use of analgesic treatments records for wellfare assesment in sow herds kristian m knage-rasmussen...
TRANSCRIPT
Use of analgesic treatments records for wellfare assesment in sow herdsKristian M Knage-Rasmussen1, Hans Houe2, Tine Rousing1, and Jan Tind Sørensen1
1Aarhus University, Department of animal science2University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Life science, Department of large animal science
Objective
To quantify the use of medicine recorded in a central database as well as information on housing system
To explore how well this information reflects the ‘true welfare state’ of the sows.
The study has focus on the use of analgesic medication in sow herds and will compare these measures with a measure from an on farm clinical examination.
Method
Herds and animals:
33 conventional sow herds was selected. Mean herd size: 530 (Max: 1750 Min: 130).
Housing systems:
1.Loose housing (loose housing throughout the gestations period). n = 13
2.Crates + Loose (Crates until 4 weeks after mating/insemination, loose housing in the remaining gestation period). n = 14
3.Crates (Crates throughout the gestation period). n = 6
Treatment data:
The use of analgesics was recorded by veterinarians and pharmacies and reported to the database Vetstat. For each drug specification of : animal species, age group and diagnostic group: “Joints, limbs, hooves, CNS and skin”.
Animal measures:
A total of 30 gestation sows were clinically examined. We selected lameness as representative for a clinical welfare indicator. Lameness was categorised as:
0 – Normal gait
1 – The animal have difficulties working but is still using all legs,
2 – The animal is severely lame and it resist bearing weight on the affected limb
3 – There is no weight bearing on the affected limb or the animal is unable to walk
Data analyses:
A descriptive analyses was conducted.
Results/discussion- The trend line of the sow herds in fig. 1 shows that ‘doses analgesic use pr year pr sow’ (ADD) is independent of ‘mean herd lameness score’ (lameness). There were found no significant linear regression between ADD and Lameness.- The trend lines of housing system 1 and 2 shows that ADD could be dependent of Lameness. However more herds should be included in the study as there are not significant linear regression between ADD and Lameness for housing system 1 or 2.-
Introduction
Animal welfare assessment systems – such as Welfare Quality – are based on animal based welfare indicators as well as on farm resource measures. These measures are rather cost intensive. It is therefore relevant to identify less expensive welfare indicators by the use of information from central and official databases. Vetstat is a central and official database of the use of medication in Denmark. We assume that use of analgesic medication could be an indication of painful events and therefore a valid welfare indicator.
Conclusion
The using ‘doses of analgesic treatments pr year pr sow’ as welfare assessment has to be investigated further. It might have potential if it is combined with other welfare indicators as housing system and herd size.
Mean herd lameness score
Do
se
s a
na
lge
sic
use
pr
ye
ar
pr
so
w
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6
Figure 2 ‘Mean herd lameness score’ plotted ‘doses analgesic use pr year pr sow’ by housing system 1 and 2 with trend lines.
Figure 1 ‘Mean herd lameness score’.plotted ‘doses analgesic use pr year pr sow’ with a trend line
Contact:E-mail: [email protected]
Mean herd lameness score
Do
se
s a
na
lge
sic
use
pr
ye
ar
pr
so
w
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6
12