397 – Field trial to demonstrate the intelligent dairy assistantIDA system on dairy farms (Research paper – Rutten 2019)

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397 Research paper – Rutten 2019 – Field trial to demonstrate the intelligent dairy assistantIDA system on dairy farms

In Significant Impact Groups: Precision Livestock Farming & Early detection \ Sensor technology
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Adult;
Summary:
Connecterra’s Intelligent Dairy Assistant (IDA) is a novel Internet of Things based on a management support system for dairy farms. IDA uses sensor technology, cloud computing and artificial intelligence to support dairy farmers with insights on oestrus and health management. The IDA system uses feedback on historic data to improve its underlying models and farmers may learn from using the system. The experiences indicate that oestrus detection can be improved, and health monitoring can help to start early treatment and thereby reduce the use of antibiotics. For milk production the results are inconclusive as the groups with and without IDA were not balanced on milk yield before the field trial started. Based on the limited size of the experiment it could not be proven significant effects or causal relationships.

Where to find the original material: http://www.eaplf.eu/wp-content/uploads/ECPLF_19_book.pdf; ISBN 978-1-84170-654-2
Country: BE; NL

396 – Precision livestock farming for pigs (Research report – Vranken – 2017)

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396 Research report – Vranken – 2017 – Precision livestock farming for pigs

In Significant Impact Groups: Precision Livestock Farming & Early detection \ Sensor technology
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Not stated;
Summary:
In the precision livestock farming (PLF) concept, sensors and algorithms translate the measured animal responses into key indicators for optimal performance, improved animal welfare, and farm sustainability. The output of the sensors (e.g., activity measures with a camera or sound measures with a microphone) is related to animal-based welfare and health indicators such as aggression or respiratory diseases. When sensor signals start to deviate from their expected values, alerts are given to the farmer. In this way the farmer can take an immediate action before the detected change in animal response negatively affects the production performance. These actions range from solving technical problems such as a blocked feeding line, adjusting control settings in the climate and feed controller, etc. In most cases, a preventive medical treatment prevents the further spreading of respiratory diseases in the pen, and the use of antibiotics can be reduced or even precluded.

Where to find the original material: https://academic.oup.com/af/article/7/1/32/4638771; https://doi.org/10.2527/af.2017.0106
Country: BE; NL

344 – Usage of Antibiotics in Agricultural Livestock in the Netherlands in 2017 Trends and benchmarking of livestock farms and veterinarians (Research report – Sda – 2018)

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344 Research report – Sda – 2018 – Usage of Antibiotics in Agricultural Livestock in the Netherlands in 2017 Trends and benchmarking of livestock farms and veterinarians

In Significant Impact Groups: AMU reduction strategies \ Monitoring and surveillance; Antibiotic use
Species targeted: Pigs; Poultry; Dairy; Beef; Other;
Age: Different for different species;
Summary:
In 2017, the turkey and broiler farming sectors managed to substantially reduce their antibiotic use in terms of defined daily doses animal (DDDANAT). They achieved reductions of 23.7% and 7.8%, respectively. Less prominent reductions of 3.6% and 1.9% were observed for the veal and pig farming sectors, respectively. The cattle farming sector’s usage level increased slightly over the 2016-2017 period, by 2.2%. In 2017, no distinct shifts towards lower benchmark zones occurred in the veal farming sector. The pig farming sector saw an undesirable rise in the percentage of farms with weaner pigs recording action zone usage levels. This development was due to the new benchmark thresholds introduced in 2016.The SDa expert panel recommends paying special attention to outlier farms. In 2017, sales of antibiotics in terms of kilograms of active substances amounted to 181,097 kg.

Where to find the original material: https://www.autoriteitdiergeneesmiddelen.nl/en/news/28/sda-report-usage-of-antibiotics-in-agricultural-livestock-in-the-netherlands-in-2017 ;
Country: NL

343 – Associations between antimicrobial use and the prevalence of resistant micro-organisms Is it possible to benchmark livestock farms based on resistance data (Research report – Sda – 2016)

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343 Research report – Sda – 2016 – Associations between antimicrobial use and the prevalence of resistant micro-organisms Is it possible to benchmark livestock farms based on resistance dat

In Significant Impact Groups: AMU reduction strategies \ Monitoring and surveillance; Antibiotic use
Species targeted: Pigs; Poultry; Beef;
Age: Young;
Summary:
An expert panel analyzed the relationship between antimicrobial use in the Dutch livestock sector and the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant micro-organisms in livestock. Changes in usage and resistance levels between 2009 and 2014, for most of the commonly used antibiotics, the strongest declines in usage levels were observed in the pig (54%) and broiler (57%) farming sectors. In most livestock sectors, total and antimicrobial-specific usage levels are clearly associated with the antimicrobial-specific resistance levels. Is it possible to benchmark livestock farms based on resistance data? This would require information on resistance-related risks such as public health risks, and currently available data do not allow for quantification of such risks. If an acceptable resistance level were to be determined, the corresponding antimicrobial usage level could serve as the basis for benchmarking values. As yet, however, no acceptable resistance level has been defined.

Where to find the original material: https://cdn.i-pulse.nl/autoriteitdiergeneesmiddelen/userfiles/Publications/def-engels-rapport-abgebruik-en-resistentie-0516.pdf;
Country: NL

335 – Selectively drying off of dairy cows impact on future performance and antimicrobial consumption (Research report – Lipkens – 2019)

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335 Research report – Lipkens – 2019 – Selectively drying off of dairy cows impact on future performance and antimicrobial consumption

Pathogen management \ Managing sick animals; Targeted use of antibiotics; Prudent use AB
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Adult;
Summary:
Test-day somatic cell counts (SCC) before drying off and after calving were used to determine cow’s udder health across the dry period and to study the impact on the performance in the next lactation. Test-day data before drying off were explored to evaluate their diagnostic ability to detect noninfected cows at the time of drying off in 15 commercial dairy herds with an adequate udder health management. We confirmed that SCC information via milk recording is capable of predicting the absence of IMI with major pathogens at dry-off, yet (an estimate of) the herd prevalence of subclinical mastitis, the cow’s milk yield and parity impact the estimates of the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values to some extent. We concluded that implementing selective dry cow treatment to reduce the antimicrobial use on commercial dairy herds, using strict selection criteria and test-day information, is possible without jeopardizing udder health or milk yield.

Where to find the original material: https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/8613317;
Country: BE

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

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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

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

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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

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

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

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

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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