Computerised food safety monitoring in animal production

In recent years new approaches for food safety and food quality have been developed aimed at considering consumer demand. The 'stable to table' approach is such an integrated system covering the entire food chain. It contains all elements of the food production chain including the health and welfare of animals. We describe a model for an encompassing computerised health management system in the entire production chain from breeding to slaughter and the development of an early warning system at the farm level. The model is structured according to the data recording, processing and exchange of information between farms, abattoir and the consulting service. Therefore a prerequisite for such a system is the implementation of a central organisation sharing information and communication between the parties. The data recording system focuses upon the systematic and regular performance of receiving, in-process and final inspections at every stage of the chain. Both control and inspection are performed using check-lists, ranking system, assessment of suppliers, the monitoring of environmental conditions and herd health, to reveal risk elements in each production stage. Process-oriented data flow concerning pre-information and preventive measures proposal is impossible without the support of modem information technology. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.