Welfare assessment protocols have been developed for dairy cows and veal calves during the past decades. One practical use of such protocols may be conducting welfare assessments by using routinely collected digital data (i.e., data-based assessment). This approach can allow for continuous monitoring of animal welfare in a large number of farms. It recognises changes in the animal welfare status over time and enables comparison between farms. Since no comprehensive data-based assessment for veal calves is currently available, the purposes of this review are (i) to provide an overview of single existing data-based indicators for veal calves and (ii) to work out the necessary requirements for data-based indicators to be used in a comprehensive welfare assessment for veal calves in Switzerland. We used the Welfare Quality Protocol (WQ) for veal calves and the Terrestrial Animal Health Code from the World Organisation of Animal Health for guidance throughout this process. Subsequently, routinely collected data were evaluated as data sources for welfare assessment in Swiss veal operations. The four WQ principles reflecting animal welfare, i.e., , ', ' and were scarcely reflected in routinely available data. Animal health, as one element of animal welfare, could be partially assessed using data-based indicators through evaluation of mortality, treatments, and carcass traits. No data-based indicators reflecting feeding, housing and animal behaviour were available. Thus, it is not possible to assess welfare in its multidimensionality using routinely collected digital data in Swiss veal calves to date. A major underlying difficulty is to differentiate between veal calves and other youngstock using routine data, since an identifying category for veal calves is missing in official Swiss databases. In order to infer animal welfare from routine data, adaptations of data collection strategies and animal identification are required. Data-based welfare assessment could then be used to complement on-farm assessments efficiently and, e.g., to attribute financial incentives for specifically high welfare standards accordingly.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1436719 | DOI Listing |
Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of an essential oil from the leaves of L. (sage oil) when used as a sensory additive in feed and in water for drinking for all animal species. The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that sage oil is considered safe up to the maximum proposed use levels in complete feed of 20 mg/kg for ornamental fish.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnimals (Basel)
December 2024
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro, Italy.
Lung ultrasonography can facilitate bovine respiratory disease (BRD) detection and can potentially improve treatment outcomes. In this study, ninety-six veal calves were followed weekly with clinical and lung ultrasound examinations during the production cycle. Thirty-six calves had clinical signs and abnormal lung ultrasound scans (TRT, n = 36) and were promptly treated with florfenicol and meloxicam.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrev Vet Med
December 2024
Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Grønnegårdsvej 15, Frederiksberg 1870, Denmark. Electronic address:
Antimicrobial use (AMU) in veal production is high compared to other bovine production types and has been suggested as an area with potential for AMU reduction. High AMU is a public health concern due to its association with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Identifying farm characteristics associated with AMU could provide valuable insights for stakeholders seeking to monitor and implement initiatives to reduce AMU.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJDS Commun
November 2024
Département des sciences cliniques, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 2M2, Canada.
The objective of this cross-sectional observational study was to describe the transport conditions of calves at the time of their arrival at the 2 major livestock auction markets in the province of Québec, Canada, and to identify characteristics that affect bedding cleanliness. A particular emphasis was placed on the transport environment of young dairy calves commonly being marketed for veal production. During 4 d per auction site (n = 2 sites), 2 d in summer and 2 d in winter, the descriptive characteristics including type of transports, number of calves per transport, separation from other transported animals, as well as presence of ventilation sources (e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci One Health
October 2024
Wageningen Bioveterinary Research Part of Wageningen University and Research, Lelystad, the Netherlands.
Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in livestock and the environment likely contribute to the prevalence of AMR in humans with potential detrimental effects on human health. As such, annual mandatory monitoring of AMR in livestock occurs within the European Union (EU), according to harmonised methods. Extended-spectrum cephalosporins-resistant (ESC-resistant) , including extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL), AmpC β-lactamases (AmpC) and carbapenemase producing , are considered of particular importance and are therefore included in the monitoring program.
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