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Ulf Emanuelson

As a researcher in epidemiology my main tasks are to perform research and to act as supervisor for bachelor, master and PhD students and post-docs.

Presentation

My main research focus is on production diseases in dairy cows, but it includes also other diseases and impaired productivity as well as other animal species. The research is based on available secondary databases (e.g. disease occurrence), many of which are unique for Sweden, but also on large-scale field studies designed and conducted for specific research projects. I use SAS, Stata and R in research and research education. My expert area is in analytical epidemiology. I am also involved in teaching epidemiology for veterinary students and for students in a MSc-program of infectious biology.

Research

Ongoing projects

Animal protection and welfare monitoring using multi-sensor technology and computer vision

Mapping the road for a sustainable digitalization within dairy production

Extreme weather – impacts on health and productivity of dairy cows

Sensor based mastitis management in automatic milking system

The epidemiology of stifle joint diseases in dogs

Finished projects

Good animal welfare - gains for animals, farmers and society

Improved detection of mastitis in dairy cows

FreeWalk – an innovative way to keep dairy cows

Exploring the environmental connection between cattle and human EHEC cases.

Motivational interviewing as a means to decrease antimicrobial drug use in animal production.

Risk-factors for super-shedding of E. coli O157:H7 (VTEC O157) in cattle.

Antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance in organic dairy herds.

Evolutionary management systems in large dairy herds - a way to improve udder health.

Improved claw trimming information.

Using data collection as part of official animal welfare control in animal welfare research.

Risk factors for disease in Swedish feedlot calves and preventive measures.

Assessing the impact of African swine fever in smallholder pig systems and the feasibility of potential interventions.

IMPRO – Impact matrix analysis and cost-benefit calculations to improve management practices regarding health status in organic dairy farming. See http://www.impro-dairy.eu/.

Evaluation of alternative strategies for raising pigs with minimal antimicrobial usage: Opportunities and constraints (MINAPIG) See http://www.minapig.eu/.

Why is longevity not increasing in Swedish dairy cows?

Viral infections in organic dairy herds – risks, biosecurity and resiliency.

Cryptosporidium infection dynamics in cattle.

Assessment of technical and economic efficiency of mastitis-control actions in order to improve udder health management and increase the welfare of dairy cows.

Competitive research grants as main applicant, last 10 years

Animal protection and welfare monitoring using multi-sensor technology and computer vision. Formas, 7 957 453 kr. Project period 2022-2025. Main applicant.

Mapping the road for a sustainable digitalization within dairy production. Formas, 6 210 277 kr. Project period 2021-2025. Main applicant.

Extreme weather – impacts on health and productivity of dairy cows. Formas, 2 999 000 kr. Project period 2019-2022. Main applicant.

Good animal welfare - gains for animals, farmers and society. Formas, 2 991 834 kr. Project period 2018-2020. Main applicant.

Improved detection of mastitis in dairy cows. SSF, 2 500 000 kr. Project period 2016-2019. Main applicant.

Risk-factors for super-shedding of E. coli O157:H7 (VTEC O157) in cattle, Formas, 4 541 000 kr. Project period 2015-2017. Main applicant.

Antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance in organic dairy herds, Formas, 4 323 000 kr. Project period 2015-2017. Main applicant.

Evolutionary management systems in large dairy herds - a way to improve udder health, SLF, 1 596 000 kr. Project period 2014-2017. Main applicant.

Improved claw trimming information, Formas, 2 706 000 kr. Project period 2014-2016. Main applicant.

IMPRO – Impact matrix analysis and cost-benefit calculations to improve management practices regarding health status in organic dairy farming, EC/FP7, € 438 810. Project period 2012-2016. Main Swedish applicant. Part of a joint European project totalling € 2 765 787.

Evaluation of alternative strategies for raising pigs with minimal antimicrobial usage: Opportunities and constraints (MINAPIG), Formas, 2 790 000 kr. Project period 2011-2015. Main applicant. Part of a joint European (EMIDA) project totalling € 1 495 987.

Why is longevity not increasing in Swedish dairy cows? SLF, 1 425 000 kr. Project period 2011-2014. Main applicant.

Mortality in dairy cows in Sweden and Denmark - an epidemiological study, SLF, 1 425 000 + 1 610 000 kr. Project period 2009-2011 + 2012-2014. Main applicant.

Cooperation

Most important 2-3 collaborators

Education

SLU
· Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health

· Department of Animal Environment and Health

· Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics
Nationally
· Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University

· National Veterinary Institute (SVA)
Internationally
· Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)

· University of Helsinki, Finland

· Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMU)
Research

SLU
· Department of Animal Environment and Health

· Department of Economics

· Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry
Nationally
· National Veterinary Institute (SVA)

· RS Strömsholm

· Gård- och djurhälsan [Farm and animal health services]
Internationally
· Wageningen University, mainly Department of Social Sciences, Business Economics

· University of Prince Edward Island, Centre for Veterinary Epidemiological Research

· Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University

Background

Education, diplomas

Master of Science in Animal Science (Agronom), SLU, Uppsala, 1980

Agr. Dr., Dept. Animal Breeding and Genetics, SLU, 1987

Docent in veterinary epidemiology, SLU, 1992

Associate member (diplomate) of the European College of Veterinary Public Health, 2007

Professional experience

Teaching assistant, Dept. Animal Breeding and Genetics, SLU, 1979-1980

Research assistant, Dept. Animal Breeding and Genetics, SLU, 1980-1983

PhD-position, Dept. Animal Breeding and Genetics, SLU, 1983-1987

Epidemiological expert, Swedish Dairy Association, 1987-1998

Interbull Centre Director, SLU, 1998-2004

Professor in veterinary epidemiology, Dept. Clinical Sciences, Division for Ruminant Medicine and Veterinary Epidemiology, SLU, 2004-2021

Head of Division, Dept. Clinical Sciences, Division for Ruminant Medicine and Veterinary Epidemiology, SLU, 2005-2008

Researcher in veterinary epidemiology, Dept. Clinical Sciences, Division for Ruminant Medicine and Veterinary Epidemiology, SLU, 2021-

Supervision

On-going PhD-students:

John Bonestroo: "Sensor based mastitis management in automatic milking system". Assistant supervisor.

Finished graduate students:

• Torkel Ekman: "A study of dairy herds with constantly low or constantly high bulk milk somatic cell count - with special emphasis on management", 1998. de facto main supervisor.
• Harriet Falck-Rehn: "Effects of different management systems on milk production and reproduction in Swedish dairy cattle breeds", 1998. Assistant supervisor.
• Ann-Christin Roxström: "Relationships between production, health, fertility, management traits and longevity in Swedish dairy cattle", 2001. Assistant supervisor.
• Freddy Fikse: "Development in international genetic evaluation procedures", 2002. Main supervisor.
• Sara Österman: "Extended calving interval and increased milking frequency", 2003. Assistant supervisor part of time.
• Thomas Mark: "Multi-trait multi-country genetic evaluations of functional traits in dairy cattle", 2005. Main supervisor part of the time and assistant supervisor part of the time.
• Maria del Pilar Schneider: “Studies of fertility, mastitis, and longevity in dairy cows with use of survival analysis”, 2006. Assistant supervisor.
• Aran Chanlun: “Epidemiology of Neospora caninum infection in dairy cattle in Thailand”, 2006. Assistant supervisor.
• Ann Arvidsson: “Epidemiological studies of risk factors for clinical mastitis”, 2007. Main supervisor.
• Ane Nødtvedt: “Epidemiological studies of canine atopic dermatitis”, 2007. Assistant supervisor.
• Emma Carlén: "Genetic studies of clinical mastitis in dairy cattle", 2008. Assistant supervisor.
• Christel Nielsen (formerly Hagnestam): "Economic aspects of dairy cattle health - costs of production diseases", 2009. Assistant supervisor.
• Nils Fall: “Health and reproduction in organic dairy herds”. 2009. Main supervisor.
• Charlotte Silverlås: “Cryptosporidium infection in cattle: prevalence and infection routes”. 2010. Assistant supervisor.
• Lena Stengärde: ”Risk factors for metabolic diseases near calving in high-producing dairy herds”. 2010. Main supervisor.
• Anna Ohlson: “Risk factors for transmission of BRSV and bovine coronavirus infections between dairy herds, effects on health and production and options for prevention”. 2010. Assistant supervisor.
• Cecilia Kronqvist: “Minerals to dry cows – associations with calcium metabolism and puerperal paresis”. 2011. Assistant supervisor.
• Cecilia Wolff: ”Validation of the dairy health recording systems in the Nordic countries”. 2012. Assistant supervisor.
• Emma Löf: “Factors affecting dairy cow fertility and fertility measures”. 2012. Main supervisor.
• Karin Alvåsen: “Mortality in dairy cows in Sweden and Denmark”. 2014. Main supervisor.
• Helena Olofsson: “Risk factors for E. coli O157:H7 (EHEC) infections in dairy herds and options for a control programme”. Assistant supervisor.
• Stefan Widgren: ”Risk based surveillance of VTEC O157:H7. Studies on risk factors for introduction and spread of VTEC O157:H7 in Swedish cattle herds.”. 2016. Main supervisor.
• Estelle Ågren: “Efficient salmonella control in Swedish dairy herds”. 2017. Assistant supervisor.
• Margret Krieger: “Production Diseases in European Organic Dairy Farms – Current Status and Identification of Drivers for Improvement by Means of a Systemic Approach”. 2016. Assistant supervisor.
• Erika Chenais: “Assessing the impacts of African Swine Fever in smallholder pig systems and the feasibility of potential interventions”. 2017. Assistant supervisor.
• Karin Sjöström: “IMPRO – Impact matrix analysis and cost-benefit calculations to improve management practices regarding health status in organic dairy farming”. 2018. Main supervisor.
• Lisa Andrée: “Modified dry period in dairy cows – effects on milk production, health, fertility and colostrum”. 2019. Assistant supervisor.
• Malin Åberg: “The dynamics of cryptosporidium infection in cattle”. 2020. Assistant supervisor.
• Lena-Mari Tamminen: “Risk-factors for super-shedding of E. coli O157:H7 (VTEC O157) in cattle”. 2020. Main supervisor.
• Dorota Anglart: “Improved detection of mastitis in dairy cows”. Main supervisor.
• Karolina Engdahl: “The epidemiology of stifle joint diseases in a Swedish population of insured dogs”. 2021. Main supervisor.

Selected publications

Only selected publications. See Google Scholar for a complete list

Rilanto, T., Viidu, D.-A., Kaart, T., Orro, T., Viltrop, A., Emanuelson, U., Ferguson, E., Mõtus, K., 2022. Attitudes and personality of farm managers and association with cow culling rates and longevity in large-scale commercial dairy farms. Res. Vet. Sci. 142, 31–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.11.006

Emanuelson, U., Brügemann, K., Klopčič, M., Leso, L., Ouweltjes, W., Zentner, A., Blanco-Penedo, I., 2022. Animal Health in Compost-Bedded Pack and Cubicle Dairy Barns in Six European Countries. Animals 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12030396

Bonestroo, J., van der Voort, M., Fall, N., Emanuelson, U., Klaas, I.C., Hogeveen, H., 2022. Estimating the nonlinear association of online somatic cell count, lactate dehydrogenase, and electrical conductivity with milk yield. J. Dairy Sci. 105, 3518–3529. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-21351

Ahmed, H., Alvåsen, K., Berg, C., Hansson, H., Hultgren, J., Röcklinsberg, H., Emanuelson, U., 2021. Assessing animal welfare and farm profitability in cow-calf operations with stochastic partial budgeting. Animals 11, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020382

Hansson, I., Tamminen, L.-M., Frosth, S., Fernström, L.-L., Emanuelson, U., Boqvist, S., 2021. Occurrence of Campylobacter spp. in Swedish calves, common sequence types and antibiotic resistance patterns. J. Appl. Microbiol. 130, 2111–2122. https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.14914

Bonestroo, J., Fall, N., van der Voort, M., Klaas, I.C., Hogeveen, H., Emanuelson, U., 2021. Diagnostic properties of milk diversion and farmer-reported mastitis to indicate clinical mastitis status in dairy cows using Bayesian latent class analysis. Livest. Sci. 253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2021.104698

Engdahl, K., Hanson, J., Bergstrom, A., Bonnett, B., Hoglund, O., Emanuelson, U., 2021. The epidemiology of stifle joint disease in an insured Swedish dog population. Vet. Rec. 189. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.197

Bonestroo, J., van der Voort, M., Fall, N., Hogeveen, H., Emanuelson, U., Klaas, I.C., 2021. Progression of different udder inflammation indicators and their episode length after onset of inflammation using automatic milking system sensor data. J. Dairy Sci. 104, 3458–3473. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-18054

Engdahl, K., Emanuelson, U., Hoglund, O., Bergstrom, A., Hanson, J., 2021. The epidemiology of cruciate ligament rupture in an insured Swedish dog population. Sci. Rep. 11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88876-3

Hansson, I., Tamminen, L.-M., Frosth, S., Fernstrom, L.-L., Emanuelson, U., Boqvist, S., 2021. Occurrence of Campylobacter spp. in Swedish calves, common sequence types and antibiotic resistance patterns. J. Appl. Microbiol. 130, 2111–2122. https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.14914

Sandgren, C.H., Anglart, D., Klaas, I.C., Ronnegard, L., Emanuelson, U., 2021. Homogeneity density scores of quarter milk in automatic milking systems. J. Dairy Sci. 104, 10121–10130. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-20439

Dohoo, I., Emanuelson, U., 2021. The use of item response theory models to evaluate scales designed to measure knowledge of, and attitudes toward, antibiotic use and resistance in Swedish dairy producers. Prev. Vet. Med. 195, 105465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105465

Anglart, D., Emanuelson, U., Ronnegard, L., Sandgren, C.H., 2021. Detecting and predicting changes in milk homogeneity using data from automatic milking systems. J. Dairy Sci. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-20517

Wilson, P.R., Mannewald, A., Collins-Emerson, J.M., Dreyfus, A., Sanhueza, J.M., Benschop, J., Verdugo, C., Emanuelson, U., Boqvist, S., Heuer, C., 2021. Serological study of Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni and L. borgpetersenii serovars Tarassovi and Ballum in beef cattle, sheep and deer in New Zealand. N. Z. Vet. J. 69, 83–92. https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2020.1830867