Producer survey of bird-livestock interactions in commercial dairies

Abstract

The objective of this producer survey was to identify and estimate damage caused by bird-livestock interactions in commercial dairies. The interactions between birds and livestock have previously been implicated in causing economic damage while contributing to the environmental dissemination of microorganisms pathogenic to livestock and humans. Very little research exists to help producers understand what bird species use dairies, why they use dairies, or the scope and nature of damage created as a result of bird-livestock interactions. To better characterize these interactions, we surveyed dairy operators within Pennsylvania, New York, and Wisconsin. Survey results suggest that the most common and destructive bird species found on commercial dairies are invasive to North America, and their use of dairies is associated with the loss of cattle feed, increased operating costs, and an increase in dairies self-reporting Salmonella spp. and Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis. Cattle feed loss estimates generated from this survey were used to parameterize an input-output (IO) economic model using data from 10 counties in the state of Pennsylvania (Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Chester, Cumberland, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and Somerset). This IO model allowed us to estimate direct, indirect, and induced economic effects of feed loss from bird damage to dairies within these counties. The IO model output suggests that feed loss costs Pennsylvania between $4.11 and $12.08 million (mean $10.6 million) in total economic damage, with approximately 43 to 128 jobs (mean 112) forgone statewide in 2009.

Mechanisms of antimicrobial resistant Salmonella enterica transmission associated with starling–livestock interactions

“…environmental dissemination of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria. Wildlife incursions into CAFO are known to cause economic damage as a consequence of feed consumption (Shwiff et al, 2012) and many of these species have been documented as carriers of E. coli O157:H7 and AMR S. enterica (Kirk et al, 2002;Gaukler et al, 2009;Kauffman and LeJeune, 2011). European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) in particular are known to cause damage to CAFO through the consumption of livestock feed (Dolbeer et al, 1978;Depenbusch et al, 2011).…”

Molecular characterization of Salmonella enterica isolates associated with starling–livestock interactions

“…There is evidence that the ecological interactions between synanthropic birds and cattle also contribute to increased cattle fecal shedding and environmental contamination of CAFO with S. enterica, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Mycobacterium avium spp. paratuberculosis Daniels et al, 2003;Carlson et al, 2011a;Kauffman and LeJeune, 2011;Shwiff et al, 2012). European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) stand out as a potential source for E. coli O157:H7 and S. enterica in CAFO (Carlson et al, 2011b;Cernicchiaro et al, 2012).…”

Policy and Regulation

“…Reptiles (e.g., Burmese pythons and Brown tree snakes) and other aquatic nonnatives typically cause economic impact through depredation and environmental destruction but rarely through disease transmission (Greene et al 2007;Snow et al 2007). Some avian species, such as starlings, can create impacts in all three categories through depredation of crops, destruction of property (e.g., statues, bridges, buildings), and disease transmission (e.g., fecal contamination of livestock feed) (Shwiff et al 2012). A substantial portion of the overall impact of avian VIS tends to be through depredation of crops, while the other two categories of damage tend to contribute signi cantly less to the overall impact.…”

“…Shwiff et al (2012) used data from the snake's invasion on Guam, along with survey information from Hawaii, to estimate the cost of a potential invasion into Hawaii. Results suggested that total annual damage from such an invasion would be between $593 million and $2.14 billion.…”