an epidemiological study of listeriosis in dairy cattle

g) Disposal of the dung: The farmers were asked about how the dirty bedding material
was disposed. Three alternatives were given; solid manure, slurry and others. These
were binary variables.
h) Storing dung: The farmers were asked if the dung was stored. If it was stored then
they were asked to select one or more of the following storage methods; beneath the
slats, composted, in a slurry tank, in a lagoon and others (Appendix 1). These were used
as binary variables.
i) Spreading dung on the pasture: Farmers were asked if they spread dung on pasture
where animals grazed or where hay and silage were made. This was used as a binary
variable.
v) General management practices:
a) Cases of Listeriosis in other animals: The presence of listeriosis in other animals was
investigated by asking farmers whether they had cases in beef cattle, sheep, goats and
other. These were used as binary variables.
b) Grazing practices: The farmers were asked whether other animals (beef cattle, sheep,
goats and other) grazed the same pasture as dairy cattle. These were treated as binary
variables.
c) Use of vaccine: Farmers were asked if they vaccinated their herds against
Salmonellosis, E. coli, Leptospirosis, Lungworm or other specified vaccines. These
were treated as binary variables.
72