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Frontiers in veterinary science2022; 9; 1017452; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1017452

Willingness to adopt personal biosecurity strategies on thoroughbred breeding farms: Findings from a multi-site pilot study in Australia’s Hunter Valley.

Abstract: There are almost 9,500 full-time employees in Australia's thoroughbred horse breeding industry. During foaling, they can be exposed to bodily fluids and mucous membranes which may present risks for zoonotic disease. These risks can be mitigated through personal biosecurity strategies. The aim of this study was to identify which personal biosecurity strategies were more or less likely to be adopted by workers. Seventeen participants representing 14 thoroughbred breeding farms and three equine veterinary practices in Australia's largest thoroughbred breeding region trialed up to 16 stakeholder-nominated personal biosecurity strategies over the 2021 foaling season. The strategies encompassed personal protective equipment (PPE), zoonotic disease awareness, policies and protocols, supportive environments, and leadership. Strategy adoption was monitored through three repeated self-audit surveys designed around the Transtheoretical Model of change (TTM) and findings were reviewed in exit interviews. For all survey waves in aggregate, 13 strategies were practiced by at least 50.0% of participants. Participants were most likely to use a ready-made foaling box (98.0%), communicate the message that PPE usage is a personal responsibility (94.1%) and use ready-made PPE kits (88.2%). However, 31.4% had no intention of doing practice sessions and/or dummy runs for PPE use and 27.5% had no intention of using a buddy system on farm/practice to check use of PPE. Whilst these rates indicate workers' willingness to adopt and maintain personal biosecurity strategies, they also indicate capacity for more practices to be implemented more often. Overall, the findings highlight the need for personal biosecurity interventions to be sensitive to the demands of the annual thoroughbred breeding calendar, the size of the breeding operation and the availability of skilled staff.
Copyright © 2022 Thompson, Taylor, Mendez, Chicken, Carrick and Durrheim.
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Publication Date: 2022-12-15 PubMed ID: 36590817PubMed Central: PMC9797739DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1017452Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 presents an analysis of the adoption of personal biosecurity strategies by workers in Australia’s thoroughbred horse breeding industry, highlighting the difference in their readiness to adopt various strategies meant to limit the risk of zoonotic diseases.

Objective of the Study

  • The primary aim of the research was to identify which personal biosecurity strategies are more likely to be adopted by workers in Australia’s thoroughbred horse breeding industry. This was done in an attempt to limit potential risks that these workers face during foaling, such as exposure to bodily fluids and mucous membranes, which could lead to zoonotic diseases.

Methodology

  • The study involved 17 participants who were representatives of 14 thoroughbred breeding farms and three equine veterinary practices in Australia’s largest thoroughbred breeding region. The participants were monitored while they trialed up to 16 personal biosecurity strategies throughout the 2021 foaling season.
  • The strategies that were examined encompassed personal protective equipment (PPE), disease awareness, policies and protocols, supportive environments, and leadership.
  • The researchers then monitored the adoption of these strategies through three repeated self-audit surveys, which were structured around the Transtheoretical Model of change (TTM).
  • The findings were then reviewed in exit interviews at the end of the study period.

Findings

  • A majority of the participants adopted 13 of the strategies, with the top three being the use of a ready-made foaling box (98.0%), promoting the message that PPE usage is a personal responsibility (94.1%), and the use of ready-made PPE kits (88.2%).
  • However, not all the strategies were well received. For instance, 31.4% of the participants had no intention of doing practice sessions for PPE use, and 27.5% had no intention of using a buddy system to check the use of PPE.

Conclusion

  • Although a significant proportion of the participants showed a willingness to adopt and maintain personal biosecurity strategies, the adoption rates indicated that more practices could be implemented more often.
  • The primary takeaway from the study is that personal biosecurity interventions must be sensitive to the demands of the annual thoroughbred breeding calendar, the size of the breeding operation, and the availability of skilled staff.

Cite This Article

APA
Thompson K, Taylor J, Mendez D, Chicken C, Carrick J, Durrheim DN. (2022). Willingness to adopt personal biosecurity strategies on thoroughbred breeding farms: Findings from a multi-site pilot study in Australia’s Hunter Valley. Front Vet Sci, 9, 1017452. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.1017452

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Pages: 1017452

Researcher Affiliations

Thompson, Kirrilly
  • Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, NSW, Australia.
  • College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
Taylor, Joanne
  • Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, NSW, Australia.
  • College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
Mendez, Diana
  • Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
Chicken, Catherine
  • Consultant Veterinarian, Scone Equine Hospital, Scone, NSW, Australia.
Carrick, Joan
  • Equine Specialist Consulting, Scone, NSW, Australia.
Durrheim, David N
  • Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, NSW, Australia.
  • College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Author JC is the owner-operator of Equine Specialist Consulting. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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