DanBred breeding stock is delivered with a declared health status and transparent vaccination and treatment history.

Disciplined management and systematic recording are essential tools when introducing new animals into any herd. Maintaining the health status of the existing herd is critical to sustaining productivity, which is why knowing the health history and subsequent status of both incoming stock and the receiving herd is important. If breeding animals from high health status herds are entered directly into an existing herd in which certain infections are present and active, the immediate productivity of the new animals is compromised (DPRC, 2013).

Implementing a correct acclimatisation strategy of the new breeding stock will ensure immunity to the diseases in the existing herd before entry.

The main objectives for the acclimatisation period is to:

• Prevent new diseases entering into the existing herd.
• Establish a common immune status between the incoming animals and the existing herd without disturbing the general health in both the new animals and the existing herd.

To ensure the above goals, new breeding stock should always be placed in an isolated quarantine facility.

It is there that the incoming animals can be blood tested to ensure they are not incubating diseases that do no already exist in the production herd.

Furthermore, a vaccination plan in accordance with the on farm health status should be initiated to ensure a health match between the existing herd and the incoming breeding stock (DPRC, 2013).

The vaccination programme should be initiated in the quarantine facility where the new animals are isolated for at least 8 weeks, Depending on health status and vaccination procedures, the isolation period could be extended to 12 weeks (DPRC, 2007).

Develop and implement a diagnostic plan specific to your herd with your herd veterinarian or health services department- DanBred is happy to assist if needed.