School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
N Z Vet J. 2021 Sep;69(5):274-284. doi: 10.1080/00480169.2021.1920511. Epub 2021 May 26.
To explore recommendations that New Zealand veterinarians make for diagnosing and managing bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) in cattle herds under different clinical scenarios and their opinions towards potential barriers and opportunities for implementing BVD control programmes in New Zealand.
A cross-sectional survey of registered veterinarians in New Zealand was conducted in 2019. Respondents were asked about the approaches they would use to manage BVD under different clinical scenarios as well as their opinions on national BVD control. A subset of veterinarians completed a more in-depth survey providing additional free-text responses on a range of different BVD topics. Descriptive statistics were provided for all quantitative study variables and the free-text responses were also analysed to generate further insights into veterinarians' perceptions towards BVD management.
The cross-sectional survey was completed by 101 of an estimated 870 (11.6%) cattle veterinarians. Thirty-five veterinarians completed the in-depth survey. There was wide variation in the BVD diagnostic testing and vaccination protocols that respondents recommended under different clinical scenarios. Annual bulk milk BVD testing was perceived as a valuable tool for initiating BVD discussions with dairy farmers. Respondents indicated that beef farmers were more difficult to engage in BVD control largely due to the logistical challenges of yarding cattle at the appropriate times to implement interventions, with many farmers only contacting veterinarians after experiencing a BVD outbreak Most respondents (91/101; 90%) believed it was possible to eradicate BVD from New Zealand, but cited lack of farmer awareness and poor compliance with management recommendations as significant barriers. The measure with the most support for inclusion in a compulsory national eradication programme was requiring farmers to declare the status of their animals prior to sale while the least supported measure was requiring farmers to double fence boundaries to prevent nose-to-nose contact with neighbouring stock. Although respondents highlighted the need for farmers and industry to support any national eradication programme in order for it to be successful, there was also recognition that veterinarians could be more pro-active in engaging with farmers particularly in discussions around the economics of BVD.
While the survey respondents appeared to be highly supportive of BVD control, it was perceived that financial and logistical barriers existed that could impede farmer engagement. Further extension efforts may be needed to ensure that veterinarians are presenting clear and consistent recommendations about BVD management to farmers.: BVD: Bovine viral diarrhoea; NAIT: National Animal Identification and Tracing System; PI: Persistently infected.
探讨新西兰兽医在不同临床情况下对牛病毒性腹泻（BVD）的诊断和管理提出的建议，以及他们对新西兰实施 BVD 控制计划的潜在障碍和机会的看法。
2019 年对新西兰注册兽医进行了横断面调查。要求受访者根据不同的临床情况，说明他们将如何管理 BVD，以及他们对国家 BVD 控制的看法。一部分兽医完成了更深入的调查，就一系列不同的 BVD 主题提供了更多的自由文本回复。提供了所有定量研究变量的描述性统计数据，并对自由文本回复进行了分析，以进一步了解兽医对 BVD 管理的看法。
横断面调查由估计的 870 名（11.6%）奶牛兽医中的 101 名完成。35 名兽医完成了深入调查。受访者在不同临床情况下推荐的 BVD 诊断检测和疫苗接种方案差异很大。年度牛奶 BVD 检测被认为是与奶农讨论 BVD 的有价值工具。受访者表示，肉牛农民更难参与 BVD 控制，主要是因为在适当时间围捕牛以实施干预措施的后勤挑战，许多农民只有在经历 BVD 爆发后才会联系兽医。大多数受访者（101 名中的 91 名；90%）认为有可能从新西兰根除 BVD，但认为农民意识不足和不遵守管理建议是重大障碍。最受支持纳入强制性国家根除计划的措施是要求农民在出售前声明其动物的状况，而最不受支持的措施是要求农民双重围栏边界，以防止与邻舍牲畜鼻子对鼻子接触。尽管受访者强调农民和行业需要支持任何国家根除计划，以便其取得成功，但也认识到兽医可以更积极地与农民接触，特别是在讨论 BVD 的经济效益方面。
虽然调查受访者似乎非常支持 BVD 控制，但据认为存在财务和后勤障碍，可能会阻碍农民的参与。可能需要进一步的推广工作，以确保兽医向农民提供关于 BVD 管理的明确和一致的建议。
