Animal health report, Animal welfare | Growing concern about animal crime in Norway

Since the establishment of in Norway in 2020–21, the number of cases has increased steadily, all police districts now have functions to deal with animal welfare crime.

In 2023, the Veterinary Institute received 54 cases with a total of 121 dead animals for investigation, with the main focus on violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Among the most common offenses are neglect, violence and unjustified killing, often linked to under-feeding, poor care and acts of violence.

This is revealed in the Animal Health Report that the Veterinary Institute presented on Thursday.

Succeeds in combating ringworm

The last few years have been characterized by outbreaks of ringworm, from 2017–2022 in Rogaland and last year in Trøndelag in 16 herds.

After the ringworm vaccine became available in 1979, the number of cases has dropped drastically, but they have not succeeded in getting rid of it completely. Most recently with the outbreak in Trøndelag.

However, there were no outbreaks in Rogaland in 2023, thanks to targeted work.

The report estimates that it will still take many years to completely get rid of the ringworm, especially in light of the outbreaks in Trøndelag.

Otherwise, the health situation for Norwegian livestock is good, there is generally a low incidence of serious diseases.

– We see that the risk picture has changed in recent years. It is important that everyone who works with animals has up-to-date knowledge that the risk picture is changing and that this is taken into account in the daily infection control routines, so that we can prevent outbreaks of serious infectious animal diseases in the years to come, says CEO of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority Ingunn Midttun Godal, in a press release.

– I would encourage the industry, farmers and veterinarians to read the report carefully. It provides good information about which diseases can lurk outside the barn door, both now and in the future, continues Godal.

Still low antibiotic use

Norway still has among the lowest consumption of antibiotics in food production in the world, this also helps to confirm that the general animal health is good. The figures for 2022 showed the lowest use of antibiotics in Norway since the measurements began 30 years ago.

In fact, together with Iceland, Norway is best in class, with the lowest antibiotic use in Europe. About 10 percent of all antibiotics are used for animals and the rest for humans. In the rest of the world, the picture is largely the opposite, according to Nortura.

The ability of bacteria to resist treatment with antibiotics (antibiotic resistance) is a serious and growing problem worldwide. The low consumption of antibiotics contributes to the low incidence of antibiotic resistance in Norway.

The report states that the strict regulation of antibiotics in agriculture has been very important for animal health, food safety, public health and antibiotic resistance.

– It is important that each individual farmer is the head of infection control in his own animal husbandry. As a farmer, you must have routines that ensure good protection against infection at all times and in all situations. A written infection control plan must always be updated according to the infection situation and operating conditions, says Godal.

– The effort put in on farms around Norway to preserve good animal health is important. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority, together with other public and private actors, will support this work, says Godal.

Climate and globalization present new dangers

Although there are good times for animal health in Norway, the report shows that this must not be taken for granted.

The fact that the world is getting smaller and climate change are factors that provide the basis for new infectious diseases, and it is emphasized that it is important that the work done on prevention and control continues in order to secure Norwegian food production in the future.

Changes in temperature and precipitation in the future may change conditions for diseases that have not previously existed in Norway because it has been too cold.

It is also expected that climate change can directly affect the health of farm animals, because the animals must also adapt to these changes. In addition, access to feed and water could be affected.