Information Communication Technologies (ICT) for animal health management developed by Q-PorkChains

By Maren Bruns

 

Pilot chains are included in the Q-PorkChains project to test and implement RTD results in the industry. The business partners in these activities are supported by the Q-PorkChains Industry Liaison Office organised by GIQS. The Liaison Office facilitates the collaboration between science and business actors during the planning and implementation of innovation activities. Some of the pilots focus on ICT tools.

 

Pilot chain 1, for example, extends an animal health monitoring system on piglet production level in the integrated production system of EGO. The monitoring system focuses on serological tests of herds for salmonella and PRRS antibodies twice a year. The data is administrated in a data base by the software company Qualitype. These health data and additionally slaughter data are made available by a modular software platform along the chain developed by the software company Chainfood. This customised information is used in face to face sessions between the technical advisor of EGO and the farmer. The scientific support is done by the University Bonn.

 

Pilot chain 2 is working on a similar system – a network information system (called Sanibase). This system is developed by Group Glon and Chainfood. Sanibase gathers and manages technical, economical, veterinary, quality and sanitary information at farm level. Slaughter data can also be integrated. Authorised users instantly share the same information. The implementation phase is scientifically supported by Wageningen University.

 

Last but not least, demonstration chain 1 focuses on the harmonisation of veterinary findings. The final objective is to provide uniform data to all parties involved in the pork production chain in centralised databases. This is implemented by H+P and scientifically supported by University Bonn.

 

An E-learning resource on animal health at farm level will be launched in December 2011 at the Q-PorkChains learning platform.

 

Co-authors: Christina Gawron, Anne Algers and Mette Christensen