Biosecurity and herd health management practices on Canadian dairy farms

Veterinary Herd Health Management plays an important role in veterinary medicine on dairy farms and has also been mandatory at the European Union level since April 21, 2021. Despite the increasing importance of VHHM, little is known about the extent of utilization of VHHM by dairy farmers and their view on this type of collaboration. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to determine the status quo of the currently practiced VHHM in Germany. For this purpose, an online survey was conducted among dairy farmers in November and December 2020. From 216 analyzed questionnaires, about half (n = 106) of the surveyed dairy farmers used VHHM at different scopes. However, regardless of the group, the term “veterinary herd health management” generally was given most relative importance by the participants as a veterinary service for herd fertility improvement, rather than the actual definition of a holistic approach. In contrast to this, the actual motivation of the VHHM participants, to take part in such a program was primarily based on the desire to safeguard animal health by employing preventive measures, that is, to avoid the occurrence of diseases via improved management and to improve farm performance (and profitability). Dairy farmers who opted for VHHM tended to manage larger higher yielding herds than those who did not. Additionally, the farmers in latter farms were more likely to make joint animal health decisions with their veterinarians. Using a latent class analysis, two groups of farmers among farms that were not currently using VHHM were identified, one of which expressed great interest in using VHHM while the other did not. Since the new legal basis makes the topic even more relevant than before, dairy farmers, animals, and veterinarians might benefit from the study to exploit hidden opportunities for VHHM collaboration.

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A survey of biosecurity and health management practices on Irish dairy farms engaged in contract-rearing

Journal of Dairy Science ◽

10.3168/jds.2021-20500 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

M.C. McCarthy ◽

L. O'Grady ◽

C.G. McAloon ◽

J.F. Mee

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Health Management ◽

Dairy Farms

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Efficiency of dairy farms participating and not participating in veterinary herd health management programs

Preventive Veterinary Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.prevetmed.2014.10.008 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 117 (3-4) ◽

pp. 478-486 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Marjolein Derks ◽

Henk Hogeveen ◽

Sake R. Kooistra ◽

Tine van Werven ◽

Loren W. Tauer

Keyword(s):

Health Management ◽

Dairy Farms ◽

Herd Health

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Survey of cow-calf producer perspectives on management strategies and industry challenges. Part 1: handling practices, and health and industry challenges

Translational Animal Science ◽

10.1093/tas/txy138 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 195-203

Author(s):

Miriam S Martin ◽

Scott A Grau ◽

Burt W Rutherford ◽

Temple Grandin ◽

Lily N Edwards-Callaway

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Management Practices ◽

Health Management ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Animal Health ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Age Groups ◽

The United States ◽

Herd Health ◽

Cow Calf

Abstract The objectives of this study were to benchmark cow-calf producer perspectives on management strategies and challenges, and to determine if demographic differences and Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification status influenced the frequency of certain management strategies. A total of 1,414 responses from cow-calf producers in 44 states were collected through an online survey conducted in partnership with BEEF, a producer-focused magazine. Survey recipients were asked 30 questions to gather demographic information, respondents’ current handling and health management practices, and how they prioritized industry challenges. The frequency of management methods and decisions such as preconditioning and identification methods were impacted by respondent age, operation size, location, and BQA certification (Ps ≤ 0.009). BQA-certified respondents more frequently used electronic ear tags and freeze branding (Ps = 0.009). Overall, 74.5% of respondents were preconditioning their calves. Respondents who were BQA certified more frequently preconditioned their calves (449; 81.5%) compared with those who were not BQA certified (582; 70.4%) (P < 0.001). BQA training seems to be having a positive impact on production practices. Respondents identified cow-calf health as the biggest beef industry challenge and identified land availability or price as the biggest challenge to producers’ own operation. Respondents identified bovine respiratory disease, flies, pinkeye, and reproductive health as the most important animal health issues on producers’ operations. Health challenge responses varied significantly by producer age, beef cow inventory, and region of the United States (Ps < 0.001). Calf or neonate health was most commonly identified as the biggest challenge for respondents under the age of 30 years. Producers between the ages of 55 and 70 years most commonly responded that the Veterinary Feed Directive or regulations were more of a challenge than other age groups. Respondents clearly identified managing herd health as a challenge throughout the survey. Respondents with similar herd health challenges were identified based on demographic categorization, such as age of respondent and region.

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Antimicrobial Usage for the Management of Mastitis in the USA: Impacts on Antimicrobial Resistance and Potential Alternative Approaches

10.5772/intechopen.101533 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Benti D. Gelalcha ◽

Getahun E. Agga ◽

Oudessa Kerro Dego

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Dairy Cattle ◽

Health Management ◽

Dairy Farms ◽

Raw Milk ◽

Herd Health ◽

Antimicrobial Usage ◽

Dry Cow Therapy ◽

Run Off ◽

The Usa

Mastitis is the most frequently diagnosed disease of dairy cattle responsible for the reduction in milk quantity and quality and major economic losses. Dairy farmers use antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of mastitis. Frequent antimicrobial usage (AMU) undeniably increased antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria from dairy farms. Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) from dairy farms can spread to humans directly through contact with carrier animals or indirectly through the consumption of raw milk or undercooked meat from culled dairy cows. Indirect spread from dairy farms to humans can also be through dairy manure fertilized vegetables or run-off waters from dairy farms to the environment. The most frequently used antibiotics in dairy farms are medically important and high-priority classes of antibiotics. As a result, dairy farms are considered one of the potential reservoirs of ARB and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). To mitigate the rise of ARB in dairy farms, reducing AMU by adopting one or more of alternative disease control methods such as good herd health management, selective dry-cow therapy, probiotics, and others is critically important. This chapter is a concise review of the effects of antimicrobials usage to control mastitis in dairy cattle farms and its potential impact on human health.

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