Expert-based development of a generic HACCP-based risk management system to prevent critical negative energy balance in dairy herds

The objective of this study was to develop a generic risk management system based on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles for the prevention of critical negative energy balance (NEB) in dairy herds using an expert panel approach. In addition, we discuss the advantages and limitations of the system in terms of implementation in the individual dairy herd. For the expert panel, we invited 30 researchers and advisors with expertise in the field of dairy cow feeding and/or health management from eight European regions. They were invited to a Delphi-based set-up that included three inter-correlated questionnaires in which they were asked to suggest risk factors for critical NEB and to score these based on 'effect' and 'probability'. Finally, the experts were asked to suggest critical control points (CCPs) specified by alarm values, monitoring frequency and corrective actions related to the most relevant risk factors in an operational farm setting. A total of 12 experts (40 %) completed all three questionnaires. Of these 12 experts, seven were researchers and five were advisors and in total they represented seven out of the eight European regions addressed in the questionnaire study. When asking for suggestions on risk factors and CCPs, these were formulated as 'open questions', and the experts' suggestions were numerous and overlapping. The suggestions were merged via a process of linguistic editing in order to eliminate doublets. The editing process revealed that the experts provided a total of 34 CCPs for the 11 risk factors they scored as most important. The consensus among experts was relatively high when scoring the most important risk factors, while there were more diverse suggestions of CCPs with specification of alarm values and corrective actions. We therefore concluded that the expert panel approach only partly succeeded in developing a generic HACCP for critical NEB in dairy cows. We recommend that the output of this paper is used to inform key areas for implementation on the individual dairy farm by local farm teams including farmers and their advisors, who together can conduct herd-specific risk factor profiling, organise the ongoing monitoring of herd-specific CCPs, as well as implement corrective actions when CCP alarm values are exceeded

Brochure of the PPILOW project

Brochure describing the objectives and activities of the PPILOW projec

PPILOW, a European project dedicated to Welfare in Poultry and PIg Low-input outdoor and Organic production systems (2019-2024)

Poster describing the objectives and activities of the PPILOW projectFavouring positive behaviours and improving health and robustness in both poultry and pigs Reducing the use of veterinary drugs through the improvement of animal robustness and resilience Identifying and selecting of genotypes with relevant traits suitable for outdoor systems and with a higher survival rate Identifying valuable genotypes and management techniques to limit the risk of boar taint in non-castrated male pigs Limiting parasite infections through different feeding and management strategies Providing welfare self-assessment tools Optimizing a non-invasive in ovo-sexing technique and promoting new farming systems valorizing layer male chicks by using dual-purpose breeds • "One Welfare" evaluation of the proposed tools and strategies Multi-criteria analyses of the most effective strategies for evaluating impacts according to sustainability goals, with specific emphasis on animal and human welfare. Creation of economic and business models for the use of the high-quality products generated from the adoption of innovative strategies

PPILOW, a European project dedicated to welfare in Poultry and PIg Low-input outdoor and Organic production systems - Newsletter issue 4

Newsletter du projet PPILO

PPILOW, a European project dedicated to welfare in Poultry and PIg Low-input outdoor and Organic production systems - Newsletter issue 2

Newsletter du projet PPILO

PPILOW, a European project dedicated to welfare in Poultry and PIg Low-input outdoor and Organic production systems - Newsletter issue 5

Newsletter du projet PPILO

PPILOW, a European project dedicated to welfare in Poultry and PIg Low-input outdoor and Organic production systems - Newsletter - Issue 7

Newsletter du projet H2020 PPILO

PPILOW, a European project dedicated to welfare in Poultry and PIg Low-input outdoor and Organic production systems - Newsletter issue 6

Newsletter du projet PPILO

PPILOW, a European project dedicated to welfare in Poultry and PIg Low-input outdoor and Organic production systems - Newsletter issue 3

Newsletter du projet PPILO

PPILOW, a European project dedicated to welfare in Poultry and PIg Low-input outdoor and Organic production systems - Newsletter issue 1

Newsletter du projet PPILO