Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada.
Prev Vet Med. 2021 Jan;186:105210. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2020.105210. Epub 2020 Nov 13.
Paratuberculosis or Johne's disease (JD) prevalence in Australia is low at the cow-level with varying herd-level prevalence. Control strategies incorporating vaccination are limited, suggesting opportunities for changes in regulatory oversight. In order to study this further, we examined the economic benefits of participation in JD control programmes in Australia with and without vaccination as well as knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) relating to JD. We used an online questionnaire to gather information describing demographics and KAP from 71 Australian dairy farms. Data from fully completed questionnaires from 32 farms in Victoria, Australia combined with cost and revenue data averaged from several years of the Dairy Farm Monitor Project were used to then simulate a larger robust dataset. These production data informed the simulation model to establish farm profitability. A partial farm budget was then developed to estimate the benefits of engaging in JD control activities. Respondents who stated they participated in JD control programmes gained an additional $43.80/cow/year net income (profit) compared to non-participants. Respondents also using a JD vaccine gained an additional $35.84/cow/year over non-users; this represents $10.56/cow/year over and above the average producer in the industry. However, we also noted that there clearly exists a barrier between farmers stated intentions to participate and actual participation in JD control activities. These significant differences in net income realized by farms using different approaches to JD control (in this case, adoption of vaccination) offer a starting point from which to explore questions of how much farmers would be willing to pay for control activities, why they are willing to pay, and the likelihood of participating. Communication of the benefits of participation needs to improve to bridge this gap between farmers stated intentions and their actions. Simulation modelling suggests increased profitability from participation in JD control programs and vaccination in Australia. The JD regulatory policies of other countries may benefit from the Australian experience with JD control.
副结核病或约翰氏病（JD）在澳大利亚的牛群水平上患病率较低，但在畜群水平上的患病率有所不同。包含疫苗接种的控制策略有限，这表明监管监督有机会发生变化。为了进一步研究这一点，我们研究了在澳大利亚参与 JD 控制计划的经济效益，包括有无疫苗接种，以及与 JD 相关的知识、态度和实践（KAP）。我们使用在线问卷从 71 家澳大利亚奶牛场收集描述人口统计和 KAP 的信息。来自澳大利亚维多利亚州 32 家农场的完整调查问卷数据，以及几年 Dairy Farm Monitor Project 的平均成本和收入数据，用于模拟更大的稳健数据集。这些生产数据为模拟模型提供了农场盈利能力的信息。然后开发了部分农场预算来估算参与 JD 控制活动的收益。与非参与者相比，声称参与 JD 控制计划的受访者每年每头牛可额外获得 43.80 美元（利润）的净收入。使用 JD 疫苗的受访者每年每头牛还可额外获得 35.84 美元，比行业内的平均生产者高出 10.56 美元/头。然而，我们还注意到，农民表示参与 JD 控制活动的意图与实际参与之间显然存在障碍。使用不同方法（在这种情况下，采用疫苗接种）控制 JD 的农场之间的净收入存在显著差异，这为探索农民愿意为控制活动支付多少费用、为什么愿意支付以及参与的可能性提供了一个起点。需要改善沟通，以弥合农民表示的意图与行动之间的差距。模拟模型表明，参与 JD 控制计划和疫苗接种可提高澳大利亚的盈利能力。其他国家的 JD 监管政策可能会从澳大利亚的 JD 控制经验中受益。
