305 – Decentring antibiotics – UK responses to the diseases of intensive pig production (Research paper – Woods – 2019)

/in , , , , /by

 

 

305 Research paper – Woods – 2019 – Decentring antibiotics_ UK responses to the diseases of intensive pig production

In Significant Impact Groups: AMU reduction strategies
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
It is assumed that antibiotics had a transformative effect on livestock production by making it possible to keep larger numbers of animals in smaller spaces without them succumbing to disease. This article argues that their impact has been overstated. It draws on evidence from the veterinary, farming and government literature to demonstrate the significance of other methods devised by vets, farmers etc. of reducing diseases that emerged in association with intensive production systems. These methods predated antibiotics and evolved alongside them. They understood pig diseases as highly complex interactions between pigs and their environments. Recognition of the roles played by housing, husbandry, nutrition, and pathogens in the production of pig disease suggested multiple possible points of intervention other than antibiotics. This article challenges existing claims about antibiotics role in intensive farming, and draws attention to other methods of promoting pig health, which may find renewed applications as we move towards a post-antibiotic era.

Where to find the original material: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-019-0246-5#article-info; https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-019-0246-5
Country: UK

304 – Strategies for reduced antibiotic usage in dairy cattle farms (Research paper – Trevisi – 2014)

/in , , , , , /by

 

 

304 Research paper – Trevisi – 2014 – Strategies for reduced antibiotic usage in dairy cattle farms

In Significant Impact Groups: Prudent use AB \ Farmer; AMU reduction strategies
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
The need for antibiotic treatments in dairy cattle farms can be reduced by a combined intervention scheme based on: (1) timely clinical inspections, (2) the assessment of animal-based welfare parameters, and (3) the use of predictive laboratory tests. These can provide greater insight into the current status of dairy cows and define animals at risk of contracting disease. In the long-term, improved disease control justifies the adoption of such a combined strategy. Many antibiotic treatments for chronic disease cases are often not justified after a cost/benefit analysis, because the repeated treatment does not give rise to the expected outcome in terms of animal health. With untreated cases, antibiotics may not lead to greater cure rates for some forms of mastitis. Lastly, a substantial reduction of antibiotic usage in dairy farms can be achieved through the proper use of immunomodulators, aimed at increasing immunocompetence and disease resistance of cows.

Where to find the original material: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24508188/; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2014.01.001.
Country: IT

303 – Antimicrobial Usage and -Resistance in Livestock – Where Should We Focus (Research paper – Magouras – 2017)Research paper – Magouras – 2017

/in , , , , , , , , , /by

 

 

303 Research paper – Magouras – 2017 – Antimicrobial Usage and -Resistance in Livestock_ Where Should We Focus

In Significant Impact Groups: AMU reduction strategies \ Monitoring and surveillance; Antibiotic use; Prudent use AB
Species targeted: Pigs; Poultry; Dairy; Beef; Sheep;
Age: Different for different species
Summary:
Antimicrobials play a crucial role in animal health, animal welfare, and food-safety . However, a not yet quantifiable share of the burden of AMR is attributable to the use of antimicrobials in livestock production. Resistant bacteria can be introduced into the environment in many ways, such as the land application of livestock manure as fertilizer. Our understanding of AMR in livestock production is hampered by the lack of antimicrobial usage (AMU) data in many countries. AMR development and spread is driven by human behaviour, from the prescription of antimicrobials to infection prevention and control. This complexity necessitates the need for highly interdisciplinary research approaches, comprising humans, animals, and the wider environment. In line with the WHO global action plan on AMR, research should be prioritized toward understanding the social/behavioural drivers of AMU and AMR, establishing/improving systems to monitor AMU, and encouraging a holistic approach to AMR through the One-Health concept.
303 Research paper – Magouras – 2017 – Antimicrobial Usage and -Resistance in Livestock_ Where Should We Focus
Where to find the original material: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2017.00148/full; https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2017.00148
Country: CH

302 – Quantifying the beliefs of key players in the UK sheep industry on the efficacy of two treatments for footrot (Research paper – Winter – 2018)

/in , , , , , /by

 

 

302 Research paper – Winter – 2018 – Quantifying the beliefs of key players in the UK sheep industry on the efficacy of two treatments for footrot

In Significant Impact Groups: Pathogen management \ Managing sick animals
Species targeted: Sheep;
Age: Not stated;
Summary:
This study investigated how key players in the UK sheep industry recommended treating footrot, and tested whether reviewing the evidence surrounding treatment of footrot changed their beliefs. Eight key players attended a workshop to investigate current practice. All participants recommended use of antibiotic injection but only four recommended not foot trimming feet with footrot. During discussions, participants stated that parenteral antibiotics had always been recommended as a treatment for footrot but that the new research clarified when to use them. In contrast, it was highly novel to hear that foot trimming was detrimental to recovery. After hearing the evidence, seven of the eight would recommend avoiding foot trimming. Some key players were resistant to changing beliefs despite hearing the evidence. Three months after the workshop, three participants stated that they now placed greater emphasis on rapid individual antibiotic treatment of lame sheep and not foot trimming feet.

Where to find the original material: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090023318303988?via%3Dihub; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2018.07.009
Country: UK

301 – Footrot and interdigital dermatitis in sheep_ farmer satisfaction with current management their ideal management and sources used to adopt new strategies (Research paper – Wassink – 2010)

/in , , , , , , /by

 

 

301 Research paper – Wassink – 2010 – Footrot and interdigital dermatitis in sheep_ farmer satisfaction with current management their ideal management and sources used to adopt new strateg

In Significant Impact Groups: Pathogen management \ Managing sick animals; Targeted use of antibiotics
Species targeted: Sheep;
Age: Not stated;
Summary:
160 UK sheep farmers were asked via questionnaire about their current management for footrot sheep and their satisfaction with it. Farmers satisfied with current management reported </= 5% lameness. Farmers reported treating lame sheep within 3 days of first seeing them lame, and those with FR/ID with parenteral antibiotics. Farmers dissatisfied with their management reported >5% lameness. These farmers practised routine foot trimming, footbathing and vaccination against footrot. Whilst 89% of farmers said they were satisfied with their management of FR, >34% were interested in changing what they did. Farmers reported that ideally they would control FR by culling/isolating lame sheep, sourcing replacements from non-lames, trimming feet less, using less antibiotics and using vaccination more. Footbathing was common, linked with dissatisfaction but also listed highly as ideal management. Some of the ideal managements aligned with best practice but others contrasted with it suggesting cognitive dissonance was present.

Where to find the original material: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20594602/; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2010.06.002
Country: UK

300 – The combined use of ozone therapy and autologous platelet-rich plasma as an alternative approach to foot rot treatment for sheep – A preliminary study (Research paper – Szpondera – 2017)

/in , , , , , /by

 

 

300 Research paper – Szpondera – 2017 – The combined use of ozone therapy and autologous platelet-rich plasma as an alternative approach to foot rot treatment for sheep_ A preliminary study

In Significant Impact Groups: Pathogen management \ Eradication; Specific alternatives
Species targeted: Sheep;
Age: Not stated;
Summary:
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ozone therapy and platelet rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of acute foot rot. 10 sheep suffering from foot rot were treated and compared to a control group of 5 healthy sheep. Treatment consisted of local ozone application and then with non-healing cases, the application of PRP. We analysed effectiveness of combined treatment and the potential toxicity of ozone therapy. Complete recovery was achieved after local ozone treatment in 6/10 sheep. The remaining four animals also healed after the subsequent PRP therapy. Our results showed that ozone treatment did not cause major blood or inflammatory changes. We demonstrated that the local application of ozone and PRP proved to be an effective foot rot treatment that avoids the use of antibiotics/ disinfectants. However, due to the relatively high costs and time requirements, it is potentially most suitable for smaller farms.

Where to find the original material: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0921448817302201?via%3Dihub; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2017.08.015
Country: PO

299 – Sheep lameness presents a huge challenge in terms of welfare and economics (Research paper – Oliver – 2017)

/in , , , , , , /by

 

 

299 Research paper – Oliver – 2017 – Sheep lameness presents a huge challenge in terms of welfare and economics

In Significant Impact Groups: Pathogen management \ Managing sick animals; Diagnostics
Species targeted: Sheep;
Age: Not stated;
Summary:
A study was conducted in 2008 where 809 English sheep farmers were asked to identify six foot lesions; only 20% of farmers named all six lesions correctly. This study highlights the necessity of vets in advising and educating producers about sheep lameness. Foot lameness in sheep can be attributed to infectious or non-infectious causes. The three infectious causes of lameness covered in this article are:
• Ovine interdigital dermatitis (OID), often referred to as scald. • Foot rot. • Contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD). Non-infectious causes of lameness are less common and include:
• White line degeneration • Foot abscess • Toe granuloma Getting an accurate diagnosis is essential in advising on prevention, control and treatment. Often, one or more conditions are present on a farm. Lesions can be in the early or chronic phase, where they can appear grossly very different, so sufficient animals need to be examined to achieve a diagnosis.

Where to find the original material: https://www.vettimes.co.uk/app/uploads/wp-post-to-pdf-enhanced-cache/1/sheep-lameness-common-types-causes-and-control-strategies.pdf;
Country: UK

298 – Genetic determinism estimate for the mastitis resistance in Romanian buffalo (Research paper – Popa – 2017)

/in , , , , /by

 

 

298 Research paper – Popa – 2017 – Genetic determinism estimate for the mastitis resistance in Romanian buffalo

In Significant Impact Groups: Breeding for disease resistance or robustness \
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
The Romanian Buffalo numbers are decreasing and therefore it is very important to develop efficient breeding programs or active conservation to improve population for characters associated with these productions. The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for milk somatic cells count. Also, this character could allow a selection of individuals in the direction of resistance to mastitis. A total 609 milk yield and associated data records, belonging to 87 females were analyzed for 7 lactations. Study has revealed the existence of a poor genetic determinism for somatic cell count and a high variability in connection to the number of lactations. Results indicate that environmental factors play a substantial role in genetic expression. So, the number of somatic cells must be exclusively an indicator of milk hygiene and not included in selection objective of buffaloes (resistance to mastitis).

Where to find the original material: https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20173233315;
Country: RO

297 – Dairy Cows Welfare Assessment in a Farm from South-Eastern Romania (Research paper – Furnaris – 2016)

/in , , , , /by

 

 

297 Research paper – Furnaris – 2016 – Dairy Cows Welfare Assessment in a Farm from South-Eastern Romania

In Significant Impact Groups: Housing and welfare
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Adult;
Summary:

The welfare level of dairy cows in a farm from the South-Eastern Romania was studied in a mixed house with the Austrian Animal Needs Index 35L/2000 system. A total of 26 welfare indicators were assessed in 5 areas: locomotion, social interactions, flooring, light and air, stockmanship. Analyzing the results, it could be noticed that the highest scored indicators were those within the Locomotion and Social interactions areas (as expected, considering the loose-system applied in the studied farm). The lowest scored areas were Flooring and Light and air, the critical indicators being light (uneven lighting and some low intensity values: 28-30 Lx) and outdoor areas cleanliness, resulting in poor animal cleanliness. Addressing this issue along with the cleanliness of the outdoor areas may improve the welfare level and may also increase the milk production.

Where to find the original material: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2210784316302741; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aaspro.2016.09.081
Country: RO

296 – The effect of vaccination on the transmission of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in pigs under field conditions (Research paper – Villarreal – 2011)

/in , , , , , /by

 

 

296 Research paper – Villarreal – 2011 – The effect of vaccination on the transmission of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in pigs under field conditions

In Significant Impact Groups: Pathogen management \ Vaccination
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young;
Summary:
This study investigated the effect of vaccination against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae on its transmission in nursery pigs under field conditions. Seventy-two pigs were randomly placed at weaning into vaccinated (V) and non-vaccinated (NV) groups. Animals in the V group were vaccinated at 3 weeks of age with a commercial M. hyopneumoniae bacterin vaccine. Broncho-alveolar lavage fluid taken at weaning and at the end of the nursery period was assessed for the presence of M. hyopneumoniae, and the reproduction ratio of infection (Rn) was calculated. The study indicates that vaccination does not significantly reduce the transmission of this respiratory pathogen.

Where to find the original material: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090023310001450; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2010.04.024
Country: BE