| Livestock
Five steps to better
calf health
UK dairy and beef producers concerned about calf health
can now ask their vet for a detailed, score-based audit of
their youngstock rearing system, thanks to the launch of a
new checklist tool from MSD Animal Health Health (known
as Merck Animal Health in the United States and Canada).
he comprehensive
and interactive
checklist –
developed in
conjunction with
vets and
nutritionists experienced in
investigating youngstock
management problems – helps
practitioner and farmer work
closely together to draw up a
workable action plan to improve
calf health.
“This new checklist-based tool
explores, records and scores calf
health performance across five
core areas (see supporting
graphic) to identify the strengths
and weaknesses of any rearing
unit’s environment and
processes,” said MSD Animal
Health ruminant veterinary adviser
Kat Baxter.
“Working through a series of 10
questions within each core area –
designed to tease out where a
T
rearing unit is in terms of accepted
best management practice –
allows vet and farmer to quickly
pinpoint any areas needing
attention. What’s more, repeating
the checklist every six or 12
months is a great way to keep
things on track, allowing both
parties to monitor progress against
agreed targets,” she added.
Five steps to better calf health:
• Set goals and measure
• Implement good colostrum
management and feeding
protocols
• Feed calves correctly
• Maintain low infection pressure
and vaccinate
• Ensure a healthy rearing
environment
Farmers interested in how they
can use the new checklist to
improve their youngstock rearing
efficiency should contact their vet
for further information.
NOAH conference examines the future of animal
health in light of Brexit
‘Brexit: what’s the future for animal health?’ event puts
progress and sentiment under the microscope.
OAH’s conference
recently brought
together more
than 100
delegates from
across the animal
health sector to discuss and
debate the future of animal health,
as Brexit negotiations continue.
The conference – chaired by
NOAH Chief Executive Dawn
Howard and opened by NOAH
Chair Gaynor Hillier – examined
progress from Government,
industry response so far and
sentiment across the sector ahead
of NOAH’s next Brexit Barometer
report.
A series of key-note speeches
set the scene for the day,
providing insight into the current
regulatory and political context.
Speakers included Nigel Gibbens,
Chief Veterinary Officer for the UK,
Professor Peter Borriello, Chief
Executive of the VMD, Sue
Hayman, MP, Shadow Secretary of
State for Environment, Food and
N
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
Rural Affairs and Rick Clayton,
Technical Director of
AnimalhealthEurope.
A panel featuring David Caffall,
Chair of the Agri-Brexit Coalition,
Mike Murray, Head of Quality and
Environmental Standards, ABPI,
Chris Laurence from the Canine
and Feline Sector Group and
David Calpin from the BVA,
explored what organisations and
stakeholders across the industry
have in common, how our industry
is working together and how we
can do more in the future to
achieve common aims.
This was followed by a session
focusing on opportunities for
innovation, trade, food production
and animal health and welfare and
what needs to be done to ensure
these can be capitalised upon.
The session featured thought-
provoking presentations from Julie
Girling MEP, South West England
and Gibraltar, Nick von
Westenholz, Director of EU Exit
and International Trade, NFU,
Professor Janet Bainbridge, CEO
for Bioeconomy, Department of
International Trade and Professor
Julie Fitzpatrick, Scientific Director
of the Moredun Research Institute.
The conference closed with an
interactive session testing
sentiment on the six key
opportunity areas outlined
in NOAH’s Brexit Barometer.
Feedback and insight from this
session will be revealed in NOAH’s
second Brexit Barometer report –
due out later this year.
NOAH Chief Executive Dawn
Howard comments:
“While there are undoubtedly
opportunities which are within our
industry’s grasp as the Brexit
process unfolds, it is clear that the
only way to capitalise on these is
through collaboration across the
industry and continued close
dialogue with Government. It is
encouraging to see that there are
already many areas of
convergence and ways in which
organisations and stakeholders
across our sector are working
together and we look forward to
continuing to support our
members throughout the Brexit
process to help deliver a
successful outcome for our
industry.”
Dawn Howard
December 2017 | Farming Monthly | 25