Long-Term Climatic Changes in Small Ruminant Farms in Greece and Potential Associations with Animal Health

Eleni I. Katsarou, Daphne T. Lianou, Elias Papadopoulos and George C. Fthenakis
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Eleni I. Katsarou: Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
Daphne T. Lianou: Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
Elias Papadopoulos: Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
George C. Fthenakis: Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 3, 1-19

Abstract: The objectives of this work were (a) to present the changes in climatic parameters from 1989 to 2019, in 444 locations throughout Greece, where small ruminant farms have been based and (b) to present associations of the changes in the climatic parameters with clinical data related to small ruminant health. Climatic variables (1989–2019) were obtained for 444 locations with small ruminant farms throughout Greece. During this period, significant increases were noted in temperature-related parameters (annually 0.05 °C for average temperature and 0.14 °C for temperature range) and precipitation (annually 0.03 mm). There were significant differences in climatic conditions between locations of farms in accord with the management system applied therein, as well as in accord with the breed of animals on the farms (e.g., higher average temperature in locations with Greek breeds, higher temperature range in locations with imported breeds). There were significant associations of temperature-related parameters with the annual frequency of cases of neonatal hypothermia seen at a veterinary teaching hospital, as well as with the average proportion of Haemonchus contortus larvae in faecal samples and the frequency of cases of H. contortus resistance reported by a veterinary parasitology laboratory.

Keywords: agricultural environment; climate; climate change; epg counts; goat; Haemonchus; neonatal hypothermia; Trichostrongylidae; pregnancy toxaemia; resistance; sheep (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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