Latest news with #NIIAS
Agriland
10 hours ago
- Health
- Agriland
Animal health status a ‘clear driver' of sustainability levels
Taking a 'silo approach' to animal health misses out fundamentally on the impact this key principle of animal husbandry has across farming as a whole, according to veterinarian Dr. Sam Strain. This was the clear message the vet delivered to the recent Northern Ireland Institute of Agricultural Science (NIIAS) annual conference. He specifically referenced the link between animal health and the issues of production efficiency, carbon footprint, and medicine usage. Moreover, he said these are all matters that determine the overall sustainability of farming and food at the present time. Dr. Strain is the chief executive of Animal Health and Welfare Northern Ireland (AHWNI). In his presentation to the NIIAS conference, he confirmed that animal health status has an overarching impact on livestock performance. In other words, an animal's genetic potential will never be fully reached if its health status is compromised, irrespective of the nutritional regimes that are followed. Chatting at the NIIAS conference, Institute members (l-r) Sean McIntyre, Valerie Westfield, and Lowry Cunningham According to the vet, clear links have also been confirmed between animal health status, production output, and the associated impact on the environment. Dr. Strain explained: 'Between 2007 and 2017, milk output in the United States rose by 24.9%. 'However, greenhouse gas emission levels only increased by 1% during the same period. 'Analysis of these results has clearly shown that animal health status is a clear driver of whole herd efficiency and sustainability levels.' The AHWNI representative highlighted the need for calves to be tagged as early as possible. This is a key requirement, linked to the ongoing bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) eradication programme in Northern Ireland. Dr. Strain also noted that further legislation will be required to allow for the full completion of the BVD measure. Animal health Animal health standards are directly linked to the usage of antibiotics within production agriculture. He also confirmed that a specific disease breakdown predisposes animals to other health-related issues, which in turn can lead to increased antimicrobial usage. He added: 'There is a tremendous level of interaction between diseases. For example, BVD predisposes animal to pneumonia. Infectious disease move within animals. 'But simple steps taken by farmers to tackle one specific issue can have repercussions across other aspects of animal health. 'For example, improving hygiene standards in calving areas to reduce the prevalence of Johne's disease will also act to reduce scour levels in newborn calves.' Dr Strain also spoke of how improving animal health can have benefits for efforts to reduce carbon emissions. 'There is also a clear line between improved livestock health standards and the carbon footprint generated by a livestock farming business,' the AHWNI representative said. 'For example, reducing lameness problems within dairy herds will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emission levels. 'And reducing parasite burdens, such as those created by fluke and worms, will also deliver overall reductions in carbon footprint values.'
Agriland
a day ago
- Health
- Agriland
DAERA: Bluetongue disease ‘will arrive at some stage'
Bluetongue disease will, inevitably, reach the island of Ireland. And this may well happen sooner rather than later. This is the strongly held view of Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) deputy chief veterinary officer, Dr. David Kyle. He made the comments at the recent Northern Ireland Institute of Agricultural Science (NIIAS) annual conference. Dr. Kyle said: 'The disease carrying midges will arrive at some stage: we can't control the weather. 'DAERA is currently monitoring midge and virus populations, specifically in Irish Sea coastal areas.' The latest figures from Great Britain (GB) confirm the east/west march of the virus. However, to date, it has not reached those regions with high sheep populations. Once bluetongue reaches Irish shores, 20km radius incursion zones will be established in an attempt to get to grips with the disease, according to the DAERA deputy chief veterinary officer. Dr, Kyle referenced the future use of vaccines as a way farmers can get to grips with the problem within their own businesses. Chatting at the NIIAS conference, (l to r) Ian Stevenson, Dairy Council for Northern Ireland; and Dick Blakiston Houston, BlakistonHouston Estates According to the DAERA representative, a region's animal health status will have a direct bearing on its ability to export food products. In addition, disease has a direct bearing on animal performance and productivity. Illegal animal and food importations heighten the risk of new disease threats, and Dr. Kyle confirmed that DAERA has strengthened its presence at all of Northern Ireland's ports. He referred to the attempts that have been made by some people to smuggle live sheep into Northern Ireland as 'absolute folly'. The World Organisation for Animal Health lists 118 notifiable diseases. All of these are linked to international food trading conditions. Dr. Kyle said: 'Food exports are worth in excess of £6 billion to Northern Ireland's economy. So, protecting the future of our agri-food sectors is a key priority. 'And the same principle holds in the Republic of Ireland.' The DAERA representative referenced the triple threat of bluetongue, foot and mouth disease (FMD), and highly pathogenic avian influenza – or bird flu – as the key concerns for Ireland's agri-food sectors at the present time. While Dr. Kyle highlighted the tremendous efforts made by the poultry sector in keeping avian influenza at bay over recent times, he struck a cautionary note where FMD is concerned. This year has seen outbreaks of the disease confirmed in Germany, Hungary and Slovakia with two different lineages of the virus identified in these cases. However, when it comes to attributing the initial causes of the disease outbreaks, bio-terrorism has been one of the options followed up.
