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    • Winter special
      Essential tools
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      Fortify yourself against Avian Influenza
      The best protection against this devastating disease is to tighten biosecurity measures on the farm as well as provide respiratory support for the birds especially when they are suffering from respiratory distress.
    • Latest whitepaper
      Intra Repiderma – the green standard
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      Prevention & care of Udder Cleft Dermatitis in dairy cows
      The consequences of udder skin issues are impaired with animal welfare, reduced milk production and affected milk quality.
    • Future-fit farming
      We see a big future for replacing antibiotics by the Intra Nutrients portfolio.
      learn more
      Precision health management through drinking water
      Extra care during critical phases of rapid growth, disease or during vaccinations proves advantageous for every animal.
    • New product
      Proven clinical efficacy on farms
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      Cure swine dysentery with Intra Dysovinol: veterinarians 1st choice
      Intra Dysovinol is the first non-antibiotic veterinary medicine for Swine Dysentery
    • Publication
      Intra Hoof-fit Spray is an effective method to optimally support hoof condition.
      learn more
      Powerful prevention proved with Intra Hoof-fit Spray
      An international European research institute, which experienced an increase of hoof problems, started a once-a-week herd protocol with Hoof-fit Spray and succeeded to control the situation within a period of 2 months.
    • Dairy solutions
      Dairy
      Solutions
      Farmers'1st choice in hoof care
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    • Swine
      Swine
      Solutions
      Feed & biosafety for your animals
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    • Poultry
      Poultry
      Solutions
      Overall poultry support & hygiene
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    • Featured article

      How the Swiss cheese model can help avoid reaching the catastrophe bifurcation point


      Intracare portfolio explained


      The recent global outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) and local outbreaks of Avian Influenza (AI) underlines the delicate balance of our modern livestock industry. Even a small misbalance in farm biosecurity, animal immunity and/or available treatments may result in devastating consequences for an entire sector. Scientific models from other research fields are powerful tools to rethink our current practices and may provide new insights. Three important steps to prevent the outbreak of endemic diseases are 1) reduce infection pressure, 2) stimulate immunity, and 3) mtreat diseased animals. These aspects are embedded in the Intracare portfolio to avoid reaching the catastrophe bifurcation point.


      In outdoor dairy farming, it is common practice to not overcrowd the pastures in order to keep the fields green and fertile. Imagine for example a green field with 99 peacefully grazing cows. The addition of one single cow may result in overgrazing, turning the green pastures into a desert-like landscape (Figure 1). In order to restore the green fields, it will not be enough to remove that single last-added cow, but it may be necessary to reduce the herd with as much as 20 animals muntil the vegetation regains sufficient capacity to restore itself. How such small changes in circumstances may lead to sudden mand dramatic consequences such as the ecological collapse is described by ”the catastrophe bifurcation theory” that was composed in the 1970s by mathematicians René Frédéric Thom and Erik Christopher Zeeman.


      Figure 1. Overgrazing as a practical illustration of the catastrophe theory.


      While in dairy farming cows may have relatively much square meters to move around, the efficient use of space is an important economic factor in the intensive livestock industry, where pigs and poultry are housed on a more confined area. Already in 1991, Cravener and colleagues investigated broiler production under four different stocking densities. They found that feed conversion rates were comparable for all groups, but birds at the highest stocking density had a lower body and carcass weight suggesting stress, and a higher percentage of breast blisters and foot pad dermatitis. This illustrates ,that high-density monocultures are more vulnerable to catastrophe bifurcations and it thus requires more effort to maintain optimal circumstances in order to prevent the outbreak of diseases.


      Also the current unprecedented growth of our cities (being monocultures of humans) is only possible due to the persistent supply of food and clean drinking water, and continuous cleaning and removal of waste products (garbage and sewerage). ,However, the most modern cities have been terrible places to live in the past due to the uncontrolled disposal of waste products and the related outbreak of diseases (Figure 2). Even nowadays some big cities are experiencing challenges with waste removal and air pollution, and the rapid spread of Covid-19 illustrates the vulnerability of the system.


      Figure 2. Waste disposal in cities (left) in contrast to the cleanliness of a modern city like Tokyo (right).


      In summary, when high-performing monocultures are economically necessary, like in our current intensive livestock rearing

      industry, we will need to invest time and money to prevent the occurrence of catastrophe bifurcations.


      Three important actions to prevent the outbreak of endemic diseases are:

      • 1 Reduce (external) infection pressure by proper cleaning and disinfection of the environment of an animal (housing, transport vehicles, equipment, etc.) including the availability of clean (sanitized) drinking water. The Intra Hygiene program contains proven tools for optimal biosecurity.
      • 2 Stimulate the natural immune system of an animal by providing the optimal amount of nutrients at the desired moment in life. The Intra Nutrient program of drinking water-based supplements is dedicated to immune, metabolic and health support.
      • 3 Immediately cure ill animals by the application of appropriate veterinary medicines to individual cases. Intra Hoof-fit and


      Intra Dysovinol are dominant non-antibiotic products to treat diseases. The Intracare product & innovation portfolio covers these three important aspects for all intensively-reared livestock species and thereby supports the health status of these animals. A proper application of the products at the right moment in time prevents the outbreak of diseases and thus enables the farm manager to avoid reaching its catastrophe bifurcation point.



      Figure 3. Swiss cheese model illustrating how to avoid reaching the catastrophe bifurcation point with the Intracare programme.


      This concept is illustrated with “the Swiss cheese model” that has been developed in risk management to visualize factors that may cause an accident (Figure 3). The constant threats from different directions have to be blocked on each level in order to avoid the final event of a catastrophe bifurcation, like for example the outbreak of Avian Influenza or African Swine Fever. The Intracare program guarantees the farmer maximum security.


      References

      Cravener TL, Roush WB, Mashaly MM. Broiler production under varying population densities. Poult Sci. 1992

      Mar;71(3):427-33.


      Reason, James (1990-04-12). “The Contribution of Latent Human Failures to the Breakdown of Complex Systems”.

      Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences. 327 (1241): 475–484.



      Gerwen Lammers PhD - Manager R&D

      By Gerwen Lammers PhD

    • Media

      Pig Progress:
      Non-antibiotic medication
      against swine dysentery

      

      Bit by bit, the toolbox for controlling swine dysentery has become emptier in recent years. There is a global trend to limit the use of antibiotics as much as possible, and zinc oxide will also no longer be allowed at prophylactic levels in 2022. It is time for a new addition to the toolbox.


      read more


    • Publication

      Proven Effectivity: Intra Hydrocare eliminates Avian Influenza in drinking water


      The threat of the devastating Avian Influenza virus remains high. Outbreaks of the bird flu in poultry farms have been increasing worldwide. Recent testing by an accredited laboratory has demonstrated that Intra Hydrocare is also effective in elimination of the Influenza virus in drinking water.


      read more


    • News

      Live stream “Green Hooves for Healthy Cows” Attracts over 9.000 Chinese participants


      Eastern Bell, our Intra Hoof-fit partner in the Chinese dairy industry, organised a successful live stream for dairy groups, farmers, hoof trimmers and veterinarians.


      Over 9.000 customers participated in this webinar. During a 1.5 hours deep dive session a varied programme with many different themes were discussed.



      read more


    • Special

      Covid-19:
      all you need to know about disinfection


      Following the spread of Covid-19, it is more important than ever to carry out a disinfection and deep cleaning of public areas such as hotels, schools, offices, shops, workplaces, etc.


      As we have seen over recent months, the virus can spread quick and easy, so it is important that we do everything to assure a safe place for customers, students, staff etc.



      read more


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      How much Intra Hydrocare do I need to clean?
    • Product Spotlight
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      Intra Calferol: maximise genetic growth potential
      Intra Calferol
    • Latest publication
      read more
      Intra Multi-Des GA completely eliminates ASFv


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