How do farm-yard infections carry global impact?

Infectious diseases are a major threat to farms, but they also cause big economic and environmental loss around the world.

The costs of cattle infections are lower productivity, higher veterinary bills, and increased mortality rates in livestock. This reduces the profitability of the agricultural business by limiting trade and creating food safety concerns.

What are the dangers of cattle infection on farms?

Veterinary and economic hits

The spread of cattle-related disease affects the wider economy as well as individual farms. Cattle infections reduce productivity, meaning the agricultural trade sector takes a hit with every outbreak. 

A farmer’s loss per infected cow per year is£37.01, compared with a farmer’s gain per year per uninfected cow, which is £16.23. The cost of an infected cow is over double the gain of a healthy cow, so any infection essentially diminishes the farmer’s profit.

Global spread

There are multiple ways disease can be spread globally. Human activities such as travel and import of meat and dairy products, vector-borne diseases, or migratory animals.

Identifying and treating infections in cattle early prevents the possible global spreading of the infection. This makes quarantining and containing the disease much easier, reducing the risk to cattle and wildlife.

Zoonotic infections 

Zoonotic infections are diseases that are spread from animals to humans. Sometimes the bacteria that cause illness in humans have no effect on the animals that carry them.

These infections usually manifest as foodborne diseases, when humans eat contaminated meat products. But contact with infectious animals, bedding, water or ticks can also result in contamination. 

How can we limit the risk?

Research

Veterinary labs in the UK track animal disease cases. They also work with labs in other countries to keep an eye on new diseases in livestock. 

This helps us understand how infections spread, especially those carried by midges or mosquitoes. 

Scientists are also investigating the potential impact of climate change in regards to the spread of infection. Research helps make vaccines which aim to prevent disease and infection in cattle.

Vaccination

Administering vaccinations to cattle helps build immunity against any contagious bacterial diseases, viral infections and parasites. 

Vaccines help the immune system recognise and fight pathogens. 

It’s important when developing vaccines, to consider the farmers and vets. Accessibility is key when using vaccination as a preventative measure. They have to be easy to administer and affordable to purchase. 

Test kits

Diagnostic test kits help to enforce biosecurity measures by reducing the risk of introducing infected cattle to the rest of the herd. 

Farmers use them upon purchasing new livestock to keep the healthy herd or flock safe. Correct diagnosis means animals can be treated properly, or quarantined if necessary,  before the infection spreads. 

WithBovine herpesvirusfor example, latency is a unique feature of the virus. The carrier animals can go unnoticed and silently spread the infection to other animals on the farm. Diagnostic tests would highlight any contagious pathogens, preventing herd infection.  

Hygienic conditions 

Keeping livestock’s living conditions hygienically maintained also prevents the spreading of disease. Cleaning stalls, changing bedding and proper waste management reduce contamination of diseases like Mastitas, Bovine herpesvirus and Johne’s disease. 

Providing livestock with adequate space also reduces risk of spreading disease and infection. Well-kept, spacious living quarters improves air quality, reduces environmental contamination and lowers pathogen presence in food and water. 

Final Thoughts 

Infections of livestock in the agricultural industry pose huge economic, social and environmental risks.

In order to protect our agricultural sector from diseases it’s important to continue developing veterinary vaccines and diagnostic test kits. As well as ensuring all animals have clean and spacious living quarters.