Ruminant health research – progress to date and future prospects, with an emphasis on Irish research

Abstract

This review addresses the progress that has been made in ruminant health research over the last 60 yr, with an emphasis on Irish research. The review focuses on the economically important infectious diseases of dairy and beef cattle and of sheep, calf diseases, regulated and non-regulated infectious diseases, lameness, mastitis and parasitoses. The progress to date, current knowledge and future challenges are all addressed. Paradigm shifts have occurred in many of these diseases, the most profound of which is the change from increasing antimicrobial usage (AMU) to the realisation of the challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the current reduction in AMU. Another major change in thinking is the move away from focus on the pathogen exclusively towards a more holistic view of the roles of host immunity and adequacy of management. In the last 60 yr, many new diseases have emerged but in parallel many new technologies have rapidly evolved to monitor and control these threats to animal health. Irish research has contributed substantially to improved current ruminant health. The major future challenge is how to manage ruminant health in a OneHealth world where animal, human and environmental health and sustainability are intimately intertwined and interdependent.

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

“…Abortion rates were also higher in older (>3rd parity) than in younger cows (Nadri et al, 2021; Thomsen et al, 2020). But other studies (Gädicke & Monti, 2013, Norman et al, 2012, Thurmond et al, 2005, Mee, 1992, Rafati et al, 2010) found higher abortion rates in first parity cows than in older cows. Silke et al (2002) found no difference in late embryonic/early foetal mortality between heifers and cows.…”

Current Limitations of Staph Infection Diagnostics, and the Role for VOCs in Achieving Culture-Independent Detection

“…S. aureus also causes severe diseases in animals such as arthritis, toxic shock syndrome, urinary tract infections, and omphalitis, an infection of the umbilicus or surrounding tissues [ 23 ]. S. aureus is also the predominant infectious pathogen causing clinical and subclinical intramammary mastitis in dairy cattle globally [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ], resulting in sizable economic losses. Liebe and colleagues estimate that the US economy loses $2 billion annually due to bovine mastitis, with worldwide losses of approximately $34 billion (USD) [ 34 ].…”

Invited review: Bovine neonatal morbidity and mortality—Causes, risk factors, incidences, sequelae and prevention

“…The benefits of this regime may be augmented by maternal vaccination against GI pathogens in the month before calving during colostrogenesis (Chambers et al, 2022). While studies show variable benefits of feeding pre‐ or probiotics to neonatal calves to prevent calf diarrhoea (Wang et al, 2023; Medrano‐Galarza et al, 2018), routine prophylactic or metaphylactic antimicrobial use (AMU) is no longer recommended in order to reduce the risks of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), (Mee et al, 2022).…”