Farm Vets Research Articles

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Chlamydia abortus Infection in Sheep and Goats in North-Western Italy.

Chlamydia abortus, although poorly recognized as a human pathogen, is a zoonotic microorganism that can cause many different symptoms in humans, including subclinical infection and fatal illnesses in pregnant women. C. abortus is one of the most common causes of ovine and caprine infectious abortion worldwide, known as the causative agent of the enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE) or ovine enzootic abortion (OEA). To estimate C. abortus seroprevalence and the risk factors related to C. abortus in small ruminants, the sera from 3045 animals (both sheep and goat) belonging to 202 herds were tested and a questionnaire investigating flock management was administered. At the herd level, the true seroprevalence was 56.6% (CI95%: 46.9-66.3%), at sheep-farm and goat-farm level, the true seroprevalence was 71.4% (CI95%: 54.6-88.3%) and 44.8% (CI95%: 41.3-57.0%), respectively. The true seroprevalence was significantly higher among the sheep than the goats. The logistic regression model identified four factors associated with Chlamydia seropositivity: flock size (i.e., farms with >50 heads), contact with cattle, introduction of animals, and Coxiella seropositivity. The study evidenced a high seroprevalence of Chlamydia abortus in small ruminant farms in the Piedmont region. Considering its zoonotic potential and the health consequences in humans, communication to farmers on the importance of vaccination, as well as the sensibilization of farm vets, seem to be strategical.

Combining sentiment analysis and text mining with content analysis of farm vet interviews on mental wellbeing in livestock practice.

The aim of the How Farm Vets Cope project was to co-design, with farm veterinary surgeons, a set of web-based resources to help them and others deal with the different situations that they can face. As part of the wider project, participants were recruited for one-to-one semi-structured phone interviews. These interviews focused on elements of job satisfaction and how the participants coped during periods of poor mental wellbeing or with setbacks and failure. Transcripts of these interviews were analysed using both quantitative methods of sentiment analysis and text mining, including term frequency/inverse document frequency and rapid automated keyword extraction, and qualitative content analysis. The twin aims of the analysis were identifying the important themes discussed by the participants and comparing the results of the two methods to see what differences, if any, arose. Analysis using the afinn and nrc sentiment lexicons identified emotional themes of anticipation and trust. Rapid automated keyword extraction highlighted issues around age of vets and support, whilst using term frequency/inverse document frequency allowed for individual themes, such as religion, not present across all responses, to be identified. Content analysis supported these findings, pinpointing examples of trust around relationships with farmers and more experienced vets, along with some examples of the difference good support networks can make, particularly to younger vets. This work has confirmed previous results in identifying the themes of trust, communication and support to be integral to the experience of practicing farm veterinary surgeons. Younger or less experienced vets recognised themselves as benefiting from further support and signposting, leading to a discussion around the preparation of veterinary students for entry into a farm animal vet practice. The two different approaches taken showed very good agreement in their results. The quantitative approaches can be scaled to allow a larger number of interviews to be utilised in studies whilst still allowing the important qualitative results to be identified.

Young Farm Vet of the Year award.

Young Farm Vet of the Year award.

Better off by association

As workloads increase for farm vets, the British Cattle Veterinary Association is working hard to represent the farm vet profession at the highest levels, as well as providing educational resources year-round, culminating in the annual Congress each year.

Antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary medicine: a review of online resources.

An awareness of antimicrobial resistance and stewardship is important for all prescribers from a One-Health perspective. Educational resources have been created to help veterinary practitioners and encourage an optimized approach to their antimicrobial use. To support veterinarians to select the most appropriate educational resource to meet their personal learning goals in relation to veterinary antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). Modular online platforms, developed to promote AMS in veterinary practice (farm and companion animal), were reviewed and key features highlighted, including the required time commitment, resource type, focus and source as well as a subjective evaluation of resource accessibility (according to prior knowledge base). Five different online courses are described in this educational resource review: Antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary practice; Farm Vet Champions; Farmed Animal Antimicrobial Stewardship Initiative (FAAST); the Pathway of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) for a veterinary services professional; and the VetAMS online learning program. Each of these tools introduces users to key themes of veterinary AMS. Upon completion of any of the courses practitioners should feel confident to assume an active role as proponents of rational antimicrobial use. Significant differences between resources, relating to the focus (companion or farm animal), scope and depth of material covered, are recognized reflecting their respective target audiences. Several informative and accessible resources, centred on the core principles of veterinary AMS, were reviewed. Key features have been highlighted to inform and guide resource-users towards the most appropriate tool for them. Greater engagement with these educational resources will hopefully contribute to improved antimicrobial prescribing among veterinarians and greater awareness of the importance of stewardship for the profession.

Why aren't students choosing farm animal practice and what can be done about it?

The profession faces a recruitment and retention problem, whilst at the same time increasing numbers of students aren't selecting careers within farm animal practice. Recent research from universities and the student Farm Animal Veterinary Society have considered causes and barriers. More recent movements by several farm vets and veterinary associations have sought to highlight farm vets without ‘traditional’ farm vet backgrounds. This article considers the FAVS report ( Owen, 2023 ) alongside other literature and research into potential barriers to students entering farm animal practice, whilst the panel discussions provides the views of experienced veterinary surgeons working in the farm sector as to what practitioners, and the wider profession can do to increase the number of students considering and choosing careers in farm animal practice.

Time spent preparing for practice paid off with a rewarding clinical director role.

Early in her career, vet Ami Sawran found comfort in academia, later feeling better prepared for practice life and taking up the role of clinical director with Westpoint Farm Vets in Chelmsford.

Fly strike in sheep: updates on the cost of control

Background: Blowfly strike is an important seasonal problem which costs the UK sheep industry millions of pounds per year. To maximise margins, it is important that practitioners advise clients on the most cost‐effective treatment strategy for their flock.Aim of the article: This article models the costs associated with different strategies for the management of blowfly strike on sheep farms. Farm vets should use this model to determine the most appropriate strategy for their clients.

An eye to the future for farm vets

An eye to the future for farm vets

Introducing the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway: role of the farm vet

Background: The sustainable farming incentive (SFI), which is one of the schemes introduced in the Agricultural Transition Plan, aims to address specific environmental issues alongside food production. Part of this will involve making improvements to farming via the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway to drive better standards and efficiency. Vets will be heavily involved in delivering this pathway, particularly through undertaking annual health and welfare reviews on farm.Aim of the article: This article details to practitioners how the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway was developed and what it aims to achieve both in year one and its longer‐term ambitions. It also outlines how vets will play a vital role in the delivery of the pathway, and the benefits that this will bring for the profession, farming industry and wider society.

Farm vets inspire children about rural life

Farm vets inspire children about rural life

Practice and beyond: different career paths as a farm vet

In this article we invite farm veterinary surgeons to think beyond the traditional career path and evaluate how their skillset can contribute to animal health outside perceived boundaries.

How can we create a sustainable future for farm animal veterinary practice?

Recruitment and retention is a big problem for the farm vet sector, but it could be overcome by implementing small improvements at all stages of the farm vet pipeline, argues John Remnant.

Promoting the Medicine Hub to farm vets.

Promoting the Medicine Hub to farm vets.

Shortage of farm vets.

Shortage of farm vets.

Addressing the shortage of farm vets.

Addressing the shortage of farm vets.

Inspiring the farm vets of the future

Inspiring the farm vets of the future

Examining the Effect of Context, Beliefs, and Values on UK Farm Veterinarians' Antimicrobial Prescribing: A Randomized Experimental Vignette and Cross-Sectional Survey.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a pressing threat to public and animal health. There is evidence that antimicrobial prescribing and stewardship behaviors by veterinarians (vets) are influenced by non-clinical factors, such as psychological, social, and environmental factors. This study explored the role of context, beliefs, and values on vets’ antimicrobial prescribing decisions. UK-based practicing farm vets (n = 97) were recruited to an online study. Using an experimental vignette methodology, vets were randomly assigned across four conditions, to examine the effects of different contexts (pressure on farm economics, the farmer, or the vet-farmer relationship, compared to a control condition) on vets’ likelihood of prescribing antibiotics. Vets’ beliefs about different groups’ responsibility for causing and preventing AMR and vets’ values were also measured. Key findings were that context alone, values, and beliefs about groups’ responsibilities for causing AMR were not predictive of vets’ likelihood of prescribing antibiotics. However, vets’ beliefs about groups’ responsibilities for preventing AMR were predictive of an increased likelihood of prescribing antibiotics, when vets were exposed to the experimental condition of the vignette in which the vet–farmer relationship was under pressure. Farm vets also believed that different groups have different levels of responsibility for causing and preventing AMR. Results should be interpreted cautiously, given the smaller than planned for sample size, and the possibility for both false negatives and false positives. Further research is needed to explore how these findings could inform antimicrobial stewardship interventions in veterinary medicine.

Providing veterinary advice on regenerative farming to help protect the environment.

Regenerative farming – an approach that balances the health of the whole farm ecosystem – could be a good opportunity for farm vets, argues Halcyon Hayward.

Tips for new farm vets

Veterinary RecordVolume 188, Issue 3 p. 122-122 BVA News Tips for new farm vets First published: 07 February 2021 https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.185Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume188, Issue3February 2021Pages 122-122 RelatedInformation