320 – Animal Sound Talks Real-time Sound Analysis for Health Monitoring in Livestock (Research paper – Berckmans – 2015)

 

 

320 Research paper – Berckmans – 2015 – Animal Sound Talks Real-time Sound Analysis for Health Monitoring in Livestock

In Significant Impact Groups: Precision Livestock Farming & Early detection \ Sensor technology
Species targeted: Pigs; Beef;
Age: Young;
Summary:
Precision livestock farming (PLF) is a livestock management technology. Sound-based PLF techniques have significant advantages over other technologies such as cameras. Besides the fact that microphones are contactless and relatively cheap, there is no need for a direct line of sight, while large groups of animals can be monitored with a single sensor in a room. This paper presents an example of a PLF product, the respiratory distress monitor, which automatically monitors the respiratory health status of a group of pigs. Results of five different use cases are discussed to show the effectiveness of the respiratory distress monitor as an early warning tool for respiratory problems in a pig house. It is demonstrated that the tool works for the early detection of animal responses due to technical issues (ventilation problems) and health issues in a wide range of different conditions in commercial European pig houses.

Where to find the original material: https://limo.libis.be/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=LIRIAS1673361&context=L&vid=Lirias&search_scope=Lirias&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US&fromSitemap=1;
Country: BE

318 – Perceptions circumstances and motivators that influence implementation of zoonotic control programs on cattle farms (Research paper – Ellis-Iversen – 2010)

 

 

318 Research paper – Ellis-Iversen – 2010 – Perceptions circumstances and motivators that influence implementation of zoonotic control programs on cattle farms

In Significant Impact Groups: AMU reduction strategies \
Species targeted: Dairy; Beef;
Age: Not stated;
Summary:
The implementation of disease control programs on farms requires an act of behavioral change. Interviews were conducted with 43 farmers in England and Wales with the objective to explore the perception of responsibility for zoonotic control among cattle farmers and identifying barriers that influence the implementation of control programs. Younger farmers and/or larger herds were more likely to place financial responsibility upon the industry rather than government. In general, attitudes towards zoonotic control were positive, but approximately half the farmers showed no intent to control. The remaining farmers showed intent to control, but had not implemented any structured control program due to external barriers including lack of knowledge and both cultural and economic pressure from society and industry. Farmers with no intent to adopt control measures identified their private veterinarian as the preferred motivator, whereas consumer-demand and financial rewards or penalties were significantly associated with farmers who intended to control.

Where to find the original material: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2009.11.005; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2009.11.005
Country: UK

317 – Antimicrobial use in Swedish farrow-to-finish pig herds is related to farmer characteristics (Research paper – Backhans 2016)

 

 

317 Research paper – Backhans 2016 – Antimicrobial use in Swedish farrow-to-finish pig herds is related to farmer characteristics

In Significant Impact Groups: AMU reduction strategies
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:

The farm , or farm-related factors influencing antimicrobial (AM) use in 60 farrow-to finish pig farms in Sweden was investigated and how biosecurity level, farmers’ attitudes to AM and information provided by the herd veterinarian influence AM use under Swedish conditions. There was no significant association between biosecurity and AM use and attitudes to AM were also not significant associated with AM use. However, individual characteristics of farmer were found to be important. Older farmers, females and university-educated farmers used more AM in suckling piglets, and older farmers use more AM in weaners. Larger farms were associated with higher treatment incidence in fatteners. The lack of association between AM use and biosecurity was explained by the general better biosecurity level in Swedish herds and may thus be more difficult to identify, and might be due to the overall better health status of the pigs.

Where to find the original material: https://porcinehealthmanagement.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40813-016-0035-0; https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-016-0035-0
Country: SE

316 – Effects of Reducing Antimicrobial Use and Applying a Cleaning and Disinfection Program in veal calve farming (Research paper – Dorado-Garcia – 2015

 

 

316 Research paper – Dorado-Garcia k – 2015 – Effects of Reducing Antimicrobial Use and Applying a Cleaning and Disinfection Program in veal calve farming

In Significant Impact Groups: Biosecurity \Internal biosecurity; Housing
Species targeted: Beef;
Age: Young;
Summary:
This study evaluated strategies to curb livestock-associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA). Fifty-one veal calf farms were assigned to one of 3 study arms: RAB farms reducing antimicrobials by protocol; RAB-CD farms reducing antimicrobials by protocol and applying a cleaning and disinfection program; and Control farms without interventions. MRSA carriage was tested in week 0 and week 12 of 2 consecutive production cycles in farmers, family members and veal calves.
This intervention study showed that lower levels of antimicrobial consumption significantly reduced the probability for MRSA carriage in veal calves. The specific cleaning and disinfection program used in this study was not shown to be successful, possibly because it resulted in increased MRSA air loads. A set of determinants for MRSA in calves were disclosed longitudinally to possibly give shape to more refined additional future interventions.

Where to find the original material: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4549302/pdf/pone.0135826.pdf ; https://doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0135826
Country: NL

315 – Determinants of antimicrobial treatment for udder health in Danish dairy cattle herds (Research paper – Gussmann – 2017)

 

 

315 Research paper – Gussmann – 2017 – Determinants of antimicrobial treatment for udder health in Danish dairy cattle herds

In Significant Impact Groups: AMU reduction strategies \ Monitoring and surveillance Antibiotic use
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
This study analyzes database recordings of milk yield and somatic cell count from routine milk recording schemes, clinical registrations of mastitis, and cow factors such as days in milk and parity in relation to antibiotic treatments for 518 dairy herds in Denmark. Analysis was performed to identify the driving predictors for treatment in different groups of farms. The results showed that determinants that were most important for predicting antibiotic treatments vary from one farm to another. Health indicators such as test results or somatic cell count were most indicative for treatment on some farms, whereas other groups seemed to depend more on production factors (milk yield) or later culling of the cows. This shows that farmers behave differently and differences can be identified in register data. This information can be considered when developing cost-effective herd-specific control measures of mastitis to promote prudent use of antibiotics in Danish dairy cattle farms.

Where to find the original material: https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(17)30952-9/fulltext; https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2017-12994
Country: DA

314 The Seed Feed and Weed approach to managing intestinal health in drug-free production systems by The Poultry Informed Professional (Industry Innovation)

 

 

314 Industry Innovation – The Seed Feed and Weed approach to managing intestinal health in drug-free production systems by The Poultry Informed Professional

In Significant Impact Groups: Feed / gut health \ Feeding management
Species targeted: Poultry;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
The three most important legs of an effective intestinal management program include: “seeding” the gut with favourable organisms, “feeding” the favourable organisms and “weeding” out the unfavourable organisms. This involves applying a probiotic/competitive exclusion product as soon after hatch as possible. Adding a suitable organic acid via the drinking water to increasing its concentration in the small intestine and enhance the capacity of the favourable organisms to colonize and rapidly dominate the microbial community of the small intestine. Blocking the attachment mechanism of unfavourable organisms with a type-1 fimbria blocker and thereby reducing their capacity to compete with the favourable organisms in the gut.

Where to find the original material: https://journals.co.za/doi/10.10520/ejc-vp_afma_v30_n4_a10
Country: US

313 – Responsible use of antibiotics on sheep farms – Application at farm level (Research paper – Lovatt – 2019)

 

 

313 Research paper – Lovatt – 2019 – Responsible use of antibiotics on sheep farms_ application at farm level

In Significant Impact Groups: Prudent use AB \ Veterinarian
Species targeted: Sheep;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
This article describes how veterinary surgeons and sheep farmers can work together to plan, prevent and protect against three specific disease management issues – infectious lameness, enzootic abortion of ewes and neonatal bacterial infections – by replacing, refining and reducing the use of antibiotics on farm, based on guidelines drawn up by the UK Sheep Veterinary Society.
313

Where to find the original material: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1625428/responsible-use-of-antibiotics-on-sheep-farms-application-at-farm-level; http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/inp.k5370
Country: UK

312 – To prescribe or not to prescribe A factorial survey to explore veterinarians decision making when prescribing antimicrobials to sheep and beef farmers (Research paper – Doidge – 2019)

 

 

312 Research paper – Doidge – 2019 – To prescribe or not to prescribe A factorial survey to explore veterinarians decision making when prescribing antimicrobials to sheep and beef farmers

In Significant Impact Groups: Prudent use AB \ Veterinarian
Species targeted: Beef; Sheep;
Age: Not stated;
Summary:
The aim of this study was to measure the influence of factors from social theories on veterinarians’ decision to prescribe antimicrobials to sheep and beef farmers without a clinical consultation. Respondents were presented with eight scenarios where a farmer asks for antimicrobials at the veterinary practice. Seven further factors, identified from constructs of social theories, were included in the scenarios. The factors case type, farmer relationship, other veterinarians in practice, time pressure, habit, willingness to pay, and confidence in the farmer, were significant in the decision to prescribe. Confidence in the farmer was the most influential variable. Factors about vets that had significant influence on the decision to prescribe were agreeableness personality score, region of veterinary practice, and presence of a small animal department. These influential factors could be considered to target interventions in farm animal veterinary practice for improved antimicrobial stewardship.

Where to find the original material: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0213855; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0213855
Country: UK

311 – Non-antibiotic feed additives in diets for pigs – A review (Research paper – Liu – 2018)

 

 

311 Research paper – Liu – 2018 – Non-antibiotic feed additives in diets for pigs_ A review

In Significant Impact Groups: Feed / gut health \ Feed additives and supplements
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
A number of feed additives are marketed to assist in boosting the pigs’ immune system, regulate gut microbiota, and reduce negative impacts of weaning and other environmental challenges. The most commonly used feed additives include acidifiers, zinc and copper, prebiotics, direct-fed microbials, yeast products, nucleotides, and plant extracts. Inclusion of pharmacological levels of zinc and copper, certain acidifiers, and several plant extracts have been reported to result in improved pig performance or improved immune function of pigs. It is also possible that use of prebiotics, direct-fed microbials, yeast, and nucleotides may have positive impacts on pig performance, but results have been less consistent and there is a need for more research in this area.

Where to find the original material: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30140751/; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2018.01.007.
Country: US

310 – A participatory farmer-led approach to changing practice around antimicrobial use on UK dairy farms (Research paper – Morgans – 2019)

 

 

310 Research paper – Morgans – 2019 – A participatory farmer-led approach to changing practice around antimicrobial use on UK dairy farms

In Significant Impact Groups: AMU reduction strategies \ Monitoring and surveillance Disease/health; Prudent use AB
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
Five Farmer Action Groups (FAG) were established and followed for 2 years to understand how a participatory approach helped to achieve practical, farmer-led changes to reduce reliance on antimicrobials on their farms. Medicine Reviews, benchmarking and a co-created, practical Action Plan helped each farm to assess change in AMU. Farms implemented at least one recommendation from their Action Plan within a year with an average implementation of 54.3%. 70% of farms reduced highest priority critically important antimicrobial use over the 2 years. Knowledge exchange on herd health during the farm walks and facilitated discussions empowered farmers to change practices and a sense of solidarity arose from going through a process of change together. Knowledge gaps were identified by the farmers, particularly issues around knowledge mobilisation between veterinarians and farmers at the time of the study. The facilitators supported the knowledge mobilisation and helped build a sense of solidarity within the FAG.

Where to find the original material: https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/a-participatory-farmer-led-approach-to-changing-practice-around-a;
Country: UK