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The FAO Expert Panel on Livestock Infertility
Brit. Vet.]. (1964),
12o,
442
THE FAO EXPERT PANEL ON LIVESTOCK INFERTILITY BY W. Ross CocKRILL Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
The system of expert panels as operated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, sometimes in association with its sister agency the World Health Organization, is unique. Panels are composed of specialists who are appointed because of their expert knowledge; they are required to give advice, by correspondence and by participation at meetings, to the organization on specific subjects. The panels are established by the director-general ofFAO, and members are appointed on an honorary basis after consultation with the governments of the member nations to which they belong. The system enables FAO to obtain the latest information on a wide range of subjects. It ensures that a cadre of distinguished specialists is available to provide consultant services when needed. Reports of the meetings-held at intervals of eighteen months to five years-are widely circulated to and within the member nations of the organization. By bringing together outstanding workers, the panel system keeps research projects under constant review and helps to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort. The term of office of members is indefinite, and there is no limit to the number appointed to any one panel. Meetings, however, are restricte;d usually to about ten of those members best qualified to deal with the agenda. Panels are expected to advise the director-general and member governments on how best to make use of available knowledge for the control of animal diseases. FAO needs to be kept informed and advised continuously on progress and developments. Of a total of 39 panels ( 14 of which are operated jointly with other organizations), the Animal Production and Health Division, under the direction of Dr. K. V. L. Kesteven, has the largest share. The division operates 16 panels, including the expert panels of blood group scientists and of dairy education and training. Operated jointly with WHO, the expert panel on veterinary education, which came into being in 1961, is carrying out a programme ofwork which is of far-reaching importance to the veterinary profession everywhere in the world. In this pattern of specialist services in such diverse subjects as the zoonoses, meat hygiene, leptospirosis, standardization of biological products, tick-borne diseases, and food additives, the expert panel on livestock infertility, as one of the oldest of the existing panels, has a notable place. It was founded as a result of recommendations made at an international meeting on livestock infertility in Copenhagen in 1954. In its earlier years it was concerned exclusively with vibriosis. The original panel members were Dr. A. Florent,
THE FAO EXPERT PANEL ON LIVESTOCK INFERTILITY
443
Belgium; Dr. A. Frank, U.S.A.; Dr. J. A. Laing, U.K.; Mr. J. R. Lawson, U.K.; Professor N. 0. Rasbech, Denmark; and Dr. J. I. Terpstra, Netherlands; the FAO secretariat was represented by Sir Thomas Dalling and Dr. W. Ross Cockrill. In this undertaking, as in so many of the animal health projects of FAO, the genius and flair of Sir Thomas Dalling have been largely responsible for its success. The group offounder members has been enlarged and the panel now includes Professor N. Lagerlof, Sweden; Professor H. Dunne, U.S.A.; Mr. S. L. Hignett, U.K.; Dr. G. R. Moule, Australia and Dr. J. T. Stamp, U.K. In addition, co-operation has been forthcoming from Professor J. S. van ·Heerden, South Mrica; Dr. D. R. Lamond, Australia; Professor Allan Bane, Sweden; and Dr. H. C. Adler, who was a member of the secretariat during the period I962j63. If only by emphasizing the importance of vibriosis as a major cause of reduced fertility in cattle to the member nations ofF AO the panel has justified its existence. By recommending methods of diagnosis and control and by encouraging investigation it played an important part in reducing the incidence of vibriosis in many countries. Looking back, it is a remarkable fact that, in all countries where a systematic investigation was conducted, utilizing the diagnostic methods recommended by the panel, the presence of vibriosis was established. With the expansion in the use of artificial insemination the dangers of the widespread dissemination of infection were greatly reduced. In some countries by the exercise of rigorous control the disease has been practically eliminated The field covered by the panel has gradually expanded over the years. It now includes all forms of infertility in most domesticated livestock. At the last meeting, in I963, infertility problems in sheep and pigs were dealt with for the first time and membership of the panel was increased to include experts in these particular species. In view of the urgency of preventing the spread of reproductive and other diseases particular attention has been paid to the importation of exportation of semen. The next meeting of the panel will be held in Rome from I 4 to I 9 September. This follows immediately after the F]fth International Congress on Animal Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, and it is anticipated that all the panel members will be at Trento. The discussions which will take place will be influenced by the trends expressed at the Congress. The agenda for the latest meeting includes perinatal mortality in cattle, sheep and swine resulting from infective agents, heredity and environment, including nutrition. In addition, · as the panel will be represented at the joint FAO-WHO-OIE meeting on the Basic Principles for the Control of International Traffic in Animals and Animal Products, to be held in Berne from I2 to I7 October I964, the agenda includes for consideration the export and import of livestock, semen and ova for breeding purposes.
12o,
442
THE FAO EXPERT PANEL ON LIVESTOCK INFERTILITY BY W. Ross CocKRILL Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
The system of expert panels as operated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, sometimes in association with its sister agency the World Health Organization, is unique. Panels are composed of specialists who are appointed because of their expert knowledge; they are required to give advice, by correspondence and by participation at meetings, to the organization on specific subjects. The panels are established by the director-general ofFAO, and members are appointed on an honorary basis after consultation with the governments of the member nations to which they belong. The system enables FAO to obtain the latest information on a wide range of subjects. It ensures that a cadre of distinguished specialists is available to provide consultant services when needed. Reports of the meetings-held at intervals of eighteen months to five years-are widely circulated to and within the member nations of the organization. By bringing together outstanding workers, the panel system keeps research projects under constant review and helps to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort. The term of office of members is indefinite, and there is no limit to the number appointed to any one panel. Meetings, however, are restricte;d usually to about ten of those members best qualified to deal with the agenda. Panels are expected to advise the director-general and member governments on how best to make use of available knowledge for the control of animal diseases. FAO needs to be kept informed and advised continuously on progress and developments. Of a total of 39 panels ( 14 of which are operated jointly with other organizations), the Animal Production and Health Division, under the direction of Dr. K. V. L. Kesteven, has the largest share. The division operates 16 panels, including the expert panels of blood group scientists and of dairy education and training. Operated jointly with WHO, the expert panel on veterinary education, which came into being in 1961, is carrying out a programme ofwork which is of far-reaching importance to the veterinary profession everywhere in the world. In this pattern of specialist services in such diverse subjects as the zoonoses, meat hygiene, leptospirosis, standardization of biological products, tick-borne diseases, and food additives, the expert panel on livestock infertility, as one of the oldest of the existing panels, has a notable place. It was founded as a result of recommendations made at an international meeting on livestock infertility in Copenhagen in 1954. In its earlier years it was concerned exclusively with vibriosis. The original panel members were Dr. A. Florent,
THE FAO EXPERT PANEL ON LIVESTOCK INFERTILITY
443
Belgium; Dr. A. Frank, U.S.A.; Dr. J. A. Laing, U.K.; Mr. J. R. Lawson, U.K.; Professor N. 0. Rasbech, Denmark; and Dr. J. I. Terpstra, Netherlands; the FAO secretariat was represented by Sir Thomas Dalling and Dr. W. Ross Cockrill. In this undertaking, as in so many of the animal health projects of FAO, the genius and flair of Sir Thomas Dalling have been largely responsible for its success. The group offounder members has been enlarged and the panel now includes Professor N. Lagerlof, Sweden; Professor H. Dunne, U.S.A.; Mr. S. L. Hignett, U.K.; Dr. G. R. Moule, Australia and Dr. J. T. Stamp, U.K. In addition, co-operation has been forthcoming from Professor J. S. van ·Heerden, South Mrica; Dr. D. R. Lamond, Australia; Professor Allan Bane, Sweden; and Dr. H. C. Adler, who was a member of the secretariat during the period I962j63. If only by emphasizing the importance of vibriosis as a major cause of reduced fertility in cattle to the member nations ofF AO the panel has justified its existence. By recommending methods of diagnosis and control and by encouraging investigation it played an important part in reducing the incidence of vibriosis in many countries. Looking back, it is a remarkable fact that, in all countries where a systematic investigation was conducted, utilizing the diagnostic methods recommended by the panel, the presence of vibriosis was established. With the expansion in the use of artificial insemination the dangers of the widespread dissemination of infection were greatly reduced. In some countries by the exercise of rigorous control the disease has been practically eliminated The field covered by the panel has gradually expanded over the years. It now includes all forms of infertility in most domesticated livestock. At the last meeting, in I963, infertility problems in sheep and pigs were dealt with for the first time and membership of the panel was increased to include experts in these particular species. In view of the urgency of preventing the spread of reproductive and other diseases particular attention has been paid to the importation of exportation of semen. The next meeting of the panel will be held in Rome from I 4 to I 9 September. This follows immediately after the F]fth International Congress on Animal Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, and it is anticipated that all the panel members will be at Trento. The discussions which will take place will be influenced by the trends expressed at the Congress. The agenda for the latest meeting includes perinatal mortality in cattle, sheep and swine resulting from infective agents, heredity and environment, including nutrition. In addition, · as the panel will be represented at the joint FAO-WHO-OIE meeting on the Basic Principles for the Control of International Traffic in Animals and Animal Products, to be held in Berne from I2 to I7 October I964, the agenda includes for consideration the export and import of livestock, semen and ova for breeding purposes.