Abstract：
This study documents the current state of biosecurity on dairy farms in Québec following the implementation of a mandatory biosecurity risk evaluation that was part of the proAction accreditation program developed by Dairy Farmers of Canada. Using a cross-sectional design, 3,825 risk assessment questionnaires completed between 2018 and 2021 were extracted from Vigil-Vet database, which is a software used by veterinarians for conducting the proAction risk assessment. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the practices adopted by dairy producers. Additionally, multiple correspondence analysis was used to explore the association between the diseases of most concern and the adoption of biosecurity practices. Moreover, we used a hierarchical cluster analysis on principal components to identify distinct patterns of biosecurity practices among dairy producers. This analysis enabled the identification of typologies or clusters of farms based on the specific biosecurity practices they currently employ. The results of the descriptive statistics indicated that mastitis was the disease of most concern for most dairy farmers (40%). Moreover, given that only 10% of the 2,237 dairy farmers who acquired animals adhered to quarantine practices, there seems to be a need for improved implementation of biosecurity measures aimed at restricting the introduction of diseases when introducing new animals. Conversely, cleaning stalls and health equipment were adequately addressed by 95% and 86% of dairy producers, respectively. The multiple correspondence analysis indicated no significant association between the disease of most concern and the farm\'s biosecurity profile, except for respondents who identified digital dermatitis as their disease of most concern. Through the hierarchical cluster analysis, 3 clusters were identified among 3,581 farms: (1) Cluster 1 included farms with good management of sick animals; (2) Cluster 2 included farms with good management of young animals; and (3) Cluster 3 included farms with poor management of sick animals and young animals. Our study makes an important contribution by providing valuable insights into the biosecurity practices currently adopted on Québec dairy farms. It establishes a baseline for assessing progress in biosecurity practices adoption and serves as a reference point for future evaluations. In addition, these findings play a key role in monitoring the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving biosecurity on dairy farms. By making use of this knowledge, stakeholders can make informed decisions that prioritize animal health, increase productivity, and ensure sustainability of the dairy industry.
摘要：
这项研究记录了魁北克奶牛场在实施强制性生物安全风险评估后的生物安全现状，该评估是加拿大奶农制定的proAction认证计划的一部分。使用横截面设计，从Vigil-Vet数据库中提取了2018年至2021年之间完成的3825份风险评估问卷，这是兽医用于进行proAction风险评估的软件。描述性统计数据用于总结乳制品生产商采用的做法。此外,多重对应分析用于探索最关注的疾病与采用生物安全措施之间的关联。此外，我们对主成分进行了层次聚类分析，以确定乳制品生产者之间不同的生物安全实践模式。这种分析能够根据他们目前采用的具体生物安全实践来识别农场的类型或集群。描述性统计结果表明，乳腺炎是大多数奶农最关注的疾病（40％）。此外，鉴于在获得动物的2,237名奶农中只有10％遵守检疫措施，似乎需要改进生物安全措施的实施，目的是在引入新动物时限制疾病的引入。相反，95%和86%的乳制品生产商充分解决了清洁摊位和卫生设备的问题，分别。多重对应分析表明，最关注的疾病与农场的生物安全状况之间没有显着关联，除了那些认为数字皮炎是他们最关心的疾病的受访者。通过层次聚类分析,在3,581个农场中确定了3个集群：（1）集群1包括对患病动物管理良好的农场；（2）集群2包括对幼畜管理良好的农场；（3）集群3包括对患病动物和幼畜管理不善的农场。我们的研究做出了重要贡献，为魁北克奶牛场目前采用的生物安全实践提供了宝贵的见解。它为评估采用生物安全做法的进展建立了基线，并作为未来评估的参考点。此外,这些发现在监测旨在改善奶牛场生物安全性的干预措施的有效性方面发挥了关键作用.通过利用这些知识，利益相关者可以做出明智的决定，优先考虑动物健康，提高生产率，并确保乳制品行业的可持续性。
