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)

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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)

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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)

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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

309 – Role of Feed Processing on Gut Health and Function in Pigs and Poultry_ Conundrum of Optimal Particle Size and Hydrothermal Regimens (Research paper – Kiarie – 2019)

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309 Research paper – Kiarie – 2019 – Role of Feed Processing on Gut Health and Function in Pigs and Poultry_ Conundrum of Optimal Particle Size and Hydrothermal Regimens

In Significant Impact Groups: Feed / gut health \ Feed composition
Species targeted: Pigs; Poultry;
Age: Not stated;
Summary:
Processing livestock feed influences gut health/function, efficacy of feed enzymes and nutrient availability. Finer feed particles allow better absorption of nutrients (increased surface area allowing better contact with digestive enzymes) and enhance animal performance. There is a limit to the particle size; very fine particles negatively affect gut health, i.e. stomach ulceration in pigs and gizzard dysfunction in poultry. Coarse particle size increases stomach and hindgut acidification, which may be beneficial in controlling overgrowth of gut bacteria, such as salmonella and E. coli. However, since most commercial pig/poultry diets are subject to heating to reduce levels of feed-borne bacteria (e.g. Salmonella) reduction of feed particle size is inevitable. However, achieving high nutritional quality and processing at high temperatures does not favour high nutrient availability and stability of heat sensitive enzymes. Therefore, feed processing balance maximum nutrient utilization, feed hygiene status, stability of enzymes post-processing and impact on gut health.

Where to find the original material: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30838217/; https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00019
Country: CA

308 Antimicrobial prescription patterns of veterinarians_ introduction of a benchmarking approach (Research paper; Bos, 2015)

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308 Research paper – Bos – 2015 – Antimicrobial prescription patterns of veterinarians_ introduction of a benchmarking approach

In Significant Impact Groups: Prudent use AB \ Veterinarian
Species targeted: Pigs; Poultry; Dairy; Beef;
Summary: A benchmark indicator for antimicrobial use on farms in the Netherlands was defined and introduced in 2011. As established by Dutch law, each farm is linked to one specific veterinarian (the contracted veterinarian), and therefore analysis of defined daily dosages animal per farm (DDDAF) can be done for all farms served by one veterinarian. The benchmark indicator for veterinarians estimates the likelihood of exceeding the farm action benchmark threshold for all farms for which the veterinarian is the contracted veterinarian. The added value of setting benchmarks for veterinarians is first and foremost to be found in self-regulation of the veterinarians, as the benchmark threshold is expected to stimulate veterinarians to mirror their prescription pattern to their colleagues and to trigger discussions between veterinarians.
Where to find the original material: https://academic.oup.com/jac/article/70/8/2423/811814; https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkv104
Country: NL

307 – Milk supplemented with immune colostrum – Protection against rotavirusdiarrhea and modulatory effect on the systemic and mucosal antibodyresponses (Research paper – Parreno – 2010)

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307 Research paper – Parreno – 2010 – Milk supplemented with immune colostrum_ Protection against rotavirusdiarrhea and modulatory effect on the systemic and mucosal antibodyresponses

In Significant Impact Groups: Feed / gut health \ Early feeding (colostrum/feed)
Species targeted: Dairy; Beef;
Age: Young;
Summary:
Giving milk supplemented with rotavirus immune colostrum for the first 14 days of life induced high protection rates against rotavirus diarrhoea in calves during the period of peak susceptibility to infection and a positive effect of the calves’ immune responses. All calves received control colostrum prior to gut closure followed by the milk supplemented with immune colostrum, twice a day, for 14 days. Calves received milk supplemented with 0.8% immune colostrum (G1) or milk supplemented with 0.4% immune colostrum (G2). Calves were inoculated with rotavirus at 2 days of age. After challenge, all calves in G1 and 2 were fully protected against diarrhoea and only 1 of 5 calves in G1 shed virus asymptomatically. The duration of the supplemented milk feeding were key factors to obtain high protection during the period of peak susceptibility to diarrhoea.

Where to find the original material: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20138373/; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2010.01.003
Country: AG

306 – Ensuring optimal colostrum transfer to newborn dairy calves (Research paper – Patel – 2014)

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306 Research paper – Patel – 2014 – Ensuring optimal colostrum transfer to newborn dairy calves

In Significant Impact Groups: Other
Species targeted: Dairy; Beef;
Age: Young;
Summary:
This article reviews best practice recommendations for healthy calves via optimal colostrum feeding. Colostrum must be collected hygienically and fed promptly (<1h) or stored using refrigeration/potassium sorbate as preservative/freezing and/or pasteurisation. All equipment must be scrupulously cleaned. A first feed of 3-4L colostrum (approximately 10% body weight) should be fed within 2h of birth and no later than 6h of birth. This should contain >50g/L immunoglobulin (Ig). Adequate intake cannot be assumed when calves suckle their dam. Pooling of colostrum between cows increases the risk of disease transfer. Feeding with a nipple bottle promotes oesophageal groove closure but if calves fail to suck then colostrum should be fed via oesophageal tube. Calves not receiving adequate colostrum (<10g/L of IgG or <50g/L total protein on bloods) have a reduced ability to fight disease. Mortality rates and disease incidence should be monitored to detect problems early and prevent future issues.

Where to find the original material: https://www.farmantibiotics.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Ensuring-optimal-colostrum-transfer-to-newborn-dairy-calves.pdf;
Country: UK

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

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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)

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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

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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