2. the cattle industry and control of brd in portugal

“The cattle industry and control of BRD in Portugal”

Ana Vieira, Grupo RF

Manuel Ferreira Joaquim

Merial Symposium: Current and New Approaches to the use of Antibiotics in the Control of Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD). Can we do better?

Cascais, 30th September and 1st October 2010

Agenda

2

The Cattle Industry in Portugal

Control of BRD in Portugal

Final considerations. SWOT Analysis

The Cattle population in Europe has been decreasing 0.7% per year

3

1.41.51.62.02.52.5

4.05.65.86.16.4

9.9

PortugalSweden

DenmarkAustria

RomaniaBelgium

Netherlands

Poland

IrelandSpainItaly

United KingdomGermany 12.9

France 19.2

Cattle Population

Source: Eurostat 2009

80.0

13.8

80.0

13.889.6

76.2

13.4

2001

93.8

2009

Remaining 12

EU-15

CAGR -0.7%

88.3

75.2

13.1

2005

75.276.2

Cattle Population Evolution

106 heads

In the EU27, the total bovine herd has diminished at a rate of 0.7% annually since 2001. The Portuguese reality has followed the EU's Trend.

In Portugal we are assisting a marked tendency towards animal concentration

4

CAGR -6.4%

2007

275.0

2005

324.0

2003

359.0

North

Center

Lisbon

Alentejo

Algarve

Azores

Madeira

The number of farms has been decreasing in every region over the last years.

Number of Farms in Portugal, 103 Number of animals per farm

The number of animals per farm has been growing over the last years and in every region.

15.0 12.0

2007

132.0

94.0

27.032.0

4.0

2005

10.012.0

85.0

119.0

20.029.0

4.0

2003

9.0 9.058.0

104.0

19.027.0

2.0

Source: INE 2009

CAP regulations have changed the structure of the adult bovine population

5* Only includes cows with 2 years and more. All other cattle is ignored.Source: INE 2010 (Po)

351.0 402.0 424.0

CAGR 0.4%

Beef Cows

Dairy Cows

2009

713.0

289.0

2005

726.0

324.0

2001

689.0

338.0

Adult Cattle Population Evolution*

Cattle population growth has been driven by the rise in beef cattle (CAGR = 2.4% over 8 years) while Dairy Cow population has been decreasing (CAGR = -1.9% over 8 years).

103 heads

No official data concerning the number of animals entering feedlots and at cow-calf operations

6Source: INE 2010 (Po)

Feedlots traditionally tended to be located in the Center region. However, since November 2004, because of Blue Tongue and environmental pressure, we assisted to the rise of several feedlots in the South region.

287 000 heads103 heads

Portugal is a country where feedlots do not have a significant dimension or tradition

7

Crossbreed

Farm size: 200 -350 heads

Type of animals: Crossbreed national x exotic (mainly limousin, charolais)

Origin: Cow-calf operations, auction markets, stockers

Entrance age: 6 months

Feed: Concentrate and straw (ad libitum) (90%); Maize silage, concentrate and straw (10%)

Final weight: Females (400-450 kg); Males (550-600 kg)

Activity characteristics: Family type and entrepreneurship

Workers: 94% Unskilled and 48% more than 65 years (INE, 2009)

Farm size: 500 heads

Type of animals: Frisian males

Origin: Dairy farms

Entrance age: 8 days to 4 months

Feed after weaning: Concentrate and straw (ad libitum) (90%); Maize silage, concentrate and straw (10%)

Final weight: 280-320 kg

Activity characteristics: Family type and entrepreneurship

Workers: 94% Unskilled and 48% more than 65 years (INE, 2009)

Frisians

8

Portugal’s self supply of bovine meat has oscillated around 50% in the past 4 years

8

HeifersCowBull

CAGR +1%

Veal

Steers

2009

446.1

15%15%

1%

34%

36%

2008

449.4

13%12%

1%

32%

43%

2007

375.4

16%14%

1%24%

45%

2006

439.0

14%13%

1%

31%

40%

Number of Slaughtered Aninals

Meat pro-duced ( 000T)

Consumption (kg/capita)

105.3 91.2 108.4

18.6 18.4 18.8

Production (kg/capita) 10.0 8.9 10.7

Source: INE 2010

Degree of self-supply (%) 54.4% 47.2% 55.1%

103.0

18.7

9.6

52.8%

103 heads

Agenda

9




Controlling BRD among the newly received cattle is the greatest challenge in the feedlot industry

10

Bovine Respiratory Disease

Nutricional PracticesAnatomic and

Physiologic conditions

Environmental factors

Viral and Bacterial infectious agents

Management Practices

The Bovine Respiratory Disease is a multifactorial disease

Risk analysis is our line of thought when assessing BRD in feedlots

11

!

Determine current herd status

Hazard characterization

&

exposure assessment

Identify the goal Develop plan of

action Monitor progress

Assess current BRD risks

Risk managementRisk assessment

12



Identify the goal

Monitor progress

Starting point

Internal and external risk factors

Develop plan of action

Risk assessment to select realistic BRD goals

What we can do to!

Is it working?

Controlling BRD

Determining current herd status is more than identifying BRD agents involved

13

Analysis of economic and sanitary data Do its assessment

Determine the agents of disease involved Determine the importance of

the agent’s presence in the farms

Facilities diagnosis

Hygienic and sanitary diagnosis based on the current practices of the farm

Nasopharyngeal and nasal swabs; tracheal wash/bronchoalveolar lavage; Necropsy and postmortem samples

Sorology Bacteriology

Description Examples / Comments

Facilities: m2; m3

Biosecurity Origin and breeds of animals “All in –All –In” vs “ “All in –all

Out” Sanitary protocols Nutrition

14

Suppliers evaluation is paramount on determining current herd status

How does it work?Objectives

Who it applies?

Classify in low or high risk the animals entering the farms

Diminish the incidence of disease

Enhance productive performance

Work as a challenge of the suppliers

All the farms of origin, independently of their risk status

Where and When?

In the farms of origin

In the beginning of commercial relations

Assessment Questionnaire

WI* – Admission of the animals

Initial Evaluation Sheet

Monthly ControlDWGFood conversion ratioMorbilityMortality

Carcass

Entrance

Way Out

* Working Instruction (WI)

15



Identify the goal

Monitor progress

Starting point




What can we do to?

Is it working?

Controlling BRD

The analysis of a tailor-made flowchart is a good starting point for risk management

16

External Risk Factors Internal Risk Factors External Risk Factors

Factors important for the introduction of a hazard not already at the farm

Factors important for the circulation of a hazard that is already at the farm

Factors important for the introduction of a hazard not already at the farm

17



Identify the goal

Monitor progress

Starting point




What can we do to?

Is it working?

Controlling BRD

Because cattle arriving feedlots is sourced from a variety of outlets the external risk factors are usually high

18

High

Low High

Low

Goal: STABILITY

Prob. initial success: MODERATE to HIGH

Prob. sustained success: LOW

Goal: STABILITY

Prob. initial success: LOW

Prob. sustained success: LOW

Goal: ELIMINATION

Prob. initial success: HIGH

Prob. sustained success: HIGH

Goal: STABILITY or ELIMINATION

Prob. initial success: MODERATE to HIGH

Prob. sustained success: LOW to MODERATE

Internal Risks FactorsEx

tern

alRi

sks

Fact

ors

Source: Polson et al, 2005

19



Identify the goal

Monitor progress

Starting point




What can we do to?

Is it working?

Controlling BRD

Before starting our Action Plan we have to understand which kind of client we have in hands…

20

SOS Veterinarian

90% 10%

Veterinarian Business Team Leader

“Doctor, I do not want my animals to die, but I do not wish to spend money on vaccines!!!”

“I know what I am doing, I have been doing it all my life!”

Prophylactic measures

Nutrition

Economy

Personal management and coaching

Biosecurity and facilities

Epidemiology

Plan of Action - Management

21

Plan of Action

We focus on reducing the probability of contact and the survival of the agents of disease.

Description

Nutrition has a big management component in preventing and minimizing disease.

Reduce exposure of pathogens to susceptible cattle: management practices in the area of sanitation: receiving and hospital pens, feed and water bunks.

Important for the bio-contention of hazards on the farm. Minimize the probability of contact between agents of disease and the animals.

Ventilation, temperature and humidity.

Enhance host resistance.

Plan of Action – Medical issues

22

Plan of Action

The focus is to effectively minimize pathogen exposure, stimulate herd immunity, and manage risk factors that potentiate the spread of BRD

Description

Usually is always considered on arrival, as it has been demonstrated that parasites suppress vital components of the immune system.

Is the timely mass medication of a group, usually considered on arrival. Because of management conditions of farms in Portugal it is becoming common.

Normally animals in Portugal are vaccinated against 4 respiratory virus (IBR, BVDV, PI3 and bovine respiratory syncytial virus. Also vaccinated for clostridium and less frequently for Mannhemia haemolytica.

Evaluating therapeutic response is critical in determining if current treatments protocols are effective.

23

Every measure in our plan of action that involves investment should have a benefic-cost analysis

Should I start a new vaccination program ?

Sanitary (mortality, morbidity) and productive data (DWG, FCR) are our daily working tools and have to be our guidelines in the construction of economic data (€/kg bw) that will evaluate the measures applied in our action plan.

PV = Body Weight

24

In Portugal, in the treatment of BRD we do not have a preponderance of one family of antimicrobials

Aminoglycosides

2009

1.048

20%

21%

17%

9%

17%

Cephalosporins

+16%

Tetracyclines

Quinolones

Macrolides

9%

AM Associations

AnphenicolsPenicillins

5% 1%

2005

907

23%

21%

20%

12%

11%

7%5% 1%

* Doses for 200 kg bwSource: Apifarma data extrapolation, 2009

103 doses *

25

Market share division of 1-shot and Multi-shot has remained constant, but 1-shot is growing rapidly

Multi Shots

1-Shot

2009

1.048

85%

15%

2005

907

86%

14%

24%

14%

Growth 05-09

103 doses *

* Doses for 200 kg bwSource: Apifarma data extrapolation, 2009

Plan of Action - People

26

Plan of Action

Records

The focus is to keep an information system that can be operated by the workers and that will help them be more motivated

Description

Paramount considering the 94% Unskilled workers we have on the farms. It has to be reinforced with working

instructions.

Reports Development of a routine of reports that enable the monitoring of the farm and are useful to demonstrate the eficiency of the taken actions.

Coaching

Production meetings Helps building the concept of farm

business team.

Tailor-made. Adapted to the workers of the farm and

to the accuracy of the data. Management Information Systems.

Working instructions are tools in the coaching process

27

INSTRUÇÃO DE TRABALHO – ADMINISTRAÇÃO DE INJECTÁVEIS

DEPARTAMENTO DE

PRODUÇÃO FASES 2 e 3

RFGQ13 - TRATAMENTOS PROFILÁTICOS

RFGQ14 - TRATAMENTOS MÉDICOS

RFGQIT03

Boa contenção dos animais

Utilizar material higienizado

Escolher um local limpo e apropriado para a

administração

Data Revisão Elaborado por: Função Documentos afectos: 01-01-2008 Nº 1 Ana Vieira Directora Produção Plano profilático

Planos terapêuticos

Management Information Systems are a huge step forward on the management of withdrawal periods

Practical useFunctionality

Managing veterinary Interventions

Animal/Group

•Disease

•Veterinary medicine

•Cost

•Individual historical

•Group historical

3

2

1

4

5

6

3

2

1

4

5

6

29



Identify the goal

Monitor progress

Starting point




What can we do to?

Is it working?

Controlling BRD

Animals entering the feedlot are organized in management groups and controled montly

30

Parameters monitored

Informatic management of weight

Control of daily intake (manually)

Control of daily intake (automatically)

DWG

Food Conversion

Ratio

Tools of control

Displaying information in graphs is an interesting way of analysing data

31

Therapeutic response

Evaluating therapeutic response is critical in determining if current protocols are effective.

A favorable response to first treatment should be 80% .

Fatality analysis

The Fatality (for BRD) percentage is a good means of determinating the ability of the workers to identify and pull sick cattle effectively and provide feedback on treatment response.

Agenda

32




33

SWOT Analysis

Strengths

Level of Scientific knowledge

Availability of antimicrobials

Availability of good diagnostic

laboratories

Weaknesses

94% Unskilled workers, lack of professionalized farmers and workers Organization of the market yet to segmented. Few data available Few scientific studies realized in the Portuguese reality

Opportunities

Beef Quality Assurance programs More effective strategies to enhance host resistance Application of genetic, management and nutrition technology to decrease the risk of BRD in cattle

Threats

Mycoplasma bovis

New agents (coronavirus)

Economic pressure of the food

chain

Price of feed

2. the cattle industry and control of brd in portugal

Education

portugal control of

cattle population source

brd agents

cattle industry

years ine

cattle population growth

beef cattle cagr

number of animals