87 Biosensors for on-farm diagnosis of mastitis (Research paper, Martins, 2019)

 

 

Significant Impact Group(s): Precision Livestock Farming & Early detection \ Sensor technology ; Pathogen management
Species targeted: Dairy; Age: Adult;
Outcome Parameter(s): Mastitis indicative markers

Summary: Bovine mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland caused by a large number of infectious agents with devastating consequences for the dairy industry. Management of mastitis usually means using antibiotics to treat and prevent the disease, which can be problematic because of increased antimicrobial resistance. Typical diagnostic methods are based on somatic cell counts (SCC) and plate-culture techniques. But these methods are not quick and there is quite a lot of interest in making faster solutions that could provide onsite information, which would speed up the choice of treatment.

Biosensors are tools that can convert the presence of biological particles into an electric signal. Together with microfluidics, biosensors can be used in the development of automated and portable diagnostic devices. This review describes current approaches for mastitis diagnosis and the latest outcomes in biosensors and lab-on-chip devices with the potential to become real alternatives to standard practices.

Research paper: Martins – 2019 – Biosensors for on-farm diagnosis of mastitis – https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2019.00186
Where to find the original material (in English):
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2019.00186/full;

Country: Portugal
Tags: dairy, mastitis, diagnositcs

87 Research paper – Martins – 2019 – Biosensors for on-farm diagnosis of mastitis

85 A ‘meta-analysis’ of effects of post-hatch food and water deprivation on development, performance and welfare of chickens (Research paper; De Jong, 2017)

 

 

Significant Impact Group(s): Feed / gut health \ Feeding management – Feeding management ; Water
Species targeted: Poultry;
Age: Young;
Outcome Parameter(s): body weight; cumulative food intake; FCR; mortality; relative yolk sac weight
Summary: This study reports results collected in other studies showing that post-hatch food deprivation or food and water deprivation (PHFWD) for approximately 24 hours can lead to significantly lower body weights compared to early fed chickens up to six weeks of age. Body weights and food intake were reduced more the longer the food and water deprivation lasted. PHFWD also has negative effects on the development of liver and pancreas, and delay the development of duodenum, jejunum and ileum. These effects were observed mainly in the first week of age. As a conclusion, findings also suggest a chicken welfare is lowered for PHFWD, however, additional studies are recommended on the effect of PHFWD containing a wider range of variables, including behaviour and disease resistance, in the short-term as well as long-term.
85 Research paper – de Jong – 2017 – A meta-analysis of effects of post-hatch food and water deprivation on development, performance and welfare of chickens
Where to find the original material:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5728577/; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0189350
Country: NL

85 Research paper – de Jong – 2017 – A meta-analysis of effects of post-hatch food and water deprivation on development, performance and welfare of chickens

84 A longitudinal field trial assessing the impact of feeding waste milk containing antibiotic residues on the prevalence of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli in calves (Research paper, Brunton, 2014)

 

 

Significant Impact Group(s): Pathogen management ; Feed / gut health
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Young;
Outcome Parameter(s): calf health; proportion of calves shedding CTX-M-positive E. coli
Summary: A field trial was done on a farm known to have resistant Escherichia coli, in order to understand if feeding calves with waste milk with antibiotic residues (WM + AR ) could lead to detecting more resistant bacteria in the faeces of calves. The findings of this study indicate that feeding waste milk with antibiotic residues on this farm increases the amount of resistant bacteria shed in the faeces. Resistant E. coli persists for longer after weaning in calves fed WM+AR. These findings are applicable to the situation observed on this farm, but may differ on other farms depending on contents of the waste milk or level of contamination in the farm. Still, antibiotics used on this farm were are commonly used in dairy farms in in England and Wales, so results shown can give an idea of what to expect in those types of farms.
84 Research paper – Brunton – 2014 – A longitudinal field trial assessing the impact of feeding waste milk containing antibiotic residues on the prevalence of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli in calves
Where to find the original material:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167587714002578; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2014.08.005
Country: UK

84 Research paper – Brunton – 2014 – A longitudinal field trial assessing the impact of feeding waste milk containing antibiotic residues on the prevalence of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli in calves

83 Storage of prescription veterinary medicines on UK dairy farms: a cross-sectional study (Research paper; Rees, 2019)

 

 

Significant Impact Group(s): AMU reduction strategies \ Monitoring and surveillance \ Antibiotic use ; Prudent use AB
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Young; Adult;
Outcome Parameter(s): Quantity of antimicrobial stored
Summary: Many studies measure antimicrobial use on dairy farms, but little is known about the quantity and the way antimicrobials are stored on farms. The majority of prescription treatments occur without a veterinarian being present, however the association between use of these treatments and farmer decision making is still unclear. To better understand this situation, data were collected from 27 dairy farms in England and Wales. Antimicrobials were the group of medicines most commonly stored. It was common to find expired medicines and medicines not licensed for use in dairy cattle, and of antimicrobials considered critical. The medicine resources available to farmers are likely to influence their treatment decisions; so, finding medicines present in farms can give an idea of what motivates farmers to choose use certain types of medicines. The results are also helpful for policy makers and researchers to get a better understanding of patterns of medicine use.
83 Research paper – Rees – 2019 – Storage of prescription veterinary medicines on UK dairy farms_ a cross-sectional study
Where to find the original material:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6589450/; https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.105041
Country: UK

83 Research paper – Rees – 2019 – Storage of prescription veterinary medicines on UK dairy farms_ a cross-sectional study

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

 

 

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

80 Antimicrobial consumption on Austrian dairy farms: an observational study of udder disease treatments based on veterinary medication records ( Research paper; Firth, 2017)

 

 

Significant Impact Group(s): AMU reduction strategies \ Monitoring and surveillance \ Antibiotic use ; Pathogen management
Species targeted: Dairy;Beef;
Age: Young;Adult;
Outcome Parameter(s): Antimicrobial use; Udder health
Summary: Since 2015, veterinarians have been required by law to report antimicrobials dispensed to farmers for use in food-producing animals. The study presented here collected data on antimicrobials dispensed to farmers and those administered by veterinarians.
Results show that dairy cattle in the study population in Austria were treated with antimicrobial agents at a relatively low and infrequent defined daily dose rate. The most frequently used antimicrobial group with respect to mastitis treatments was the beta-lactams, primarily penicillins, with third and fourth generation cephalosporins the most commonly used highest priority critically important antimicrobials with respect to both the proportion of herds treated and the number of defined daily doses administered per cow and year.
80 Research paper – Firth – 2017 – Antimicrobial consumption on Austrian dairy farms_ an observational study of udder disease treatments based on veterinary medication records
Where to find the original material:
https://peerj.com/articles/4072/; https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.4072
Country: AT

80 Research paper – Firth – 2017 – Antimicrobial consumption on Austrian dairy farms_ an observational study of udder disease treatments based on veterinary medication records

78 The use of national-level data to describe trends in intramammary antimicrobial usage on Irish dairy farms from 2003 to 2015 (Research paper; More, 2017)

 

 

Significant Impact Group(s): AMU reduction strategies \ Monitoring and surveillance \ Antibiotic use
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Adult;
Outcome Parameter(s): Antimicrobial use
Summary: This study provided detailed insight into on-farm usage of intramammary antimicrobials in Ireland. It demonstrates positive national progress, particularly with respect to lactation antimicrobial usage, but also highlights areas for review and further research. In particular, blanket dry cow treatment in Ireland should be reconsidered. It is not possible to investigate farm-level variation in antimicrobial usage from national sales data. Several studies have investigated farm-level usage using data collected from drug sales or garbage can audits. Farm-level antimicrobial usage data are now routinely collected in several European countries, including Denmark and the Netherlands, where it is central to efforts to reduce antimicrobial usage in farm animal production. Centralizing data on farm-level antimicrobial use is also needed in Ireland to allow objective measurement and benchmarking of on-farm usage. More generally, standardized indicators to quantify antimicrobial usage in farm animals are urgently needed to allow country-level comparisons.
78 Research paper – More – 2017 – The use of national-level data to describe trends in intramammary antimicrobial usage on Irish dairy farms from 2003 to 2015
Where to find the original material:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030217305842; https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-12068
Country: IE

78 Research paper – More – 2017 – The use of national-level data to describe trends in intramammary antimicrobial usage on Irish dairy farms from 2003 to 2015

77 Quantitative analysis of antimicrobial use on British dairy farms (Research paper; Hyde, 2017)

 

 

Significant Impact Group(s): AMU reduction strategies \ Monitoring and surveillance \ Antibiotic use
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Adult;
Outcome Parameter(s): Antimicrobial use
Summary: Levels of antimicrobial usage (AMU) within the livestock industry have been cause of concern in connection to antimicrobial resistance. In order to identify factors associated with high AMU and set threshold for antimicrobial use (benchmarks) for dairy cattle AMU, data was gathered from 358 dairy farms using different types of methods.
Data analysis indicated that usage of antibiotics via oral and footbath routes increased the odds of a farm being part of the top antimicrobial users. While dairy cattle farm AMU was apparently lower than UK livestock average, some farms had extremely high AMU. Identification of these high use farms may be effective in targeting AMU reduction strategies and help reduce overall dairy cattle AMU.
77 Research paper – Hyde – 2017 – Quantitative analysis of antimicrobial use on British dairy farms
Where to find the original material:
https://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/vetrec/early/2017/12/06/vr.104614.full.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.104614
Country: UK

77 Research paper – Hyde – 2017 – Quantitative analysis of antimicrobial use on British dairy farms

76 The effect of a national mastitis control program on the attitudes, knowledge, and behavior of farmers in the Netherlands (Research paper; Jansen, 2010)

 

 

Significant Impact Group(s): AMU reduction strategies \ Monitoring and surveillance \ Antibiotic use ; Prudent use AB
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Adult;
Outcome Parameter(s): Average annual bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC); Udder health
Summary: This study aimed to explore the effect of a national mastitis control program on Dutch farmers’ attitudes, knowledge, and behavior regarding mastitis.
Dairy farmers completed a survey on attitudes, knowledge, and behavior regarding mastitis before the start of a national mastitis control program in 2004, and 204 completed a similar survey in the final year of the program (2009). Although the average annual bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC) remained the same, the farmers’ self-reported attitudes, knowledge, and behavior changed significantly. The results show that a national mastitis control program can be successful in changing attitudes, knowledge, and behavior regarding mastitis. Results suggest an association between a change in BMSCC on individual farms and a change in attitudes, knowledge, and behavior. Although more research is needed to identify the long-term effect of these changes, this study can contribute to an increased understanding of the effects of animal health programs.
76 Research paper – Jansen – 2010 – The effect of a national mastitis control program on the attitudes knowledge and behavior of farmers in the Netherlands
Where to find the original material:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030210006235; https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2010-3318
Country: NL

76 Research paper – Jansen – 2010 – The effect of a national mastitis control program on the attitudes knowledge and behavior of farmers in the Netherlands

74 Understanding veterinarians’ prescribing decisions on antibiotic dry cow therapy (Research paper; Higgins, 2017)

 

 

Significant Impact Group(s): Pathogen management \ Managing sick animals \ Targeted use of antibiotics
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Adult;
Outcome Parameter(s): Approaches to antibiotic dry cow therapy
Summary: In the United Kingdom, blanket antibiotic dry cow therapy (BDCT) is commonly prescribed. An alternate strategy is selective dry cow therapy (SDCT) whereby a teat sealant is given instead of an antibiotic to cows with a low probability of infection. Switching from BDCT to SDCT can significantly reduce antibiotic use. Initiatives that seek to alter vets’ perceptions of the risks associated with switching to using SDCT are likely to prove useful in facilitating change. Our results also suggest for senior vets should take a leading role in helping farms applying SDCT. When considering how best to make a change from BDCT to SDCT, we propose a broad approach that clearly recognizes that the issues blocking this change are very different for vets at different stages of their career. Vets must work together to promote switching to SDCT where appropriate, and senior vets must lead.
74 Research paper – Higgins – 2017 – Understanding veterinarians’ prescribing decisions on antibiotic dry cow therapy
Where to find the original material:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030217300747; https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-11923
Country: UK

74 Research paper – Higgins – 2017 – Understanding veterinarians’ prescribing decisions on antibiotic dry cow therapy