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

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

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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

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

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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)

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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

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

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

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

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