The abuse or misuse of antimicrobials in animal production is thought to be a potential factor in the development of antimicrobial resistance in veterinary and human medicine. With this study, we wanted to quantify antimicrobial usage in beef fattening operations in northwestern Italy and to identify factors potentially influencing antimicrobial usage. The sample was composed of 26 beef fattening operations that import heifers and bulls from France. Data were extracted from the 2014 and 2015 treatment registers kept by the farmers. The mean (±SD) number of animal daily doses per animal (nADDa) per year for each farm was 3 (±2.1) during the study period (2014–2015). Group antimicrobial treatments (57.5% of all treatments) were often administered orally (70.5%) and consisted overwhelmingly of doxycycline (97%). Individual treatments (42.5% of all treatments) were administered parenterally (98.1%) and the most often used active substances were florfenicol (19.9%), marbofloxacin (19.5%), and tylosin (12.4%). There was a negative correlation between the nADDa for total and group treatments and average batch weight at arrival and between the amount of straw added per animal per day and the nADDa (p ≤ 0.05). Our data show that antimicrobials critical for human medicine were often used in beef fattening operations in northwestern Italy before the European guidelines for the prudent use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine were issued. Additionally, the use of antimicrobials as a preventive group treatment was still widespread, mostly in lighter weight animals.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) impacts beef cattle health and farming systems. To better understand the BRD predisposing factors, a study was conducted in northwest Italy on a population of 26 batches (760 animals) of beef cattle imported from France. Of these, 173 underwent physical examination for clinical signs of BRD (rectal temperature > 39.5 °C, respiratory rate > 36 bpm, cough, nasal or ocular discharge) and blood sampling to detect antibodies against bovine viral respiratory infectious agents (e.g., parainfluenza 3, bovine herpesvirus type 1), haptoglobin and reactive oxygen metabolites concentrations, on arrival. Data on BRD treatments performed within 60 days of arrival were extracted from farm registers. The two most frequent cattle breeds were Blonde d’Aquitaine (80/173, 46.2%) and Limousine (61/173, 35.3%); the median batch weight was 332 kg (range, 195–470). At least one clinical sign of BRD was noted in 57.2% (99/173) of the animals. Most animals tested positive for BPIV3 (131/173, 75.7%) and BRSV (112/172, 64.7%). Bovine respiratory disease treatment was associated with transport time and average weight on arrival. Moreover, reactive oxygen metabolites levels differed between treated and untreated animals; this difference could help predict the onset of BRD, though further studies are needed to draw conclusions.

Summary: This study examined how nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) in dairy cows 3 to 5 weeks before calving relate to their health and reproduction. The results showed that cows with NEFA levels at or above 160 μmol/L in this period were more likely to have elevated NEFA just before calving, along with metabolic and infectious health issues. This suggests that measuring NEFA during this far-off dry period could help veterinarians identify cows at risk of health problems during the transition period. By monitoring NEFA levels, farmers and veterinarians may better monitor and manage cows' energy balance, improving overall herd health and productivity.