Reducing liver lesion incidence in the Dutch pork supply chain

Livers with lesions are an cmportant quality aspect among slaughter pig producers and slaughterhouses. Total losses of non-marketable livers with lesions, lower growth and higher feed intake of pigs in the Netherlands in 2003 were estimated at €3.5 million. The major cause of liver lesions is the roundworm Ascaris suum. Worm treatment on the farm can be effective in reducing liver lesions. Before July 2004 an insurance with a fixed premium for each slaughtered pig was in place in the Netherlands to compensate slaughterhouses for pathological lesions. Individual pig producers had low incentcves to take control measures. In July 2004 a new incentive mechanism was introduced: a reduction in the payment of €1 for each pig with a liver lesion. Thcs placed the financcal burden of levers with lesions on the producer, thereby increasing incentives to treat roundworm infections. We analysed the data of 1,104 farms wcth 55,802 deliveries from 2003 to 2006. The mean liver lesion incidence decreased from 8% in 2003 when a collectcve insurance was in place to 5% in 2006, after the change to the price reduction. Of the producers, 68% reduced liver lesion mcidence. Of the producers with an increased incidence, 83% showed a low increase (less than 5%). We conclude that the price reduction was effective in reducing the mean incidence of liver lesions, although large differences between individual producers exist. Further research is needed to determme what causes these large differences

Program on high value cost-conscious education in intensive care: Educational program on prediction of outcome and cost awareness on Intensive Care admission

BACKGROUND: Intensive Care (ICU) involves extended and long lasting support of vital functions and organs. However, current training programs of ICU residents mainly focus on extended support of vital functions and barely involve training on cost-awareness and outcome. We incorporated an educational program on high-value cost-conscious care for residents and fellows on our ICU and measured the effect of education. METHODS: A cohort study with factorial survey design, in which ICU residents and fellows were asked to evaluate clinical vignettes, was performed on the mixed surgical-medical ICU of the Amsterdam University Medical Centre. Residents were offered an educational program focusing on outcome and costs of ICU care. Before and after the program they filled out a questionnaire, which consisted of 23 vignettes, in which known predictors of outcome of community acquired pneumonia (CAP), pancreatitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and cardiac arrest were presented, together with varying patient factors (age, body mass index (BMI), acute kidney failure (AKI) and haemato-oncological malignancy). Participants were asked to either admit the patient or estimate mortality. RESULTS: BMI, haemato-oncological malignancy and severity of pancreatitis were discriminative for admission to ICU in clinical vignettes on pancreatitis and CAP. After education, only severity of pancreatitis was judged as discriminative. Before the intervention only location of cardiac arrest (in- vs out of hospital) was distinctive for mortality, afterwards this changed to presence of haemato-oncological malignancy. CONCLUSION: We incorporated an educational program on high-value cost-conscious care in the training of ICU physicians. Based on our vignette study, we conclude that the improvement of knowledge of costs and prognosis after this program was limited

CIGR E-Journal Volume 6

(1.) P. Kumar and K. Dewangan. Deflection and Contact Characteristics of a Power Tiller Tyre. (January 2004). ...(2.) S. Li and Y. Lin. Modeling a Single-stage Hydrocyclone for Potato Starch Separation.(February 2004). ...(3.) Y. Cui, Y. Li, Z. Mao, J. Lance and A. Musy. Strategies for Improving the Water Supply System in HCID, Upper Reaches of the Yellow River Basin, China . (March 2004). ...(4.) S. Mutaf, S. Alkan and N. Seber. The Effects of Natural Ventilation Air Exchange on Psychrometric Results in Poultry Houses in Hot Environment - Design Characteristics. (March 2004). ...(5.) N. Abu-Khalaf, B. Bennedsen and G. Bjorn. Distinguishing Carrot???s Characteristics by Near Infrared (NIR) Reflectance and Multivariate Data Analysis. (March 2004). ...(6.) S. Sakhamuri, J. Bober, J. Irudayaraj and A. Demirci. Simultaneous Determination of Multiple Components in Nisin Fermentation Using FTIR Spectroscopy. (March 2004). ...(7.) A. van Wagenberg, B. Bjerg and G. Bot. Measurement and Simulation of Climatic Conditions in the Animal Occupied Zone in a Door Ventilated Room for Piglets. (April 2004). ...(8.) P. Picuno and C. Sica. Mechanical and Spectroradiometrical Characteristics of Agricultural Plastic Films. (April 2004). ...(9.) R. Medjo Eko. Use of Isotropic Stress State Framework to Evaluate the Effect of Suction on Some Mechanical Parameters of Sainte-Rosalie Clay Submitted to Confined Compression. (April 2004). ...(10.) J. Khazaei and D. Mann. Effects of Temperature and Loading Characteristics on Mechanical and Stress-Relaxation Properties of Sea Buckthorn Berries. Part 1. Compression Tests. (April 2004). ...(11.) J. Khazaei and D. Mann. Effects of Temperature and Loading Characteristics on Mechanical and Stress-Relaxation Properties of Sea Buckthorn Berries. Part 2. Puncture Tests. (April 2004). ...(12.) K. Rosentrater. Laboratory Analysis of an Electrostatic Dust Collection System. (April 2004). ...(13.) A. Yuwono and P. Schulze Lammers. Performance Test of a Sensor Array-Based Odor Detection Instrument. (May 2004). ...(14.) M. Massoud, M. El-Fadel, M. Scrimshaw, and J. Lester. Land Use Impact on the Spatial and Seasonal Variation of the Contaminant Loads to Abou Ali River and Its Coastal Zone in North Lebanon. (May 2004). ...(15.) J. Bober and A. Demirci. Nisin Fermentation by Lactoccocus lactis subsp. lactis Using Plastic Composite Supports in Biofilm Reactors.(June 2004). ...(16.) A. Vejasit and V. Salokhe. Studies on Machine-Crop Parameters of an Axial Flow Thresher for Threshing Soybean. (July 2004). ...(17.) G. van Straten and Th. Gieling. Ion Control in Closed Growing Systems with Inert Media: Controller Settings and Modes of Operation. (July 2004). ...(18.) A. Kalbasi-Ashtari. Effects of Post-harvest Pre-cooling Processes and Cyclical Heat Treatment on the Physico-chemical Properties of ???Red Haven Peaches??? and ???Shahmiveh Pears??? During Cold Storage. (July 2004). ...(19.) B. Blackmore, S. Fountas, L. Tang, and H. Have. Systems Requirements for a Small Autonomous Tractor. (July 2004). ...(20.) J. Cancela, X. Neira, T. Cuesta, C. Alvarez, and R. Crecente. Socio-Economic Evaluation of the Terra Cha Irrigators Community by using a Geographic Information System - Spain. (July 2004). ...(21.) A. Atiku, N. Aviara, and M. Haque. Performance Evaluation of a Bambara Ground Nut Sheller. (July 2004). ...(22.) I. Audu, A. Oloso, and B. Umar. Development of a Concentric Cylinder Locust Bean Dehuller. (August 2004). ...(23.) B. Bjerg, P. Kai, S. Morsing, and H. Takai. CFD Analysis to Predict Close Range Spreading of Ventilation Air from Livestock Buildings. (August 2004). ...(24.) G. Munoz-Hernandez, M. Gonzalez-Valadez, and J. Dominguez-Dominguez. An Easy Way to Determine the Working Parameters of the Mechanical Densification Process. (August 2004). ...(25.) J. Montero, P. Galletero, C. Neumeister, and J. Diaz. Comparative Study Between Rigid Frames and Truss Steel Structures. (August 2004). ...(26.) B. Hermiyanto, M. Zoebisch, G. Singh, S. Ranamukhaarachchi, R. Clemente and F. Agus. Comparing Runoff, Soil and Nutrient Losses from Three Small Watersheds in Indonesia. (September 2004). ...(27.) G. Tomaselli, G. Pappalardo, M. Di Marco, and P. Russo. Building Design Solutions for Sheep and Goat Breeding in the Protected Areas of Sicily. (September 2004). ...(28.) Y. Yuan, A. Hansen, and Q. Zhang. The Specific Gravity of Biodiesel Fuels and their Blends with Diesel Fuel. (September 2004). ...(29.) A. De Montis and S. De Montis. Mandatory and Spontaneous Processes of Impact Assessment: A Comparative Study Referred to Sardinia, Italy. (October 2004). ...(30.) S. Dasylva, C. Cosandey, D. Orange, and S. Sambou. Rainwater Infiltration Rate and Groundwater Sustainable Management in the Dakar Region. (October 2004). ...(31.) C. Bravo, D. Moshou, R. Oberti, J. West, A. McCartney, L. Bodria and H. Ramon. Foliar Disease Detection in the Field Using Optical Sensor Fusion. (December 2004). ...(32.) S. Korfali and B. Davies. The Relationships of Metals in River Sediments (Nahr-Ibrahim, Lebanon) and Adjacent Floodplain Soils. (Dec 2004). ...(33.) H. Sun, H. Keener, W. Deng and F. Michel, Jr. Development and Validation of 3-D CFD Models to Simulate Airflow and Ammonia Distribution in a High-Rise Hog Building during Summer and Winter Conditions. (December 2004). ...(34.) P. Kai and A. Schafer. Identification of Key Odour Components in Pig House Air using Hyphenated Gas Chromatography Olfactometry. (December 2004). ...(35.) L. Jacobsen and O. Frosig Nielsen. Modelling Airflow Rate through Perforated Benches in Greenhouses. (December 2004). ...(36.) J. Khazaei and D. Mann. Effects of Temperature and Loading Characteristics on Mechanical and Stress-Relaxation Behavior of Sea Buckthorn Berries. Part 3. Relaxation Behavior. (December 2004). (37.) M.Sangha, P. Gupta, V. Thapar, and S. Verma. Storage Studies on Plant Oils and Their Methyl Esters. (December 2004). ...(38.) M. Islam, B. Marks, and F. Bakker-Arkema. Optimization of Commercial Ear-Corn Dryers. (December 2004). ...(39.) B. Pathak, F. Kazama, and I. Toshiaki. Monitoring of Nitrogen Leaching from a Tropical Paddy in Thailand. (December 2004). ...(40.) C. Noeme and R. Fragoso. Evaluation of Alternative Policies of Irrigation Water Price. Application to Large Farms in Alentejo Region. (December 2004). ...(41.) P. Sousa and S. Pedersen. Ammonia Emission from Fattening Pig Houses in Relation to Animal Activity and Carbon Dioxide Production. (December 2004). ...(42.) M. Fadel. Performance Assessment of VRT-based Granular Fertilizer Broadcasting Systems. (December 2004). ...(43.) S. Saptomo, B. Setiawan, and Y. Nakano. Water Regulation in Tidal Peatland Agriculture using Wetland Water level Control Simulator. (December 2004). ...(44.) J. Perez, M. Santamarina, J. Valles, A. Pena, D. Valera, and A. Carreno. Optimal Layout for Milk Goats Livestock Farms Using Genetic Algorithms. (December 2004). ---Invited Articles----(1.) H. Harms. Possibilities to Reduce Manufacturing and Management Costs of Tractors and Agricultural Equipment. (April 2004). ...(2.) A. Yuwono and P. Schulze Lammers. Odor Pollution in the Environment and the Detection Instrumentation. (July 2004). ...(3.) D. Ampratwum, A. Dorvlo, and L. Opara. Usage of Tractors and Field Machinery in Oman. (July 2004). ...(4.) L. Opara. Emerging Technological Innovation Triad for Smart Agriculture in the 21st Century. Part I. Prospects and Impacts of Nanotechnology in Agriculture.(July 2004). ...(5.) L. Kipkurui, I. Kithyo, P. Okemwa, and J. Korir. Modernisation in Automotive Technology and performance of Informal Sector Mechanics in Kenya. (August 2004). ...(6.) S. Pedersen, G. Monteny, H. Xin, and H. Takai. Progress in Research into Ammonia and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Animal Production Facilities. (August 2004)

Risks and opportunities of increasing yields in organic farming. A review

Current organic agriculture performs well in several sustainability domains, like animal welfare, farm profitability and low pesticide use, but yields are commonly lower than in conventional farming. There is now a re-vitalized interest in increasing yields in organic agriculture to provide more organic food for a growing, more affluent population and reduce negative impacts per unit produced. However, past yield increases have been accompanied by several negative side-effects. Here, we review risks and opportunities related to a broad range of sustainability domains associated with increasing yields in organic agriculture in the Northern European context. We identify increased N input, weed, disease and pest control, improved livestock feeding, breeding for higher yields and reduced losses as the main measures for yield increases. We review the implications of their implementation for biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, nutrient losses, soil fertility, animal health and welfare, human nutrition and health and farm profitability. Our findings from this first-of-its-kind integrated analysis reveal which strategies for increasing yields are unlikely to produce negative side-effects and therefore should be a high priority, and which strategies need to be implemented with great attention to trade-offs. For example, increased N inputs in cropping carry many risks and few opportunities, whereas there are many risk-free opportunities for improved pest control through the management of ecosystem services. For most yield increasing strategies, both risks and opportunities arise, and the actual effect depends on management including active mitigation of side-effects. Our review shows that, to be a driving force for increased food system sustainability, organic agriculture may need to reconsider certain fundamental principles. Novel plant nutrient sources, including increased nutrient recycling in society, and in some cases mineral nitrogen fertilisers from renewable sources, and truly alternative animal production systems may need to be developed and accepted

Good animal welfare makes economic sense: potential of pig abattoir meat inspection as a welfare surveillance tool

peer-reviewedDuring abattoir meat inspection pig carcasses are partially or fully condemned upon detection of disease that poses a risk to public health or welfare conditions that cause animal suffering e.g. fractures. This incurs direct financial losses to producers and processors. Other health and welfare-related conditions may not result in condemnation but can necessitate ‘trimming’ of the carcass e.g. bruising, and result in financial losses to the processor. Since animal health is a component of animal welfare these represent a clear link between suboptimal pig welfare and financial losses to the pig industry. Meat inspection data can be used to inform herd health programmes, thereby reducing the risk of injury and disease and improving production efficiency. Furthermore, meat inspection has the potential to contribute to surveillance of animal welfare. Such data could contribute to reduced losses to producers and processors through lower rates of carcass condemnations, trimming and downgrading in conjunction with higher pig welfare standards on farm. Currently meat inspection data are under-utilised in the EU, even as a means of informing herd health programmes. This includes the island of Ireland but particularly the Republic. This review describes the current situation with regard to meat inspection regulation, method, data capture and utilisation across the EU, with special reference to the island of Ireland. It also describes the financial losses arising from poor animal welfare (and health) on farms. This review seeks to contribute to efforts to evaluate the role of meat inspection as a surveillance tool for animal welfare on-farm, using pigs as a case example