Tackling bottlenecks to the use of data for enhanced Johne's Disease control
Lead Research Organisation:
CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY
Department Name: School of Water, Energy and Environment
Abstract
Johne's disease has been rated by dairy farmers in the UK as the number one endemic disease affecting productivity. It causes chronic illness, which progressively, worsens and can spread throughout the herd. To tackle the disease effectively, vet practices and farmers need to optimise the use of existing data, whilst also making evidence-based risk assessments about their herds.
Our multi-disciplinary project aims to make use of existing data sources and trial environmental sampling for risk assessments with the aim of enhancing Johne's Disease control. Our specific questions are:
1. What factors explain the differences in the success of Johne's control between herds? (WP1)
2. What are the major bottlenecks to farmer and veterinarian engagement in using disease test data and what are the solutions? (WP1)
3. Why are some veterinary practices markedly more successful in controlling the disease in their client base than other practices? (WP1)
4. What measures undertaken by farmers are most likely to be associated with successful control in infection? (WP1)
5. What risk factors identified in on-farm risk assessments are associated with the presence of infection? (WP2)
6. What level of confidence would environmental sampling give as a means of estimating the probability of infection or freedom from infection? (WP2)
This proposal brings together a uniquely multidisciplinary team from across the UK to tackle Johne's disease. It combines a farmer (Abi Reader, project partner) with veterinary expertise in Johne's disease control (Peter Orpin, sub-contractor), specialists in data management (James Hanks, subcontractor), a stakeholder engagement specialist (David Rose), a veterinary epidemiologist (Abel Ekiri) and a veterinary microbiologist (Nick Wheelhouse). Within Northern Ireland AHWNI leads on the control of Johne's Disease. The proposal will work in each country of the United Kingdom. Strain (subcontractor and project partner), CEO of AHWNI has a long-standing involvement with Johne's Disease control through managing the NI control programme and his involvement in the all-island (Ireland) Technical Working Group for the infection. Findings from this study will identify relevant herd risk factors and biomarkers to use for prediction of Johne's disease risk. Subsequently, in the next phase after the 12 months, these data will be used to develop prediction models and a practical and cost-effective surveillance tool for Johne's risk assessment at the herd level.
Our multi-disciplinary project aims to make use of existing data sources and trial environmental sampling for risk assessments with the aim of enhancing Johne's Disease control. Our specific questions are:
1. What factors explain the differences in the success of Johne's control between herds? (WP1)
2. What are the major bottlenecks to farmer and veterinarian engagement in using disease test data and what are the solutions? (WP1)
3. Why are some veterinary practices markedly more successful in controlling the disease in their client base than other practices? (WP1)
4. What measures undertaken by farmers are most likely to be associated with successful control in infection? (WP1)
5. What risk factors identified in on-farm risk assessments are associated with the presence of infection? (WP2)
6. What level of confidence would environmental sampling give as a means of estimating the probability of infection or freedom from infection? (WP2)
This proposal brings together a uniquely multidisciplinary team from across the UK to tackle Johne's disease. It combines a farmer (Abi Reader, project partner) with veterinary expertise in Johne's disease control (Peter Orpin, sub-contractor), specialists in data management (James Hanks, subcontractor), a stakeholder engagement specialist (David Rose), a veterinary epidemiologist (Abel Ekiri) and a veterinary microbiologist (Nick Wheelhouse). Within Northern Ireland AHWNI leads on the control of Johne's Disease. The proposal will work in each country of the United Kingdom. Strain (subcontractor and project partner), CEO of AHWNI has a long-standing involvement with Johne's Disease control through managing the NI control programme and his involvement in the all-island (Ireland) Technical Working Group for the infection. Findings from this study will identify relevant herd risk factors and biomarkers to use for prediction of Johne's disease risk. Subsequently, in the next phase after the 12 months, these data will be used to develop prediction models and a practical and cost-effective surveillance tool for Johne's risk assessment at the herd level.
Technical Summary
Johne's disease is an infectious wasting condition of cattle and other ruminants caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map). The disease progressively damages the intestines of affected animals and can eventually result in severe weight loss, loss of condition and infertility.
Through the main UK milk recording organisations there are now thousands of herds across the UK that have the necessary routine data at the individual animal level. While there are growing numbers of examples where herds have brought the disease down to low levels, the routine interpretation and use of these data by vets and farmers has been sporadic and often the existing data are under-utilised, in part because of a lack of know-how. Improving the use and demonstrating the value of existing data has potential to enhance farmer decision-making with respect to Johne's disease control at the farm level. Recruitment to Johne's control programmes can be hampered by the associated costs of whole herd testing. Novel herd level testing that provides farmers with a simple, cost-effective means of identifying infection or providing assurance of infection freedom would greatly improve herd engagement in control programmes. Preliminary evidence from other countries suggests that farm environmental sampling may provide an effective way of identifying infected herds (Lavers, 2013). However this approach has not been validated within the UK context.
Our multi-disciplinary project aims to make use of existing data sources by bringing together experts, vet practices, and farmers, whilst also trialling environmental sampling for risk assessments with the aim of enhancing Johne's Disease control. Subsequently, in the next phase after the 12 months, these data will be used to develop prediction models and a practical and cost-effective surveillance tool for Johne's risk assessment at the herd level.
Through the main UK milk recording organisations there are now thousands of herds across the UK that have the necessary routine data at the individual animal level. While there are growing numbers of examples where herds have brought the disease down to low levels, the routine interpretation and use of these data by vets and farmers has been sporadic and often the existing data are under-utilised, in part because of a lack of know-how. Improving the use and demonstrating the value of existing data has potential to enhance farmer decision-making with respect to Johne's disease control at the farm level. Recruitment to Johne's control programmes can be hampered by the associated costs of whole herd testing. Novel herd level testing that provides farmers with a simple, cost-effective means of identifying infection or providing assurance of infection freedom would greatly improve herd engagement in control programmes. Preliminary evidence from other countries suggests that farm environmental sampling may provide an effective way of identifying infected herds (Lavers, 2013). However this approach has not been validated within the UK context.
Our multi-disciplinary project aims to make use of existing data sources by bringing together experts, vet practices, and farmers, whilst also trialling environmental sampling for risk assessments with the aim of enhancing Johne's Disease control. Subsequently, in the next phase after the 12 months, these data will be used to develop prediction models and a practical and cost-effective surveillance tool for Johne's risk assessment at the herd level.
Organisations
- CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY (Lead Research Organisation)
- Scottish Government (Co-funder)
- Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Co-funder)
- Dept of Agri, Env & Rural Affairs DAERA (Co-funder)
- Animal Health & Welfare Northern Ireland (Project Partner)
- E Reader & Sons (Project Partner)
- The George Veterinary Group (Project Partner)
- The Vale Veterinary Group (Project Partner)
Publications
Morrison R
(2023)
Factors that influence dairy farmers' decisions to implement Johne's Disease control practices: A systematic review.
in Preventive veterinary medicine
| Description | For work package 1, which addressed drivers of Johne's control on-farm, we used social science approaches. Building on a global systematic review of the literature on barriers and solutions for Johne's disease control on-farm, we conducted an empirical study with over 400 farmers and 150 veterinarians across the UK. The study used workshops and semi-structured interviews to understand better the challenges farmers and veterinarians face in implementing on-farm Johne's Disease with the aim of identifying solutions. In our systematic review of relevant literature from the last ten years, we identified five key barriers to Johne's control: concerns with tests, the time taken to see results, a lack of space, a lack of interest in JD control, and economics. The empirical study found that four main challenges are faced in the on-farm control of Johne's - (1) Management of farmer expectations around Johne's Disease with eradication near impossible, (2) A 'free-riding' problem which can be influenced by the partially voluntary nature of control plans, (3) Challenges in vet-farmer communication, including levels of knowledge, (4) Space issues to segregate and the economics and practicality of changing infrastructure. Our findings have relevance for the control of Johne's Disease in the UK and in other countries, including for regions with voluntary or compulsory control programmes. Moving to work package 2, which focused on environmental sampling to test for Johne's and the use of risk assessment, On environmental sampling, herds in Northern Ireland were selected with known or suspected Johne's infection. An important barrier to using environmental sampling is how sensitive it might be - does it miss significant numbers of infected herds? Faecal samples were taken from 12 dairy farms. Samples were obtained from floor scrapings at 4 communal sites across 4 bi-monthly time points. MAP DNA (causative agent of Johne's) was demonstrated on each of the farms on at least 1 time-point. The incidence on each farm (numbers of positive sites) differed across farms and across sample points within individual farms. The results of the study suggest that environmental sampling can determine the presence of MAP on farms with known MAP status, however multiple sampling is required, both spatially and temporally. While our study cannot determine sensitivity, it does act as quite strong proof of principle that environmental sampling could be a useful tool (if for example there was failure to detect it would be more doubtful). As part of work package 2, we aimed to analyse the effectiveness of on-farm risk assessment for JD. The analyses will identify aspects of management that could predispose to the introduction and spread of infection within the farm and gain insights from the veterinarian recommendations. We are utilizing a dataset of herd risk assessments conducted by veterinarians and collected as part of the Northern Ireland Johne's Disease Control Programme. Previously we worked with a smaller dataset but recently received additional data and are now working with a larger dataset to complete the required analyses. We expect to complete the analyses by the end of April 2024. |
| Exploitation Route | Testimony for the below has been given by Action Group Johne's, Animal Health and Welfare Northern Ireland, and from project discussions with DairyUK. In Northern Ireland, the project fed environmental sampling findings into their Technical Working Group for Johne's Disease. This group is now in the process of reviewing their on-farm risk assessment and the outcomes of the project will form part of that review process to ensure as far as possible the assessment is addressing basic understanding of the infection and the realistic aims of a control programme. As part of that the group will be reviewing their training for Approved Vets to deliver the Risk Assessment and will be using the outputs from our work as areas to focus on for vets. Focusing on the UK, and from discussions with Action Group Johne's, Dairy UK recently undertook a strategic review and utilised our systematic review paper and its findings in several ways. Based on our work, DairyUK recognised: • the need to revisit the education of both vets and farmers re disease transmission, objectives of scheme and emphasis • Clearly more work is required to dispel the myth the disease can be simply eradicated ( aka BVD) • The "hamster wheel effect" as use of quartile measures needs to be amended and we will look to define hard cut points that define success rather than rolling targets • More work needs to be done on comms re trading of cattle. The emphasis needs to directed at the buyer to reduce risks rather than seek to develop complex trading schemes that will fail to meet expectations ( that appear to be universally dislocated from the reality of MAP biology) • More work required on what cows to cull/ use of priority cull measures / research in this area. • Somehow find a way of making a complex disease simpler to understand and to better use testimonials from farmers to engage a wider audience with the success of the program. The herds that are already engaged have seen a halving of prevalence in 3 years. That message needs to be communicated better. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink |
| Description | In NI, the project fed environmental sampling findings into their Technical Working Group for Johne's Disease. This group are in the process of reviewing theirr on-farm risk assessment and the outcomes of the project will form part of that review process to ensure as far as possible the assessment is addressing basic understanding of the infection and the realistic aims of a control programme. As part of that the group will be reviewing our training for Approved Vets to deliver the Risk Assessment and will be using the outputs from our work as areas to focus on for vets. Dairy UK recently undertook a strategic review and utilised our systematic review paper and its findings in several ways recognising: • the need to revisit the education of both vets and farmers re disease transmission, objectives of scheme and emphasis • Clearly more work is required to dispel the myth the disease can be simply eradicated ( aka BVD) • The "hamster wheel effect" as use of quartile measures needs to be amended and we will look to define hard cut points that define success rather than rolling targets • More work needs to be done on comms re trading of cattle. The emphasis needs to directed at the buyer to reduce risks rather than seek to develop complex trading schemes that will fail to meet expectations ( that appear to be universally dislocated from the reality of MAP biology) • More work required on what cows to cull/ use of priority cull measures / research in this area. • Somehow find a way of making a complex disease simpler to understand and to better use testimonials from farmers to engage a wider audience with the success of the program. The herds that are already engaged have seen a halving of prevalence in 3 years. That message needs to be communicated better. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Impact Types | Societal Policy & public services |
| Description | Dairy Farmer article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | An article in Dairy Farmer magazine (and also Farmers Guardian online) shining a spotlight on our project |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.fginsight.com/news/new-project-looks-to-identify-barriers-to-johnes-control-133971?Previ... |
| Description | DairyUK event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Rosie Morrison led a workshop for DairyUK - in person in London and online - attended by approximately 30 stakeholders. She presented results from our Johne's study focusing on farmer and vet decision-making and stimulated a group discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Defra presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | As part of a presentation to Defra's Animal Health team on behavioural change (part of Animal Welfare Research Seminar series on Feb 29th), David Rose presented findings from the BBSRC Johne's project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Delivery of veterinary training on Johne's Control and the use of data |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA), Annual Congress, Friday 21st October 2022 Dr James Hanks and Peter Orpin (MRCVS) conducted a workshop for veterinarians at the 2022 BCVA Congress held in Birmingham NEC, Thursday 20th - Saturday 22nd. The workshop was attended by over 20 veterinarians and covered the development and use of the Johne's Tracker as both a benchmarking and farmer engagement tool. In addition to explaining the key drivers of infection in herds, the workshop covered the potential of data to promote informed discussion between vet and farmer. The workshop participants were provided with a number of case studies showing different levels of success and engagement in the control of Johne's disease. These were used to stimulate discussion in to the different choices and resources of farmers and how these are likely to influence the approach to control on farms. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Farmers Guardian article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Article discussing the results of our work |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.farmersguardian.com/news/4147098/farmer-vet-relationship-key-successful-johnes-control |
| Description | IAgrM Mid-Anglia talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A talk on farmer behaviour change for 15 members of the mid-Anglia branch of IAgrM. My talk touched on some of the Johne's work and mental health work we are doing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | NFU talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A talk on farmer behaviour change for members of the NFU policy team. My talk touched on some of the Johne's work we are doing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Podcast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Appearance on The MacVet Podcast by Fiona MacGillivray: the show that talks about communication, cows and coffee. We discussed David Rose's research on behavioural change, including farmer-vet communication, some of which was drawn from the BBSRC Johne's project. The episode was filmed on February 13th 2024 and will be shortly out at the following link https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-macvet-podcast/id1685854246 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-macvet-podcast/id1685854246 |