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1.
  • Alexander, Jan, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific Opinion on Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDDs) in Food
  • 2011
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - 1831-4732. ; 9:7, s. 2296-
  • Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
    • EFSA was asked by the European Commission to deliver a scientific opinion on hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDDs) in food. HBCDDs are additive flame retardants primarily used in expanded and extruded polystyrene applied as construction and packing materials, and in textiles. Technical HBCDD predominantly consists of three stereoisomers (α-, β- and γ-HBCDD). Also δ- and ε-HBCDD may be present but at very low concentrations. HBCDDs are present in the environment and likewise in biota and in food and feed. Data from the analysis of HBCDDs in 1,914 food samples were provided to EFSA by seven European countries, covering the period from 2000 to 2010. The Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) selected α-, β- and γ-HBCDD to be of primary interest. Since all toxicity studies were carried out with technical HBCDD, a risk assessment of individual stereoisomers was not possible. Main targets were the liver, thyroid hormone homeostasis and the reproductive, nervous and immune systems. HBCDDs are not genotoxic. The CONTAM Panel identified neurodevelopmental effects on behaviour as the critical endpoint, and derived a benchmark dose lower confidence limit for a benchmark response of 10 % (BMDL10) of 0.79 mg/kg body weight. Due to the limitations and uncertainties in the current data base, the CONTAM Panel concluded that it was inappropriate to use this BMDL to establish a health based guidance value, and instead used a margin of exposure (MOE) approach for the health risk assessment of HBCDDs. Since elimination characteristics of HBCDDs in animals and humans differ, the Panel used the body burden as starting point for the MOE approach. The CONTAM Panel concluded that current dietary exposure to HBCDDs in the European Union does not raise a health concern. Also additional exposure, particularly of young children, to HBCDDs from house dust is unlikely to raise a health concern
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3.
  • Alexander, Jan, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific Opinion on Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and its derivatives in food : EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM)
  • 2011
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 9:12, s. 2477-
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • EFSA was asked by the European Commission to deliver a scientific opinion on tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and its derivatives in food. TBBPA and its derivatives are widely used as flame retardants. TBBPA is primarily used as reactive flame retardant covalently bound to epoxy and polycarbonate resins. TBBPA derivatives are used as either reactive or additive intermediates in polymer manufacture. Data from the analysis of TBBPA in 344 food samples were submitted to EFSA by two European countries (Norway and Spain), covering the period from 2007 to 2010. All samples were in the food group “Fish and other seafood”, and all analytical results were reported as less than the limit of quantification (LOQ) (about 1 ng/g wet weight). Toxicological studies with TBBPA have been carried out using different experimental designs with single or repeated administration during gestation, postnatally or in adulthood. The main target is thyroid hormone homeostasis. TBBPA is not genotoxic. There are no indications that TBBPA might be carcinogenic. The Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) identified a lower confidence limit for a benchmark response of 10 % (BMDL10) of 16 mg/kg b.w. reported for changes in thyroid hormones as the critical reference point. Due to the limitations and uncertainties in the database, the CONTAM Panel concluded that it was inappropriate to use this BMDL to establish a health based guidance value, and therefore used a margin of exposure (MOE) approach for the health risk assessment of TBBPA. In view of the large MOEs, the CONTAM Panel concluded that current dietary exposure to TBBPA in the European Union does not raise a health concern. Also exposure of infants via human milk does not raise a health concern. Additional exposure, particularly of young children, to TBBPA from house dust is unlikely to raise a health concern.
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4.
  • Algers, Bo, et al. (författare)
  • Animal health safety of fresh meat derived from pigs vaccinated against classic swine fever
  • 2009
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732.
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Classical swine fever (CSF) is a disease that has been causing major socio-economic damages in the EU during the last decades. Although considerable progress has been made in the eradication and prevention of the disease, the threat for an epidemic still exists. The measures to control and eradicate CSF are laid down in Community legislation (Council Directive 2001/89/EC and Commission Decision 2002/106/EC) and are based on stamping-out when CSF is confirmed on pig holdings. Emergency vaccination with 'conventional' live attenuated vaccine or marker vaccine can be used as an additional tool to control and eradicate the disease. In order to support and to improve the control and eradication measures as regards CSF in domestic pigs, EFSA was requested by the Commission to provide scientific advice on the safety of fresh meat (freedom from field virus) derived from vaccinated pigs. Specifically, two terms of reference were given: a) what is the risk that wild-type CSF virus is present in fresh meat obtained from pigs vaccinated in an emergency situation during an outbreak?; and b) what are the sampling schemes and testing procedures needed to detect field virus in fresh meat derived from such vaccinated pigs? Two types of vaccines are currently authorised in the EU for CSF: - A modified live vaccine (MLV, C-strain), which is safe and efficacious, inducing early protection; - An E2 subunit vaccine (E2subV, marker), safe, allowing serological DIVA, but with lower efficacy than MLV. The usefulness of emergency vaccination in order to limit disease spread and avoid excessive culling and economic damages remains to be evaluated. Very limited data related to the presence of CSFV in fresh meat have been generated after the implementation of a non-vaccination strategy. Therefore, a simulation modelling approach was developed to assess the risk of emergency vaccination on the safety of meat compared to the current control of CSF in domestic pigs without vaccination. CSFV is relatively stable in fresh meat and resists the maturation process in meat. Depending on the strain virulence, the age and breed, infected pigs die rapidly or may recover or can develop chronic infections. Viraemia is variable in duration and degree but it is always linked to the spread of virus to other body tissues including skeletal muscles (meat). The risk scenario includes two events that must happen before an infected animal is slaughtered and infected meat released: an infected herd has to escape clinical diagnosis before lifting of restrictions and during the final screening such a herd is not detected due to sample selection or false negative laboratory tests. Three scenarios were evaluated through the model: 1. Stamping-out of CSF detected as infected herds, standstill and pre-emptive culling. 2. Stamping-out of CSF detected as infected herds, standstill and emergency vaccination assuming a rapid protection. 3. Same as 2 but assuming a slower protection and DIVA property. It was concluded from the model that none of the strategies could reduce the risk to absolute zero. Lifting of restrictions can only occur after a certain time span (longer than the viraemic period of infected animals) after the last outbreak, thus the number of virus-positive animals in vaccinated infected herds at lifting will be very small. The model indicated that there is a lower risk of virus in fresh meat after emergency vaccination around outbreaks compared to the conventional strategy including pre-emptive culling, provided that control measures are adjusted to the applied vaccine and test systems. Adjustments may for instance include size of vaccination area, sampling schemes and timing of lift-up of restrictions. Any non-compliance of control measures will increase the risk of infectious animals remaining after lift-up. Chronically infected pigs are a potential hazard for fresh meat. However, in the risk assessment it was assumed that chronically infected pigs will be identified either by clinical signs and/or laboratory tests. Clinical diagnosis is unreliable and laboratory confirmation is needed. Highly sensitive and specific diagnostic assays are available to diagnose CSF. Agent detection tests are more suitable during early stages of infection. A positive rRT-PCR diagnosis indicates that an animal has been infected with the wild type or MLV virus but it is not necessarly still infectious. Antibody detection tests are mainly suitable for monitoring and surveillance purposes, but not for early diagnosis of suspect cases. Concerning the efficiency of the monitoring scheme, it is directly related to the diagnostic systems applied (organ sample, sensitivity, specificity) and to the number of samples taken. In case of selecting samples for rRT-PCR based on fever measurement in vaccinated animals, the sample size should be corrected. In terms of overall efficiency, rRT-PCR for virus detection and ELISA-systems for antibody investigation are the tests of choice. Vaccinated animals, that at an appropriate lift-up time are tested rRT-PCR negative for the wild type virus, can be considered as “zero risk” animals. If only a few animals become infected in a herd, which is possible especially when vaccination is applied, sampling and testing only a proportion of the animals may result in not detecting such an outbreak
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5.
  • Algers, Bo, et al. (författare)
  • Control and eradication of classic swine fever in wild boar
  • 2009
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732.
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Classical swine fever (CSF) is a disease that has been causing major socio-economic damages in the EU during the last decades. Although considerable progress has been made in the eradication and prevention of the disease, the threat for an epidemic still exists. The virus is endemic in the wild boar population of several member states (MS). Wild boar cannot be managed as domestic pigs. Hunting and vaccination have been tentatively used in order to stop transmission by reducing the number of susceptibles. Oral vaccination of wild boar with modified live vaccine based on the C-strain (the only suitable) is used; this vaccine does not allow serological differentiation between vaccinated and infected animals. The aim of the control measures for CSF in wild boar is to reduce the risk of transmission to domestic pigs, to prevent an “endemic phase evolution” or to reduce the endemic phase duration. In order to support and to improve the control and eradication measures as regards CSF in wild boar, EFSA was requested by the Commission to provide scientific advice on the efficacy of the available surveillance, hunting and vaccination measures to control and eradicate CSF in feral pig populations (wild boar), considering the possible use of new diagnostic tests and vaccines. In order to reply to the mandate data were collected from MS through two questionnaires (CSF vaccines, hunting practices and CSF vaccination in wild boar). Data were also extracted from the EU CSF wild boar data base, after requesting permission from the participating MS. Considering that the data received were rather limited and not comparable, the WG decided to use a model in order to fill the gaps in the available knowledge. For the evaluation of the efficacy of CSF control in wild boar a continuous metapopulation compartmental model developed in an EU research project (FP6-5015599-CSFVACCINE&WILDBOAR) was applied. Although the disease manifests in the same manner in both domestic pig and wild boar it is more difficult to identify in wild boar because clinical monitoring of these is hardly possible. Wild boar found dead constitutes the main alert sign of CSF. Hunters and gamekeepers should be instructed to report the finding of each dead wild boar to the competent authority at all times. In case of high-risk situations, a passive surveillance should be complemented by an active serological surveillance. The active sampling of wild boar is not as efficient as in domestic pigs considering that hunting is the sole practical system to obtain samples and that the aim of hunting is quite different. Consequently, the sample size is not controlled by authorities and fits rarely the aim of the survey in terms of detecting the presence of disease at a certain level. In addition, the interpretation of serological results is confounded by maternal derived antibodies (until the 6th month of age), vaccination and the sampling quality. There is no definition at EU level of spatial and temporal units for surveillance, neither for criteria defining a disease free wild boar population. The sample size is not the only factor that dictates the overall sensitivity of surveillance systems. Indeed, wild boar habitat, hunting patterns, and disease distribution should be included when assessing surveillance system sensitivity. After a vaccination campaign, PCR positive animals can be due to modified live vaccines (MLV) but these MLV-vaccinated animals can be cross-checked for wild type CSF virus (genetic DIVA – discriminatory PCR). A positive PCR diagnosis should be considered to indicate that an animal is or has been infected with the wild type or MLV virus but it is not necessarly still infectious. According to previous field experience and to model simulations of a CSF epidemic in a wild boar population and the possible outcomes regarding vaccination: the disease will fade out without any additional control measures in small populations (between 1000 and 1500); hunting is not efficient for CSF control and should not exceed the normal 45% per year. Hunting is currently needed for sampling; vaccination: increases population immunity progressively. The maximum population immunity is only reached after three double campaigns; by one isolated campaign cannot increase population immunity adequately to control CSF and might even aggravate the persistence of CSF; mainly prevents the spread of the infection in neighbouring vaccinated patches; promotes long-term eradication through a progressive reduction of virus transmission to neighbouring areas; always reduces the epidemic peak (number of infected animals/time). Endemic evolution of infection may occur when a low rate of vaccination is achieved; in both infected and not yet infected areas, reaching a minimum target of 40 % of susceptible animals is necessary to obtain a positive control effect, below 20% - will increase probability of endemic stability, above 60% - will always eradicate the infection
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6.
  • Algers, Bo, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific opinion on the overall effects of farming systems on dairy cow welfare and disease
  • 2009
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732.
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Following a request from the European Commission, the AHAW Panel was asked to deliver a Scientific Opinion on the welfare of dairy cows, considering whether current farming and husbandry systems comply with the requirements of and welfare of dairy cows from the pathological, zootechnical, physiological and behavioural points of view. Due to the great diversity of topics and the huge amount of scientific data, it was proposed that separate scientific opinions on different welfare subjects would be more adequate and effective. Therefore, it was agreed that a scientific report, an overall scientific opinion and four risk assessments on: i) metabolic and reproductive disorders, ii) udder disorders, iii) leg and locomotion problems and iv) behavioural disorders, fear and pain would be produced. This overall scientific opinion integrates conclusions and recommendations from the scientific report with the outcomes from the four separate risk assessments. In the resulting list of outcomes, conclusions and recommendations considered to have a high priority are evidenced. This scientific opinion on the overall effects of farming systems on dairy cow welfare and disease was adopted by the AHAW Panel on 05 June 2009. In considering the welfare of dairy cattle, some of the most important consequences of poor welfare are the occurrence of disease conditions, in particular foot and leg disorders and mastitis. Reproductive, metabolic and behavioural problems are also relevant indicators of poor welfare. European dairy production is based mainly from specialized intensive farming but there is considerable diversity in how cows are housed and managed. Systems range from grazing all of the year to remaining in a building with zero-grazing. The farming system by itself is a major factor determining the health problems of dairy cattle and other aspects of their welfare, partly through housing and equipment and partly through management and handling practices. Long term genetic selection for high milk yield is the major factor causing poor welfare, in particular health problems, in dairy cows. The milk yield of dairy cows has risen steadily over the last thirty years in Europe with approximately 50 % of this increase estimated to be attributable to genetic selection for milk production efficiency. This selection has also changed the form and size of dairy cows and hence demands on their behaviour and other adaptive mechanisms. The spatial requirements of the dairy cow have increased as well as its vulnerability for mechanical impacts and wounds on the exterior parts of the body, the skin, limbs and claws. The genetic component underlying milk yield has also been found to be positively correlated with the incidence of lameness, mastitis, reproductive disorders and metabolic disorders. In order to improve dairy cow welfare there is an urgent need to promote changes in the criteria used for genetic selection in the dairy industry. Higher weight should be given to fitness and welfare traits when these may conflict with selection for milk yield. Genetic selection for improved fertility, health and longevity is likely to improve welfare and lead to greater profit for the farmer. Whilst issues concerning genetic selection are common to different systems, when comparing different farming systems, hazards associated with housing and management variables have the greatest effects on dairy cattle welfare. The following are the major conclusions and recommendations when systems are compared. Since the body size of cows has increased during the last 20 years, where cubicles are used, they should be wide enough to minimise any movement difficulties or teat trampling. Cubicles and tie-stalls should be designed in such a way that the forward movement of the body of the cow is not thwarted when changing position from lying to standing. The risk assessment exercise confirmed that poor cubicle design and lack of space are the highest ranked hazards, respectively in cubicle houses and tie stalls, in the development of the most common problems in dairy cows. A total space allowance of less than 8.6 m² in cubicle houses negatively affects welfare. Cubicle width should be at least 1.8 times cow hip width. In cubicle houses there should be at least as many cubicles as there are cows in the house. A lying area of at least 2.7 m² / heifer (up to 400 kg) is necessary to avoid negative impact on welfare and production. In loose-housed cows, the area around each feeding place is a location where much aggression can occur. Therefore, the feeding area should be designed in such a way and with sufficient space that all cows can feed with minimal aggression or other interference. Since leg disorders are the major welfare problem for dairy cattle and leg disorders are a problem also in well managed cubicle houses, alternatives to cubicles e.g. straw yards and improvements to cubicle house design should be considered. When possible, dairy cows and heifers should be given access to well managed pasture or other suitable outdoor conditions, at least during summer time or dry weather. Tie-stalls restrict the voluntary movement and social behaviour of dairy cows. When periods of exercise are possible some of the adverse effects are reduced. Therefore, systems of husbandry and management should involve a minimum time of restricted movement in order that all dairy cows are able to meet their need to show certain behaviours such as grooming, social interaction and exercise. While tie-stall use continues, cows should have daily exercise that involves walking freely inside or outside (except where there are adverse climatic conditions) and also the freedom to carry out other behaviours. A minority opinion on the use of tie-stalls was expressed by some Panel members. All dairy cattle should be fed a diet that provides sufficient energy, nutrients and dietary fibre to meet the metabolic requirements in a way that is consistent with digestion. When diet is changed there should be carefully controlled transition feeding in order to prevent poor welfare in the cattle. Feeding systems should allow every individual cow to meet her needs for quantity and quality of feed. Dairy cows should be provided with drinking water whatever their diet. This water should be in sufficient quantity to prevent any dehydration and should be: free from repellent odour and taste, harmful infectious agents, toxic substances and contaminants that can accumulate in body tissue or be excreted in milk. Both indoors as well as outdoors, continuous access to water should be provided. Automatically regulated troughs and drinker bowls should be installed in the animal houses and farmyards. There should be systems for monitoring the prevalence of lameness by scoring locomotion and foot lesions every 3 to 6 months in all dairy herds. Because of the high risk of lameness in dairy cattle all dairy farmers should implement a lameness prevention programme. On farms with a high prevalence of recognisable locomotor difficulties, e.g. approaching 10%, there should be improvement of housing conditions, genetic strain and management practices. In addition to improved methods for genetic selection, the prevalence of mastitis should be reduced also through: treatment of clinical and subclinical disease, dry cow therapy, identification and elimination of carrier cows, prevention of transmission of infection from cow to cow or through the environment, and improvement of the immune system by minimising stress factors and by a controlled and nutritionally-balanced feed intake. Pain management should be part of the treatment of severe lameness and clinical mastitis. Farmers should be well trained in recognizing signs of disease at early stages and veterinary advice should be sought at an early stage of disease in dairy cattle. Recommendations in this opinion for disease prevention and management should be followed. The body of research on dairy cattle welfare should be incorporated into codes of practice and monitoring protocols that address potential hazards and incorporate animal-based measures of welfare outcomes
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7.
  • Algers, Bo (författare)
  • Scientific Opinion on the welfare of cattle kept for beef production and the welfare in intensive calf farming systems
  • 2012
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 10
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Information given in previous Opinions "Welfare of cattle kept for beef production" (SCAHAW, 2001) and "The risks of poor welfare in intensive calf farming systems" (EFSA, 2006) is updated and recent scientific evidence on the topics reviewed. Risks of poor welfare are identified using a structured analysis, and issues not identified in the SCAHAW (2001) beef Opinion, especially effects of housing and management on enteric and respiratory diseases are reviewed. The Opinion covers all systems of beef production, although the welfare of suckler cows or breeding bulls is not considered. The Chapter on beef cattle presents new evidence and recommendations in relation to heat and cold stress, mutilations and pain management, digestive disorders linked to high concentrate feeds and respiratory disorders linked to overstocking, inadequate ventilation, mixing of animals and failure of early diagnosis and treatment. Major welfare problems in cattle kept for beef production, as identified by risk assessment, were respiratory diseases linked to overstocking, inadequate ventilation, mixing of animals and failure of early diagnosis and treatment, digestive disorders linked to intensive concentrate feeding, lack of physically effective fibre in the diet, and behavioural disorders linked to inadequate floor space, and co-mingling in the feedlot. Major hazards for white veal calves were considered to be iron-deficiency anaemia, a direct consequence of dietary iron restriction, enteric diseases linked to high intakes of liquid feed and inadequate intake of physically effective fibre, discomfort and behavioural disorders linked to inadequate floors and floor space.
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8.
  • Algers, Bo, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific opinion on welfare of dairy cows in relation to behaviour, fear and pain based on a risk assessment with special reference to the impact of housing, feeding, management and genetic selection
  • 2009
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732.
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Following a request from the European Commission, the AHAW Panel was asked to deliver a Scientific Opinion on the welfare of dairy cows, considering whether current farming and husbandry systems comply with the requirements of and welfare of dairy cows from the pathological, zootechnical, physiological and behavioural points of view. Due to the great diversity of topics and the huge amount of scientific data, it was proposed that separate scientific opinions on different welfare subjects would be more adequate and effective. Therefore, it was agreed to subdivide the risk assessment process into four different subjects: i) metabolic and reproductive disorders, ii) udder disorders, iii) leg and locomotion problems and iiii) behaviour, fear and pain. A fifth scientific opinion integrates conclusions and recommendations from the scientific report with the outcomes from the four separate risk assessments. The scientific opinion on welfare of dairy cows in relation to behaviour, fear and pain, based on a risk assessment with special reference to the impact of housing, feeding, management and genetic selection, was adopted by the AHAW Panel on 05 June 2009. In the risk assessment four different farming scenarios were considered: 1) cubicle houses; 2) tie-stalls; 3) straw yards; 4) pasture. Identified hazards were classified under (a) housing, (b) nutrition and feeding, (c) management and (d) genetics. The risk assessment outcomes for each of these four classes of hazards were determined and the four different farming scenarios compared. When comparing the different farming systems it can be concluded that the risk of suffering behaviour problems, fear and pain can be dependent of the farming systems. In the risk assessment, the risk estimates for behavioural problems, fear and pain associated with housing were generally higher than the risk estimates observed for the other categories of hazards. The risk estimates for behavioural problems, fear and pain associated with housing were highest for tie-stalls and lowest for cows at pasture, and were lower in straw yards than in cubicle housing. According to the scoring system used in this analysis, among the highest ranked hazards in terms of risk estimate in relation to the housing were design of stalls and inadequate bedding in both tie-stalls and cubicle housing. In cubicle houses, inappropriate flooring where cows walk posed the largest risk estimate for behavioural problems whereas having fewer cubicles than cows was the hazard with the largest magnitude of the adverse effect, but the risk estimate was relatively low. Poor air quality was rated as a hazard with a large magnitude of the adverse effect in all types of indoor housing. However, the degree of exposure was low, resulting in low risks for behavioural problems. For cows at pasture, hazards associated with housing have much lower magnitude of the adverse effect than for cows housed indoors. For cows at pasture, the largest risk estimates for behavioural problems were associated with inappropriate temperature and humidity, lack of handling facilities and problems with the milking parlour and waiting areas. The highest ranked hazards associated with straw yards were inadequate bedding, lack of space, zero grazing and inadequate flooring where cows walk. Finally, zero-grazing was rated as a hazard with a large magnitude of the adverse effect on cow behaviour, fear and pain in tie-stalls, straw yards and cubicle housing, but the risk estimate was relatively low. In relation to the use of tie stalls, Panel members concluded that tie-stalls restrict the voluntary movement and social behaviour of dairy cows. When periods of exercise are possible some of the adverse effects are reduced. Therefore, systems of husbandry and management should involve a minimum time of restricted movement in order that all dairy cows are able to meet their need to show certain behaviours such as grooming, social interaction and exercise. While tie-stall use continues, cows should have daily exercise that involves walking freely inside or outside (except where there are adverse climatic conditions) and also the freedom to carry out other behaviours. A minority opinion on the use of tie-stalls was expressed by some Panel members. The risk assessment showed that nutrition and feeding hazards have a lower risk of causing behavioural problems compared with other factors. The risk estimates and magnitudes of the adverse effects of behavioural problems associated with nutrition and feeding were quite similar for cubicle housing, tie-stalls and straw yards; however there were fewer hazards identified for pasture. The highest risk estimate for behavioural problems due to nutrition and feeding was associated with improper ration composition and underfeeding in cubicle houses, tie-stalls and straw yards. However, the magnitudes of the adverse effects were highest for poor feed quality of the roughage, improper ration composition, underfeeding, and improper sensory quality of the water source. As regards the management aspects for dairy cows, the maintenance of stable groups ensures that long-lasting affiliative relationships can continue, reducing the overall stress level in cows. In the risk assessment, the hazard with the highest or second highest magnitude of the adverse effect in the three systems where animals are kept loose was mixing animals from different groups. Husbandry practices should avoid regrouping of dairy cows in order to facilitate continuation of long-lasting social bonds, avoid frequent disruption and provide social stability. If social mixing of dairy cows is unavoidable, stress should be reduced by providing larger space allowance during grouping in buildings or on pasture. Regrouping or mixing on pasture is ideal as it offers space and good flooring. Appropriate management, together with larger space allowance, can minimize social agonistic interactions in the herd in general. When cows have to calve in groups indoors, this may cause disturbance for the cow. An individual calving pen with some visual and auditory contact with other cows gives the cow the best possibility to show normal behaviour and calve without problems. Dairy cows allowed to stay with their calf after birth and separated within 24 h show a mild stress reaction after separation. After the mother-young bond has been established, i.e. 2 days or more, the cow shows a stronger reaction after separation, and this reaction becomes stronger the longer the time that they stay together. Some infectious diseases may be transmitted from the cow to the calf at birth, and then an important measure for reducing disease transmission is to separate the calf very shortly after birth. If the cow is placed out of hearing and sight of the calf, the stress reaction of the cow is lower. When cow and calf have been together for prolonged suckling, e.g. 6-12 weeks, weaning plates placed on the calves reduce the stress reaction in the cow after separation. In the risk assessment, genetic selection for high milk yield with insufficient emphasis on other traits relating to fitness showed a very low risk of causing behavioural problems compared with other factors and no differences were observed among the different housing systems analysed. The magnitude of the adverse effect and the risk estimate for behavioural problems was highest for cows with high genetic potential for production due to selection ignoring other traits when the housing, nutrition and management are not optimized
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9.
  • Algers, Bo, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific opinion on welfare of dairy cows in relation to leg and locomotion problems based on a risk assessment with special reference to the impact of housing, feeding, management and genetic selection
  • 2009
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732.
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Following a request from the European Commission, the AHAW Panel was asked to deliver a Scientific Opinion on the welfare of dairy cows, considering whether current farming and husbandry systems comply with the requirements of and welfare of dairy cows from the pathological, zootechnical, physiological and behavioural points of view. Due to the great diversity of topics and the huge amount of scientific data, it was proposed that separate scientific opinions on different welfare subjects would be more adequate and effective. Therefore, it was agreed to subdivide the risk assessment process into four different subjects: i) metabolic and reproductive disorders, ii) udder disorders, iii) leg and locomotion problems and iiii) behaviour, fear and pain. A fifth scientific opinion integrates conclusions and recommendations from the scientific report with the outcomes from the four separate risk assessments. The scientific opinion on the welfare of dairy cows in relation to leg and locomotion problems, based on a risk assessment with special reference to the impact of housing, feeding, management and genetic selection was adopted by the AHAW Panel on 05 June 2009. In the risk assessment four different farming scenarios were considered: 1) cubicle houses; 2) tie-stalls; 3) straw yards; 4) pasture. Identified hazards were classified under (a) housing, (b) nutrition and feeding, (c) management and (d) genetics. The risk assessment outcomes for each of these four classes of hazards were determined and the four different farming scenarios compared. When comparing the different farming systems it is concluded that the farming system has a major influence on leg and locomotion problems defined both in terms of magnitude of the adverse effect and risk estimate. Hazards associated with housing and management rank much higher, in terms of risk estimate, than those associated with nutrition and genetics. Magnitudes of the adverse effects and risk estimates in housing are much greater in systems involving cubicle housing or tie-stalls, than in straw yards or at pasture. Hazards attributable to management and genetic selection for high yields are similar for all farming systems, however risk estimates are higher in cubicles and tie-stalls than in straw yards or at pasture. In general, concrete flooring has a higher risk of claw disorders than pasture and straw-yards, since standing and walking for prolonged periods on concrete floors, or floors that are wet or covered in slurry cause severe foot disorders. According to the scoring system used in this analysis, the most important hazard in relation to the housing was the lack of space in tie-stalls. Larger space allowance, in the walking area as well as the lying area, is beneficial for the welfare of cows with respect to decreased aggression, injuries, and occurrence of lameness. Tied cattle have more lameness than those free to move with good flooring and resting facilities. In cubicles the most important magnitudes of the adverse effect and risk estimates are associated with inadequate floor in the walking area, poor cubicle design and inadequate bedding. Dairy cows have a strong motivation for lying, and lie down for 7-15 hours per day. The lying time varies between housing systems and can be affected by housing design. Altered patterns of lying down can be a sign of lameness, injury or poor housing design. When dairy cattle are kept in cubicle houses, foot and leg disorders are substantially more frequent than they are in straw yards. Since leg and foot disorders are the major welfare problem for dairy cattle and leg and foot disorders are a problem even in well-managed cubicle houses, alternatives to cubicles, e.g. straw yards, are needed and in the short-term improvements to cubicle house design should be made. In the case of nutrition and feeding the most important hazards are inadequacies in transition feeding and imbalanced diets. The greatest risk estimate is related to transition feeding. However the probability of risks attributable to nutrition and feeding systems are low relative to those attributable to housing and management. As regards the management measures for dairy cows, the risk assessment showed that the most important management hazards causing leg and locomotion problems are those related to inadequate care and monitoring of foot health and hygiene, and these are similar across all housing systems considered. However the risk estimate and magnitude of the adverse effect are exacerbated by hazards in the housing category and are approximately twice as great in cubicle systems and tie-stalls as in straw yards or at pasture. Most lame cows are in pain and have greater difficulty in coping with their living conditions than non-lame cows because of the effects of the foot or leg disorder on walking, lying comfort, standing up and avoidance behaviour. Lame cows are more likely to become subordinate, lose body condition and are more prone to show reduced fertility and to develop mastitis and metabolic disease. Weekly attention to foot hygiene in dairy cattle leads to reduction of infectious conditions of the foot. When the prevalence of recognisable locomotor difficulties in dairy cattle is above 10%, this indicates that the prevention programme is inadequate. Because of the high risk of lameness in dairy cattle all dairy farmers should implement a lameness prevention programme. Well-executed hoof-trimming can reduce the likelihood of lameness and improve cow welfare but poorly executed hoof-trimming can cause lameness. The genetic selection has changed the form and size of dairy cows and hence demands on their behaviour and other adaptive mechanisms. The spatial requirements of the dairy cow have increased, as well as its vulnerability for mechanical impacts and wounds on the exterior parts of the body, the skin, limbs and claws. Udder shape and volume are of specific concern, with respect to normal locomotion, prevention of lameness and comfort during resting in the most common housing types. The risk assessment confirmed that genetic selection for high milk yield with insufficient emphasis on other traits relating to fitness increases the risk of suffering from leg and locomotion problems. This risk is greater when housing, nutrition and management are unable to compensate for the adverse effects of genetic selection. A general conclusion is that leg and locomotion problems in dairy cows are multifactorial in origin, so that the magnitudes of the adverse effect in individual animals and the risk estimates, measured in terms of herd prevalence, can usually be attributed to a combination of hazards associated with housing, feeding and nutrition, management and genetics. However the most important hazards and risks are those associated with inadequate provisions for lying, standing and walking in cubicle houses and tie-stalls, and management failures relating to locomotion monitoring and foot care
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10.
  • Algers, Bo, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific opinion on welfare of dairy cows in relation to metabolic and reproductive problems based on a risk assessment with special reference to the impact of housing, feeding, management and genetic selection
  • 2009
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732.
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Following a request from the European Commission, the AHAW Panel was asked to deliver a Scientific Opinion on the welfare of dairy cows, considering whether current farming and husbandry systems comply with the requirements of and welfare of dairy cows from the pathological, zootechnical, physiological and behavioural points of view. Due to the great diversity of topics and the huge amount of scientific data, it was proposed that separate scientific opinions on different welfare subjects would be more adequate and effective. Therefore, it was agreed to subdivide the risk assessment process into four different subjects: i) metabolic and reproductive disorders, ii) udder disorders, iii) leg and locomotion problems and iiii) behaviour, fear and pain. A fifth scientific opinion integrates conclusions and recommendations from the scientific report with the outcomes from the four separate risk assessments. The scientific opinion on welfare of dairy cows in relation to metabolic and reproductive problems, based on a risk assessment with special reference to the impact of housing, feeding, management and genetic selection, was adopted by the AHAW Panel on 05 June 2009. In the risk assessment four different farming scenarios were considered: 1) cubicle houses; 2) tie-stalls; 3) straw yards; 4) pasture. Identified hazards were classified under (a) housing, (b) nutrition and feeding, (c) management and (d) genetics. The risk assessment outcomes for each of these four classes of hazards were determined and the four different farming scenarios compared. When comparing the different farming systems it can be concluded that the risk of suffering metabolic and reproductive disorders is independent of the housing system; however, lower risk estimate values were observed for animals kept at pasture, which may indicate that they are less likely to have metabolic and reproductive problems and therefore poor welfare. According to the scoring system used in this analysis, the most important hazards in relation to the housing were poor cubicle design and lack of space in cubicle houses and tie-stalls, respectively, with high risk estimate values. Inadequate ventilation, temperature and humidity were the highest ranked hazard in straw yards. However, the risk estimate and magnitude values in straw yards were much lowers than in cubicles and tie-stalls. Nutrition and feeding related hazards have a major influence on metabolic and reproductive problems defined both in terms of magnitude of the adverse effect and risk estimate. An inadequate transition feeding was the hazard with the highest risk estimates in the three indoor farming systems. Cows are in negative energy balance during early lactation, when functional body tissues may be metabolised to excess, causing poor welfare. This risk is particularly severe in high-producing genetic strains. A transition period feeding that sustains dry matter intake while maintaining optimal body condition at calving reduces this risk. Also, the risk of cow over/under feeding was very high ranked, as well as the risk of an unbalanced diet. Cattle require a diet that is adequate in fibre otherwise the anatomy and physiology of the rumen are impaired and there is increased risk of ruminal acidosis and other related disorders. Unbalanced diet is the major cause of sub-acute ruminal acidosis. Ruminal acidosis (acute and subacute) and parturient paresis (milk fever) can cause very poor welfare in dairy cows. When concentrate dispensers are used, appropriate control is necessary to avoid over/underfeeding and reduce the risk of acute ruminal acidosis. Concentrate feeding facilities on dairy farms should be adequately maintained and diets carefully balanced so as to maintain optimal ruminal fermentation and to minimise negative energy balance. Reproductive disorders can reflect prolonged or short-term poor welfare, such as lack of oestrus, embryonic loss or early abortion due to stress during parturition and in early lactation, and can also cause poor welfare directly, particularly dystocia and genital infections associated with pain or inflammatory reactions. Among the hazards related to the management of dairy cows, inadequate biosecurity was the highest ranked hazard in all husbandry systems. The magnitude of the adverse effect was the same but in the case of pasture the risk estimate value was lower than on the other three systems. Good hygiene should be provided at calving to reduce risk of genital infections. Improper management was also highly ranked in all farming systems. Recent research shows that a reproductive management strategy with extended calving intervals of 15 months or more seems to offer significant advantages for the welfare of high yielding dairy cows, without reducing overall milk production. To reduce risk of dystocia particularly at first calving, heifers should be inseminated after they reach the mature weight for the breed and only sires known to have low incidence of dystocia should be used to breed heifers. Genetic selection for high milk yield with insufficient emphasis on other traits relating to fitness increases the risk of suffering from metabolic and reproductive problems. This risk is greater when housing, nutrition and management are unable to compensate for the adverse effects of genetic selection. The increased inbreeding of recent years may lead to, or be associated with, increased reproductive problems, reduced lifetime milk production and a reduction in breeding performance if it continues. Excessive or prolonged negative energy balance in dairy cows is more likely to occur in the highest producing animals and has been found to be associated with reduced fertility, digestive, metabolic and infectious disease, especially mastitis
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11.
  • Algers, Bo, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific opinion on welfare of dairy cows in relation to uder problems based on risk assessment with special reference to the impact of housing, feeding, management and genetic selection
  • 2009
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732.
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Following a request from the European Commission, the AHAW Panel was asked to deliver a Scientific Opinion on the welfare of dairy cows, considering whether current farming and husbandry systems comply with the requirements of and welfare of dairy cows from the pathological, zootechnical, physiological and behavioural points of view. Due to the great diversity of topics and the huge amount of scientific data, it was proposed that separate scientific opinions on different welfare subjects would be more adequate and effective. Therefore, it was agreed to subdivide the risk assessment process into four different subjects: i) metabolic and reproductive disorders, ii) udder disorders, iii) leg and locomotion problems and iiii) behaviour, fear and pain. A fifth scientific opinion integrates conclusions and recommendations from the scientific report with the outcomes from the four separate risk assessments. The scientific opinion on welfare of dairy cows in relation to udder problems, based on a risk assessment with special reference to the impact of housing, feeding, management and genetic selection, was adopted by the AHAW Panel on 05 June 2009. In the risk assessment four different farming scenarios were considered: 1) cubicle houses; 2) tie-stalls; 3) straw yards; 4) pasture. Identified hazards were classified under (a) housing, (b) nutrition and feeding, (c) management and (d) genetics. The risk assessment outcomes for each of these four classes of hazards were determined and the four different farming scenarios compared. When comparing the different farming systems it can be concluded that the risk of suffering udder problems is independent of the housing system. In the risk assessment, whenever differences between farming systems were present, these were related to the values of risk estimate and magnitude of the adverse effect and not to the ranking of hazards. In addition, it was concluded that housing and management hazards are more likely to cause udder problems that affect welfare, than nutrition-feeding and genetic selection hazards. According to the scoring system used in this analysis, the most important hazard in relation to the housing was the lack of facilities for cows with systemic mastitis, capable of causing poor welfare due to the increased discomfort, pain and disease duration. The inadequate stall/cubicle design was also very highly ranked, especially in cubicles and tie-stalls. If cubicles are too narrow, movement difficulties and teat trampling may occur. Bedding hygiene is also very important for udder health. Infectious udder disorders may occur more in straw-yards where insufficient attention is given to hygiene of the bedding. If stocking density in straw yards is too high, this may lead to teat trampling. In the risk assessment, the inadequate bedding showed a high magnitude of the adverse effect in all systems but the risk estimate was higher in straw yards, followed by tie-stalls then cubicle housing and very low in pasture. Hazards related to nutrition and feeding have very low risk probability to cause udder problems without any difference among the farming systems considered. As regards the management measures for dairy cows, the risk assessment showed that the inadequate treatment and care of animals are the most important hazards for dairy cows. To improve cow welfare, the prevalence of mastitis should be reduced by: the treatment of clinical and subclinical disease, dry cow therapy, identification and elimination of carrier cows, prevention of transmission of infection from cow to cow or through the environment, and improvement of the immune system by minimising stress factors and by a controlled and nutritionally-balanced feed intake. In addition, the inadequate milking procedures (poorly designed or managed milking equipment) lead to teat injury, pain and udder disease in dairy cows. Cow welfare is also poor when stockpersons behave harshly or inconsistently to cows during collection of cows, milking and post milking movement. Robotic milking systems have the potential to improve cow welfare, provided that they are accurately adjusted and carefully supervised, because some cows can select the milking time and the equipment can be accurately adapted to the cow. However, robotic milking systems can be badly managed and some cows may be subjected to long waiting times. In the risk assessment, genetic selection for high milk yield with insufficient emphasis on other traits relating to fitness showed a relatively low risk of causing udder problems in comparison with some management factors and no differences were observed among the different housing systems analysed. The genetics of mastitis resistance in dairy cattle has been studied for a long period. Most studies have focused on milk somatic cell count or clinical mastitis records as the phenotypic measure to account for mastitis resistance. Somatic cell count and clinical mastitis have a large genetic component, are genetically correlated, and many data on them are readily available. Mastitis resistance is genetically antagonistic to production traits, and there is increasing economic justification to include the trait in the breeding objectives for the breeds. Therefore many breeding programmes have included somatic cell count, clinical mastitis, or both, in recent decades, as a way to improve resistance to intra-mammary infections
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12.
  • Algers, Bo, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific report on the effects of farming systems on dairy cow welfare and disease
  • 2009
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; Annex
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Following a request from the European Commission, the AHAW Panel was asked to deliver a Scientific Opinion on the welfare of dairy cows, considering whether current farming and husbandry systems comply with the requirements of and welfare of dairy cows from the pathological, zootechnical, physiological and behavioural points of view. Due to the great diversity of topics and the huge amount of scientific data, it was proposed that separate scientific opinions on different welfare subjects would be more adequate and effective. Therefore, it was agreed that a scientific report, an overall scientific opinion and four risk assessments on: i) metabolic and reproductive disorders, ii) udder disorders, iii) leg and locomotion problems and iv) behavioural disorders, fear and pain would be produced. This overall scientific opinion integrates conclusions and recommendations from the scientific report with the outcomes from the four separate risk assessments. In the resulting list of outcomes, conclusions and recommendations considered to have a high priority are evidenced. This scientific opinion on the overall effects of farming systems on dairy cow welfare and disease was adopted by the AHAW Panel on 05 June 2009. In considering the welfare of dairy cattle, some of the most important consequences of poor welfare are the occurrence of disease conditions, in particular foot and leg disorders and mastitis. Reproductive, metabolic and behavioural problems are also relevant indicators of poor welfare. European dairy production is based mainly from specialized intensive farming but there is considerable diversity in how cows are housed and managed. Systems range from grazing all of the year to remaining in a building with zero-grazing. The farming system by itself is a major factor determining the health problems of dairy cattle and other aspects of their welfare, partly through housing and equipment and partly through management and handling practices. Long term genetic selection for high milk yield is the major factor causing poor welfare, in particular health problems, in dairy cows. The milk yield of dairy cows has risen steadily over the last thirty years in Europe with approximately 50 % of this increase estimated to be attributable to genetic selection for milk production efficiency. This selection has also changed the form and size of dairy cows and hence demands on their behaviour and other adaptive mechanisms. The spatial requirements of the dairy cow have increased as well as its vulnerability for mechanical impacts and wounds on the exterior parts of the body, the skin, limbs and claws. The genetic component underlying milk yield has also been found to be positively correlated with the incidence of lameness, mastitis, reproductive disorders and metabolic disorders. In order to improve dairy cow welfare there is an urgent need to promote changes in the criteria used for genetic selection in the dairy industry. Higher weight should be given to fitness and welfare traits when these may conflict with selection for milk yield. Genetic selection for improved fertility, health and longevity is likely to improve welfare and lead to greater profit for the farmer. Whilst issues concerning genetic selection are common to different systems, when comparing different farming systems, hazards associated with housing and management variables have the greatest effects on dairy cattle welfare. The following are the major conclusions and recommendations when systems are compared. Since the body size of cows has increased during the last 20 years, where cubicles are used, they should be wide enough to minimise any movement difficulties or teat trampling. Cubicles and tie-stalls should be designed in such a way that the forward movement of the body of the cow is not thwarted when changing position from lying to standing. The risk assessment exercise confirmed that poor cubicle design and lack of space are the highest ranked hazards, respectively in cubicle houses and tie stalls, in the development of the most common problems in dairy cows. A total space allowance of less than 8.6 m² in cubicle houses negatively affects welfare. Cubicle width should be at least 1.8 times cow hip width. In cubicle houses there should be at least as many cubicles as there are cows in the house. A lying area of at least 2.7 m² / heifer (up to 400 kg) is necessary to avoid negative impact on welfare and production. In loose-housed cows, the area around each feeding place is a location where much aggression can occur. Therefore, the feeding area should be designed in such a way and with sufficient space that all cows can feed with minimal aggression or other interference. Since leg disorders are the major welfare problem for dairy cattle and leg disorders are a problem also in well managed cubicle houses, alternatives to cubicles e.g. straw yards and improvements to cubicle house design should be considered. When possible, dairy cows and heifers should be given access to well managed pasture or other suitable outdoor conditions, at least during summer time or dry weather. Tie-stalls restrict the voluntary movement and social behaviour of dairy cows. When periods of exercise are possible some of the adverse effects are reduced. Therefore, systems of husbandry and management should involve a minimum time of restricted movement in order that all dairy cows are able to meet their need to show certain behaviours such as grooming, social interaction and exercise. While tie-stall use continues, cows should have daily exercise that involves walking freely inside or outside (except where there are adverse climatic conditions) and also the freedom to carry out other behaviours. A minority opinion on the use of tie-stalls was expressed by some Panel members. All dairy cattle should be fed a diet that provides sufficient energy, nutrients and dietary fibre to meet the metabolic requirements in a way that is consistent with digestion. When diet is changed there should be carefully controlled transition feeding in order to prevent poor welfare in the cattle. Feeding systems should allow every individual cow to meet her needs for quantity and quality of feed. Dairy cows should be provided with drinking water whatever their diet. This water should be in sufficient quantity to prevent any dehydration and should be: free from repellent odour and taste, harmful infectious agents, toxic substances and contaminants that can accumulate in body tissue or be excreted in milk. Both indoors as well as outdoors, continuous access to water should be provided. Automatically regulated troughs and drinker bowls should be installed in the animal houses and farmyards. There should be systems for monitoring the prevalence of lameness by scoring locomotion and foot lesions every 3 to 6 months in all dairy herds. Because of the high risk of lameness in dairy cattle all dairy farmers should implement a lameness prevention programme. On farms with a high prevalence of recognisable locomotor difficulties, e.g. approaching 10%, there should be improvement of housing conditions, genetic strain and management practices. In addition to improved methods for genetic selection, the prevalence of mastitis should be reduced also through: treatment of clinical and subclinical disease, dry cow therapy, identification and elimination of carrier cows, prevention of transmission of infection from cow to cow or through the environment, and improvement of the immune system by minimising stress factors and by a controlled and nutritionally-balanced feed intake. Pain management should be part of the treatment of severe lameness and clinical mastitis. Farmers should be well trained in recognizing signs of disease at early stages and veterinary advice should be sought at an early stage of disease in dairy cattle. Recommendations in this opinion for disease prevention and management should be followed. The body of research on dairy cattle welfare should be incorporated into codes of practice and monitoring protocols that address potential hazards and incorporate animal-based measures of welfare outcomes
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13.
  • Allende, Ana, et al. (författare)
  • Maximum levels of cross-contamination for 24 antimicrobial active substances in non-target feed. Part 2: Aminoglycosides/aminocyclitols: apramycin, paromomycin, neomycin and spectinomycin
  • 2021
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 19:10
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • The specific concentrations of apramycin, paromomycin, neomycin and spectinomycin in non-target feed for food-producing animals, below which there would not be an effect on the emergence of, and/or selection for, resistance in bacteria relevant for human and animal health, as well as the specific antimicrobial concentrations in feed which have an effect in terms of growth promotion/increased yield, were assessed by EFSA in collaboration with EMA. Details of the methodology used for this assessment, associated data gaps and uncertainties, are presented in a separate document. To address antimicrobial resistance, the Feed Antimicrobial Resistance Selection Concentration (FARSC) model developed specifically for the assessment was applied. However, due to the lack of data on the parameters required to calculate the FARSC for these antimicrobials, it was not possible to conclude the assessment until further experimental data become available. To address growth promotion, data from scientific publications obtained from an extensive literature review were used. Levels in feed that showed to have an effect on growth promotion/increased yield were reported for apramycin and neomycin, whilst for paromomycin and spectinomycin, no suitable data for the assessment were available. It was recommended to carry out studies to generate the data that are required to fill the gaps which prevented the calculation of the FARSC for these four antimicrobials.
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14.
  • Barlow, Sue, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific report of the Endocrine Active Substances Task Force
  • 2010
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - Parma, Italy : European Food Safety Authority. - 1831-4732. ; 8:11
  • Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
    • Discussions within the Scientific Committee and the Advisory Forum have called for the development of a common approach within EFSA towards endocrine active substances. The aim of this report by an internal EFSA task force is to clarify the state-of-play, and provide recommendations for scientific and communication issues. Both specific issues and new regulations make it necessary to follow up on recent developments with the EU bodies, Member States, and internationally, in order to avoid diverging assessment approaches and the duplication of work. The proposed actions for EFSA are to contribute to the work in progress under the auspices of DG Environment and to continue its participation in the ongoing OECD activities in the area of testing of chemicals. The development of a generally accepted risk assessment methodology is an additional challenge due to the complexity of the issues involved. Here, the task force recommends that EFSA continues its activities aimed at developing harmonised methodologies for risk assessment of combined exposures to endocrine active substances in food. EFSA should continue to build a dialogue to develop a common strategy with the EC, other EU bodies, Member States’ Competent Authorities, international organisations and partners, as well as external experts and stakeholders on the before mentioned issues. In line with these recommendations, it is proposed that EFSA creates a working group of Panel experts and national experts to advise on prioritising the work on endocrine active substances. EFSA should also work with the experts in its Advisory Group on Risk Communications in conjunction with the communication experts from Member States, and continues to monitor and analyse media and stakeholder developments, in order to define a strategy for communications addressing both the collective group and specific endocrine active substances.
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15.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Guidance on the assessment criteria for studies evaluating the effectiveness of stunning interventions regarding animal protection at the time of killing
  • 2013
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 11
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • This guidance defines the assessment process and the criteria that will be applied by the Animal Health and Welfare Panel to studies on known new or modified legal stunning interventions to determine their suitability for further assessment. The criteria that need to be fulfilled are eligibility criteria, reporting quality criteria and methodological quality criteria. The eligibility criteria are based upon the legislation and previously published scientific data. They focus on the intervention and the outcomes of interest, i.e. immediate onset of unconsciousness and insensibility or absence of avoidable pain, distress and suffering until the loss of consciousness and sensibility, and duration of the unconsciousness and insensibility (until death). If a study fulfils the eligibility criteria, it will be assessed regarding a set of reporting quality criteria that are based on the REFLECT and the STROBE statements. As a final step in this first assessment phase, the methodological quality of the submitted study will be assessed. If the criteria regarding eligibility, reporting quality and methodological quality are fulfilled, a full assessment of the animal welfare implications of the proposed alternative stunning intervention, including both pre-stunning and stunning phases, and an evaluation of the quality, strength and external validity of the evidence presented would be carried out at the next level of the assessment. In the case that the criteria regarding eligibility and reporting quality and methodological quality are not fulfilled, the assessment report of the panel will highlight the shortcomings and indicate where improvements are required before the study can be assessed further. In addition to the assessment criteria, the guidance also specifies general aspects applicable to studies on stunning interventions that should be considered when studying the effectiveness of stunning interventions.
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16.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Oyster mortality
  • 2015
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 13
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • This updated scientific opinion on oyster mortality addresses 1) the role of ostreid herpesvirus (OsHV-1) in mortality, 2) evidence for a role of Vibrio aestuarianus in mortality, 3) effectiveness of water treatment in inactivating OsHV-1 and V. aestuarianus and 4) feasibility, availability and effectiveness of the disease prevention and control measures. A new pattern of mass mortality of Pacific oysters (C. gigas) was observed in France and other European countries from 2008 onwards. Similar outbreaks were reported in 2010-11 from Australia and New Zealand. Studies performed since 2010 has provided strong evidence that OsHV-1 µVar is causally linked to increased oyster spat mortality at sea water temperatures above 16 °C. V. aestuarianus subsp. francensis was detected in France in 2001 in moribund oysters; since then this bacterium has been regularly detected during oyster mortality events. Owing to a lack of information, the causal relationship between V.aestuarianus and oyster mortality has not been established. Discharge of untreated seawater from depuration plants remains a potential mode of transmission of diseases affecting bivalves and other marine life. Effective disinfection of seawater effluent from depuration and holding facilities will minimize the risk of transmission of infectious agents. Unrestricted movement of oysters is associated with a high risk of spread of OsHV-1. Wild populations of C. gigas also contribute to spread of OsHV-1. Only a few areas in Europe continue to remain free from OsHV-1. Once infected, an area is not likely to regain freedom from OsHV-1 if a wild population of C. gigas is present. Almost all OsHV-1 strains isolated after 2008 conform to the definition of microvariants. Therefore, it appears unnecessary to maintain a separate definition of microvariants for disease control purposes. The criteria in Directive 2006/88/EC for listing of non-exotic diseases are currently not fulfilled for mortality caused by OsHV-1 microvariants.
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17.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific opinion concerning a multifactorial approach on the use of animal and non-animal-based measures to assess the welfare of pigs
  • 2014
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 12
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Pigs have a need for manipulable materials to satisfy a range of behavioural needs, which can be different in different classes of pig. When these needs are not met, a range of adverse welfare consequences result, one of these being an increased risk for tail-biting in weaners and rearing pigs. The ability to control the risk of tailbiting is essential when aiming to avoid tail-docking. Based on available scientific information this Opinion identifies the multiple interactions between risk factors, welfare consequences and animal and non-animal-based measures on the two subjects requested (i) the absence of functional manipulable materials, for pigs at different stages in life and (ii) tail-biting, for weaners and rearing pigs only. An attempt is made to quantify the relationships between the identified interactions by carrying out a statistical analysis of information from available databases, those being an international dataset collected using the Welfare Quality® protocol, which was not designed to evaluate risk factors for tail-biting and therefore, it had limitations in fitness for this analysis, and a large Finnish dataset with undocked pigs. Based on the current state of knowledge, the AHAW Panel proposes two simple tool-boxes for on farm use to assess (i) the functionality of the supplied manipulable material and (ii) the presence and strength of risk factors for tail biting. Both proposed tool-boxes include a combination of the most important resource-based and animal-based measures. Further development and validation of decision–support tools for customised farm assessment is strongly recommended and a proposal for harmonised data collection across the range of European farming circumstances is presented. A series of further recommendations are made by the AHAW Panel.
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18.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific Opinion on African swine fever
  • 2014
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 12
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • The risk for endemicity of ASF in the eastern neighbouring countries of the EU and spread of ASFV to unaffected areas was updated until 31/01/2014. The assessment was based on a literature review and expert knowledge elicitation. The risk that ASF is endemic in Georgia, Armenia and the Russian Federation has increased from moderate to high, particularly due to challenges in outbreak control in the backyard production sector. The risk that ASFV will spread further into unaffected areas from these countries, mainly through movement of contaminated pork, infected pigs or contaminated vehicles, has remained high. In Ukraine and Belarus, the risk for ASF endemicity was considered moderate. Although only few outbreaks have been reported, which have been stamped out, only limited activities are ongoing to facilitate early detection of secondary spread. Further, there is a continuous risk of ASFV re-introduction from the Russian Federation, due to transboundary movements of people, pork or infected wild boar. The number of backyard farms is greatest in the west of Ukraine and westwards spread of ASFV could result in an infected area near the EU border, difficult to control. In Georgia, Armenia and the Russian Federation, the risk for endemicity of ASF in the wild boar population is considered moderate, mainly due to spill-over from the domestic pig population, whereas in Ukraine and Belarus this was considered to be low. In those areas in the Russian Federation where wild boar density is high, this risk may be higher. Intensive hunting pressure in affected wild boar populations may increase the risk for spread, possibly with severe implications across international borders. The risk for different matrices to be infected/contaminated and maintain infectious ASFV at the moment of transportation into the EU was assessed and ranged from very high for frozen meat, to very low for crops.
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19.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific Opinion on canine leishmaniosis
  • 2015
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 13
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • This Scientific Opinion presents a characterisation of canine leishmaniosis (CanL) in Europe and its potential for spreading. The efficacy of available preventative measures to protect dogs against CanL was assessed, with the objective of mitigating the probability of introduction of CanL into free areas in the European Union through movement of infected dogs. Several systematic reviews (SRs) of literature were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of vaccines, topically applied insecticides and prophylactic medication. Additionally, SRs on the sensitivity of diagnostic tests and treatment efficacy were carried out to evaluate the possibility of testing and excluding or treating infected dogs to mitigate the risk of introduction into free areas. The probability of introduction and establishment of CanL in a non-endemic region with competent sandflies was estimated, using a stochastic simulation model. The probability of establishment defined as the local transmission of L. infantum from vector to host and vice versa, was very high. The most effective mitigation measure to reduce the probability of introduction and establishment of CanL was topically applied insecticide. Vaccination had only limited effect on the probability of establishment in a non-endemic region. Testing dogs before their introduction into a non-endemic area is of limited value if applied too soon after exposure to infected sandflies, because it takes several months to obtain a positive result after exposure. Test and treatment in the endemic area, prior to movement into a non-endemic area, does not appear to be an efficient and realistic option to mitigate the probability of introduction of CanL, as no treatment against CanL can guarantee to prevent future transmission. It was concluded that the main limitation to CanL spread is represented by the vectors. This reinforces the need for knowledge on the vectorial competence, distribution and abundance of potential vectors of CanL in the EU.
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20.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific opinion on electrical requirements for poultry waterbath stunning equipment
  • 2014
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 12
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • The European Commission (EC) requested that the EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW Panel) delivers a scientific opinion on a study that proposes parameters for poultry electrical waterbath stunning different to those laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing. The submitted study reports upon the use (mean + SD) of a current of 104.00 ± 3.88 mA, a voltage of 125.86 ± 3.28 V and a frequency of 589.78 ± 0.63 Hz using a square wave in alternating current (AC) with a 50 % duty cycle. These conditions were applied for 15 seconds to chickens under laboratory and slaughterhouse conditions. The submitted study was peer-reviewed by the AHAW Panel in the manner detailed in its ‘Guidance on the assessment criteria for studies evaluating the effectiveness of stunning intervention regarding animal protection at the time of killing'. The methodology and the data reported do not provide conclusive evidence that the combination of the proposed electrical frequency and current induced unconsciousness without exposing the chickens to avoidable pain and suffering. Further, some chickens did not remain unconscious for a sufficient time to prevent avoidable pain and suffering during slaughter. Because the information provided in the study was incomplete and insufficient, it did not pass the eligibility phase of the assessment. In the context of Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, and current scientific evidence, a frequency of 600 Hz with a current of 104 mA does not result in efficient stunning of poultry. Therefore, additional research into these stunning parameters is not recommended.
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21.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific Opinion on field trials for bovine tuberculosis vaccination
  • 2013
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 11
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • The opinion provides advice relating to the design of field trials to test the performance of a vaccine for bovine tuberculosis (bTB), along with a test to Detect Infected among Vaccinated Animals (DIVA). The objective of cattle vaccination is to use the vaccine in combination with presently applied control measures within the EU as an aid towards bTB eradication. The ideal field trials for the DIVA test will follow the OIE guidelines for test validation. Any deviations from the ideal trial design in relation to DIVA test performance should be justified, and the bias that may subsequently be introduced should be accounted for. The ideal field trial design for vaccination performance should implement a double-blind randomised test scenario, and allow for known risk factors in the field situation. Any deviations from the ideal trial design in relation to vaccine performance should also be justified and bias that may subsequently be introduced should be accounted for. Relevant risk factors and possible confounders that should be taken into consideration in the design of field trials are described in this opinion. The safety of a candidate vaccine is guaranteed in the registration of a vaccine medication by a competent authority. The field trials will need to fulfil these requirements to prove that the use of this vaccine in the field is safe for both public health and the environment. Some additional remarks regarding the safety of this specific vaccine are included in this opinion.
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22.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific Opinion on infectious salmon anaemia (ISA)
  • 2012
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 10
  • Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
    • Atlantic salmon is the only species in which the disease infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) has been observed naturally. Initial reports of findings of infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) before 2002, did not distinguish between non virulent HPR0 and virulent HPRΔ viruses, thus making interpretation of older findings difficult in the light of current knowledge. Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the relationship between HPR0 and HPRΔ, the risk of HPRΔ ISAV emerging from HPR0 ISAV, and possible risk factors for such an emergence. HPR0 ISAV does not cause clinical disease in Atlantic salmon; however, it causes a transient subclinical infection and replicates mainly in gills. There is no evidence for HPR0 ISAV leading to natural infection and replication in fish species other than Atlantic salmon. Virulent ISAV have deletions in the HPR region of the HE gene and they have either an insertion or the Q266L mutation in the F gene. The most plausible hypothesis is that virulent ISAV (HPRΔ) is derived from HPR0 ISAV. This is further supported by the close association between the genetic relatedness and spatio-temporal distances of virus strains in solitary outbreaks. Epidemiological and historical data from solitary disease outbreaks indicates that the risk of HPRΔ ISAV emerging from HPR0 is low, but not negligible. The risk factors for HPRΔ emergence from HPR0 are unknown. Nevertheless, any factor that affects virus replication or host susceptibility could possibly influence the risk of emergence. More research is needed on the drivers for transition from HPR0 to HPRΔ and factors affecting host susceptibility and thereby emergence of clinical disease. A quantitative assessment of the different evolutionary forces for ISA would be useful, as well as the prevalence of ISAV HPR0 in farmed and wild Atlantic salmon.
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23.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific opinion on lumpy skin disease
  • 2015
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 13
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a viral disease of cattle characterised by severe losses, especially in naive animals. LSD is endemic in many African and Asian countries, and it is rapidly spreading throughout the Middle East, including Turkey. LSD is transmitted by mechanical vectors, but direct/indirect transmission may occur. The disease would mainly be transferred to infection-free areas by transport of infected animals and vectors. In the EU, it could only happen through illegal transport of animals. The risk for that depends on the prevalence in the country of origin and the number of animals illegally moved. Based on a model to simulate LSD spread between farms, culling animals with generalised clinical signs seems to be sufficient to contain 90 % of epidemics around the initial site of incursion, but the remaining 10 % of simulated epidemics can spread up to 400 km from the site of introduction by six months after incursion. Whole-herd culling of infected farms substantially reduces the spread of LSD virus, and the more rapidly farms are detected and culled, the greater the magnitude of the reduction is. Only live attenuated vaccines against LSD are available. Homologous vaccines are more effective than sheep pox strain vaccines. The safety of the vaccines should be improved and the development of vaccines for differentiating between infected and vaccinated animals is recommended. Epidemics are not self-limiting when effective vaccination or culling are not applied. Active surveillance, rapid detection and prompt culling of infected herds are effective measures for LSD control. The role of vectors for LSD transmission should be further investigated in both controlled environments and the field. Awareness-raising campaigns for farmers and veterinary staff to promote recognition of LSD should be considered. The cooperation of the EU with neighbouring countries should be encouraged to prevent transboundary disease spread.
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24.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific opinion on monitoring procedures at slaughterhouses for bovines
  • 2013
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 11(12)
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • This scientific opinion proposes toolboxes of welfare indicators for developing monitoring procedures at slaughterhouses for bovines stunned with penetrative captive bolt or slaughtered without stunning. In particular, the opinion proposes welfare indicators together with their corresponding outcomes of consciousness, unconsciousness or death. In the case of slaughter with captive bolt stunning, the opinion proposes a toolbox of indicators and the outcomes to be used to assess consciousness in bovine animals at three key stages of monitoring: (a) after stunning and during shackling and hoisting; (b) during neck cutting or sticking; and (c) during bleeding. For slaughter of bovines without stunning, a set of indicators and outcomes are proposed in another toolbox to be used for (a) assessing unconsciousness, before releasing bovines from restraint; and (b) confirming death before carcass dressing begins. Various activities-including a systematic literature review, an online survey and stakeholders' and hearing experts' meetings-were conducted to gather information about the specificity, sensitivity and feasibility of the indicators that can be included in the toolboxes. The frequency of checking differs according to the role of each person responsible for ensuring animal welfare. Personnel performing stunning, shackling, hoisting and/or bleeding will have to check all the animals and confirm that they are not conscious following stunning or before release from the restraint. For the animal welfare officer, who has the overall responsibility for animal welfare, a mathematical model for the sampling protocols is proposed, giving some allowance to set the sample size of animals that he/she needs to check at a given throughput rate (total number of animals slaughtered in the slaughterhouse) and tolerance level (number of potential failures). Finally, different risk factors and scenarios are proposed to define a ‘normal' or a ‘reinforced' monitoring protocol, according to the needs of the slaughterhouse.
  •  
25.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific Opinion on monitoring procedures at slaughterhouses for pigs
  • 2013
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 11, s. 1831-4732
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • This scientific opinion proposes toolboxes of welfare indicators for developing monitoring procedures at slaughterhouses for pigs stunned with the head-only electrical method or carbon dioxide at high concentration. In particular, the opinion proposes welfare indicators together with their corresponding outcomes of consciousness, unconsciousness or death. The opinion proposes a toolbox of indicators and the outcomes to be used to assess consciousness in pigs at three key stages of monitoring: (a) after stunning and during shackling and hoisting, (b) during sticking and (c) during bleeding. Various activities-including a systematic literature review, an online survey and stakeholders' and hearing experts' meetings-were conducted to gather information about specificity, sensitivity and feasibility of the indicators that are to be included in the toolboxes for monitoring welfare. On the basis of information gathered during these activities, a methodology was developed to select the most appropriate indicators that could be used in the monitoring procedures. The frequency of checking differs according to the role of each person with responsibility for ensuring animal welfare at slaughter. The personnel performing stunning, shackling, hoisting and/or bleeding will have to check all the animals and confirm that they are not conscious following stunning. For the animal welfare officer, who has the overall responsibility for animal welfare, a mathematical model for the sampling protocols is proposed, giving some allowance to set the sample size of animals that he/she needs to check at a given throughput rate (total number of animals slaughtered in the slaughterhouses) and tolerance level (number of potential failures-animals that are conscious after stunning; animals that are not unconscious or not dead after slaughter without stunning). The model can also be applied to estimate threshold failure rate at a chosen throughput rate and sample size. Finally, different risk factors and scenarios are proposed to define a ‘normal' or a ‘reinforced' monitoring protocol, according to the needs of the slaughterhouse.
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26.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific Opinion on monitoring procedures at slaughterhouses for poultry
  • 2013
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 11
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • This scientific opinion proposes toolboxes of welfare indicators, and their corresponding outcomes of consciousness, unconsciousness or death, for developing monitoring procedures at slaughterhouses for poultry stunned using electrical waterbaths and gas mixtures or slaughtered without stunning. For waterbath stunning, the opinion proposes a toolbox of indicators for assessing consciousness in poultry at two key stages of monitoring: (a) between the exit from the waterbath stunner and neck cutting and (b) during bleeding. For gas stunning, the opinion proposes a toolbox of indicators for assessing consciousness in poultry at two key stages of monitoring: (a) during shackling and (b) during bleeding. For slaughter without stunning, a toolbox is proposed for confirming death prior to entering scald tanks. Various activities-including a systematic literature review, an online survey and stakeholders' and hearing experts' meetings-were conducted to gather information about the specificity, sensitivity and feasibility of the indicators. On the basis of such information, a methodology was developed to select the most appropriate indicators to be used in the monitoring procedures. The frequency of checking differs according to the role of each person with responsibility for ensuring poultry welfare. The personnel will have to check all the birds and confirm that they are not conscious following stunning with electrical waterbaths or gas mixtures and that they are dead before entering scald tanks. For the animal welfare officer, a mathematical model for the sampling protocols is proposed, giving some allowance to set the sample size of birds that he/she needs to check at a given throughput rate (total number of birds slaughtered in the slaughterhouses) and threshold failure rate (number of potential failures-birds that are conscious after stunning). Finally, different risk factors and scenarios are proposed to define a ‘normal' or a ‘reinforced' monitoring protocol, according to the needs of the slaughterhouse.
  •  
27.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific Opinion on monitoring procedures at slaughterhouses for sheep and goats
  • 2013
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 11
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • This scientific opinion proposes toolboxes of welfare indicators for developing monitoring procedures at slaughterhouses for sheep and goats stunned with the head-only electrical method or slaughtered without stunning. In particular, the opinion proposes welfare indicators together with their corresponding outcomes of consciousness, unconsciousness or death. In the case of slaughter with head-only electrical stunning, the opinion proposes a toolbox to assess consciousness at three key stages of monitoring: (a) after electrical stunning and during shackling and hoisting, (b) during neck cutting and (c) during bleeding. For slaughter without stunning, another toolbox is proposed for (a) assessing unconsciousness before releasing the animals from restraint, and (b) confirming death before carcass dressing begins. Various activities-including a systematic literature review, an online survey and stakeholders' and hearing experts' meetings-were conducted to gather information about the sensitivity, specificity and feasibility of the indicators. On the basis of such information, a methodology was developed to select the most appropriate indicators to be used in the monitoring procedures. The frequency of checking differs according to the role of each person with responsibility for ensuring animal welfare. The personnel performing stunning, shackling, hoisting and/or bleeding will have to check all the animals and confirm that they are not conscious following stunning or before releasing from the restraint. For the animal welfare officer, who has the overall responsibility for animal welfare, a mathematical model for the sampling protocols is proposed, giving some allowance to set the sample size of animals to be checked at a given throughput rate (total number of animals slaughtered in the slaughterhouses) and threshold failure rate (number of potential failures-proportion of animals that are conscious after stunning). Finally, different risk factors and scenarios are proposed to define a ‘normal' or a ‘reinforced' monitoring protocol, according to the needs of the slaughterhouse.
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28.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific Opinion on peste des petits ruminants
  • 2015
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 13
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a severe viral disease of small ruminants caused by a Morbillivirus closely related to rinderpest virus. It is widespread in Africa and Asia and is currently also found in Turkey and Northern Africa. PPR is transmitted via direct contact, and the disease would mainly be transferred to infection-free areas by transport of infected animals. In the EU, it could only happen through illegal transport of animals. The risk of that depends on the prevalence in the country of origin and the number of animals illegally moved. The extent of the spread would depend mainly on the time during which it is undetected, the farm density, the frequency and distance of travel of animals. PPR has a high within-herd transmission rate, therefore contacts between flocks, e.g. through common grazing areas, should be avoided when PPR is present. If PPR enters EU areas with dense sheep population but low goat density, it may spread rapidly undetected, since goats are considered more susceptible than sheep. Effective measures in limiting the spread of PPR in the EU include prompt culling of infected herds, rapid detection, movement restriction, and disinfection. Live attenuated vaccines against PPR are available, safe and effective, and have been successfully used to control PPR epidemics, but no method exists for differentiating between infected and vaccinated animals; therefore, the development of one is recommended. Awareness-raising campaigns for farmers and veterinary staff to promote recognition of the disease should be considered. The cooperation of the EU with neighbouring countries should be encouraged to prevent the spread of PPR and other transboundary diseases.
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29.
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30.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific Opinion on Review of the European Union Summary Report on trends and sources of zoonoses, zoonotic agents and food-borne outbreaks—Terms of reference 2 to 7
  • 2013
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 11
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • The Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW) Panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has evaluated the European Union Summary Report on Trends and Sources of Zoonoses, Zoonotic Agents and Food-borne Outbreaks by EFSA and ECDC (the report) with regard to data needs and subsequent analyses that will minimise the impact of existing data gaps and inconsistencies. Specific assessments performed for bovine tuberculosis, echinococcosis, Q fever, brucellosis, rabies, cysticercosis and tularaemia show that the report gives an accurate picture of the epidemiological situation for the infections which have an EU harmonised monitoring system. Generally the data analysis is descriptive; further analysis for specific purposes and quantification of the trends should be considered. Specific information for each disease should contain (i) a clear case definition, (ii) a clear description of sampling techniques and diagnostic tests used, (iii) relevant epidemiological characteristics and (iv) relevant control measures or surveillance. Prioritisation of diseases from a public health viewpoint is not in the remit of the AHAW Panel. Proposed criteria to assess the value of including additional diseases in the report are (1) the disease is reported regularly in animals and humans in some EU Member States; (2) the disease is considered a serious public health issue; and (3) monitoring in animals is epidemiologically justifiable. The first two criteria are inclusion criteria; the third is used to prioritise diseases for inclusion in the report. The last section of the opinion addresses the value of the data included in the report for AHAW risk assessment. Their usefulness is often compromised by missing case definition, insufficient metadata or outdated data. It is recommended that data needs are further analysed to improve the preparedness of the AHAW Panel to answer risk questions, via some readily available and stable data as well as good knowledge of ad-hoc data models and sources throughout the EU.
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31.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific Opinion on Rift Valley fever
  • 2013
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 11
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Based on a comprehensive review of literature and OIE (World Animal Health Organisation) outbreak reports, this scientific opinion reports, first, that there is no evidence that Rift Valley fever (RVF) has spread to previously uninfected countries during the past 10 years. Nevertheless, RVF has moved north within Mauritania, in a desert area. Secondly, maps of Europe and the southern Mediterranean Basin are provided, displaying the geographic distribution of the reported presence of nine potentially competent Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) vectors of the region, based on a systematic literature review. From environmental and eco-climatic data, predicted presence maps were generated that suggest the suitability of several parts of Europe and the southern Mediterranean Basin for these potentially competent RVFV vectors. Thirdly, to assess the risk of introduction of RVFV into some designated countries in the southern Mediterranean Basin (hereafter defined as the region concerned, RC), especially through the movements of live animals and vectors, a quantitative model was constructed and model parameters were derived based on expert knowledge elicitation (EKE). The EKE model indicates that some hundreds of RVFV-infected animals will be moved into the RC when an epidemic in the source areas occurs. The risk of RVFV entering the RC through the movement of vectors is expected to be small in comparison with the risk of entry through infected animals. Because of a lack of quantitative information on the seasonality of vector abundance and vertical transmission of RVFV within local vector species, the risk of endemicity could not be assessed. However, based on the abundance of the vector Culex pipiens, the livestock densities and the temperature in the region, there is a potential for the occurrence of RVF spread in the coastal areas of the RC.
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32.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific opinion on sheep and goat pox
  • 2014
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 12
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Sheep pox (SPP) and goat pox (GTP) are viral diseases of sheep and goats characterised by severe losses, especially in naive animals. SPP and GTP are endemic in many African, Middle Eastern and Asian countries, with recurrent epidemics in Greece and Bulgaria, as in 2013–2014. The main mode of SPP/GTP transmission is direct contact between animals, but, since the virus can survive in the environment, indirect transmission may also occur through fomites such as human movement, vehicles, wildlife and trade of hides when insufficiently treated. According to a model developed to evaluate the spread of SPP, the probability of spread of the infection in south-eastern Europe is <1 %, while, if introduced in the Iberian Peninsula, the probability that SPP would spread is more than 50 %. The long-term survival of the SPP virus in the environment enhances the likelihood of SPP endemicity; however, this can be reduced by extensive cleaning and disinfection, and with a waiting period before re-stocking culled herds. Early detection and notification, prompt movement restriction of animals, an extension of duration and size of the protection zone and culling affected herds, based on clinical signs, are effective and time-saving control measures recommended by the AHAW Panel. Only live attenuated vaccines are available for SPP/GTP, which are not licensed within the EU and without principle for differentiating infected from vaccinated animals. The AHAW Panel recommends further investigation of potential SPP/GTP transmission through arthropods and wildlife, the survival of SPP/GTP viruses in grazing sites and in animal feed and hides and the development of inactivated vaccines. Sentinel animals could be used prior to re-stocking culled herds. Awareness-raising campaigns for farmers and veterinary staff to promote recognition of the disease should be considered. The cooperation of EU with neighbouring countries should be encouraged to prevent transboundary disease spread.
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33.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific Opinion on the assessment of dairy cow welfare in small-scale farming systems
  • 2015
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 13
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • This opinion reviews information on small-scale dairy cow farming systems in Europe, including the impact of production diseases on welfare of cows, and proposes a methodology for welfare assessment in those systems. To address specific expectations of consumers that food be produced locally or regionally or maintaining acceptable animal welfare conditions, in addition to herd size, criteria to define farms as "non-conventional" were proposed. Several sources were investigated for identifying criteria for the description and categorisation of small-scale farms, including dairy umbrella organisations and literature. In addition to herd size (up to 75 cows), proposed criteria related to small-scale farming comprise the workforce source, input level, indigenous breed use and production type certification. To cover the large diversity of farming systems across Europe, it was proposed that farms meeting at least two of these criteria be considered non-conventional. To adapt the welfare assessment to small-scale farms, the same risk factors and welfare consequences, as measured by corresponding animal-based measures identified in previous opinions for intensive farming systems were considered to be also relevant for small-scale systems. In addition, factors related to resources provided on pasture (e.g. shelter), management of pasture (e.g. mixing herds) and management of the cows (e.g. use of local breeds) were considered more likely to be present in small-scale systems. An on-farm survey was run to collect data for welfare assessment from 124 European farms. The distribution of risk factors and animal-based measures varied across the full range in study farms and showed similar patterns in farms with different grazing systems (from no time to full year on pasture). The animal-based measures identified for intensive farming are well suited for application in small-scale dairy farms. Production disease impact on the individual animal's welfare state does not depend on herd size or farming system.
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34.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific Opinion on the assessment of studies on the use of carbon dioxide for stunning rabbits
  • 2015
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 13
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • The EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW Panel) was asked by the European Commission to deliver a scientific opinion on two studies concerned with the use of carbon dioxide for stunning rabbits. The European Commission had received from the Spanish authorities a report of a study entitled ‘Carbon dioxide stunning of rabbits' and another study entitled ‘Stunning of rabbits with carbon dioxide', provided as a complement to the first study. The latter was undertaken in a commercial abattoir where a commercial carbon dioxide stunner was installed. The results of electrocardiography and animal-based measures (nasal discomfort and vocalisation) produced in the experimental slaughterhouse study clearly indicated that the rabbits were subjected to pain and suffering prior to the loss of consciousness. The data presented do not describe stable, controlled or repeatable experimental conditions. The statistical tests used to analyse the data were not appropriate. The study in the commercial abattoir was not based on sound scientific conclusions resulting from the experimental slaughterhouse study. For all of these reasons, the submitted studies did not meet the minimum criteria for eligibility in the EFSA guidance on the assessment criteria for studies evaluating the effectiveness of stunning interventions. Therefore, they were not further assessed.
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35.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific Opinion on the electrical parameters for the stunning of lambs and kid goats
  • 2013
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 11
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • The Panel on Animal Health and Welfare was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on two studies performed by IRTA: "Evaluation of the electrical stunning effectiveness in sheep with a current intensity lower than 1 Ampere" and "Evaluation of the electrical stunning effectiveness with electric currents lower than 1 A in lambs and kid goats". To achieve this, the first step was to define the type of study, critical variables, experimental design, data collection and analysis and reporting needed to supply scientific evidence that a given electrical stunning protocol of small ruminants provides a level of animal welfare at least equivalent to that ensured by the use of a minimum current of 1 A. These criteria were then applied to the two IRTA studies. The submitted studies are not adequate for a full welfare assessment of the alternative method studied because they do not fulfil the eligibility criteria and the reporting quality criteria defined in this opinion. The shortcomings of the studies are identified to make clear where improvements are required. To be considered for a full assessment of the welfare implications of the use of minimum currents lower than 1 A for electrical stunning of small ruminants a study must meet the eligibility standards described herein. A full assessment of the welfare implications of the use of minimum currents lower than 1 A for electrical stunning of small ruminants would need to take into account the restraining methods, the pre-stunning, and the stunning phases of the slaughter process and the correlation of the study findings with the results of other scientific evidence.
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36.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific opinion on the possible risks posed by the influenza A (H3N2v) virus for animal health and its potential spread and implications for animal and human health
  • 2013
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 11
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Swine are an important host in influenza virus ecology since they are susceptible to infections with both avian and human influenza A viruses. In 2011 and 2012, clusters of human infection with a swine-origin influenza A(H3N2) variant virus (H3N2v) containing the matrix (M) gene from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus were reported in the United States (US). The likelihood of introduction of H3N2v virus into the EU, and subsequent exposure and infection of EU pig herds was assessed. The overall likelihood of a pig holding in the EU being infected by exposure to H3N2v virus through either imported infectious pigs or humans coming from the US was estimated to be low. Efficient separation of imported pigs for 30 days would reduce the likelihood of exposure to a negligible level. The likelihood that H3N2v would spread to other pig holdings was judged to be high, assuming frequent movements of pigs between holdings. Currently, applied real time RT-PCRs can detect all swine influenza A viruses and, combined with gene sequencing, would identify the emergence of H3N2v virus. However, sequencing is not done on a routine basis in EU. Experimental studies in pigs show that the infection is purely of respiratory nature and follows a relatively mild course with fever, coughing and inappetence, similar to that of the endemic swine influenza viruses. Immunity resulting from vaccination with European vaccines may provide some cross-protection against infection with H3N2v virus whereas vaccines based on US swine H3N2 strains would offer superior protection. It is not possible to predict which changes within H3N2v virus might enable it to develop pandemic properties. Hence, it is not possible at present to set up a specific system to monitor such a risk. Nevertheless, it is recommended to reinforce the monitoring of influenza strains circulating in pigs in EU.
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37.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific Opinion on the risk of entry of Aethina tumida and Tropilaelaps spp. in the EU
  • 2013
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 11
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Small hive beetle (SHB) and Tropilaelaps are bee diseases considered exotic in the EU. SHBis a flying coleopteran that can be attracted to the odours of bees and bee products. In addition, SHB can survive and reproduce on a variety of ripe fruits. Tropilaelaps is an ectoparasite that does not survive long without honey bee brood and cannot fly by itself. The methodology used to assess the risk of entry of these pests in this scientific opinion was adapted from a pest risk assessment for entry used in the field of plant health. A qualitative risk assessment was performed taking into account current legislation but excluding the implementation of risk reduction options. This approach allowed the assessment of the worst case scenario for each risk factor. The risk pathways with a high risk of pest entry are ‘import of bee products (use in apiculture)' for SHB and ‘accidental import of bees' (unintended presence of bees in a non-bee consignment) for both pests. The other risk pathways are associated with a moderate or low risk of SHB or Tropilaelaps entry into the risk assessment area. Risk reduction options were assessed separately from the risk assessment. Examples of risk reduction options with a high effectiveness and a high technical feasibility are the use of health certificates to guarantee pest freedom of consignments and keeping consignments without honey bee brood. Options with a high effectiveness and technical feasibility were identified in all risk pathways except ‘accidental import of bees' and ‘dispersal of the pest via natural means and/or flight'. The AHAW Panel identified the need for validated rapid detection methods and for handling and sampling of imported bees in insect-proof environments. Education and training could help to monitor the pest distribution and to prevent pest entry by improving awareness, skills and expertise.
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38.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific Opinion on the scientific assessment of studies on electrical parameters for stunning of small ruminants (ovine and caprine species)
  • 2015
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 13
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • The EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW Panel) was asked by the European Commission to deliver a scientific opinion on three studies evaluating electrical parameters for the stunning of lambs and kid goats. The Commission received the studies from the Spanish authorities. One study was in the form of a manuscript entitled ‘Electrical stunning effectiveness with current levels lower than 1 A in lambs and kid goats'. The second study consisted of a summary in English entitled ‘Effect of the electrical stunning with inferior intensities of current to 1 Ampere on the carcass quality in Pascuales lambs', and the third study consisted of a summary in English entitled ‘Effect of electrical stunning with inferior intensities to 1 Ampere on the induction to the unconsciousness in lambs'. Reported outcomes for different animal categories were inconsistent and contradictory, indicating a need to validate if the stunning equipment delivered the intended current levels to the animals. The head-only stunning and slaughter intervention failed to achieve and/or maintain unconsciousness during bleeding and the head-to-body stunning and slaughter intervention failed to achieve cardiac ventricular fibrillation in all of the animals, as evidenced by the presence of corneal reflex and rhythmic breathing. No evidence of absence of pain and suffering is presented in the studies. The submitted studies are not considered adequate for a full welfare assessment of the alternative stunning method because they do not fulfil the eligibility criteria and the reporting quality criteria defined in the EFSA guidance on the assessment criteria for studies evaluating the effectiveness of stunning interventions or the EFSA opinion on monitoring welfare at slaughter of small ruminants.
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39.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific Opinion on the use of a gamma interferon test for the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis
  • 2012
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 10
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • The procedures for gaining, maintaining, suspending, withdrawing or re-gaining official bovine tuberculosis free herd status and for certification for intra-Union trade are based on the results of tuberculin skin tests. The skin test has a number of drawbacks, therefore the suitability of the gamma interferon test and other tests to be included by EU legislation was assessed. Suitability means that the test has a sensitivity equivalent or superior to the standard test currently used in the European Union and specificity not lower than that of the standard test with the lowest specificity used in the EU. Furthermore, there should be no foreseeable practical difficulties that could compromise test performance. It was concluded that purified protein derivative based gamma interferon tests can be included amongst the official tests for the purpose of demonstrating freedom. However, some results suggest that the specificity of the purified protein derivative based gamma interferon tests may not always be as high as the single intradermal tuberculin test. In case the test is included, the protocols for its use for this purpose should be harmonised in the EU. Based on the reviewed information, other tests should not yet be considered for inclusion in the official tests for the purpose of granting and retaining official tuberculosis free herd status. Further evaluation of the suitability of the gamma interferon tests test should study the influence of factors such as the presence of environmental mycobacteria, prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in the herd, the age type and bovine tuberculosis test history of the animals all of which may affect test specificity and hence the suitability of the test for demonstrating freedom from bovine tuberculosis in different situations
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40.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific opinion on the use of carbon dioxide for stunning rabbits
  • 2013
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 11, s. 1-33
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • The Panel on Animal Health and Welfare was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the use of carbon dioxide for stunning rabbits. Specifically, EFSA was asked to give its view on the findings of the study performed by the Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain) and the Animal Technology Centre CITA-ITAVIA "Estudio sobre la valoración mediante parámetros técnicos y de manejo del sistema de aturdimiento con gas CO2". As a first step, the type of study, critical variables, experimental design, data collection and analysis and reporting methods needed to supply scientific evidence that the use of CO2 is an acceptable alternative for the stunning of rabbits were defined. These criteria were then applied to the study. The submitted study is not adequate for a full welfare assessment of the alternative method studied because it does not fulfil the eligibility criteria and the reporting quality criteria defined in this opinion. The shortcomings of the study have been highlighted to indicate where improvements are required. To be considered for a full assessment of the welfare implications of the use of high concentrations of CO2 as a stunning method for rabbits, a study must meet the eligibility standards described herein. A full assessment of the welfare implications of the use of high concentrations of CO2 as a stunning method for rabbits would need to take into account the restraining methods, the pre-stunning, and the stunning phases of the slaughter process and the correlation of the study findings with the results of other scientific evidence.
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41.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific Opinion on the use of low atmosphere pressure system (LAPS) for stunning poultry
  • 2014
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 12
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • The EFSA's Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW Panel) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the use of a low atmosphere pressure system (LAPS) for stunning poultry. Four documents were provided by the European Commission (EC) as the basis for an assessment of the extent to which the LAPS is able to provide a level of animal welfare at least equivalent to that ensured by the current allowed methods for stunning poultry. The LAPS is described as rendering poultry unconscious by gradually reducing oxygen tension in the atmosphere leading to progressive hypoxia in the birds. In order to be allowed in the EU, new stunning methods must ensure 1) absence of pain, distress and suffering until the onset of unconsciousness, and 2) that the animal remains unconscious until death. The submitted studies were peer-reviewed by the AHAW Panel as outlined in its "Guidance on the assessment criteria for studies evaluating the effectiveness of stunning intervention regarding animal protection at the time of killing". It is unclear from the submitted documents whether the rate of decompression used in LAPS induces unconsciousness and death without causing avoidable pain and suffering in poultry. The assessed studies did not pass the eligibility assessment and, therefore, no further assessment was undertaken.
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42.
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43.
  • Berg, Lotta, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific Opinion on welfare aspects of the use of perches for laying hens
  • 2015
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 13
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • This opinion investigated the use of perches for laying hens in cage and non-cage systems. It is based on various activities reviewing the effects of perch height and design on hen health and welfare. Systematic and extensive literature reviews were conducted to assess the scientific evidence about hen motivation to grasp and seek elevation, and the appropriate height of perches as well as other features (position, material, colour, temperature, shape, width and length). In addition, an expert knowledge elicitation (EKE) exercise was run with technical hearing experts to discuss and prioritise the various design aspects of perches. Overall, the body of literature on perches is limited. Relevant features of perches are often confounded with others. In the literature, the most commonly used animal-based measures to assess perch adequacy are keel bone damages, foot pad lesions and perch use by hens. Overall, hens seek elevation during the day as well as during the night, when they select a site for roosting. Elevated perches allow hens to monitor the environment, to escape from other hens, avoid disturbances and improve thermoregulation. For night-time roosting hens show a preference for perches higher than 60cm compared with lower perches. However, elevated perches can have negative consequences with increased prevalence of keel deformities and fractures. The risk of injury increases when hens have to jump a distance of more than 80cm vertically, horizontally or diagonally to reach or leave a perch, or jump an angle between 45 and 90° (measured at the horizontal plane). Material, shape, length and width of the perch also influence perch preference by hens. The EKE exercise suggests that an adequate perch is elevated, accessible and functional (providing sufficient overview). The opinion concludes that for the design of an adequate perch, different features of perches need to be further investigated and integrated.
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44.
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45.
  • Berg, Lotta (författare)
  • Welfare of ducks, geese and quail on farm
  • 2023
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - 1831-4732. ; 21
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • This Scientific Opinion concerns the welfare of Domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus),Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata domesticus) and their hybrids (Mule ducks), Domestic geese (Anseranser f. domesticus) and Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) in relation to the rearing of breeders, birdsfor meat, Muscovy and Mule ducks and Domestic geese for foie gras and layer Japanese quail for eggproduction. The most common husbandry systems (HSs) in the European Union are described for eachanimal species and category. The following welfare consequences are described and assessed for eachspecies: restriction of movement, injuries (bone lesions including fractures and dislocations, soft tissuelesions and integument damage and locomotory disorders including lameness), group stress, inabilityto perform comfort behaviour, inability to perform exploratory or foraging behaviour and inability toexpress maternal behaviour (related to prelaying and nesting behaviours). Animal-based measuresrelevant for the assessment of these welfare consequences were identified and described. The relevanthazards leading to the welfare consequences in the different HSs were identified. Specific factors suchas space allowance (including minimum enclosure area and height) per bird, group size,floor quality,characteristics of nesting facilities and enrichment provided (including access to water to fulfilbiological needs) were assessed in relation to the welfare consequences and, recommendations onhow to prevent the welfare consequences were provided in a quantitative or qualitative way.
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46.
  • Björklund, Niklas (författare)
  • Pest risk assessment of Eotetranychus lewisi for the EU territory
  • 2017
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 15
  • Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
    • Based on the pest categorisation prepared by EFSA, E. lewisi has the potential to be both a quarantine pest, as it fulfils all ISPM 11 criteria, and a Non-Regulated Quarantine Pest, as it fulfils all ISPM 21 criteria. However, it is noted that information on the potential impact is very limited. At the same time, the organism is currently regulated only for plants of Citrus L., Fortunella Swingle, Poncirus Raf. and their hybrids. However, the affected host range is broader than what is currently covered. There are major hosts such as plants of Euphorbia, Rubus, Fragaria, Prunus, Vitis, etc. which are not regulated for this specific organism. In the European Union (EU), it has been found, for example, also on plants of Corokia cotoneaster in 1999. The pathways of spreading are numerous. The Working Group recommends to keep this organism as Union Quarantine Pest. To support further decisions on risk reduction options, the PRA process has to continue. In particular, EFSA is asked to focus further work on the probability of entry of the pest (identification of the pathways), its establishment, as well as further spread after its establishment in the EU. It is important to explore as well the reasons for its absence in the EU. Additional information as regards the degree of impact would be also relevant even though the Working Group above acknowledges the absence of data in this respect.
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47.
  • Blokhuis, Harry, et al. (författare)
  • Use of animal based measures for the assessment of dairy cow welfare ANIBAM
  • 2014
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - 1831-4732.
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • The overall aim of the project was to evaluate the use of routinely collected animal based measures (ABMs) for an evaluation of the overall animal welfare in dairy cow herds. ABMs being able to detect worst adverse effects in relation to animal welfare were identified based on the existing literature and expert opinion. The validity and robustness of these ABMs were evaluated and cow mortality, somatic cell count and lameness were selected for further study. A number of factors of variation were selected using expert opinion and used in a model to collate routinely collected data from Italy, Belgium and Denmark on selected ABMs. The routinely collected data was uploaded to the Data Collection Framework platform at EFSA and the data management in this process was evaluated. Five research datasets from Italy, Belgium, Denmark and France including information on ABMs as well as a measure of 'overall animal welfare' at herd level were analysed to evaluate the association between the ABMs (individually or in combination) and overall welfare. The measure of 'overall animal welfare' were not the same for all datasets. Except from the Italian data, the association between the ABMs and the different overall welfare measures were generally weak. Likewise, combining more than one ABM only improved the prediction of the overall welfare in the Italian dataset. Analyses of the other datasets could not confirm this finding. Finally, suggestions for future recordings of ABMs not routinely collected at the moment were given with a special focus on lameness. In conclusion, the relationship between selected ABMs and overall welfare at the herd level is complex and still not sufficiently studied. Therefore, a system using routinely collected ABMs to predict the overall welfare at herd level in dairy herds does not seem realistic based on the results from the present study.
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48.
  • Devos, Y., et al. (författare)
  • Applying ecosystem services for pre-market environmental risk assessments of regulated stressors
  • 2019
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - : Wiley. - 1831-4732. ; 17
  • Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
    • Ecosystem services (ES) are the benefits that people obtain from ecosystems. Investigating the environment through an ES framework has gained wide acceptance in the international scientific community and is applied by policymakers to protect biodiversity and safeguard the sustainability of ecosystems. This approach can enhance the ecological and societal relevance of pre-market/prospective environmental risk assessments (ERAs) of regulated stressors by: (1) informing the derivation of operational protection goals; (2) enabling the integration of environmental and human health risk assessments; (3) facilitating horizontal integration of policies and regulations; (4) leading to more comprehensive and consistent environmental protection; (5) articulating the utility of, and trade-offs involved in, environmental decisions; and (6) enhancing the transparency of risk assessment results and the decisions based upon them. Realisation of these advantages will require challenges that impede acceptance of an ES approach to be overcome. Particularly, there is concern that, if biodiversity only matters to the extent that it benefits humans, the intrinsic value of nature is ignored. Moreover, our understanding of linkages among ecological components and the processes that ultimately deliver ES is incomplete, valuing ES is complex, and there is no standard ES lexicon and limited familiarity with the approach. To help overcome these challenges, we encourage: (1) further research to establish biodiversity-ES relationships; (2) the development of approaches that (i) quantitatively translate responses to chemical stressors by organisms and groups of organisms to ES delivery across different spatial and temporal scales, (ii) measure cultural ES and ease their integration into ES valuations, and (iii) appropriately value changes in ES delivery so that trade-offs among different management options can be assessed; (3) the establishment of a standard ES lexicon; and (4) building capacity in ES science and how to apply ES to ERAs. These development needs should not prevent movement towards implementation of an ES approach in ERAs, as the advantages we perceive of using this approach render it more than worthwhile to tackle those challenges. Society and the environment stand to benefit from this shift in how we conduct the ERA of regulated stressors. (C) 2019 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.
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49.
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50.
  • Estrada-Peña, Agustín, et al. (författare)
  • Scientific opinion on geographic distribution of tick-borne infections and their vectors in Europe and the other regions of the Mediterranean Basin : EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW)
  • 2010
  • Ingår i: EFSA Journal. - Parma, Italy : European Food Safety Authority. - 1831-4732. ; 8:9, s. 1723 [280 pp.]-
  • Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
    • This report is the second of a series of two technical assessments of the role of ticks in transmission of animal diseases and zoonoses in Eurasia. A previous published scientific opinion (EFSA 2010a) focused on two diseases- Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever and African swine fever in Eurasia. The aim of this report is to provide a general overview of the geographic distribution of tick species which have proven involvement in the transmission of pathogens causing animal diseases and zoonoses in Eurasia.The report provides a review of the geographic distribution of the relevant tick species and TBDs in Eurasia by producing maps of the region that display the occurrences of ticks and tick borne pathogens. Systematic literature review of available publications for the last 10 years and other available literature from the experts were used in the retrieval of the geographical reported cases for the presence of ticks and tick borne pathogens. The report includes a description of the factors that influence the dynamics of the relevant tick species and identify possible high-risk areas in the EU for introduction considering the biological and ecological characteristics of the ticks and their ability to adapt to new areas. Surveillance tools and control measures for ticks were discussed.Findings from this review have provided evidence of the extent of ticks and TBDs in geographical ranges and the existing risk areas that should be considered as baseline information to assess potential risk of these diseases. The report indicates the validity of using available literature to support the presence of ticks and TBDs without further predication using weather and other environmental factors associated with the survival of the ticks. Surveillance tools for the detection of the ticks and their control measures are discussed in this report. The report concluded that animal and human movement play a significant impact on the spread of the ticks and TBDs. Climate changes and flight pattern of migratory birds can influence the presence and spread of the ticks and TBDs, These two factors acting by themselves have not been determined be responsible for the widespread distribution of ticks.
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