Audits and Evidence Based Husbandry

Question 1

husbandry?

Answer 1

the practice of breeding and raising animals

Question 2

what determines good from bad husbandry?

Answer 2

Health, welfare, sustainability, productivity and profitability

Question 3

AUDIT?

Answer 3

using measure, manage and monitor

Question 4

what is a failure of management?

Answer 4

disease and poor productivity

Question 5

process?

Answer 5

a procedure or protocol (e.g. method used to disinfect calf pen)

Question 6

Key performance indicators (KPIs)?

Answer 6

an important type of performance measure to which we attach a value (growth rate, milk yield etc.)

Question 7

Target values?

Answer 7

a value attached to a KPI (E.G. calf mortality <5%)

Question 8

Bench marking?

Answer 8

Comparing the value of a farms KPIs to other external values for the KPI

Question 9

Gold Standard?

Answer 9

The best current evidence-based method used in a process or value attached to a KPI

Question 10

KPI examples - Health parameters?

Answer 10

Clinical mastitis cases/year/100 cows (incidence)
Mobility scoring % cows lame (prevalence)

Question 11

Production paramters? KPI e.g.

Answer 11

Milk yield/cow/lactation
calving to calving interval

Question 12

KPI example - financial?

Answer 12

Farm profit
Profit/litre of milk

Question 13

What should audits include?

Answer 13

Farm goals + objectives
Breeding management
Welfare
Biosecurity +disease control
Housing + environment
Nutrition + feeding management
Preventative health care
Production and disease parameters/kpi’s and target values
Records
Stockmanship, protocol and standard operating procedures

Question 14

What are the 8 Key Topics in dairy herd health?

Answer 14

Fertility + herd reproduction
Mastitis + Milk quality
Lameness
Rumen health (nutritional management of the herd)
Biosecurity and preventative medicine
Heifer rearing
Calf rearing
Other health issues

Question 15

1/6 reason why farm audits are so important:

Answer 15

Need to understand the current practices (processes) and risk factors

Question 16

2/6 reason why farm audits are so important:

Answer 16

Need to identify information needs (missing records)

Question 17

3/6 reason why farm audits are so important:

Answer 17

Identify problems by examining the value of key performance (outcomes) indicators

Question 18

4/6 reason why farm audits are so important:

Answer 18

Enables a report to be generated indicating the strengths and weaknesses

Question 19

5/6 reason why farm audits are so important:

Answer 19

Audit can be a farmer education tool

Question 20

6/6 reason why farm audits are so important:

Answer 20

Improves health welfare productivity and profitability

Question 21

Purpose of a farm audit?

Answer 21

Investigative
Herd/flock health management plans
Assurance Schemes
Disease accreditation programmes

Question 22

Assurance schemes, voluntary/involuntary?

Answer 22

Voluntary schemes

Question 23

How many cattle accreditation schemes are there? - and how many are there for sheep?

Answer 23

5 for cattle and 4 for sheep

Question 24

best practice/gold standard of calves receiving colostrum?

Answer 24

4 litres in 2 meals within 12 hours of birth

Question 25

Dairy Calf Colostrum Management: what would the question be?

Answer 25

How much colostrum do you give to dairy calves?

Question 26

What would the audit consist of when answering the question 'How much colostrum do you give to dairy calves?

Answer 26

Gold standard: 4L in 2 meals in first 12 hours Findings: 3x2L in12 hours Comment: OK Associated KPI: Growth rates Calf mortality Calf illness Potential impact on profitability: High Actual impact: Low Advise: Continue current practice

Question 27

Implementation of the farm audit?

Answer 27

Farmer questionnaire Farm walk (inspection) Follow up questions w/ farmer Analysis of records Written report Revisit and monitor outcomes

Question 28

written report, what does it consist of?

Answer 28

strengths and weaknesses Prioritised, costed, action plans Herd health programme (calender)

Question 29

Groups of pigs to consider?

Answer 29

boars, dry sows, sows and piglets, weaners, growers and finishers

Question 30

Problems with audits?

Answer 30

Processes - do farmers actually do what they say they do Outcomes - how accurate is the data? missing data, incorrect recording, it is only a snapshot in time - need to repeat periodically Last word - audits can be transformational, they ensure we understand where we are, where we want to get and what we need to change

Question 31

Measure?

Answer 31

(Audit) Current Practices (processes) Risk factors Records kept Key performance indicator values (KPI) Comparison of current practices with best practice (gold standard) Compare the current value of KPIs compared to an agreed target value

Question 32

Manage?

Answer 32

(recommendations - action plans) What changes need to be made How are those changes going to be made What is the cost of making the changes Prioritise what is to be done

Question 33

Monitor?

Answer 33

(what has been achieved) How and when will the outcomes and processes be re-measured

Question 34

What do assurance schemes establish?

Answer 34

They establish production standards covering: Food safety Traceability Animal welfare Environmental Protection

Question 35

Give examples of assurance schemes for beef and lamb?

Answer 35

Red Tractor scheme and the Quality Standard Mark (QSM) scheme

Question 36

Point of assurance schemes?

Answer 36

Purchase of products may require accreditation with these or other schemes

Question 37

What are 3 farm objectives?

Answer 37

Welfare standards, Biosecurity protocols and breeding management, housing and environment, records, nutrition, stockmanship, husbandry protocols, preventative healthcare, production figures, disease monitoring control, husbandry protocols

Question 38

risks to housing? for pigs?

Answer 38

make sure to have location + perimeter fencing Identify any risk from wildlife Risk from transport vehicles

Question 39

what do we need to consider with the water supply?

Answer 39

type and number of access points

Question 40

what to look out for in pig housing?

Answer 40

extensive pigs - wet conditions Damaged floor slats Over crowning Cold or uncomfortable floor Ear/tail/flank/vulval/bar biting Fighting Sow attacking piglet Pressure sores - sows too thin

Question 41

what do we need to consider for weaners? (pigs)

Answer 41

date of entering unit weight on entry (group) date of exit from unit weight on exit (group) food consumed cost of food

Question 42

what do we need to consider for growers? (pigs)

Answer 42

date of entering unit weight on entry (group) date of exit from unit weight on exit (group) food consumed cost of food