Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
12.6.3.1 Prevention Measures
Preventing diseases entering and spreading in
livestock populations is the most effi cient and
cost-effective way of managing disease. While
many approaches to management are disease spe-
cifi c, improved regulation of movements of live-
stock can provide broader protection. A standard
disease prevention program that can apply in all
contexts does not exist. But there are some basic
principles that should always be observed. The
following practices aid in disease prevention:
￿ Elaboration of an animal health program.
￿ Selection of a well-known, reliable source
from which to purchase animals, one that can
supply healthy stock, inherently vigorous and
developed for a specifi c purpose. New animals
should be monitored for disease before being
introduced into the main fl ock.
￿ Good hygiene including clean water and feed
supplies.
￿ Precise vaccination schedule for each herd or
fl ock.
￿ Observe animals frequently for signs of dis-
ease, and if a disease problem develops, obtain
an early, reliable diagnosis and apply the best
treatment, control, and eradication measures
for that specifi c disease.
￿ Dispose of all dead animals by burning, deep
burying, or disposal pit.
The major impacts of climate change on
livestock diseases have been on diseases that are
vector-borne. Increasing temperatures have sup-
ported the expansion of vector populations into
cooler areas. Such cooler areas can be either
higher altitude systems (e.g., livestock tick-borne
diseases) or more temperate zones (e.g., the out-
break of bluetongue disease in Northern Europe).
Changes in rainfall pattern can also infl uence an
expansion of vectors during wetter years and can
lead to large outbreaks. Climate changes could
also infl uence disease distribution indirectly
through changes in the distribution of livestock.
Improving livestock disease control is therefore
an effective technology for climate change
adaptation.
12.6.3.3 Advantages
Benefi ts of livestock disease prevention and con-
trol include: higher production (as morbidity is
lowered and mortality or early culling is reduced)
and avoided future control costs. When farmers
mitigate disease through prevention or control,
they benefi t not just themselves but any others at
risk of adverse outcomes from the presence of
disease on that operation. At-risk populations
include residents, visitors, and consumers. The
benefi ciaries might also include at-risk wildlife
populations surrounding the farm that may have
direct or indirect contact with livestock or
livestock- related material.
￿
Maintain good records relative to fl ock or herd
health. These should include vaccination his-
tory, disease problems, and medication.
12.6.3.4 Disadvantages
Management options may interact, so the use of
one option may diminish the effectiveness of
another. Another critical issue is the long-term
sustainability of currently used strategies.
Chemical intervention strategies such as antibiot-
ics or vaccines are not biologically sustainable.
Animals develop resistance to drugs used to con-
trol certain viruses, and with each new generation
of vaccine, a new and more virulent strain of the
virus can arise (FAO 2003 ). Small-scale produc-
ers may be negatively affected by livestock dis-
ease management if the full cost of the disease
management program is directly passed onto
them with no subsidy from the government (FAO
2003 ).
12.6.3.2 Surveillance and Control
Measures
Disease surveillance allows the identifi cation of
new infections and changes to existing ones. This
involves disease reporting and specimen submis-
sion by livestock owners, village veterinary staff,
and district and provincial veterinary offi cers.
The method used to combat a disease outbreak
depends on the severity of the outbreak. In the
event of a disease outbreak, the precise location
of all livestock is essential for effective measures
to control and eradicate contagious viruses.
Restrictions on animal movements may be
required as well as quarantine and, in extreme
cases, slaughter.
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