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Equine veterinary journal2014; 47(6); 694-700; doi: 10.1111/evj.12344

Attitudes towards implementation of surveillance-based parasite control on Kentucky Thoroughbred farms – Current strategies, awareness and willingness-to-pay.

Abstract: Traditionally, equine parasite control has relied heavily on frequent routine anthelmintic treatments applied at regular intervals all year round. However, current recommendations aim to employ a more surveillance-based approach and it remains unknown to what extent these recommendations are being implemented on US horse farms. Objective: To describe equine parasite control on Kentucky Thoroughbred farms and evaluate respondents' willingness to pay for various attributes of surveillance-based parasite control strategies. Methods: Questionnaire survey performed among the membership of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club. Methods: The survey collected demographic data and information about current parasite control strategies. Further, respondents were asked to choose between hypothetical parasite control strategies described with a combination of different attributes: costs, time and effort needed, hypothetical disease-risk levels and hypothetical risks of anthelmintic resistance. Data were analysed with multivariable logistic analysis. Results: About 26% responded to the survey (n = 112). Most respondents were concerned about anthelmintic resistance and incorporated veterinary advice in defining their deworming programme. However, almost 70% were following a traditional rotational deworming programme with little or no faecal surveillance. Respondents were willing to pay a premium for a product for which there is no known anthelmintic resistance and provided the highest possible decrease in health risks. The number of young horses on the farm, utilisation of veterinarian advice in developing a deworming programme, expressed concern about drug resistance in parasites and having documented drug resistance on the farm all associated significantly with the type of parasite control programme used. Conclusions: Traditional approaches for equine parasite control are still widely used in the Kentucky Thoroughbred industry. The data suggest that respondents were only willing to make these changes if they could be given assurance that the surveillance-based approach would prevent anthelmintic resistance and decrease health risks significantly for the horses.
© 2014 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2014-12-18 PubMed ID: 25196091DOI: 10.1111/evj.12344Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article investigates the attitudes and willingness of Kentucky Thoroughbred farm managers to shift from traditional regular deworming programs for equine parasite control to more modern surveillance-based strategies. It uses a questionnaire survey to collect the data, analysing the participants’ preferences on costs, efforts needed, disease-risk levels and risks of anthelmintic resistance involved in both strategies.

Research Methodology

  • The study employs a questionnaire survey conducted among the members of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers’ Club.
  • Data collected from the survey included demographic information and details on the current parasite control strategies used at the farm.
  • Additionally, participants were asked to choose from hypothetical parasite control strategies featuring various attributes: the costs involved, the time and effort needed, theoretical disease risk levels, and the potential risk of anthelmintic resistance.
  • The collected data was then thoroughly analysed using multivariable logistic analysis.

Research Findings

  • About 26% of the contacted farm managers participated in the survey (112 responses).
  • The majority of respondents expressed concern about anthelmintic resistance and integrated veterinary advice into their deworming programs.
  • Despite this, about 70% were still following a traditional rotational deworming program with minimal or no faecal surveillance.
  • It was found that respondents were willing to pay more for a product if it can guarantee no known anthelmintic resistance and provide the highest possible reduction in health risks.
  • Several factors were significantly associated with the type of parasite control program used:
    • The number of young horses on the farm.
    • The involvement of a veterinarian in developing a deworming programme.
    • The level of concern about drug resistance in parasites.
    • Having documented drug resistance on the farm.

Conclusion

  • The traditional methods for equine parasite control are still largely in use in the Kentucky Thoroughbred industry.
  • However, the appetite for a shift to surveillance-based strategies is apparent, with the main condition being that these new methods should provide significant assurance against anthelmintic resistance and decrease health risks considerably.

Cite This Article

APA
Robert M, Hu W, Nielsen MK, Stowe CJ. (2014). Attitudes towards implementation of surveillance-based parasite control on Kentucky Thoroughbred farms – Current strategies, awareness and willingness-to-pay. Equine Vet J, 47(6), 694-700. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12344

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 47
Issue: 6
Pages: 694-700

Researcher Affiliations

Robert, M
  • Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.
Hu, W
  • Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.
  • College of Economics and Management, Huazhong Agricultural University, China.
Nielsen, M K
  • M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.
Stowe, C J
  • Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Husbandry / economics
  • Animal Husbandry / methods
  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / economics
  • Anthelmintics / pharmacology
  • Data Collection
  • Drug Resistance
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Horse Diseases / economics
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horse Diseases / prevention & control
  • Horses
  • Kentucky / epidemiology
  • Parasite Egg Count
  • Parasitic Diseases, Animal / economics
  • Parasitic Diseases, Animal / epidemiology
  • Parasitic Diseases, Animal / prevention & control
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Citations

This article has been cited 13 times.
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  3. Nielsen MK. Anthelmintic resistance in equine nematodes: Current status and emerging trends. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2022 Dec;20:76-88.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2022.10.005pubmed: 36342004google scholar: lookup
  4. Cain JL, Nielsen MK. The equine ascarids: resuscitating historic model organisms for modern purposes. Parasitol Res 2022 Oct;121(10):2775-2791.
    doi: 10.1007/s00436-022-07627-zpubmed: 35986167google scholar: lookup
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    doi: 10.1186/s13071-021-04747-wpubmed: 33964977google scholar: lookup
  6. Scala A, Tamponi C, Sanna G, Predieri G, Dessì G, Sedda G, Buono F, Cappai MG, Veneziano V, Varcasia A. Gastrointestinal Strongyles Egg Excretion in Relation to Age, Gender, and Management of Horses in Italy. Animals (Basel) 2020 Dec 3;10(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10122283pubmed: 33287298google scholar: lookup
  7. Nielsen MK, Banahan M, Kaplan RM. Importation of macrocyclic lactone resistant cyathostomins on a US thoroughbred farm. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2020 Dec;14:99-104.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2020.09.004pubmed: 33022574google scholar: lookup
  8. Hedberg-Alm Y, Penell J, Riihimäki M, Osterman-Lind E, Nielsen MK, Tydén E. Parasite Occurrence and Parasite Management in Swedish Horses Presenting with Gastrointestinal Disease-A Case-Control Study. Animals (Basel) 2020 Apr 7;10(4).
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  9. Scare JA, Leathwick DM, Sauermann CW, Lyons ET, Steuer AE, Jones BA, Clark M, Nielsen MK. Dealing with double trouble: Combination deworming against double-drug resistant cyathostomins. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2020 Apr;12:28-34.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2019.12.002pubmed: 31883485google scholar: lookup
  10. Leathwick DM, Sauermann CW, Nielsen MK. Managing anthelmintic resistance in cyathostomin parasites: Investigating the benefits of refugia-based strategies. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2019 Aug;10:118-124.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2019.08.008pubmed: 31491731google scholar: lookup
  11. Cain JL, Foulk D, Jedrzejewski E, Stofanak H, Nielsen MK. The importance of anthelmintic efficacy monitoring: results of an outreach effort. Parasitol Res 2019 Oct;118(10):2877-2883.
    doi: 10.1007/s00436-019-06423-6pubmed: 31422463google scholar: lookup
  12. Dalla Costa E, Tranquillo V, Dai F, Minero M, Battini M, Mattiello S, Barbieri S, Ferrante V, Ferrari L, Zanella A, Canali E. Text Mining Analysis to Evaluate Stakeholders' Perception Regarding Welfare of Equines, Small Ruminants, and Turkeys. Animals (Basel) 2019 May 8;9(5).
    doi: 10.3390/ani9050225pubmed: 31071978google scholar: lookup
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    doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2014.10.003pubmed: 25516842google scholar: lookup
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