Consistency of side choice in the milking parlour by Holstein-Friesian cows and its relationship with their reactivity and milk yield.

Posted in: Welfare by admin on January 1, 2001 | No Comments

Dairy cows often have to choose which of two sides to enter in the milking parlour. Some sows are very consistent in this choice, and it is common to assume that these cows are more disturbed are being milked in their non-preferred side. Such disturbance might involve significantly poor welfare. In order to assess this assumption, we studied the behaviour and milk yield of dairy cows and their relationships with side preference in the milking parlour. The study was carried out at Cambridge University Farm, in a two-sided tandem milking parlour. The data collection followed the daily management routine. We recorded the side chosen by each caw (left or right) during 40 milking sessions. Data from 70 cows, which were present in at least 25 milking sessions, were included in the statistical analysis. Cows reactivity (CR) during premilking udder preparation, time spent fitting the milking cluster (FT), milk yield (MY) and duration of milking (DM) were measured. There was evident individual variation in the consistency of side choice. Individual differences were also found in CR, FT, MY and DM; although these variables were not significantly affected by the side or the interaction between animals and side. The comparison between left and right side means of these variables did not show significant differences. We concluded that there is no evidence that the cows were discomforted or stressed when milked in the non-preferred side of the milking parlour.

Plumage condition and health of aviary-kept hens fed mash or crumbled pellets.

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Although aviary systems for laying hens provide the freedom of movement advocated for good welfare, there are concerns for the general health and plumage conditions of birds kept in these larger social groups. In this study the authors addressed two management factors that may affect the incidence of problems in these systems, those of genetic strain and feed form. Hens of two different hybrid strains, both representing crosses of Rhode Island Red and Leghorn, were kept in groups of approximately 270 birds in aviary pens (3 x 5.8 m). Pens were fed either mash or pellet forms of the same diet. Thus, a 2 x 2 factorial of hybrid and feed type, with three replications per treatment combination was formed. Diet had little effect on plumage condition, general health or tonic immobility (measure of fear). The only significant effect of diet was on the occurrence of bumble foot (a condition of the feet), with it being more common when fed mash. The genetic hybrids differed in a number of traits including general health, cannibalism, salpingitis, and coccidiosis. However, each hybrid performed better in some of these traits than the other. The results suggest that genotype is an important consideration in managing hens in aviary systems.

Age and growth factors in porcine full-thickness wound healing

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It has been recognized that the rate of cutaneous wound healing declines with age, yet the molecular processes that affect this decline remain poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to compare reepithelaization and contraction rates, and growth factor profiles in full-thickness wounds in swine of various ages. Multiple full-thickness excisional wounds were created on the dorsum of 24-month-old (n=2), 4-month-old (n=2)Yucatan Minigigs. The extent of reepitheliatization was shown to decrease with increasing age in a manner that was statistically significant among the 2-month-old (79%), 4-month-old (48%), and 24-month-old pigs (22%). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed that endogenous vascular endothelial growth factor concetrations in the 2 and 4 month old animals pecked on day 4, reaching levels of 482 pg/ml and 420 pg/.ml, respectively. In the 24-month-old pigs the vascular endothelial growth factor levels in the older pigs reached only 120 pg/ml, representing a four-fold decrease in concentration compared to the younger pigs. A comparison of platelet-derived growth factor-BB concentrations across the age groups showed similar patterns in the 2 and 4 month old pigs (peaks of 77 and 91 pg/ml on days 2 and 3, respectively), and levels in the 24-month-old were below the sensitivity level (31.5 pg/ml) of the assay. Transforming growth factor-b1 levels across the age groups did not differ in a manner that was stratistically significant, and all age groups peaked on day 9. Wound contaction showed no statistical differences among the age groups from days 3 to 9. On day 11, however, wound contraction in 2-month-old pigs was about 10% fraster than in 24-month-old pigs (p<0.05). These data suggest a possible new algorithm for treating wounds in aged skin, by which exogenous growth factors can be added to the wound microenvironment in doesse and at times that match the growth factor profiles observed in wounds made in younger skin.

PARAMETERS OF TREATED STAINLESS STEEL SURFACES IMPORTANT FOR RESISTANCE TO BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION

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Candidate gene analysis for loci affecting litter size and ovulation rate in swine

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Understanding Anti-Microbial Resistance

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Approximately half of
antimicrobials (drugs
used to treat infections
from bacteria, yeast, parasites)
used worldwide are used in
human medicine; the remainder is
used in livestock production. Much
of the resistance problem we face
today is the result of misuse of
antibiotics in humans. There is also
increasing evidence that the use of
antibiotics in livestock production may
contribute to AMR. Agriculture must
address and deal with this. The human
health field must also address its role in
antibiotic over-usage and abuse.

AMR is a serious issue in both
human and animal populations. Its
causes are rooted in patterns of antimicrobial
use and abuse that is
prevalent in both human and
veterinary medicine.
a

What Should I Know About Air Quality in Pig Buildings?

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Heating and ventilation equipment installed in livestock buildings have improved over the last 20 years. Most production facilities have the poroper equipment required to control the building air temperature under extreme weather conditions. But considering that majority of thee systems are strictly controlled by rooom temperature, controlling the air quality in pig barns is still a good challenge. It is generally difficult to achieve a proper control of gas and dust concentrations in real barn conditions because the control strategy used is based on temperature and energy savings rather than air quality.

This paper reviews the most important airbourne contamininats present in a swine building and what should be the maximum concentration for each of these contaminants to ensure worker safety. Some health risks are discussed in the case where those limits are being exceeded. Various options are available to limit contaminant exposure in a barn environment

The Challenges of Treating Manure as Fertilzer

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Learning how to treat manure as a fertilizer is a challenge our industry must come to terms with. The value of the product is well documented and well understood by those utilizing it. The amount of nutrients in manure is significant and is equally useable on cultivated or hay ground. Some of the challenges producers face in effective use of the product are understanding and meeting the guidelines, having access to equipment on a timely basis, overcoming the cost associated with applications and arranging application in a very narrow window within our season. Another major issue is respecting the community, our neighbours and our families when applying the product.
Managing the product while being cognisant of the environment is a concern of all. Larger units must follow strict rules of application. Soil tests must be done and filed with a manure management plan. Before proceeding with application, pollution of the soil or water must always be a primary concern. The province has the ability to monitor and address improper applications and must be vigilant to ensure confidence in the public. Probably one of the most difficult challenges is dealing with the public concerns. Public perception is not always moved by fact or reality, but shifted by less than factual statements and intimidation. The real challenge is to spend as much time and effort in looking for answers to the problems as we do in opposing the current development. Research is a very necessary tool in resolving some of these issues. The only way to promote and ensure public protection and confidence is to establish clear and concise rules with enough resolve by government to enforce the rules. This also allows the industry to evolve knowing that as long as all criteria are met the required investments are secure.

Reduction of Ammonia and odor Emisions from a Piggery with Biofilters

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Long term measurements were carried out in aprrallel on two bio-filters under practical conditions to test their reduction potential for ammonia and odor emissions. Ther average efficiency of ammonia reduction was calculated for the first measuring period was about 15% at biofilter 1 and 36% at biofilter 2. The average efficiency of odor reductionwas calculated for the first measuring period was about 78% and 80% at biofilter 1 and 2 respectively. The efficiency of ammonia reduction was mainly influenced by the air flow rate. The odor reduction was mainly inluenced by the odor concentration before the filterbed. The cleaning efficiency of the biofilters could be improved by increasing the moisture content of the filterbed material from 20 to 40% or from 20 to 50%

Formation of Fuel-Grade Ethanol From Swine Waste Via Gasification

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The objective of this project is to investigate the application of gasification technologies to the treatment of swine waste for the ultimate production of fuel-grade ethanol. This waste treatment system would reduce the negative environmental impact of current manure management systems. The research objectives are: 1) to develop and test a system for harvesting swine manure in a form dry enough to be used as a gasification feedstock, 2) to establish the feasibility and the gasification conditions for the swine waste/amendments feedstock, 3) to characterize the end products of gasification (ethanol and mineral ash) and their potential markets, and 4) to conduct a rigorous economic analysis on the entire swine manure management model to determine its feasibility along with the factors that promote or impede its implementation.

Our research thus far has shown that swine manure can be a suitable feedstock for gasification. The belt system (an alternative waste management system) has the potential to dry the swine waste to more than 60% DM. The final conclusion regarding the feasibility of gasifying swine waste will be dependent upon the economic analysis of the entire housing and gasification system. A decision support system (DSS) will be developed that stimulates and optimizes the whole chain from animal production to manure spreading or processing. The system will assess the logistics, economics, and environmental effects for each of the elements of the chain. An economic/environmental sensitivity analysis of gasification as a manure processing technology will be performed by changing the options (such as subsidies on ethanol), the constraints (particularly the regulatory context), and the model assumptions. The results will be compared to an environmentally sustainable system based on current technologies, waste disposal by land application at agronomic rates that avoid eutrophic consequences.