Managing pig health
The management of pig health using real-time data was discussed recently at the 5th European Symposium of Porcine Health Management in Edinburgh, which was combined this year with the 50th anniversary meeting of the British Pig Veterinary Society (BPVS).
Speaking at the event, Hugh Crabtree of Farmex raised the issue of increased demands on the farming industry, coupled with fewer resources.
He commented on the value of using real-time data to show what should be happening with regards to health, as opposed to what is happening, by highlighting deviations from the norm.
In this way, he says, real-time data allows behavioural and other changes to be spotted early and addressed more quickly, which offers economic benefits as well as improvements to pig health and welfare.
In order to improve farming efficiency, Mr Crabtree recommended the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), a suggestion which follows the recent launch of an innovative system known as CowView.
Similarly, this system, which was launched by GEA Technologies, allows farmers to track the location and health of each cow in a herd through their PC, tablet or smartphone.
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
