Description

In analogy to the plant health service, the animal health service provides livestock farmers with advice and support in minimising the use of veterinary drugs and housing-related problems in animal production thereby increasing the efficiency in animal health care. It may also assist with the country-wide monitoring of livestock numbers and the risk of disease. This service team should be set up by state and private veterinarians and livestock farmers. An animal health service and support to practising veterianarians may reduce the burden on the state veterinary authority.

The susceptibility of livestock to epidemics requires systematic action on the part of all concerned to protect consumer and animal health. The production of sensitive products is an area in which compliance with strict hygiene rules is particularly important. The animal health service can produce practical tips and concrete support to ensure compliance with these rules (e.g. via community refrigeration facilities). Where participation in these measures by farmers is widespread, the animal health service can also organise the disposal and processing of fallen animals and animal carcasses, thus helping to confine animal diseases and epidemics to a limited area.

Requirements

• A properly functioning country-wide administration and monitoring system with access to the relevant information and sufficient technical and human capacities for its design, implementation and monitoring
• Close cooperation and knowledge sharing with farmers' organisations
• Close cooperation and knowledge sharing with local advisory services
• Close cooperation and knowledge sharing with research institutions
• Farmers need to be willing to closely cooperate with the advisory services
• Regulatory framework
• Skilled / specialised personnel to man the respective institutions / provide the respective services
• Specialised courses at local universities
• Training opportunities for veterinarians at local educational institutions

Possible Negative Effects

• Reticence on the part of the state to intervene in the veterinary system