Spatial analysis of cattle movement patterns in Portugal

Area of Science:

• Veterinary epidemiology
• Animal movement analysis
• Spatial epidemiology

Background:

• Animal contact networks significantly influence disease spread within and between populations.
• Understanding bovine movement is critical for effective disease control strategies.
• Characterizing spatial and temporal dynamics of livestock movements aids in predicting disease outbreaks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the spatial and temporal distribution of bovine movements in Portugal.
• To identify local and long-distance cattle movement networks based on geographical proximity.
• To inform disease spread models by analyzing movement patterns.

Main Methods:

• Utilized national cattle movement data from 2005.
• Employed geographic information systems (GIS) for spatial analysis and visualization.
• Analyzed data based on geographical proximity to define local and long-distance movements.

Main Results:

• No significant temporal variation was found in the number of movements or animals moved.
• Cattle holdings were denser in the north, with a higher volume of movements.
• Larger shipment lots were concentrated in the south-central region, with a predominant south-north movement pattern.

Conclusions:

• Bovine movements in Portugal exhibit distinct spatial characteristics, primarily occurring locally within and between contiguous districts.
• A significant south-north movement pattern was identified, with implications for disease transmission.
• The age profile of circulating cattle (60% beef cows <10 months) is a key factor in disease dynamics.