Evaluation of udder health parameters and risk factors for clinical mastitis in Dutch dairy herds in the context of a restricted antimicrobial usage policy

Santman-Berends, I.M.G.A.; Swinkels, J.M.; Lam, T.J.G.M.; Keurentjes, J.; Schaik, G. van

doi:10.3168/jds.2015-10398

Cited by 63 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…A more realistic aim of a potential new national udder health and AMU improvement program would therefore be to reduce AMU while keeping the country’s udder health status constant. This was only the second preferred aim of both farmers and veterinarians but such achievements are feasible (24, 41). AMU and udder health are highly correlated (9, 10, 14), and any efforts to control mastitis by enhancing prevention and non-antimicrobial intervention strategies are therefore assumed to result in a decrease in AMU.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying Preferences of Farmers and Veterinarians for National Animal Health Programs: The Example of Bovine Mastitis and Antimicrobial Usage in Switzerland

et al. 2017

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Bovine udder health in Switzerland is of a relatively high level. However, antimicrobial usage (AMU) seems high in comparison to other European countries also. A new udder health and AMU improvement program could improve this situation but it is uncertain whether there is support from the field. This study aimed to quantify preferences of dairy farmers and veterinarians for the start and design characteristics of a new national udder health and AMU improvement program in Switzerland. A total of 478 dairy farmers and 98 veterinarians completed an online questionnaire. Questions on their demographics and their mindset toward AMU were complemented with an adaptive choice-based conjoint interview, a novel conjoint analysis technique to quantify preferences of respondents for characteristics of a product for which multiple trade-off decisions must be made (here a bovine udder health and AMU improvement program). The conjoint analysis was followed by a multivariate multiple regression analysis to identify groups of respondents with different program design preferences. Logistic regression models were used to associate covariates with respondents’ preference to start a new udder health and AMU improvement program. Most farmers (55%) and veterinarians (62%) were in favor of starting a new voluntary udder health and AMU improvement program, but the program design preferences agreed moderately between the two stakeholder groups. Farmers preferred an udder health and AMU improvement program that did not contain a penalty system for high AMU, was voluntary for all dairy herds, and aimed to simultaneously improve udder health and reduce AMU. Veterinarians preferred a program that had the veterinary organization and the government taking the lead in program design decision making, did not contain a penalty system for high AMU, and aimed to simultaneously improve udder health and reduce AMU. Differences between groups of farmers and veterinarians concerning their start preference were identified. Also, the magnitude of various program design preferences changed for farmers with different opinions toward AMU. The information obtained from this study may support the decision-making process and the communication to the field afterward, when discussing national strategies to improve udder health and AMU in Switzerland.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying Preferences of Farmers and Veterinarians for National Animal Health Programs: The Example of Bovine Mastitis and Antimicrobial Usage in Switzerland

et al. 2017

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“…It is repeatedly shown that a cut-off of approximately 200000 to 250000 cells per mL is optimal to reduce diagnostic error (Dohoo and Leslie, 1991;Schepers et al, 1997). Many studies used a cut-off of 200000 cells/mL (Schukken et al, 2003;De Vliegher et al, 2004;Svensson et al, 2006;Fouz et al, 2010;Madouasse et al, 2012;Lam et al, 2013;Fauteux et al, 2014;Santman-Berends et al, 2016), while especially for heifers, IMI cut-offs of 150000 cells/mL (Santman-Berends et al, 2016) and 100000 cells/mL (Bludau et al, 2014) have been used. In our study, due to the available data, a preset threshold of 250000 cells/mL was utilized.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological evaluation of subclinical mastitis of dairy cows in Greece

Themistokleous

Karagiannis

Boscos

et al. 2020

J Hellenic Vet Med Soc

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Subclinical mastitis, diagnosed by elevated somatic cell count (SCC) in milk, is an important monitoring parameter of dairy cows’ udder health, related to their productivity and welfare. The present retrospective study aims to evaluate the epidemiology of subclinical mastitis (SCM) among the 37 herds of the Holstein Association of Greece participating in the milk quality recording system “ΙΩ”, from the start of 2015 until the end of 2018. The herds’ inclusion criterion was the consistency of monthly SCC recording throughout at least one full year between 2015 and 2018, with a maximum interval of 61 days between two consecutive monthly SCC recordings. Twenty-six herds (8630 cows) in 2015, thirty herds (10763 cows) in 2016, thirty herds (10945 cows) in 2017 and twenty-six herds (9597 cows) in 2018 were included. The prevalence of SCM and chronic SCM, the incidence rate of new cases of SCM, as well as the average somatic cell score and bulk tank milk SCC were determined for each of the four years. The results indicate a progressive deterioration of udder health from the onset of the cow’s productive life until culling. A year-over-year increase in the number of cows with subclinical mastitis led to an overall SCM prevalence of 34.5%, chronic SCM prevalence of 26.9% and a bulk tank milk SCC of 463000 cells/mL, in 2018. The average somatic cell score, a base 2logarithm of individual cow’s SCC, was found persistently above the subclinical mastitis indicative cut-off in all four years, with a peak in 2018. At herd level, the incidence rate of new SCM cases was 12 new cases / 100 cows / month; the highest incidence rate was observed in the early lactation stage group (1-60 days-in-milk), in all four years, reaching a peak of 31 new cases / 100 cows / month, in 2018. In 2018, prevalence of heifers’ SCM and chronic SCM was23.4% and 16.9%, respectively. Despite the adequate average 305-days milk yield (9608 kg in 2018), the results were indicative of poor udder health status, pointed out by reduced duration of cows’ productive life (less than 3 lactations)and lower milk quality (elevated SCC). The severity and wide spreading of subclinical mastitis in Greek dairy herds highlights the necessity of a national mastitis control program, aiming to improve the productive efficacy, management decisions accuracy and quality of produced milk.

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“…For many years, approximately 60% of AMU in dairy cattle was related to mastitis, of which roughly two-thirds could be assigned to dry cow treatment (DCT; Kuipers et al, 2016). Since the ban on preventive use of antimicrobials, blanket DCT (BDCT) has been replaced by selective DCT (SDCT;Santman-Berends et al, 2016). To optimize AMU in the Netherlands, including the introduction of SDCT, farmers and veterinarians have a shared responsibility that is reflected in a compulsory one-on-one relationship between them that was introduced as part of the new legislation (Speksnijder et al, 2015b); together, they have to make a herd health plan and a herd treatment plan, which is based on the actual herd situation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Veterinarians' attitudes toward antimicrobial use and selective dry cow treatment in the Netherlands

Scherpenzeel

Santman-Berends

Lam

2018

Journal of Dairy Science

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In the Netherlands, regulations have been in place since 2008 to reduce the overall use of antimicrobials to mitigate antimicrobial resistance. As part of these regulations, a ban on the preventive use of antimicrobials, such as applying blanket dry cow treatment, was introduced and alternative measures such as selective dry cow treatment (SDCT) were implemented. Both farmers and veterinarians play an important role in implementing these measures and have a shared responsibility with respect to prudent antimicrobial use (AMU). The attitude of Dutch dairy veterinarians toward restricted AMU and toward SDCT is unknown, but a favorable attitude toward this approach seems crucial for successful implementation. In 2015, an online questionnaire was collected from 181 veterinarians that contained questions with regard to their attitude and behavior toward reduction of AMU and toward SDCT. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the data, and multivariable logistic regression models with a logit link function were applied to evaluate potential associations between veterinarians' attitudes toward AMU and SDCT and the rationale behind their mindset, based on positive and negative aspects of reduction in AMU. The veterinarians were divided into 3 groups based on their opinion on 4 statements with regard to AMU and SDCT: veterinarians with an unfavorable, a neutral, and a favorable attitude toward reduction of AMU and toward SDCT. For the multivariable logistic regression analysis, the first 2 groups were combined and compared with the veterinarians with a favorable attitude. The general attitude of Dutch dairy veterinarians toward reduction of AMU was positive, and most expressed the belief that they can still be a good veterinarian when they prescribe less antimicrobials. Veterinarians indicated they progressively promoted SDCT beginning in 2013. Most veterinarians see the advice they provide to farmers on SDCT as the best possible approach and are convinced that their farmers apply this SDCT approach. The results of the multivariable analyses showed that veterinarians with a favorable attitude mentioned positive aspects of SDCT, such as an increased consciousness of AMU among farmers, improving animal health, reducing antimicrobial resistance, and a chance to add value for the farmer, more often than other veterinarians. The latter group significantly more often indicated negative aspects of SDCT, such as a higher risk of sick cows and feeling pushed to follow the rules. In conclusion, the general attitude of Dutch dairy veterinarians toward reduction of AMU and SDCT was found to be positive. However, given the influence veterinarians potentially have on the attitude of farmers and the variability found in their attitude and behavior, veterinarians need specific attention if regional or national programs are organized trying to change behavior of farmers and encourage prudent AMU and SDCT.

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Evaluation of udder health parameters and risk factors for clinical mastitis in Dutch dairy herds in the context of a restricted antimicrobial usage policy

Cited by 63 publications

References 46 publications

Quantifying Preferences of Farmers and Veterinarians for National Animal Health Programs: The Example of Bovine Mastitis and Antimicrobial Usage in Switzerland

Quantifying Preferences of Farmers and Veterinarians for National Animal Health Programs: The Example of Bovine Mastitis and Antimicrobial Usage in Switzerland

Epidemiological evaluation of subclinical mastitis of dairy cows in Greece

Veterinarians' attitudes toward antimicrobial use and selective dry cow treatment in the Netherlands

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