Cattle well-being at farms’ core

 

A new decade requires new practices. Today, managing livestock means an urgent need to find solutions capable of offering high-quality products to ensure food security while improving animal well-being and protecting the environment. Through its Cattle First initiative, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health aims to strengthen its partnership with farmers and veterinarians in order to introduce a “whole cow” approach and focus on long-term health and productivity goals.

Cattle First supports a direct exchange between farmers and veterinarians to enhance experience, harnessing the most innovative products and services to take care of tomorrow’s cattle farming, today. It is based on three pillars: health & well-being; innovation insight & innovation; and education & sustainability.

The first one, the whole cow approach brings disease prevention and cattle well-being to the core of every farm. One crucial focus lies on pain management in cattle, which might be tricky to spot sometimes. Although several conditions might be painful to the animals, it might take a while until farmers and veterinarians identify the problem and offer appropriate solutions capable of alleviating pain, improving animal well-being and shielding production.  These measures require increased awareness on pain management in cattle.

“Through the Farm Animal Well-being Project (FAWP) in partnership with Innovia Technology, we are using behavioral science to develop a deeper understanding of human behaviors that impact cattle well-being and tackle the issue. For example in most species, labor pain ranks among the most intense in comparison to other painful syndromes or conditions. Refining knowledge and disseminating appropriate information, techniques and good practices can make significant contributions to minimize pain and injury during this unique moment. A smooth calving is crucial for the future of both the cow and her calf,” says Laurent Goby, Global Senior Technical Manager for Ruminants.

Attention to infectious diseases & calcium management

Not less important is prevention and control of infectious diseases. Under the radar are factors such as Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) virus. BVD is a disease with significant impact all over the world and in spite of its name, its threat to cattle is not limited to diarrhea. Early embryo death, abortion, stillbirth and infertility are the most common clinical manifestations in both dairy and beef cattle.

Furthermore, reduced milk production, ill-thrift and immunosuppression are also common phenomena. The whole cow approach also makes sense when considering calcium management in dairy herds. Hypocalcemia has been linked to a variety of secondary problems in post-calving cows. This happens because calcium is essential for muscle and gastrointestinal motility. Problems in either of these areas can trigger a cascade of negative events that ultimately reduce dry matter intake, increase metabolic diseases disorders, and decrease milk yield. Appropriate calcium management ensures a good start in the new lactation cycle.

 “We are aware that every small sign of a condition is significant and should be taken in consideration and identifying any potential issue in advance plays an important role both for animals and cattle producers. The whole cow approach to health and well-being means looking after long-term cattle health and productivity from an inside-out perspective,” shares Laurent.

A roadmap to reduce the use of antibiotics

Such a broad perspective has also its impact on humans, as the lives of humans and animals are intertwined in deep and complex ways. Take antibiotics as an example. Despite being a cornerstone of modern medicine and public health, their importance to both human and animal health cannot be understated, which is why antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is such an important global threat.

When bacteria develop tolerance or resistance to antibiotics, we risk returning to a time when animals – and people – fell seriously ill or even died from simple, treatable infections.  Antibiotics are the only way to treat a bacterial disease. For this reason, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health believes in a strong focus on prevention over treatment. 

“Our goal is to make sure that the animal is at the center of everything we do and is our real motivation for doing the work we do. Herds are often the ultimate result of generations of decisions about breeding, health and welfare. The whole cow approach recognizes and appreciates all of that and means that like our customers, we will always put their needs ahead of our own. Healthy animals will always mean healthier humans,” concludes Laurent.