Antimicrobial and Greenhouse gases reduction in bovine diseases: an integrated approach for animal and environmental health CALL 2024

The prospective projects will focus on the evaluation of the two mains dairy cows ‘diseases: mastitis and ketosis. An evaluation of potential new therapeutic protocols for mastitis based on the ozone therapy will be considered to reduce antimicrobial use on farm. This study could have an impact at the institutional level for exploring alternative treatment strategies in food-producing animals; at the public health level considering that ozone does not produce antimicrobial resistance or milk residues; at the environmental level for the absence of pollute production; at animals’ level for improving animals’ health and welfare. The potential impact of metabolic disease a ketosis could have an impact on greenhouse gases and environmental health. The project will be evaluated relationship between ketosis and greenhouse gases productions, especially methane. The animal industries are considered as one of the main responsible for GHG emissions, but the greater emission of the last years could be related to the high incidence of ketosis in lactating cows. Therefore, the investigation of the GHG emission from healthy and diseased cows may represent a useful tool to identify new critical points where interventions can be taken to limit emission and improve environmental, human and animal health. Both studies aim to improve dairy cows’ health and welfare conditions through greater characterization of the link between major diseases and the one-health approach.

Five publications related to the Research Topic for the candidate interview: 

  1. Aguirre E.G.G., González G.B.D., Larios G.M.C., et.al. (2019). Ozonotherapy as an Assistant in the Treatment of Mastitis,in Lactating Cows. Journal of dairy & veterinary sciences, 13(5):JDVS.MS.ID.555876
  2. Koseman A., Seker I., Risvanli A. (2019). Influence of intra-mammary ozone administration on udder health in herdswith contagious mastitis in the context of management practices. Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 22:703-710.
  3. Mostert P.F., van Middelaar C.E., Bokkers E.A.M., de Boer I.J.M. (2018). The impact of subclinical ketosis in dairy cows on greenhouse gas emissions of milk production. Journal of Cleaner Production, 171:773-782.
  4. Danielsson R., Dicksved J., Sun L., et al. (2017). Methane production in dairy cows correlates with rumen methanogenic and bacterial community structure. Frontiers in Microbiology, 8:1–15.
  5. Chilliard Y., Martin C., Rouel J., Doreau M. (2009). Milk fatty acids in dairy cows fed whole crude linseed, extruded linseed, or linseed oil, and their relationship with methane output. Journal of dairy science, 92:5199-5211.

Contact person

Prof. Enrico Fiore

Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (https://www.maps.unipd.it/)
University of Padova
tel.: +39-049-8272942
e-mail: enrico.fiore@unipd.it