Revolutionizing Health Risk Management for Beef and Sheep Farmers: A New Web-App for Vets
In the ever-evolving world of veterinary medicine, staying ahead of health risks and ensuring the well-being of livestock is paramount. Enter a brand-new web-app designed specifically for beef and sheep farmers and their veterinarians. This innovative tool promises to transform health risk management, making it more efficient, collaborative, and proactive.
HerdPlan, funded by the Scottish Government and developed by SRUC’s Veterinary Services team, enables UK vets and farmers to work together to create proactive health plans to improve productivity and increase income on farm.
Free Access for Vet Practices
One of the standout features of this web-app is that UK vet practices can access it free of charge. They can onboard as many farmers as they wish, providing a seamless integration into their existing workflows. Farmers’ subscriptions are managed through the vet practices, with flexible payment options available either annually or monthly. This model ensures that the financial burden is minimised while maximizing accessibility and usage.
Paper-Free Health Planning
Gone are the days of paper records. This web-app offers a fully computerised solution, streamlining health risk management. It allows vets to manage health risks and prepare health plans quickly and efficiently, significantly reducing the time spent on administrative tasks. This efficiency not only saves time but also enhances the accuracy and reliability of farm data and overall health plans.
Enhanced Communication and Collaboration
The web-app connects the entire vet team with their clients, facilitating instant communication with farmers. Whether it’s disease incidents or performance information, all data is stored in one centralised location which can be accessed by everyone involved with this process. This ensures that everyone is up-to-date with the latest information, fostering a more cohesive and informed approach to health management.
Proactive Health Planning
Adding actions and targets that will not be forgotten thanks to automated reminders sent to farmers. This proactive approach helps prevent issues on farm rather than merely treating diseases with antibiotics, promoting a healthier and more sustainable farming practice.
Compliance with farm assurance requirements
Vets can create health plans in advance of Farm Assurance Scheme audits ensuring their farmers comply with Red tractor or QMS.
Customisable Templates
Vet practices can create their own customised templates for managing infectious diseases and other health areas. These templates can be reused and tailored to specific farms, ensuring consistency and efficiency within the practice. For those who prefer not to create their own, pre-populated templates from SRUC are available, providing a reliable starting point.
Continuous Improvement and Proactive Services
The platform encourages regular meetings between the farm team and their vet to review performance targets and discuss prevention and management of diseases. This continuous improvement cycle enhances animal health and productivity, allowing vets to work more proactively and offer consulting services. This health planning process can be supported by the vet administrative staff in managing more effectively the process if required.
In summary, this web-app is a game-changer for vet practices and their farmers. By providing a platform for efficient, proactive, and collaborative health risk management, it ensures that livestock health is maintained at the highest standards. This development not only simplifies the administrative burden but also provides a more connected, informed and dynamic veterinary and farm team.
Dr. Foteini Manolaraki, SRUC’s animal health planning development manager has said: “HerdPlan lets you respond to real-world challenges as they arise. Implementing new health protocols into your plan as they are needed, it ensures that your entire team is always aware of the latest farm health information. By prioritising prevention over cure, HerdPlan ultimately keeps more money on the farm and ensures that essential tasks are completed on time.”
Farmers and vets can now access HerdPlan to streamline their health planning processes and improve the sustainability of their operations.
For more information about HerdPlan, please visit herdplan.co.uk
Email: herdplan@sruc.ac.uk
Tel: 0131 535 3130
Posted by SRUC Veterinary Services on 08/10/2024
