This is an outdated version published on 2022-09-27. Read the most recent version.

Associations between udder health, udder health management and antimicrobial consumption: Insights into the mechanisms influencing antibiotic usage in German dairy farms

Authors

Franziska Preine https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6680-3250
Volker Krömker https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5678-2502

Keywords:

antibiotic, influence, bovine mastitis, dairy cow, mastitis treatment

Abstract

There is growing interest in preventing the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance worldwide through the prudent use of antimicrobials and the reduction in antimicrobial use (AMU). Treatment of mastitis is the main cause for the application of antimicrobial substances in dairy cows. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between udder health, udder health management, and AMU. Factors AMU directly depends on should be found out to achieve the overall goal of optimizing antibiotic consumption without negative effects on animal health. The subclinical and clinical udder health situation of 44 German dairy farms were analyzed at farm-level for the year 2020 using data from the Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) testing and from herd-specific documentation on clinical cases. A questionnaire was used to describe the udder health management. AMU was measured by the mean number of days under antibiotic therapy due to mastitis per 100 cow years. The results showed that a higher clinical mastitis incidence (CMI) led to a higher AMU. The farm-specific mastitis treatment concept had an influence on the AMU as well. In addition, the actual existence of written treatment protocols was indicated to be associated with higher antimicrobial consumption. In conclusion, our study confirms that CMI directly correlates with AMU on dairy farms. Therefore, reducing the number of clinical cases should remain in the focus of farms. Treatment protocols that consider the current state of science and the dynamics of mastitis pathogens on the farm can reduce AMU. They should always be developed with the supervising veterinarian and be regularly reviewed and adjusted. It is also advisable to follow the latest scientific findings and, as far as possible, adapt the treatment concept accordingly, as modern treatment methods can also save on antibiotics.

References

Halasa T, Huijps K, Østeras O, Hogeveen H. Economic effects of bovine mastitis and mastitis management: A review. Vet Q, 2007; 29(1):18–31.

Dufour S, Fréchette A, Barkema HW, Mussell A, Scholl DT. Invited review: Effect of udder health management practices on herd somatic cell count. J dairy Sci, 2011; 94(2):563-579.

Kelly OT, O´Sullivan K, Berry DP, More SJ, Meaney WJ, O´Callaghan EJ, O´Brien B. Farm management factors associated with bulk tank somatic cell count in Irish dairy herds. Ir Vet J, 2009; 62(4):45-51.

Klocke D, Schmenger A, Krömker V. Eutergesundheitssituation in großen niedersächsischen Milchviehbetrieben. Der Praktische Tierarzt 101, 2020; Heft 07/2020, 672-683.

Dodd FH, Neave FK, Kingwill RG. Control of udder infection by management. J Dairy Sci, 1964; 47(10):1109-1114.

Valde JP, Østerås O, Siemensen E. Description of Herd Level Criteria for Good and Poor Udder Health in Norwegian Dairy Cows. J Dairy Sci, 2005; 88(1):86-92.

Krömker V, Leimbach S. Mastitis Treatment-Reduction in antibiotic usage in dairy cows. Wiley, Reprod Dom Anim, 2017; 52(Suppl. 3):21-29.

Gomes F, Henriques M. Control of Bovine Mastitis: Old and Recent Therapeutic Approaches. Curr Microbiol, 2016; 72(4):377–382.

Viora L, Graham EM, Mellor DJ, Reynolds K, Simoes PB, Geraghty TE. Evaluation of a culture-based pathogen identification kit for bacterial causes of bovine mastitis. Vet Rec, 2014; 175(4):89.

Christaki E, Marcou M, Tofarides A. Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacteria: Mechanisms, Evolution, and Persistence. J Mol Evol, 2020; 88(1):26-40.

Goff DA, Kullar R, Goldstein EJC, Gilchrist M, Nathwani D, Cheng AC, Cairns KA, Escandon-Vargas K, Villegas MV, Brink A, van den Bergh D, Mendelson M. A global call from five countries to collaborate in antibiotic stewardship: United we succeed, divided we might fail. Lancet Infect, 2017; Dis. 17(2):e56–e63.

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA). Third joint inter-agency report on integrated analysis of consumption of antimicrobial agents and occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from humans and food-producing animals in the EU/EEA, JIACRA III 2016-2018. EFSA Journal, 2021; 19(6):6712.

WHO (Word Health Organization). Global action plan on antimicrobial resistance; 2015 [cited 2022 May 17]. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/864486/retrieve.

Regulation (EU) 2019/6 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on veterinary medicinal products and repealing Directive 2001/82/EC. O.J. L 4, 07.01.2019, p.43 [cited 2022 May 12]. Available from: CELEX: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/6/oj/eng.

Mansion-de Vries EM, Lücking J, Wente N, Zinke C, Hoedemaker M, Krömker V. Comparison of an evidence-based and a conventional mastitis therapy concept with regard to cure rates and antibiotic usage. Milchwissenschaft - Milk Sci Int, 2016; 69(6):27-32.

Mansion-de Vries EM, Hoedemaker M, Krömker V. Aspekte einer evidenzbasierten Therapie klinischer Mastitiden. Tierärztliche Praxis Großtiere, 2015; 43(5):287-295.

Schmenger A, Leimbach S, Wente N, Zhang Y, Biggs AM, Krömker V. Implementation of a targeted mastitis therapy concept using an on-farm rapid test: antimicrobial consumption, cure rated and compliance. Vet Record, 2020; 187(10):401.

Kock J, Wente N, Zhang Y, Paduch J-H, Leimbach S, Klocke D, Gelfert CC, Krömker V. Udder health effects of an evidence-based mastitis therapy concept in northwestern Germany. Milchwissenschaft - Milk Sci Int, 2018; 71(4):14–20.

Griffioen K, Hop GE, Holstege MMC, Velthuis AGJ, Lam TJGM, 1Health4Food–Dutch Mastitis Diagnostics Consortium. Dutch dairy farmers‘ need for microbiological mastitis diagnostics. J Dairy Sci, 2016; 99(7):5551-5561.

Nägele F, Pucken VB, Bodmer M, Schouwey S, Schupbach-Regula G, Carmo LP. Analysis of udder health in relation to antimicrobial usage in Swiss dairy farms. Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd, 2019; 161(10):666–676.

Stevens M, Piepers S, Supré K, Dewulf J, De Vliegher S. Quantification of antimicrobial consumption in adult cattle on dairy herds in Flanders, Belgium, and associations with udder health, milk quality, and production performance. J Dairy Sci, 2016; 99(3):2118–2130.

DLQ (German Association for Performance and Quality Testing). DLQ-Richtlinie 1.15: Zur Definition und Berechnung von Kenn¬zahlen zum Eutergesundheitsmonitoring in der Herde und von deren Vergleichswerten, 2014; DLQ guideline 1.15, Bonn, Germa¬ny [cited 2022 April 14]. Available from: https://infothek.die-milchkontrolle.de/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/DLQ-Richtlinie-1.15-vom-17.11.2014.pdf.

Hansmann VK, Volling O, Krömker V. Udder health in organic dairy herds in Northern Germany. Milchwissenschaft - Milk Sci Int, 2019; 72(3):16-24.

Santman-Berends IMGA, Lam TJGM, Keurentjes J, van Schaik G. An estimation of the clinical mastitis incidence per 100 cows per year based on routinely collected herd data. J Dairy Sci, 2015; 98(10):6965–6977.

Barkema HW, Schukken YH, Lam TJGM, Beiboer ML, Wilmink H, Benedictus G, Brand A. Incidence of Clinical Mastitis in Dairy Herds Grouped in Three Categories by Bulk Milk Somatic Cell Counts. J Dairy Sci, 1998; 81(2):411-419.

van den Borne BHP, van Schaik G, Lam TJGM, Nielen M. Variation in herd level mastitis indicators between primi- and multiparae in Dutch dairy herds. Prev Vet Med, 2010; 96(1-2):49-55.

IDF (International Dairy Federation). Suggested interpretation of mastitis terminology. Bulletin of the IDF, 2011; 448, Brussels.

Falkenberg U, Krömker V, Heuwieser W, Fischer-Tenhagen C. Survey on routines in udder health management and therapy of mastitis on German dairy farms. Milchwissenschaft - Milk Sci Int, 2019; 72(2):11-15.

Pucken V-B, Bodmer M, Lovis B, Pont J, Savioli G, Sousa FM, Schüpbach-Regula G. Antimicrobial consumption: Comparison of three different data collection methods. Prev Vet Med, 2021; 186:105221.

Veterinary Medicinal Products Act (TAMG) of September 27th, 2021 (Federal Law Gazette I p. 4530) [cited 2022 April 12]. Available from: http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/tamg/BJNR453010021.html.

EMA (European Medicines Agency). Defined daily doses for animals (DDDvet) and defined course doses for animals (DCDvet); European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption (ESVAC). EMA/224954/2016, Veterinary Medicines Division, 2016.

Lardé H, Francoz D, Roy J-P, Massé J, Archambault M, Paradis M-È, Dufour S. Comparison of Quantification Methods to Estimate Farm-Level Usage of Antimicrobials Other than in Medicated Feed in Dairy Farms from Québec, Canada. Microorganisms, 2021; 9(5):1006.

Kasabova S, Hartmann M, Werner N, Käsbohrer A, Kreienbrock L. Used Daily Dose vs. Defined Daily Dose—Contrasting Two Different Methods to Measure Antibiotic Consumption at the Farm Level. Front Vet Sci, 2019; 6:116.

Wente N, Grieger AS, Klocke D, Paduch JH, Zhang Y, Leimbach S, tho Seeth M, Mansion-De Vries EM, Mohr E, Krömker V. Recurrent mastitis–persistent or new infections? Vet Microbiol, 2020; 244:108682.

Hovi M, Roderick S. Mastitis and mastitis control strategies in organic milk. Cattle Pract, 2000; 8:259–64.

Krömker V, Pfannenschmidt F. Zur Inzidenz klinischer Mastitiden und ihrer Therapie in Milchviehbetrieben des ökologischen Landbaus [Mastitis Incidence and Therapy in Organic Dairy Farms]. In: Heß J, Rahmann G, editors. Ende der Nische, Proc. 8. Wissenschaftstagung ökologischer Landbau, Kassel: kassel university press GmbH; 2005.

Krömker V, Klocke D, Leimbach S, Paduch JH, Wente N, Tho Seeth M. Leitfaden: Eutergesundheit bei Stall- und Weidehaltung. Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen, 2018 [cited 2022 April 12]. Available from: https://www.lwk-niedersachsen.de/index.cfm/portal/1/nav/2043/article/32388.html.

Hommels NMC, Ferreira FC, van den Borne BHP, Hogeveen G. Antibiotic use and potential economic impact of implementing selective dry cow therapy in large US dairies. J dairy Sci, 2021; 104(8):8931-8946.

Carmo LP, Nielsen LR, Alban L, da Costa PM, Schüpbach-Regula G, Magouras I. Veterinary Expert Opinion on Potential Drivers and Opportunities for Changing Antimicrobial Usage Practices in Livestock in Denmark, Portugal, and Switzerland. Front Vet Sci, 2018; 5:29.

Speksnijder DC, Mevius DJ, Bruschke CJM, Wagenaar JA. Reduction of Veterinary Antimicrobial Use in the Netherlands. The Dutch Success Model. Zoonoses and public health, 2015; 62(Suppl. 1):79-87.

Mills KE, Koralesky KE, Weary DM, von Keyserlingk MAG. Dairy farmer advising in relation to the development of standard operating procedures. J Dairy Sci, 2020; 103(12):11524-115534.

Guterbock WM, Van Eeenennaam AL, Anderson RJ, Gardner IA, Cullor JS, Holmberg CA. Efficacy of intramammary antibiotic therapy for treatment of clinical mastitis caused by environmental patho¬gens. J Dairy Sci, 1993; 76(11):3437-3444.

Roberson JR, Warnick LD, Moore G. Mild to Moderate Clinical Mastitis: Efficacy of Intramammary Amoxicillin, Frequent Milk-Out, a Combined Intramammary Amoxicillin, and Frequent Milk-Out Treatment Versus No Treatment. J Dairy Sci, 2004; 87(3):583–92.

Kayitsinga J, Schewe RL, Contreras GA, Erskine RJ. Antimicrobial treatment of clinical mastitis in the eastern United States: The influence of dairy farmers’ mastitis management and treatment behavior and attitudes. J dairy Sci, 2016; 100(2):1388-1407.

Gosling SD, Vazire S, Srivastava S, John OP. Should We Trust Web-Based Studies? A Comparative Analysis of Six Preconceptions about Internet Questionnaires. Am Psychol, 2004; 59(2):93–104.

Kongsved SM, Basnov M, Holm-Christensen K, Hjollund NH. Response Rate and Completeness of Questionnaires: A Randomized Study of Internet Versus Paper-and-Pencil Versions. J Med Internet Res, 2007; 9(3):e25.

Fadnes L, Taube A, Tylleskär T. How to identify information bias due to self-reporting in epidemiological research. Internet J Epidemiol, 2009; 7:28–38.

Behr B, Hachenberg S. Strategisches Eutergesundheitsmonitoring – erste Ergebnisse einer deutschlandweiten Umsetzung. Page 202-208 pigs, bovine, poultry, Proc bpt- Kongress, Hannover 2016.

Die Milchkontrolle, Deutscher Verband für Leistungs- und Qualitätsprüfungen e.V. [cited 2022 April 08]. Available from: https://www.die-milchkontrolle.de/milchkontrolle/tiergesundheit/eutergesundheit/.