16th IFOAM Organic World Congress, Modena, Italy, June 16-20, 2008
Archived at http://orgprints.org/12468
Knowledge Transfer in the Animal Health Planning Process:
Putting Research into Practice
Roderick, S.1, Ellis, K2 & Bassett, A.3
Key words: Animal health plan, knowledge transfer
Abstract
Animal health plans are now widely accepted as a tool that can provide a structured
approach to health promotion and positive welfare. This requires a partnership
between farmer and veterinary advisor as well as a good knowledge of organic
farming practice by animal health professionals.
This paper describes an electronic compendium of information relevant to animal
health and welfare in organic farming, the main aim of which is to provide resource
material and a training tool for those working with organic livestock farmers. The
approach involved an extensive and detailed literature search, synthesis to provide
advisory material and the development of a website. The compendium is divided into
species specific sub-sections covering Disease Management, Veterinary Management
and Health and Welfare and includes over 2500 references and web-site links. The
compendium covers 45 cattle, 44 sheep, 32 poultry and 27 pig diseases and
conditions as well as extensive sections pertaining to each species’ behavioural
requirements. Throughout there are links to relevant elements of organic farming
legislation.
By providing information on new research and practical solutions to treating and
avoiding disease it is expected that the compendium will contribute to improved
knowledge amongst farmers, veterinarians and advisors and thereby enabling the
development of animal health plans that promote high standards of animal health and
welfare in organic farming.
Introduction
Organic farming places strong emphasis on the achievement of high standards of
animal health and welfare and EC Regulation 1804/99 outlines the key principles and
practices that are designed to meet these aims. However, in practice, achievement of
these aims is not guaranteed and in many cases the health and welfare of organic
animals is similar to that found on non-organic farms (Sundrum et al., 2006).
Animal health plans are now widely accepted as a tool that can provide a structured
approach to health promotion and positive welfare although the most effective means
by which these are defined and implemented have not yet been developed. The UK
organic standards emphasises the desirability of a partnership between farmer and
1
Organic Studies Centre, Duchy College, Rosewarne, Camborne, Cornwall, TR14 0AB, UK, EMail s.roderick@cornwall.ac.uk
2
Division of Animal Production and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of
Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK, E-mail [k.ellis@vet.gla.ac.uk
3
Dartfordleigh House, Postbridge, Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6TJ, UK, E-mail
annabassett55@tiscali.co.uk
16th IFOAM Organic World Congress, Modena, Italy, June 16-20, 2008
Archived at http://orgprints.org/12468
veterinarian as a key element in the development of a health plan on an organic farm
(Defra, 2006). However, the limited exposure to organic farming experienced by many
veterinarians (Hovi et al., 2002), and the commonly expressed concern over the
welfare benefits of organic farming by the veterinary profession (Hovi, 2003), may be a
factor influencing the success of such a partnership and the ensuing health plan. To
this end, a requirement for the improved dissemination of knowledge about organic
farming to veterinarians has been recognised (Vaarst et al., 2006).
This paper describes an electronic compendium of information relevant to animal
health and welfare in organic farming, the main aim of which is to provide resource
material and a training tool for advisors, inspectors and veterinarians who work with
organic or converting farmers. The compendium succeeds a version first produced in
2000. The original was based on knowledge available at the time. Since its completion
there have been considerable changes in organic farming practice, research and
legislation.
Materials and methods
The approach to the development of the compendium involved five distinct processes:
a literature search; a review of the original compendium; synthesis of the literature,;
development of a website and an expert review of the material.
a) Literature search
Key word literature searches were conducted drawn from a number of sources,
including scientific publications, conference and workshop proceedings and the
dedicated organic farming database OrgEprints. Internet searches were used to
supplement these literature sources. The overarching criteria applied to the literature
search was a) relevance to organic cattle, sheep, pig and poultry production and b)
potential application as practical advisory material.
b) Review of the original compendium
A review of the original compendium was conducted so as to identify any existing
technical and legislative inaccuracies, inconsistencies and omissions. The review
process also included the presentation of the technical information and
recommendations for improvement.
c) Synthesis and incorporation of literature
A synthesis of the scientific literature involved the transformation of key scientific
conclusions and recommendation into a format relevant and appropriate to organic
farmers, advisors and veterinarians.
d) Development of a web-site
Using the basic design of the original web-site, a new site was created with additional
features and sections. The web-site design included introductory sections for each
species covered and links to all referenced material and web-sites.
e) Expert review of the material
Expert reviewers were selected to represent knowledge of organic cattle, sheep, pig
and poultry production, organic farming expertise, advisory experience and legislative
knowledge. The review process included an evaluation of the comprehensiveness of
the literature review, the quality of the synthesis and the presentation of the material.
16th IFOAM Organic World Congress, Modena, Italy, June 16-20, 2008
Archived at http://orgprints.org/12468
The review also included expert opinion on the relative risk to organic systems of all of
the diseases covered.
Results
The compendium is divided into species specific sub-sections covering Disease
Management, Veterinary Management and Health and Welfare. For each of the
common diseases, the material is presented into appropriate parts covering The
Condition (describing causes, symptoms and risks), Treatment, Control and
Prevention, Welfare implications and Good Practice. The compendium covers 45
cattle, 44 sheep, 32 poultry and 27 pig diseases and conditions respectively.
Literature pertaining to animal welfare is presented in sections appropriate to each
species, all aimed at the promotion of the organic approach to health and welfare. For
example, the poultry Health and Welfare section covers positive welfare, welfare pros
and cons of free-range production, a comparison of organic welfare standards, The
Organic Standards, features of organic poultry systems, understanding behaviour, the
Five Freedoms, promoting outdoor access, health, housing, breeds and breeding,
nutrition and feeding and rearing replacements. In turn, these are divided into
appropriate pages with more detailed information. For example, the poultry housing
section includes pages on types of housing, building design, litter management,
perches, injury, ventilation, lighting and nest boxes.
Literature pertaining to Veterinary Management is summarised as sections covering
the organic standards, health promotion, animal health plans and biosecurity, vaccine
usage, the responsible use of veterinary medicines, homoeopathy and other
alternative treatments.
Throughout the compendium there are links to relevant elements of organic farming
legislation. The compendium includes over 2500 scientific and other literature
references and web-site links. A full list of all references is provided.
Discussion
The inclusion of the requirement for animal health plans within the UK organic
standards, coupled with the emphasis on preventive health care and the promotion of
positive health heralds a significant opportunity for the veterinary profession and the
organic farming community to work together. The content of the compendium
described in this paper provides an important resource for farmers and veterinarians in
their attempts to meet the high health and welfare standards aspirations of organic
farming and to aid in the health planning process. By providing information on new
research and practical solutions to treating and avoiding disease the compendium
should aid in the aim to use health planning as a positive disease prevention tool
rather than simply a list of issues present on any particular farm.
The increasing interest in organic farming has stimulated more research into, and
provided more information on, the impact of organic management on the health and
welfare of livestock. Much of this information points to a requirement for greater
support for organic farmers in health management and planning. In addition, animal
health management, associated food safety and food quality issues in organic and
conventional farming have increased the demand for specific advice (Hovi and Vaarst,
2004). Animal health plans have been proposed as a means by which organic farmers
16th IFOAM Organic World Congress, Modena, Italy, June 16-20, 2008
Archived at http://orgprints.org/12468
can work in partnership with veterinarians to create a tool for meeting the aspirations
set out in the legislative framework for organic farming and the perceptions of society.
Health planning needs to be more than a treatment strategy. Reducing dependence
on veterinary medicines, whether for legislative reasons, for philosophical reasons or
because of the development of drug-resistant disease agents, requires a greater
understanding of disease patterns and the interaction between the various elements
that make up livestock farming systems, whether that be management, choice of
breed, choice of system or preventative measures. Epidemiological knowledge needs
to be combined with ethological understanding within the context of a complex
ecological system (Vaarst et al., 2004). By bringing together scientific results from a
wide range of perspectives, and presenting them in a practical format, giving, amongst
other information, methods of control and prevention and good practice based on
current knowledge, the compendium contributes to the achievement of this goal.
Conclusions
It is expected that the compendium will contribute to improved knowledge amongst
farmers, veterinarians and advisors and therefore the evolution of systems that
encourage the responsible use of veterinary medicines, utilise herd/flock health plans,
enable effective biosecurity, promote high standards of animal welfare and operate
through agri-environmental principles.
References
Defra (2006) Compendium of UK Organic Standards. At:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/organic/standards/pdf/compendium.pdf (Accessed 2007-10-31)
Hovi, M (2003) Guidance and advice on animal health and welfare in organic production systems –
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