Minnig, Adrian (2025). Associations between animal health indicators, antimicrobial use, and antimicrobial resistance on Swiss dairy farms. (Thesis). Universität Bern, Bern
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25minnig_a.pdf - Thesis Available under License Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY 4.0). Download (2MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Farm animal health and welfare have been ongoing concerns for farmers, consumers, and society for a long time. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and its relationship with antimicrobial use (AMU) have been identified as global public health challenges. A set of established health and welfare indicators (HWI) for dairy cows and the increasing availability of detailed farm-level AMU data enabled us to carry out this study with the objectives to (i) investigate the relationship between HWI and farm-level AMU, (ii) capture the current situation of AMR in dairy cows and calves on the study farms, and (iii) identify associations between AMR presence, AMU, and management practices in Swiss dairy farms. HWI were assessed on all study farms and current farm AMU was quantified using antimicrobial prescription data. Associations between lower AMU and good health and welfare were found for overall farm health and welfare and for several individual HWI. Pooled fecal samples were used to assess the presence of AMR in the study farms. No significant associations were observed between AMU and the presence of AMR. The results of this study may help to understand how AMU is related to HWI in dairy cows and support monitoring and benchmarking efforts to reduce AMU while maintaining high levels of cow health and welfare. Further research on a larger scale is needed to obtain more generalizable results and to further investigate the complex and multifactorial relationship between AMU and AMR.
| Item Type: | Thesis |
|---|---|
| Dissertation Type: | Single |
| Date of Defense: | 10 October 2025 |
| Subjects: | 600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health 600 Technology > 630 Agriculture |
| Institute / Center: | 05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health (DCR-VPH) > Veterinary Public Health Institute |
| Depositing User: | Hammer Igor |
| Date Deposited: | 13 Jan 2026 17:50 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Jan 2026 21:16 |
| URI: | https://boristheses.unibe.ch/id/eprint/7048 |
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