Health diagnosis (cattle, sheep, goat and pig farms)

health diagnosis involves assessing the overall health status of a herd through a series of targeted analyses focusing on pathogens, nutrition, and the animals' environment. Performed on cattle, sheep, goat, and pig farms, it helps farmers, veterinarians, and animal feed manufacturers prevent diseases, identify the root cause of health problems, and ensure both the performance and quality of animal production.

Why conduct a health assessment?
The health of livestock directly impacts its productivity, welfare, and the safety of the products derived from it (milk, meat, eggs). A health assessment allows for the early detection of pathogens, the identification of nutritional deficiencies, the monitoring of drinking water and feed quality, and the tracking of environmental factors that could negatively impact animal health. This approach is essential both for prevention (regular health monitoring, screening) and for response (investigation in the event of decreased performance, abnormal mortality, or an infectious outbreak). For livestock sectors, anticipating health risks means limiting economic losses, reducing the need for treatments, and maintaining trust in the food chain.

Which analyses and matrices?
Animal health diagnosis utilizes a range of analyses tailored to the objective and type of sample. The main matrices analyzed are animal sera (for serology and antibody testing), forages and feed (nutritional quality, contaminants, mycotoxins), drinking water (microbiological and physicochemical quality), as well as various biological samples (feces, tissues, rumen contents) depending on the species. Associated methods include PCR for the rapid and specific detection of pathogens, serology for assessing immune status, and spectroscopy for the physicochemical characterization of matrices. The choice of analysis panel depends on the species, the health context, and the objectives of the farmer or veterinarian.

Complementary methods for further investigation: Depending on the needs, diagnosis can rely on advanced microbial identification techniques. Pathogen identification by MALDI-TOF allows for the rapid identification of bacteria and yeasts to the species level (see our article on MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry ). DNA assays for microbial identification and high-throughput sequencing approaches (see Sanger vs. NGS sequencing ) pave the way for the study of the gut microbiota and the monitoring of pathogens. Finally, biomarker assays (see our article on biomarkers in animal nutrition ) help to assess the metabolic and nutritional status of livestock. This service is relevant to the animal nutrition and animal health sectors .

Why choose YesWeLab?
At YesWeLab, we collaborate with a rigorously selected network of laboratories, most of which are certified and/or accredited (ISO 17025, COFRAC). These laboratories are chosen based on your specific needs, the matrices to be analyzed, and the required analytical techniques or methods. If you have any particular requirements, please do not hesitate to specify them in your request: our scientific team will do everything possible to respond accurately and promptly. Since 2020, numerous manufacturers, distributors, and engineering firms have entrusted us with the management of their analyses, sending us their samples through our digital platform. To learn more or submit a specific request, contact our team today.