Dataset Information

Skin disease in sheep farmers.

ABSTRACT: An unusual inflammation of the pinna has been reported to occur in some sheep farmers at the time of lambing.To explore the prevalence of this disorder and its possible causal associations.While on attachment to sheep farms during lambing, veterinary students used a standardized questionnaire to interview a sample of farmers about their work and about symptoms of skin inflammation in their hands, face and ears.Interviews were completed by 76 (67%) of the farmers approached. Among 74 farmers who had carried out lambing, 3 (4%, 95% CI 1-11%) had experienced temporally related ear symptoms, all on multiple occasions. No farmers with ear symptoms had ever been involved in calving or farrowing, and no ear symptoms were reported in relation to shearing or dipping sheep. There was also an excess of hand symptoms related to lambing outdoors (24% of those who had done such work) and indoors (also 24%) compared with other farming activities.Our findings suggest that temporally related ear inflammation occurs in at least 1% of farmers who carry out lambing but not in association with the other farming activities investigated. Lambing appears to be associated also with hand inflammation, but the pathology may differ from that in the pinna.

SUBMITTER: Heathcote K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3232444 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Skin disease in sheep farmers.

Heathcote K K Harris E C EC Brewster V V Nevel M A MA Coggon D D

Occupational medicine (Oxford, England) 20110606 7

<h4>Background</h4>An unusual inflammation of the pinna has been reported to occur in some sheep farmers at the time of lambing.<h4>Aims</h4>To explore the prevalence of this disorder and its possible causal associations.<h4>Methods</h4>While on attachment to sheep farms during lambing, veterinary students used a standardized questionnaire to interview a sample of farmers about their work and about symptoms of skin inflammation in their hands, face and ears.<h4>Results</h4>Interviews were comple ...[more]

PMID: 21652573

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Project description:IntroductionComputer simulation games are increasingly being used in agriculture as a promising tool to study, support and influence real-life farming practices. We explored the potential of using simulation games to engage with sheep farmers on the ongoing challenge of reducing lameness. Working with UK stakeholders, we developed a game in which players are challenged with identifying all the lame sheep in a simulated flock. Here, we evaluate the game's potential to act as a tool to help assess, train and understand farmers' ability to recognize the early signs of lameness.MethodsParticipants in the UK were invited to play the game in an online study, sharing with us their in-game scores alongside information relating to their real-life farming experience, how they played the game, and feedback on the game. Mixed methods were used to analyze this information in order to evaluate the game. Quantitative analyses consisted of linear modeling to test for statistical relationships between participants' in-game recall (% of the total number of lame sheep that were marked as lame), and the additional information they provided. Qualitative analyses of participants' feedback on the game consisted of thematic analysis and a Likert Scale questionnaire to contextualize the quantitative results and identify additional insights from the study.ResultsQuantitative analyses identified no relationships between participants' (n = 63) recall scores and their real life farming experience, or the lameness signs they looked for when playing the game. The only relationship identified was a relationship between participants' recall score and time spent playing the game. Qualitative analyses identified that participants did not find the game sufficiently realistic or engaging, though several enjoyed playing it and saw potential for future development. Qualitative analyses also identified several interesting and less-expected insights about real-life lameness recognition practices that participants shared after playing the game.DiscussionSimulation games have potential as a tool in livestock husbandry education and research, but achieving the desired levels of realism and/or engagingness may be an obstacle to realizing this. Future research should explore this potential further, aided by larger budgets and closer collaboration with farmers, stockpeople, and veterinarians.

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Dataset Information

Skin disease in sheep farmers.

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Skin disease in sheep farmers.

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