Welfare Problems Research Articles

Efficiency and consumer welfare under retail electricity deregulation: Analysis of Ohio's retail choice markets

AbstractMany critical infrastructure services operate under either price regulation or deregulated systems. The grand policy experiment of deregulation has been heavily studied, but evaluations have been limited at the retail level where end‐user prices are often difficult to obtain. This paper presents an in‐depth look at the retail market for electricity in a retail deregulated, or restructured, market—Ohio. We build and introduce a comprehensive SQL database of every daily filed retail electricity offer over a 9‐year period of study, over two‐million records. We integrate this data with other external data sources and conduct a detailed descriptive analysis of market prices as observed by end consumers at the retail level. We find that the lion's share of “competitive” retail electricity choice offers are more costly to consumers than the utility's default service rate and have higher markups over the wholesale price, and we find that when prices exceed the default rate they do so by a considerably larger margin than when consumers observe savings. We also find that even well‐informed consumers are able to find a welfare‐improving rate relative to the default rate between only 43% and 59% of the time. We conclude with a discussion of implications and root economic causes of the efficiency and consumer welfare problems we observe.

Fracture morphology and ossification process of the keel bone in modern laying hens based on radiographic imaging.

Keel bone fractures (KBF) are one of the most important welfare problems in commercial laying hens. Despite extensive research on the matter, its etiology remains unclear. Studying fracture characteristics in radiographic images can aid in the understanding of the disorder. The aim of the current study was to provide detailed description of fracture characteristics and explore ossification in the keel bone. In this descriptive study, repeated cross-sectional sampling was performed in one commercial laying hen flock. The flock was visited at 11 time points from 17-57 weeks of age (WOA), radiographing 30 laying hens at each visit resulting in altogether 330 unique radiographs. Fracture characteristics and the keel bone's level of ossification were assessed in each radiograph. In total, 344 fractures were recorded, of which 71.5% were complete and 28.5% were incomplete. Of the complete fractures, 82.9% were recorded as transverse, and 15.9% as oblique. One comminuted and two butterfly fractures were recorded. The caudal third of the keel was the most common area for fractures. Fracture characteristics differed between the different regions of the keel bone; all incomplete fractures in the cranial third appeared on the ventral surface of the keel, whilst the majority of incomplete fractures on the caudal third appeared on the dorsal surface. This indicates that the underlying etiology might differ between the cranial and caudal part. Folding fractures were observed in 18.6% of all the fractures, and occurred in both cranial-, and caudal third of the keel, indicating possible underlying disorders of calcium metabolism. All hens at 32 WOA and older had a fully ossified keel, based on radiographic evaluation. Displacement and soft tissue swelling are common characteristics in fractures of traumatic origin. We found a high frequency of simple fractures, without these characteristics, indicating that non-traumatic causes may be of higher importance than conventional beliefs.

Maximizing Nash Social Welfare Based on Greedy Algorithm and Estimation of Distribution Algorithm.

The Nash social welfare (NSW) problem is relevant not only to the economic domain but also extends its applicability to the field of computer science. However, maximizing Nash social welfare is an APX-hard problem. In this study, we propose two approaches to enhance the maximization of Nash social welfare. First, a general greedy algorithm (GA) capable of addressing the Nash social welfare problem for both agents with identical and differing valuations was presented. It is proven that the proposed algorithm aligns with the previous greedy algorithm when all agents possess identical valuations. Second, an innovative method for solving the Nash social welfare problems using evolutionary algorithms was developed. This approach integrates the Estimation of Distribution Algorithms (EDAs) with neighborhood search techniques to improve the maximization process of Nash social welfare. Finally, the proposed algorithms were implemented across a range of instances with the objective of maximizing Nash social welfare. The experimental results indicate that the approximation solutions derived from the Estimation of Distribution Algorithm outperform those obtained via the greedy algorithm.

Analysis Of City Government And Farming Community Partnership In Food Security Policy: Urban Farming Program

The urban farming program is the city government policy to overcome the food security problem for the community's welfare. The study aims to discuss the partnership between the city government and the urban farming community in an urban farming program. It utilizes agricultural land and urban garden as the place for urban agroecological transformation as part of urban food security policy through the partnership capacity theoretical approach from Mathers, et al. This analytic descriptive study uses the case survey method, and data collection is obtained from the unstructured in-depth interview, focus group discussion, and observation in Jeruk urban village in Lakarsantri district in Surabaya. The findings show the success of the partnership between the department of food security and agriculture in Surabaya and Sri Sedono farmer group in the management of the integrated agricultural center. Urban farming program is influenced by mutual consensus which is beneficial to increase crop productivity. However, the result also indicates that the skill base factor is not optimal because of the limited personnel in PPL. Furthermore, the farmers are concerned about adopting new plant varieties. We suggest that the urban farming program can be sustainable and needs to increase the number of personnel in PPL. In addition, it is necessary to increase the entrepreneurial spirit of farmers so that they have innovation values to adopt new crop varieties, and the discipline through the increase of intensity assistance from PPL towards independent, skilled, and professional farmers.

Public trust in Chinese elder-care social enterprises: common awareness and diverse perspectives from key stakeholders

Chinese elder-care social enterprises (SEs), emerging hybrid organizations that address welfare problems in elder care through business activities, face ambiguity as the institutionalization of the SE sector is growing rapidly. Few studies have focused on changes in public behavior and trust in this emerging organizational form. The purpose of this research is to identify public trust in Chinese elder-care SEs through the theoretical lens of stakeholder trust. A qualitative methodology was adopted in this study. Common awareness and diverse perspectives among stakeholders were identified by conducting 17 semi-interviews and 3 participatory observations on 5 key stakeholder groups of Chinese elder-care SE, followed by a thematic analysis. The findings identified common awareness and diverse perspectives among stakeholders. First, weak public awareness and confusion were emphasized toward the concept and practice of elder-care SEs. Additionally, although conceptualizing the hybrid nature evoked positive perceptions, the analysis identified a weak consensus about SE norms. In terms of the diverse perspectives of stakeholders, this study found that stakeholders manifested heterogeneous rigor and adherence to social and business dimensions, suggesting the hybrid nature of elder-care SEs. We further interpreted these diverse findings and proposed a framework to explicate different characteristics of stakeholder trust on the basis of hybridity. This research fills a research gap by providing empirical findings on the public trust of an emerging organization. Despite its limitations, the findings demonstrated an understanding of public trust through a relationship-specific perspective, which qualitatively integrated the commonalities and particularities of entities that constitute the public. This work contributes to future studies through its theoretical scope and analytic framework.

Reasons for admission and rehabilitation rates of various wildlife species in Finland.

Wildlife rehabilitation is a common part of animal-protection work. In Finland wildlife care is usually based on volunteer work and no licensing or training is required. Wildlife casualties are also treated professionally in some contexts such as zoos. The species of wildlife casualties may influence treatment decisions. Our anonymous online survey examined wildlife caregiving practices in Finland (n = 78), focusing on the care provided to various animal species and the outcomes of rehabilitation efforts. The survey was sent to both veterinarians and volunteers caring for wildlife, and it was part of a larger survey. Questions were mainly closed, and opinion-related questions were applied on a Likert scale (1-7; where 1 meant strongly disagree and 7 meant strongly agree). Most respondents primarily cared for mammals and birds. Reptiles, amphibians, and fish received less attention. Injuries and overwinter survival, especially in the case of hedgehogs, were the primary reasons for wildlife admissions. The training background of the rehabilitators varied and was related to the animal species being treated. Those caring mainly for hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) were the least likely to have animal-related training or long-term experience in wildlife care. We show a notably high rehabilitation rate of approximately 80% of commonly treated species, significantly surpassing figures from other countries, which raises concerns that animals are admitted or released on too light grounds, leading to animal welfare problems. It is also noteworthy that only one-fifth of respondents said they kept records of animal admissions. Less than 40% of respondents emphasized the need for further education on any specific issue, which may indicate overestimation of personal skills. In conclusion, our study raises concerns regarding the ethics and potential harm associated with wildlife rehabilitation.

The effect of salidroside on the bone and cartilage properties in broilers

Leg disorders frequently occur in fast-growing broiler chickens, constituting severe health and welfare problems. Although salidroside (SAL) promotes osteogenesis and inhibits apoptosis of chondrocytes in rats, it remains to be determined whether SAL can effectively improve bone growth in broilers. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of dietary SAL supplementation on bone and cartilage characteristics in broiler chickens. Ninety-six Arbor Acres broiler chickens were randomly divided into 4 groups: control, low-dose SAL, medium-dose SAL, and high-dose SAL groups. The broiler chickens were raised until 42 d of age, with samples of bone and cartilage collected for biomechanical testing and bone metabolism index detection. The results showed that SAL significantly increased the vertical external diameter, cross-sectional moment of inertia, and cross-sectional area of the femur and tibia. Additionally, SAL enhanced bone mineral density and strength, as evidenced by significant increases in stiffness, Young's modulus, ultimate load, and fracture work of the femur and tibia. Furthermore, SAL influenced the relative content of phosphate, carbonate, and amide I in cortical bone. Moreover, SAL upregulated the expression of osteogenic genes (Collagen-1, RUNX2, BMP2, and ALP) in a dose-dependent manner and maintained the homeostasis of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of chondrocytes. These results indicated that SAL promoted leg health in broilers by improving bone and cartilage quality and enhancing chondrocyte activity.

Stocking density at feeders and drinkers and temporal feed restriction affects dairy cows' drinking behavior

Water is an essential resource for dairy cows and its consumption is closely linked to feed intake. Social competition can lead to changes in drinking behavior, especially for subordinate cows. We studied how changes in stocking density at the feeder (varied between 1 or 2 cows per feeder), and drinker (varied between 6 or 12 cows per drinker) and a temporal feed restriction (14 or 24 h access) impacts drinking in 4 groups of 6 cows each, following a Latin Square design. Within each group of 6 focal cows, we recorded drinking behavior and 2 were identified as most dominant, 2 as most subordinate, and the 2 others as intermediate, based on success in agonistic interactions at the drinker. Cows drank less water when feed availability was restricted (on average 5.3 L/d less ± 3.4; 4.5% average difference). Subordinate cows also spent less time drinking when overstocked (9.3 min/d less ± 6.7; 24.3% difference). During treatments with more competition, cows were more likely to be observed drinking in the hours after the peak in drinking observed for the control treatment. A high level of competition among group-housed animals is considered a welfare problem and can lead to injuries and reduced production. Our findings provide evidence that feed restriction and higher stocking density of cows at the drinker and feeders changes the drinking behavior of cows, with subordinate animals experiencing more pronounced effects.

An outbreak of ischaemic teat necrosis in a dairy herd in Taranaki, New Zealand

ABSTRACT Case History In spring 2021, on a seasonally calving, pastorally based, Taranaki dairy farm, 12 first-calving heifers (≤ 30 days post-calving) developed similar dry, red to black, crusting lesions on the medial aspect of the teat udder junction extending down the medial teat. Some cows had multiple teats affected. Treatment was initially unrewarding and did not slow the progression of the disease. Overall, 8/12 cows recovered, and 4/12 cows were culled, with three of the cows culled after a teat sloughed and the fourth after surgical amputation of a teat. Outbreaks of the same condition, on the same farm but affecting fewer animals, occurred in spring 2022 (n = 6) and spring 2023 (n = 3). Clinical Findings An initial scab-like or crusting lesion progressed to resemble a thick eschar consisting of very dry and hard dead tissue. The unaffected areas of the teat felt normal but immediately under the dead tissue, there was a warm, firmer area consistent with an inflammatory reaction. Removing the scab led to profuse bleeding, with no visible bed of granulation underneath the scab. There was no leaking of milk in those cows that lost a teat, and no smell to the lesions themselves. Serology and virology ruled out the involvement of bovine alphaherpesvirus (BoHV-2) bovine gammaherpesvirus (BoHV-4), orthopoxviruses (cowpox) and parapoxviruses (pseudocowpox). Histopathology of an affected and surgically amputated teat showed multifocal erosion and ulceration of the epidermis, covered by a thick serocellular crust. In areas of ulceration, there were numerous neutrophils, and the dermis was expanded by granulation tissue with variable numbers of neutrophils, eosinophils, and lymphocytes around small blood vessels. Diagnosis Based on the similarity of the history, presentation, and histopathological changes to those described for a novel disease reported in the UK, a diagnosis of ischaemic teat necrosis (ITN) was made. Clinical Relevance If ITN is an emerging condition in New Zealand and becomes as prevalent as it has in the UK, clinicians will be confronted with a significant new welfare problem in dairy cows. Anecdotally, there have been reports of other ITN outbreaks in New Zealand, and the Ministry for Primary Industries would be interested in collating reports from other New Zealand veterinarians.

Short communication: The orientation of cubicles plays a role – greater deviation from the north–south direction, more technopathies in dairy cows

Magnetic alignment (MA) is a biological phenomenon denoting spontaneous orientation of an animal’s body at rest, when fleeing a threat, hunting, etc. in relation to the Earth’s magnetic field lines, often parallel to the field lines, i.e. in a north–south (NS) direction. MA has been demonstrated in several animal species, including grazing and resting domestic mammals. Based on the assumption that cows prefer to orientate their bodies in the NS direction when resting and sleeping, we hypothesised that MA could contribute to the incidence of technopathies in dairy cows, i.e. various disorders caused by the stable equipment that pose a serious animal welfare problem. It was hypothesised that the incidence of technopathies increases when the cubicles (resting places) orientation deviates from the NS position. The incidence of technopathies was recorded in 34 free-stall dairy farms. The type (hairless patch, scratch, swelling, wound), location and size of the lesions were recorded in almost 1 200 dairy cows. Based on the number of cubicles available and the number of cows, the cubicle-per-cow index (CC index) was calculated and divided into two groups: CC index ≥ 1 for stables with at least one cubicle per cow and CC index < 1 if the number of cows exceeded the number of cubicles available. The orientation of the cubicles was determined by the azimuth (the angle between north and the chosen clockwise direction). The farms were categorised into two groups according to azimuth: NS (azimuth deviating ± 15° from north or south, i.e. 345-15° and 165-195°) and non-NS (azimuth 15-165° and 195-345°). We found that the frequency of cows with technopathies was 30% lower in the NS-orientated cubicles and the number of technopathies per cow was 40% lower in the NS-orientated cubicles than in the non-NS-orientated cubicles. In addition, a higher number of technopathies per cow was observed when the CC index was ≥ 1, with a significant difference in the non-NS-aligned cubicles. According to our results, cubicle orientation has some influence on the incidence of technopathies. Although biological phenomena such as MA are seemingly unimportant and usually overlooked, they should be considered in livestock production when planning the positioning of stable equipment/ cubicle.

Spatiotemporal analysis of a population management intervention for dogs and cats in a municipality in central Mexico.

The overpopulation of dogs and cats has generated socioeconomic, political, and animal welfare problems, in addition to an important public health problem, due to the risk of zoonotic diseases. This study aimed to analyze the spatiotemporal coverage of canine and feline sterilization services provided by a governmental agency in the rural and urban areas of the municipality of Tequisquiapan, Querétaro. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Tequisquiapan's municipality, Querétaro, Mexico, from July 2019 to September 2022. The total number of sterilized dogs and cats was obtained from the monthly records of the Tequisquiapan Animal Health and Welfare Services Center (CESSBA, by its Spanish acronym). The collected information was related to the sterilized animals (species and sex) and their responsible guardians (sex and address). Access to dog and cat sterilization services was assessed using a geographic information system. Kernel density and directional ellipse tools were used to analyze the CESSBA coverage of care. Indicators were estimated to compare magnitudes and changes at the census tract level. A total of 4,489 animals were sterilized, with n = 2,611 (58%) dogs, of which 1,939 were female and 672 were male. The remaining n = 1,878 animals were cats, representing 42% of the total, with 1,257 females and 621 males. Up to 73% of the sterilized animals were owned by women. The population management of dogs and cats allowed us to increase the territorial coverage from 71.8% in 2019 to 92.3% in 2022. According to the temporal analysis (2019-2022), there was an annual upward trend in the number of sterilizations performed by CESSBA, with a rate of between 55.6 and 94.3 registered sterilizations per 100 inhabited dwellings and between 166.4 and 302.8 registered sterilizations per 1000 inhabitants. The analysis of the dog and cat sterilization service coverage revealed an upward trend, consisting of an increase in accessibility and participation of responsible caregivers who resided in both urban and rural areas of Tequisquiapan. Although it was not possible to evaluate the impact of the program, the use of georeferenced data and geospatial analysis showed that it can support the control of animal overpopulation.

Occurrence of tail docking and tail biting in weaner pigs—A preliminary study in Portuguese abattoirs

EU legislation forbids the systematic use of tail docking. Tail-biting is a welfare problem in swine production, including weaners. In Portugal, like in Spain, Greece, Italy, Croatia, and Serbia the transport of five-week-old pigs to the abattoir is a common practice. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of tail docking and tail-biting in weaners and associate it with the farm of origin/grouping centre and meat inspection results. Weaners were observed at 6 abattoirs in the Central Region of Portugal. Origin, docking status, tail lesions, and carcass condemnation were recorded during post-mortem inspection. A total of 15,863 weaners were assessed, 12.6 % came from assembly centres, 22 % with docked tails, 21.5 % with tail lesions, and 60 weaners were condemned. Tail-biting lesions were significantly associated with having an undocked tail. This association was stronger if the weaners came from intermediate assembly centres compared to weaners that came directly from the farm (AOR = 5.642, 95 %CI 2.885 to 11.030, P = 0.017 versus AOR = 1.403, 95 %CI 1.062 to 1.853, P < 0.001). The rate of carcass condemnations was higher among weaners presenting tail lesions (6.15 versus 3.13/1000 in weaners without tail lesion). The most frequent cause of condemnation was polyarthritis/purulent arthritis (1.6 per 1000 weaners). Our study shows that tail-docking is still practiced, and having the tails undocked is an additional vulnerability in what concerns tail-biting, especially in those weaners that do not go directly from the farm to the abattoir, with intermediate stops at assembly centres. New regulation is needed that takes into account this further deterioration in animal welfare.

Prevalence of movement asymmetries in high-performing riding horses perceived as free from lameness and riders' perception of horse sidedness.

A high proportion of horses in training, perceived as free from lameness by their owner, exhibit vertical movement asymmetries. These types of asymmetries are sensitive measures of lameness, but their specificity as indicators of orthopaedic pathology or locomotor function remains unclear. Equine athletes performing at a high level could be assumed to exhibit a higher degree of movement symmetry compared with the general horse population, but this has not been confirmed. This study investigated the prevalence of movement asymmetries in horses performing at a high level in three equestrian disciplines; show jumping, dressage and eventing, as well as the association between riders' perception of horse sidedness and said movement asymmetries. Using an inertial measurement unit-based system (Equinosis), gait analysis was performed on 123 high-performing horses. The mean difference between the two vertical minimum and between the two maximum values of each stride was recorded for the head (HDmin, HDmax) and pelvis (PDmin, PDmax). The horses were defined as asymmetric if one or multiple asymmetry parameters exceeded an absolute trial mean of: >6mm for HDmin or HDmax, and >3mm for PDmin or PDmax, with standard deviation less than the respective mean value. Based on the results, 70% of the horses were classified as asymmetric, which is similar to previous findings for young riding horses and horses competing at a lower level. More than one-third of these high-performing horses had asymmetry values of similar magnitude to those seen in clinically lame horses. No clear associations were observed between rider-perceived sidedness and the vertical movement asymmetry values, indicating that the perceived unevenness between sides is not a determinant of vertical movement asymmetry. Longitudinal studies on movement asymmetries in relation to training intensity and full clinical examinations with local or systemic analgesic testing are desired as further research to determine whether these movement asymmetries indicate a welfare problem.

EFEKTIVITAS PERAN TENAGA KESEJAHTERAAN SOSIAL KECAMATAN (TKSK) DALAM IMPLEMENTASI PROGRAM KELUARGA HARAPAN DI KAPANEWON SEWON KABUPATEN BANTUL

The role of social welfare workers (TKSK) in sub-districts aims to make the distribution of aid from the government to poor families and recipients of the Family Hope Program in Sewon sub-district a success. This is the key to community welfare in Sewon Subdistrict This study aims to determine the role of the sub-district Social Welfare Workers (TKSK) in the implementation of the family hope program to help people with Social Welfare Problems, and to find out what are the supporting and inhibiting factors for the implementation of the role of the District Social Welfare Workers (TKSK) in facilitating People with Social Welfare Problems (PMKS). Data collection techniques in this study used observation, interviews, and documentation. The results showed that the role of the District Social Welfare Workers (TKSK) has not played a good role in facilitating communities with Social Welfare Problems in Sewon sub-district and also assistance. This happened because of the limited ability of the Subdistrict Social Welfare Workers (TKSK) in dealing with communities with Social Welfare Problems in collaboration between the sub-district TKSK Social Welfare Workers and the government, PKH Coordinators, TKSK in the area, and fellow District Social Welfare Workers (TKSK). The form of assistance provided by the Government or Social Services is the Family Hope Program (PKH).

Evaluation of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome breeding test results in Finland from 2017 to 2022

BackgroundBrachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), observed in many flat-faced dog breeds, is one of the most urgent welfare problems in pedigree dogs. Various breeding schemes against BOAS have been implemented in many countries during recent years, but their impact on breed health remains unknown. The BOAS breeding test, used by the Finnish Kennel Club (FKC), includes an exercise component with a recovery assessment, BOAS grading by a veterinarian that evaluates upper respiratory signs before and after exercise, and a nostril stenosis assessment. The aim of our study was to evaluate BOAS breeding test results and estimate the heritability of the BOAS grade using parent–offspring regression from FKC data collected during 2017–2022.ResultsThe majority (80%) of dogs (n = 957) participating in FKC BOAS testing were English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, and Pugs. In 2022, 89–100% of the litters from these three breeds registered with the FKC had at least one parent tested for BOAS. The proportion of dogs failing the exercise test was highest in English Bulldogs (11%), followed by French Bulldogs (4%) and Pugs (3%). In these three breeds, moderate to severe BOAS signs were reported in 28%, 22% and 30% of dogs, respectively. The proportion of moderate to severe nostril stenosis was highest (71%) in Pugs, followed by French Bulldogs (55%), and English Bulldogs (40%). Estimates of heritability for BOAS grade were separately calculated for these three breeds and for all dogs, and the estimates were moderate to high, ranging from 0.39 to 0.58.ConclusionsThe exercise test alone did not sufficiently identify dogs with moderate to severe BOAS signs. To better consider the complex nature of BOAS and breed differences, exercise tolerance, the severity of upper respiratory signs (BOAS grade) and nostril stenosis should all be assessed together in breeding animals. The heritability estimates for veterinary-assessed BOAS grade indicated that BOAS grade could be used in selective breeding to obtain less-affected offspring.

Influence of a Modified Drinking System and Barn Climate on the Behavior of Fattening Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo)

Agonistic behavior is a problem of animal welfare in commercial turkey fattening. In this study, possible influences of the barn layout and the climate of the barn on the behavior of fattening turkeys on a commercial farm were investigated. The study was conducted on a turkey farm with two comparable barns. A modified ventilation system was installed in the trial barn to improve the removal of NH3 and CO2. The drinkers were rearranged to increase the animals’ free floor area. In each barn, 3600 male turkeys (B.U.T. 6) were housed. Videos were recorded continuously from housing until removal for three consecutive fattening periods. NH3 and CO2 values were recorded. Turkeys showed increased activity (p &lt; 0.001) and comfort behavior in the trial barn during late fattening (p = 0.002). Agonistic behavior increased during late fattening, particularly around the drinkers (p &lt; 0.001). NH3 levels differed at the beginning of fattening. The study shows that extending the resting area contributes to increased activity and comfort behavior. The rearrangement of drinkers showed no positive effects on agonistic behavior, as the distance between individual drinkers was too small. Due to behavioral differences being most evident in late fattening, no conclusions can be drawn concerning the influence of CO2 and NH3.

Survey assessing foot trimmer involvement in managing lameness in UK beef cattle.

Cattle lameness is a significant welfare and economic problem facing the livestock industry. Published research has investigated foot trimming practices in dairy herds, but little is known about the practices in beef herds. Therefore, the objective of this study was to obtain information about the current practices of professional cattle foot trimmers concerning beef cattle within the UK. An online survey comprising 16 questions was created using the Joint Information Systems Committee platform. The survey was open for 3 months. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the proportions of dairy cattle and beef cattle receiving preventative foot trims. Digital dermatitis was the most commonly recorded cause of lameness when a lame beef animal was trimmed by the respondents, followed by white line disease. A thematic analysis of foot trimmers' opinions of barriers to engagement on beef farms is presented, in addition to their opinions on veterinary involvement with beef lameness. Distribution bias may have affected the results, as the survey was distributed online with support from the Cattle Hoof Care Standards Board and the National Association of Cattle Hoof Trimmers. The percentage of foot trimmers not affiliated with either professional body is not known. Further research on the impact of lameness on suckler and finishing cattle, including investigations into preventative actions to reduce lameness in beef systems, is warranted.

Description of patterns of ear and tail lesions during the grower-finisher period in a commercial pig farm

BackgroundEar and tail lesions are prevalent indicators of impaired welfare observed in pig production with different multifactorial causes. Understanding the progression of ear and tail lesions over time is important to implement preventative strategies on commercial pig farms. Therefore, this case study aimed to provide a detailed account of patterns of ear and tail lesions in pigs on a single commercial farm during the grower-finisher period.Case presentationA total of 1,676 12-week old pigs (n = 773 females and n = 903 males, all tail docked) were followed from arrival to the grower facilities until transferred to the finisher stage on a commercial pig farm in Ireland. Pigs were individually weighed and inspected for the severity of fresh ear and tail lesions (score 0–4) on transfer to the first grower (24.9 ± 5.33 kg, 12 weeks of age, n = 1,676 pigs), second grower (33.3 ± 7.04 kg, 14 weeks of age, n = 1,641 pigs), and finisher stage (60.2 ± 7.74 kg, 18 weeks of age, n = 1,626 pigs). Due to the low number of pigs with high scores, ear lesions were classified as no (score 0), mild (score 1), moderate (score 2) and severe (score ≥ 3) and tail lesions were classified as no (score 0), mild (score 1), and moderate-to-severe (score ≥ 2). Ear lesions were more prevalent than tail lesions at each inspection. There were approx. 19% of pigs with ear lesions at all three inspections but no pigs presented with tail lesions at all three inspections. When considering the specific severity categories, we observed 32 different ear lesion score combinations and 15 different tail lesion score combinations across the three inspections.ConclusionThe high number of observed patterns of ear and tail lesions suggest large individual variability in lesion progression. Ear lesions were more of an issue than tail lesions and little is known about this health and welfare problem indicating that further research into causes and management strategies is needed.

The problems with pin bones: Intermuscular bone development and function in salmonids and their implications for aquaculture

AbstractA healthy skeletal system is fundamental to fish welfare and performance and a key physiological feature of a robust fish. The presence of skeletal deformities in farmed salmonids is a persistent welfare problem in aquaculture, and one which threatens to impede industry growth. Deformities of the fine bones of fish, such as ribs and intermuscular bones (IBs), have received less attention than vertebral body deformities, despite their potential to compromise fish welfare and product quality. IBs, commercially known as pin bones, are small spicule‐like bones embedded in the muscle fillets of salmonids, cyprinids and other basal teleost species. In farmed basal teleosts, they impact fish processing, have negative effects on the economic value of fish and present a potential consumer health concern if ingested. Current understanding of IB development and function in teleosts has mostly relied on morphological research. More recently, advances in our understanding of molecular mechanisms of IB development in cyprinids have been made, largely due to the exploration of breeding IB‐free fish for use in aquaculture. In this review, we explore the existing literature on IBs in teleosts, highlight the points of contention within this field of research and identify the significant knowledge gaps about the development and function of salmonid IBs. To our knowledge, there is no available research on the function of IBs and scarce research concerning IB development in salmonids. Future research on teleost IBs would benefit from the use of consistent terminology to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and identify research outputs in this field.

Phytochemical Study of the Anthelminthic Potential of Guadeloupean Plant Biodiversity.

Gastrointestinal parasitism is a major health and welfare problem in ruminants. Synthetic chemical anthelmintic drugs have led to the emergence of resistance in gastrointestinal strongyles, inducing the search for alternatives to control the infections that affect ruminants. The objective of this work was to evaluate the anthelmintic potential of plant extracts against Haemonchus contortus Rudolphi. Three plants of the Guadeloupean biodiversity, Momordica charantia L., Carica papaya L. and Sargassum spp., were selected based on their high polyphenolic content and natural abundance. The phytochemistry of plants was explored, a biological assay against the parasite H. contortus was carried out, and several hypotheses about the way of action were proposed by an innovative electrochemical screening method.