Catarina Svensson

I started my research career with studies on Eimeria coccidiosis in grazing calves. Later I investigated how housing and management affect calf health and how rearing factors and energy balance affect cow health, fertility, milk production and longevity. I have also studied the value of different tools/markers in disease surveillance. Methodology in veterinary herd health management is a field that particularly interests me.

In my current research, I mainly study how the veterinarian should work to successfully contribute to disease prevention and reduce antibiotic use in animal production. Research on calf health and welfare continues to engage me.

• Factors influencing use of advisory methodologies: The case of Motivational Interviewing among dairy cattle veterinarians and animal welfare inspectors

• Socially sustainable dairy calf management for better animal welfare – how can technology contribute?
• Understanding dairy farmers’ decisions about daily milk allowance to calves
• Swedish dairy farmers’ decisions, attitudes and motivators to work preventively against mastitis

University degrees, diploma and professorships

• 1988  MSc in Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, Uppsala      
• 1994 PhD in ruminant diseases, SLU, Skara
• 1999  Associate professor in ruminant diseases, SLU
• 2002  Professor in production diseases in farm animals, Department of Animal Environment and Health, SLU, Skara
• 2014  Professor in bovine herd health management, Department of Clinical Sciences, SLU, Uppsala 

Methodology in veterinary herd health management

Bard, A.M., Forsberg, L., Wickström, H., Emanuelson, U., Reyher, K.K., Svensson, C. Clinician Motivational Interviewing skills in ‘simulated’ and ‘real-life’ consultations differ and show predictive validity for ‘real life’ client Change Talk under differing integrity thresholds. Peer J. 2023, 11:e14634. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14634

Svensson, C., Wickström, H., Forsberg, L., Betnér, S., von Brömssen, C., Reyher, K.K., Bard, A.M., Emanuelson, U. Dairy herd health management activities in relation to training of veterinarians in motivational interviewing. Prev. Vet. Med. 2022, 204, 105679. https://doi.org/1016./j.prevvetmed.2022.105679

Svensson, C., Lomander, H., Kokko, S. Veterinary herd health management – Experiences and perceptions among Swedish dairy cattle veterinarians. J. Dairy Sci. 2022, 105, 6820-6832. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-21184

Svensson, C., Forsberg, L., Emanuelson, U., Reyher, K.K., Bard, A.M, Betnér, S., von Brömssen, C., Wickström, H. Dairy veterinarians’ skills in motivational interviewing are linked to client verbal behavior. Animal 2020, https://doi.org/:10.1017/S175173112000107X.

Svensson, C., Wickström, H., Emanuelson, U., Bard, A.M., Reyher, K.K., Forsberg, L. Training in Motivational Interviewing improves cattle veterinarians´ communication skills in veterinary herd health management. Vet. Rec. 2020, doi:10.1136/vr.105646.

Svensson, C., Emanuelson, U., Bard, A.M., Forsberg, L. Wickström, H., Reyher, K.K. Communication styles of Swedish veterinarians involved in dairy herd health management: A motivational Interviewing perspective. J. Dairy Sci. 2019, 102, 10173-10185. https://doi.org/: 10.3168/jds.2018-15731

Svensson, C., Lind, N., Reyher, K.K., Bard, A.M., Emanuelson, U. Trust, feasibility and priorities influence Swedish dairy farmers’ adherence and non-adherence to veterinary advice. J. Dairy Sci. 2019, 102, 10360-10368. https://doi.org:10.3168/jds.2019-16470

Svensson, C., Alvåsen, K., Eldh, A.C., Frössling, J., Lomander, H. Veterinary herd health management - experience among farmers and farm managers in Swedish dairy production. Prev. Vet. Med. 2018, 155, 45-52.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.04.012 

Calf health and welfare

Svensson, C., Hegrestad, A-L., Lindblom, J. Dairy farmer and farm staff attitudes and perceptions regarding daily milk allowance to calves. J. Dairy Sci. 2023, 106, 7220-7239. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2023-23499

Björkman, C., von Brömssen, C., Troell, K., Svensson, C. Disinfection with hydrated lime may help manage cryptosporidiosis in calves. Vet Parasitol. 2018, 264, 58-63, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.11.004

Torsein, M., Lindberg, A., Svensson, C., Jensen, S.K., Berg, C., Persson-Waller, K. α-Tocopherol and β-carotene in feed, colostrum, cow and calf serum in Swedish dairy herds with high and low calf mortality. Acta vet. Scand. 2018, 60:7, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-018-0361-0.

Torsein, M., Lindberg, A., Hallén-Sandgren, C., Grönlund, U., Svensson, C., Berg, C. Antimicrobial resistance in large Swedish dairy herds with high or low calf mortality risk. In Doherty, M (ed). 29th World Buiatrics Congr., Dublin 2016 – Congr proc., AR-037-003, p 130. Veterinary Ireland, Dublin, ISBN 978-1-5262-0432-5, www.wbc2016.org.

Torsein, M., Lindberg, A., Hallén Sandgren, C., Persson Waller, K., Törnquist, M., Svensson C. Risk factors for calf mortality in large Swedish dairy herds. Prev. Vet. Med. 2011, 99, 136-147.

Svensson, C. & Liberg, P. The effect of group size on health and growth rate of calves housed in pens with automatic milk feeders. Prev. Vet. Med. 2006, 73, 43-53.

Svensson, C., Linder, A., Olsson, S.-O. Mortality in Swedish dairy calves and replacement heifers. J. Dairy Sci. 2006, 89, 4769-4777

Effects of energy balance on health, milk production and fertility

Lomander, H., Svensson, C., Hallén Sandgren, C., Gustafsson, H., Frössling, J. Associations between decreased fertility and management factors, claw health and somatic cell count in Swedish dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 2013, 96, 6315-23.

Lomander, H., Gustafsson, H., Frössling, J., Ingvartsen, K.L., Svensson, C. Effect of supplemental feeding with glycerol or propylene glycol in early lactation on the fertility of Swedish dairy cows. Repr. Dom. Anim. 2012, 47, 988-994.

Lomander, H., Frössling, J., Ingvartsen, K.L., Gustafsson, H, Svensson, C. Supplemental feeding with glycerol or propylene glycol of dairy cows in early lactation – effects on metabolic status, body condition and milk yield. J. Dairy Sci. 2012, 95, 2397-2408. 

Tools for disease surveillance

Lomander, H., Gustafsson, H., Svensson, C., Ingvartsen, K.L., Frössling, J. Test accuracy of metabolic indicators in predicting decreased fertility in dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 2012, 95, 6831-7466.

Svensson, C. & Jensen, M.B. Identification of diseased calves by use of data from automatic milk feeders. J. Dairy Sci. 2007, 90, 994-997.

Svensson, C., Hultgren, J., Liberg, P. Evaluating the efficacy of serum haptoglobin concentration as an indicator of respiratory-tract disease in dairy calves. Vet. J. 2007, 174, 288-294

Effects of rearing factors on health, fertility, milk production and longevity

Hultgren, J., Svensson, C., Pehrsson, M. Rearing conditions and lifetime milk revenues in Swedish dairy cows. Livest. Sci. 2011, 137, 108-115.

Hultgren, J. & Svensson, C. Calving interval and lifetime costs of reproductive failure in dairy cows in relation to heifer rearing conditions in southwest Sweden. Repr. Dom. Anim. 2010, 45, 136-141

Hultgren, J. & Svensson, C. Lifetime risk and cost of clinical mastitis in dairy cows in relation to heifer rearing conditions in southwest Sweden. J. Dairy Sci. 2009, 92, 3274-3280.

Svensson, C. & Hultgren, J. Associations between housing, management, and morbidity during rearing and subsequent first-lactation milk production of dairy cows in southwest Sweden. J. Dairy Sci. 2008, 91, 1510-1518.