Nationwide Investigation of Respiratory Problemsin Sheep Lambs and Goat Kids in Greece

TL;DR

A nationwide study in Greece found that respiratory problems in young sheep and goats are linked to proximity to industrial sites and other farm management factors.

Contribution

The study identifies proximity to industrial sites as a novel predictor of respiratory problems in lambs and kids in Greece.

Findings

Respiratory problems occurred at an annual incidence rate of 1.4% in lambs and 1.1% in kids.

Farms near industrial sites (<10 km) had higher respiratory problem rates in lambs and kids.

Farmers near industrial sites were more likely to report respiratory issues as significant health problems.

Abstract

This work investigated respiratory problems in lambs and kids in Greece, in an extensive study performed throughout the country, by means of an in-person questionnaire investigation. The annual incidence rate of respiratory problems in lambs and kids was found to be 1.4% and 1.1%. The proximity (<10 km) of the farm to industrial sites emerged as a significant predictor in sheep and goat farms, which is a notable finding of the study; other significant predictors were found to be the lack of a barn for lambs, the experience of farmers, and the routine administration of antibiotics to newborns. Respiratory problems were considered as important health problems by 26% of farmers. The present results have some similarities with those of relevant studies in people and potentially reflect that air pollution in the farm environment might be a factor to take into account in health management.

This study, carried out as part of a large countrywide investigation into the sheep and goat industries in Greece, focused on respiratory problems of lambs and kids in Greece. The work was performed as part of a wider study performed in farms throughout the country with the participation of farmers, by means of an in-person questionnaire investigation. The specific objectives of the study were (a) the assessment of the presence of respiratory problems in lambs and kids and (b) the identification of variables associated with the presence of these problems in the farms. Data were collected from 325 sheep flocks and 119 goat herds. The annual incidence rate for respiratory problems in lambs was 1.4% (95% confidence intervals: 1.3–1.4%) and that in kids was 1.1% (1.0–1.2%). The annual incidence rate was significantly lower in farms that applied a semi-extensive or extensive management system (1.2% in sheep and 1.0% in goat farms) than in farms that applied an intensive or semi-intensive or extensive (1.5% and 1.3%, respectively) management system. In multivariable analysis, the lack of a barn for lambs, the proximity (<10 km) of the farm to industrial sites, and the experience of farmers emerged as significant predictors in sheep farms, and the proximity to industrial sites and the administration of antibiotics to newborns routinely emerged as significant predictors in goat farms. Sheep (27.4%) and goat (22.7%) farmers considered ‘pneumonia’ as the second most important health problem of lambs and kids. Respiratory problems were more often declared an important problem by farmers in proximity to industrial sites: 21.6% versus 12.5%. Overall, the study contributes information regarding the presence of respiratory problems in lambs and kids in Greece. A notable finding has been the association of proximity to industrial sites with a higher incidence rate of respiratory problems of lambs and kids in the farms. This has similarities to the results of relevant studies on people and potentially reflects that air pollution in the farm environment might be a factor to take into account in health management. One may also postulate that, possibly, data from farms can be employed to indicate potential risk from air pollution for humans, although further and more detailed work will be necessary to draw relevant conclusions.

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