Critical control points (CCP) for cattle housing and management – a concept for the on-farm assessment of animal welfare, health and management

Quality assurance and management systems in animal production are partly based on the principles of risk assessment (according to HACCP). These systems, however, often are aimed to other goals aside from the HACCP concept such as marketing (e.g. proof of origin) and certification of defined standards (such as EU Ecological Farming Standards). The principles of risk assessment can be essentially applied to a risk control of animal management according to the required guidelines. The main goal of the project group on „Critical Control Points for Cattle Management” was to define control points for animal welfare (behaviour, health and hygiene) and farm management (with economically relevant points) with consideration of the legal requirements. Animal welfare aspects during the raising of calves and young cattle as well as for the housing and management of dairy cows and beef cattle were proposed to be assessed in defined intervals directly on farm at the animal level (e.g. through inspections) on the basis of management documents (e.g. herd health management programmes), housing and process technology conditions in conformance with the legal requirements. This concept is mainly aimed at a risk control of essential and desirable rearing and management conditions that are beneficial for the welfare and health of cattle.

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