Swiss Farms Research Articles

Analysis of risk factors for the occurrence of feather pecking in laying hen growers

1. Potential risk factors for the occurrence of feather pecking in laying hen growers raised under commercial conditions were investigated on Swiss farms with more than 500 rearing places. On-farm interviews were conducted on a sample of 64 flocks which represented 42.6% of all farms concerned. 2. All variables considered were dichotomised and their univariate correlation with the occurrence of feather pecking was tested for significance at P<0 20 using chi 2 tests. Logistic regression with backward elimination was then used with the significant variables to identify the potentially most important factors influencing feather pecking. These variables included stocking density, light intensity, intensity of care, access to elevated perches, access to a roofed and littered outdoor area ('bad weather run'), time of access to the feeding facilities of the housing system, stocking density in the restricted area at the beginning of the rearing period, additional open feeding areas in the beginning and air quality. 3. The final model contained stocking density and access to elevated perches as significant factors (P<0.05). Flocks kept in high density (10 birds per m2) and with no access to elevated perches were 6.4 (95% Confidence interval 1.7 to 24.2) and 4.0 (95% Confidence interval 1.2 to 12.9) times more likely to be affected by feather pecking, respectively. 4. The study identified 2 risk factors for the occurrence of feather pecking in flocks of laying hen growers reared under commercial conditions. It is concluded that in order to reduce feather pecking chicks should be reared at low density and with access to elevated perches.

Home Range Size, Overlap and Exploitation in Domestic Farm Cats (Felis Catus)

AbstractHome range size, overlap and exploitation in domestic farm cats is examined. Data were collected on the 11 adult cats (5 O'O'; 6 ♀♀) living on 3 Swiss farms throughout 1984; 8 of the cats were fitted with radio transmitters. Census-point and focal animal methods of data collection were employed. From area-observation curves we concluded that our home range maps (and sizes) were good approximations of the areas utilized by the animals in 1984. Correlations existed between range size and 1) the number of map-fields visited per day by the cat (+); 2) the percentage of observations at the primary home (-); 3) the proportion of the range visited each day (-); and 4) the percentage of map-fields used only by one cat (+, but only for males). The general pattern of social organization found elsewhere was confirmed: males were generally more tolerant of each other than females (based on range overlap), especially considering animals living on different farms. Animals from the same primary home showed considerable range overlap. Male ranges were much smaller than expected (not even twice as large as the female ranges, whereas they should have been about 10 times the size, based on all other studies). These results are discussed in connection with male reproductive strategies, cat density and patterns of range utilization. And lastly, we could demonstrate coordination of hunting activity in time and space by two adult individuals on one farm (sibs), adding to the list of behavior patterns illustrating facultative sociality of house cats.

Enteric redmouth disease: outbreak in rainbow trout in Switzerland

Enteric redmouth disease: outbreak in rainbow trout in Switzerland

Etiology and predisposing factors in respiratory disease of milk-fattened veal calves

By far the most important economic losses in rearing milk-fattened calves result from respiratory disease. A brief description is given of the epidemiology of infectious diseases and of the management methods used on Swiss farms producing milk-fattened veal calves. The paper summarises the results of several surveys and experiments carried out to clarify the etiology and predisposing factors of respiratory diseases. Pure and (more frequently) mixed infections with BVD-virus, PI-3-virus, Adenoviruses, T-mycoplasmas, P. multocida and P. haemolytica can be shown to be present. Fatal cases of pneumonias are frequently associated with the presence of pasteurella. The effect of factors predisposing to the development of clinical disease has been studied: calves weighing less than 40 kg when purchased (14–28 days old) as well as weak and apparently sick animals are disease-prone and will perform poorly. Presenting the calves at a livestock market and shipping them under bad conditions impose additional stresses at the time of buying. The stable should be kept at a constant temperature and constant relative humidity, the normal values of which are given. These values seem to be of great importance for maintenance of resistance against respiratory infections. Milk-fattened calves are very susceptible to draught. Fattening with only milk substitutes and milk causes anaemia and leukopenia, which reduce the general resistance of the calves. The effects of all these factors are significantly increased by bad management, especially if there is insufficient attention to the animals and poor hygiene.