Agris category codes: E73
COBISS Code           1.06 (Invited lecture)
Language: English

EMERGING CHALLENGES FOR ANIMAL PRODUCTION, DANGERS AND OPPORTUNITIES

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University Kaposvár, Faculty of Animal Science, Guba S. u. 40, H-7401 Kaposvár

ABSTRACT
Growing world population, raising income of more than 3000 million people eating more animal products as before, competition for animal feeds by energy sector and packaging material industry are emerging challenges for animal production. The worsening trend in the border conditions negatively influencing potential feed production for animals namely shrinking arable land areas, diminishing ground water resources, reduction of sea fish populations because of over fishing and the negative effect of climate change are summarized. Feed and also water efficiency of animal populations will be more important as at present, while alternative feed resources will gain in importance. Tabulated calculations clearly demonstrate that selection for productivity leads to great reduction of feed, water and manure output per unit of animal product. For example, a broiler chicken of 1978 needed 20 kg feed and 20 000 l water (inclusive feed production), however present type broilers need 7 kg feed and 7 000 l water to produce 1 kg breast fillet meat. In latter case 40 l of drinking water that was required 30 year ago, was reduced to 14 l for the same quantity of product, while manure output was reduced to one third. In the future in those areas of animal production where consumers require large quantities of good quality mass products we have to use high yielding animal populations under well controlled conditions.

SUSTAINABLE CATTLE PRODUCTION IS THE BEST FOR SLOVENIA

Jože OSTERC

Univ. of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Fac., Dept. of Animal Science, Groblje 3, SI-1230 Domžale, Slovenia

ABSTRACT
In Slovenia, two thirds of agricultural areas are grassland, and 43% of areas are karst. A great part of arable areas are sandy and gravelly and thus prone to drought. The mentioned facts as well as hilly surface are the main reasons for small size farms, slim possibilities of increasing, specialization and intensive farming. Consequently cattle production should be planned prudently. The soil fertility can be preserved by sowing arable areas with grain and by rotation of crops, production of grass-clover mixtures and application of organic manure. Milk and beef should be produced by forage with the lowest possible degree of pollution with greenhouse gas emissions. Cows wellbeing and longevity are important as well as the quality of produced milk and beef. Considering the natural conditions, self-sufficiency, farm size and wholesome quality the sustainable production of dual purpose breed is required. Cows fed on forage should produce about 5 000 to 7 000 kg of milk in lactation and at least 30 000 kg milk in life span. Young animals should grow quickly and achieve excellent slaughtering traits. All above demands are already met by modern type of Simmental breed.

Agris category codes: L01
COBISS Code           1.06 (Invited lecture)
Language: English

ANIMAL WELFARE AS A PILLAR OF A SUSTAINABLE FARM ANIMAL PRODUCTION

Giulio COZZI, Marta BRSCIC and Flaviana GOTTARDO

University of Padova, Department of Animal Science, Agripolis - Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy

ABSTRACT
Despite research and legislation carried out in the last decades, we are still in progress to fulfil the public concerns about the definition of sustainable production standards as regards the welfare of farm animals. The assessment of animal welfare on-farm is nowadays one of the outstanding issues for several reasons: 1) identify risk factors still present at the farm level for livestock welfare, 2) find solutions to overcome welfare problems, 3) define minimum requirements for all the farm animals species and categories or refine the exiting recommendations, 4) create certification schemes for labelling welfare friendly farm animal products. Ideally a standardized welfare assessment protocol should be based on a multidisciplinary approach but, for feasibility reasons, most of the proposed monitoring schemes have been based mainly on the evaluation of farm housing and facilities. The Welfare Quality® research consortium is currently working on a new assessment tool largely based on valid and reliable measures recorded by clinical and behavioural observation of the animals. Differing from the existing protocols for animal welfare assessment, the Welfare Quality® scheme aims to be a valuable support to farmers and the animal industry in their efforts to improve the welfare status of farm animals. Therefore the system shall provide a feedback of information on how to improve welfare along the productive chain of farm animals. The routine application of this type of assessment schemes appears an effective tool to promote a general improvement of the quality of life of farm animals as well as to address the consumer choices towards welfare friendly animal foodstuffs.

Key words: animal production / farm animal welfare / assessment systems

Agris category codes: L70
COBISS Code           1.06 (Invited lecture)
Language: English

UNAUTHORISED USAGE OF VETERINARY DRUGS AS A POTENTIAL RISK TO HUMAN AND ANIMAL HEALTH [1]

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^a) Josip Juraj Strossmayer Univ. of Osijek, Fac of Agriculture, Dept. of Animal Husbandry, Trg svetog Trojstva 3, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia

ABSTRACT
In the developed world the sustainable rearing of food producing animals depends a great deal on the use of veterinary medicines – pharmacologically active compounds. Their usage is fundamental to achieving a desirable level of animal and public health protection. This is particularly necessary in highly industrialized animal production systems. In addition, their use may be required to achieve acceptable welfare standards. It is important, therefore, that administration of veterinary prescription drugs (VPDs) is under the supervision and control of veterinarians. Veterinarians’ role is also to raise awareness and educate farmers for the responsible use of veterinary drugs. Four randomly chosen agricultural stores in the east of Croatia were questioned as to whether they had sold the VPDs without prescriptions before the new law came in force (30 March 2007). The results showed that 15 different VPDs could have been purchased occasionally by farmers without veterinary prescription. These drugs may have not been administered appropriately to animals, which may result in short and long term effects on animals and humans. Products of animal origin (POAO) may contain residues above maximum residue limit (MRL) with a potential of developing antimicrobial resistance, therefore the risk to animal and human health may have been increased. In order to reduce such risks, and at the same time to enable farmers to use the VPDs responsibly, Croatia has recently enhanced the legislation in the field of food safety and veterinary medicine. Under this legal framework there is a requirement to implement the Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR). This paper investigates the possible harmful effects of unauthorized usage of VPDs on human and animal health and the possibilities to enhance control and supervision of their purchase and usage.