Early age thermal conditioning and a dual feeding program for male broiler challenged by heat stress

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

At 5 days of age, one group of male broiler chicks was exposed to thermal conditioning (38 A?C, 42 % humidity for 24 hours) while the other group was not. From 11 to 41 days of age, temperature was diurnally cyclic: 26 A?C (1600 to 0900 h) and 30 A?C (0900 to 1600 h). From day 19, diets were control or dual feeding of a high protein fraction (1600 to 0900 h) and an energy-rich fraction (0900 to 1600 h). Growth and feed efficiency were slightly enhanced by thermal conditioning (+ 4 %) and slightly reduced by dual feeding (- 4 %). During the thermal challenge, mortality was reduced by both factors. Prior to the thermal challenge period, thermal conditioning always reduced body temperature. During the thermal challenge period, body temperature was reduced by thermal conditioning and by dual feeding. Body temperature measurements taken at 32 days of age gave an estimation of the ability of the chickens to cope with heat stress 2 days later. For thermal conditioned chicks fed a control grower diet, pectoral mass was increased. The liver and gizzard were significantly heavier for thermal conditioned and non-conditioned chicks on a dual feeding program. This suggests that thermal conditioning at 5 days of age induces a consistent metabolic change in broiler males. The dual feeding program may have induced transitory effects on heat production during the heat stress.

The development of intersuckling in dairy calves around weaning.

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A common problem found in dairy herds is intersuckling, which is defined as juvenile or adult cattle sucking the udder of other cows within the herd. Intersuckling can cause udder health problems in the recipients. The cause is unknown, as are management methods that may prevent this behavioural problem. This study attempted to determine if intersuckling continues after in weaning in calves that demonstrated intersuckling behaviour prior to weaning. It also looked into whether the development of intersuckling is associated with feeding management during weaning. One week prior to weaning and weeks 1, 5 and 9 after weaning, the suckling and feeding behaviour of the calves was observed on 10 different farms. The average age at weaning was 21 weeks. The adequacy of the diets was based on the energy concentration. It was found that 92% of the calves were observed intersuckling prior to weaning. However, the rates amongst the calves were quite variable, ranging from 0 to 24.7 bouts/day. Intersuckling was also seen after weaning and the calves that demonstrated a higher amount of intersuckling prior to weaning were more likely to continue performing this behaviour after weaning. Intersuckling occurred most frequently around feeding time. As feeding duration increased or the energy content of the diet decreased, the rate of intersuckling increased. Calves who had restricted access to feed exhibited the more intersuckling behaviours. Therefore, this study found that intersuckling does occur prior to weaning and preventing the continuation of this behaviour after weaning is possible if the calves are fed a diet that complements with the calves physiological transition from a milk based to a forage/concentrate based diet.

Effects of an oral dose of acetyl salicylate at tail docking on the behaviour of lambs ages three to six weeks.

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A pilot trial and an experiment were carried out to investigate the effectiveness of providing analgesia for docking lambs’ tails in reducing discomfort behaviour. In the pilot trial, an elastrator ring was applied to the restrained lamb’s tail and the lamb was given either an oral dose of aspirin dissolved in water or an oral dose of water prior to release. The posture of the lambs given aspirin changed between sternal recumbency and standing less frequently than the posture of lambs given just water. This effect was significant from 10 to 20 minutes post-treatment. In the experiment, the lambs were given one of two docking treatments (application of the elastrator plus aspirin dissolved in water or application of the elastrator plus water) or one of two control treatments (restraint plus aspirin dissolved in water or restraint plus water). Three quarters of the postures used to assess discomfort changed for docked lambs within the hour after tail docking, and marked changes in the postures over time were also observed. Postures and activities were considered ‘normal’ or ‘abnormal’ (typical of docked lambs). The mean frequency of abnormal postures was 3.5 % for control lambs and 22.6 % for docked lambs. The mean frequency of abnormal activities was 5.2 % for control lambs and 19.3 % for docked lambs. Two of the activities seen in docked lambs were similar to those seen in control lambs when aspirin had been given. However, provision of aspirin was associated with increased levels of some activities/postures. These effects were minor compared with the effects of docking, and there was no indication of effective analgesia. Behavioural effects indicative of pain were observed immediately and did not subside fully within one hour when elastrator tail docking rings were applied. Even though there appeared to be an analgesic effect of aspirin in the pilot trial, further experimentation did not substantiate this effect.

Chemical, physical, and environmental properties of pelleted newpaper compared to wheat straw and wood shavings as bedding for horses.

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Different types of bedding have different properties including differences in water-holding capacity, littering effects, airborne dust particles, and combustion potential. Temperature and humidity can change the qualities of bedding material, affecting the microbial ecology of clean and soiled bedding as well as the surrounding environment. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage can develop as a result of organic particulate matter, such as bedding dust, forage-residing fungi, and molds. Therefore, horses are sensitive to organic particulate matter. The objective of this study was to compare the chemical, physical, and environmental properties of pelleted newspaper (PN), straw (S), and wood shavings (WS) as bedding material for horses. Horses were individually housed in boxstalls, where four types of bedding were tested: two types of PN (0.32 and 0.64 x 2.54 cm), S and WS. In the first experiment, only feces were cleaned daily in order to challenge the each material’s properties, and additional bedding was added as needed. In the second experiment, PN (0.32 x 2.54 cm), S and WS were also tested, but in this experiment feces and wet spots were removed every day and new bedding was added to an amount that was similar to the amount added in commercial conditions. The results indicated that the amount of clean bedding that needed to be added varied depending on the type of bedding material (S>WS>PN). Due to the higher water-holding capacity of PN and WS, less replacement bedding was required. More bedding (of all tested) was required during the autumn compared to the summer. The bedding environment was also influenced by type of material and season. PN had the greatest increase in pH and S had the lowest increase in pH. Stalls bedded with PN had higher concentrations of breathable NH3N during the autumn. The used PN with higher pH and less ventilation during the autumn contributed to the poor air quality. The number and species of microorganisms found in the breathing zone, nasal cavity and on the leg of the horse were affected by the season, type of bedding and duration of its use. The amount of dust also varied with type of bedding and duration of use. PN and WS resulted in more dust than S. The results indicate that bedding materials need to be managed based on the type of material and season of year.

Guidelines for the transport of early-weaned piglets based on field observations and experimental trials

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The stress of early weaning combined with the stress of transportation can predispose piglets to disease, such as post-weaning diarrhea, and can cause a significant depression in growth rates. Therefore, it is to the producera

THE DESIGN OF ENRICHED ANIMAL HABITATS FROM A BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE

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Genetic Improvement of Sire and Dam Lines for Enhanced Performance of Terminal Crossbreeding Systems

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Profitability of a pork production system relies on reducing the cost per unit of output that is achieved. There are opportunities to increase the profitability of the pork production system by genetic improvement of performance traits. Selection of superior individuals as parents within breeds and choice of breeds or composite lines to be used in crossbreeding systems are the general tools that breeders have available to bring about this genetic improvement. The use of genetically selected sire and dam lines enhances the performance of terminal crossbreeding systems. In this publication,
the potential for greater genetic improvement through the use of specialized sire and dam lines is discussed.

Agriculture In the Local Community: The Municipal Role

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Trends in Agriculture
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The Role of Hog Manure Application in Maintaining Air, Water and Soil Quality

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Traditionally the vast majority of manure production in Manitoba has been associated with rangeland cattle production. The increase in pork production and intensive cattle production in Mnaiotba has resulted in the production of more manure and a greater percentage of that manure in intensive livestock systems, where the manure is collected and spread one or two times throughout the year. The decreased reliance on grazing systems has resulted in greater concentration of livestock systems in some areas of the province and has brought these systems closer to the gernal public. The expansion of the industry and increased awarness of the industry by thepublic has increased the scrunity placed on this industry. Here we examine some of the poetnial impacts on soil, air, and water quality and the opportunities to manage these impatcs.

Agricultural in the Local Community: The Municiple Role

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Introduction
In some ways agriculture and the rural community have evolved in different directions. Production agriculture has increasingly industrialized – it has gotten larger, more specialized, more intensive and some would argue it now represents a significant risk to the environment and the quality of life of rural residents. In contrast, the rural community has become less farm oriented, less tolerant towards agriculture, more urban and relative to agriculture, it has become more politically influential – locally, provincially and nationally. In the midst of these processes, municipalities are expected to make decisions that balance these competing interests.
This paper reviews a number of community and agricultural trends that municipalities must consider. As municipalities attempt to cope with an ever changing agricultural industry and a significantly different rural community, it is pressured to develop appropriate planning tools. This paper builds on earlier work by Caldwell (2001) and presents a number of Best Management Practices (BMPs) that municipalities should consider in planning for agriculture. Are agriculture and the rural community heading in the same direction? Until the middle of the 20th century, agriculture and the rural community were largely inseparable. Farming was a lifestyle that largely defined the rural community. Small familybased units of production, close ties with neighbours, traditional technologies, and minimal change from generation to generation defined North America’s agricultural industry. With increasing mechanization following the Second World War, and with numerous social, demographic and technical changes throughout society, the rural community and agriculture began to head in separate directions. Today, while there remains a strong linkage between agriculture and the rural community, there are many trends that contribute to a divergent rural ommunity (Caldwell, 1998).