Lameness prevalence and risk factors in organic dairy herds in four European countries

Sjöström, Karin; Fall, Nils; Blanco‐Penedo, Isabel; Duval, Julie; Krieger, Margret; Emanuelson, Ulf

doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2017.12.009

Cited by 28 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Other studies indicate that the fact that the Swedish farmers in our study, in contrast to farmers in other studies, did not feel limited in their antibiotic use is at least partly a result of them adhering to the comparatively high Swedish animal health and welfare standards (Krieger et al, 2017;Sjöström et al, 2017). This also suggests that the level of antibiotics farmers and veterinarians in other studies perceive they need is in part connected with a culture of using more antibiotics rather than working with animal welfare in other ways.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 45%

Dairy farmers' perspectives on antibiotic use: A qualitative study

Fischer

Sjöström

Stiernström

et al. 2019

Journal of Dairy Science

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An important step in limiting the development of antibiotic resistance is reducing use of antibiotics in animal husbandry. Much research in this area has focused on individual farmer behavior, aiming to better align actual use with medical recommendations. However, farmers' practices and reasoning around their antibiotic use do not reflect solely that farmer as an individual. Rather, practices and worldviews are guided by context (e.g., veterinary advice, peer pressure, regulation, and interactions with farm animals). Studies that jointly embrace farmer agency and the wider structures for this agency, however, remain scarce. This paper draws on theories of behavior as socially constructed, and in particular on the concept of the "good farmer," to interpret findings from a study of 7 Swedish dairy farms. The results show that all farmers have close daily contact with their animals, have strong emotional ties, and place emphasis on the importance of being able to judge animal health status by eye. Half of the farms use an automatic milking system, and for these farmers automation means better monitoring of animal health without losing contact with the cows. The local veterinarian is considered a positive and important authority whose advice is valued. Despite comparatively strict antibiotic use regulations in Sweden, the farmers do not report lack of access to antibiotics when needed. However, they report feeling disadvantaged in international trade and poorly treated by the Swedish government, which allows imports of cheaper meat and dairy products produced under less strict regulations. The farmers are well informed about how to prevent and treat common diseases. In cases where they do not follow recommendations, we found that economic and labor constraints are the reason rather than lack of knowledge. We concluded that structural limitations faced by farmers, rather than lack of information, impose constraints to further limiting antibiotic use in Sweden. Overall stricter and more uniform global regulations on antibiotic use in animal farming could be an effective measure for reducing antibiotic use.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 45%

Dairy farmers' perspectives on antibiotic use: A qualitative study

Fischer

Sjöström

Stiernström

et al. 2019

Journal of Dairy Science

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“…Another study estimated that a total of 75% of cows in Europe are affected by hoof disorders [ 9 ]. Sjöström et al [ 25 ] reported results with an overall prevalence of lameness of 18% and in some herds up to 79%, but herds without lame cows were also recorded. Agricultural conditions that may impact lameness vary from country to country and are therefore likely to differ systematically in prevalence.…”

Section: Prevalence Of Lamenessmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is mainly at the forefront, due to the increasing prevalence and because no other common dairy disease is associated with such visible symptoms of pain [ 9 , 27 , 60 , 64 ], which may be of a long-term nature. Thus, in addition to adverse effects on production, lameness is associated with pain [ 6 , 11 , 22 , 25 , 26 , 31 , 32 , 36 , 40 , 46 , 55 , 60 , 65 , 66 , 67 ] and anxiety [ 60 ]. In this case, the dairy cow cannot exhibit natural behavior [ 6 , 40 , 55 , 63 , 68 ].…”

Section: Factors Influencing the Occurrence Of Lamenessmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More than 90% of diagnosed lesions affect the distal part of the limb [ 11 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]; however, the resulting lesions are not only a welfare problem, but they also affect production and profit [ 8 , 14 , 15 , 19 , 21 , 22 ]. Dairy cows that are affected by limb diseases have lower dry matter intake and milk yield [ 3 , 4 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 14 , 16 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ], reduced fertility [ 3 , 4 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ], and they have an increased risk of culling [ 3 , 4 , 11 , 14 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 23 , 24 , 25 ...…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lameness of dairy cows is, along with mastitis and reproduction, the third most expensive disease to treat [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 15 , 16 , 20 , 22 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 31 , 32 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ]. The study by Kaniyamattam et al [ 39 ] reports lameness is second only to mastitis [ 39 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of Nutrients on the Hoof Health in Cattle

Langova

Novotna

Nemcova

et al. 2020

Animals

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Lameness is currently one of the most important and economically demanding diseases in cattle. It is manifested in a change in locomotion that is associated with lesions, especially the pelvic limbs. The disease of the hoof is painful, affecting the welfare of dairy cows. Important factors that influence the health of the limbs include nutrition, animal hygiene, stable technology, and genetic and breeding predispositions. Nutrition is one of the basic preventive factors affecting the quality and growth of the hoof horn, and the associated prevalence of hoof disease. The strength and structure of the hoof horn are affected by the composition of the feed ration (amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and toxic substances contaminating the feed ration, or arising in the feed ration as metabolites of fungi).

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Health and welfare in organic livestock production systems—a systematic mapping of current knowledge

et al. 2020

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This review aimed to systematically map and summarize the status of animal health and welfare in organic production. The prevalence of diseases and behavioural effects in organic dairy cow, beef cattle, sheep, pig, laying hen and broiler chicken were discussed in the context of the organic values and current knowledge on animal health and welfare. In total 166 peer-reviewed scientific publications between 2008 and 2020 were included. No strong evidence for neither inferior nor distinctly higher animal welfare in organic compared with conventional production could be supported. The welfare status of organic livestock is in general good in relation to the OIE definition of animal health and welfare. However, organic systems are still facing several challenges related to animal health and the arising of goal conflicts due to management and practical implications. Greater possibilities to perform species-specific behaviours in organic production systems, however, indicate that the organic standards offer a good framework for high animal welfare management. For organic dairy farmers, the main health problems are similar to those of non-organic farms; especially mastitis and lameness need improvement. Parasites, together with mastitis and lamb mortality, are important welfare issues in organic sheep production. Piglet mortality, leg problems, parasite load and increasing respiratory problems are of major relevance in organic pig production. For organic laying hens, major health challenges relate to feather pecking and cannibalism, parasites and possibilities to express species-specific behaviours. For organic broilers, dermatitis of footpads, hocks and breast are reported as main health issues.

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Lameness prevalence and risk factors in organic dairy herds in four European countries

Cited by 28 publications

References 32 publications

Dairy farmers' perspectives on antibiotic use: A qualitative study

Dairy farmers' perspectives on antibiotic use: A qualitative study

Impact of Nutrients on the Hoof Health in Cattle

Health and welfare in organic livestock production systems—a systematic mapping of current knowledge

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