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Pork is one of the sources of food-borne salmonellosis in humans. In this paper, the cost-effectiveness of different control scenarios against Salmonella in the stages finishing, transport, lairage and slaughtering is explored. A stochastic simulation model was used for the epidemiological analysis and a deterministic model for the economic evaluation. Results showed that the cost-effectiveness of interventions in the finishing and slaughtering stages is the highest with respect to the reduction of the prevalence of contaminated carcasses. However, the cost-effectiveness is reduced in case not all farms or firms within a stage intervene to reduce the prevalence of Salmonella. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Intensive broiler production systems are criticized by EU citizens because of their negative impact on animal welfare, the environment and human health. To inform the development of sustainable broiler production systems, this paper provides insight in the synergies and trade-offs between different external factors originating from broiler production systems by developing a new analysis approach. The approach was applied to the Dutch conventional, New Dutch Retail Standard and Extensive Indoor+ systems. The latter two systems have more stringent standards on animal welfare relative to the conventional system. Four external factors were considered, i.e. animal welfare (indicated by Welfare Quality Index score), ammonia emission (kg NH 3 /animal place/year), particulate matter emission (g PM 10 /animal place/year) and antibiotic use (defined daily doses animal). Results show that the shift from a fast-growing breed towards a slower-growing breed caused synergy by improving animal welfare and lowering antibiotic use. Furthermore, the reduction in protein content of the feed, and possibly the reduction in stocking density, caused synergy by enhancing animal welfare and lowering ammonia emission. System changes that stimulated activity, such as the reduction in stocking density, enhanced animal welfare but caused a trade-off with particulate matter emission. Although the New Dutch Retail Standard and Extensive Indoor+ system were characterized by a higher ammonia and particulate matter emission per animal place per year relative to the conventional system, experts estimated that these emissions were partially (New Dutch Retail Standard) or fully (Extensive Indoor+) offset at farm level via a lower stocking density. Overall, we conclude that future development of broiler production systems can exploit the synergy between animal welfare, antibiotic use, and ammonia emission and minimize the trade-off between animal welfare and particulate matter emission. The insights obtained from this paper can support the development of sustainable broiler production systems that minimize external factors originating from these systems. Unlabelled Image • Broiler production systems are criticized because of their negative impact on animal welfare and the environment. • Synergies and trade-offs between external factors originating from Dutch broiler production systems were analyzed. • Synergies were found between animal welfare and antibiotic use, trade-offs between animal welfare and PM 10 emission. • We conclude that future broiler production systems can exploit synergistic effects and minimize the trade-offs. • Insights can support the development of sustainable broiler production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to societal concerns, the European Union set up goals to address the negative impact of intensive broiler production on animal welfare, the environment and human health. This paper aimed to 1) explore combinations of system changes that perform best in terms of farm income, animal welfare, emissions of ammonia (NH 3) and particulate matter (PM 10) and 2) are robust to changes in society's expectations relating to animal welfare and environmental sustainability. The prevailing system in the Dutch broiler market was used as a baseline for evaluating system changes. Animal welfare, NH 3 emissions and PM 10 emissions were the three external factors chosen for this evaluation. Farm income was quantified by the net return to labor and management (NRLM). Expert knowledge elicitation was used to identify system changes that were likely to be implemented in the baseline system. Combinations were made by selecting system changes from each of the chosen external factors. A deterministic model was used to calculate the effect of each combination of system changes on net return to labor and management. The performance of each combination was evaluated by estimating a benefit-of-the-doubt composite indicator. Results show that 8 out of 70 combinations indicated a better outcome and were more robust to potential changes in society's expectations relating to animal welfare and environmental sustainability. These combinations included two or more of the following system changes: 'lower density' (30 kg/m2), '2 types of enrichment', and 'daylight'. Furthermore, these combinations included 'tube heaters' for the abatement of NH 3 emissions, and 'negative air ionization system' or 'ionization filter' for the abatement of PM 10 emissions. To compensate for the decrease in NRLM associated with these practices and abatement techniques, a price premium was required that ranged between 4.8 and 18.5 eurocents/broiler. We conclude that combinations including animal welfare related system changes (lower density, enrichment and/or daylight), tube heaters and an ionization technique performed best and were robust to changes of societal expectations of these external factors. The insights obtained from this paper can support decision making in improving the sustainability of current broiler production systems. [Display omitted] • The European Union set up goals to improve the sustainability of broiler production. • This paper aimed to explore the performance of combinations of system changes in broiler production. • The performance of each combination was evaluated by developing a benefit-of-the-doubt composite indicator. • Combinations including an air ionization system for PM 10 reduction and tube heaters for NH 3 reduction performed best. • The insights can support decision making in improving the sustainability of current broiler production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broiler producers operate in a highly competitive and cost-price driven environment. In addition, in recent years the societal pressure to improve animal welfare (AW) in broiler production systems is increasing. Hence, from an economic and decision making point of view, the cost-efficiency of improvement in AW obtained from a certain production system is of great importance. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to analyze the contribution of four different production systems to overall AW and the cost-efficiency of increased AW at the farm level. Cost-efficiency was calculated as the ratio of the change in the level of animal welfare and the change in the level of production costs compared to the level of conventional system (i.e., legal minimum standards). The level of AW was measured by the Welfare Quality index score (WQ index score) calculated on the basis of data collected in 168 flocks in the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Italy within the Welfare Quality® project. On the basis of system attributes, three main segments of production systems are distinguished, i.e., conventional, middle-market and top-market systems. The middle-market and top-market systems use a slow growing breed. Stocking density ranges from 25 to 31 kg/m 2 in middle-market systems and from 21 to 27.5 kg/m 2 in top-market systems. In the middle-market systems, a covered veranda is provided to the chickens, whereas in the top-market systems chickens have access to an outdoor range. Results show that the middle-market systems, such as Volwaard and Puur & Eerlijk systems, had the highest WQ index score (736), whereas the conventional system had the lowest (577). Moreover, the WQ index score of extensive outdoor (733) and organic systems (698) was below that of the middle-market systems. The major system attributes that differentiate between production systems are broiler type, stocking density and outdoor access. Three system attributes contributed most to AW in all systems, i.e., broiler type, stocking density and length of the dark period. With respect to production costs, broiler chickens kept in conventional system were produced at the lowest costs, followed by the middle-market, the extensive outdoor, and the organic systems. With regard to cost-efficiency, when shifting from conventional to an alternative system, middle-market systems (i.e., Volwaard and Puur & Eerlijk; 8.37) outperformed the extensive outdoor (3.90) and organic systems (1.03). Overall, it can be concluded that the middle-market systems could be attractive for farmers due to their high cost-efficiency and the flexibility to revert to the conventional system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]