132 Application of multiblock modelling to identify key drivers for antimicrobial use in pig production in four European countries (Research paper – Collineau, 2018)

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132 Research paper – Collineau – 2018 – Application of multiblock modelling to identify key drivers for antimicrobial use in pig production in four European countries

In Significant Impact Groups: Pathogen management \ Biosecurity
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
Antimicrobial use in pig farming is influenced by a range of risk factors, including herd characteristics, biosecurity level, farm performance, occurrence of clinical signs and vaccination scheme, as well as farmers’ attitudes and habits towards antimicrobial use. So far, the effect of these risk factors has been explored separately. This study aimed to investigate the relative importance of all these risk factors in a sample of 207 farrow- to-finish farms from Belgium, France, Germany and Sweden. The occurrence of clinical signs, especially of respiratory and nervous diseases in fatteners, was one of the largest contributing risk factors in all four countries, whereas the effect of the other risk factors differed between countries. In terms of risk management, it suggests that a holistic and country-specific mitigation strategy is likely to be more effective.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29665870; https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268818000742

Country: CH; FR; SE; DE; BE

 

126 Biosecurity and animal disease management in organic and conventional Swedish dairy herds – A questionnaire study (Research paper; Emanuelson, 2018)

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126 Research paper – Emanuelson – 2018 – Biosecurity and animal disease management in organic and conventional Swedish dairy herds_ a questionnaire study

Biosecurity \ Pathogen management
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Adult;
Summary:
A questionnaire study on biosecurity and animal disease management activities was therefore conducted among Swedish farmers with organic and conventional dairy cattle herds. Herd characteristics of the two herd types were very similar, except that pipeline/tie-stall systems were less common in organic farms and that organic farmers had a higher education level than their conventional counterparts. Farmers of organic herds were more positive to policy actions to reduce the use and need for antibiotics, and they reported waiting longer before contacting a veterinarian for calves with diarrhoea and cows with subclinical mastitis. The results indicate that animal health is as important in conventionally managed dairy herds in Sweden as in organically managed herds.

Where to find the original material: https://actavetscand.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s13028-018-0376-6; https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-018-0376-6
Country: SE

123 Risk Assessment as a Tool for Improving External Biosecurity at Farm Level Sweden (Tools & Checklists)

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123 ToolsChecklists – Risk Assessment as a Tool for Improving External Biosecurity at Farm Level SWEDEN

In Significant Impact Groups: Biosecurity \External Biosecurity
Species targeted: Pigs; Dairy; Beef;
Summary: The study provide a tool for calculating the effects of different biosecurity measures and strategies on the individual farm level. A simple model was developed to assess the risk of disease introduction and the need for biosecurity measures in individual farms. To illustrate the general applicability of the tool, it was applied to theoretical examples of Swedish cattle and pig farms and diseases endemic in those animal species in the EU. The most important factors affecting the risk, and the effect of biosecurity measures were the frequency of between-farm contacts and prevalence of the disease. Model outputs could be used to justify prioritisation of measures or adapting contact patterns. The theoretic exercise of adjusting model inputs and comparing outputs may help veterinary advisors to understand farm-specific risks and motivate farmers to improve biosecurity in their individual farm, as it can be tailored to each farmer’s needs and preferences.
Where to find the original material: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4515931/;
Country: Sweden;

122 A survey of visitors on Swedish livestock farms with reference to the spread of animal diseases (Research paper; Noremark, 2013)

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122 Research paper – Noremark – 2013 – A survey of visitors on Swedish livestock farms with reference to the spread of animal diseases

In Significant Impact Groups: Biosecurity \External biosecurity
Species targeted: Pigs; Dairy; Sheep;
Age: Different for different species;
Summary: Visitors may contribute to the spread of contagious animal diseases, and knowledge about such contacts is essential for contingency planning. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and types of visitors on farms with cloven-hoofed animals in Sweden and to analyse whether there were differences in the number of visitors attributable to region, season, and type of herd. Veterinarians, AI-technicians, animal transporters and neighbours were often in direct contact with the animals or entered the stables and 8.8% of the repairmen were also in direct contact with animals, which was unexpected. The Swedish livestock farms survey concluded that the number of visitors that may be more likely to spread diseases between farms was associated with animal species and herd size.
Where to find the original material: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3848732/; https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-9-184
Country: Sweden

 

Bring out slurry and manure – but avoid spreading of pathogens

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Slurry and manure can contain pathogens. To avoid spreading of infectious diseases between farms or spreading of pathogens around your farm it is important to take precautions.
First, get an overview of the overall logistic – where are the traffic routes on the farm. Pay special attention to routes for transport of slurry and manure. Avoid using the same routes for the feeding trucks, both inside and outside. Always keep a good safety distance to the feed.

Sometimes the slurry tank or lagoon is placed in a way that the slurry tanker must cross the same route the feeding truck uses. In these cases, have a plan for cleaning up these crossings and make sure it is done. This is a way to minimize the risk of spreading pathogens.

When handling slurry and manure keep distance to the stables and animals to prevent exposing animals to pathogens.

The most optimal route for safe transport of slurry and manure might be a little longer, but it is worth it compared to the consequences of spreading diseases in your herd.

Avoid spill when filling the tanker and under transport of slurry and manure. When spillage occur, there is a risk that pathogens can be spread around the herd via footwear and vehicle tires contaminated with slurry or manure. Therefore, be careful when handling slurry and manure and implement good routines for fast cleaning when spillage accidentally occurs.

Slurry contaminated vehicles and equipment can also spread diseases between farms. Make sure that only clean and disinfected equipment enter your farm. If the vehicle and equipment is washed and disinfected on your premises, then do it in a place where washing water do not get close to stables, animals or feed. Spreading pathogens with aerosols during washing with high pressure is a serious hazard. Make sure that aerosols do not enter stables or feed.

Internal Biosecurity on Pig Breeding Farms

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Internal biosecurity is based on the measures implemented on a breeding farm with the purpose of reducing the chances of penetration/spread of already existing pathogens to animals or other sections of the facility.

The internal biosecurity plan of a pig breeding unit operates in four distinct sectors where the “all-in, all-out” principle must apply, general and specific hygiene rules must be followed and the spread of pathogens due to working staff must be prevented.

In the breeding sector, sows are prepared for artificial insemination within 4-6 days.

In the gestation sector, sows are accommodated in groups based on their gestation period until this reaches 114 days. Prior to the transfer, the pregnant females are dewormed and washed in order to prevent the spread of pathogens in the maternity ward.

In the maternity ward/sector, sows are housed individually in farrowing pens. In order to prevent the transfer of pathogens, the transfer of piglets from one pen to another is not recommended.

In the nursery sector, the transfer of piglets is completed around the age of 42 days and at a weight of 12-13 kg. Pigs are kept here until they reach an average weight of 25-30 kg. Each compartment of the nursery sector is simultaneously populated and depopulated.

Internal biosecurity measures are important for maintaining the health of the entire herd. They reduce the need for employing antibiotics and help lower the farm’s production costs.

HACCP based biosecurity plan for a laying hen farm

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The biosecurity plan is an important part of health control measures to protect the flocks and individual hens against pathogens.
The biosecurity plan based on the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) principles offers the best assurance that commercial egg industry flocks are protected against serious disease outbreaks.
That is also the best way to ensure the food safety of the egg production.
The basic procedures of the biosecurity plan include both aspects related to laying hens’ welfare conditions, bird health and aspects related to the food safety.
Another major issue is the the prevention of emergency diseases, as follow : Newcastle Disease virus (the highly virulent strains), avian Influenza, infectious bursal disease, and Salmonella spp. infections (Salmonella enteritidis).

The critical monitoring points identified are:

1. Entry of chicks (at 15-16 weeks of age), equipment, vehicles, people and feed into pullet farms
2. Entry of adult fowls, equipment, vehicles, people and feed into egg production farms
3. The presence of wild bird and rodent faeces in sheds or where hens and pullets range
4. Water sanitation on farms using surface water
5. Disposal systems for dead birds, reject eggs, litter and manure from the farm
6. The presence of non-poultry bird species, other poultry and other animals on the farm

Biosecurity measures on poultry farms

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Biosecurity is the major factor to have poultry health and a good poultry production and it is the most cost-effective means of disease control management .
Biosecurity is ensured on a poultry farm by implementing a set of organizational and technical measures in order to prevent the introduction, persistence and spread of pathogens, as well as in order to protect animal and public health.
The key objectives of a biosecurity plan for a poultry farm:

1. preventing the penetration of pathogens (exclusion of pathogens or external biosecurity)
2. reducing the penetration / spread of pathogens already existing among animals (biomanagement or internal biosecurity).
3. preventing the penetration / spread of pathogens existing in the farm to other non-infected farms / animals (e.g. biocontamination).
4. minimizing the incidence and spread of pathogens that impact the health of the population (zoonotic infections).

The biosecurity measures are as follows:

I. Defining biosecurity zone (the farm perimeter)
II. Functional sanitary filter for the employees, visitors, vehicles and all other entries
III. Visitor guidelines to be properly mentioned outside and inside the farm.
IV. Maintenance of the facilities used for housing, feeding and watering animals
V. Feed supply
VI. Transporting live animals to and from the farm
VII. Code of good practice and good hygiene practice (training of the employees)
VIII. Practice the technological principle “all full, all empty” at the hall level

81 Evaluation of two communication strategies to improve udder health management (Research report – Jansen, 2010)

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Significant Impact Group(s): Pathogen management \ Managing sick animals \ Targeted use of antibiotics ; Biosecurity
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Adult;
Outcome Parameter(s): improve udder health management; incidence of clinical mastistis; bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC)
Summary: This study shows that communication strategies to change farmers’ management practices can be improved when both the aim of the strategy and farmers’ motivational differences to work on udder health are taken into account. When aiming at complex issues such as udder health, the traditional central route using educational tools seems to be effective in reaching the motivated farmers. In addition to the central route, the peripheral route can be applied to influence farmers’ behavior by including implicit persuasion techniques instead of arguments in campaigns. This route is especially effective for single management practices and when aiming at a less complicated message. To reach as many farmers as possible, both communication strategies should be used. The communication strategies described in this paper are examples of how management practices to control mastitis can be effectively communicated to farmers, which can be used in optimizing future programs to control and prevent diseases.
81 Research paper – Jansen – 2010 – Evaluation of two communication strategies to improve udder health management
Where to find the original material:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030210715034; https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2009-2531
Country: NL

81 Research paper – Jansen – 2010 – Evaluation of two communication strategies to improve udder health management

Risk factors for ESBL-producing Escherichia coli on pig farms: A longitudinal study in the context of reduced use of antimicrobials (Research paper; Dohmen, 2017)

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Significant Impact Group(s): Prudent use AB \ Farmer ; Biosecurity
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Outcome Parameter(s): Presence of ESBL-E. coli; antimicrobial use; cephalosporin use at the farm
Summary: This study determined prevalence of ESBL-E. coli on pig farms and the effect of reducing veterinary antimicrobial use (AMU) and farm management practices on ESBL-E. coli occurrence on pig farms. During 2011 and 2013, 36 Dutch conventional pig farms participated in a longitudinal study (4 sampling times in 18 months). The number of farms with ESBL-E. coli carrying pigs decreased from 16 to 10 and the prevalence of ESBL-E. coli-positive pig samples halved from 27% to 13%.
The presence of ESBL-E. coli carrying pigs was not related to total AMU, but it was strongly determined by the presence or absence of cephalosporin use at the farm. Other farm management factors, related with improved biosecurity, were less frequently seen in ESBL-E. coli-positive farms (e.g. presence of a hygiene lock, pest control delivered by a professional). In conclusion, ESBL-E. coli prevalence decreased in pigs during 2011 and 2013 in the Netherlands.
54 Research paper – Dohmen – 2017 – Risk factors for ESBL-producing Escherichia coli on pig farms_A longitudinal study in the context of reduced use of antimicrobial
Where to find the original material:
http://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/359723/journal.pone.0174094.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0174094
Country: NL

54 Research paper – Dohmen – 2017 – Risk factors for ESBL-producing Escherichia coli on pig farms_A longitudinal study in the context of reduced use of antimicrobial