The effects of different beak trimming techniques on plasma corticosterone and performance criteria in single comb white leghorn hens.

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Chicks were either beak trimmed at 6 days of age with a 2.8 mm gauge, or at 11 weeks of age with a block cut approximately 2 mm anterior to the nasal openings. Two hours after beak trimming at 6 days of age, corticosterone levels were higher than they were prior to beak trimming. Body weight and feed consumption were depressed until 8 weeks of age. Beak trimming at 11 weeks of age caused an increase in corticosterone concentration compared to controls, and feed consumption and body weight decreased. Feed consumption at 72 weeks of age for non-trimmed birds was greater than both beak trimmed treatments. Whereas, the beak trimmed birds resulted in better egg income, feed cost per hen, and net income. Both beak trimmed birds had better feather scores and less fearfulness. The results of this study suggest that the birds adjusted to beak trimming and had better performance than non-beak trimmed birds.

Assessing attitudes toward farm animal welfare: A national survey of animal science faculty members

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In order to assess the attitudes about farm animal welfare, a survey was developed and given to animal science faculty members in the United States. The survey was initially developed and tested using 34 faculty members from a Midwestern public university. The questionnaire was then sent to animal science faculty across the United States. The response rate was 45 % with 446 respondents. The following percentage of respondents agreed that the most popular methods of raising livestock provide adequate levels of animal welfare: layer birds (51%), meat birds (58%), swine (66%), dairy (84%), sheep (86%), and beef (87%). More than 90% of respondents agreed with general principles of animal welfare and that unnecessary fear and distress should be avoided. However, only 32% of the respondents were concerned with the distress that some routine husbandry procedures cause (e.g., castration without anesthetic). Level of concern was assessed with regards to various industry practices/outcomes. For example, 83% of respondents are concerned about flooring in intensive housing and agreed that it affects lameness; whereas only 16% were concerned about early weaning pigs. Gender and political ideology were significantly related to attitudes scores. Women with more liberal political views were more concerned about animal welfare. With more information about attitudes towards farm animal welfare from various stakeholders (animal scientists, veterinarians, producers and consumers), animal welfare scientists will gain insight into areas where more research is required and where gaps exist in accessibility of knowledge.

The impact of applied ethologists and the International Society for Applied Ethology in improving animal welfare

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Understanding and improving animal welfare has been a focus for applied ethologists since the International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE) was founded 35 years ago. Even though there have been changes in the living conditions for farm and laboratory animals, the rate of progress seems slow. Advances in animal welfare seem to be more likely if the issues are of public concern, if there are economic advantages, and when networks exist to aid in the transfer of information and to organize relationships between commercial and legislative sectors. The development of animal welfare science and animal ethics as academic disciplines has also been a slow process. Applied ethologists have been leaders in this pursuit. The subjective experiences of animals have been the focus of both applied and fundamental research. The advancement of animal welfare science needs to be a collaborative approach. However, the advancement of animal welfare science needs to go beyond the applied ethologists and become more of a collaborative approach. The ISAE is composed of experts in animal behaviour. Members of the society provide advice on animal welfare issues for policy makers, retailers, commodity groups, etc. The membership of the ISAE is expanding and becoming more diverse, which provides great opportunities for more influence on animal welfare issues. One of the society’s goals should be to increase its profile and develop materials and regionally based pools of experts that are more available to those in need. The development of scientific reports that have international input could also aid in debates about animal welfare. Members of the ISAE are likely to continue contributing to animal welfare science research.

Annual Meeting Keynote Address: Animal agriculture and emerging social ethics for animals

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Within the past 30 years, the treatment of animals in various areas of human use has emerged as a new social ethical issue. Society’s moral concern has outgrown the traditional ethic of animal cruelty that began in biblical times and is law in civilized societies. There are five main factors, which have caused the emergence of this new social concern. Most importantly, is the emergence of industrial agriculture, which has replaced husbandry-based agriculture. The rise of industrial agriculture has threatened the contract between humans and animals and has resulted in an increase in animal suffering. The existing laws against animal cruelty do not cover the routine suffering that food animals must endure. Therefore, in order to express social concerns regarding animals, a new ethic for animals was required. The ethic for humans has been used as an example for the development of the ethic for animals. The development of laws that ensure the rights of animals has surfaced as a possible vehicle for reform. Otherwise, traditional methods of animal husbandry should return in order to correct the problems created by industrialization.

Coping capacity of dairy cows during the change from conventional to automatic milking.

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In a conventional milking system, two to three times a day, cows are driven into the milking parlor. However, dairy barns are now converting to an automatic milking system (AMS), which allows the cows to voluntarily enter the parlor when they so choose to. The aim of this study was to determine the physiological impact on cows when switching from a conventional to an automatic milking system. The variables recorded were milk composition and yield, heart rate, cortisol (via feces). The first time cows entered the AMS, but were not milked, their heart rate rose approximately 35 beats per minute more than levels recorded in the conventional milking parlor. The first milking was performed on the eighth visit to the AMS and by this time the heart rate had returned to levels seen in the conventional milking parlor. There was a decrease in milk yield during the transition. Milk yields dropped between 8 to 96% (average of 68%) of yields from the previous milking in the conventional parlor. The concentration of cortisol metabolites in the feces remained unchanged during the transition between the two systems. To test the relationship between how the cow was coping and the activity level of the adrenal cortex, and ACTH challenge was performed. Cows that had higher cortisol levels, which means the adrenal cortex is more active, were the cows that had during the first milking in the AMS had lower heart rate elevations, and whose milk yield were only minimally depressed. These results illustrate that there is a wide variation in how the cows copes with the transition between a conventional to an automatic milking system.

Health and production measures for smallholder pig production in Kikuyu Division, central Kenya

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The influence of Salmonella in pigs pre-harvest on Salmonella human health costs and risk from pork

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Mortality Management

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There are several options for managing livestock deaths. The first obvious investigation should be into the causes of death. Nutrition should be adequate, and if disease is a problem then veterinarians will help to fix any problem areas. If appropriate, carcasses can be rendered into value-added products. It is appropriate if the carcasses contain no zoonotic disease (that can be transferred to humans). Storage and pick-up of carcasses are necessary for rendering to be a viable option. Incinerators are a good method as well. They are regulated by Saskatchewan Environment and must be designed and used with their accordance. They regulate fuel type and permits and such. The incinerator designer provides information and technical support. Composting is a method that has 2 types of systems. The “In-vessel” method has three bins. One has a substance such as sawdust for a bulking agent, and the second one is filled. They are then moved to the third bin after a time. Composting requires management of moisture, temperature, and carbon-to-nitrogen ratios. They must be designed so as to not be hazardous to the environment. A properly designed burial pit can also be an acceptable method. Water supplies and winter mortalities must be taken into account when managing a burial site. Animals must be covered as soon as possible and should continuously be covered with soil. Unfortunately, catastrophes can happen that result in huge losses. If it is naturally caused (such as a fire, non-foreign disease, or a flood), the local authorities will direct the disposal. A good burial site will have natural features to protect the environment. The area should not be subject to flooding and should be 100 meters from a source of water, highway, property, or other livestock facilities. Minimize the distance from the burial site to the barn.

Where are the Dollars in Carbon Credits?

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Agriculture has a great potential to be the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions reductions to help solve the global warming problem. Within the agricultural industry, the swine industry is uniquely positioned to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as recognize revenue for doing so. Due to global warming and the Kyoto Protocol, large industrial emitters will need to comply with emission reduction limits allocated to them within their industrial sector. These emitters will have the option to purchase reductions in order to offset their own emissions that exceed their allocation. A standardized process is required to allow a swine producer to take financial advantage of the Canadian Domestic Carbon Trading System, without the liabilities associated with marketing within the system.

Pigs in Transit – Handling and Transportation Guide

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Manitoba pork producers use many different ways to get their hogs to market – highway trailers, pickup or grain trucks, and fifth wheel trailers – even converted school buses. Regardless of the vehicle, all producers have one thing in common – a concern for the welfare of pigs in transit. Fortunately, along with this heightened awareness about animal care, pork producers also have the knowledge and technology to ensure pigs are handled and transported responsibly. Heat, cold, fear, bumpy roads, stops and starts, prodding and rough handling – these are just some of the things that can cause stress and exhaustion in livestock during handling and transportation. And that stress can severely reduce meat quality and price. Stress and exhaustion increase muscle temperature and deplete the supply of glycogen, the energy stored in muscle tissue that produces moist, pink, high quality pork. When animals are stressed before slaughter, glycogen levels drop. The result is Pale, Soft, and Exudative (PSE) pork, a product that doesn’t appeal to consumers. Extreme exhaustion during transit can result in Dark, Firm, Dry (DFD) meat, which has even lower consumer appeal and shorter shelf life. All pigs experience stress to some extent during loading and unloading. But stress can be minimized through calm, patient handling and an understanding of pig behaviour. By understanding the animals’ basic natural instincts during handling, farmers will be able to incorporate stress-reducing features into their buildings, transport vehicles and handling techniques. Pig hides are tender so protrusions or sharp edges along the path from the pen to the killing floor can inflict injury and create undue stress. Fright is another potential source of stress. Many things can spook pigs during the loading and unloading process including air blowing in their faces, dangling chains, loose ramps and boards, slippery floors, extremes of bright lights and darkness and loud noises. Good stockmanship can reduce pigs’ fear levels and improve production. Pigs naturally resent handlers getting into their personal space. Handlers should learn to think like a pig and use a pig’s natural “flight zone – the animal’s instinctive escape route – to help herd them. If a handler enters this circular zone, the pig will step away to maintain the circle’s size. Humane handling of livestock is a top industry priority. Many firms within the pork industry have established their own pig handling standards, many of which are even higher than those spelled out in federal and provincial legislation. Leading trucking firms, insurance companies, assembly yards, hog farms and abattoirs insist their employees and customers follow codes of ethics and practices. Some provide their staff with training courses in proper and responsible livestock treatment. The Animal Care Act is the basic law for all animal handling and care activities in Manitoba. Codes of practice are meaningless if they are considered just words on paper. The real code of conduct is our recognition of our responsibility as livestock producers for our animals’ health, comfort and well-being. If at any time you believe that animals are not being properly handled, please report this incident in confidence by calling the Animal Care Line at 204-945-8000.