Mastitis in dairy cattle can lead to significant financial losses due to a reduction in milk yield, the withdrawal period after treatment when milk cannot be sold, and an increase in somatic cell count (SCC) which can reduce the milk's per liter commercial value. Dairy cooperatives point at high-SCC problems as an important factor leading to suboptimal levels of milk quantity and quality. This study aims at describing farm characteristics and milking practices associated with high SCC, identifying risk factors, and assessing the economic loss due to high SCC in three dairy cooperatives in Chiang Mai, Thailand. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 208 dairy cattle farms from July to September 2018. Structured interviews were conducted to collect the data. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the degree of association between factors and high SCC. A retrospective cost assessment of high SCC was conducted to estimate the losses in affected farms, and two potential coping strategies were assessed: (1) culling and (2) treating the cow. More than 12% of farms had high SCC (SCC > 500,000 cells/ml). Inappropriate vacuum pressure and inappropriate pulsation rate of milking machines were identified as significant risk factors according to the multiple logistic regression (P < 0.01). Both factors can decrease the natural protection of teat tissue, increasing the likelihood of bacterial infection. The average economic loss of high SCC in affected farms was 557 USD for a three-month period. When comparing response strategies (i.e., treatment vs. culling), treating the affected cow was found to be more cost-effective. With a probability of successful treatment of 54%, treating an affected cow leads to 1,158.7 USD in gains over 3 years (vs. doing nothing). The results of this economic analysis can be used to advocate to cooperatives the value of veterinarians and for investigating and treating cases of mastitis.

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During 2012 - 2016, goat farms in Sing Buri province were growing rapidly with support from the Thai government. In the following three years (2017-2019), the analysis of brucellosis surveillance data indicated that the seropositivity of brucellosis in goats increased. Therefore, this study attempted to identify possible risk factors associated with brucellosis seropositivity in meat goats raised in Sing Buri province of Thailand. A case-control study was conducted in a random sampling of 72 goat farms in Sing Buri province, Thailand. Questionnaires were used to collect information regarding farm production types, husbandry, goat health management, grazing management, breeding, carcass management, and goat purchasing. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were used to determine the risk factors of Brucella seropositivity. Results revealed that the most frequent health complaint by the farmers was a stillbirth. Brucella seropositivity at the farm level was 26.4%. The two most probable risk factors for seropositivity included raising goats in a communal pasture and keeping goats with a history of clinical signs associated with brucellosis. In conclusion, approximately 25% of goat farms in Sing Buri province were infected by the bacteria genus Brucella. The farmers were recommended to attentively seek and cull for a brucellosis-suspected goat in their farms using clinical signs or symptoms together with active serosurveillance. Furthermore, communal pasture avoidance would also help prevent the goat from Brucella infection.

Background and Aim: Marek's disease (MD) is a common lymphoproliferative disease affecting chickens and causing economic losses in commercial poultry. The MD outbreak was noticed in the southern part of Thailand in 2019. The suspected cases were found with an abnormal number of cases of layers dying with clinical signs, for example, weakness and emaciation, with evidence of MD gross lesions. This study aimed to raise awareness of the MD outbreak through value chain analysis (VCA), identifying associated possible risk factors, and estimating the associated economic impact. Materials and Methods: Value chain analysis, including seasonal calendar, value chain diagram, and layer movement mapping of the layer industry, was conducted. High-risk stakeholders were identified on the basis of risk practices and interactions between stakeholders. A case–control study was conducted to determine risk factors associated with the MD outbreak on layer farms, and partial budget analysis was used to estimate economic losses associated with MD. Results: The value chain diagram showed the linkages between stakeholders, including estimation of the percentage of products moved from one stakeholder group to another and the negotiated price. Fourteen out of 35 layer farms were case farms. Farm size and source of birds were significantly associated with the MD outbreak. The MD outbreak caused total economic losses of 295,823 USD. Farms that slaughtered infected birds with additional revenues incurred losses of 140,930 USD, whereas farms that culled infected birds without additional revenue returned incurred losses of 1995 USD. Conclusion: The VCA provided a better understanding of the layer and egg businesses in South Thailand and guided the development of questionnaires for outbreak investigation. The potential risk factor findings suggested the need for further exploration of the source of the MD outbreak.