Integration of production and financial models to analyse the financial impact of livestock diseases: a case study of Schmallenberg virus disease on British and French dairy farms

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate and compare the financial impact of Schmallenberg disease for different dairy production types in the United Kingdom and France. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Integrated production and financial models for dairy cattle were developed and applied to Schmallenberg virus (SBV) disease in a British and French context. The five main production systems that prevail in these two countries were considered. Their respective gross margins measuring the holding's profitability were calculated based on public benchmarking, literature and expert opinion data. A partial budget analysis was performed within each production model to estimate the impact of SBV in the systems modelled. Two disease scenarios were simulated: low impact and high impact. RESULTS: The model gross margin obtained per cow space and year ranged from £1014 to £1484 for the UK and from £1037 to £1890 for France depending on the production system considered. In the UK, the net SBV disease costs in £/cow space/year for an average dairy farm with 100 milking spaces were estimated between £16.3 and £51.4 in the high-impact scenario and between £8.2 and £25.9 in the low-impact scenario. For France, the net SBV disease costs in £/cow space/year ranged from £19.6 to £48.6 in the high-impact scenario and £9.7 to £22.8 in the low-impact scenario, respectively. CONCLUSION: The study illustrates how the combination of production and financial models allows assessing disease impact taking into account differing management and husbandry practices and associated price structures in the dairy sector. It supports decision-making of farmers and veterinarians who are considering disease control measures as it provides an approach to estimate baseline disease impact in common dairy production systems in the UK and France

Status Report on Education in the Economics of Animal Health: Results from a European Survey

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Determinants of access to animal health care in France: Evidence from a spatial econometric framework

Over the last two decades, concerns have arisen in the veterinary profession about the declining number of food animal veterinarians. Based on a One Health perspective which recognizes that the health of people, animals, and their environment are interconnected, the French policymakers implemented a set of policies to combat the veterinarian shortage in the food animal sector that may cause public health crises. However, public interventions are unlikely to succeed in combating the veterinarian shortage unless they are preceded by a relevant understanding of the main determinants underlying this shortage. This paper contributes to identifying the main factors of the veterinarian shortage in 2019 in the French cattle sector using databases that integrate French veterinary clinics, farm characteristics and socio-economics features, and a spatial econometrics framework. Our results highlighted, first, strong and positive spatial autocorrelation in terms of veterinarian shortage between observations. Second, favorable socio-economic characteristics of a region were associated with a reduction in veterinarian shortage. Third, proximity to urban regions was associated with a decreased veterinarian shortage. Based on these findings, we provided some recommendations to policymakers

Evolution raciale du cheptel bovin français des années 1970 aux années 2000 : analyse à partir des données des Recensements Généraux agricoles de 1979, 1988 et 2000

L'évolution de l'élevage bovin au cours de la seconde moitié de XXème siècle, largement influencée par le contexte politique, se manifeste principalement par une progression des rendements, une augmentation de la taille des troupeaux et une diminution du nombre d'exploitations et d'exploitants. Dans ce contexte, le troupeau de vaches laitières diminue alors que celui des vaches allaitantes progresse. Le tracé des cartes de densité des principales races bovines en France à partir des données des recensements généraux agricoles de 1979, 1988 et 2000 permet de suivre l'évolution géographique et numérique des races. Pour successivement le troupeau laitier et allaitant, une étude globale comparative puis individuelle est présentée. Les caractéristiques des principaux systèmes d'élevage actuels en France sont étudiées. L'adoption récente du compromis de Luxembourg justifie un exercice de prospective concernant ces systèmes d'élevage bovins

Approche institutionnelle de la santé animale : place des compétences, des territoires et des collectifs dans la gestion de la santé des bovins laitiers en France

Ce travail propose une analyse institutionnelle commonsienne de la gestion sanitaire des bovins en termes de compétences collectives et individuelles. Un modèle conceptuel institutionnel d'analyse de la santé animale est proposé comme alternative possible au modèle micro-économique néoclassique. La gestion de la santé est d'abord abordée à travers les compétences et capacités de l'éleveur au sein de l'exploitation, en mobilisant les relations individus - collectifs inorganisés. Le rôle des collectifs organisés dans la santé animale est ensuite identifié, avec l'identification de collectifs productifs et de collectifs sanitaires. Les compétences individuelles et collectives apparaissent territorialisées. Ce modèle est ensuite validé à partir de données issues de la Base de Données Nationale d'Identification des bovins et du Contrôle Laitier, pour 2005 et 2006. La mortalité des bovins laitiers et la qualité cytologique du lait (cellules somatiques, témoins d'infection de la mamelle) de chaque exploitation sont respectivement analysées à l'aide de modèles linéaires et de panels statiques et dynamiques. Un effet global des compétences de l'éleveur sur l'ensemble des troubles sanitaires de l'exploitation est observé. Les compétences doivent être au préalable révélées pour se traduire en capacités (actions). La spatialisation des modèles démontre enfin la dimension institutionnelle, souvent territorialisée, de la santé animale. L'analyse institutionnelle montre qu'une large part de la santé du troupeau repose sur les compétences individuelles des éleveurs et sur des compétences collectives. Ces compétences peuvent être révélées par un renforcement des interventions préventives et de la formation en élevage. ABSTRACT : This research analyzes cattle health through individual and collective competencies, based on Commons institutionalism. The first part defines a new institutional conceptual framework, alternative to the neoclassic microeconomic models, to study animal health. Health management is analyzed at farm level in terms of farmers' competencies and capabilities considering the relationship between individuals and unorganized going concern. It integrates thereafter organized going concerns and defines production focused organizations and health focused organizations. The competencies and capabilities have both territorial components. The model is validated empirically in the second part, using the national cattle identification database and the milk control program database, for 2005 and 2006. Dairy cattle mortality and milk bacteriological quality (somatic counts) are explained with linear models and static and dynamic panel models, respectively. A global effect of farmer's health competencies on the overall health issues of the farm is shown, but competencies must be translated into capabilities (actions) before impacting on health. The spatialization of the models reveals some territorial correlations that clearly show the effect of institutions on animal health. The institutional analysis shows that an important part of the herd health rests on the farmer's individual competencies, as well as on some collective competencies. These competencies can be strengthened and revealed into capabilities with more accurate and regular preventive interventions in farms and with more farmers' education

POSTPARTUM ELEVATED Β-HYDROXYBUTYRATE AND NON-ESTERIFIED FATTY ACIDS TOGETHER OR SEPARATELY AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH PLASMA METABOLITES, BODY CONDITION AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE IN DAIRY COWS

This study aimed to assess post-partum elevated nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) and β hydroxybutyrate (BHB), considered either togetheror separately,relative to the estrus cyclicity and first service pregnancy status of cows and their association withbody condition scores and some metabolites.Blood samples from 50 Montbéliarde dairy cowswere collected from 15 to 52 DIMto measure serum  BHB, NEFA,glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, urea nitrogen, total protein, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamyltransferase (γGT), calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium;and progesterone concentrations.Body condition score (BCS) was assessed at calving and at each time when blood samples were taken.Cows were considered as having post-partum elevated NEFA (H-NEFA) concentration if the concentration was≥0.70 mM and post-partum elevated BHB (H-BHB) concentration if the concentration was≥1.20 mM at 30 DIM. Overall, 93.33 % of cows having an elevated BHB show an elevated of NEFA and 51.61% of cows having an elevated NEFA have not an elevated BHB. Indeed, considering postpartum elevated NEFA as a predictor of sub-clinical ketotic cows can overrateresults. Whereas, considering postpartum elevated BHB as a predictor of cows with NEB can underestimate results. Excessive BCS at calving results in increasing the risk of post-partum elevated BHB. Cholesterol, triglycerides, AST, ALT, and urea were increased in cows having elevated BHB and NEFA compared with those having elevated NEFA only or healthy cows. Further, the risk of estrus cyclicity and pregnancy rate at first insemination (P/AI) was decreased in cows having both elevated BHB and NEFA or NEFA only

Antinociceptive effect of two novel transient receptor potential melastatin 8 antagonists in acute and chronic pain models in rat

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are a superfamily of non-selective cation permeable channels involved in peripheral sensory signalling. Animal studies have shown that several TRPs are important players in pain modulation. Among them, the TRP melastatin 8 (TRPM8) has elicited more interest for its controversial role in nociception. This channel, expressed by a subpopulation of sensory neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and trigeminal ganglia (TG), is activated by cold temperatures and cooling agents. In experimental neuropathic pain models, an up-regulation of this receptor in DRG and TG has been observed, suggesting a key role for TRPM8 in the development and maintenance of pain. Consistent with this hypothesis, TRPM8 knockout mice are less responsive to pain stimuli. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: In this study, the therapeutic potential and efficacy of two novel TRPM8 antagonists, DFL23693 and DFL23448, were tested. KEY RESULTS: Two potent and selective TRPM8 antagonists with distinct pharmacokinetic profiles, DFL23693 and DFL23448, have been fully characterized in vitro. In vivo studies in well-established models, namely, the wet-dog shaking test and changes in body temperature, confirmed their ability to block the TRPM8 channel. Finally, TRPM8 blockage resulted in a significant antinociceptive effect in formalin-induced orofacial pain and in chronic constriction injury-induced neuropathic pain, confirming an important role for this channel in pain perception. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our findings, in agreement with previous literature, encourage further studies for a better comprehension of the therapeutic potential of TRPM8 blockers as novel agents for pain management

Androgen responsiveness to simulated territorial intrusions in Allobates femoralis males: evidence supporting the challenge hypothesis in a territorial frog.

Territoriality has been widely described across many animal taxa, where the acquisition and defence of a territory are critical for the fitness of an individual. Extensive evidence suggests that androgens are involved in the modulation of territorial behaviours in male vertebrates. Short-term increase of androgen following a territorial encounter appears to favour the outcome of a challenge. The "Challenge Hypothesis" proposed by Wingfield and colleagues outlines the existence of a positive feedback relationship between androgen and social challenges (e.g., territorial intrusions) in male vertebrates. Here we tested the challenge hypothesis in the highly territorial poison frog, Allobates femoralis, in its natural habitat by exposing males to simulated territorial intrusions in the form of acoustic playbacks. We quantified repeatedly androgen concentrations of individual males via a non-invasive water-borne sampling approach. Our results show that A. femoralis males exhibited a positive behavioural and androgenic response after being confronted to simulated territorial intrusions, providing support for the Challenge Hypothesis in a territorial frog

Formalin-induced behavioural hypersensitivity and neuronal hyperexcitability are mediated by rapid protein synthesis at the spinal level

Background: The mammalian target of rapamycin ( mTOR) is a key regulator of mRNA translation whose action can be inhibited by the drug rapamycin. Forms of long-term plasticity require protein synthesis and evidence indicates that mRNA in dendrites, axon terminals and cell bodies is essential for long-term synaptic plasticity. Specific to pain, shifts in pain thresholds and responsiveness are an expression of neuronal plasticity and this likely contributes to persistent pain. We investigated this by inhibiting the activity of mTOR with rapamycin at the spinal level, of rats that were subjected to the formalin test, using both behavioural and electrophysiological techniques.Results: For in vivo electrophysiology, Sprague Dawley rats were fully anaesthetised and single-unit extracellular recordings were obtained from lamina V wide dynamic range (WDR) dorsal horn spinal neurones at the region where input is received from the hind paw. Neuronal responses from naive rats showed that rapamycin-sensitive pathways were important in nociceptive-specific C-fibre mediated transmission onto WDR neurones as well mechanically-evoked responses since rapamycin was effective in attenuating these measures. Formalin solution was injected into the hind paw prior to which, rapamycin or vehicle was applied directly onto the exposed spinal cord. When rapamycin was applied to the spinal cord prior to hind paw formalin injection, there was a significant attenuation of the prolonged second phase of the formalin test, which comprises continuing afferent input to the spinal cord, neuronal hyperexcitability and an activated descending facilitatory drive from the brainstem acting on spinal neurones. In accordance with electrophysiological data, behavioural studies showed that rapamycin attenuated behavioural hypersensitivity elicited by formalin injection into the hind paw.Conclusion: We conclude that mTOR has a role in maintaining persistent pain states via mRNA translation and thus protein synthesis. We hypothesise that mTOR may be activated by excitatory neurotransmitter release acting on sensory afferent terminals as well as dorsal horn spinal neurones, which may be further amplified by descending facilitatory systems originating from higher centres in the brain

2,6-Diamino­pyridinium tetra­phenyl­borate–1,2-bis­(5,7-dimethyl-1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)diazene (1/1)

In the title compound, C5H8N3 +·C24H20B−·C20H18N6, the 1,2-bis­(5,7-dimethyl-1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)diazene mol­ecule is essentially planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0045 Å) and aligned in nearly coplanar manner with the 2,6-diamino­pyridinium ion, making a dihedral angle of 5.19 (5)°. The diamino­pyridine mol­ecule is protonated on the central pyridine N atom and the B atom bears the counter-charge. The amine groups of the diamino pyridinium cation form intra­molecular N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds, resulting in linear and bent inter­actions with the naphthyridine ring system