[Animal health in organic agriculture: new guidelines and perspectives for food animal practitioners]. 2003

H Hertzberg, and M Walkenhorst, and P Klocke
Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau, Frick. hubertus.hertzberg@fibl.ch

In the last decade, the organic agriculture in Switzerland has been substantially increased due to the interest of consumer and financial incentives of the federation. Ruminants take directly or indirectly the largest part from grassland used within the organic managed surfaces. As the contacts between veterinary practice and organic agriculture has increased, the potential for veterinary activity in this area has developed considerably. The organic agriculture guidelines stipulate that all the preventive measures should be taken in feeding, keeping and breeding to insure animal health safety. This requires veterinary services for herd management. The organic status of a farm affects veterinary practice also in the form of alternative therapy/drugs administration and measures like dehorning and tail-docking. An important point in organic managed herds requests that treatment of animals should depend on alternative medical preparations or procedures based on veterinarian's experience and also on the therapeutic effect on the animal species concerned as well as on the disease. However, there are no restrictions on the veterinarian to use registered drugs as long as no alternative therapy, according to experience and possible success, is available to treat the animals. The prophylactic administration of allopathic veterinary drugs is not permissible. Further features in organic farms regarding the use of drugs are the keeping of withholding/withdrawal time, the documentation and the treatment frequency tolerated by organic marketing. Despite the above measures, the animal health has a priority regardless of its organic status. Although management of organic farms represent a unique responsibility, there are still obvious deficits in the education of veterinary practitioners for this new situation. However, in the future the extension of veterinary activity to include the alternative medical therapy should be regarded for the practitioner as a challenge and an opportunity at the same time.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D003257 Consumer Product Safety The sum total of measures taken and regulatory policies enacted to ensure the safe use of consumer products. Safety, Consumer Product,Product Approval,Product Approvals,Product Safety, Consumer
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000383 Agriculture The science, art or practice of cultivating soil, producing crops, and raising livestock. Agronomy,Agricultural Development,Farming,Agronomies,Development, Agricultural
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000822 Animal Husbandry The science of breeding, feeding and care of domestic animals; includes housing and nutrition. Animal Husbandries,Husbandries, Animal,Husbandry, Animal
D000827 Animal Welfare The protection of animals in laboratories or other specific environments by promoting their health through better nutrition, housing, and care. Animal Cruelty,Cruelty, Animal,Welfare, Animal
D013557 Switzerland A country in Europe. It is bordered by Austria, France, Italy, Liechtenstein, and Germany. The capital is Bern.
D014730 Veterinary Medicine The medical science concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases in animals. Medicine, Veterinary
D017408 Guidelines as Topic Works about a systematic statement of policy rules or principles. Guidelines may be developed by government agencies at any level, institutions, professional societies, governing boards, or by convening expert panels. For guidelines in the field of health care and clinical medicine, PRACTICE GUIDELINES AS TOPIC is available. Guidelines as Topics
D017410 Practice Guidelines as Topic Works about directions or principles presenting current or future rules of policy for assisting health care practitioners in patient care decisions regarding diagnosis, therapy, or related clinical circumstances. The guidelines may be developed by government agencies at any level, institutions, professional societies, governing boards, or by the convening of expert panels. The guidelines form a basis for the evaluation of all aspects of health care and delivery. Clinical Guidelines as Topic,Best Practices,Best Practice

Related Publications

H Hertzberg, and M Walkenhorst, and P Klocke
March 1991, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association,
H Hertzberg, and M Walkenhorst, and P Klocke
December 1993, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association,
H Hertzberg, and M Walkenhorst, and P Klocke
December 1995, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association,
H Hertzberg, and M Walkenhorst, and P Klocke
October 2017, Environmental health : a global access science source,
H Hertzberg, and M Walkenhorst, and P Klocke
March 1990, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association,
H Hertzberg, and M Walkenhorst, and P Klocke
March 1996, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association,
H Hertzberg, and M Walkenhorst, and P Klocke
November 2003, Journal of animal science,
H Hertzberg, and M Walkenhorst, and P Klocke
November 2003, Journal of animal science,
H Hertzberg, and M Walkenhorst, and P Klocke
November 1995, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association,
H Hertzberg, and M Walkenhorst, and P Klocke
May 1996, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association,
Copied contents to your clipboard!