Investigating the perceived versus actual gastrointestinal nematode challenge on extensive sheep farms
Investigating the perceived versus actual gastrointestinal nematode challenge on extensive sheep farms
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DOI：
10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110148
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发表时间：
2024-02-16
影响因子：
2.6
通讯作者：
Kenyon，Fiona
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Geddes，Eilidh;Morgan-Davies，Claire;Kenyon，Fiona
粗放型农业系统是整个欧洲绵羊生产系统的组成部分。然而，由于先天的生产障碍、绵羊数量的下降和狭窄的经济利润，生产正变得越来越具有挑战性，威胁着该行业未来的可持续性。胃肠道线虫（GINs）是全球绵羊产业生产损失的一个重要原因，对主要的驱虫类群具有良好的抗性。传统上，人们认为粗放型养殖系统与集约型养殖场相比没有明显的寄生虫挑战，但有必要确定粗放型养殖场的寄生虫规模和重要性，以便为可持续控制战略的需要提供信息。本研究通过对34个粗放型养殖场进行问卷调查，收集9个养殖场的寄生虫学数据，调查粗放型养殖场感知与实际的GIN和抗虫挑战。结果表明，大多数农场存在生产限制挑战，改良牧场的GIN挑战更高。此外，超过一半的粗放型农民认为，对集约型农民来说，抗虫性是一个更大的问题，只有20%的答复者报告了已知的抗虫性。然而，所有被研究的农场都有证据表明它们对至少一组驱虫剂有抗药性。因此，本研究表明，尽管传统观念认为粗放型农场存在寄生，但有必要越来越多地考虑其影响，并采取积极主动的可持续控制方法，并根据其独特的管理方式量身定制解决方案。
Extensive farming systems form an integral part of sheep production systems across Europe. However, with innate production handicaps, declining sheep numbers and narrow economic margins, production is becoming increasingly challenging threatening the future sustainability of the industry. Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) are a significant cause of production losses to the global sheep industry, with well-established resistance to the major anthelmintic groups. Traditionally, extensive farming systems are not thought to have a significant parasite challenge compared with intensive farms, but there is a need to identify the scale and importance of GINs on extensive farms to inform the need for sustainable control strategies. In this study, a questionnaire of extensive farmers (n=34) was conducted and parasitological data were collected from nine study farms to investigate the perceived versus actual GIN and anthelmintic resistance challenge faced by extensive farms. The results showed a production-limiting challenge on most farms, with a higher GIN challenge observed on improved pastures. Furthermore, over half of the extensive farmers perceived anthelmintic resistance to be a greater problem for intensive farmers, with only 20% of respondents reporting known anthelmintic resistance. However, all study farms had evidence of resistance to at least one group of anthelmintics. Consequently, this study has demonstrated that despite the traditional perception of parasitism on extensive farms, there is a need to increasingly consider its impact and take a proactive approach to sustainable control, with solutions tailored to their unique management.