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Animals
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Biosecurity and Antimicrobial Use in Animal Production
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Biosecurity and Antimicrobial Use in Animal Production

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal System and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 September 2022) | Viewed by 20862

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Merel Postma

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Livar, Echt, The Netherlands and Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health – Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Merelbeke, Belgium
Interests: specialization in farm animals, biosecurity, antimicrobial usage and public health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Antimicrobial resistance has been declared by the WHO as one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity. Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials are considered the main drivers in the development of drug-resistant pathogens. On the other hand, antimicrobials are essential to protect human and animal health, as well as animal welfare. Responsible and prudent use should be ensured to safeguard their efficacy.

In order to reduce the need for antimicrobial treatment in animals, animal health should be optimized. Prevention of disease is the key.

The optimization of the level of biosecurity is an important preventive tool. There is some research available that has shown that by optimizing herd management and the biosecurity status, animal health and production can improve, while antimicrobial usage can be reduced. The number of papers describing the direct link between interventions in herd management and biosecurity level and antimicrobial usage is, however, still limited.

The aim of this Special Issue is to present recent research and reviews on the implications of biosecurity measures on animal health, production, welfare, and especially antimicrobial usage.

Dr. Merel Postma
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biosecurity
  • herd management
  • antimicrobial usage
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • animal health, production and welfare

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1045 KiB  
Article
Association of Mastitis and Farm Management with Contamination of Antibiotics in Bulk Tank Milk in Southwest, China
by Tingrui Zhang, Sukolrat Boonyayatra and Guoyi Niu
Animals 2022, 12(23), 3392; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12233392 - 2 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1777
Abstract
Bovine mastitis could reduce the milk production and the quality of the bulk tank milk (BTM). Antibiotic treatments through intramammary or parenteral methods are being widely used in dairy farms. A cross-sectional study to investigate for general farm management and pre-test the questionnaire [...] Read more.
Bovine mastitis could reduce the milk production and the quality of the bulk tank milk (BTM). Antibiotic treatments through intramammary or parenteral methods are being widely used in dairy farms. A cross-sectional study to investigate for general farm management and pre-test the questionnaire was performed in Southwestern Yunnan province, China. A total of 134 dairy farms were included. Milking cows of each farm were determined for the presence of clinical (CM) and sub-clinical (SCM) mastitis using the California Mastitis Test (CMT). Rates of CM and SCM in studied farms ranged from 2–11%, and 24–69%, respectively. The incidence of antibiotic residues in BTM of all farms was very high (32%, 44/134). All antibiotic contaminated samples were from smallholder dairy farms. Factors significantly associated with the presence of antibiotic contamination included farm region, antibiotics usage, persons performing mastitis treatment, and rates of CM. Rates of CM were significantly associated with the farm region, cleanliness of udders before milking, and the number of milking cows. Our results emphasize that the risk factors of dairy farm management should be paid attention, which can reduce mastitis prevalence and antibiotic contamination in BTM in Southwestern China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosecurity and Antimicrobial Use in Animal Production)
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17 pages, 1045 KiB  
Article
Monitoring Means and Results of Biosecurity in Pig Fattening Farms: Systematic Assessment of Measures in Place and Exploration of Biomarkers of Interest
by Annalisa Scollo, Pierre Levallois, Christine Fourichon, Ambra Motta, Alessandro Mannelli, Francesco Lombardo and Paolo Ferrari
Animals 2022, 12(19), 2655; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12192655 - 3 Oct 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2617
Abstract
Limited data are available regarding animal-based biomarkers over time as outcomes of biosecurity in pig farms. The aim of this study was to gain an insight into the biosecurity implementation in a convenience sample of 15 swine herds, and to describe potential biomarkers [...] Read more.
Limited data are available regarding animal-based biomarkers over time as outcomes of biosecurity in pig farms. The aim of this study was to gain an insight into the biosecurity implementation in a convenience sample of 15 swine herds, and to describe potential biomarkers of interest; inputs from a systematic evaluation of biosecurity implementation were used to develop tailor-made biosecurity protocols monitored over a 12-month period. The farms’ implementation was then described, and animal-based biomarkers were explored as output parameters. A significative biosecurity improvement was observed at the end of the study (p = 0.047), in particular in the professional zone (p = 0.012). Four clusters of farms were identified for their progress on biosecurity implementation by means of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA): 4/15 farms improved their biosecurity only in the professional zone, 8/15 showed scarce/null improvement of total biosecurity, 2/15 worsened their biosecurity, and 1/15 greatly improved biosecurity. The farm biosecurity profiles showing an improvement included farms with a reduction in lung lesions and scars at slaughter at the end of the study. The results suggest that a systematic evaluation of biosecurity is a useful approach to formulate tailor-made biosecurity plans and monitor their implementation; biomarkers might bring insight into the outcomes of biosecurity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosecurity and Antimicrobial Use in Animal Production)
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12 pages, 270 KiB  
Article
Estimation of the Production Economic Consequences of Stopping Partial Depopulation in Broiler Production
by Nunzio Sarnino, Anna Catharina Berge, Ilias Chantziaras and Jeroen Dewulf
Animals 2022, 12(12), 1521; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12121521 - 11 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1890
Abstract
Partial depopulation is the removal and slaughter of part of a flock prior to the final slaughter age, and this practice allows broiler producers to optimize stocking density in broiler houses. However, this practice constitutes a serious break in farm biosecurity that can [...] Read more.
Partial depopulation is the removal and slaughter of part of a flock prior to the final slaughter age, and this practice allows broiler producers to optimize stocking density in broiler houses. However, this practice constitutes a serious break in farm biosecurity that can lead to the introduction of various pathogens in the flock, including Campylobacter spp. In this study, the production of a house performing partial depopulation of 25% of the flock at 35 days of age prior to the final slaughter at 42 days was compared with a production system where partial depopulation was not performed. The differences in production costs, profit, and technical performance parameters were evaluated. The model indicated that stopping partial depopulation reduces the production between 16 to 24%, which results in a 14% reduced profit per kg of live weight, and a 31% reduced profit per production cycle. To compensate the profit loss, it would be necessary to increase the meat price 3% from a starting price of 87.44 cents. For current conventional broiler production, it may be financially challenging to stop partial depopulation practices. Focusing on external biosecurity to avoid the introduction of Campylobacter into poultry houses may be the right compromise. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosecurity and Antimicrobial Use in Animal Production)
9 pages, 4507 KiB  
Article
Assessing Biosecurity Compliance in Poultry Farms: A Survey in a Densely Populated Poultry Area in North East Italy
by Giuditta Tilli, Andrea Laconi, Francesco Galuppo, Lapo Mughini-Gras and Alessandra Piccirillo
Animals 2022, 12(11), 1409; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12111409 - 30 May 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5161
Abstract
Biosecurity in poultry farms represents the first line of defense against the entry and spread of pathogens that may have animal health, food safety, and economic consequences. The aim of this study was to assess biosecurity compliance in poultry farms located in a [...] Read more.
Biosecurity in poultry farms represents the first line of defense against the entry and spread of pathogens that may have animal health, food safety, and economic consequences. The aim of this study was to assess biosecurity compliance in poultry farms located in a densely populated poultry area in North East Italy. A total of 259 poultry farms (i.e., broilers, turkeys, and layers) were surveyed between 2018 and 2019 using standardized checklists, and differences in biosecurity compliance between the poultry sectors and years (only for turkey farms) were tested for significance. Among the three sectors, turkey farms showed the highest compliance. Farm hygiene, infrastructure condition, cleaning and disinfection tools, and procedures were the biosecurity measures most complied with. Some deficiencies were observed in the cleanliness of the farm hygiene lock in broiler farms, as well as the presence of the house hygiene lock in broiler and layer farms and an adequate coverage of built-up litter in turkey and broiler farms. In conclusion, this study highlighted a generally high level of biosecurity in the visited poultry farms (probably due to the stringent national regulation and the integration of the poultry industry) and identified some measures that still need to be improved. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosecurity and Antimicrobial Use in Animal Production)
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18 pages, 1283 KiB  
Article
Determining the Characteristics of Farms That Raise Pigs without Antibiotics
by Elise Bernaerdt, Dominiek Maes, Tommy Van Limbergen, Merel Postma and Jeroen Dewulf
Animals 2022, 12(10), 1224; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12101224 - 10 May 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2916
Abstract
Reduced and responsible antimicrobial use leads to a lower risk of developing antimicrobial resistance. Raised Without Antibiotics (RWA) is a certification label that is recognized in only a few countries, and it is often unclear what the specific criteria and characteristics of RWA [...] Read more.
Reduced and responsible antimicrobial use leads to a lower risk of developing antimicrobial resistance. Raised Without Antibiotics (RWA) is a certification label that is recognized in only a few countries, and it is often unclear what the specific criteria and characteristics of RWA farms are. The objectives of this study were to describe the criteria for a Belgian RWA program; to coach farms towards reduced antimicrobial usage (AMU); to assess if it was possible to obtain and maintain the RWA status; and to determine differences between RWA and conventional pig farms. Pig farms (n = 28) were visited three times for the following reasons: (1) data collection, (2) farm-specific coaching (2 months later), and (3) evaluation (7 months later). AMU was followed from before the start of the study up to one year after the last visit. AMU, biosecurity (Biocheck.UGentTM), and farm characteristics of (non-)RWA farms were compared. RWA was defined as no antibiotics from birth until slaughter. Pigs requiring individual treatment received a special ear tag and were excluded from the program. The status of the farms varied over time, and the distribution of RWA vs. non-RWA was 10–18, 13–15, and 12–16, before intervention, after coaching, and after one year, respectively. For the non-RWA farms, there was a reduction in AMU of 61%, 38%, and 23%, for the suckling piglets, fattening pigs, and sows, respectively, indicating that they were moving toward the RWA status. There were no significant differences in biosecurity status between RWA and non-RWA farms, but biosecurity improved in all farms throughout the study. RWA farms were smaller (median 200 sows) compared to non-RWA farms (median 350 sows). The 4-week system was used more in non-RWA farms, while the 3- and 5-week systems were used most often in RWA farms. This study showed that farmers could achieve and maintain the RWA status through farm-specific coaching related to prudent AMU and improved biosecurity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosecurity and Antimicrobial Use in Animal Production)
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23 pages, 726 KiB  
Article
Risk Factors for Antimicrobial Use on Irish Pig Farms
by Lorcan O’Neill, Julia Adriana Calderón Díaz, Maria Rodrigues da Costa, Sinnead Oakes, Finola C. Leonard and Edgar García Manzanilla
Animals 2021, 11(10), 2828; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11102828 - 28 Sep 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4048
Abstract
The threat to public health posed by antimicrobial resistance in livestock production means that the pig sector is a particular focus for efforts to reduce antimicrobial use (AMU). This study sought to investigate the risk factors for AMU in Irish pig production. Antimicrobial [...] Read more.
The threat to public health posed by antimicrobial resistance in livestock production means that the pig sector is a particular focus for efforts to reduce antimicrobial use (AMU). This study sought to investigate the risk factors for AMU in Irish pig production. Antimicrobial use data were collected from 52 farrow-to-finish farms. The risk factors investigated were farm characteristics and performance, biosecurity practices, prevalence of pluck lesions at slaughter and serological status for four common respiratory pathogens and vaccination and prophylactic AMU practices. Linear regression models were used for quantitative AMU analysis and risk factors for specific AMU practices were investigated using logistic regression. Farms that milled their own feed had lower total AMU (p < 0.001), whereas higher finisher mortality (p = 0.043) and vaccinating for swine influenza (p < 0.001) increased AMU. Farms with higher prevalence of pericarditis (p = 0.037) and lung abscesses (p = 0.046) used more group treatments. Farms with higher prevalence of liver milk spot lesions (p = 0.018) and farms practising prophylactic AMU in piglets (p = 0.03) had higher numbers of individual treatments. Farms practising prophylactic AMU in piglets (p = 0.002) or sows (p = 0.062) had higher use of cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones. This study identified prophylactic use and respiratory disease as the main drivers for AMU in Irish pig production. These findings highlight areas of farm management where interventions may aid in reducing AMU on Irish pig farms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosecurity and Antimicrobial Use in Animal Production)
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