Why AIT?
Currently, AIT of terrestrial farm animals, feral animals and wildlife is a global effort of members of the value chain (producers, input suppliers, traders, slaughter enterprises, product processors, wholesale and retail traders), the competent veterinary and food safety authorities, livestock and support services as well as their regional and global organizations (OIE, WHO, FAO, WTO, ICAR and others). AIT offers multiple chances to manage and improve the different fields of application and requires dedication so that the incremental costs are more than offset by incremental benefits:
| Subsector | Activity | Examples |
Animal Health | Control contagious and infectious diseases | Rinderpest, CBPP, PPR; FMD, Class. and Afr. Swine Fever, Newcastle disease; Bluetongue, EBL, BHV1, BVD/MD, Schmallenberg Virus; Sheep pox, Goat pox |
| Control zoonoses | TB, Brucellosis, Avian Influenza, Rabies, TSE, Dermatophytosis (Ringworm) | |
| Control pollution from parasite and vector-borne diseases | Parasites: Trichinosis, worm infestations, liverfluke; Vector-borne diseases: Tick-borne diseases, trypanosomiasis, Rift Valley Fever, African Horse Sickness etc. | |
| Control import, transit and export of animals, food and other products of animal origin | Export certification, control of imports, transit and lairage/storage | |
Food Safety | Assure freedom from zoonoses | Salmonella in poultry, pigs and ruminants; monitor disease hazards from highly infective fowl diseases |
| Control animal food hygiene and residues | Control wholesomeness of food and drug residues e.g. in sport horses | |
Animal Welfare | Control housing | Poultry, pigs, calves and adult animals of the bovine species, horses, zoo animals |
| Control transport | Poultry, pigs, calves and adult animals of the bovine species, horses, zoo animals | |
| Control slaughter | Poultry, pigs, calves and adult animals of the bovine species, horses, zoo animals | |
Environmental Degradation/Pollution | Control stocking densities | Livestock units per ha, ha per livestock unit |
| Control soil pollution for undesirable nutrients, parasites and pathogens | Excess nitrate entry into soil and run-off into drainage; spread of internal and external parasites (worms, trichinae) | |
Conservation of Animal Genetic Diversity | Monitoring rare and endangered breeds | Farm livestock monitored through national/regional focal points and FAO Government conservation programs for rare/endangered breeds |
Stock Theft | Marking, uniquely identifying, registering and tracing livestock | Pastoralist areas in Africa, Middle East, South Asia; |
Herd management/ production recording | Supporting herd, feeding, reproduction and milking management and recording | Productivity (products, reproduction, fitness– productive life, udder and general health): regional, national and international comparisons (ICAR) |
Breeding | Dam and Sire recording | Avoid inbreeding |
| Genetic performance, dam and sire evaluation | Compensatory and selective mating | |
| Genomic and conventional breeding value estimation: regional, national and international comparisons (Interbull) | ||
Sector Governance | Admin. of animal related Govt. databases | Animal Health monitoring |
| Food safety monitoring | ||
| Subsidy administration | ||
| Pollution control |