Paratuberculosis, Animal Welfare and Biosecurity: A Survey in 33 Northern Italy Dairy Goat Farms

Paratuberculosis is a notable infectious disease of ruminants. Goats appear to be particularly susceptible. The survey aimed to investigate the spread of paratuberculosis in Italian goat farming and evaluate whether the presence of the disease could be influenced by welfare and biosecurity deficienc...

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Published in:Animals (Basel) 2023-07, Vol.13 (14), p.2346
Main Authors: Gaffuri, Alessandra, Barsi, Filippo, Magni, Edoardo, Bergagna, Stefania, Dellamaria, Debora, Ricchi, Matteo, De Paolis, Livia, Galletti, Giorgio, Arrigoni, Norma, Lorenzi, Valentina, Fusi, Francesca, Prosperi, Alice, Garbarino, Chiara
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agriculture
Animal welfare
animal welfare assessment
Bacterial infections
Biosecurity
dairy goats
Dairy industry
Disease
Farm management
Farmers
Farms
Goats
Infection
Infections
Johne's disease
Livestock farms
Milk production
Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis
Serology
Sheep
Surveillance
Surveys
Veterinarians
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Summary:Paratuberculosis is a notable infectious disease of ruminants. Goats appear to be particularly susceptible. The survey aimed to investigate the spread of paratuberculosis in Italian goat farming and evaluate whether the presence of the disease could be influenced by welfare and biosecurity deficiencies. A serological survey for paratuberculosis in 33 dairy farms in northern Italy was conducted. Contextually, animal welfare and biosecurity were assessed, using a standardized protocol of 36 welfare indicators and 15 biosecurity indicators which assigns to each farm a welfare and biosecurity score from 0 (any application) to 100% (full application). An overall result of less than 60% was considered insufficient. Nineteen farms (58%) tested positive for paratuberculosis, with a mean intra-herd seroprevalence of 7.4%. Total welfare ranged from 39.56 to 90.7% (mean 68.64%). Biosecurity scores ranged from 10.04 to 90.01% (mean 57.57%). Eight farms (24%) showed poor welfare conditions (welfare score < 60%) and 19 (58%) an unsatisfactory biosecurity condition (biosecurity score < 60%). With respect to the explorative character of the study, an indicative association between seven welfare and biosecurity indicators and paratuberculosis seropositivity was identified. The presence of paratuberculosis in northern Italy dairy goat farms was confirmed. The welfare and biosecurity assessment protocol proved to be an accurate tool, capable of identifying critical points for managing health, welfare and productivity.
ISSN:2076-2615
2076-2615
DOI:10.3390/ani13142346