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Alberta Feedlot Animal Health

and Welfare Surveillance System (AFHWS)

AFHWS MISSION

 

  •  AFHWS is a provincial animal health and welfare surveillance system that collects data and monitors trends in morbidity and mortality of cattle in finishing feedlots.
  • We share the results with the beef industry, feedlot producers and veterinarians, and other stakeholders.
  • Results are shared through reports, podcasts, and infographics/fact sheets to improve animal health and welfare in feedlot cattle.

                                   AFHWS Objectives

 

  • Provide representative provincial estimates of morbidity and mortality in Alberta finishing feedlot cattle.

  • Monitor trends in disease rates in feedlot cattle over time to inform stakeholders and identify future targeted research needs.

AFHWS Core Activities

        ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE

  • Feedlot producers record morbidity and mortality data in their chute-side computerized animal health software management systems.

  • Feedlot herd veterinarians annually collect this information from their clients from randomly selected finished lots of cattle and provide summarized confidential, blinded lot data to the Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS) within CFAASP for analysis.

  • AFHWS research team develops communication materials on summarized data for the beef industry, veterinarians, and other interested stakeholders.

COMMUNICATION RESOURCES

 

AFHWS Overview

AFHWS Demographics 2024

AFHWS Morbidity Rates 2024

AFHWS Mortality Rates 2024

 

 FUNDING SUPPORT

 Funding provided by:

  • The governments of Canada and Alberta under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership,
  • Alberta Cattle Feeder’s Association, Boehringer Ingelheim, Elanco Animal Health, CEVA, Merck Animal Health, Vetoquinol, and Zoetis.   

In-kind support provided by: Alberta feedlot veterinary practices, Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS), Canadian Animal Health Surveillance Network (CAHSS), Canadian Cow-Calf Health & Productivity Network (C3H PEN), Saskatchewan Agriculture, University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine, Western College of Veterinary Medicine