Animal Husbandry Conditions Research Articles

Does a stronger bond with pet rabbits equate to better husbandry conditions for them?

Rabbits are becoming one of the most popular pets in western countries, including the Czech Republic. Until now, the welfare-husbandry conditions of rabbits in correlation with owner attachment to the rabbit has never been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the bond with a rabbit and selected factors, such as ownership of a dog and/or cat, the time spent with the rabbit, and the age of any children living in the household, have an impact on a pet rabbit’s husbandry conditions. Data was gathered on the basis of a questionnaire survey conducted among pet rabbit owners in the Czech Republic. In total, 1651 completed questionnaires were collected through various channels, namely veterinary surgeries, pet shops, breeders, and social media. The questions covered demographics, living conditions, the presence of children and/or other pets, and the strength of the bond. We found that living with a child/children under 12 years of age, owning a dog and a cat, and spending less time with the rabbit were associated with a decreased bond between the owner and the rabbit. It was also found that decreased time spent with the rabbit is associated with decreased animal husbandry conditions. However, only a weak association was found between the bond of the owners to their rabbit and its welfare-husbandry conditions. Overall, the most alarming finding was that over 80% of companion rabbits in Czech Republic are kept in isolation. In conclusion, the amount of time owners spend with their rabbit appears to be a suitable parameter for determining the strength of the bond attachment and husbandry conditions of the rabbit. There were minimal differences between the strength of the bond and the breeding status of the rabbit if there was a child and/or other pets such as a dog and/or cat in the household. The role of rabbits has changed recently, and it is therefore necessary to conduct comprehensive research into rabbit welfare.

Saluran Pemasaran Telur Ayam Ras Di Desa Sunju, Kecamatan Marawola, Kabupaten Sigi

Community service is the implementation of science experience directly in the community. In general, animal husbandry in Sunju Village is directed at realizing advanced, efficient and resilient animal husbandry conditions. Efforts to increase livestock business opportunities, especially the broiler poultry business, require comprehensive regional policy support that can encourage increased productivity, product quality and market competitiveness. This service aims to increase the speed of the process of increasing the ability of human resources in accordance with the growth rate of development and can provide an understanding to laying hens about marketing channels from the farmer level to the final consumer and can also independently analyze the condition of the marketing channel in each channel in Sunju Village, Marawola District, Sigi Regency. The method used in this service is a survey to the intended location, interviews and socialization to farmers. The results of the service changed the information data in Sunju Village focusing on product marketing in the marketing channel. The importance of the results of this service is that we are more about the various kinds of marketing channels that exist.

Filling gaps in animal welfare assessment through metabolomics.

Sustainability has become a central issue in Italian livestock systems driving food business operators to adopt high standards of production concerning animal husbandry conditions. Meat sector is largely involved in this ecological transition with the introduction of new label claims concerning the defense of animal welfare (AW). These new guarantees referred to AW provision require new tools for the purpose of authenticity and traceability to assure meat supply chain integrity. Over the years, European Union (EU) Regulations, national, and international initiatives proposed provisions and guidelines for assuring AW introducing requirements to be complied with and providing tools based on scoring systems for a proper animal status assessment. However, the comprehensive and objective assessment of the AW status remains challenging. In this regard, phenotypic insights at molecular level may be investigated by metabolomics, one of the most recent high-throughput omics techniques. Recent advances in analytical and bioinformatic technologies have led to the identification of relevant biomarkers involved in complex clinical phenotypes of diverse biological systems suggesting that metabolomics is a key tool for biomarker discovery. In the present review, the Five Domains model has been employed as a vademecum describing AW. Starting from the individual Domains-nutrition (I), environment (II), health (III), behavior (IV), and mental state (V)-applications and advances of metabolomics related to AW setting aimed at investigating phenotypic outcomes on molecular scale and elucidating the biological routes most perturbed from external solicitations, are reviewed. Strengths and weaknesses of the current state-of-art are highlighted, and new frontiers to be explored for AW assessment throughout the metabolomics approach are argued. Moreover, a detailed description of metabolomics workflow is provided to understand dos and don'ts at experimental level to pursue effective results. Combining the demand for new assessment tools and meat market trends, a new cross-strategy is proposed as the promising combo for the future of AW assessment.

Improving Reproducibility to Enhance Scientific Rigor through Consideration of Mouse Diet.

Animal husbandry conditions, including rodent diet, constitute an example highlighting the importance of reporting experimental variables to enhance scientific rigor. In the present study, we examine the effects of three common rodent diets including two chows (Purina 5015 and Teklad 2019) and one purified ingredient diet (AIN-76A) on growth anthropometrics (body weight), behavior (nest building, actigraphy, passive avoidance) and blood biomarkers (ketones, glucose, amino acid profiles) in male and female C57BL/6J mice. We find increased body weight in response to the chows compared to purified ingredient diet albeit selectively in male mice. We did not find significantly altered behavior in female or male wild type C57BL/6J mice. However, amino acid profiles changed as an effect of sex and diet. These data contribute to a growing body of knowledge indicating that rodent diet impacts experimental outcomes and needs to be considered in study design and reporting.

Inhibitory protection of bearing units of electric motors in animal husbandry

The electric motor is always part of the agricultural production system, in particular the animal production system. Its purpose is to equip a technological object with energy to ensure the functioning of the production process. The weak link of electric motors used in animal production is the bearing assemblies due to their wear in the corrosive environment of the premises used in this industry. The aim of the work was to assess the effect of inhibitory protection on the reliability of the bearing assemblies of electric motors for the conditions of their operation in animal husbandry. A theoretical resource distribution of bearing assemblies was chosen, approximated by the three-parameter Weibull distribution. For two groups of bearing assemblies, with and without inhibitory protection, bench tests were carried out to simulate the conditions of animal husbandry. The distributions of the initial wear rate of bearings and the difference between the limiting and initial wear rates were obtained. Using the theoretical distribution, the parameters of Weibull distribution were established. Their analysis showed that the use of the inhibitor “Prana” increases the durability of bearings by 15%, which indicates the advisability of using this protection in animal husbandry conditions.

How does animal welfare taste? Combining sensory and choice experiments to evaluate willingness to pay for animal welfare pork

Although consumers show considerable interest in higher animal welfare, the market share for such products remains low. To provide consumers with a choice regarding different levels of animal welfare, animal welfare labels have been developed. Such product options are intended to serve as intermediate products between conventional products and more expensive organic options that are often associated with high animal welfare standards. This study aims to evaluate whether information about animal welfare practices affects consumers’ liking and willingness to pay (WTP) for a pork product. Using a within-subject design with three evaluation rounds (blind, expectation, and full information) we combine hedonic liking where subjects rate four different types of ham with a choice experiment. Hams differ in the animal husbandry conditions during the rearing and fattening process: conventional rearing, a specific treatment of mother sows, a general animal welfare label, and organic production. Results show an effect of information on consumers’ sensory evaluation of the different products, although products were evaluated to be similar in the blind condition. Consumers rated the organic product higher than those with animal welfare labels while the conventional option had the lowest liking scores. Results from the choice experiment concur with the hedonic rating. Estimates indicate that consumers are willing to pay more for ham bearing a general animal welfare or organic label in the expectation and full information condition. Consequently, information regarding animal welfare affects both consumers’ hedonic liking and WTP for ham.

Characterization of Experimental Oro-Nasal Inoculation of Seba's Short-Tailed Bats (Carollia perspicillata) with Bat Influenza A Virus H18N11.

In 2012 and 2013, the genomic sequences of two novel influenza A virus (IAV) subtypes, designated H17N10 and H18N11, were identified via next-generation sequencing in the feces of the little yellow-shouldered fruit bat (Sturnira lilium) and the flat-faced fruit-eating bat (Artibeus planirostris), respectively. The pathogenesis caused by these viruses in their respective host species is currently insufficiently understood, which is primarily due to the inability to obtain and keep these bat species under appropriate environmental and biosafety conditions. Seba’s short-tailed bats (Carollia perspicillata), in contrast, are close relatives and a natural H18N11 reservoir species, with the advantage of established animal husbandry conditions in academic research. To study viral pathogenesis in more detail, we here oro-nasally inoculated Seba’s short-tailed bats with the bat IAV H18N11 subtype. Following inoculation, bats appeared clinically healthy, but the histologic examination of tissues revealed a mild necrotizing rhinitis. Consistently, IAV-matrix protein and H18-RNA positive cells were seen in lesioned respiratory and olfactory nasal epithelia, as well as in intestinal tissues. A RT-qPCR analysis confirmed viral replication in the conchae and intestines as well as the presence of viral RNA in the excreted feces, without horizontal transmission to naïve contact animals. Moreover, all inoculated animals seroconverted with low titers of neutralizing antibodies.

Influence of animal husbandry practices on void spot assay outcomes in C57BL/6J male mice

Mice are increasingly being used as models to investigate aspects of urinary dysfunction that humans with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) experience. One method used to examine voiding function is the spontaneous void spot assay. The purpose of this study was to characterize and identify animal husbandry conditions that might confound results of the spontaneous void spot assay in male C57Bl/6J mice. Mice were placed in cages lined with filter paper for 4 hr and urine was visualized with UV transillumination. Voiding parameters including urine spot number, spot size, total urine area, primary void area, corner and center voiding were quantified. Adult male mice void more frequently with advancing age and a subpopulation (5-10%) display a frequent spotting pattern at 6-9 weeks of age. Voiding was not significantly different in male mice weaned to group housing (4-6 per cage) versus single housing, and was not altered when they were used as breeders. Voiding was changed upon transferring group housed adult males to single density cages, which decreased total urine area. Repeated assays of male voiding behavior over three consecutive days increased primary void area by the third day of monitoring and revealed that voiding behavior is impacted by routine cage changes and time of day. Together these results identify housing and husbandry practices that influence male voiding behaviors in the spontaneous void spot assay and will inform voiding behavior analyses conducted with male C57Bl/6J mice.

The PAS-domain kinase PASKIN: a new sensor in energy homeostasis.

The PAS domain kinase PASKIN, also termed PAS kinase or PASK, is an evolutionarily conserved potential sensor kinase related to the heme-based oxygen sensors of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. In yeast, the two PASKIN homologs link energy flux and protein synthesis following specific stress conditions. In mammals, PASKIN may regulate glycogen synthesis and protein translation. Paskin knock-out mice do not show any phenotype under standard animal husbandry conditions. Interestingly, these mice seem to be protected from the symptoms of the metabolic syndrome when fed a high-fat diet. Energy turnover might be increased in specific PASKIN-deficient cell types under distinct environmental conditions. According to the current model, binding of a putative ligand to the PAS domain disinhibits the kinase domain and activates PASKIN auto- and target phosphorylation. Future research needs to be conducted to elucidate the nature of the putative ligand and the molecular mechanisms of downstream signalling by PASKIN.

The use of multi element profiling to differentiate between cowand buffalo milk

The multi element profile of milk from 12 cows and 6 water buffaloes was investigated, to establish whether dairy products derived from the two species could be distinguished. Multi-element data were obtained using ICP-MS. Following assessment against the team’s QA/QC criteria, or where the levels were below the LOD for the procedure, 16 elements (P, S, K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Ga, Rb, Sr, Mo, Cs and Ba) were submitted for statistical analysis. Using linear discriminant analysis (LDA) it was possible to differentiate between milk from the two species, produced under identical environmental and animal husbandry conditions, on one farm. The sources of food and water available for consumption by the animals were also analysed and the results showed that there was no correlation between the elemental composition of the dietary components and the profiles observed in the milk.

Modification of mRNA expression after treatment with anabolic agents and the usefulness for gene expression-biomarkers

With this feasibility study a first step towards a new monitoring system for hormonal treatments was done. Screening of regulation and function of anabolic sex steroids via modified gene expression of mRNA in various tissues could be a new approach to trace treatments with unknown drugs or newly combined cocktails.In the study, uterus, liver and muscle tissue from 24 cycling heifers were taken after the animals were treated either with Melengestrol Acetate (MGA), Finaplix-H® (200mg Trenbolone Acetate) or Ralgro® (36mg Zeranol) for 56 days. In every treatment group always two heifers were given 1-fold, 3-fold and 10-fold doses of the standard preparation, the control group without any treatment consisted of two animals. The different tissue gene expression profiles were investigated via the candidate gene approach. Totally 57 candidate genes were selected according to their functionality by screening the actual literature and composed to functional groups: angiogenesis, apoptosis, cell cycle, endocrine factors, energy metabolism, inflammatory factors, muscle function, oncogenes, protein metabolism and transcription factors. Gene expression was measured using quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) technology.From 24 tested candidate genes in the liver, 17 showed a significant regulation. Eight genes were influenced by MGA, 9 by Finaplix-H®, and 4 by Ralgro®. For the muscle tissue 19 genes were tested with the result that in the neck muscle 11 genes were regulated and in the hind limb muscle 8 genes. In the neck 5 genes were affected by MGA, 6 by Finaplix-H® and 3 by Ralgro®. Only 2 genes were influenced by MGA in the hind limb muscle. Finaplix-H® affected 6 and Ralgro® 4 genes. In the uterus 29 target genes were tested and 13 were significantly influenced by the anabolic sex steroids. Under Finaplix-H® treatment eight target genes were regulated and Ralgro® and MGA showed a significant regulation in four target genes.The highest gene expression changes under anabolic treatment were observed in the uterus. The analyzed genes showed significant regulations but further studies, testing different animal husbandry conditions will be needed to identify meaningful expression patterns for the different tissues.With the investigation of the regulation and possible function of anabolic sex steroids via gene expression, a preparatory work for the development of an expression pattern for drug screening was made.

Geographic origin of meat—elements of an analytical approach to its authentication

This review article discusses recent analytical developments with respect to the determination of the geographic origin of raw meat. The main emphasis is laid on lamb, beef and poultry. So far, some methods have shown quite promising potential (e.g. stable isotope ratios, trace elements), others have remained unsatisfactory in their discriminating power to authenticate the geographic origin of meat (e.g. microbiological profile, sensory traits, volatile compounds). Other methods (e.g. animal genotype, gross chemical composition) could be auxiliary criteria as they help to determine related indicators such as feeding or housing conditions but not directly the origin. The complexity of this question is large. An integrated approach simultaneously addressing various species and production characteristics such as environment, animal husbandry conditions, breed, feeding and drinking water has to be developed. Strategies have to be different for global and micro-regional scales.

A prolactin family paralog regulates reproductive adaptations to a physiological stressor.

Successful species develop strategies to optimize their reproductive performance. This optimization likely includes the evolution of genes that specifically permit reproduction in physiologically challenging conditions. The prolactin (PRL) family gene cluster is one of 25 mouse-specific gene clusters, the majority of which are associated with reproduction. A prevailing theme characterizing the PRL family is its connection with pregnancy and mechanisms controlling viviparity. PRL-like protein A (PLP-A) is one of 26 genes located within the PRL family locus. It is a nonclassical member of the PRL family (e.g., PLP-A does not use the PRL receptor) produced by trophoblast cells of the chorioallantoic placenta and acts on uterine natural killer cells. In this report, the biology of PLP-A has been investigated by generating mice with a PLP-A null mutation. Under standardized animal husbandry conditions, PLP-A possesses modest effects on reproductive performance. However, this same gene is critical for reproduction when mice are exposed to a physiological stressor. Wild-type mice exposed to hypobaric hypoxia during gestation readily adapt and maintain their pregnancies, whereas PLP-A null mutant mice fail to adapt, resulting in pregnancy failure. PLP-A contributes to hypoxia-induced adaptations critical to hemochorial placentation and thus nutrient flow to extraembryonic and embryonic tissues. The findings provide insights into species-specific reproductive adaptations.

Méthodologie d'évaluation de la santé et de la productivité des petits ruminants en Afrique : l'exemple du Sénégal

The authors describe a system of investigation introduced into Senegal in 1983; their purpose is to extend knowledge about the farming of small ruminants and the epidemiological relevance of such farming. The investigations are conducted in the traditional livestock sector by using a multidisciplinary approach. The precision and reliability of the information depend on the recording and processing of data on individual animals. The system of investigation has a modular structure organised around a central module for demographic surveys. The peripheral modules correspond to specific activities: clinical surveillance, recording changes in body state, laboratory tests and a study of animal husbandry conditions and practices. The authors distinguish four levels of analysis depending on the origin of variables under consideration: a single module (level 1), the demographic module plus the peripheral module (level 2), the demographic module plus two or more peripheral modules (level 3) and one or more modules derived from experimental modification of certain features of the husbandry system (level 4). The constraints and limitations of the procedure are discussed.

Genetic engineering and animal welfare

Transgenic engineering of animals has already caused animals to suffer and this was not anticipated by the researchers involved. As more animals are subjected to transgenic intervention, the probability of animal suffering increases. Types and sources of suffering include the following. 1. (1) Developmental abnormalities. Once the anticipated genetic changes have been accomplished and the new animal prototypes developed as foundation breeding stock, problems are to be anticipated and have already been shown to occur in transgenic animals. 2. (2) Deleterious pleiotropic effects. The term pleiotropism refers to multiple effects by one or more genes on the animal's phenotype. Pervasive suffering can arise from such genetic engineering. This is so in the case of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (U.S.D.A.'s) sickly transgenic pigs. Predictions and assurances as to the safety and humaneness of genetic engineering cannot be generalized from one animal species to other species. 3. (3) New health problems. Veterinary medical knowledge will be inadequate to deal with the special requirements of animals subjected to genetic reprogramming. Research will be needed to correct health problems and associated suffering. 4. (4) Disease resistance. Simply endowing an animal with resistance to a particular disease will not protect it from other pathogens or the stress factors and contingent suffering that make it susceptible to disease in the first place, such as transportation stress, overcrowding, etc. 5. (5) Genetic disorders. Following the successful insertion of the gene for human insulin into diabetic mice, their diabetes was cured. However, after several weeks the mice died of excess insulin. Simply stopping the practice of inbreeding and breeding defective animals is the best prevention. 6. (6) Productivity and suffering. Genetic engineering biotechnology to increase the productivity of farm animals (growth rates, milk or egg yield, etc.) will increase the severity and incidence of animal suffering. The term “production-related diseases” acknowledges that animal sickness and suffering are an unavoidable and integral aspect of modern livestock and poultry farming. 7. (7) Selective Breeding. Veterinary medical research has only recently begun to recognize that so many of the health problems of companion animals are genetic in origin. Few of the disorders that affect farm animals have been looked at from this perspective. The genetic engineering of farm animals for these same reasons will, therefore, have similar consequences. 8. (8) Suffering in the absence of disease. The stress and primary suffering that arise from the consequences of how they are selectively bred, raised and handled have led to dependence upon vaccines and other biologics to protect their weakened immune systems. With such artificial supports, primary suffering will increase as producers are able to adopt even more intensive methods of animal production. The absence of actual disease does not mean an end to animal suffering under current farm animal husbandry conditions. We should all ask why we need to genetically engineer farm animals, especially in these times of agricultural surpluses and chronic overproduction. Are the risks and costs of potential and actual animal suffering worth the benefits, and who will be the primary beneficiaries?