Diurnal rhythm of feather pecking behaviour and condition of integument in four strains of loose housed laying hens.

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The feather pecking behaviour of four different genetic strains of hens was examined in an aviary system, starting at 38 weeks of age. The four genetic strains used in this study were Lohmann Selected Leghorns, Norbrid 41, Lohmann Brown and ISA Brown. The feather pecking behaviour was observed via video recording. In addition, the condition of the feathers, keel bone, bumble foot, body weight and length and curve of the beak were also recorded from week 17 until week 69. The medium heavy strains (Browns), especially the ISA Brown, performed the most feather pecking behaviour, especially when compared to the levels seen in the White Leghorn strains. The number of pecks performed during a single feather pecking incident was not significantly different amongst the various strains, however, when pecking was directed towards the back of another bird, the pecking bout lasted significantly longer in White Leghorn Strains. Specifically Lohmann Selected Leghorns pecked significantly longer at the ventral area of the body. For all four strains, a feather-pecking bout tended to last much longer if it was directed towards the tail. Time of day also affects feather pecking, as the number of feather pecks per hour increased as the day progressed, and this increase was more drastic in medium heavy strains. The condition of the skin became poor quite quickly once the hens began to lay, this was similar in all strains. In terms of condition of the feathers at the end of the laying period, Norbrids had the best and Lohmann Browns had the worst.

Effects of heat stress on the welfare of extensively managed domestic ruminants.

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The environmental factors of high ambient temperatures, high direct and indirect solar radiation, and humidity can stress animals. Although ruminants have thermoregulatory mechanisms, maintaining homeothermy under heat stress is difficult. There are negative consequences for productivity when animals experience hyperthermia. As body temperature rises, there is an adaptive depression of metabolic rate associated with reduced appetite. There are physiological (sweating, panting), hormonal (cortisol, thyroid gland activity) and behavioural responses that are activated in an attempt to maintain homeothermy. Heat stress may be aggravated by water deprivation, nutritional imbalance, and nutritional deficiency. This review also discusses how cattle are more sensitive to heat stress than sheep, and how animals of different productive stages are more susceptible to heat stress than animals at maintenance. Methods for alleviating heat stress under extensive conditions (such as providing shade shelter) are also discussed.

Inbreeding in Swine

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Inbreeding is the mating of individuals that are related. In the strict sense, all members of a breed are related. As a result, any seedstock producer is practicing some inbreeding. Therefore, we generally reserve the term inbreeding for the mating of animals that are more closely related than the average of the breed.
Most breeds of livestock went through a phase of inbreeding early in their development. This resulted from the need to establish color patterns and other aspects of physical appearance. Since one of the results of inbreeding is to establish more genetic uniformity, those traits that have simple means of
inheritance can be fixed more easily with the aid of inbreeding.

EFFECTS OF FLUCTUATING TEMPERATURES ON ISOWEAN PIGS

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An evaluation of mattresses and mats in two dairy units.

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In order to investigate the relative merits of mats and mattresses in terms of cow comfort, production and performance, 29 cows were housed on ethylethene vinyl acetate (EVA) mats and 29 on mattresses of loose rubber crumb with a polypropylene cover, at each of two similar dairy units. Both mats and mattresses were newly installed at the start of the trial. The cows were housed in the autumn after calving. Milk yield was recorded daily. Cows were weighed and scored for body condition, locomotion, dirtiness and hock and knee injury at fortnightly intervals. Feed offered was recorded daily and refusals were weighed weekly. Monthly milk records of milk yield, milk composition and somatic cell count data were available for both herds. In addition, 24 h behavioural observations of 15 core cows in each group were made at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 16 and 32 post-housing. There was do difference between cows on mats and mattresses in milk yield, composition or quality, in feed intake; in weight loss or body condition score; in severe hock or knee injury; or in the incidence of lameness. Cows on mattresses tended to have slightly higher total dirtiness scores than those on mats and had dirtier udders. However, over the whole housing period, cows on mattresses spent longer feeding, ruminating and lying, and a greater proportion of their lying time was spent ruminating. Cows on mattresses appeared to adapt to housing more quickly than those on mats. Overall, neither mat nor mattress gave advantages in terms of production or performance. Cows were slightly cleaner on mats but behavioural indices suggest that cow comfort was greater on mattresses.

The relationship between reaction to sudden, intermittent movements and sounds and temperament.

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Some cattle are more sensitive to sudden movement or intermittent sound than other cattle, as was indicated through casual observations. A total of 1636 cattle, mostly Bos taurus or Holstein dairy cattle, were observed at commercial livestock operations to assess the relationship between breed, sex, and temperament score on the response to sudden, intermittent visual and sound stimuli. Examples of such stimuli included the ringman swinging his arm for a bid and the sound of the ringman briefly yelling a bid. The animals were scored while in the ring according to a 4-point temperament score. Scores included were 1) walks and/or stands still, with slow, smooth body movements; 2) continuously walks or trots, and vigilant; 3) gait is faster than a trot (runs even a couple of steps) with fast, abrupt, jerky movements, and very vigilant; and 4) hits the ring fence, walls, partitions, or people with its head. Flinches, startle responses, and orientation toward sudden, intermittent sounds, motions, and tactile stimulation, such as being touched with a cane or plastic paddle were observed. Holsteins were more sound- and touch-sensitive than beef cattle. As temperament (excitability) score increased, so did sensitivity to sudden, intermittent stimuli such as sound, motion, and touch. Those cattle least sensitive to sudden, intermittent movement and sound had a temperament score of 1 while those cattle most sensitive to the same stimuli had a score of 4. Observations for touch were not statistically significant even though a similar relationship was occasionally observed. Motion-sensitive cattle were more likely to score a temperament rating of 3 or 4 than non-sensitive cattle. Steers and heifers were more motion-sensitive than older bulls or cows. Dairy cattle urinated and defecated less frequently once in the auction ring than beef cattle. The cattle that became agitated during handling in the auction ring were the cattle most likely to be startled by sudden, intermittent sounds and movements. Conclusions stated that reactivity to sudden, intermittent stimuli may be an indicator of an excitable temperament.

Effects of age and stocking density on leg weakness in broiler chickens.

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Leg weakness in broiler chickens was assessed when the birds were different ages and housed at different stocking densities (STD). Two trials were conducted. In trial 1, birds were housed at the following stocking densities: 833, 625, or 435 cm2 per bird. The walking ability of the birds was assessed at 28, 42, and 49 days of age. In trial 2, the following stocking densities were studied: 625 or 455 cm2 per bird. Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) was assessed in the birds at 28 days of age and walking ability was assessed at 35 days of age. When the birds were slaughtered at 42 days of age, foot pad burn, hock burn, and angulation of the hock joint were assessed. During both trials, body weight was also measured. The results indicated that leg weakness was not a problem at 28 days of age at any of the STD. Leg weakness deteriorated over the next two weeks, such that the birds had more difficulty walking. Walking ability continued to worsen in the following weeks. Leg weakness was a greater problem in males than females. The results from both trials indicated that greater difficulties walking and reduced live weights occurred at higher stocking densities. More hock and foot burns were occurred in birds at higher stocking densities. However, stocking density did not have an effect on TD or angulation of the hock joint. The authors concluded that leg weakness was reduced at lower STD.

Deletion of supplemental minerals and vitamins during the late finishing period does not affect pig weight gain and feed intake

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MODELING HEAT MAT OPERATION FOR PIGLET CREEP HEATING

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Effects of density on displacement, falls, injuries, and orientation during horse transportation

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The effects of density on displacements, falls, injuries, and orientation among horses being transported in a single-deck, open-topped semi-trailer were evaluated. Horses were either transported at high density (1.28 m2 / horse with 14 horses) or low density (2.23 m2 / horse with eight horses). The horses were transported for two laps on a course, which was 7.28 km and took approximately 25 min to complete. There were two 60 turns, four 90 turns, two 120 turns, one 180 turn, six hard breaks, and six rapid accelerations on each lap. The behaviour of the horses was videotaped using overhead video cameras. The number of displacements did not differ between the two densities. More horses fell in the high density treatment than the low density treatment. More horses were injured in the high density treatment than in the low density treatment. However, the severity of injuries did not differ between the two treatments. The horses did not seem to have a preferred orientation during travel, as there were no differences between those facing forward and those facing away from the direction of travel. Transporting horses at high stocking densities results in a higher incidence of falls and injuries, and can make it more difficult for the horse to get up after a fall.