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Bartlett H, Zanella M, Kaori B, Sabei L, Araujo MS, de Paula TM, Zanella AJ, Holmes MA, Wood JLN, Balmford A. Trade-offs in the externalities of pig production are not inevitable. NATURE FOOD 2024; 5:312-322. [PMID: 38605128 PMCID: PMC11045459 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-024-00921-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Farming externalities are believed to co-vary negatively, yet trade-offs have rarely been quantified systematically. Here we present data from UK and Brazilian pig production systems representative of most commercial systems across the world ranging from 'intensive' indoor systems through to extensive free range, Organic and woodland systems to explore co-variation among four major externality costs. We found that no specific farming type was consistently associated with good performance across all domains. Generally, systems with low land use have low greenhouse gas emissions but high antimicrobial use and poor animal welfare, and vice versa. Some individual systems performed well in all domains but were not exclusive to any particular type of farming system. Our findings suggest that trade-offs may be avoidable if mitigation focuses on lowering impacts within system types rather than simply changing types of farming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harriet Bartlett
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Smith School of Enterprise and Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Márcia Zanella
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Kaori
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leandro Sabei
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Michelle S Araujo
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tauana Maria de Paula
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adroaldo J Zanella
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mark A Holmes
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - James L N Wood
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Andrew Balmford
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Scali F, Ganio S, Roullet C, Ruffier M, Bergagna S, Pagliasso G, Romeo C, Formenti N, Maisano AM, Santucci G, Tonni M, Guadagno F, Mazza F, Guarneri F, Bontempi G, Candela L, Alborali GL. Regional-Scale Analysis of Antimicrobial Usage in Smallholder Cattle Herds (Aosta Valley, Italy): Why Surveillance Matters. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:204. [PMID: 38534639 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13030204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Optimising antimicrobial usage (AMU) in livestock is pivotal to counteract the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. We analysed AMU in more than 1000 cattle herds over 11 years (2008-2018) in the Aosta Valley (Italy), a region where 80% of farms house less than 50 cattle. Dairy cows accounted for over 95% of AMU. AMU was estimated using the defined daily dose animal for Italy (DDDAit) per biomass for the whole herd and a treatment incidence 100 (TI100) for cows. Average annual herd-level AMU was low, with 3.6 DDDAit/biomass (range: 3.2-4.0) and 1.2 TI100 in cows (range: 1.1-1.3). Third and fourth generation cephalosporins, which are critical for human medicine, represented almost 10% of usage, and intramammary antimicrobials accounted for over 60%. We detected significant downward temporal trends in total AMU, as well as a positive relationship with herd size. The magnitude of such effects was small, leaving scant room for further reduction. However, the frequent use of critical antimicrobials and intramammary products should be addressed, following the principles of prudent AMU. Our findings highlight the importance of monitoring AMU even in low-production, smallholding contexts where a low usage is expected, to identify any deficiencies and implement interventions for further AMU optimisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Scali
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy
| | - Sandra Ganio
- Azienda USL della Valle d'Aosta, SC Igiene Allevamenti, 11100 Aosta, Italy
| | - Claudio Roullet
- Azienda USL della Valle d'Aosta, SC Igiene Allevamenti, 11100 Aosta, Italy
| | - Mauro Ruffier
- Assessorato Sanità, Salute e Politiche Sociali della Valle d'Aosta, Igiene e Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, 11100 Aosta, Italy
| | - Stefania Bergagna
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, 25124 Turin, Italy
| | - Giulia Pagliasso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, 25124 Turin, Italy
- Azienda Sanitaria Locale di Ciriè, Chivasso e Ivrea, 10073 Ciriè, Italy
| | - Claudia Romeo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy
- Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, 1350 København, Denmark
| | - Nicoletta Formenti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonio Marco Maisano
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Santucci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy
| | - Matteo Tonni
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Guadagno
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Mazza
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy
| | - Flavia Guarneri
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy
| | - Giorgio Bontempi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy
| | - Loredana Candela
- Ministero della Salute della Repubblica Italiana, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Loris Alborali
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy
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3
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Favole A, Testori C, Bergagna S, Gennero MS, Ingravalle F, Costa B, Barresi S, Curti P, Barberis F, Ganio S, Orusa R, Vallino Costassa E, Berrone E, Vernè M, Scaglia M, Palmitessa C, Gallo M, Tessarolo C, Pederiva S, Ferrari A, Lorenzi V, Fusi F, Brunelli L, Pastorelli R, Cagnotti G, Casalone C, Caramelli M, Corona C. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Kynurenine Pathway, and Lipid-Profiling Alterations as Potential Animal Welfare Indicators in Dairy Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13071167. [PMID: 37048423 PMCID: PMC10093196 DOI: 10.3390/ani13071167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Complete animal welfare evaluation in intensive farming is challenging. With this study, we investigate new biomarkers for animal physical and mental health by comparing plasma expression of biochemical indicators in dairy cows reared in three different systems: (A) semi-intensive free-stall, (B) non-intensive tie-stall, and (C) intensive free-stall. Additionally, protein levels of mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (mBDNF) and its precursor form (proBDNF) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1) specific activity were evaluated in brain samples collected from 12 cattle culled between 73 and 138 months of age. Alterations in plasma lipid composition and in the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism were observed in the tie-stall-reared animals. The total plasma BDNF concentration was higher in tie-stall group compared to the two free-housing groups. Brain analysis of the tie-stall animals revealed a different mBDNF/proBDNF ratio, with a higher level of proBDNF (p < 0.001). Our data are similar to previous studies on animal models of depression, which reported that inhibition of the conversion of proBDNF in its mature form and/or elevated peripheral kynurenine pathway activation may underlie cerebral biochemical changes and induce depressive-like state behavior in animals.
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Menegon F, Capello K, Tarakdjian J, Pasqualin D, Cunial G, Andreatta S, Dellamaria D, Manca G, Farina G, Di Martino G. Antibiotic Use in Alpine Dairy Farms and Its Relation to Biosecurity and Animal Welfare. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11020231. [PMID: 35203833 PMCID: PMC8868112 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11020231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The quantification of antimicrobial usage (AMU) in food-producing animals can help identify AMU risk factors, thereby enhancing appropriate stewardship policies and strategies for a more rational use. AMU in a sample of 34 farms in the Province of Trento (north-eastern Italy) from 2018 to 2020 was expressed as defined daily doses for animals per population correction unit according to European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption guidelines (DDDvet) and according to Italian guidelines (DDDAit). A retrospective analysis was carried out to test the effects of several husbandry practices on AMU. Overall, the average AMU ranged between 6.5 DDDAit in 2018 and 5.2 DDDAit in 2020 (corresponding to 9 and 7 DDDvet, respectively), showing a significant trend of decrement (−21.3%). Usage of the highest priority critically important antimicrobials (HPCIA) was reduced by 83% from 2018 to 2020. Quarantine management, available space, water supply, animals’ cleanliness and somatic cell count had no significant association with AMU. Rather, farms with straw-bedded cubicles had lower AMU levels than those with mattresses and concrete floors (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study evidenced a decrement in AMU, particularly regarding HPCIA, but only a few risk factors due to farm management.
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