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Scottish Animal Health Planning System

Solution name: Scottish Animal Health Planning System

Aim: Provision of a flock health planning system that allows targets to be set and performance to be reviewed annually and compared to previous years.

Description:

An online web based health planning system that can be accessed by the flock owner and their vet.  The system has 15 steps divided into 4 main sections:

  1. Data collection
  2. Problem analysis
  3. Action plans
  4. Summary of outputs

There are currently more than 2500 beef and sheep farmers registered on the system and more than 3500 flock health plans have been created.

How to implement:

Your veterinary practice has to register to use the system.

Training is available.

https://www.sahps.co.uk/features/

Infographic PDF- Click Here

Topic: Management

Production:  Meat/Dairy

Animal Category: All

Issue: Flock Health Planning

Level of Solution: Knowledge, Practical

Country: UK

 

 

 

 

 

Expected benefits

Expected benefits: 

  • Ability to generate reports to compare year on year flock performance.
  • Ability to benchmark against other data in the system with filters to allow comparisons between similar enterprises within local geographic region.

Prerequisites and/or limits (knowledge, training, capabilities, cost, management, facilities, equipment, etc.):

  • Reliant on accurate and ongoing data entry.
  • Access to the system is free to veterinary practices in Scotland. Practices outwith Scotland pay an annual subscription.
  • A reliable internet connection is required.
  • An app has been created for beef cattle and one is planned for sheep.

Cost Benefit analysis

Scottish Animal Health Planning System (SAHPS) is a another tool in toolbox for the sheep farmer. Whilst it is difficult to quantify the financial benefits of the tool, the pros of using this are largely around greater control of animal health and welfare. The functionality of the application extends to supporting a free comprehensive health plan with benchmarking capability to other businesses such as comparing disease or production data. The tool is online but also on an app format making it easy to use for young farmers. The app data can be viewed by vets, consultant and famers making it easier to optimise health management and agree interventions. The tool can theoretically financially benefit the farmer with less reactive vet costs as the business minimises the number of sick animals and focuses on a more proactive health management approach. With livestock there will always be deadstock, but the health planning system is one way to mitigate loss of animals and drive improvement.

Sustainability analysis

Having a health plan, using an app to create it, can be beneficial to animal welfare, improve farmers’ image and encourage new entrants. It is also beneficial for the animals, and for the farmers, enabling them to plan ahead by being less reactive, and more proactive. Definite numbers are difficult to estimate as feedback from farmers using the app is not available at this stage.

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