Feed Delivery Research Articles

Risk Factors for Postpartum Medroxyprogesterone Problematic Bleeding [8R

INTRODUCTION: Medroxyprogesterone acetate is a safe and effective immediate postpartum contraceptive (MPA-PP). However, the resultant irregular bleeding attributed to MPA-PP is problematic. Little is known as to the contributing factors that increase risk of MPA-PP bleeding. Thus we compared patients that complained of MPA-PP bleeding to those who did not. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of all women receiving MPA-PP and had at least 3 months follow-up during 16 month period at a suburban health network. Age, ethnicity, BMI, Breast feeding status, parity, pregnancy complications and delivery type were collected. All visit between 3 months and 12 months were reviewed for persistent bleeding complaints and continuation rates of MPA. This study was approved by IRB. Those with and without bleeding complaints were compared using chi squared or t-test as appropriate. RESULTS: Of the 204 MPA-PP patients studied during the first PP year, 99 switched to alternative contraception or discontinued all contraception, 58 had no MPA bleeding complaints and 47 complained of persistent bleeding. Thirty of the 47 (64%) patients with bleeding stopped MPA. MPA bleeding group did not differ by age, BMI, ethnicity, and pregnancy complications. Although MPA bleeding group had lower cesarean delivery (p=0.06), breast feeding rates (p=0.11), and parity (p=0.07), they did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Of those wishing to continue MPA-PP, 47/58 (63%) complained of persistent bleeding during the first PP year. Although initiation of MPA in the postpartum period is associated with higher rates of bleeding than in the non-postpartum period, risk factors remain elusive.

Envisioning more effective delivery of custom feeding programs using participatory approaches: Lessons from Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

In South Africa, livelihoods of smallholder cattle farmers are constrained by a lack of appropriate production knowledge, climate change, inadequate support services, societal inequity, irrelevant pro-poor policies and inappropriate delivery of improved livestock technologies. A transdisciplinary team of local and international researchers conducted a workshop to explore opportunities and constraints to the delivery of a beef cattle custom feeding programme in Eastern Cape Province using participatory approaches, including visioning exercises. The main challenges to the cattle custom feeding programme reported by producers included lack of cattle production skills, lack of technical knowledge on feed production, limited funding and inconsistent cattle feed delivery. Participants envisioned a portfolio of locally based solutions that included prioritization of local feed production, identification of sustainable support networks, establishment of a communal herd to cover feeding centre’s overhead costs and creation of a knowledge exchange platform for farmers. In addition, participants attempted to strengthen knowledge transfer among stakeholders through the development of an online site for knowledge exchange. Overall, the participatory approaches adopted empowered participants to freely express their opinions and openly share knowledge and experiences regarding common challenges and opportunities associated with delivery of a beef cattle custom feeding programme.

Determinants of Infant Feeding Practices Among HIV-Infected Mothers in Urban Kano, Nigeria.

Despite advances in prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission, infants in Africa remain at risk of HIV acquisition from inappropriate feeding practices. To assess maternal knowledge and predictors of appropriate infant feeding practices among HIV-infected mothers attending a tertiary facility in Kano, Nigeria. A cross section of 203 HIV-positive mothers were interviewed using structured, pretested survey questionnaires. Knowledge scores and infant feeding practices were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to ascertain independent correlates of infant feeding practices in the study sample. Over a third (37.4%) of the participants were aware of the risk of HIV transmission through breastfeeding. The proportion of participants with good, fair, and poor knowledge of recommended feeding options for HIV-exposed infants was 4.4%, 73.4%, and 22.2%, respectively. About three in four participants (73.9%) breastfed their index infants exclusively for the first six months. Approximately 7.4% of respondents practiced mixed feeding (breastfeeding plus infant formula). Counseling on infant feeding (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 2.16, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = [1.58, 4.15]) and hospital delivery (AOR = 3.02, 95% CI = [2.67, 7.84]) predicted appropriate infant feeding practice. Appropriate infant feeding practices were significantly associated with prior infant feeding counseling and delivery in a hospital setting. HIV-infected mothers in this setting should receive counseling on infant feeding early in their pregnancy and be educated on the importance of hospital delivery.

Effects of Feeding Frequency on the Lying Behavior of Dairy Cows in a Loose Housing with Automatic Feeding and Milking System.

Simple SummaryFeeding management in modern dairy farms is becoming increasingly important economically and technologically as well as concern for the comfort and welfare of dairy cows. Automatic feeding systems enable more frequent delivery of fresh feed to dairy cows compared to conventional feeding systems and, in combination with automatic milking systems, provide cows more freedom to determine individual critical behavioral activities (feeding, lying, and milking). This study examined the effects of feed delivery frequency on behavior of lactating dairy cows in an automatic feeding and milking system. The results highlight a potential negative effect of high frequency (11 times per day) feed delivery compared to low frequency (six times per day) on lying behavior. This indication can improve feeding management and the productivity and welfare of lactating dairy cows.Management systems in modern dairy farms is an important issue in relation to animal comfort and welfare. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of feed delivery frequency on the behavior patterns, visits to an automatic milking system (AMS) and on milk production of lactating dairy cows. The study was conducted on a commercial dairy farm with automatic feeding and milking systems. Feeding treatments consisted of two different frequencies, high feed delivery frequency (11 deliveries per day) and low feed delivery frequency (six deliveries per day). Lying behavior of 20 dairy cows was electronically monitored. The results obtained showed that 11 deliveries per day feed delivery frequency decreases the number of long-duration lying bouts, which may indicate that a very high feeding frequency disturbs the cows during their resting periods and thus influences both animal comfort and milk production. High feeding frequency may disturb the duration of lying bouts and alter the pattern of lying behavior throughout the day, affecting mainly the lying time during the 60 min before and following the provision of fresh feed. Delivering feed at a low frequency allow cows to distribute more evenly their lying time over the course of the day and improve their utilization of an AMS.

SUBSTITUTING SORGHUM GRAIN WITH CRUDE GLYCEROL IN DIETS FOR BEEF CATTLE

The expansion of the biodiesel industry has created opportunities for crude glycerol use in beef cattle diets. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of substituting sorghum grain with crude glycerol on dry matter intake (DMI), growth performance and feed intake pattern of 28 non-castrated Nelore males with initial body weight (BW) of 441 kg and 21.5 months of age housed in individual or collective pens. Crude glycerol was included at 15% of the ration dry matter as a replacement for sorghum grain. Orts were collected and weighed daily, and DMI was calculated by difference between feed offered and feed refused. Feed intake pattern was determined every two weeks after the beginning of the study in three intervals relative to feed delivery (0-4, 4-10, and 10-24 hours post-feeding). Animals’ BW was obtained on days 1, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, and 84 days of the trial after a 12-hour solid fasting. Crude glycerol did not alter (P>0.05) DMI, growth performance, hot carcass weight and dressing percentage compared with the control diet. A treatment × days of experiment response (P<0.05) occurred due to a decreased DMI in animals fed crude glycerol during the first 14 days of the trial. Crude glycerol-fed animals decreased (P<0.05) the NDF intake pattern in individual and collective pens. Crude glycerol can be used as a substitute for sorghum grain in beef cattle diets.

Positive outcomes and cost savings from a nutrition nurse led NJ placement

Introduction: Naso-jejunal (NJ) tubes are extremely useful for delivery of post pyloric feeding, and are traditionally placed via endoscopy. An alternative to this is a CORTAK (CNJ), which allows for placement at bedside. The CORTRAK enteral access system uses an electromagnetic sensing device to track and display the path of the feeding tube tip into the body in real time. It requires user interpretation to assess passage of the tube into the stomach or lung; and if the tube has advanced past the stomach into the duodenum / jejunum. In appropriate cases, using CNJ avoids the needs for endoscopy altogether, freeing up resource in endoscopy and facilitating more rapid placement of an appropriate enteral feeding tube.

A review of a recently implemented volume based feeding protocol to improve enteral feeding delivery on a cardiothoracic intensive care unit

A review of a recently implemented volume based feeding protocol to improve enteral feeding delivery on a cardiothoracic intensive care unit

Misconception about Value-added Tax (VAT) Exemption Policy on Animal Feed in the Flour Industry: An Issue on Self-sufficiency of Meat after Reformation

Flour industry and animal feed industry play an important role in supporting government programs to achieve self-sufficiency of meat. The important role of these animal feed producers has triggered the government to stipulate appropriate tax policies to ensure the growth and development of both industries. Through tax policy instruments, the government has provided facilities in the form of Value Added Tax (VAT) exemption for the delivery of animal feed and animal feed ingredients. However, in its implementation, this policy has not been all-inclusive, leading to a cascading effect suffered by the flour industry. It results in an opportunity cost and cost of taxation affecting the productivity of the flour industry as the producer of animal feed. This study applies a qualitative-descriptive method with data collection techniques of in-depth interview and documentation study. This study explains the implications of VAT exemption policy for the flour industry, evaluates VAT exemption policy on animal feed in the perspective of public policy and productivity of animal feed producers, and analyzes political relations and ideas for VAT policy on animal feed in an effort to support national flour industry and animal feed industry

Substituição do sorgo grão por glicerol não refinado em dietas para bovinos de corte

A expansão na indústria de biodiesel tem criado oportunidades para o uso do glicerol não refinado em rações de bovinos de corte. Objetivou-se neste estudo determinar os efeitos da substituição do sorgo grão pelo glicerol não refinado sobre o consumo de matéria seca (CMS), ganho de peso e padrão de alimentação de 28 machos Nelore não castrados com peso corporal (PC) inicial de 441 ± 40,2 kg e 21,5 ± 0,5 meses de idade alojados em baias individuais ou coletivas. O experimento teve duração de 98 dias (29 de junho a 5 de outubro de 2015) com período de adaptação de 14 dias e 84 dias para coleta dos dados. Incluiu-se o glicerol não refinado em 15% da matéria seca (MS) da ração como substituto do sorgo grão. As sobras foram coletadas e pesadas diariamente e o CMS foi calculado pela diferença entre o oferecido e sobras. Determinou-se o padrão de alimentação a cada 2 semanas após o início do estudo em 3 intervalos relativos ao início da alimentação (0-4, 4-10 e 10-24 horas pós-alimentação). Obteve-se o PC dos animais nos dias 1, 13, 27, 41, 55, 69 e 83 dias da pesquisa após jejum de sólidos de 12 horas. O glicerol não refinado não alterou (P&gt;0,05) o CMS, ganho de peso, peso da carcaça quente e rendimento de carcaça comparado à dieta controle. Houve resposta (P

Social dominance affects intake rate and behavioral time budget in pre-pubertal dairy heifers allocated in continuous competitive situations

In intensive feeding systems, competition may be high and social dominance may affect animal performance by changing dry matter intake (DMI) and behavioral time budgets. If competition level is maintain over time, the strategies developed by heifers of different social status are expected to differ. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare individual DMI, intake rate and eating, ruminating, lying and standing behaviors in dominant (DOM) and subordinate (SUB) pre-pubertal dairy heifers in a model study implying continuous competitive situations. A total of 16 Holstein and Jersey×Holstein pre-pubertal heifers (251±10 days old, weighing 208±14 kg; mean±SEM) were allocated into eight homogeneous dyads. Each dyad was maintained during 120 days (day 0=beginning of measurements) in pens, and received a total mixed ration from one feeder/dyad. The DOM and SUB heifers was determined (day 0, twice during the first month of the experiment and every month afterwards) by observation of the winner in agonistic interactions in each dyad after the feed was supplied. The general activity pattern (eating, ruminating, lying and standing) of each heifer was recorded by direct instantaneous scan-sampling, every 10 min for 12 h, in 7 days (days 1, 21, 35, 60, 75, 100 and 120). Individual DMI was estimated with the double marker technique, in three intervals (I=days 17-26; II=days 78-87 and III=days 112-120), while estimated intake rate (kg/min) was calculated for each interval as the DMI per total eating time. After the experiment was concluded, data of the first 5 and the last 6 h of the 12 h scan-sampling (related to the moment the feed was supplied) was grouped according to the moments of greater and lesser competition for feed on each day. During the first 5 h, where competition was expected to be highest, no differences in eating behavior were found between heifers of different social status, but DOM heifers spent more time ruminating and lying than SUB heifers, while SUB spent more time standing than DOM heifers. No differences were found on DMI between DOM and SUB, but SUB ate at a faster rate on interval II compared with DOM heifers. In conclusion, in this model study of heifer dyads, SUB heifers had greater intake rate with no differences in feed intake, spent less time ruminating and lying, and more time standing than DOM heifers during the first hours after feed delivery.

Methods of experimental testing operating parts in individual dispenser of mixed fodders

Purpose. Improving the reliability of the results of the study of the working bodies of the individual compound feed dispenser by improving the method of their implementation. Methods. Experimental research of the working bodies in individual metering of feed were carried out using the laws of kinematics and dynamics and with the use of strain gauges. Method planned experiment using the theory of screening experiment, statistical processing of research results with the use PC. Results. The experimental installation has been developed for research of cone and cone-blade working bodies by individual batcher of compound feeds with devices for measuring, registration and transfer of information by electric signals of the current values mass stream in dynamic mode, display and storage of information and control and measuring devices for measurement power of process dosing and irregularity delivery of compound feed. Weight of compound feed in the bunker by individual batcher, changes direction movement stream of compound feed. The technique of experimental researches using the theory of screening experiment by random balance, the factors are equal to their variation, which affect the optimization criterion of the individual feed dispenser, the matrix plan of the screening experiment, the equation for determining the effects factors and the physical and mechanical properties of feed. Conclusions. Research of the working bodies in the individual feed dispenser according to the proposed technique of the random experiment by the random balance method makes it possible to establish significant and insignificant research factors (diameter and speed of the cone working body, height and number of blades, the angle of the cone at its base, the ring gap between the outlet neck of the hopper and the cone working body), to increase the reliability of the results of the experiment. Keywords: individual dispenser, experimental installation, operating part, productivity, optimization criterion, mixed fodder.

Positive and negative emotions in dairy cows: Can ear postures be used as a measure?

Applying objective measures to assess the emotional states of animals is an important area of research and essential for improving animal welfare. In this study, we have built upon previous research to test whether ear postures can be used as an indicator of emotional states in dairy cows.By using a positive and negative contrast paradigm, we elicited the emotional states of excitement and frustration in 22 dairy cows. Each cow was first conditioned to expect the delivery of standard feed when a bell was rung. Once they were familiar with the experimental set-up and the delivery of the feed, they were then given concentrates feed instead. As concentrates are highly desired, this was considered to elicit the emotional state of excitement. This was then repeated five times. On the following trial, the cows were given inedible woodchip, and the cows’ unfulfilled expectations were considered to elicit a state of frustration.We observed the cows’ ear postures and mean heart rate (beats per minute) during 15-minute focal observations, each comprised of 5 min of pre-feeding (baseline), 5 min of feeding, and 5 min of post-feeding. Both the woodchip treatment and the concentrates elicited significantly higher mean heart rates compared with the standard feed, indicating that both treatments elicited a high arousal emotional state. The woodchip and concentrates treatments were also significantly associated with the increased performance of different ear postures, indicating that cows do perform certain ear postures in relation to both positive and negative high arousal emotional states.Our results complement previous research performed with both cows and sheep, and indicate that with training and contextual knowledge, ear postures may be suitable as a reliable measure of emotional state in dairy cows.

Risk of poultry compartments for transmission of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

When outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) occur in OIE member countries with until then disease-free status, member countries can use ‘compartmentalisation’. A compartment may be defined as a subset of farms under a common management system, complying with certain stringent surveillance, control and biosecurity measures, and based on that may receive a disease-free status. Based on this disease-free status the compartment is exempted from certain transport restrictions coming into force in case of outbreaks occurring in the country. For deciding whether a candidate compartment is granted official compartment status, it is relevant to assess the additional HPAI transmission risks that would arise due to the exemptions granted. These risks consist of both additional local transmission risks as well as the additional risk of a ‘jump’ of HPAI infection from one poultry area, via the compartment, to another area. Here such risk assessment is carried out using a spatial mathematical model for between-farm transmission in the Netherlands, yielding insight in the roles of compartment composition and contact structure and identify relevant evaluation criteria for granting HPAI compartment status. At the core of this model are transmission probabilities associated with indirect between-farm contacts, e.g. through feed delivery, egg collection and professional visitors. These probabilities were estimated from Dutch epidemic outbreak data in earlier work. The additional risk of a jump of HPAI from one area, via the compartment, to another area is calculated relative to the direct jump risk. The results show that additional transmission risks caused by a compartment to other farms are mainly dependent on the distance of densely populated poultry areas (DPPAs) to the nearest compartment farm. Apart from conditions on these distances, we also recommend specific routing requirements for transport and other movements within the compartment.

Case Study: Effect of exercise programs during receiving in a commercial feedlot on behavior and productivity of Brahman crossbred calves: Results from a commercial environment and a comparison to the research environment

ABSTRACT Exercising receiving cattle is hypothesized to be a management strategy that could mitigate receiving stress in cattle. Little empirical research has been published on the quantifiable (productivity, health, behavior) effects of this strategy in a commercial feedyard setting. In a single Texas feedyard case study, high-risk Brahman-crossbred receiving calves (n = 688; 184 ± 5 kg) were exercised during the receiving period in the fall. Upon arrival, calves were sorted into single-sex pens (n = 6 pens: n = 3 pens heifers, n = 3 pens steers) and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments within sex blocks: (1) programmatic exercise (PRO; cattle moved to drive alley and encouraged to maintain movement for 20 min), (2) free exercise (FRE; cattle moved to drive alley and allowed free movement without access to the pen for 60 min), or (3) no exercise (CON). Treatments were applied (n = 12 sessions; 3 sessions per week) across a 30-d period, between 0800 and 1000 h at least 1 h after feed delivery. Gain-to-feed ratio and mortality rate were similar among treatments. Cattle assigned to CON had greater ADG than did those assigned to FRE or PRO (1.52, 1.39, and 1.44 kg/d). Percentage of calves treated for respiratory disease was greater in FRE and PRO compared with CON. The proportion of the pen lying and resting simultaneously increased and the proportion of the pen feeding, drinking, ruminating, and walking decreased over time. Exercise treatments did not compromise gain efficiency or behavior; however, exercised cattle had smaller ADG. These results suggest that exercise reduces receiving-period gains without improving animal health or altering behaviors.

Progress in a birth cohort of maternal and infant nutrition/ health in China

The first 1000 d from the beginning of pregnancy to the age of 2 years is widely recognized as a critical period in which optimum nutrition is the foundation for a healthy life. Increasing evidence has shown that early colonization of microbes in the infants gut, which is greatly affected by feeding type, delivery mode, antibiotics, and other environmental factors, is directly correlated with later chronic diseases. These diseases include obesity, diabetes, and allergic diseases. A birth cohort study is the preferred method to examine the relationships between multiple exposure factors and adverse pregnancy outcomes, birth defects, and health throughout life. There have been nearly 100 large-scale birth cohort studies in the United States and Europe for forming dietary reference intakes (DRIs) for children. However, childrens DRIs in China rely on WHO survey data from populations of Europe and the United States. Therefore, there is a critical requirement for population-based, prospective cohort studies in China to clarify the effects of early nutrition on later life. The China maternal and infant nutrition health cohort (MINC) study was a cross-sectional, prospective birth cohort that was launched by the National Engineering Center of Dairy for Maternal & Child Health in 2014. This study focused on the effect of early dietary nutrition, feeding and dietary habits on the gut microbiome, and short- and long-term health of infants. The objectives of this study were to investigate the determinants of adult non-infectious disease and the DRIs for mothers and children. In this cohort, a total of 5200 parent–infant pairs will be recruited from 11 provinces and regions in China, and be followed up to 2 years postpartum for mothers and to 18 years for infants. Between December 2014 and December 2017, 1745 people from the six cities of Beijing, Luoyang, Tangshan, Qianan, Liuyang, and Suzhou, including 157 pregnant women, 805 mothers, and 783 newborns, were recruited for the MINC study. Various data, such as demographic, obstetric, occupational, nutritional, medical, and neuropsychological factors, were collected by interviews and laboratory tests. A total of 20057 biological samples were collected, including breast milk, stool, urine, and saliva samples. Researchers have already analyzed nearly 3000 milk samples from the MINC study, where hundreds of components were determined, such as macronutrients, whey protein, amino acids, fatty acids, milk fat globule membrane proteins, and oligosaccharides. A relatively complete database of Chinese breast milk nutrition was established from colostrum and transitional milk to mature milk of 12 months. The MINC study will continue to recruit mothers and their newborns from other cities, and the cohort will be followed up for 2–18 years. Appropriate intervention strategies will be proposed based on the findings generated from this cohort study.

Assessment of different biomass feeding strategies for improving the enzymatic hydrolysis of sugarcane straw

This work describes improvements in the enzymatic hydrolysis of hydrothermally pretreated sugarcane straw. The experiments were performed in batch and fed-batch operation modes (50 mL and 3 L working volumes) with final solid loadings of 10, 20, and 30% (w/v) and enzyme dosage of 10 FPU/gsubstrate. The fed-batch assays showed the most promising results in terms of glucose production and cellulose-to-glucose conversion. In the experiments using a 3 L working volume, analysis of cellulose-to-glucose conversion, power consumption, and apparent viscosity showed that the best assays were those with smoother feed delivery (substrate plus enzyme) throughout the enzymatic hydrolysis. This strategy resulted in 108.8 g/L of glucose and cellulose-to-glucose conversion of 59.7%, corresponding to a final theoretical ethanol content of 55.6 g/L. The power consumption per unit volume and the apparent viscosity were less than 5 kW/m3 and 35 mPa s, respectively, throughout the hydrolysis. Thus, a more concentrated liquor and a less powerful motor to deliver power during the hydrolysis process were obtained in fed-batch strategy reducing the process energy costs.

Nutritional management between health and performance

The goals of finishing beef cattle include improving cattle performance and efficiency, producing a product that meets the standards of the consumer, and creating good animal husbandry and health for the cattle. Proper management and feeding of finishing cattle can have a huge impact on disease incidence. Feeding high energy diets will drive an improvement in efficiency by reducing losses of carbon dioxide and methane gas. This improvement reduces the cost and resources of producing beef. An issue is that cattle are accustomed to consuming grasses and not nutrientrich diets, thus they require an adaptation period. Good management of formulation and delivery of feed is key to reduce the likelihood of negative impacts during this period. Bovine respiratory disease is the most prominent disease in this population of cattle. This paper attempts to outline the impact of acidosis and bovine respiratory disease as well as other feed-related diseases commonly seen in feedlot cattle such as rumen tympany or bloat, acute or atypical intersitial pneumonia, and laminitis.

Lessons learned from managing electronic sow feeders and collecting weights of gestating sows housed on a large commercial farm

An observational study was conducted on a commercial 5600-sow farm using electronic sow feeders (ESF) to collect daily feed intake and scales to obtain sow body weights. The challenges that emerged during this study and proposed solutions may be useful for future research projects in commercial farms with ESF feeding systems. A total feed delivery per day was reported for females, regardless of how many times they may have entered the feeding station. It would be valuable to obtain records for individual feeding events to determine how many times females entered the feeding stations and if it was a feeding or non-feeding event. In this system, there was wide variation in daily sow weights because they entered the feeding station several times a day. Discrepancies in individual body weight were found to be attributed to the speed a sow moved across the scale, long scale length, and interference with the scale antenna. Possible solutions include adding panels before and after the scale, reducing scale length, and careful placement of the antenna. Nevertheless, combining the feeding of gestating sows via ESF with daily weight collection has the potential to generate valuable data sets.

How do pig farms maintain low Salmonella prevalence: a case-control study.

Salmonella prevalence in UK pigs is amongst the highest in Europe, highlighting the need to investigate pig farms which have managed to maintain a low Salmonella seroprevalence. A total of 19 pig farms that had a consistently low (<10%) seroprevalence over 4 years (named Platinum farms) were compared against 38 randomly selected Control farms, chosen to match the same distribution of production types and geographical distribution of the Platinum farms. Each farm was visited and floor faeces and environmental samples were collected. It was shown that Control farms had a significantly higher median percentage of pooled faecal samples positive for Salmonella compared with the Platinum farms (12.1% and 0.4% for pooled faecal samples, respectively) and were more likely to have serovars of public health importance detected (S. Typhimurium/ monophasic variants or S. Enteritidis). Considering the comprehensive on-farm sampling, the identification of farms negative for Salmonella, along with the identification of those that had maintained low prevalence over a long period is important. The risk factor analyses identified pelleted feed, feed deliveries crossing farm perimeter and regular antibiotic use as associated with being a Control farm. Performance data indicated that Platinum farms were performing better for slaughter live weight than Controls. Limited assessments of available pig movement records suggested that the source of pigs was not key to Platinum status, but further study would be needed to confirm this finding. These results emphasise that maintaining very low prevalence on UK farms is achievable.

Shelters can negatively affect growth and welfare in lumpfish if feed is delivered continuously.

Due to the socioeconomic importance of salmon farming in the North Atlantic and the economic impact of sea lice in this industry, there is high demand for novel pest control methods. One such method is the use of cleaner fish to remove the lice from the salmon. A cleaner fish that has recently gained in popularity due to its ability to work in cold water, is the lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus). This fish varies in efficiency, but when mortality is low and cleaning optimal, the fish are successful in keeping parasite burdens low. However, there is some concern for the welfare of lumpfish in the industry, because mortality is often high. This is sometimes attributed to inadequate feeding and shelter. Here we compare growth, body condition, and fin health of fish reared for four weeks in a crossed treatment design crossing shelter availability (shelter vs none) and feed delivery method (manual meal time feeds and continuous automated feeding). In terms of weight gain, shelter availability interacted with feeding method, with fish that had access to shelters and were fed using automated feeders gaining less weight than other fish. Fin health was not affected, but body condition was lowered both by access to shelter and being fed continuously. The results indicate a need to carefully consider how feeding method and shelter use is combined, both in cages and during rearing on land.