Animal Health Measures Research Articles

Review: Linking animal health measures in dairy cows to farm-level economic outcomes: a systematic literature mapping.

Farm animal health is an area of increasing interest to both the public and industry stakeholders. There is an ongoing debate on whether improving animal health, and thereby increasing welfare, is profitable or not. Improving animal health often requires investments in the farm or increases labour costs. As a result, the impact of animal health on farm economy is particularly interesting. This study systematically maps and assesses the available evidence in the published scientific literature regarding the link between farms' economic outcomes on dairy cow health, with the aim of identifying knowledge gaps in this field of research. In total, 59 peer-reviewed articles were included using a broad range of animal health variables and economic outcomes. We found a heterogeneous body of evidence in terms of both methods, animal health measures (AHMs) and economic outcome measures used. None of the included studies makes explicit causal claims between AHMs and economic outcomes. The results suggest that common production diseases such as clinical mastitis and lameness, which are painful and affect cow health and welfare, are costly for farmers. We found a knowledge gap and lack of evidence on the impact of animal health interventions on farms' economic outcomes, as well as the long-term effects of such interventions. Future research should aim to investigate the causal links between animal health and economic outcomes.

Barriers and opportunities for improving dog bite prevention and dog management practices in northern Indigenous communities.

Globally, people living in northern Indigenous communities are at higher risk of dog bites than the rest of the population living in North America, with annual incidence ranging from 0.61 to 59.6/10,000 inhabitants. Considering that rabies is endemic in wild canid populations in certain regions of the Arctic, the prevention of dog bites and the management of dog populations are of crucial importance for public health in these contexts. Most northern communities lack access to veterinary services, mainly due to their remote geographical location and to limited financial resources. Currently, northern Indigenous communities are using different approaches and strategies to prevent dog bites and manage dog populations, but the effectiveness of these approaches sometimes lacks evidence, and their low acceptability may affect their implementation. This study aims to describe (1) the current access and uses of veterinary services, and (2) the perceived barriers and opportunities related to dog population management practices currently implemented, or that could be implemented, in a Naskapi community and an Innu community located in northern Quebec (Canada). Quantitative data were collected through a survey to inhabitants on veterinary services (n = 122). Qualitative data were collected using individual interviews to inhabitants and health professionals to describe how dog population management measures were perceived, and to identify barriers and opportunities related to their implementation (n = 37). Descriptive and inferential analysis (quantitative data) and thematic analysis (qualitative data) were performed. Results show that the two main measures implemented at the time of the study - dog culling and short-duration veterinary clinics - were not perceived as fully acceptable and sustainable. Reinforcing access to veterinary services and other dog-related services, such as shelters and training programs on dogs, was identified as a need to improve dog bites prevention and dog population management in remote Indigenous communities. The implementation of animal health measures should be decided by concerned Indigenous communities to follow decolonial practices. It includes ensuring informed consent of dog owners, improving communication before, during and after interventions, separating veterinary services from rehoming and, most importantly giving back to Indigenous communities the complete leadership over animal health in their communities.

Management of Laying Hen Farms in France Infected by Salmonella spp.: Comparison of Three Strategies

The presence of Salmonella spp. on laying hen farms turns out to be a major problem for public health reasons, mainly related to foodborne illnesses that may arise due to ingestion of contaminated eggs. When Salmonella spp. infection on farms is confirmed by laboratory analysis, animal health measures are applied on the establishment, including total elimination of animals. The aim of this study is to describe three different methods of managing Salmonella enteritidis-infected laying hen farms, all of which were used within the Moselle department (France). The methods chosen, culling, use of a mobile CO2 container, or lethal injection with T-61, depend on specific starting conditions, including the number of birds and proximity to an authorized slaughterhouse. This study, therefore, helps to identify the main problems with each method and provides recommendations for improving the management of Salmonella spp.-infected laying hen farms, where antibiotics cannot be used.

Food Safety Policy in the European Union

The aim of the research is to analyze the food safety policy in the European Union and the strength of the legal and regulatory framework that covers the entire food production chain "from the field to the table". The legal framework refers to feed and animal health, protection and care of animals, veterinary examinations, animal health measures, plant health checks, preparation and hygiene of food products. For the preparation of this paper, a descriptive method, analysis and synthesis technique, as well as analysis of the content of laws in the field of food safety policy in the European Union were used. The findings show that the food safety policy in the European Union is based on the principles of an integrated approach; primary responsibility, traceability of food, and its ingredients, transparency and risk analysis. The Republic of Serbia has adopted many amendments to the laws on food safety, plant protection products, plant health, as well as plant nutrition products and soil improvers, which are aimed at further harmonization with the acquis communautaire.

Milk quality and hygiene: Knowledge, attitudes and practices of smallholder dairy farmers in central Kenya

Milk production is an important livelihood source for smallholder dairy farmers in low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs) such as Kenya. However, milk quality and safety are a challenge due to unhygienic handling and non-adherence to food safety standards. The objective of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and adoption of milk quality and food safety practices by smallholder farmers in Kenya. Ten Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), involving 71 smallholder farmers, were held to collect qualitative data on knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) of smallholder dairy farmers in Laikipia, Nakuru, and Nyandarua counties. Additionally, data were collected through a cross-sectional administered to 652 smallholder farming households. The results of the study revealed low knowledge level and negative attitudes towards respecting antibiotics treatment withdrawal periods, milk quality standards and food safety regulations. Farmers stated they had received low levels of training on milk quality and safety standards. The majority of farmers adopted animal health measures and hygienic measures such as hand washing and udder cleaning. However, unhygienic milking environments, the use of plastic containers, the use of untreated water, and lack of teat dipping compromised milk quality and safety. Currently, milk production, handling and consumption could expose actors along the dairy value chain to health risks. The adoption of milk quality and food safety practices was influenced by farmers’ knowledge, socioeconomic characteristics, and choice of marketing channel. There is a need to improve farmers’ knowledge and attitudes and implement hygienic control, disease control and antibiotic residue control practices in the milk production process to meet required milk quality and food safety standards. Awareness campaigns and training programmes for smallholder dairy farmers could foster behavioural change and lead to an improvement in milk quality in Kenya. • Kenya dairy sector is constrained by farmers' low adherence to milk quality standards. • Lack of training hinders farmers' compliance with milk quality standards. • Poor farm-level hygiene compromises milk quality and safety. • Socioeconomic characteristics determine farmers' milk quality standards compliance.

Survey on storage, application and incorporation practices for organic fertilizers in Germany

Organic fertilizers from animal production might contain undesirable components, such as veterinary medical product (VMP) residues, that are released into the environment during application. In addition to measures to reduce the use of VMPs through animal health measures, manure management could be an expedient strategy to prevent VMPs from entering the environment. The quantity applied is mainly determined by the nitrogen content. In addition, the depth of incorporation into the soil plays a major role in the environmental risk assessment of VMPs. The new regulations of the German fertilizer ordinance (DüV, 2020), which came into force at the beginning of 2020, as well as the changes that have not yet been fully implemented, will result in adjustments to the storage, application and incorporation practices for organic fertilizer. The aim of this study was to gain more information about the practice of storage, application and incorporation and the challenges for farmers in Germany. An online survey among farmers was conducted to determine the status quo. Almost all of the 125 participants kept livestock, predominantly cattle (68%) and pigs (33%). A third of participants (30%) needed a temporary storage site, for example at neighboring farms. Of the participants, 81% (n = 125) owned cropland and/or grassland. On cropland, manure was mostly incorporated at a depth of 3–15 cm, whereas on grassland, it was mostly applied superficially. On grassland lower-emission application techniques such as slot drill or injector procedures have so far rarely been used. The survey results provided important insights about storage, application and incorporation practices for organic fertilizers in Germany which could be used for the calculation of predicted environmental concentrations (PEC) as part of the environmental risk assessments of veterinary pharmaceuticals.

Oxidative cracking of hydrocarbons

Organic fertilizers from animal production might contain undesirable components, such as veterinary medical product (VMP) residues, that are released into the environment during application. In addition to measures to reduce the use of VMPs through animal health measures, manure management could be an expedient strategy to prevent VMPs from entering the environment. The quantity applied is mainly determined by the nitrogen content. In addition, the depth of incorporation into the soil plays a major role in the environmental risk assessment of VMPs. The new regulations of the German fertilizer ordinance (DüV, 2020), which came into force at the beginning of 2020, as well as the changes that have not yet been fully implemented, will result in adjustments to the storage, application and incorporation practices for organic fertilizer. The aim of this study was to gain more information about the practice of storage, application and incorporation and the challenges for farmers in Germany. An online survey among farmers was conducted to determine the status quo. Almost all of the 125 participants kept livestock, predominantly cattle (68%) and pigs (33%). A third of participants (30%) needed a temporary storage site, for example at neighboring farms. Of the participants, 81% (n = 125) owned cropland and/or grassland. On cropland, manure was mostly incorporated at a depth of 3–15 cm, whereas on grassland, it was mostly applied superficially. On grassland lower-emission application techniques such as slot drill or injector procedures have so far rarely been used. The survey results provided important insights about storage, application and incorporation practices for organic fertilizers in Germany which could be used for the calculation of predicted environmental concentrations (PEC) as part of the environmental risk assessments of veterinary pharmaceuticals.

A framework for national official assurance systems with reference to World Organisation for Animal Health standards.

With the expansion and intensification of international trade in animals and animal products in the last decades, the risk of the spread of transboundary animal diseases has increased. Veterinary Authorities may take legitimate measures at import to protect their territories' animal and human populations, and may require official assurances for imported animals or animal products. These measures have often led to overly stringent restrictions or even wide embargoes that may have a counterproductive effect. In order to avoid unjustified barriers to trade, the World Trade Organization's Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures recognises the standards of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) as the international references to be followed for animal health measures. The OIE standards provide for scientifically based recommendations for risk mitigation measures before and after international movements, depending on the disease and the commodity. They also provide for import risk analysis and bilateral equivalence methodologies, as well as certification rules and border inspection procedures. In order to provide confidence that trade requirements are met, exporting countries' Veterinary Authorities need to implement national assurance systems. For that reason, OIE Members should primarily follow the OIE standards for quality Veterinary Services. Veterinary Authorities are invited to use the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code (Terrestrial Code), Aquatic Animal Health Code, Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals, and Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals to build capable services and implement sound and effective measures. The User's Guide of the Terrestrial Code lists the elements that are essential to achieving this.

Vécu socioculturel, fonctionnement psychique et souffrance mentale de 100 femmes algériennes en psychothérapie. Étude descriptive

This article describes current laws, regulations, guidelines, and principles pertaining to animals used for research, teaching, and testing in some countries of Southeast Asia region including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. There is no specific overarching legislation applied for animal welfare relevant directly to animals used for research, testing, and teaching in the region. All countries in the Southeast Asia subregion are members of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code (the Terrestrial Code) sets out standards for the improvement of animal health and welfare and veterinary public health worldwide, including standards for safe international trade in terrestrial animals (mammals, birds, and bees) and their products. This is achieved through the detailing of animal health measures to be used by the veterinary authorities of importing and exporting countries to avoid the transfer of agents pathogenic for animals or humans, while avoiding unjustified trade barriers. In 2015, there was the publication of the Animal Welfare Act by the parliament of Malaysia and the Animals for Scientific Purposes Act by the Royal Thai Government. Recently, the Veterinary Law has come into effect in July 2016 marking a progress in animal welfare in Vietnam. There has been no recent development of any law pertaining to laboratory animals in Cambodia.

Control of Cattle Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases by Acaricide in Southern Province of Zambia: A Retrospective Evaluation of Animal Health Measures According to Current One Health Concepts.

One health thinking for health interventions is increasingly being used to capture previously unseen stakeholders and impacts across people, animals, and the environment. The Network for One Health Evaluation (NEOH) proposes a systems-based framework to quantitatively assess integration and highlight the added value (theory of change) that this approach will bring to a project. This case study will retrospectively evaluate the pioneering use of a One Health (OH) approach during an international collaboration (satellite project to tackle production losses due to tick-borne disease in cattle in Southern Zambia in late 1980s). The objective of the evaluation is twofold: retrospective evaluation the OH-ness of the satellite project and identification of costs and benefits. Data for evaluation was recovered from publications, project documents, and witness interviews. A mixed qualitative and quantitative evaluation was undertaken. In this case study, a transdisciplinary approach allowed for the identification of a serious public health risk arising from the unexpected reuse of chemical containers by the local public against advice. Should this pioneering project not have been completed then it is assumed this behavior could have had a large impact on public wellbeing and ultimately reduced regional productivity and compromised welfare. From the economic evaluation, the costs of implementing this OH approach, helping to avoid harm, were small in comparison to overall project costs. The overall OH Index was 0.34. The satellite project demonstrated good OH operations by managing to incorporate the input across multiple dimensions but was slightly weaker on OH infrastructures (OH Ratio = 1.20). These quantitative results can be used in the initial validation and benchmarking of this novel framework. Limitations of the evaluation were mainly a lack of data due to the length of time since project completion and a lack of formal monitoring of program impact. In future health strategy development and execution, routine monitoring and evaluation from an OH perspective (by utilizing the framework proposed by NEOH), could prove valuable or used as a tool for retrospective evaluation of existing policies.

Status report on education in the economics of animal health: results from a European survey.

Education on the use of economics applied to animal health (EAH) has been offered since the 1980s. However, it has never been institutionalized within veterinary curricula, and there is no systematic information on current teaching and education activities in Europe. Nevertheless, the need for economic skills in animal health has never been greater. Economics can add value to disease impact assessments; improve understanding of people's incentives to participate in animal health measures; and help refine resource allocation for public animal health budgets. The use of economics should improve animal health decision making. An online questionnaire was conducted in European countries to assess current and future needs and expectations of people using EAH. The main conclusion from the survey is that education in economics appears to be offered inconsistently in Europe, and information about the availability of training opportunities in this field is scarce. There is a lack of harmonization of EAH education and significant gaps exist in the veterinary curricula of many countries. Depending on whether respondents belonged to educational institutions, public bodies, or private organizations, they expressed concerns regarding the limited education on decision making and impact assessment for animal diseases or on the use of economics for general management. Both public and private organizations recognized the increasing importance of EAH in the future. This should motivate the development of teaching methods and materials that aim at developing the understanding of animal health problems for the benefit of students and professional veterinarians.

Emerging and Exotic Zoonotic Disease Preparedness and Response in the United States – Coordination of the Animal Health Component

For the response to a zoonotic disease outbreak to be effective, animal health authorities and disease specialists must be involved. Animal health measures are commonly directed at known diseases that threaten the health of animals and impact owners. The measures have long been applied to zoonotic diseases, including tuberculosis and brucellosis, and can be applied to emerging diseases. One Health (veterinary, public, wildlife and environmental health) and all-hazards preparedness work have done much to aid interdisciplinary understanding and planning for zoonotic diseases, although further improvements are needed. Actions along the prevention, preparedness, response and recovery continuum should be considered. Prevention of outbreaks consists largely of import controls on animals and animal products and biosecurity. Preparedness includes situational awareness, research, tool acquisition, modelling, training and exercises, animal movement traceability and policy development. Response would include detection systems and specialized personnel, institutions, authorities, strategies, methods and tools, including movement control, depopulation and vaccination if available and appropriate. The specialized elements would be applied within a general (nationally standardized) system of response. Recovery steps begin with continuity of business measures during the response and are intended to restore pre-event conditions. The surveillance for novel influenza A viruses in swine and humans and the preparedness for and response to the recent influenza pandemic illustrate the cooperation possible between the animal and public health communities.

The importance of governance and reliable veterinary certification

Good veterinary certification is possible only if a country's veterinary governance complies with the quality standards of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The standards in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code stipulate that the main prerequisite for good veterinary governance is for Veterinary Services to be independent, that is to say they are able to carry out their mandate while remaining autonomous and free from any commercial, financial, hierarchical or political pressures that could lead them to make technical decisions that were contrary to OIE standards. Veterinary Services should include, in particular, a veterinary administration with nationwide jurisdiction for implementing the animal health measures and veterinary certification procedures recommended by the OIE and for overseeing or auditing their implementation. They should also include veterinary authorities and persons authorised by the veterinary statutory body to perform tasks under the responsibility and supervision of a veterinarian (veterinary paraprofessionals). This veterinary governance must be sustainable over time in order to administer long-term animal health policies. Good governance relies on appropriate legislation that is in compliance with OIE guidelines and on the requisite human and financial resources for ensuring its enforcement. The evaluation of this governance, either by an importing country in the context of international trade, as authorised by OIE standards, or by the country itself (self-evaluation or an evaluation requested from the OIE [using the OIE Tool for the Evaluation of Performance of Veterinary Services]), helps to facilitate the proper operation of Veterinary Services and to ensure the reliability of any certification granted under the authority of the veterinary administration.

The effects of E. coli 0157:H7, FMD and BSE on Japanese retail beef prices: A historical decomposition

AbstractThis study examines Japanese retail price reactions to the 2001 bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) discovery, the 2000 outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD), and the 1996 E. coli food poisoning events. Historical decomposition of retail‐level price series aids in explaining the behavior of beef prices in a neighborhood (period‐by‐period time interval) of the three events. This is based on an application of directed acyclic graphs, constructing orthogonal innovations to determine causal patterns behind contemporaneous innovations. The results show that the beef safety and animal health events had different negative impacts on Japanese retail beef prices, suggesting that consumers understood and differentiated among the health risks. The results provide incentives for beef producers and retailers to inform consumers proactively about ongoing beef safety and animal health measures. Understanding consumer reaction to BSE, FMD, and E. coli helps the beef industry restore consumer confidence after future crises, and provides policy makers a basis for countermeasures and compensations. [EconLit citations: Q11, Q13]. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Agribusiness 23: 131–147, 2007.

Zur Reform der EU-Agrarpolitik: Umbau statt Abbau von Subventionen

Abstract The paper discusses the decisions on the reform of the CAP from June 2003. The decisions focus on the decoupling of the direct payments to farmers from production. This will reduce production incentives and thereby improve the allocation of resources. However, payments to farmers will hardly be reduced in total but rather partly be redirected towards rural development policies, environmental policies and animal health measures. Since a consistent rationale for permanent payments to farmers is missing, payments should be stopped completely. The increase of financial support for rural development is the wrong way, since most measures, again, are interventions in favour of farmers. The latest WTO-Agreement on the continuation of the Doha-Round will put additional reform pressure on the EU.

Classical swine fever in wild boar in the Lombardy region of Italy from 1997 to 2002

In 1997, outbreaks of classical swine fever occurred in wild boar and domestic pigs in the Italian province of Varese (Lombardy region). Statutory animal health measures were imposed, and a...

Management of animal health emergencies: general principles and legal and international obligations.

The Eighth Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade led to the creation of the World Trade Organization and to the adoption of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement, thus considerably changing the rules of international trade in animals and animal products. Animal health measures may result in trade restrictions, but governments accept that these restrictions may sometimes be necessary and appropriate to ensure food safety and animal health protection. The SPS Agreement acknowledges the rights of governments to adopt measure to protect human, animal and plant health. To ensure effective animal health protection, without unjustifiable discrimination, the operational procedures of Veterinary Services must be standardised, especially those concerning disease notification, epidemiological information, certification for international trade and management of animal health emergencies. Veterinary Services must be further supported by a proper legislative framework and adequate financial resources.

The World Trade Organization Agreement on the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures

On 15 April 1994, 125 States signed the 'Final Act embodying the results of the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations', concluded under the aegis of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). This Final Act contains an 'Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures' ('SPS Agreement'), which came into effect on 1 January 1995 with the establishment of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to replace GATT. The aim of the SPS Agreement is to minimise the negative effects of health restrictions on international trade. To achieve this aim, the animal health measures established by countries to ensure the protection of human and animal life and health should be based on international standards, guidelines and recommendations, primarily those developed by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE). The OIE Codes therefore play a central role in this process. The SPS Agreement requires States not to introduce or maintain animal health measures which result in a higher level of protection than that advocated by these international standards, except where a State is able to provide scientific justification of the need for such measures. The SPS Agreement also emphasises the need for transparency in the import health measures which States enforce. Lastly, the general provisions relating to dispute settlement contained in the Final Act will be applicable to disputes arising in the health sector. If scientific or technical questions are raised, the WTO panel responsible for settling the dispute will be able to consult the OIE.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy control in Great Britain

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) is a new disease of cattle, first identified in November 1986. Although unrecognised at the time the first clinical case probably occurred in April 1985. The probable cause of BSE is the infectious agent which causes scrapie in sheep. Changes in rendering practices are believed to have increased the titre of scrapie agent in rendered meat and bone meal after 1981/82 to a level sufficient, when included in cattle feed, to cause clinical disease in cattle. Recycling of infection from rendered bovine material will also have occurred until the practice of feeding ruminant protein to ruminant animals in Great Britain was banned on 18 July 1988. Control measures are based on our understanding of the epidemiology of BSE, and fall into two broad groups: 1. 1. Animal Health measures taken to prevent transmission of infection, so protecting other animal species and leading to the eventual eradication of BSE in cattle. 2. 2. Public Health measures taken to protect consumers against the very remote risk that BSE, unlike scrapie, might prove to be transmissible to humans. The control measures include compulsory notification and restriction of movement of suspect cases, the isolation of any suspect which calves, the slaughter and destruction of the carcases of suspect cattle, the exclusion of specified bovine offal from unaffected cattle more than six months old from the food chain, and the ruminant protein feed ban referred to above which, in the absence of any other significant method of transmission, will eradicate BSE. The effectiveness of the control measures implemented in Great Britain from June 1988 onwards is now demonstrable.