EPIC, Scottish Government’s Centre of Expertise in Animal Disease Outbreaks:a model for provision of risk-based evidence to policy

EPIC, Scottish Government's Centre of Expertise on Animal Disease Outbreaks, offers a successful and innovative model for provision of scientific advice and analysis to policy-makers in Scotland. In this paper, we describe EPIC's remit and operations, and reflect on three case studies which illustrate how the Centre of Expertise Model provides risk-based evidence through rapid access to emergency advice and analyses, estimating disease risks and improving disease detection, assessing different disease control options, and improving future risk resilience. The successes and challenges faced by EPIC and its members offer useful lessons for animal health researchers and authorities, working in contingency planning for animal health security in other countries

Le dromadaire et le cochon : deux visions opposées de l'élevage ?

Le dromadaire et le cochon sont deux espèces d'élevage emblématiques d'un gradient allant de l'extensif à l'intensif et se déclinant sur divers registres a priori exclusifs. Pourtant, malgré les différences fondamentales de ces deux espèces, tant sur les plans physiologique et zootechnique que sociologique et culturel, leur élevage et les filières dont ils sont à l'origine sont confrontés à des enjeux parfois comparables (qualité des produits, durabilité économique, biodiversité, impact environnemental, marché régional) et à des dynamiques (intensification, diversification) qui tendraient à les rapprocher en termes de développement et sur lesquelles un effort de recherche s'avère nécessaire. Le présent article est né de la confrontation de deux zootechniciens, chacun spécialiste d'une espèce donnée. (Résumé d'auteur

Outlook for an integrated sustainable development of pig production in the Red River Delta

224pThe situation in Thai Binh province offers a significant number of assets to be capitalized upon in terms of recycling of effluents, but the stakeholders concerned have an urgent need for strong measures to help them live from their livestock farming activity while protecting an endangered environment. This chapter highlights the additional agronomical and economic references as well as decision making tools that still need to be acquired. The technical and organizational solutions that will need to be tested or promoted more widely are presented. The key issues for the future and the establishment of a hierarchy or priorities in terms of support for agricultural development, necessary local know-how and avenues of research to study in more depth the complex problems encountered in North Vietnam are discussed. Emphasis is given on the pig production in the Red River Delt

The General Context of a dynamic agricultural sector in the Red River Delta

224pThis chapter presents the status of the agricultural sector in the Red River Delta in Vietnam. The sociopolitical environment and development policies are outlined. Thai Binh's development priorities are discussed. The contrasts in the natural environment of the Red River Delta are presented (climate, soil types and agroecological units). The importance of the hydraulic system in the Delta's agriculture is discussed. The intensive vegetable production, dominated by rice cultivation is described. The livestock production, with emphasis on the booming pork commodity chain, is dealt with. An overview of the pig production subsector is given. The pig producers and their various breeding systems are outlined. The husbandry of other animals are discussed (poultry, ruminants and fish). Changes in the integrated production systems are discussed