Livestock Health And Farming

Livestock Health and Farming provides a detailed description of key aspects of livestock health issues and farming practices. Chapters cover such topics as antimicrobial resistance in livestock, nutrition and its role in animal health and farming, nutrition and health management in dairy animals, and livestock feeding in semi-arid regions.

This book provides an overview of the state of animal agriculture and present methodologies and proposals to develop policies that result in sustainable and profitable animal production that will protect human and environmental health, enhance livelihood of smallholders and meet consumer needs. The book combines lessons of the past, factual foundation to understand the present, analytical tools to design and improve policies, case studies that provide both empirical grounding and applications of some of the strategies suggested in this book, and finally, a proposal for the way forward.

This volume explains what every farmer and student of livestock husbandry needs to know about how to maintain animals in good health to achieve maximum efficiency. Most of the fatal diseases of the past have been eliminated or kept under control with vaccines or antibiotics. Under intensive conditions animals have become affected by less obvious but nevertheless serious and often chronic infections which can have a damaging impact on productivity. Dramatic improvements in efficiency can be obtained when animals are really healthy. This can be achieved by understanding the appropriate nutrition, husbandry, housing and management that will ensure freedom from disease. The book describes the infections which now tend to cause particular problems and sets out suitable techniques for prevention and control.

Annotation. The rapid growth of organic farming has been among the most remarkable changes in global agriculture in recent decades. However, more attention was initially aid to the crop side of organic systems, and animals are a lower priority in formal research and the development of organic farming. But now, that has changed. There is now greater recognition of the need to understand animal health and welfare better. The purpose of this book is to further the understanding of organic animal husbandry and to demonstrate practical solutions and innovative methods, drawing mainly on research and practical experience with organic farming in Europe.

Air quality has a direct influence on health, welfare and production performance of livestock as the high concentrations of noxious gases, dust and airborne microorganisms are likely to reduce production efficiency and the general welfare of farm animals. Long term exposure to particulates in livestock buildings might also affect the respiratory health of farm workers. Dust in animal buildings contains many biologically active substances such as bacteria, fungi, endotoxins and residues of antibiotics (as a result of veterinary treatments) that are suspected to be hazardous to human health. Furthermore, air pollutants emitted from livestock buildings can reduce air, water and soil quality and can potentially undermine the health of nearby residents. Airborne emissions include ammonia, methane, nitrous oxide, particulates like dust and microorganisms. In addition, other potentially harmful substances such as heavy metals, antibiotic residues and components of disinfectants might be also emitted from livestock building that are potentially damaging to ecosystems. In this book, key aspects of agricultural air quality, such as monitoring, managing and reducing airborne pollutants in and around livestock facilities are reviewed. Features: addressing the raising awareness of the importance of optimal health and welfare for lifestock species with contributions from international specialists and researchers providing up-to-date information for professionals involved in modern animal producti This book will be useful for farming professionals, academics, students, policy makers, business leaders, regulatory bodies and agricultural consultants.

The efficient functioning of the livestock sector, encompassing all facets of input supply, production, processing and marketing, is critical for food security and safety. This book draws on both extensive literature and experience in animal health economics and livestock issues in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. It provides comprehensive coverage of the history of livestock and animal health economics, theory and tools for the economics of animal health and production, a review of the application of economics to animal diseases and health problems, and worldwide examples of economic analysis and policy making.

Global Livestock Health Policy is designed to provide an understanding of the complexities of national and subnational animal and public health policies and how those policies impact domestic livestock industries. These policies shape domestic disease control programs, international trade, and food safety efforts. This book offers public policy makers and animal health officials in government and industry a foundation on which to institute scientifically sound national and subnational animal health programs; solidify infrastructures; enhance communication between legislators, regulators, and affected parties; and expedite international agreements for safe worldwide movement of animals and animal products in a global free market economy. Organized in eight free standing chapters which include case studies, a glossary and an epilogue, this arrangement leads readers progressively through the events and decisions underlying the present US and global animal health policy status, lays out challenges facing the US and other nations, describes the components of a credible and competitive animal health infrastructure, and puts forward strategies for achieving policies that are adaptable to global and domestic dynamics while addressing the multiple issues and interests bearing on animal health, animal welfare, and food safety. The case studies contain background information and questions for group discussions. The book is intended for use by animal health officials; agribusiness leaders; commodity groups; financial institutions; legislators and their staffs; importers and exporters of animals, animal products, biologics and pharmaceuticals; leadership of the regulatory, academic and diagnostic sectors of the agricultural and veterinary communities; consumers; or anyone else interested in protection, production, processing, and distribution of animals and related products.

This book, derived from a thorough revision of Parker's "Health and Disease of Farm Animals", gives agricultural students, farmers and all those interested in agriculture an insight into all aspects of animal health. It deals with the three main species of farm livestock - cattle, pigs and sheep. Part 1 deals with the animal's normal physiology. The internal make-up of the animal is described in order to give a better understanding of how diseases affect the various organs. Part 2 deals with specific diseases and disease prevention. Special emphasis is placed on important conditions such as mastitis. This book supplements the stockperson's sound practical experience with the background knowledge required to practise sound husbandry techniques for disease prevention.