Abstract
ABSTRACT: On-farm culturing is a technology booming in Brazil. It is based on the microbiological diagnosis of milk samples collected from clinical cases of bovine mastitis, on the farm where the animals are handled, quickly, simply, and at an affordable cost. With this resource, after 24 h of incubation, the isolated microorganisms are classified as gram positive or gram negative, helping to make decisions regarding the therapy of the animals. Considering the relevance of the Midwestern region of Santa Catarina State in the national dairy production scenario, the objectives of the study were: 1) to promote the technical training of the farmers in three dairy farms located in Treze Tílias-SC, 2) to assist in the implementation and evaluation of on-farm culturing as technological resource viewing the reduced use of antimicrobials in herds. In addition to the rapid acceptance by the farmers and their efficient training, with the use of the technology, there was a 45-50% reduction in the use of antimicrobials in dairy herds. This result demonstrated a significant effect on animal health, and determines an important cost reduction for farmers, as presented in detail in this manuscript.
Highlights
The exaggerated use of antimicrobials in farm animals is one of the main concerns nowadays owing to the effects on farm animals, the environment, and public health
All the farms presented the following pre-requisites: mechanized milking system; carrying out periodic individual milk somatic cell count (SCC), with a composite sample, of lactating animals; identification and registration of cases of clinical mastitis; records of treatments performed in case of clinical mastitis; records of costs for treating clinical cases of mastitis; data management system; periodic veterinary medical assistance; economic conditions to enable the necessary infrastructure for the implementation/ continuity of on-farm culturing on the dairy farm; and a person responsible for the laboratory
The presence of contaminating microorganisms in the first samples evaluated by the farmers interfered with the agreement percentages with the results obtained by the Instituto Federal Catarinense (IFC) laboratory
Summary
The exaggerated use of antimicrobials in farm animals is one of the main concerns nowadays owing to the effects on farm animals, the environment, and public health. The criterion for the treatment of animals is not always technically justified since in Brazil there are many farms without medical-veterinary assistance (VIEIRA et al, 2016).
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