scholarly journals Resource, Collaborator, or Individual Cow? Applying Q Methodology to Investigate Austrian Farmers' Viewpoints on Motivational Aspects of Improving Animal Welfare

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenz Maurer ◽  
Josef Schenkenfelder ◽  
Christoph Winckler
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Q Methodology ◽  
Intrinsic Value ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Dairy Farming ◽  
Public Image ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Farmer Behavior

One keystone to successful welfare improvement endeavors is a respected cooperation between farmer and advisor (e.g., veterinarian), which requires a thorough understanding of what motivates farmer behavior. In this respect, Q methodology offers a promising approach in investigating individual motivational patterns and to discriminate between and describe typologies of farmers. In our study we explored, based on a sample of 34 Austrian dairy farmers, how 39 potentially motivating statements regarding the improvement of dairy cow health and welfare were assessed. We were able to identify and describe four different viewpoints, explaining 47% of total study variance. All four viewpoints have in common that pride in a healthy herd is motivating to work toward improved animal health and welfare to a certain extent, but meeting legal requirements is rather not. Viewpoint 1 acknowledges welfare for economic performance, ease of work and short working hours but does not make allowance for outside interference. Participants loading on Viewpoint 2 also show a focus on economic aspects but, keep close track of the animal welfare debate recognizing its potential to improve the public image of dairy farming. Even though they cautiously criticize an exploitative application of dairy farming, they do not want to be understood as role models. With regards to animal welfare, farmers sharing Viewpoint 3 perceive themselves as superior to and show little reluctance of comparison with mainstream farming. For them, the animal as sentient being itself owns some intrinsic value and it is necessary to strike a balance between economic and other, ethical considerations. Viewpoint 4 perceives cows as equal collaborators who deserve to be treated with respect and appreciation and is willing to accept certain economic losses in order to maintain high standards regarding animal health and welfare. Using Q methodology, we have been able to draw high resolution images of different farmer typologies, enabling advisors to tailor intervention strategies specifically addressing leverage points with a high chance of farmer compliance.

scholarly journals Assessment on Economic Losses due to Animal Health and Production Constraints in Jimma Town Intensive Dairy Farms, Jimma, Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
pp. 52-60
Keyword(s):  
Skin Disease ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Dairy Farming ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Financial Loss ◽  
Lumpy Skin Disease ◽  
Production Constraints ◽  
Milk Fever ◽  
Jimma Town

A single-visit-multiple subject formal survey technique was used to collect data from 75 small-scale dairy farming households which were selected at random and were interviewed using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire. Seventy-three (97.3%) dairy farming was practiced under an intensive management system. Among the selected dairy farms, only (33.3%) were kept in good hygienic condition. Artificial insemination was common (69.3%) breeding system practiced in most dairy farms of studying area. This study discovered that only a few dairy farms (2.7%) undergo periodic vaccination. It appeared from the study that morbidity loss of animals was primarily caused by mastitis which calculated (42.7%), black leg (32%), lumpy skin disease (21.3%), milk fever (17.3%), heart water (10.7%) and foot rote (5.3%) in order of their decreasing order. The results of this survey revealed that mastitis was ranked as the number one disease of dairy animals while foot rote was list reported disease in the study area. Morbidity loss of production and productivity was estimated to the financial loss of (812,600 birrs) per year. Not only morbidity loss, in some farms, mortality was also common problems of the study area. Mainly common diseases such as heart water (6.7%), milk fever (5.3%), back leg (2.7%), and lumpy skin disease (1.7%) were major causes of mortality in few farms. This in turn estimated the financial loss of (625,000 birrs). Eventually, overall annual financial loss as a result of mortality and morbidity was estimated to be (1,437,600 birrs). The outbreak of lumpy skin disease and blacklegs could be controlled through improving veterinary services with respect to adequate vaccination and heart water (seasonal tick infestation) would be alleviated by spraying. The aim of the study was to assess assessment on economic losses due to animal health and production constraints in Jimma town intensive dairy farms, Jimma, Ethiopia.

scholarly journals Identification of different attitudes towards paratuberculosis control using cluster analysis applied on data from an anonymous survey among German cattle farmers

2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Veit Zoche-Golob ◽  
René Pützschel ◽  
Esra Einax ◽  
Karsten Donat
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Hierarchical Cluster ◽  
Control Programme ◽  
Public Image ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Federal States ◽  
Control Programmes

Abstract Background Paratuberculosis is a common disease in ruminants, causing economic losses in livestock farming, and a relationship between the exposure to its causative agent Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, and Crohn’s disease in humans is discussed. Despite this, only a minority of cattle farmers have enroled in voluntary control programmes in most countries. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the farmer’s opinion on paratuberculosis and their motivations to participate in a control programme. The objective was to identify different groups among farmers regarding their motivation and thereby contribute to a better understanding of farmers’ attitudes towards paratuberculosis control. Results Two hundred twenty-five farmers responded to questionnaires that were distributed among cattle farmers in Saxony and Thuringia, federal states of Germany, together with boot-swab sampling sets for a free and anonymous herd-level paratuberculosis test. Among them, dairy herds and large herds were overrepresented. A hierarchical cluster analysis of the farmers’ answers resulted in four groups that we tagged as ‘informed sceptics’, ‘deniers’, ‘affected supporters’ and ‘free supporters’. In all groups, the majority considered paratuberculosis a threat to the public image of cattle farmers. Nearly all participants wanted to know the paratuberculosis herd status of purchased cattle. In contrast to the supporters, the informed sceptics and the deniers did not consider paratuberculosis a dangerous epizootic disease and would not welcome a mandatory control programme. The deniers and the affected supporters, but not the informed sceptics and the free supporters, assumed that their herd is affected by paratuberculosis. Unlike the deniers, all other groups would enrol in a control programme if the pathogen would have been found in their herd. Protecting future profitability and improving animal health were the two most important motivations to control paratuberculosis in all groups followed by aspects related to the marketing of breeding cattle. Most frequently, the costs and the assumed inaccuracy of diagnostics tests were mentioned as obstacles that hamper programme enrolment. Conclusions Significantly different attitudes of farmers regarding paratuberculosis control were identified. Therefore, tailored rather than uniform communication strategies are required to enhance participation in voluntary paratuberculosis control programmes.

scholarly journals Sero-epidemiological survey of bluetongue disease in one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) in Kassala State, Eastern Sudan

2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Molhima M. Elmahi ◽  
Mohammed O. Hussien ◽  
Abdel Rahim E. Karrar ◽  
Amira M. Elhassan ◽  
Abdel Rahim M. El Hussein
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Potential Risk Factors ◽  
Eastern Sudan

Abstract Background Bluetongue (BT) is a vector-borne viral disease of ruminant and camelid species which is transmitted by Culicoides spp. The causative agent of BT is bluetongue virus (BTV) that belongs to genus Orbivirus of the family Reoviridae. The clinical disease is seen mainly in sheep but mostly sub-clinical infections of BT are seen in cattle, goats and camelids. The clinical reaction of camels to infection is usually not apparent. The disease is notifiable to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), causing great economic losses due to decreased trade and high mortality and morbidity rates associated with bluetongue outbreaks. The objective of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of BTV in camels in Kassala State, Eastern Sudan and to identify the potential risk factors associated with the infection. A cross sectional study using a structured questionnaire survey was conducted during 2015–2016. A total of 210 serum samples were collected randomly from camels from 8 localities of Kassala State. The serum samples were screened for the presence of BTV specific immunoglobulin (IgG) antibodies using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). Results Seropositivity to BTV IgG was detected in 165 of 210 camels’ sera accounting for a prevalence of 78.6%. Potential risk factors to BTV infection were associated with sex (OR = 0.061, p-value = 0.001) and seasonal river as water source for drinking (OR = 32.257, p-value = 0.0108). Conclusions Sex and seasonal river as water source for drinking were considered as potential risk factors for seropositivity to BTV in camels. The high prevalence of BTV in camels in Kassala State, Eastern Sudan, necessitates further epidemiological studies of BTV infection in camels and other ruminant species to better be able to control BT disease in this region.

scholarly journals Otitis and meningoencephalitis associated with infectious coryza (Avibacterium paragallinarum) in commercial broiler chickens

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 784-788 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuela Crispo ◽  
C. Gabriel Sentíes-Cué ◽  
George L. Cooper ◽  
Grace Mountainspring ◽  
Charles Corsiglia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Laboratory System ◽  
Sequencing Analysis ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Infectious Coryza ◽  
Avibacterium Paragallinarum ◽  
Commercial Broiler

Infectious coryza, caused by Avibacterium paragallinarum, is an acute respiratory disease of poultry that can result in substantial morbidity, mortality, and economic losses. In March 2017, the Turlock branch of the California Animal Health and Food Safety laboratory system encountered an unusual clinical and pathologic presentation of infectious coryza in 6 live, 29-d-old, commercial broiler chickens that were submitted for diagnostic investigation. Antemortem evaluation revealed severe neurologic signs, including disorientation, torticollis, and opisthotonos. Swollen head–like syndrome and sinusitis were also present. Histologically, severe sinusitis, cranial osteomyelitis, otitis media and interna, and meningoencephalitis were noted, explaining the clinical signs described. A. paragallinarum was readily isolated from the upper and lower respiratory tract, brain, and cranial bones. Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) was also detected by PCR, and IBV was isolated in embryonated chicken eggs. Based on sequencing analysis, the IBV appeared 99% homologous to strain CA1737. A synergistic effect between A. paragallinarum and IBV, resulting in exacerbation of clinical signs and increased mortality, may have occurred in this case. A. paragallinarum should be considered among the possible causes of neurologic signs in chickens. Appropriate media should be used for bacterial isolation, and the role of additional contributing factors and/or complicating agents should be investigated in cases of infectious coryza.

scholarly journals Brexit and Animal Protection: Legal and Political Context and a Framework to Assess Impacts on Animal Welfare

Animals ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven McCulloch
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Agricultural Policy ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Conservative Party ◽  
Political Support ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Substantial Impact ◽  
Animal Protection ◽  
Protection Policy ◽  
The Uk

The British people voted to leave the European Union (EU) in a 2016 referendum. The United Kingdom (UK) has been a member of the EU since the Maastricht Treaty was signed in 1993 and before that a member of the European Communities (EC) since 1973. EU animal health and welfare regulations and directives have had a major impact on UK animal protection policy. Similarly, the UK has had a substantial impact on EU animal protection. Brexit represents a substantial political upheaval for animal protection policy, with the potential to impact animal welfare in the UK, EU and internationally. Brexit’s impact on farmed animals will determine the overall impact of Brexit on animals. A major threat to animal welfare is from importing lower welfare products. A major opportunity is reform of UK agricultural policy to reward high welfare outside the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). A soft Brexit, in which the UK remains in the single market and/or customs union, mitigates the threat of importing lower welfare products. A harder Brexit means threats to animal welfare are more likely to materialise. Whether threats and opportunities do materialise will depend on political considerations including decisions of key political actors. The Conservative Government delivering Brexit has a problematic relationship with animal protection. Furthermore, Brexit represents a shift to the political right, which is not associated with progressive animal protection. There is significant political support in the Conservative Party for a hard Brexit. Further research is required to investigate whether the various threats and opportunities are likely to materialise.

Invited review: Importance of animal health and welfare for the stability of the three pillars of sustainability of livestock systems

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-214
Author(s):  
P. Chemineau
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Population Increase ◽  
Strong Interactions ◽  
Essential Components ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Livestock Systems

The future livestock systems at the world level will have to produce more in the perspective of the population increase in the next 30 years, whereas reducing their environmental footprint and addressing societal concerns. In that perspective, we may wonder if animal health and animal welfare, which are two essential components of production systems, may play an important role in the stability of the three pillars of sustainability of the livestock systems. We already know that objectives driven by economy, environment and society may modify animal welfare and animal health, but is the reverse true? The answer is yes and in 11 cases out of 12 of the matrix health-welfare×3 pillars of sustainability×positive or negative change, we have many examples indicating that animal health and animal welfare are able to modify, positively or negatively, the three pillars of sustainability. Moreover, we also have good examples of strong interactions between health and welfare. These elements play in favour of an holistic approach at the farm level and of a multicriterial definition of what could be the sustainable systems of animal production in the future which will respect animal welfare and maintain a good animal health.

scholarly journals A Preliminary Study on the Relationship between Parasitaemia and Cytokine Expression of Peripheral Blood Cells in Trypanosoma vivax-Experimentally Infected Cattle

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3191
Author(s):  
Otavio Luiz Fidelis Junior ◽  
Paulo Henrique Sampaio ◽  
Luiz Ricardo Gonçalves ◽  
Rosangela Zacarias Machado ◽  
Marcos Rogério André ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Blood Cells ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Cytokine Expression ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Peripheral Blood Cells ◽  
Trypanosoma Vivax ◽  
Th2 Cytokine ◽  
Bovine Trypanosomosis ◽  
Th1 Cytokine

Trypanosoma vivax outbreaks have been reported with increasing frequency worldwide, causing significant economic losses in livestock. Though several studies have suggested that cytokine responses may influence infection caused by Trypanosoma sp., their exact role remains unclear and may vary according to the animal species and parasite strain. The present study aimed to evaluate cytokine expression of peripheral blood cells from three Girolando dairy cows experimentally infected with T. vivax. For this purpose, blood samples were collected prior to the inoculation on the day of inoculation (D0), the day after inoculation (D1), and then every seven days up to 119 days after infection (DAI). Each animal presented a unique pattern of cytokine expression. While a tendency of a Th1 cytokine response was observed during the patent phase (presence of circulating parasites), an increase of Th2 cytokine expression was found at the beginning of the sub-patent phase (low parasitaemia or aparasitaemic periods). In animals that presented a better control of parasitaemia, IL-6 and IFNγ increased during most of the trial period. On the other hand, the cow that presented reduction of IL-1β, IL-2, and TNFα during the entire period did not control parasitaemia properly. A balance between the Th1 and Th2 profile is beneficial for parasite control and animal health. The results found in the present study are a first step towards elucidating the dynamics of cattle’s inflammatory response against T. vivax, requiring future studies focusing on the role of key cytokines on the controlling of parasitaemia in different stages of bovine trypanosomosis.

scholarly journals Is One Health a Viable Strategy in Animal Health Litigation: Evidence from Civil Lawsuits in China

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2560
Author(s):  
Kai Wu ◽  
Ying Yu ◽  
Chen Chen ◽  
Zheming Fu
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
One Health ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Civil Lawsuit ◽  
Civil Lawsuits ◽  
Advantageous Position ◽  
The One ◽  
Judicial Protection

Several litigation strategies are used to gain support from courts in order to protect animals. While the emerging litigation strategy themed in One Health stimulates judicial protection in the animal health sector, little is known about whether and how such strategies are supported by courts. In this article, we investigate how animal welfare litigation strategies influence judge’s choices within their discretion. We argue that litigators equipped with the litigation strategy themed in One Health are placed in an advantageous position in animal health cases, but that this tendency varies markedly across zoonoses. Specifically, we suggest that litigators utilizing One Health’s litigation strategy are associated with higher probabilities to win, whereas normal litigators are not. Further, we propose that litigators equipped with the One Health litigation strategy are awarded more damages from judges. We test and find support for our predictions using a cross sectional dataset of civil lawsuit cases centering on the animal health industry in Chinese mainland. Our findings indicate that courts indeed were persuaded by the One Health litigation strategy, even when bound by the discretion rules. At the same time, we suggest that for advocates who would like to litigate for animal welfare in the animal health sector, the litigation strategy themed in One Health might have potentially positive implications.

scholarly journals Mycobacterial infection of precision cut lung slices reveals that the type 1 interferon pathway is locally induced by Mycobacterium bovis but not M. tuberculosis in different cattle breeds

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aude Remot ◽  
Florence Carreras ◽  
Anthony Coupe ◽  
Emilie Doz-Deblauwe ◽  
Maria-Laura Boschiroli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Bovis ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Mycobacterial Infection ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Reference Laboratory ◽  
Type I ◽  
Cattle Breeds ◽  
Interferon Pathway

Tuberculosis exacts a terrible toll on human and animal health. While Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is restricted to humans, Mycobacterium bovis (Mb) is present in a large range of mammalian hosts. In cattle, bovine TB (bTB) is a notifiable disease responsible for important economic losses in developed countries and underestimated zoonosis in the developing world. Early interactions that take place between mycobacteria and the lung tissue early after aerosol infection govern the outcome of the disease. In cattle, these early steps remain poorly characterized. The precision-cut lung slice (PCLS) model preserves the structure and cell diversity of the lung. We developed this model in cattle in order to study the early lung response to mycobacterial infection. In situ imaging of PCLS infected with fluorescent Mb revealed bacilli in the alveolar compartment, adjacent or inside alveolar macrophages (AMPs) and in close contact with pneumocytes. We analyzed the global transcriptional lung inflammation signature following infection of PCLS with Mb and Mtb in two French beef breeds: Blonde d'Aquitaine and Charolaise. Whereas lungs from the Blonde d'Aquitaine produced high levels of mediators of neutrophil and monocyte recruitment in response to infection, such signatures were not observed in the Charolaise in our study. In the Blonde d'Aquitaine lung, whereas the inflammatory response was highly induced by two Mb strains, AF2122 isolated from cattle in the UK and Mb3601 circulating in France, the response against two Mtb strains, H37Rv the reference laboratory strain and BTB1558 isolated from zebu in Ethiopia, was very low. Strikingly, the type I interferon pathway was only induced by Mb but not Mtb strains indicating that this pathway may be involved in mycobacterial virulence and host tropism. Hence, the PCLS model in cattle is a valuable tool to deepen our understanding of early interactions between lung host cells and mycobacteria. It revealed striking differences between cattle breeds and mycobacterial strains. This model could help deciphering biomarkers of resistance versus susceptibility to bTB in cattle as such information is still critically needed for bovine genetic selection programs and would greatly help the global effort to eradicate bTB.

Strengthening existing healthcare systems for sustainable animal welfare.

2021 ◽  
pp. 161-177
Author(s):  
Shereene Williams ◽  
Laura Skippen
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
National Level ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Local Systems ◽  
Last Mile ◽  
Global Agenda ◽  
Universal Health ◽  
Human Healthcare

Abstract More can be achieved by working with what is already in place, compared with creating new systems that undermine local systems and traditions. However, creating lasting improvements in animal health systems at a national level is an ambitious task. Last-mile human healthcare is a key issue in the drive to achieve universal health coverage for all people and looking to the ways that humanitarian agencies are trying to achieve this will be key in driving this forwards for all animals in the future. To push animal welfare up the global agenda and create a catalyst for change, referencing solely animal welfare is not enough. Drawing on linkages between people, the planet and animals is essential.

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