Economic analysis of biosecurity adoption in dairy farming: evidence from Ireland

Osawe, Osayanmon Wellington; Läpple, Doris; Mee, John F.

doi:10.1093/jas/skac218

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…In this context, Shortall et al 23 suggest that consulting veterinarians can play a pivotal role in advising farmers on biosecurity practices. Furthermore, the adoption of biosecurity practices has been shown to have a significant impact on the economic outcomes of dairy farms 17 . Hereby, Osawe et al 17 named good managerial abilities to be crucial for implementing biosecurity measures effectively and thus ensuring good economic viability of the farm.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, the adoption of biosecurity practices has been shown to have a significant impact on the economic outcomes of dairy farms 17 . Hereby, Osawe et al 17 named good managerial abilities to be crucial for implementing biosecurity measures effectively and thus ensuring good economic viability of the farm. The economic significance of properly adopting biosecurity measures is evident in our results (Tables 3 , 5 , Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, few studies analyzed the economic impact of applying biosecurity measures (e.g. 17 ) and enhanced animal welfare (e.g. 18 ) in dairy farming.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing the impact of biosecurity practices and animal welfare in small-scale mountain dairy farming

Zanon,

Alrhmoun,

Gauly

2024

Sci Rep

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This study estimates the association between the level of biosecurity, animal welfare, milk quality, and economic performance on 2291 mountain dairy farms which largely differs in management and structure from large dairy operations in the lowlands mainly due to climatic and topographic constraints in mountain areas. The dairy industry’s increasing emphasis on biosecurity is crucial for ensuring animal health, productivity, and disease mitigation. Therefore, in the present study the biosecurity and animal welfare status of mountain dairy farms were assessed considering the official welfare protocol for dairy cows of the Italian ClassyFarm system. Our findings reveal a suboptimal adoption of biosecurity measures, attributed to structural limitations in mountain farms and farmers’ awareness gaps. Despite these challenges, the economic significance of biosecurity adoption is evident, emphasizing potential benefits for farm viability and animal health. Conversely, the study indicates a moderate to good welfare status in assessed farms, reflecting farmers’ awareness of the importance of high welfare standards for dairy cows. Improved welfare positively correlates with milk sales and productivity, highlighting the economic advantages of prioritizing animal well-being. Challenges persist, particularly regarding animal housing deficiencies and related consumer concerns about animal welfare in dairy production. Therefore, targeted interventions and educational initiatives are crucial to empower farmers and promote best practices in biosecurity and animal welfare management. However, addressing resultant production cost increases necessitates society’s willingness to pay more for animal-based food, emphasizing the importance of aligning economic incentives with sustainable farming practices.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing the impact of biosecurity practices and animal welfare in small-scale mountain dairy farming

Zanon,

Alrhmoun,

Gauly

2024

Sci Rep

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“…Vaccination is one of the most commonly adopted biosecurity measures (Osawe et al, 2022) and failure to vaccinate cattle against common abortifacients is a risk factor for abortion, e.g. leptospirosis, brucellosis and viral pathogens (Gädicke & Monti, 2013, Mellado et al, 2021).…”

Section: Risk Factors For Abortionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invited review: Bovine abortion—Incidence, risk factors and causes

Mee

2023

Reprod Domestic Animals

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The true incidence of bovine abortion (42–260 days of gestation) is unknown because of under‐reporting. This is particularly true of the first half of gestation when most abortions occur. From research studies, it is estimated that the animal‐level incidence of abortion between day 45 and term is approximately 10%, being lower in suckler than in dairy cows. While wide variation exists in herd‐level incidence, up to 30%, it is estimated that less than 5% of farmers report high (>5%) observed abortion rates. Given these figures, veterinary practitioners and farmers tend to use investigation thresholds close to these values, ≥5 and ≥3%, respectively. Most of the risk factors for abortion are animal‐level factors (e.g. parity), but there are also herd‐level factors (e.g. enterprise type). Of the many risk factors for bovine abortion, only a small number are modifiable. While the causes of bovine abortion are often classified as noninfectious or infectious, in reality, this means diagnosis not reached (DNR) or infectious. Approximately 40% of abortions are diagnosed as infectious and the remaining 60% as DNR; DNR includes both infectious and noninfectious causes not diagnosed. Increasingly, genetic causes are being diagnosed and changes to current national genetic selection indices may be warranted. Of the infectious causes, Neospora caninum is now the most commonly diagnosed abortifacient internationally, followed by Trueperella pyogenes, BVDv and fungi. Both national eradication programmes and effective vaccination programmes can reduce the burden of some infectious abortifacients, but the control of sporadic, noninfectious and Neospora‐associated abortions remains challenging.

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