pregnancy diagnosis in export feeder cattle · 100% accuracy (ndp) in cattle < 6 weeks pregnant...
TRANSCRIPT
Animal Welfare Risks• Unsuitable environment and poor
outcomes for neonatal calves
export depots
livestock vessels
destination feedlots
• Inadequate skills and resources to care for neonatal calves
• Risk of poor outcomes for cow due to abortion, dystocia, metritis etc.
Quantifying the Problem?
• Anecdotal reports common, investigations rare
• Data not available
Depots and RP’s?
Shipboard?
ESCAS?
Total females exported?
• Spectrum of skills and accuracy of pregnancy testing
NT/WA accredited testers, vets, PregCHECK® vets
Myths & Misconceptions
• You don’t need a vet degree to pregnancy test
Basic skills (90% accuracy) versus Competency (100% accuracy)
• 100 % accuracy is not achievable
Competency = 100% (>99.9% is reasonable goal)
• Vets are not accessible, or too expensive
470 PregCHECK® accredited vets around Australia
vets are cost competitive with non-veterinary contractors
ACV position: If PregCHECK ® accredited;
Pre-export period 30days 45days, no additional risk
Technique vs Technology• Manual palpation
the Gold Standard for non-pregnant cattle Palpation of the entire non-pregnant uterus 100% accuracy (NDP) in cattle < 6 weeks pregnant
• Ultrasound Good for detecting most pregnancies (contrasting uterine
fluid) Difficult to examine entire non-pregnant uterus Poorly suited for export feeder cattleMay be used by a veterinarian only. See EAN 2016-22
• Blood Testing ~99% accuracy, depending on stage of pregnancy not diagnostic in ~4% of animals (need rechecking) Poorly suited for export feeder cattle
Techs Vs Vets
• Competent testers* allowed in NT & WA, but not QLD
79 accredited by NT DPI&F
4 approved by WA Vet Surgeons Board
QLD Vet Surgeons regulations under review
CCA and MLA exploring national accreditation options
• Some Contractors and DIY testers highly competent, but quality of testing is variable
• Training is minimal and assessment standards are poor
Skills, training & Accreditation
Competent tester* Vet PregCHECK® Vet
Training 2 day courseAHCLSK408
Veterinary Degree
Post-graduate mentoring(usually 1-2 years min)
Experience& Currency
None required500 hd/year
VariableNone
>2000 head minimum1000 hd/year
Examination 20 head Yes/No onlyNDP < 8 weeks
Vet School examination
100 Head, Yes/No plus foetal ageingNDP < 6 weeks
Accreditation NT DPIR, WA VSB, QLD not permitted
State VSB Australian Cattle Veterinarians
Accuracy 90-100% ??? 90-100% ??? 100%
Accountability None? VSB regulations AVA code of conductACV investigation and dispute resolution process
Insurance PI None? Expected Expected$5-$10,000,000
Risk? Basic skills Competency
So what?
• Manual palpation is the most suitable method
• PregCHECK® Accredited Vet = Gold Standard
• Other providers can be good/bad/indifferent
• PDx for Certification versus Management?
• A Veterinary Certificate;
= Credibility
= Accountability
= Liability
Challenges and Opportunities
• Calving’s and unmanaged pregnancies are preventable and unacceptable
• Squandered opportunity to utilise existing data
• Morbidity data is no good unless you do something
with it (data systems and epidemiological analysis)
• What is industry’s tolerable limit?
• How do we achieve that?