Epidemiology's Adoption of System Dynamics is a Natural Extension of Population Thinking

David R Smith; Robert W Wills; Kimberly A Woodruff

doi:10.1016/j.cvfa.2022.02.003

Epidemiology's Adoption of System Dynamics is a Natural Extension of Population Thinking

Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract. 2022 Jul;38(2):245-259. doi: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2022.02.003.

Authors

David R Smith¹, Robert W Wills², Kimberly A Woodruff³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 6100, 240 Wise Center Drive, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA. Electronic address: dsmith@cvm.msstate.edu.
² Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 6100, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA.
³ Department of Clinical Sciences, Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 6100, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA.

PMID: 35691627
DOI: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2022.02.003

Abstract

Epidemiologists have adopted systems thinking as an approach to understanding why health conditions occur in animal populations beyond the knowledge of simple linear relationships. Beef production systems are complex adaptive systems and decisions and policies throughout the system can positively or negatively affect the health of cattle. Those decisions may occur far removed in time or place from the health event and may be logical in the context of other factors in the system. Causal loop diagrams and stock and flow models are tools for sharing and testing thoughts about the ways systems might behave.

Keywords: BRD; Causal loop diagrams; Epidemiology; Stock and flow models; Systems.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animal Welfare*
Animals
Cattle
Systems Analysis*