Level II Agricultural Business Operations

 This session will include ◦ Biosecurity ◦ Herd health planning ◦ Safe use of veterinary medicines

 Maintenance of herd health is important because ◦ Additional costs for treatments and losses ◦ Reduced production efficiency ◦ Reduced quality of marketable product ◦ Consumer perception of animal welfare

Biosecurity is the prevention of disease causing agents entering or leaving any place where they can pose a risk to farm animals, other animals, humans, or the safety and quality of a food product. The same principles apply within the farm, preventing disease spreading between animals and groups

Water Stock Animals Weather Feed People Vehicles

 Visitors, without disinfection  Colostrum from one farm to another  Hoof trimmers dirty equipment  Vets with dirty equipment  Dead lorry - carcass disposal  Slurry contractors

 Safeguards herd against disease reducing stress on animals and farmer  Safeguards human health  Improves production efficiency by reducing the spread of disease within farm  Stops the spread of disease to other farms  Protects export markets

 Maintain a closed herd  Pre-test and isolate purchased or sick animals  Restrict visitor access  Provide boot washing/disinfection facilities  Use common sense when moving around farm  Restrict access to water courses/neighbouring stock The factors above should be included in a Herd Health Plan

 Measure - Identify disease  Manage - Prioritise improvements  Monitor - Assess progress  Advice - Seek professional advice

 Produced in conjunction with vet  Documents routine procedures, treatments and vaccinations  Sets and monitors targets against mortality and disease incidence  Quality assurance scheme requirement

 Should include ◦ Routine preventative measures ◦ Treatment plans ◦ Management procedures ◦ Health performance monitoring ◦ Health performance review ◦ Action plan calendar

Points for consideration  Routine husbandry treatments  Vaccinations  Parasite control

Month Routine Treatments VaccinationsParasites Oct Colostrum Navel disinfect Tissue tag Cryptosporidia Nov1 st PneumoniaCoccidiosis DecDisbudding2 nd Pneumonia Jan Feb Mar 1 st Leptospirosis 1 st Clostridial AprTurn out 2 nd Leptospirosis 2 nd Clostridial

Month Routine Treatments VaccinationsParasites May 2 nd Leptospirosis 2 nd Clostridial Pulse bolus - worms JuneFly treatment July AugFly treatment1 st BVDLiver fluke Sept 2 nd BVD OctFreeze brand Pneumonia booster NovService prep

Routes of Administration:  Injection ◦ Subcutaneous ◦ Intramuscular ◦ Intravenous (vet) ◦ Intranasal  Intramammary: Dry-cow tubes  Topical: Pour-on, Spraying, Dipping  Oral: Dosing, Bolus, In feed

 Health and Safety ◦ Protective equipment ◦ Animal Restraining Equipment  Know weight of animal (to know dose rate)  Read instructions on label ◦ Every medicine is different!  Correct medicine storage ◦ Secure store/cabinet (or fridge where necessary) ◦ Adhere to storage instructions  Clean equipment: Syringes/Needle(s)

1.Ensure coat is clean and dry 2.Fold loose skin behind shoulder, hold syringe with other hand 3.When animal is calm insert the needle at 45°, squeeze the barrel slowly 4.There should be no resistance 5.Let the skin go flat, hold the insertion point with your thumb and then gently remove the needle 6.Rub the injection site gently to disperse all the medicine

1.Hold the needle in one hand 2.Prepare the skin around the injection site by tapping it with the outside of your fist, on the 3 rd tap, pierce the skin with the needle 3.Place the syringe on the needle and slowly inject the solution 4.To extract the needle hold the skin around it with your other hand and gently withdraw the needle 5.Rub the injection site gently to disperse all the medicine.

 Antibiotics are essential for the treatment of infectious diseases in both animals and humans  Antibiotic resistance is the ability of bacteria that are usually sensitive to a type of antibiotic to become resistant to it  The more you use an antibiotic, the higher the risk that bacteria will develop resistance to it  Why worry about it? ◦ Very few new antibiotics being developed ◦ Important we use our existing antibiotics wisely to ensure these life-saving medicines continue to stay effective for ourselves and our animals

 leaflet _responsible_use_of_antimicrobials_in_livestock_leaflet_final_2.pdf leaflet _responsible_use_of_antimicrobials_in_livestock_leaflet_final_2.pdf  Important we use antibiotics in the right way: ◦ the right medicine ◦ at the right dose ◦ at the right time ◦ the right duration to slow down the development of antibiotic resistance

 Legislative requirement to record; ◦ Purchase of veterinary medicines ◦ Administration of veterinary medicines ◦ Disposal of unused veterinary medicines ◦ Disease occurrences on farm ◦ Keep records for five years

 Food Standards Agency  Farm Quality Assurance Scheme  Milk processors  Supermarkets  DARD Veterinary Service  DARD Agri-Food Inspection Branch

 Locked medicine cabinet  Sharps container  Record book in cabinet

Sick calf, 40kg, showing signs of pneumonia Isolate calf, dry straw bed Vet has suggested treating with Hexasol LA Initial intramuscular injection at 1ml/10kg lwt

2/10/14 Hexasol La 100ml /8/15Andy Vet, 14 Practice Road, Mallusk. BT36 4TY 35 days

Hexasol LA 2/10/ AF 2/10/146/11/ ml Andy Vet

 Schemes designed to monitor, control and ultimately eradicate a specific disease within a herd: - BVD - Johne’s Disease - IBR - Leptospirosis  Herds may achieve ‘accredited disease free’ status for specific disease

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 Biosecurity is vital for animal health and well being  Herd health planning is essential  Veterinary medicine records required