Trichenellosis: old facts and new developments

Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 2002 | No Comments

Ammonia volatilization from field-applied animal slurrya

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Potential of Enterococcus faecalis as a Human Fecal Indicator for Microbial Source Tracking

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Nutrient leaching losses from undisturbed soil cores following applications of piggery wastewater

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The performance of growing-finishing pigs fed diets with reduced crude protein

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Successful formulation of low protein diets increases our flexibility in formulating practical diets, providing us with another tool to lower nitrogen output in the slurry and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This experiment compared the performance of pigs fed regular protein versus low protein diets. An intermediate protein diet was also employed. Average daily gain, average daily feed intake and feed efficiency were unaffected by dietary treatment. Most carcass characteristics, including index, lean yield and backfat thickness were unaffected by treatment; however, loin muscle thickness was increased on the low protein diet. Lower crude protein diets can be fed successfully without negatively impacting performance or carcass quality.

Analysis of belly nosing and associated behaviour among pigs weaned at 12-14 days of age.

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Segregated early weaning is linked to an increased incidence of belly nosing. Although the belly nosing for piglets weaned at different age has been reported, the variation among piglets weaned at the same age has not been described. The objective of this study was to determine the variation of belly nosing among piglets weaned at the same age and its association with other behaviours. A total of 80 piglets weaned at 12-14 days of age were videotaped for 24 on day 7 post-weaning. On average, piglets spent 2.4% of their total time belly nosing. About 80% of piglets performed belly nosing, and 5% of piglets spent more than 8% of time belly nosing. Standing was positive related to belly nosing, indicating that belly nosing was most common in active piglets. Belly nosing was more closely associated social interaction than with eating or drinking.

Effects of individual versus group stabling on social behaviour in domestic stallions.

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Horses are typically kept in individual housing, such as box stalls, when stabled, but are often run as a group on pasture. This study examined the effects of grouping animals during the stabling period on subsequent social behaviour when pastured in a group. Seven stallions (2-yr-old) were housed in individual stalls, while 12 were housed in groups of 3 for a 9-mon period. Afterwards they were pastured for 6 weeks, with one pasture for the individually housed stallions and one for the grouped housed. The behaviour of the animals in the pasture situation was observed. Thus, only one pasture group was studied for each treatment and results may reflect the group but not be representative of the treatments in general. Previously grouped stallions maintained friendships with their previous group-mates as indicated by their proximity in the pasture. Those that were previously housed individually exhibited more aggressive behaviour, such as bite threats, than did those that had been group-housed. The previously individually housed stallions were more cohesive (remained closer together), and exhibited more social grooming and play behaviour than did the group-housed animals. Stabling as individuals or in groups does have an effect on subsequent social behaviour in group pasture conditions, but some of the effects suggest that the individually housed animals engage in more social activity, perhaps as a re-bound effect.

Calves' motivation for access to two different types of social contact measured by operant conditioning.

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Individually housing calves impairs their attainment of social contact, which is believed to be an important need in cattle. The strength of the calves’ motivation to have social contact can be determined through operant conditioning. This study compared calves’ motivation for two types of social contact, the first being head to head contact through metals bars. The other form of social contact was full interaction between two calves without any restrictions. The six calves used in this study were taught initially to press a panel in the test pen and the reward they received was social contact with another calf for three minutes. Once the calf learnt that pushing the panel was associated with social contact the number of times the calf needed to push the panel was gradually increased for both types of social contact rewards. The behaviour of the calves during the social contact reward was continuously videotaped. The calves showed a stronger motivation and thus were willing to work harder to attain full social contact when compared to head contact. During the reward period the calves with full contact were involved in more social activities. The harder the calves had to work to attain full social contact also led to an increase in social activity during reward times as compared to reward periods in which they did not have to work as hard. Therefore, the calves demonstrated different motivations for different forms of social contact, in that calves are more willing to work harder for full social contact. The extent that the calves must work to attain the social contact may also impact the degree of social behaviours exhibited during the subsequent social encounters.

Behavioral and physiological responses of horses to initial training: the comparison between pastured versus stalled horses

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The performance of normal behaviours is limited when horses are kept in stalls, and behavioural development may be compromised due to inadequate environmental conditions. The response of a horse to training may be affected by housing. Horses were kept on pasture or in individual stalls, and a few from each groups were subjected to a standardized training procedure, carried out by two trainers in a round pen, while the others were introduced to the round pen but not trained. For the stalled horses, total training time was significantly higher than total time for the pastured horses. The stalled group also required more time to adapt to the activities occurring from the start of training to mounting. Unwanted behaviours occurred more often in stalled horses, and pastured horses tended to have a higher basal heart rate on the first day of the study. Physiological data did not identify differences between the two housing groups. However, behavioural data suggest that pasture-kept horses adapt more easily to training than stalled horses.

Broad-spectrum virus reduction in red cell concentrates using INACTINEa

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