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Detailed data keeping for health management to organise farms’ health plan / Use of smartphone or/and computer applications to get reminders

Solution name: Detailed data keeping for health management to organise farms’ health plan / Use of smartphone or/and computer applications to get reminders

Aim: Improve health management of the flock. Prevent health problems and misuse of medicines.

Description:

Strategic flock advice and the implementation of appropriate preventative measures are not new concepts in sheep. Nevertheless, flock health plans are becoming increasingly important in the sheep industry and will, in the future, play a vital role in the flock management. Establishing a health plan on a farm can help the farmer and the farm’s veterinarian to plan ahead and develop procedures to ensure the long-term health and welfare of a particular flock.  Animal health planning is a proactive approach through planning, monitoring and reviewing incorporating animal disease prevention and control. A personal computer or a smartphone /tablet have nowadays a presence in the everyday routine of most of the farmers and can be an important tool to organise and maintain the health plan established with the cooperation of the farmer and the veterinarian.

Topic: health/management

Production:  Dairy / Meat

Animal Category: Adult / Lamb / Replacement

Issue: Flock health plan

Level of Solution: Knowledge, Practical

Country: Greece

 

 

 

 

 

How to implement it

In order to get the best of an established health plan in the farm using a computer or a smartphone it is important to “feed” the system with all the required information as discussed between the farmer and veterinarian. Examples of information can be animal codes, groups, important dates such as birthdates, mating dates, lambing dates etc. The amount and complexity of the required information can be decided beforehand according to the needs and abilities of the farmer and the production system of the farm. The health plan established can include, among others, the vaccination programme, parasite control, preventive examinations, pregnancy testing, but could also include aspects of management and nutrition. According to the plan established and the information inputted in the system the farmer can have a clear schedule of what needs to be done and can get reminders in their smartphone or through email. A veterinarian can have a clear current view of the situation in the farm, as well as the past.

There are several online or offline commercial software choices for managing the health plan, and in some cases the software accompanying the milking parlour can also be used for the same reason. Besides the specialized software discussed above, there are several free, online suites that can be used simultaneously by the farmer and veterinarian in order to keep data in spreadsheets, create calendars and get reminders regarding the health plan. All the created files can be viewed from anywhere, from any connected device and any users that have rights.

Expected benefits

Solid management of the farm’s health plan. Long-term health and welfare of the flock through disease prevention and control.

Prerequisites and/or limits

Farmer and veterinarian must have basic knowledge of a computer or smartphone as well a device. Must understand the importance of good data keeping and have the will to do so.

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