Animal Health and Welfarein the UK

- the perspective of a Practising Veterinary Surgeon

Roger Scott BVM&S MRCVS

Scott Mitchell Associates

Hexham

Member of XLVets UK Ltd

University of Newcastle - Conference December 2010:

Current issues affecting Animal Health and Welfare in the UK in 2010

Disclaimer!

• Not peer reviewed

• No attempt to back up with referenced research or evidence

• Not necessarily the views of the Profession or XLVets or ScottMitchellAssociates

Two footprintsDifferent sizesEqually important

Local Practice

XLVets

What is “health”?

- the state of being free from illness or injury

Oxford English Dictionary

What is “welfare”?

- the health, happiness and fortunes of an individual or group

Oxford English Dictionary

Do we understand our definitions with respect to animals?

Animal Health• Quite definable and qualitative

especially simple disease• Can be very quantitative

especially (perhaps ironically) in complex disease where performance is used as measure of the problem

What is animal welfare?As said .....in humans it’s.....

1. Health

2. Happiness

3. Fortune (“chance force affecting lives”)

ie “subjective” in true sense

Animals are not subjective

Subjective – based on or influenced by personal feelings

Oxford English Dictionary

Or are they?

Anthropomorphism

- The treating of animals, gods or objects as if they have human feelings

Oxford English Dictionary

Could be true? Unlikely? Why?

In animals welfare could be..........

The Five Freedoms?1. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst - by ready

access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.

2. Freedom from Discomfort - by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.

3. Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease - by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.

4. Freedom from Fear and Distress - by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

5. Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour - by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind.

Veterinary Profession promotes good health and welfare

(a) For the primary benefit of the animal

(b) For the secondary benefit of the owner ie “profit”

What form does “profit” take?

Farm Animals = money

Work Animals = performance

Companion animals = pleasure

Vet’s doctrine- Health and Welfare

inextricably linked

- And furthermore linked

to ........................profit- An incentive (as if one should be needed!!)

But are they?

Health, Welfare and Profitlink can be real

Big health and welfare issues in the Animal Industries that lose “profit”(and we know they do) are...........

• Lameness• Mastitis• Respiratory Disease• Enteritis• Skin disease• Dystocia• Malnutrition• Thermoregulation failure

•Lameness• Mastitis

• Respiratory Disease

• Enteritis

• Skin disease

• Dystocia

• Malnutrition

• Thermoregulation failure

Lameness in poultry, sheep, pigs, cattle, horses, dogs.

Lameness determinants

• Nutritional

• Environmental

• Infectious

• Genetic

• Occupational/Sport

• Lameness

•Mastitis• Respiratory Disease

• Enteritis

• Skin disease

• Dystocia

• Malnutrition

• Thermoregulation failure

Mastitis in dairy cows, beef cows and sheep

Mastitis determinants

• Genetic

• Milking machines

• Wet/dirty environment

• Flies

• Lameness

• Mastitis

• Respiratory Disease• Enteritis

• Skin disease

• Dystocia

• Malnutrition

• Thermoregulation failure

Respiratory Disease in cattle, pigs, poultry and horses

RD determinants

• Housing

• Crowding

• Mixing

• Humidity

• Stress

• Cold

• Lameness

• Mastitis

• Respiratory Disease

•Enteritis• Skin disease

• Dystocia

• Malnutrition

• Thermoregulation failure

Enteritis in pigs and calves

Enteritis determinants

• Crowding

• Faecal build up

• Infection

• Lack of immunity (colostrum)

• Lameness

• Mastitis

• Respiratory Disease

• Enteritis

•Skin disease• Dystocia

• Malnutrition

• Thermoregulation failure

Skin disease in sheep, pigs, poultry, dogs and rabbits

Skin disease determinants

• Lack of treatment/prevention

• Mixing

• Crowding (cannibalism)

• Boredom (self mutilation)

• Presence of agent eg scab

• Lameness

• Mastitis

• Respiratory Disease

• Enteritis

• Skin disease

•Dystocia• Malnutrition

• Thermoregulation failure

Dystocia in cattle, sheep and dogs

Dystocia determinants

• Genetic

• Nutritional

• Managemental interference

• Lameness

• Mastitis

• Respiratory Disease

• Enteritis

• Skin disease

• Dystocia

•Malnutrition• Thermoregulation failure

Malnutrition in all species

Malnutrition determinants

• Macronutrient deficiency or excess

• Micronutrient deficiency or excess – major elements and trace elements

• Access

Subtle malnutrition

• Lameness

• Mastitis

• Respiratory Disease

• Enteritis

• Skin disease

• Dystocia

• Malnutrition

• Thermoregulation failure

Hypothermia

Hyperthermia in pigs and poultry

Determinants of failed thermoregulation

• Weather – outdoor lambs, pigs

• Genetics in pigs

• Transport

• Stress

• Faulty housing

Here it is obvious that these diseases impair welfare

Not always that simple?

What about when welfare is impaired but in the absence of obvious disease?

And what about when welfare is impaired and profit does not necessarily suffer

e.g. 1Inappropriate environment, boredom, depression, anxiety, displacement behaviour

e.g.2Some systems of intensification:

Broiler units

Intensive Pig units

Hen Batteries

Feedlots

“Super-Dairies”

or is the welfare actually ok?

Is the welfare of intensification ok?

What’s wrong with it?Are the freedoms satisfied?

Are intensive farms designed for labour force rather than animal?

Can they not actually be excellent?

Things that go wrong

• Lack of space

• Lack of comfort

• Social disruption

• Lack of light

• Lack of air

• Lack of natural habitat

Things that can be right

• Excellent nutrition

• Warm, draught free

• Comfort

Sometimes intensification suits

Genetically manipulated animals may no longer be suited to traditional environments and may need propping up with artificial environments eg high yielding dairy cows, turkeys etc

Does that make it ok?

Neglect, naivety or crueltyon part of owners

Health, Welfare and Profitlink can be political(but real none the less)

• FMD• TB• BTV

....on account of movement restrictions, market collapse, feed supplies, slaughter policy, excessive interference eg repeat handling and testing

Welfare impairment can bemanagemental

• Castration

• Disbudding/Dehorning

• Tail docking

Theoretically better for welfare in long run. True? Is it done correctly?

Ethics

The moral principles that govern a person’s behaviour

or the way in which an activity is conducted.

“Rights”

A moral or legal entitlement to have or do something

Life – quality vs quantity

Is it ok to die young and happy?

Ethics and welfare are probably two different things.

Think... Five Freedoms, welfare, ethics, rights

Think...Five Freedoms, welfare, ethics, rights

Think... Five Freedoms, welfare, ethics, rights

Conclusions

There are good and bad in......

• Genetics

• Environments

• Management

So we should strive to get rid of the bad and promote the good

How?• We as industry partners can continue to strive

to educate animal owners and influence change based on science

• Remember however that the biggest drivers of change are the media, supermarkets and governments and they are driven by public opinion

• Public opinion is driven by ethics and rights more than science

• We shouldn’t ignore that

Acknowledgements to the followingXLVet Members

• Iain Richards – Westmorland Vet Group

• Kat Bazeley, Mark Burnell – Synergy Animal Health

• John McFarlane – Alnorthumbria Vet Group

• Charlie Lambert, Den Leonard, Ian Glover – Lambert Leonard May

• Wendy van Winden - Penbode Veterinary Group

• Roger Serres - Belmont Veterinary Centre

• Laura Smith, Simon Wilson, James Coope - Cain Vets

• Rob Davies - Allen and Partners