Nijs, Hanne (2020) Investigating the feasibility of developing an efficient, validated, sustainable on-farm syndromic surveillance system for beef cattle and sheep. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

Preview

PDF WRAP_Theses_Nijs_2020.pdf - Submitted Version - Requires a PDF viewer. Download (20Mb) | Preview

Request Changes to record.

Abstract

The initial aim of the project was to investigate the feasibility of an efficient and sustainable syndromic surveillance system where clinical signs or indicators indicative of endemic diseases in beef cattle and sheep were reported by farmers. The focus was initially on assessing whether this syndromic surveillance could be sustainable and generate valuable outputs for farmers. A bottom up approach was used to collect and analyse qualitative and quantitative data from farmers to assess the feasibility and need for a surveillance system for important clinical signs and/or endemic sheep and beef cattle diseases. Farmers were consulted to verify whether there was a need for a new, farmer-driven (i.e. active reporting of data by farmers) surveillance initiative. After conducting focus group discussions with sheep and cattle farmers, it became clear that they considered surveillance of endemic diseases to be more useful than syndromic surveillance of clinical signs. Thus, during the course of the project the focus shifted from surveillance of non-specific clinical signs towards specific endemic diseases diagnosed.

Subsequently, a pilot study was developed to investigate the feasibility of farmer reporting of disease presence on-farm in 2017 and 2018. In the pilot study, farmers were asked to indicate which endemic diseases listed were diagnosed or suspected on their farm and who identified the diseases (e.g. a veterinarian, the farmer himself or a diagnostic laboratory). After all, endemic livestock diseases cause significant losses to the individual farmer and the industry. However, most endemic sheep and beef cattle diseases are not prioritised in animal health surveillance that is currently focused on new and emerging diseases (e.g. the introduction of Bluetongue virus in the UK in 2007) or diseases with zoonotic potential (e.g. bovine tuberculosis).

In conclusion, the results from this project suggest that although farmers are interested in gaining knowledge on the health of livestock, a surveillance system that relies on farmers reporting clinical signs or diseases diagnosed in their sheep flock or beef cattle herd would not be sustainable. However, there are an increasing number of alternative sources of data that could contribute to a surveillance programme including electronic data collected on farm, through routine diagnostic laboratories e.g. testing of milk for endemic diseases and also veterinary practices.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Subjects:	S Agriculture > SF Animal culture
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Cattle -- Diseases -- Early detection, Cattle -- Health, Sheep -- Diseases -- Early detection, Sheep -- Health
Official Date:	March 2020
Dates:	Date Event March 2020 UNSPECIFIED
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	School of Life Sciences
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Green, Laura E. ; King, Lis (Scientist)
Sponsors:	University of Warwick ; AHDB Beef & Lamb (Great Britain)
Format of File:	pdf
Extent:	xviii, 236 leaves : colour illustrations, colour maps
Language:	eng

Request changes or add full text files to a record

Repository staff actions (login required)

View Item

Downloads