Animal Health and Behavior: The role of behavior in pathogen transmission heterogeneity, implications for management of gastro-intestinal nematodes – HealtHavior

Gastro-Intestinal Nematodes (GIN) are a major threat causing economical losses and poor animal welfare for most livestock with access to pasture. Many farmers actually prefer to raise animals indoor to avoid contact with GIN. Current management is mostly based on systematic anthelmintic (AH) treatment, which is challenged by the apparition of AH resistance, environmental concerns and social perception of livestock farming. There is a consensus on the fact that relying only on AH will not be achievable in the near future and on the need for more integrated management. Alternative management methods are available, but lack of genericity and training requirement reduce their use in practice. The HealtHavior project will study GIN transmission, a key process in the GIN infection dynamic that is still poorly understood. The results will then be used to model and simulate alternative management strategies over the long term, in order to predict their effects, optimize their use an diffusion in practice. In addition, HealtHavior combines the use of sensors with artificial intelligence, to design practical tools for farmers, especially to detect infected animals, a key element to reduce the use of AH. Finally, innovative experimental frameworks and mathematical tools will be developed, to address important research questions, related to animal behavior, health and welfare.