Cost-benefit and Acceptance Analysis of Alternative Nematode Control Practices on Organic Dairy Goat Farms: A Case Study in France

This article assesses the costs, benefits, and acceptance of alternative control practices of Gastro-Intestinal Nematodes (GIN) for a typical organic dairy goat farm in France. A participatory Structured-Decision-Making (SDM) framework was used to guide focus group discussions, with an economic farm model and the Rogers and planned behavior theories used within the SDM framework. The study showed that the implementation of alternative GIN control practices can be economically profitable. An increased gross margin of €41 per dairy goat was calculated, which was mainly due to a decrease in the milk withdrawal cost. The simplicity to use or implement the alternative practices and the experience level of the farmers seem to play a positive role in adoption of the alternative practices consisting of more targeted and strategic treatments. The novel information presented in this article contributes towards facilitating the adoption of suitable alternative approaches for parasite control

Control of gastrointestinal parasitism with nematodes in dairy goats treating the host category at risk

Infections of the gastrointestinal tract with parasitic nematodes remain one of the main limiting factors in grazing dairy goats. The usual mode of control of these parasitic diseases has up to now been based on the repeated use of anthelmintics. However, the prevalence rates of anthelmintic resistances, in particular to benzimidazoles, are now particularly high in the French dairy goat production. This situation makes it mandatory to reconsider the usual mode of control of these nematodes and to look for short term, alternative solutions which combine the control of gastrointestinal infections and management of anthelmintic resistances. One of the possible options is to leave a part of the flock without treatment during the grazing season in order to maintain alleles of susceptibility to anthelmintics within the worm populations. Previous epidemiological observations identifying the categories of host populations at risk are presented which provide the rationale for targeted applications of treatments. The results of assays on experimental flocks and from farm surveys examining the advantages and drawbacks of selective treatments are presented. The value of these results in combination with other alternative solutions of control are discussed in order to use minimum treatments with maximum benefits.Maîtrise des strongyloses gastro intestinales chez les chèvres laitières par l'application de traitements ciblés. Les infestations par les nématodes du tractus gastro intestinal demeurent un des principaux facteurs limitant à l'élevage des chèvres laitières au pâturage. Le mode usuel de maîtrise de ce parasitisme reposait jusqu'à présent sur un usage répété de molécules anthelminthiques. Cependant, la prévalence des lignées résistantes aux anthelminthiques, en particulier aux benzimidazoles, en élevage caprin laitier en France, est désormais très élevée. Ce constat oblige à rechercher rapidement des solutions alternatives qui permettent de gérer de manière combinée le parasitisme et le développement des lignées résistantes. Un objectif commun à ces solutions est de maintenir au sein des populations de vers des allèles de sensibilité pour diluer ceux à l'origine de la résistance. Concrètement, un des moyens pour atteindre ce but se fonde sur l'application non plus systématique, mais ciblée, des traitements dans les troupeaux, en visant les animaux les plus parasités. Des données épidémiologiques, identifiant les catégories de chèvres à risque (primipares et fortes productrices de lait) au sein des troupeaux sont d'abord présentées. Les résultats d'études conduites en troupeau expérimental ou en élevages afin de valider l'application de traitements ciblés sont ensuite discutés en terme d'efficacité, d'applicabilité et de préservation des molécules antiparasitaires actuellement disponibles

Les règles du mouvement de Blaise de Parme

This article assesses the costs, benefits, and acceptance of alternative control practices of Gastro-Intestinal Nematodes (GIN) for a typical organic dairy goat farm in France. A participatory Structured-Decision-Making (SDM) framework was used to guide focus group discussions, with an economic farm model and the Rogers and planned behavior theories used within the SDM framework. The study showed that the implementation of alternative GIN control practices can be economically profitable. An increased gross margin of €41 per dairy goat was calculated, which was mainly due to a decrease in the milk withdrawal cost. The simplicity to use or implement the alternative practices and the experience level of the farmers seem to play a positive role in adoption of the alternative practices consisting of more targeted and strategic treatments. The novel information presented in this article contributes towards facilitating the adoption of suitable alternative approaches for parasite control

Stability of microbial communities in goat milk during a lactation year: molecular approaches

International audienceThe microbial communities in milks from one herd were evaluated during 1-year of lactation, using molecular methods to evaluate their stability and the effect of breeding conditions on their composition. The diversity of microbial communities was measured using two approaches: molecular identification by 16S and 18S rDNA sequencing of isolates from counting media (two milks), and direct identification using 16S rDNA from clone libraries (six milks). The stability of these communities was evaluated by counting on selective media and by Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of variable region V3 of the 16S rRNA gene and variable region V4 of the 18S rRNA gene. One hundred and eighteen milk samples taken throughout the year were analyzed. Wide diversity among bacteria and yeasts in the milk was revealed. In addition to species commonly encountered in milk, such as Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus garvieae, Enterococcus faecalis, Lactobacillus casei, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus simulans, Staphylococcus caprae, Staphylococcus equorum, Micrococcus sp., Kocuria sp., Pantoea agglomerans and Pseudomonas putida, sequences were affiliated to other species only described in cheeses, such as Corynebacterium variabile, Arthrobacter sp., Brachybacterium paraconglomeratum, Clostridium sp. and Rothia sp. Several halophilic species atypical in milk were found, belonging to Jeotgalicoccus psychrophilus, Salinicoccus sp., Dietza maris, Exiguobacterium, Ornithinicoccus sp. and Hahella chejuensis. The yeast community was composed of Debaryomyces hansenii, Kluyveromyces lactis, Trichosporon beigelii, Rhodotorula glutinis, Rhodotorula minuta, Candida pararugosa, Candida intermedia, Candida inconspicua, Cryptococcus curvatus and Cryptococcus magnus. The analyses of microbial counts and microbial SSCP profiles both distinguished four groups of milks corresponding to four periods defined by season and feeding regime. The microbial community was stable within each period. Milks from winter were characterized by Lactococcus and Pseudomonas, those from summer by P. agglomerans and Klebsiella and those from autumn by Chryseobacterium indologenes, Acinetobacter baumanii, Staphylococcus, Corynebacteria and yeasts. However, the composition of the community can vary according to factors other than feeding. This study opens new investigation fields in the field of raw milk microbial ecology