Using Dairy Value Chains to Identify Production Constraints and Biosecurity Risks

Abstract

The dairy industry plays an important role in the economy and food security of India. A study of the dairy value chains was conducted in Punjab, India, to identify production constraints and biosecurity risks. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were conducted during 2018–2019 with a total of 119 participants comprising veterinarians (41), paraveterinarians (15), veterinary academics (12), dairy farmers (46) and key informants (5). Input and output value chains were created, and potential risk nodes were identified that could facilitate the transmission of pathogens between animals, farms and villages. The majority of the participants were male (93%), middle-aged (68%) or worked in rural areas (75%). Most of the farmers self-cultivated their green fodder (82%), used the wheat straw from their own fields (60%) but purchased commercial feed (63%). Artificial insemination was used by 85% of farmers for cattle, but only 68% for buffaloes. Most of the farmers (76%) reported getting their animals vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease and hemorrhagic septicemia. Animals were sold and purchased without any health certification and testing in most cases. Adoption of biosecurity measures by farmers and the use of personal protective equipment by veterinary personnel were very low. We recommend conducting epidemiological studies to further characterize the identified risk nodes, training of veterinary practitioners and farmers to ensure adequate biosecurity practices and the appropriate use of personal protective equipment.

Brucellosis in India: Comparing exposure amongst veterinarians, para-veterinarians and animal handlers

“…The enormous size of the dairy sector in India and its accelerated growth demands an efficient veterinary coverage including but not limited to animal health advice, artificial insemination, injuries, pregnancy diagnosis, abortion handling, calving assistance, retention of placenta and vaccinations against infectious diseases [ 9 , 10 ]. The veterinary services fall under the administrative control of state governments and most states have three types of animal health service providers namely, (a) qualified registered veterinarians, (b) para-veterinarians, and (c) animal handlers [ 9 ]. Para-veterinarians perform a role similar to veterinary nurses and are usually called veterinary pharmacists in India, but we refer to them as para-veterinarians in this manuscript for the international audience.…”

“…Veterinary personnel who play a pivotal role in vaccinating livestock can be accidentally exposed to infections through needlestick injuries [ 6 ]. However, non-adherence to personal protective equipment (PPE) usage by the veterinary personnel while attending to various procedures such as retained placenta, dystocia, pregnancy diagnosis and artificial insemination appears to be the main reason for the occupational exposure in veterinarians [ 9 ]. Generating knowledge to enable better control of endemic brucellosis in livestock and the risk of occupational exposure in humans can reduce the burden of disease in both populations within a One Health framework.…”

Qualitative Study on Antimicrobial Usage and Resistance in the Dairy Chain: A Situation Analysis and Solutions by Stakeholders from Punjab, India

“…The emerging intensive farming practices of the country have been posited as the reasons for the large-scale use of antibiotics, making the country one of the hotspots of AMR. The possible factors for increasing AMR, especially in developing countries, including India, have increased, along with indiscriminate use of antibiotics in animal production, poor farm biosecurity practices, inadequate infection control practices in consort with the lack of compliance with regulatory frameworks [ 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”

“…The state of Punjab, India, is an agrarian economy, with dairying being an important source of income for farmers. The state is one of the leading milk producers in the country with the highest per capita milk availability [ 8 ]. The dairy herds of Punjab face twin challenges of antibiotic overuse and underuse, and lack of antibiotic stewardship [ 17 ].…”

“…Antibiotic use in the dairy sector of India is predominated by veterinarians (certified veterinary professionals with the basic qualifications of a Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry (B.V.Sc. and AH) degree), para-veterinarians (having veterinary or animal health diploma certificates to assist veterinarians in animal treatment procedures), quacks (persons carrying out treatment practices without any recognized diploma/degree), and the dairy farmer him/herself [ 8 , 18 ]. The predominance of informal practitioners in the health systems of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including India, with no formal qualifications, are reported to be the first line of contact for treatment and antibiotic use [ 19 ].…”