Enhancing Cattle and Buffalo Health through One Health: A Collaborative Journey in Nakhon Ratchasima

In the heart of northeastern Thailand, smallholder farmers rely on cattle and buffalo not only for their livelihoods but also for their community’s resilience. Yet gastrointestinal (GI) parasites silently undermine animal health, economic stability, and public well-being. Through the SEAOHUN One Health Research and Training (OHRT) Awards Program, our team at Suranaree University of Technology set out to bridge science and practice—combining hard data on parasite prevalence with belief-based training grounded in One Health principles. Over five months, we partnered with farmers, local government, and veterinary experts to transform raw sample counts into sustainable on-farm solutions.

Project Implementation Journey

From May to July 2024, we conducted a comprehensive survey in Muang District, Nakhon Ratchasima. Exceeding our initial target of 138, we collected and analyzed 302 fecal samples using the formalin–ether concentration technique. Deworming followed immediately, with eprinomectin, ivermectin, or albendazole administered based on animal age and condition. The results revealed a 70% overall infection rate—65% among cattle, dominated by strongyle-type parasites, and 77% among buffalo, driven by rumen flukes.

Integrating Prevalence and Belief

While sampling, we administered pre-training questionnaires to measure farmers’ knowledge (ten multiple-choice questions), attitudes (14 GI-parasite statements and ten One Health items on Likert scales), and self-efficacy (five “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree” items). Baseline scores averaged just 4.68±1.29 out of 10 on knowledge and 23.1±3.05 out of 50 on One Health attitudes. Armed with both prevalence data and these insights, we developed tailored posters and discussion guides that connected scientific findings to local beliefs.

Hands-On Training Day

On 9 August 2024, we welcomed 77 participants—including municipal council members, Department of Livestock Development officers, village chiefs, and farmers—to a full-day workshop in Chaimongkol and Nong Raviang. Three keynote experts illustrated parasite lifecycles, vaccine strategies, and nutritional support. Peer-to-peer “talk-show” sessions allowed seasoned farmers to share real-world successes in deworming schedules and pasture management. These community narratives anchored new practices in lived experience.

Building One Health Capacity

Beyond livestock health, our workshop fostered cross-sector collaboration. Government representatives sketched plans for integrating GI control into 2025 budgets. Field veterinarians and environmental specialists co-designed grazing rotations to disrupt fluke transmission. Undergraduate students honed data-collection and public-speaking skills, while faculty refined One Health teaching modules for future cohorts.

Assessing Impact and Outcomes

After our full-day workshop, we felt the real outcome lay not only in numbers but in the palpable shift we saw among farmers. Poring over post-training questionnaires, we watched knowledge scores soar from an average of 4.68 to 6.75 out of 10—a leap so pronounced it carried a p-value below 0.001, underscoring those participants had truly grasped parasite lifecycles, diagnostic techniques, and prevention strategies. Equally telling was the evolution in attitudes: scores on our 14-item GI-parasite scale climbed from 31.73 to 34.28 (p < 0.001), signaling those farmers had moved from passive acknowledgment to active concern about parasite impacts on their herds.

Even our One Health attitudinal measured initially a modest 23.10 out of 50—edged upward to 23.95 (p = 0.046), reflecting a deeper appreciation that animal health, human well-being, and environmental stewardship are inseparable. Perhaps most gratifying was witnessing self-efficacy blossom: where fewer than one-third of farmers once rated themselves “very confident” in controlling GI parasites, post-training over a third claimed the highest confidence level, and another 37% rose from tentative to assured in their ability to implement preventative practices.

Behind these statistics were moments of real transformation. One veteran farmer, after examining his own herd’s 77% rumen-fluke prevalence, told us, “Seeing my buffalo’s numbers made me decide, today, to rotate grazing and build new watering troughs away from stagnant ponds.” Another young participant confided, “I used to dread deworming day, but now I see it as protecting my family’s livelihood.” These testimonials, woven through our survey data, convinced us that blending hard evidence with belief-centred dialogue can shift mindsets as powerfully as it shifts parasite loads.

Key Lessons & Good Practices

Reflecting on the past five months, three insights stand out. First, grounding our engagement in local data changed everything. When we revealed that 70% of sampled animals were infected—65% of cattle with strongyle-type eggs and 77% of buffalo with rumen flukes—farmers went from polite listeners to determined actors, eager to translate those stark figures into better on-farm practices.

Second, flexibility proved indispensable. Midway through our Chaimongkol session, a sudden power outage threatened to derail our presentations. Rather than pause, we moved discussions into the courtyard by flashlight. What might have been a disruption became a spontaneous “story circle,” where farmers shared their own parasite-fighting hacks and voiced long-held frustrations. That hour under lantern light forged bonds reminded us that adaptability can turn crises into catalysts for community solidarity.

Finally, early and sustained multi-sector engagement transformed workshop attendees into champions. Inviting Department of Livestock Development officers, municipal council members, and village chiefs onto our panel not only lent technical credibility but also paved the way for policy uptake. When the Chairman of Chai Mongkol Municipal Council stood to pledge GI-control funding for the 2025 fiscal year, it marked a pivotal shift—from pilot project to institutional commitment.

These lessons guide our next steps: institutionalizing prevalence-belief training within SUT’s One Health curriculum, formalizing budget requests with Muang District authorities, and scheduling mid-2025 follow-up visits to ensure that transformed mindsets translate into sustained reductions in parasite burdens. By marrying rigorous data with human-centred facilitation and cross-sector collaboration, we believe this model can be replicated—building healthier herds, stronger communities, and a more resilient One Health network across Thailand and beyond.

Scaling Forward & Sustainability

We are drafting a manuscript to share our findings with the wider scientific community and preparing a formal budget proposal for Muang District’s next fiscal cycle. At SUT, we’ll weave our case study into the One Health curriculum, training the next generation to replicate this model nationwide. Follow-up evaluations are planned for mid-2025 to track long-term trends in parasite prevalence and farmer practices.

Conclusion

As we draw this chapter to a close, we find ourselves both humbled and energized by what can be achieved when rigorous science meets community wisdom. By turning raw prevalence data into belief-driven action, we not only reduced parasite burdens in hundreds of cattle and buffalo but also strengthened the confidence, knowledge, and collaborative spirit of every farmer, veterinarian, and local leader involved.

Our journey in Nakhon Ratchasima has shown that lasting change stems from partnerships: researchers who listen, farmers who lead peer-to-peer learning, and government champions who translate pilot successes into policy. Looking ahead, we are committed to sustaining this momentum—embedding prevalence–belief training in academic curricula, securing municipal funding, and returning to the field to witness how empowered communities continue to safeguard animal health through One Health approaches.

Together, we have laid a blueprint for resilience—one that honors both the numbers on our lab reports and the voices around our training tables. May this model inspire future collaborations across Thailand and beyond, as we strive for healthier herds, stronger communities, and a world where people, animals, and the environment thrive in harmony.

Project Leader: Pornphutthachat Sota, DVM, PhD – Principal Investigator, Suranaree University of Technology (SUT)

Team Members:

• Assoc. Prof. Sirikachorn Tangkawattana, PhD – Parasitology & Methodology (Khon Kaen University)

• Assoc. Prof. Kanchana Nakhapakorn, PhD – Environmental Health (Mahidol University)

• Asst. Prof. Watcharapol Suyapoh, PhD – Field Parasitology (Prince of Songkla University)

• Leeyakorn Nonthadi, DVM – Coordination & Field Logistics (Department of Livestock Development)

• Rujira Nonsa-ard, PhD – Public Health & Community Engagement (Mahasarakham University)