•
•
•
•
•
Lack of space
Lack of comfort
Social disruption
Lack of light
Lack of air
Lack of natural habitat
Things that can be right
• Excellent nutrition
• Warm, draught free
• Comfort
Sometimes intensification suits
Genetically manipulated
animals may no longer be
suited to traditional
environments and may need
propping up with artificial
environments eg high
yielding dairy cows, turkeys
etc
Does that make it ok?
Neglect, naivety or cruelty
on part of owners
Health, Welfare and Profit
link can be political
(but real none the less)
• FMD
• TB
• BTV
....on account of movement
restrictions, market collapse,
feed supplies, slaughter policy,
excessive interference eg repeat
handling and testing
Welfare impairment can be
managemental
• Castration
• Disbudding/Dehorning
• Tail docking
Theoretically better for welfare in long run.
True? Is it done correctly?
Ethics
The moral principles that
govern a person’s behaviour
or the way in which
an activity is
conducted.
“Rights”
A moral or legal entitlement to
have or do something
Life – quality vs quantity
Is it ok to die young and
happy?
Ethics and welfare are
probably two different
things.
Think...
Five Freedoms, welfare, ethics, rights
Think...
Five Freedoms, welfare, ethics, rights
Think...
Five Freedoms, welfare, ethics, rights
Conclusions
There are good and bad in......
• Genetics
• Environments
• Management
So we should strive to get rid of the bad
and promote the good
How?
• We as industry partners can continue to
strive to educate animal owners and
influence change based on science
• Remember however that the biggest drivers
of change are the media, supermarkets and
governments and they are driven by public
opinion
• Public opinion is driven by ethics and rights
more than science
• We shouldn’t ignore that
Acknowledgements to the following
XLVet Members
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Iain Richards – Westmorland Vet Group
Kat Bazeley, Mark Burnell – Synergy Animal Health
John McFarlane – Alnorthumbria Vet Group
Charlie Lambert, Den Leonard, Ian Glover – Lambert Leonard May
Wendy van Winden - Penbode Veterinary Group
Roger Serres - Belmont Veterinary Centre
Laura Smith, Simon Wilson, James Coope - Cain Vets
Rob Davies - Allen and Partners