OBJECTIVES To document and quantify drug use in white veal calves, an intensive livestock production system where multidrug resistance is abundantly present. METHODS Drug consumption data were prospectively collected on 15 white veal production cohorts (n = 5853 calves) in Belgium (2007-09). Treatment incidences (TIs) based on animal defined daily dose (ADD), prescribed daily dose (PDD) and u...

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to assess the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in animals and humans on veal, dairy, beef and broiler farms and to compare the risk for human MRSA carriage with that of strictly horticulture farmers. The genetic background, resistance phenotypes and genotypes and toxin gene content of the isolated MRSA strains were compared with MRSA c...

Viruses closely related to Norwalk-like viruses (NLVs) were recently found in stored stool samples from two calves (United Kingdom and Germany) and four pigs (Japan), sparking discussions about the potential for zoonotic transmission. To investigate if NLVs are commonly present in farm animals, pooled stool samples from 100 pig farms, 48 chicken farms, 43 dairy cow herds, and 75 veal calf farms...

Higher-protein meals decrease hunger and increase satiety compared to lower-protein meals. However, no consensus exists about the different effects of animal and vegetable proteins on appetite. We investigated how a meal based on vegetable protein (fava beans/split peas) affected ad libitum energy intake and appetite sensations, compared to macronutrient-balanced, iso-caloric meals based on ani...

OBJECTIVE To describe plasma pharmacokinetic parameters and tissue elimination of flunixin in veal calves. ANIMALS 20 unweaned Holstein calves between 3 and 6 weeks old. PROCEDURES Each calf received flunixin (2.2 mg/kg, IV, q 24 h) for 3 days. Blood samples were collected from all calves before the first dose and at predetermined times after the first and last doses. Beginning 24 hours after i...

In this study, 254 Escherichia coli isolates from faecal samples of veal calves were evaluated for antimicrobial susceptibility using the disk diffusion method. During the experimental period, six mass antibiotic treatments were administered to the animals (about one treatment per month). The active principles used were oxytetracycline, colistin, tylosin, doxycycline, chlortetracycline, and sul...

In The Netherlands a new reservoir of MRSA has recently been identified in pigs and veal calves upon which the 'Dutch Working Party on Infection Prevention' modified the national MRSA guidelines. In June 2006 a new group at risk of MRSA carriage was included, consisting of patients that reported direct exposure to living pigs or veal calves. After the implementation of this modification in a tr...

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effects of 2 different packaging films on chemical, physical, and microbiological variables in veal calf meat. Slices from the right half carcass were sampled from each calf: 8 were packaged with Cryovac film (25 μm thick) and 8 were packaged with Weegal film (45 μm thick). In both packaging types, the same gas mixture was used. The samples were a...

Results In two years 68 HCW were found to be MRSA positive for the first time. Analysis of risk factors revealed that 27.9% of the HCW (n=19) were considered to be caused by nosocomial transmission, 19.1% (n=13) had been exposed to pigs/veal calves, 10.3% (n=7) had worked in a foreign hospital, 1.5% (n=1) were colonised due to transmission in a psychiatric home and 41.2% (n=28) could not be cla...