Hernández-Jover Marta, Hayes Lynne, Woodgate Robert, Rast Luzia, Toribio Jenny-Ann L M L
Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation (An Alliance Between Charles Sturt University and NSW Department of Primary Industries), Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia.
School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia.
Front Vet Sci. 2019 Jun 18;6:191. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00191. eCollection 2019.
The risks posed for disease introduction and spread are believed to be higher for smallholder livestock producers than commercial producers. Possible reasons for this is the notion that smallholders do not implement appropriate animal health management practices and are not part of traditional livestock communication networks. These factors contribute to the effectiveness of passive disease surveillance systems. A cross-sectional study, using a postal survey ( = 1,140) and group interviews (28 participants in three groups), was conducted to understand the animal health management and communication practices of smallholders keeping sheep, cattle, pigs, dairy goats and alpacas in Australia. These practices are crucial for an effective passive surveillance system. Findings indicate that there is a need for improvement in animal health management practices, such as contact with veterinarians and attitudes toward reporting. Results also indicate that these practices differ depending on the livestock species kept, with sheep ownership being associated with lower engagement with surveillance activities and smallholders keeping dairy goats and alpacas having in general better practices. Other factors associated with surveillance practices among participant smallholders are gender and years of experience raising livestock. Despite the differences observed, over 80% of all smallholders actively seek information on the health of their livestock, with private veterinarians considered to be a trusted source. Emergency animal diseases are not a priority among smallholders, however they are concerned about the health of their animals. The finding that veterinarians were identified by producers to be the first point of contact in the event of unusual signs of disease, strengthens the argument that private veterinarians play a vital role in improving passive surveillance. Other producers are also a point of contact for animal health advice, with government agencies less likely to be contacted. The effectiveness of on-farm passive surveillance could be enhanced by developing strategies involving both private veterinarians and producers as key stakeholders, which aim to improve awareness of disease and disease reporting responsibilities.
人们认为，与商业养殖者相比，小农户引入和传播疾病的风险更高。造成这种情况的可能原因是，人们认为小农户没有实施适当的动物健康管理措施，也没有融入传统的畜牧交流网络。这些因素影响了被动疾病监测系统的有效性。为了解澳大利亚饲养绵羊、牛、猪、奶山羊和 alpaca 的小农户的动物健康管理和交流做法，开展了一项横断面研究，采用邮政调查（n = 1,140）和小组访谈（分三组，共 28 名参与者）。这些做法对于有效的被动监测系统至关重要。研究结果表明，在动物健康管理措施方面，如与兽医的接触以及报告态度，有改进的必要。结果还表明，这些做法因所饲养的牲畜种类而异，拥有绵羊的农户参与监测活动的程度较低，而饲养奶山羊和 alpaca 的小农户总体做法较好。参与研究的小农户中，与监测做法相关的其他因素包括性别和养殖经验年限。尽管存在这些差异，但超过 80% 的小农户积极寻求有关其牲畜健康的信息，私人兽医被视为可靠的信息来源。紧急动物疾病在小农户中并非优先事项，不过他们关心自己动物 的健康。养殖者认为兽医是出现疾病异常迹象时的首要联系对象，这一发现进一步证明了私人兽医在改善被动监测方面发挥着至关重要的作用。其他养殖者也是动物健康建议的联系对象，而联系政府机构的可能性较小。制定以私人兽医和养殖者为关键利益攸关方的战略，旨在提高疾病意识和疾病报告责任意识，可增强农场被动监测的有效性。
