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This paper describes the issues relating to the implementation of EC organic livestock standards and of the organic livestock principles, in new and pre-accession EU member states. The information was generated as part of an EU network project (SAFO: Sustaining Animal Health and Food Safety in Organic Farming) which focused on organic livestock production. The primary sources of information were five seminars (so-called Roadshows) in new member states, as well as contributions at the five main SAFO workshops, and through a questionnaire survey among participating partner countries. The main challenges to organic livestock production and welfare were identified as the lack of existing home markets for organic products, inappropriate housing conditions, non-availability of organic replacement breeding animals and feedstuffs and a lack of advisors and in particular veterinarians, with organic farming expertise. The challenges of implementing the standards and principles in the new and pre-accession EU member states are described and discussed, and future perspectives are outlined in order to meet future challenges and requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research in herd health management solely using a quantitative approach may present major challenges to the interpretation of the results, because the humans involved may have responded to their observations based on previous experiences and own beliefs. This challenge can be met through increased awareness and dialogue between researchers and farmers or other stakeholders about the background for data collection related to management and changes in management. By integrating quantitative and qualitative research methods in a mixed methods research approach, the researchers will improve their understanding of this potential bias of the observed data and farms, which will enable them to obtain more useful results of quantitative analyses. Case description: An example is used to illustrate the potentials of combining quantitative and qualitative approaches to herd health related data analyses. The example is based on two studies on bovine metritis. The first study was a quantitative observational study of risk factors for metritis in Danish dairy cows based on data from the Danish Cattle Database. The other study was a semi-structured interview study involving 20 practicing veterinarians with the aim to gain insight into veterinarians' decision making when collecting and processing data related to metritis. Discussion and Evaluation: The relations between risk factors and metritis in the first project supported the findings in several other quantitative observational studies; however, the herd incidence risk was highly skewed. There may be simple practical reasons for this, e.g. underreporting and differences in the veterinarians' decision making. Additionally, the interviews in the second project identified several problems with correctness and validity of data regarding the occurrence of metritis because of differences regarding case definitions and thresholds for treatments between veterinarians. Conclusion: Studies where associations between specific herd health management routines and disease outcome variables are drawn based purely on quantitative observational studies may benefit greatly by adding a qualitative perspective to the quantitative approach as illustrated and discussed in this article. The combined approach requires, besides skills and interdisciplinary collaboration, also openness, reflection and scepticism from the involved scientists, but the benefits may be extended to various contexts both in advisory service and science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In Europe, organic livestock production has experienced a rapid growth in the past decade, which has produced many challenges for the animal food production system. Whilst emphasising the importance of a systems approach to animal health and welfare protection, organic livestock production standards place considerable restrictions on the use of many animal health inputs that are routinely used in conventional production systems. Recommended practices in the European Organic Livestock Standards (EU Regulation 1804/1999), such as closed herds and flocks and improved health security on farms, also include extensive production systems (e.g., free range production) that expose livestock to increased disease challenge. Organic livestock production faces major challenges with regard to harmonisation and successful integration of organic animal husbandry into the whole organic production system. Major questions about food quality and safety exist. Significant diversity between farming systems between different countries in Europe, including candidate countries, should be taken into account in developing farming systems that all comply with common EU standards, but are in harmony with their geographic and cultural localities. A newly initiated EU network project ‘Sustaining Animal Health and Food Safety in Organic Farming’ (SAFO), with 26 partners in Europe, focuses on the integration of animal health and welfare issues with food safety aspects. This network and some of the key questions in focus in this network are presented in this paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Context: Excess dairy calves in Switzerland are commonly shifted at a young age to specialised fattening farms for veal or beef production and are exposed to pathogens against which they may have insufficient immunity. Excessive administration of antibiotics to these calves contributes to the development of bacterial resistance, which is detrimental for human and animal health. Intervention strategies are needed to motivate farmers to adopt alternative methods for maintaining calf health. Aims: This study was aimed at identifying individual and systemic enablers and barriers driving farmer behaviour in terms of calf health management and antibiotic use. Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with veal, beef and/or dairy farmers who breed and take care of future fattening calves in the first weeks of life. Data were analysed according to key constructs. Key results: Measures to enhance calf health included keeping calves on birth farms until they have developed sufficient active immunity, providing sufficient milk, drenching with colostrum, and hygiene-focused stable management practices. Dairy farmers perceived excess dairy breed calves to be a financial liability, so are reluctant to commit resources to maintaining their health. Systemic barriers to reducing antibiotic use in specialised, large-scale veal-fattening systems, including increased mortality, high costs of veterinary treatment, and low profit margins causing farmers to seek economies of scale, mean that there is little potential for significantly reducing antibiotic use within the existing system. Furthermore, unwillingness to seek herd management advice hinders the application of alternative practices for maintaining calf health with reduced antibiotic use in veal production. Conclusions: The main barriers to antibiotic reduction in veal production are systemic; therefore, strategies to reduce antibiotic use should aim for a system that encourages farmers to prioritise calf health, such as implementing political and economic drivers to discourage specialisation and intensification. Such drivers could include measures to reduce the costs of veterinary services or to increase income; for example, subsidies could increase the profit potential of calves and motivate farmers to prioritise calf health. Implications: A production system in which calves are managed to maintain their health with minimal antibiotic use would provide societal benefits of slowing the development of antimicrobial resistance while fulfilling farmers' moral responsibility for the wellbeing of calves as sentient beings. Excess dairy calves not needed for herd replacement are often sold to fattening farms where they receive metaphylactic antibiotics, which contributes to the development of bacterial resistance. Swiss farmers are reluctant to use alternative methods for maintaining calf health because of lack of financial motivation within the existing veal production system and lack of perceived power to change it. The main barriers to antibiotic reduction in veal production are systemic, so strategies to reduce antibiotic use should aim for policy change to create a system that encourages farmers to prioritise calf health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]