Survey of farm, parlour and milking management, parlour technologies, SCC control strategies and farmer demographics on Irish dairy farms.

BACKGROUND: This cross-sectional study describes a survey designed to fill knowledge gaps regarding farm management practices, parlour management practices and implemented technologies, milking management practices, somatic cell count (SCC) control strategies, farmer demographics and attitudes around SCC management on a sample of Irish dairy farms. RESULTS: We categorized 376 complete responses by herd size quartile and calving pattern. The average respondent herd was 131 cows with most (82.2%) operating a seasonal calving system. The median monthly bulk tank somatic cell count for seasonal calving systems was 137,000 cells/ml (range 20,000 - 1,269,000 cells/ml), 170,000 cells/ml for split-calving systems (range 46,000 - 644,000 cells/ml) and 186,000 cells/ml for 'other' herds (range 20,000 - 664,000 cells/ml). The most common parlour types were swing-over herringbones (59.1%) and herringbones with recording jars (22.2%). The average number of units across herringbone parlours was 15, 49 in rotary parlours and two boxes on automatic milking system (AMS) farms. The most common parlour technologies were in-parlour feeding systems (84.5%), automatic washers on the bulk tank (72.8%), automatic cluster removers (57.9%), and entrance or exit gates controlled from the parlour pit (52.2%). Veterinary professionals, farming colleagues and processor milk quality advisors were the most commonly utilised sources of advice for SCC management (by 76.9%, 50.0% and 39.2% of respondents respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we successfully utilised a national survey to quantify farm management practices, parlour management practices and technology adoption levels, milking management practices, SCC control strategies and farmer demographics on 376 dairy farms in the Republic of Ireland. Rotary and AMS parlours had the most parlour technologies of any parlour type. Technology add-ons were generally less prevalent on farms with smaller herds. Despite finding areas for improvement with regard to frequency of liner changes, glove-wearing practices and engagement with bacteriology of milk samples, we also found evidence of high levels of documentation of mastitis treatments and high use of post-milking teat disinfection. We discovered that Irish dairy farmers are relatively content in their careers but face pressures regarding changes to the legislation around prudent antimicrobial use in their herds.

A retrospective case series of the surgical management of thirty-one penile fibropapilloma cases presented to University College Dublin Veterinary Hospital (UCDVH) between 2017 and 2023.

BACKGROUND: Penile fibropapilloma is a condition caused by bovine papilloma virus and is frequently encountered in young bulls. Penile fibropapillomatosis is thought to be spread through homosexual mounting behaviour. Fibropapillomas of the penis are painful, often bleed and can impede normal intromission. Treatment may range from allowing time for slow, spontaneous regression to surgical resection but recurrence following surgery is reported by some authors. CASE PRESENTATION: Thirty one bulls that were presented to University College Dublin Veterinary Hospital from March 2017 to March 2023 for surgical resection of penile fibropapillomas were included in this retrospective case series. Twenty-seven of the 31 bulls (87%) were under two years of age. The majority (42%) of bulls presented were Hereford, but Angus, Charolais, Holstein-Friesian and Limousin breeds were also seen. Following examination and diagnosis of penile fibropapilloma, regional anaesthesia (xylazine-procaine epidural and internal pudendal nerve block) and standing surgical intervention (resection and cautery) was performed in each case. Phone call follow-up was performed by one author (EET) in all 31 cases and 2 cases out of the 28 that were contactable showed post-surgical recurrence of penile fibropapillomatosis (i.e., 7.1% recurrence rate). CONCLUSION: This case series summarises the history and presenting findings of 31 bovine penile fibropapilloma cases and describes a regional anaesthetic and standing surgical approach for successful case management.

Carcass and Meat Quality Traits in Female Lidia Cattle Slaughtered at Different Ages.

The aim of this study was to assess the carcass and meat quality of female Lidia cattle slaughtered at different ages, in order to deepen our understanding of the breed's unique characteristics. The effect of slaughter age on carcass traits and meat quality attributes of m. Longissimus was investigated in Lidia heifers (n = 200) and cows (n = 100) reared and finished in an extensive system. The animals were slaughtered at 24-36 months (Heifer I), 36-48 months (Heifer II) or >48 months (Cull cow). The carcasses (~120 kg) presented poor conformation (O, O+) and medium fatness (2, 2+). The dissection of the 6th rib yielded mean values of 58.6%, 14.3% and 24.8% for lean, fat and bone, respectively. The cows had a higher proportion of dissectible fat (p < 0.05). Subcutaneous fat was classified as dark and yellowish, and meat (aged for 21 days) as dark (L* = 25.5), reddish (a* = 14.4) and moderately yellowish (b* = 12.9), with acceptable water-holding capacity (TL = 5.34%; DL = 0.97%; PL = 8.9%; CL = 22.1%) and intermediate tenderness (WBSF = 4.6 kg/cm2). The b* value of meat was higher (p < 0.05) in cull cows. The meat of cull cows was more yellowish (p < 0.05) and obtained higher scores for flavor (p < 0.05), juiciness p < 0.01), overall tenderness (p < 0.001) and overall acceptance (p < 0.001).

The impact of changing the cut-off threshold of the interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) assay for diagnosing bovine tuberculosis in Ireland.

In Ireland, the interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) assay is routinely used as an ancillary test interpreted in parallel with the single intradermal comparative tuberculin test (SICTT) to maximize the detection of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) infected animals. Up until 2018, a positive test result was recorded in the IFN-γ ELISA assay following whole blood stimulation with purified protein derivative (PPD)-bovine (B), PPD-avian (A) and nil sample (N), using the interpretation criteria, B-N > 50 optical density units (OD), B > 100 and B-A > 0. Following a review of available data, the threshold of the B-A component changed to B-A > 80. As predicting the impact of changing the cut-off thresholds for the IFN-γ test de novo is challenging, the aims of this study were to follow animals that initially tested negative using the new IFN-γ assay interpretation criteria and investigate their future risk of disclosure with bTB, with a focus on animals that otherwise would have been removed when using the older interpretation criteria (0 < B-A ≤ 80). Enrolled animals (n = 28,669 cattle from 527 herds) were followed up for two years (2019-2021), or to point of bTB detection or death. At the end of follow-up, 1151 (4.0%) of enrolled animals were bTB cases. The majority of these cases were diagnosed using SICTT (80.5%). The cumulative number of positive animals that would have been removed if the old cut-off (0 < B-A ≤ 80) was used amounted to 1680 cattle (5.9% of the enrolled cohort). Of these, 127 (7.5%) were diagnosed with bTB during follow-up. In contrast, 1024 of the 1151 cattle which subsequently tested positive during the study period following a negative IFN-γ test would not have been identified with the old or new IFN-γ cut-off criteria. Survival analysis showed that animals that would have been removed under the old interpretation criteria were at increased risk of a positive diagnosis with bTB during follow-up compared to other test negative animals. A newly developed risk prediction model (using a Cox proportional hazard model) showed that age, animal number of SICTT tests, number of inconclusive SICTT tests, B-A (IFN-γ assay), B-N (IFN-γ assay), animals from store herds and the percentage of the rest of the herd that were positive during the breakdown were statistically significantly associated with bTB detection. However, inclusion of the IFN-γ OD variables did not show added value in terms of prediction performance of the model.

Exploring Interrelationships between Colour, Composition, and Coagulation Traits of Milk from Cows, Goats, and Sheep.

This study explores the interrelationships between the composition, coagulation, and colour of sheep, goat, and cow milk to identify their similarities and differences and to assess whether the relationships between the variables are common to all species or whether they emerge from species-specific relationships. For this purpose, 2400 individual milk samples were analysed. The differences and similarities between the species were determined using discriminant analysis and cluster analysis. The results show a clear differentiation between species. Sheep milk stands out for its cheesemaking capacity and shows similarities with goat milk in composition and coagulation. Nonetheless, colorimetry highlights a greater similarity between sheep and cow milk. Composition and colorimetry were more discriminating than coagulation, and the variables that differed the most were fat, protein, curd yield, lightness, and red-green balance. Using canonical correlation, the interrelationships between the different sets of variables were explored, revealing patterns of common variation and species-specific relationships. Colorimetric variables were closely related to milk solids in all species, while in sheep milk, an inverse relationship with lactose was also identified. Furthermore, a strong relationship was revealed for all species between colour and curd yield. This could be modelled and applied to estimate the technological value of milk, proving colorimetry as a useful tool for the dairy industry.

Investigation of the association between the Enferplex bovine tuberculosis antibody test and the future risk of bovine tuberculosis in irish cattle in infected herds: a pilot field study.

The Single Intradermal Comparative Tuberculin Test (SICTT) and the interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) assay are the approved diagnostic tests for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in Ireland. The aim of this pilot study was to explore if there was any added diagnostic benefit from applying the Enferplex bTB test (an antibody test) in severe bTB herd breakdowns after the removal of cattle that had tested positive to the SICTT and the IFN-γ test. In addition to the normal bTB testing and management protocols, the animals in these herds that tested negative to SICTT and the IFN-γ test were followed forward for a period of two years. All animals were tested by Enferplex at enrolment. The time to subsequent bTB detection (diagnosed with SICTT/IFN-γ tests or detection of visible lesions at routine slaughter) for animals that tested positive or negative to the Enferplex bTB test at the start of the study was compared using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox based survival models. Of the 484 enrolled animals (from 11 herds), 171 (35.3%) and 151 (31.1%) initially tested positive in the Enferplex assay under the high sensitivity and high specificity interpretation settings respectively. The results of the survival analysis showed that there was no difference in the survival time to a positive diagnosis with bTB during the follow-up period between animals initially classified as positive and negative by the Enferplex test. Further research is warranted to explore the potential benefit of using the Enferplex test in other scenarios.

Detection of hepatitis E RNA in pork products at point of retail in Ireland - Are consumers at risk?

Hepatitis E (HEV), a zoonotic virus, is the leading cause of acute viral hepatitis in Europe. The presence of HEV in domestic pigs can result in infections in humans through consumption of pork products which are undercooked or where processing methods are insufficient to inactivate the virus. In Ireland, pork accounts for 34 % of all meat consumption (CSO, 2022) and the prevalence of HEV in products at point of retail has not previously been characterised. A sampling strategy was designed in which high pork content sausages, fresh pork liver and raw fermented sausages were systematically purchased from three types of retailers between May 2018 and March 2019. In total, 200 pork products were tested using a lysing agent to release the HEV from the product for detection. RT-PCR for HEV was performed on samples with an extraction efficiency >1 % (n = 188/200) (94 %). Low level HEV RNA was detected in 9/188 (4.8 %) pork products tested. The highest incidence of HEV RNA was in pork liver where 6/25 (24 %) samples were positive. The concentration of HEV ranged from 0.02 - to 9.4 genome copies/g of pork. Based on these data an exposure assessment was performed which found that if consumers followed advice from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland to achieve core temperatures of 70 °C or higher when cooking, the risk was likely to be negligible.

Sensitivity and specificity of mobility scoring for the detection of foot lesions in pasture-based Irish dairy cows.

Lameness is an important production disease in dairy cows worldwide and has detrimental effects on cows' welfare, production, and reproductive performance, thus affecting the sustainability of dairy farming. Timely and effective detection of lameness allows for effective treatment, minimizing progression of disease, and maximizing the prognosis of recovery. Mobility scoring (MSc) is a 4 point (0-3) visual lameness scoring system that is the industry standard in several countries. However, few studies have examined the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of MSc to detect foot lesions. The aim of this observational study was to determine the Se and Sp of MSc to detect foot lesions in dairy cattle in a pasture-based system. Five hundred ninety-five primi- and multiparous cows were randomly selected from 12 commercial Irish dairy farms and recruited for the study. Recruited cows were mobility scored and passed through a foot-paring crate where all 4 feet were lifted for examination. The team recorded the anatomical location and severity of any foot lesions present based on appearance only. Then, based on the type and severity of the lesions present, cows were classified according to 3 case definitions case definition 1: Any lesion present; case definition 2: Moderate lesions present (excluding minor lesions expected to have a low probability of affecting gait); and case definition 3: Severe lesions present (only including lesions most likely to result in a detectable gait abnormality). Sensitivity and Sp of MSc was calculated based on a threshold of MSc ≥2, defined as impaired (MSc = 2) or severely impaired (MSc = 3) mobility for each of the 3 case definitions, at the overall level and disaggregated by parity. The overall cow-level lesion prevalence based on the case definition 1 was 0.54 with significant between-herd variation. The overall Se and Sp of MSc for the detection of foot lesions were 0.18 and 0.96, 0.35 and 0.94, 0.43 and 0.94 for the case definitions 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Our findings showed poor Se, but high Sp of MSc for the detection of cows with foot lesions in a pasture-based system.

The Irish bTB eradication programme: combining stakeholder engagement and research-driven policy to tackle bovine tuberculosis.

A new Irish bovine tuberculosis (bTB) eradication strategy was launched in 2021. The strategy was formulated following extensive discussions with stakeholders, formal reviews of several aspects of the existing bTB policy and relevant inputs from the latest scientific research projects. A stakeholder discussion body, the TB Forum, had been established in 2018 and this continues under the new strategy, supported by three working groups (scientific, financial and implementation). The strategy sets out actions to address cattle-to-cattle and badger-to-cattle bTB transmission, along with actions to improve farm biosecurity and empower farmers to make their own choices to reduce bTB risk.Large scale vaccination of badgers has been rolled out under the new strategy, with over 20,000 km2 covered by the vaccination programme and 6,586 badgers captured in vaccination areas in 2021. Vaccination efforts have been complemented by intensive communications campaigns, including a web enabled software application ("app") enabling farmers to report the location of badger setts.Cattle which test inconclusive to the tuberculin skin test have been re-tested using a gamma interferon blood test since April 2021, enabling truly infected cattle to be identified more effectively due to the higher sensitivity of this test. An enhanced oversight process has been put in place for herds experiencing extended or repeat bTB breakdowns. Whole genome sequencing is being used to investigate links between breakdowns, with the results supporting operational decision making in case management.Communications, including biosecurity advice, are co-designed with stakeholders, in order to improve their effectiveness. A programme involving veterinary practitioners providing tailored biosecurity bTB advice to their clients was established in 2021 and was rolled out nationally during 2022.A core element of the new strategy is the continual improvement of policies in response to changing bTB risks, informed by scientific research and then implemented with stakeholder consultation.

Trends and factors associated with dairy calf early slaughter in Ireland, 2018-2022.

Dairy systems require that each cow calves annually to have an efficient milk production cycle. In systems where milk production is maximized, the male offspring from dairy breed sires tend to have poor beef production traits and, therefore, can be of low economic value. Few studies have been published on the factors impacting early slaughtering of calves in peer-reviewed literature. Here we present an analysis of national data on calves slaughtered from 2018 to 2022 in Ireland. Data (Jan 2018-May 2022) on all cattle <6 months of age were collated at a national level and were described at calf-, herd-, and county-levels. These data were statistically analyzed at per-capita slaughter rates (calves/calf born) using negative binomial regression models with an offset. There were 125,260 calves slaughtered early (1.09% of total births) recorded in the dataset from 1,364 birth herds during the study period, of which 94.8% (118,761) were male. 51.7% were classified as Friesian-cross (FRX), 11.5% Friesian (FR) and 32.1% Jersey-cross (JEX). The median age at slaughter was 16 days (Mean: 18.9 days; IQR: 13-22). The median calves/herd slaughtered was 16 (mean: 91.8); median calves/herd/year slaughtered was 21 (mean: 42.0). There was substantial variation in counts of calves slaughtered across herds, years, and counties. Herd calf slaughter rates and per capita calf slaughter rates increased significantly in 2022, with the highest rates over the time series. Calf slaughter rates varied significantly with herd size, year, and major breed (Jersey; JE). Herds which were more recently established tended to have higher calf slaughter rates. Herds that repeatedly slaughtered calves over 2 or more years tended to be larger and slaughtered more calves/herd/year. The slaughtering of calves is not widespread across the dairy industry in Ireland. The distribution of calves slaughtered per herd demonstrate that a small number of herds contributed disproportionately to calf slaughter numbers. Such herds tended to be very large (herd size), more recently established (2016 onwards), and have higher proportions of JE/JEX breed cattle. The outcomes of the present study provide an evidential base for the development of targeted industry-lead interventions with the aim of ending the routine early slaughter of calves.

Exploring the Use of an Electronic Competency Assessment Document Using iPad Minis to Assess Clinical Practice Competency in a Preregistration Nursing Program: A Cross-sectional Feasibility Study.

The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of using iPad minis as a method of completing competency assessment in clinical practice. Digital technology helps to revolutionize all aspects of our lives. The use of digital technologies in clinical practice can facilitate a move toward a more flexible learning environment and enable students to adapt in a rapidly changing, interconnected world. The introduction of electronic clinical booklets in practice placements could facilitate the sharing of clinical information through connected healthcare systems, thus improving the student experience. A cross-sectional design was used in this study. A sample of BSc nursing students (n = 53) and clinically based healthcare professionals (n = 27) (preceptors and clinical placement coordinators) participated in this study. Data were collected using a modified version of Garrett and colleagues' instrument, the System Usability Scale, a demographics questionnaire, and three open-ended questions. There was a significant difference between the students and preceptors/clinical placement coordinators across all items with higher proportions of students (ranging from 66% to 75.5%), indicating that they agreed or strongly agreed with the reliability, ease of use, and effectiveness of the device in assessing their clinical competency (ranging from 11.1% to 40.7%). In addition, the iPad minis were found to be smaller, lighter, and easier to carry than paper-based booklets and encouraged students to access timely online learning resources during placement to help augment their learning. The use of iPad mini to complete the electronic competency assessment document as a replacement for a paper-based system to assess clinical practice is feasible. The introduction of electronic assessment documents should incorporate a robust training plan and standard operating procedures.

Revisiting the relative effectiveness of slaughterhouses in Ireland to detect tuberculosis lesions in cattle (2014-2018).

Slaughterhouse or meat factory surveillance to detect factory lesions (FL) at slaughter is an important part of the bovine tuberculosis (bTB) eradication program in Ireland. The objective of this study was to quantify the effectiveness of Irish slaughterhouses or factories in submitting FL and the proportion of those submitted FL confirmed as being due to bTB in slaughtered cattle, and to identify and quantify the association of risk factors at animal, herd, and factory level with FL submission and confirmation. The data consisted of 6,611,854 animals slaughtered in Irish factories from 2014 to 2018 obtained from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM), Ireland. Selected risk factors for this study included factory, year and month of slaughter, age, sex, breed, animal movement, ever inconclusive in the standard or severe skin test, herd type, herd size, and bTB history. The association of each risk factor on the FL submission and confirmation risk were analysed with univariable followed by a multivariable logistic regression with herd as random effect. Factories were ranked and compared based on the odds ratio (OR) obtained from the univariable (crude OR) and multivariable (adjusted OR) analysis. The average submission risk of all factories was 20 per 10,000 animals slaughtered, ranging from 1 to 42 per 10,000 animals slaughtered, and the average confirmation risk over all factories was 40.72%, ranging from 0.00 to 61.84%. The odds of submitting and confirming FL as bTB positive were higher in animals over eight years old compared to animals 1-2 years old (OR = 1.91, 95 CI 95% 1.77-2.06 and OR = 4.05, 95% CI 3.17-5.18, respectively), and were higher in animals that ever had inconclusive skin result based on severe interpretation (OR = 2.83, 95% CI 2.44-3.27 and OR = 4.48, 95% CI 2.66-7.54, respectively), animals originating from sucklers herds (OR = 1.08, 95% CI 1.02-1.14 and OR = 1.31, 95% CI 1.11-1.55, respectively), or herds with bTB history in the past three years (OR = 4.46, 95% CI 4.28-4.66 and OR = 319.90, 95% CI 237.98-430.04, respectively). The odds of FL submission and confirmation decreased as the herd size increased (OR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.93-0.96 and OR = 0.82, 95% CI 0.78-0.86, respectively). An inverse relationship of FL submission and confirmation was present for variable sex and inconclusive skin result with standard interpretation, where submission odds were higher in males (OR = 1.05, 95% CI 1.00-1.10) and ever inconclusive animals (OR = 74.24, 95% CI 69.39-79.43), although the confirmation odds were lower (males OR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.56-0.76; ever inconclusive OR = 0.44, 95% CI 0.36-0.54). The crude and adjusted ranking of factories did not differ greatly for FL submission, indicating that factory-related factors may contribute significantly to the submission variation between factories. However, a substantial difference between crude and adjusted confirmation ranking was present which may indicate that animal and herd-related factors were associated to variation in confirmation risk between factories.

Can more information be extracted from bovine TB skin test outcomes to inform animal risk management? A retrospective observational animal-level study.

Continual tailoring of control programmes of endemic pathogens during long-term eradication campaigns requires detailed analysis of surveillance data to inform evidence-based policy. Bovine tuberculosis is a disease where long-term control and eradication programs are in train in several countries. The primary diagnostic tool, the intradermal tuberculin test, used to identify infected animals can be interpreted using different criteria and cut-offs, facilitating flexibility in its use as a basis to inform interventions. We investigated the comparative risk of animals failing a single intradermal comparative tuberculin test (SICTT) based on their previous tuberculin test result following a higher risk test-type (reactor retest of an infected herd). The study was a retrospective cohort design, and the primary exposure was the test status following a reactor retest classified as mutually exclusive categories based on bovine and avian tuberculin reactions: standard interpretation inconclusive (Sdi), severe interpretation inconclusive (Svi), single intradermal test (SIT) reactors (SITr), SIT inconclusive (SITi), avian tuberculin reactors (Ar), and test negative animals. Random effects multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate future risk. Cross-validation and downscaling was used to explore model performance. Alternate models with differing outcome test types were also explored. The models were trained on 844,207 observations from June 2018 to June 2021. Sdi, Svi, SITr, SITi and Ar were associated with the following odds ratios 12.242 (95 %CIs: 5.236-28.625; p < 0.001), 4.101 (95 %CIs: 3.423-4.913; p < 0.001), 2.503 (95 %CIs: 1.878-3.338; p < 0.001), 1.741 (95 %CIs: 1.195-2.538; p = 0.004) and 1.065 (95 %CIs: 0.833-1.361; p = 0.616) for failing the next test, respectively. High model performance was achieved with inclusion of random effects for both training and test evaluation datasets (AUC: 0.94; Balanced accuracy: 0.84), but fixed-effects only predictions exhibited moderate performance (AUC: 0.70; Balanced accuracy: 0.69). This reflects that 55 % of the risk of test failure relates to between herd heterogeneity based on intra-class correlation, while controlling for fixed effects. Other factors that were associated with increasing risk included age (older cohorts were at greater risk than the youngest cohort), breakdown history of the herd (greater number of breakdowns prior to the study period), and the time between exposure test and outcome test. These results provide further evidence to inform risk-based management policies for TB, including the removal of Sdi animals in higher risk situations, supplementary testing of cattle based on tuberculin responses and the provision of risk management advice to herd owners. The results characterise the future animal-level risk posed by Svis and suggest this risk may require policy led interventions.

Disturbance Ecology Meets Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) Epidemiology: A Before-and-After Study on the Association between Forest Clearfelling and bTB Herd Risk in Cattle Herds.

Disturbance ecology refers to the study of discrete processes that disrupt the structure or dynamics of an ecosystem. Such processes can, therefore, affect wildlife species ecology, including those that are important pathogen hosts. We report on an observational before-and-after study on the association between forest clearfelling and bovine tuberculosis (bTB) herd risk in cattle herds, an episystem where badgers (Meles meles) are the primary wildlife spillover host. The study design compared herd bTB breakdown risk for a period of 1 year prior to and after exposure to clearfelling across Ireland at sites cut in 2015-2017. The percent of herds positive rose from 3.47% prior to clearfelling to 4.08% after exposure. After controlling for confounders (e.g., herd size, herd type), we found that cattle herds significantly increased their odds of experiencing a bTB breakdown by 1.2-times (95%CIs: 1.07-1.36) up to 1 year after a clearfell risk period. Disturbance ecology of wildlife reservoirs is an understudied area with regards to shared endemic pathogens. Epidemiological observational studies are the first step in building an evidence base to assess the impact of such disturbance events; however, such studies are limited in inferring the mechanism for any changes in risk observed. The current cohort study suggested an association between clearfelling and bTB risk, which we speculate could relate to wildlife disturbance affecting pathogen spillback to cattle, though the study design precludes causal inference. Further studies are required. However, ultimately, integration of epidemiology with wildlife ecology will be important for understanding the underlying mechanisms involved, and to derive suitable effective management proposals, if required.

Factors affecting retention of veterinary practitioners in Ireland: a cross-sectional study with a focus on clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Retention of veterinary practitioners has arisen as a significant problem in recent years in Ireland. No prior Irish peer-reviewed publications have addressed this problem. An online questionnaire was available through social media and via email to Irish vets from January to November 2019. The aim of this survey was to ascertain the factors contributing to the problem of vet retention in Ireland. RESULTS: A total of 370 eligible responses were received. The median age of respondents was 31 and the gender balance was 250 females (68%) to 118 males (32%). The majority of respondents worked in clinical practice 322 (89%), with 138 (42.8%) in mixed practice, 115 (35.7%) in small animal practice, 49 (15.2%) solely with farm animals and 20 (6.2%) in equine practice. Fifty-four percent of respondents described themselves as likely to be leaving their current job within two years and 32.8% as being likely to leave the profession. In total, 44 variables were assessed by univariate analysis and 27 variables were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with the likelihood of a respondent leaving their current job within 2 years (LCJ2), as a proxy measure of the problem of retention. All variables significant on univariate analysis at P < 0.2 were included in a multivariable logistic regression model. Factors associated with LCJ2 included satisfaction with work-life balance (Odds Ratio (OR) 0.33); satisfaction with working hours (OR 0.2); number of years qualified (OR 0.91); position as a practice owner/partner/director (OR 0.15); and log10salary (OR 0.03). Four variables were retained in a separate multivariable linear regression model as significant (P < 0.05) predictors of log10salary. Log10salary increased with years qualified. Males had an increased salary compared to females irrespective of years qualified. Part-time employees, vets on maternity leave or postgraduate vets had a lower log10salary. Compared to veterinary employees, self-employed or locum vets had a higher log10salary. CONCLUSIONS: Veterinary employers should consider salary, working hours and the facilitation of a good work-life balance in order to successfully retain veterinary employees. The significant difference in salaries currently offered to male and female vets, and the high percentage of respondents considering leaving the profession, are important findings and warrant further investigation.

Assessment of the frequency of Mycobacterium bovis shedding in the faeces of naturally and experimentally TB infected cattle.

AIMS: To assess the prevalence of Mycobacterium bovis bacilli in faecal samples of tuberculous cattle, and to better understand the risk of environmental dissemination of bovine tuberculosis (TB) through the spreading of manure or slurry. METHODS AND RESULTS: Faecal samples were collected from 72 naturally infected cattle with visible lesions of TB that had reacted to the tuberculin skin test and 12 cattle experimentally infected with M. bovis. These were examined by microbial culture and PCR to assess the presence of M. bovis bacilli. There were no positive cultures from any naturally infected test reactor animal. A single M. bovis colony was cultured from a faecal sample from one of the experimentally infected animals. A single PCR positive result was obtained from the faecal sample of one naturally infected test reactor. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of M. bovis in the faecal samples of TB-infected cattle was extremely low. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The results suggest that the risk of spreading TB through the use of slurry or manure as an agricultural fertilizer is lower than that suggested in some historical literature. The results could inform a reconsideration of current risk assessments and guidelines on the disposal of manure and slurry from TB-infected herds.

Mastitis Control and Intramammary Antimicrobial Stewardship in Ireland: Challenges and Opportunities.

The Veterinary Medicines Regulation (EU 2019/6) came into force in all EU member states on 28 January 2022. This regulation places particular emphasis on prudent and responsible antimicrobial use in food animal production. Key changes include restrictions on the prophylactic use of antimicrobials in animals, and the possibility to reserve certain antimicrobials for humans only. The Regulation presents challenges to the Irish dairy industry, particularly with respect to current approaches to dry cow therapy. In response, the CellCheck technical working group (TWG, a technical group working in support of CellCheck, the national mastitis control programme) have developed pragmatic national and farm-level recommendations in support of improved mastitis control and intramammary antimicrobial stewardship in the Irish dairy industry. This paper outlines these recommendations, and provides an overview of the evidence considered to inform the TWG during its work (including the Regulation, policy perspectives, international best-practice, international scientific reviews and specific Irish challenges). In many key areas of concern, the TWG recognises the challenges in seeking to shape recommendations in the absence of robust and practical scientific evidence. For this reason, some of the recommended actions are pragmatic in nature, informed by national and international experiences. Periodic programme review will be needed, informed by ongoing monitoring of key performance indicators, to identify those actions that are most effective in an Irish context.

Engaging With Farmers to Explore Correlates of Bovine Tuberculosis Risk in an Internationally Important Heritage Landscape: The Burren, in the West of Ireland.

Bovith recene tuberculosis (bTB) continues to be a pathogen of concern in several countries globally. Analysis of areas that have higher incidences of bTB outbreaks has demonstrated how risk is not equally distributed, and local data collection, analysis and participatory engagement is required to develop tailored approaches. The Burren, an internationally important heritage landscape, has been an area of higher bTB incidence for many years in Ireland, and owing to its unique geology and farming heritage a survey was developed to engage with local farmers to gain greater insight into farming practices and bTB control to inform tailored approaches. The survey gathered data on the farm and animal management approaches being used within the Burren, including local farming techniques like the use of "winterage" (grazing exposed limestone dominated uplands). Thematic analysis of free text responses was undertaken. Quantitative data were then explored using statistical models to assess associations with recent (<3 years) self-reported bTB breakdown risk. There was a high number of responses demonstrating a high degree of willingness to engage on the issue. Thematic analysis suggested that wildlife and its management (culling and vaccination), testing quality, and its impact on the bTB scheme, and pessimism around eradication were important themes. Statistical analysis suggested that increasing bTB risk was primarily related to increasing herd-size and the percentage of herd owner's land inaccessible to those attempting to locate badger setts. There was less evidence for associations relating to the amount of time, or which season (i.e., summer), farmers utilized "winterage". The results of the study will feed back directly to local bTB management plans and further stakeholder engagement and is an exemplar for local tailoring of national control measures in situations of high incidences of bTB outbreaks in particular areas.

Is there an association between road building and bovine tuberculosis herd risk? A three time-point study in Ireland, 2011-2019.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis which results in a significant economic cost to cattle industries and governments where it is endemic. In Ireland, the European badger is the main wildlife reservoir of infection. In this study, we investigated whether (motorway) road construction was associated with an increased risk of bTB in associated cattle herds. For this study, we considered three observation periods: pre-construction (2011-2014), construction (2015-2017) and post-construction (2018-2019). We selected 1543 herds situated, based on proximity, between >50 m and <5 km of the roadworks, and extracted information about their herd-size, herd-type, inward animal movements, bTB history, and distance to the roadworks. Generalized linear mixed models were performed, whose outcome were whether a herd experienced a bTB breakdown with ≥1 or ≥3 standard reactor/s, respectively. Herds located at a distance of >3 km from the roadworks were found to be at reduced risk of a bTB breakdown over the construction period compared with those situated within 1 km of the roadworks for ≥1 reactor/s (>3 km and construction vs. <1 km: OR: 0.595, 95 % Confidence Interval (CI): 0.354-0.999) or ≥3 reactors (>3 km and construction vs. <1 km: OR: 0.431, 95 % CI: 0.174-1.067). Other previously reported risk factors such as inward movements, herd-size and herd-type were also associated with bTB risk in the final models (≥1 reactor/s and ≥3 reactors). These findings appear to be consistent with bTB breakdowns being a consequence as opposed to coincident to road construction, given the temporal and spatial consistency of the evidence. The potential for badger social group disturbance leading to the spatial spread of infection to cattle herds, as previously described in the United Kingdom, could be a hypothetical mechanism to explain these findings. However, our findings are not consistent with previous Irish studies, including recent work from another road construction project, albeit running alongside and cross over an existing road rather than construction of a new road as in this case, or experiences from national targeted badger removal. Further research is warranted to verify this pattern occurs elsewhere, and the underlying biological mechanism. Until further data are available, we recommend that badgers are vaccinated, as a precautionary measure, in advance of the commencement of major roadworks.

Engaging with selective dry cow therapy: understanding the barriers and facilitators perceived by Irish farmers.

BACKGROUND: Selective dry cow therapy (SDCT) is widely promoted in dairy farming as a method to reduce antimicrobial usage. New legislation introduced by the European Union will restrict and regulate the prophylactic and metaphylactic use of antibiotics from January 2022. Blanket dry cow therapy continues to be a practice engaged in by many farmers in Ireland and for many of these farmers, moving towards SDCT would require a significant infrastructural, behavioural and/or cultural change on their farm. Existing research has reported the important need to understand farmers' motivations to initiate any substantial behaviour change. However, it is currently unknown what farmers know, think and believe about SDCT in Ireland. The aim of this study was to use qualitative methods to explore what barriers and facilitators farmers perceived to exist with SDCT and explore if they had chosen to implement SDCT after voluntarily participating in a funded dry cow consult with a trained veterinarian, with the objective of maximising the dry period udder health performance and moving safely to SDCT. RESULTS: In this study, 19 farmers were contacted, and telephone interviews were conducted regarding farmers' beliefs about the consequences of SDCT. Audio recordings were professionally transcribed verbatim and analysed qualitatively using an inductive thematic analysis. The analysis identified 6 barriers and 6 facilitators to implementing SDCT. A significant fear of increasing mastitis incidence was evident that caused reluctance towards SDCT and reliance on antibiotics. Mixed perceptions on SDCT, infrastructure limitations, a perceived lack of preventive advice as well as peer influence were presented as barriers to SDCT. Farmers can build confidence when a graded approach to SDCT is implemented, which could help overcome the fear of SDCT and reliance on antibiotics. Regulatory pressure, high standards of farm hygiene and use of targeted veterinary consults were found to facilitate SDCT. Education was suggested to motivate farmers in the future uptake of SDCT. Despite cited negative influences, peer influence can be utilised to encourage the farming community. CONCLUSIONS: This study prioritises areas to facilitate the major behaviour change required as a dairy industry in order to move from blanket dry cow therapy to SDCT.