In terms of the affect on people and the environment, food safety and security are some of the most important topics in the world. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that many issues actually lead back to on-farm conditions and animal health. We want to have a closer look at that here. Then, if you need to order different products, including animal feed, wormers, and more, you can rely on us.

The key detail

One of the most important things to remember is the quality of a food product is greatly influenced by the real-world conditions on farms. They have a big impact on the health and wellbeing of animals. This can come across in the products, including meat and milk. In the worst cases, the poor condition of animals can mean products are no longer safe to consume and must be discarded.

There are several key details to think about here. For example, stress has a massive impact. It can cause problems with the immune system, increasing the risk of illness and disease. Poor handling, poor housing conditions (including overcrowding), and poor hygiene all have an influence on animals and the end products.

Another thing to consider is poor on-farm conditions actually have a big impact on food processors. While the latter will have processes in place to address contamination, it does open the door for issues. It also increases their costs and production time. It would be more efficient to do it before arrival at plants. In fact, the best scenario would be to make sure the farms themselves are focusing on animal health. Everything should be clean and farmers should do all they can to maximise hygiene and disease control.

Responsibility

The main takeaway here is food safety and security is the responsibility of multiple stakeholders. The farmers themselves have an obligation and should be providing the best conditions for animals. Vets should be involved, using their knowledge of animal biology, disease, and control measures to help farmers and food processors. Finally, all food processors should do their part to maintain quality, standards, and safety. It can protect consumers and their brand image.

Critically, it’s a good idea to work with a vet early. This is true for farmers and processors. Being proactive is better than responding to issues like disease outbreaks. It can maintain standards and improve biosecurity.

It is also important to make sure stakeholders all have the relevant knowledge and training to maximise animal welfare. This includes farmers and farm workers, handlers (including transportation providers), vets, and processors.

Do you need help with animal health on farms?

There is a lot to think about if you want to improve and maintain animal welfare on farms. You need to look at everything from feeds and field conditions to housing, vet visits and treatments, handling, husbandry, and more. Get it right and everyone benefits, including farmers, animals, and consumers.

JS Hubbuck Ltd is a great company to work with if you have animals, including sheep and cows. We provide a number of fantastic products for them, including feeds, wormer, and various tools and implements. We even have partners able to design and manufacture bespoke feeding and housing solutions.

So, speak to us for friendly advice about animal health. We build fantastic relationships with our clients, helping you to get the best results.