Le marché des broutards en France. Organisation de la filière, transmission de l’information et qualité

La filière française viande de jeunes bovins de boucherie mâles est la première productrice d’Europe. Cet article s’intéresse plus spécifiquement à la filière des jeunes bovins mâles de boucherie de race à viande et à la structuration de la filière en France. Cet article résulte d’une enquête auprès d’acteurs de la filière et explique (i) l’organisation du marché des broutards entre élevage naisseurs et engraisseurs, spécifiant le rôle clef des intermédiaires commerciaux ; (ii) les caractéristiques des transactions (modes de coordination verticale, préférences des éleveurs) ; et (iii) les facteurs d’incertitude pour la traçabilité (sanitaire notamment) liés à cette organisation.The French young male beef cattle sector has the highest production in Europe. This article focuses specifically on the sector of young male beef cattle and the organization of this sector in France. We conducted a survey among producers and commercial intermediaries to examine how the supply chain organization influences information transmission and health management practices. This article explains: (i) The organization of the weanling market (and the paramount role of commercial intermediaries); (ii) The characteristics of the transactions (vertical coordination, farmers’ preferences); (iii) The information transmission and quality standards of weanling health management practices

Limitation and levers to a reduction of antibiotic use in cattle sector related to the economic organisation of sectors, of farming systems, and of advice.

Réduire les usages d’antibiotiques est un des leviers principaux pour contrer l’avancée de l’antibiorésistance qui menace l’efficacité du traitement des maladies bactériennes humaines et animales. En filières bovin laitier et jeunes bovins de boucherie, deux maladies de production sont responsables des principaux usages d’antibiotiques, respectivement les mammites et les maladies respiratoires. L’objectif de la thèse a été d’identifier auprès des acteurs des filières des verrous limitant l’amélioration des pratiques la diminution de l’utilisation d’antibiotiques, puis d’identifier des leviers d’action. En élevage de jeunes bovins de boucherie, des entretiens auprès d’acteurs de la filière (éleveurs et responsables) et des enquêtes auprès d’éleveurs ont permis d’identifier que l’organisation de la filière est un des principaux verrous. Cependant, les caractéristiques des systèmes d’exploitations et les compétences des éleveurs constituaient également une potentielle limite. En élevage bovin laitier, des entretiens ont permis de montrer que les perceptions et connaissances des éleveurs semblaient être un des freins majeurs à l’amélioration des pratiques, le système d’exploitation semblant intervenir à la marge. En élevage bovin allaitant, des leviers permettant d’améliorer la coordination entre les acteurs de la chaîne de valeur ont été identifiés. En élevage laitier, un programme innovant de formation et de conseil a été évalué dans le cadre d’une étude d’intervention, montrant une amélioration des connaissances et perceptions des éleveurs sur la prévention et l’utilisation des antibiotiques.Reducing antibiotic use is one of the main levers to limit the increase of antimicrobial resistance, which threatens the effectiveness of the treatments of human and animal bacterial diseases. In dairy and young beef bull sectors, antibiotics are mainly used to control two production diseases, respectively mastitis and bovine respiratory diseases (BRD). The objective of the thesis was to identify with sectors’ stakeholders’ limitations for the improvement of antibiotic use practices, then to identify levers of action. In the young beef bulls’ sector, interviews with stakeholders and farmers showed that the organization of the value chain, because of its potential influence on BRD risk factors, was one of the main limitation identified. However, the characteristics of farming systems and farmers’ skills were also a potential limitation. In the dairy sector, interviews have shown that farmers’ perceptions and knowledge seemed to be one of the major limitation to the improvement of the practices. The farming system seemed to have only limited influence. In young beef bulls sector, levers to improve coordination between stakeholders in the value chain have been identified. In dairy farming, an innovative training and advising program was evaluated as part of an intervention study, showing an improvement in the knowledge and perceptions of farmers regarding prevention measures and antibiotic use

Vertical integration and health control measures in the French young bull sector

The French young beef bull sector presents a complex organisation. The more animals are mixed and subjected to long transports, the more likely they will be to develop bovine respiratory disease (BRD). We aimed to understand the vertical integration patterns in the young beef bull sector and how they influence public health issues (BRD and antibiotic use). Transaction costs analyses revealed a diversity of vertical integration patterns, from spot market to vertical integration. The “health issues” parameter is involved in different categories of transaction costs (risk, uncertainty, quality). When vertical integration is strong (weak), the risk of BRD is low (high), which thus have an indirect effect on antibiotic use

Vertical integration and health control measures in the French young beef bull sector

The French young beef bull sector presents a complex organisation. The more animals are mixed and subjected to long transports, the more likely they will be to develop bovine respiratory disease (BRD). We aimed to understand the vertical integration patterns in the young beef bull sector and how they influence public health issues (BRD and antibiotic use). We revealed a diversity of vertical integration patterns, from spot market to vertical integration. The “health issues” parameter is involved in different categories of transaction costs (risk, uncertainty, quality). When vertical integration is strong (weak), the risk of BRD is low (high), which thus have an indirect effect on antibiotic use.Le secteur des jeunes bovins de boucherie (JBB) présente une organisation complexe. Or plus les animaux sont mélangés et subissent de longs transports, plus ils sont susceptibles de développer des bronchopneumonies infectieuses (BPI). Les acteurs de la filière utilisent aujourd’hui des antibiotiques de manière systématique et préventive pour prévenir le développement des BPI. Notre objectif est de comprendre les schémas d’organisation verticale dans le secteur des JBB et d’analyser leur influence sur des questions de santé publique (BPI et pratiques d’utilisation d’antibiotique). Nous montrons l’existence d’une diversité de schémas de coordination verticale, depuis le marché au comptant jusqu’à l’intégration verticale. Les paramètres relatifs aux questions de santé sont pris en compte dans différentes catégories de coûts de transaction (risque, incertitude, qualité). Lorsque la coordination verticale est importante (faible), le risque de BPI est important (faible), ce qui a donc un effet direct sur l’utilisation d’antibiotiques

Antibiotic use by farmers to control mastitis as influenced by health advice and dairy farming systems

Mastitis is a bacterial disease common in dairy farms. Although knowledge about mastitis and its optimal technical management and treatment is now available, some dairy farmers still use antibiotics in inappropriate ways. Antibiotic use by farmers can be influenced by personal restraints and motivations, but it can be assumed that external drivers are also influential. The main purpose of this article is thus to analyse the choices of antibiotic and alternative medicine use for mastitis treatment and investigate the possible influence of two unexplored external drivers in dairy farms: (i) the health advice offered to farmers by farm advisors and veterinarians, (ii) the dairy farming system, as defined by combining the market valuation chosen for the milk, the level of intensification, and the perceived pressure related to investments. Research was based on 51 individual semi-structured interviews with farmers and their corresponding veterinarians and farm advisors. Based on verbatim, the use of antibiotics and alternative medicine by farmers for mastitis treatment, the vet-farmers interactions, and the dairy farming systems are described. The advisory relationships between farmers and farm advisors and between farmers and veterinarians influenced the implementation of selective dry cow therapy, but had very little effect on the use of alternative medicines by farmers, who were more willing to experiment alternative medicines than their advisors. The dairy farming system had very little influence on antibiotic use: some misuse of antibiotics was found whatever the farming system. Systematic dry cow therapy was also a widespread habit in all dairy farming systems except organic. The use of alternative medicine was common in all farming systems

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Learnings from an exploratory implementation of an innovative training-program to reduce antibiotic use in the dairy sector

Regarding antibiotic resistance issue, antibiotic use has to be reduced. In the dairy sector, antibiotics are mostly used for the control and treatment of mastitis. We designed an exposed/non-exposed epidemiological study in Western France to evaluate effectiveness, strengths and weaknesses of an innovative training program: one classroom-training day, virtual classrooms, and an individual support with the farmer. Two groups of farmers addressed two different themes, depending on their herds’ udder health: (i) improvement of mastitis prevention during lactation for herds experiencing frequent clinical mastitis, and (ii) implementation of selective dry cow therapy for herds with good udder health, instead of implementing blanket dry cow therapy. We collected different sets of data to evaluate evolution of knowledge, practices of farmers, animal health and antibiotic use as well as their appreciation of the program. Some farmers appreciated the virtual classroom training method because it was flexible (frequency, timetable, etc.) and little time consuming. However, connection or computing logistic problems made the participation in the virtual classrooms difficult. For the “prevention” group, results also showed limited improvement of knowledge, perception and practices of farmers. Improvement of knowledge and perception was significant. Both exposed and non-exposed farmers did improve their practices of antibiotic use at dry-off, which could show a trend in the general population for the improvement of practices at dry-off, animal health and antibiotic use. The duration of the program (one and a half year) was relatively short to observe a change in practices, longer program could provide better results. Further insight should be provided with the results of “dry-cow” group

Experiments in animal farming practice: the case of decreasing the use of antimicrobials in livestock (France)

Many farmers are engaged in activities that can be considered as experiments, but until recently few of their practices were studied. This paper offers a first characterization of experiments by dairy, pig and poultry farmers working in organic, labelled or conventional systems. Data (40 interviews) were collected during an interdisciplinary research project on antibiotic use in livestock farming in France. First, we discuss the literature. In line with D.A. Schön’s “reflective practitioner model”, we agree that farmers mainly carry out informal experiments. Second, we provide an overview of the experimental process (type of farmer’s experiment (FE), period, topics, targets and length) and the outcomes (efficiency, transfer, possible impact on antimicrobials use, renewal), drawing on farmers’ subjective valuation and qualitative interview data. We find that farmers carry out multiple tests, mainly with alternative medicines. There is a clear tendency of transferring positive tests for a given pathology to one another. Third, we present seven portraits of farmers to shed light on complementary dimensions of experiments: the appeal of novelty, the role of vets and technicians, and the role of farmers groups and training. Finally, we argue that much can be learned from ethnographic investigation in order to grasp what farmers are experiencing when they endeavour to solve animal health problems