Traditional Herds Research Articles

Individual Updating Strategies-based Elephant Herding Optimization Algorithm for Effective Load Balancing in Cloud Environments

In this manuscript, an Individual Updating Strategies-based Elephant Herding Optimization Algorithm are proposed to facilitate the effective load balancing (LB) process in cloud computing. Primary goal of proposed Individual Updating Strategies-based Elephant Herding Optimization Algorithm focus on issuing the workloads pertaining to network links by the purpose of preventing over-utilization and under-utilization of the resources. Here, NIUS-EHOA-LB-CE is proposed to exploit the merits of traditional Elephant Herd Optimization algorithm to achieve superior results in all dimensions of cloud computing. In this NIUS-EHOA-LB-CE achieves the allocation of Virtual Machines for the incoming tasks of cloud, when the number of currently processing tasks of a specific VM is less than the cumulative number of tasks. Also, it attains potential load balancing process differences with the help of each individual virtual machine’s processing time and the mean processing time (MPT) incurred by complete virtual machine. Efficacy of the proposed technique activates the Cloudsim platform. Experimental results of the proposed method shows lower Mean Response time 11.6%, 18.4%, 20.34%and 28.1%, lower Mean Execution Time 78.2%, 65.4%, 40.32% and 52.6% compared with existing methods, like Improved Artificial Bee Colony utilizing Monarchy Butterfly Optimization approach for Load Balancing in Cloud Environments (IABC-MBOA-LB-CE), An improved Hybrid Fuzzy-Ant Colony Algorithm Applied to Load Balancing in Cloud Computing Environment (FACOA-LB-CE), Hybrid firefly and Improved Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization for energy efficient LB in Cloud environments (FF-IMOPSO-LB-CE) and A hybrid gray wolf optimization and Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm for load balancing in cloud computing environment (GWO-PSO-LB-CE).

Vaccinated Healthcare Workers' Adherence to COVID-19 Prevention Measures and Associated Factors in Northwest Ethiopia: A Facility-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

The initial response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). Long-term protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection does not appear to be possible by either infection or vaccination. Thus, traditional herd immunity seems impossible. In addition to increasing vaccination rates, NPIs may be needed. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among vaccinated healthcare workers. The study took place from July 15 to August 15, 2022. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. In a multivariable logistic regression model, a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Four hundred eleven healthcare workers were included in the study. Sixty percent of participants were fully vaccinated. After vaccination, 10.2% of respondents reported infection with SARS-CoV-2. The study showed that 49.4% of participants had a good knowledge of the efficacy and safety of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. In this study, 36% of individuals adhered well to the COVID-19 prevention strategies. Good knowledge of the efficacy and safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines (AOR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.03-2.78) increased the odds of implementing preventive measures. Healthcare workers who perceived a low and medium risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection after vaccination and who were knowledgeable about SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections were less likely to follow preventive measures. The knowledge of healthcare workers regarding the efficacy and safety of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 was comparable. However, a large proportion of healthcare workers poorly adhered to prevention practices. Therefore, to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare professionals, prevention strategies must be continuously evaluated and awareness of the need for preventive measures must be raised even after vaccination.

Soft Sensor Modeling Method Based on Improved KH-RBF Neural Network Bacteria Concentration in Marine Alkaline Protease Fermentation Process.

Marine alkaline protease (MAP) fermentation is a complex multivariable, multi-coupled, and nonlinear process. Some unmeasured parameters will affect the quality of protease. Aiming at the problem that some parameters are difficult to be detected online, a soft sensing modeling method based on improved Krill Herd algorithm RBF neural network (LKH-RBFNN) is proposed in this paper. Based on the multi-parameter RBFNN model, the adaptive RBF neural network algorithm and control law are used to approximate the unknown parameters. The adaptive Levy flight strategy is used to improve the traditional Krill Herd algorithm, improve the global search ability of the algorithm, and avoid falling into local optimization. At the same time, the location update formula of Krill Herd algorithm is improved by using the calculation methods of similarity and agglomeration degree, and the parameters of adaptive RBFNN are optimized to improve its over correction and large amount of calculation. Finally, the soft sensing prediction model of bacterial concentration and relative active enzyme in map process based on LKH-RBFNN is established. The root mean square error and maximum absolute error of this model are 0.938 and 0.569, respectively, which are less than KH-RBFNN and PSO-RBFNN prediction models. It proves that the prediction error of LKH-RBFNN model is smaller and can meet the needs of online prediction of key parameters of map fermentation.

Detection of Coxiella burnetii in raw milk samples collected from dairy farms in Mazandaran province, north of Iran

Query fever is an important zoonotic disease caused by the obligate intracellular microorganism of Coxiella burnetii. Moreover, the present study aimed to determine the prevalence of C. burnetii in bulk milk samples from dairy bovine herds using a nested polymerase chain reaction assay. During four seasons, a total of 100 samples of bulk milk from traditional, semi-industrial, and industrial dairy bovine herds located in six cities of Mazandaran province, northern Iran from May 2019 to February 2020 were collected. The samples were subjected to detect C. burnetii using a nested-PCR assay. Twenty - seven out of 100 bulk milk samples (27%, 95% CI: 18.3-35), 7% were infected with C. burnetii. The prevalence was 54.3% (19 samples) in traditional dairy herds and 12.3 % (8 samples) in semi-industrial industrial dairy herds. Furthermore, our results revealed that the chance of milk being infected with C. burnetii bacteria in traditional milk is 8.5 times higher than the milk of semi-industrial and industrial dairy herds. Based on the obtained results of the current study, the highest and lowest prevalence of C. burnetii were seen in Ghaemshar (66.7%) and Babol (0%), respectively (p<0.05). Spring season (37%) had the highest contamination of C. burnetii in bulk milk samples. According to the findings of this study, the clinically healthy dairy cows are important sources of C. burnetii infection in this area, amplified by the traditional herds of these animals. Because these animals can transmit the infection to humans, this common zoonotic bacterium can be a potential health problem in Mazandaran province, Northern Iran.

Dynamics of changes in the breed composition of pastoral and agro-pastoral cattle herds in Benin: implications for the sustainable use of indigenous breeds

Data for concretely analyzing current trends regarding breed composition of cattle herds at the national scale and the logic behind it are lacking in Benin. This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the dynamics of breed composition in traditional Beninese cattle herds. In this regard, the main reasons for acquiring new breeds by herders and management strategies for animal genetic diversity in herds were targeted. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, a total of 753 cattle herds were surveyed in six pastoral communities along a north-south transect in Benin. Data collection included original breed composition of the herds (at their installation), cattle breeds introduced in the last five years, reasons for introducing new breeds, herders' breed preferences, and perceptions concerning productive and adaptive traits of the existing breeds in the study area. Descriptive analyses of herd composition revealed breed redistribution across the country with the increasing introduction of zebu in the southern region of the country. A high percentage of nondescript crossbreeds was associated with herders' willingness to improve both milk and meat production. In this regard, the analysis of herders' perceptions using the Friedman test ranked most zebu cattle breeds as the most productive. In contrast, the taurine breeds were highly ranked by herders for their adaptive features. This study confirms that herders' breed choices fit their production objectives. In addition, strategies for effectively and efficiently managing genetic diversity within herds are expected to increase animal productivity while conserving adaptive and special traits in local breeds. The effectiveness of herders’ knowledge of local cattle breeds as well as their experience may increase the success of such strategies and facilitate their adoption.

Estimating milk yield for individual cows using measurements of total milk flow

In this study the ability to use a single milk flow meter that measures total milk flow in a dairy milking system to estimate milk yield for individual cows was investigated. This technology has the potential to provide estimates of the total milk yield produced over a season by individual cows that are comparable to traditional herd testing estimates. An algorithm was developed to estimate milk yield/composition for individual cows based on measurements of total milk flow in the main milk line, milking event start time, milking event duration, cow ID and bale number within the rotary milking system. The algorithm was based on the physical characteristics of the milking system, the properties of the measurement sensor and the physiological process of milk production by individual cows. The algorithm was tested using measured total flow with 3 months data (February − May) at a 60-bale rotary research farm with 772 cows milked at the start of the trial and 530 cows milked at the conclusion of the trial. The correlation between predicted (based on total flow) and measured average milk yield over the 3-month period from the 530 farm cows that were milked over the entire 3-month period was R = 0.59. The projected correlation between predicted (based on total flow) and measured average morning milk yield over a 320-day period was R = 0.83. This demonstrates that the current meter/model based on total milk flow from a 60-bale rotary milking system (with an estimated 10% error for total milk flow) provided milk yield estimates comparable to those based on two herd measurements obtained over a 320-day period (R = 0.85). Furthermore, based on the model simulations, a 2.5% error meter/model will provide milk yield and milk electrical conductivity (EC) estimates comparable to that based on six herd test measurements obtained every 60 days over a 320-day period. This demonstrates the feasibility of the single flow meter technology to estimate lactation milk yield and milk EC for individual cows.

Historical and social–cultural processes as drivers for genetic structure in Nordic domestic reindeer

AbstractWe have analyzed DNA microsatellites and the mitochondrial control region in reindeer from 31 different husbandry areas in Norway, Sweden, and Finland in order to better understand the processes that underlie the genetic variability of the Nordic domestic herds. The distinct differentiation found in the nuclear markers but less so in the mitochondrial marker gives evidence of an origin from a common ancestral population which later evolved into the two main gene pools characterizing the nuclear genomes of domestic reindeer in Finland and most of Sweden and Norway. Analyses of temporal trends in effective population size give evidence of a rapid increase in number of reindeer before the population growth associated with the pastoral transition. This implies that the ancestry of contemporary domestic reindeer lay among a rapidly growing wild population possibly located in the boreal areas of eastern Fennoscandia or European Russia. The evolution of reindeer husbandry in Finland, perhaps with input from European Russia, which later spread to northern Norway could explain the shared genomic pattern observed in these areas today. The structured selection of productive female‐centered herds may explain the genetic structure in other parts of Norway and in Sweden. The further substructuring of the Swedish/ Norwegian gene pool appears to follow the traditional language borders with the South Sámi language dominating the southern and the Central Sámi language in the more northern genetic subclusters. This suggests that traditional knowledge, cultural identities, and herd migrations have contributed to shape the genetic structure seen today. Ecological gradients are more pronounced within as compared to between the genetic clusters, giving further evidence that historical and social–cultural processes are important drivers for the genetic differentiations found in domestic reindeer across the Nordic countries.

English

In Nigeria, dairy industry holds monumental prospects in the management of protein deficiencies among the timid Nigerian populace. Emergence of metabolic products of some important fungi, Aflatoxins B1 and M1 (AFB1 and AFM1), may hamper such potentials and poses public health threat to the consumers of dairy products. Hence, the need to undertake a study with the view of evaluating AFB1 and AFM1 levels in dairy cattle production. A total of 180 samples, each of cattle feed and cow milk were analyzed using Cobra cell incorporated High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) technique. Significant number of feed (89%) and milk (94%) turned out positive for AFB1 and AFM1, respectively. Factors of production such as the holding-capacity (size) of the dairy herds, type of dairy herds and the type of dairy cattle feed were used to evaluate and determine the occurrence of the toxins. Results showed that most of these factors affect the distribution of the toxins significantly (P<0.05). Traditional dairy herds, which constitute the greatest part of the small-holder dairy herds, showed the largest significant number of farms (P<0.05) with detectable levels of AFB1 and AFM1 above the acceptable concentration limits in fresh cow milk. It is recommended that critical factors of dairy production be given thorough regulatory considerations as they were observed to play significant role in the occurrence of aflatoxins in dairy products. Also, the management of the traditional dairy herds should be properly guided by the relevant legislation as it constitutes greater part of the dairy production in Nigeria. Key words: Dairy production, Aflatoxin B1, Aflatoxin M1, feed, cow milk, Northern Nigeria.

Conservation Policies, Eco-Tourism, and End of Pastoralism in Indian Himalaya?

State-led policies of pastoralist removal from protected areas, following the fortress model of biodiversity conservation, have been a common practice across parts of Asia and Africa. In the Himalayan region of South Asia, restrictive access and removal of pastoralist communities from protected areas have been compensated by the state through “eco”-tourism. In this paper, we critique the current conservation model adopted in the Indian Himalaya, which focuses on a conservation-pastoral eviction-ecotourism coupling. With a focus on pastoralists and pastoral practices, we argue that this model is neither an inclusive engine of development, nor does it always help conservation. Instead, it recreates a landscape favoring the state's interests, produces exclusions, and may also negatively affect both society and ecology. We build on the case of Khangchendzonga National Park (KNP) situated in Sikkim, Eastern Himalaya. We used mixed methods and conducted 48 semi-structured interviews, 10 key informant interviews, and two focused group discussion in the four village clusters situated in the vicinity of KNP, West Sikkim. The grazing ban policy and concomitant promotion of tourism caused the end of pastoralism in KNP. It transformed a pastoral cultural landscape into a tourist spot with a transition in livestock from the traditional herds of yak and sheep to the pack animals and non-native hybrid cattle. Locally perceived social impacts of the grazing ban include loss of pastoral culture, economic loss, and the exclusion of the pastoral community from the park. As per the respondents, perceived ecological effects include a decline in vegetation diversity in the high-altitude summer pastures, altered vegetation composition in the winter due to plantation of non-native tree species, and increased incidents of human-wildlife conflict. Rangelands of the Himalaya transcend political boundaries across countries. The conservation model in Himalaya, should henceforth be done with a trans-boundary level planning involving the prime users of high-altitude rangelands, i.e., the pastoralists. The lessons from this study can help design effective future policy interventions in landscapes critical for both pastoralist cultures and wildlife conservation.

Sheep herding in small grasslands promotes dung beetle diversity in a mountain forest landscape

It is assumed that the transformation of native forest into agricultural fields and grazing grasslands negatively affects biological diversity, and there are multiple cases documenting this pattern. For example, when lowland tropical forests are transformed into extensive cattle pastures, dung beetle richness, abundance and diversity decrease. However, in some cases, biodiversity may respond in the opposite direction. We describe dung beetle assemblages in a mountainous landscape where small grasslands (less than 7.5 ha) with sheep pastoralism are imbedded in a pine-oak forest matrix at the Mexican Transition Zone. We captured 14 species (1058 beetles) in 10 forest sites, and 20 species (2591 beetles) in 10 grassland sites. Generalized linear mixed models showed significantly higher values of species richness, diversity and abundance in grazing grasslands. We found 10 shared beetle species between forests and grassland sites, and a PERMANOVA revealed significant differences in species composition between habitats. Generalized linear models showed that dung beetle richness, abundance and diversity are related to dung availability, soil moisture and altitude, but not to soil hardness nor land use heterogeneity. Similarly, we did not find significant correlations between compositional dissimilarity (beta diversity) and dung availability nor land use heterogeneity. Our results document how traditional sheep herding in small grassland patches embedded in a forest matrix promotes the diversity of dung beetle assemblages, showing that biodiversity can be enhanced by human activities. The results of this study indicate that grassland patches embedded in the forest matrix where traditional small herds of sheep graze, contribute to increasing landscape complexity by providing a mosaic of environmental conditions that promote a high diversity of dung beetles on a regional scale.

The Role of Feral Goats in Maintaining Firebreaks by Using Attractants

The threat of large forest fires is increasing, and the main causes are the depopulation of rural areas, along with the effects of climate change. To counter this threat in recent decades, there have been numerous proposals and actions aimed at promoting grazing in the forest as a tool for controlling biomass fuel. However, the continued disappearance of traditional herds makes this activity difficult. Rural depopulation has also meant that domestic species become feral, being habitual in the case of goats. Currently, little is known about the role that feral goats can play in the fight against forest fires. In this work, an analysis is made on the effect of feral goats on the control of the vegetation in firebreak areas. Furthermore, the effect of attractants, such as water, salt, or food, on goat behavior is also studied. The study was carried out on the island of Mallorca, where a population of feral goats occupies the mountain areas, and where it is common for them to graze on the network of firebreaks. The results showed that these areas in themselves exert an attractive effect with respect to the neighboring forest, and that the herbaceous biomass is reduced. This effect was enhanced with the implementation of water and salt points, although only in certain periods of the year. In general, it was possible to reduce the phytovolume of many species without affecting biodiversity in the short or medium term. Therefore, strategic management of feral animals, aimed at firebreak areas, could contribute not only to reducing the risk of fires and, consequently, to the mitigation of climate change, but also to attracting these animals to the forests, thus avoiding their dispersion to conflictive places such as roads, residences, agricultural fields, and gardens.

Typologie des systèmes d’élevage camelins du sud du Maroc

Bien que disposant d’un appui des autorités nationales dans le cadre du Plan Maroc Vert, l’élevage camelin au Maroc est encore assez mal connu. La présente étude a eu pour objectif de disposer d’une description des types d’élevages camelins dans une portion vaste du sud du pays, caractérisée par sa grande concentration des élevages camelins. Pour ce faire, dans le cadre d’une enquête sanitaire, 168 éleveurs chameliers appartenant à neuf provinces du sud du Maroc ont été interviewés sur leur système de production. Les 168 troupeaux camelins ont représenté 11 426 dromadaires soit environ 10 % de la population cameline de cette zone. Au final, un tableau comprenant 168 élevages camelins décrits par 20 variables actives (taille et structure du troupeau, organisation de la gestion et pouvoir de décision, ampleur de la mobilité, commercialisation, pratiques de complémentation alimentaire et de prévention sanitaire) et deux variables illustratives (statut de l’enquêté et région d’origine) a été soumis à une analyse multivariée (analyse des correspondances multiples et classification automatique). L’analyse a permis d’identifier quatre types d’éleveurs : a) ceux possédant de grands troupeaux laitiers traditionnels, b) les citadins possédant des petits troupeaux, c) les éleveurs pluriactifs opportunistes, et d) les éleveurs parfois pluriactifs, faiblement intégrés au marché et sous-traitant leur activité d’élevage. Cette typologie paraît être très liée à la région d’origine des éleveurs indiquant une certaine spécificité régionale.

Knowledge co‐production with traditional herders on cattle grazing behaviour for better management of species‐rich grasslands

Abstract The research gap between rangeland/livestock science and conservation biology/vegetation ecology has led to a lack of evidence needed for grazing‐related conservation management. Connecting scientific understanding with traditional ecological knowledge of local livestock keepers could help bridge this research and knowledge gap. We studied the grazing behaviour (plant selection and avoidance) of beef cattle (c. 33,000 bites) on species‐rich lowland pastures in Central Europe and traditional herding practices. We also did >450 outdoor interviews with traditional herders about livestock behaviour, herders' decisions to modify grazing behaviour and effects of modified grazing on pasture vegetation. We found that cattle grazing on species‐rich pastures displayed at least 10 different behavioural elements as they encountered 117 forage species from highly desired to rejected. The small discrimination error suggests that cattle recognize all listed plants ‘by species’. We also found that herders had broad knowledge of grazing desire and they consciously aimed to modify desire by slowing, stopping or redirecting the herd. Modifications were aimed at increasing grazing intensity in less‐desired patches and decreasing grazing selectivity in heterogenous swards. Synthesis and applications. The traditional herd management practices presented here have significant conservation benefits, such as avoiding under‐ and overgrazing, and targeted removal of pasture weeds, litter and encroaching bushes, tall competitive plants and invasive species. We argue that knowledge co‐production with traditional herders who belong to another knowledge system could help connect isolated scientific disciplines especially if ecologists and rangeland scientists work closely with traditional herders, co‐designing research projects and working together in data collection, analysis and interpretation. Stronger links between these disciplines could help develop evidence‐based, specific conservation management practices while herders could contribute with their practical experiences and with real‐world testing of new management techniques.

Confronting pastoralists' knowledge of cattle breeds raised in the extensive production systems of Benin with multivariate analyses of morphological traits.

Cross-border seasonal livestock movements in West Africa bring into close contact several cattle breeds. In the coastal countries hosting migrating herders from the Sahel, it often affects the genetic variability and geographical distribution of traditional cattle breeds, through their indiscriminate but also intended crossbreeding with larger-framed Sahelian cattle breeds. The need to secure and effectively manage this genetic variability, in order to respond to changing production and market conditions, is widely recognized by the scientific community, livestock herders and policy-makers. This however requires a comprehensive knowledge of the breeds' characteristics. The indigenous criteria used by pastoralists to characterize and distinguish cattle breeds remain unclear and further validation is required. This study was therefore designed to document and validate herders' knowledge on cattle breeds. From June 2015 to June 2016, 803 cattle herders participated in a phenotypic breed description in seven pastoral communities across the country. Each cattle herder was asked to name and describe morphologically the different cattle breeds in his herd. Subsequently, fifteen body measurements taken on a total of 1401 adult cattle (964 cows and 439 bulls) were submitted to multivariate analyses. Participants distinguished ten different cattle breeds kept in traditional herds according to six primary morphological traits and clearly separated zebuine from taurine breeds. These results were consistent with those of the multivariate analyses of the measured traits. However, herders' classification approach proved to be more accurate in distinguishing breeds within the zebuine subspecies. Hence, while metric measurements and molecular genetic analyses are promising approaches to fill the knowledge gap on the diversity of local farm animal genetic resources, they should integrate livestock herders' traditional knowledge for more precision.

Combined effects of grazing and climate warming drive shrub dominance on the Tibetan Plateau

Encroachment of shrubs into the unique pastoral grassland ecosystems of the Tibetan Plateau has significant impact on ecosystem services, especially forage production. We developed a process-based ecohydrological model to identify the relative importance of the main drivers of shrub encroachment for the alpine meadows within the Qinghai province. Specifically, we explored the effects of summer livestock grazing (intensity and type of livestock) together with the effects of climate warming, including interactions between herbaceous and woody vegetation and feedback loops between soil, water and vegetation. Under current climatic conditions and a traditional herd composition, an increasing grazing intensity above a threshold value of 0.32±0.10 large stock units (LSU) ha−1 day−1 changes the vegetation composition from herbaceous towards a woody and bare soil dominated system. Very high grazing intensity (above 0.8 LSU ha−1 day−1) leads to a complete loss of any vegetation. Under warmer conditions, the vegetation showed a higher resilience against livestock farming. This resilience is enhanced when the herd has a higher browser:grazer ratio. A cooler climate has a shrub encroaching effect, whereas warmer conditions increase the cover of the herbaceous vegetation. This effect was primarily due to season length and an accompanied competitive loss of slower growing shrubs, rather than evaporative water loss leading to less soil water in deeper soil layers for deeper rooting shrubs. If climate warming is driving current shrub encroachment, we conclude it is only indirectly so. It would be manifest by an advancing shrubline and could be regarded as a climatic escape of specific shrub species such as Potentilla fruticosa. Under the recent high intensity of grazing, only herding by more browsing animals can potentially prevent both shrub encroachment and the complete loss of herbaceous vegetation.

Expression of a Recombinant Nucleocapsid Protein of Rift Valley Fever Virus in Vero Cells as an Immunofluorescence Antigen and Its Use for Serosurveillance in Traditional Cattle Herds in Zambia.

The open reading frame of the nucleocapsid protein (NP) of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) strain MP12 was cloned and expressed in Vero E6 cells. The recombinant NP (rNP)-expressing cells were used as antigens for an indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay (IFA). The rNP-based IFA and RVFV-infected Vero E6 cell (authentic antigen)-based IFA showed similar IFA profiles with immune rabbit serum, which was prepared by immunization with rNP expressed using a baculovirus vector. A total of 942 traditional cattle sera obtained in five districts in Central, Southern, and Western provinces of Zambia were screened for anti-RVFV antibodies by the authentic antigen-based and rNP-based IFAs. Significant agreement was obtained between the two IFAs. The findings show that the rNP-based IFA is a safe and useful diagnostic tool as an alternative to the authentic antigen-based IFA. The antibody titers given by the rNP-based IFA were higher than those by the authentic antigen-based IFA. Therefore, the rNP-based IFA might be useful for serosurveillance of RVFV infection among cattle. Antibody prevalence rates in the five districts were 1.3% to 13.5% in the authentic antigen-based IFA and 6.0% to 21.4% in the rNP-based IFA. The results indicated that despite no reports of active cases of RVF in these provinces of Zambia, the virus is circulating among cattle herds.

A risk assessment study of the occurrence and distribution of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin B1 in dairy cattle feeds in a central northern state, Nigeria.

Nigeria, being a tropical nation, characterized by favorable climatic conditions, may display high chances of feed contaminations due to aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus with the consequences of health risks associated with the consumption of dairy products. A cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the risks of occurrence and distribution of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination levels based on the European Union (EU) and United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) set limits. Feeds (n = 144) were collected from selected conventional and traditional dairy herds; prepared and analyzed using immuno-affinity column (IAC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) respectively. Forty eight (55.8%) isolates were identified as A. flavus of the isolated Aspergilli (n = 86). Of this proportion, 12 (25.0%) were aflatoxigenic strains. An outrageous number of the tested feeds (86.8%, n = 144) were positive for AFB1 contamination. Detectable AFB1 concentrations ranged between (0.5 and 24.8) μgKg-1 and were distributed variously according to many factors of distribution. Eighty three (66.4%, n = 125) of the AFB1 contaminated feed samples showed AFB1 concentrations between 5 and ≥20 μgKg-1. All-inclusive policies are key to reducing the health risks posed to the consumers of dairy products.

Reducing Efficiencies of the Commonly Used Heat Treatment Methods and Fermentation Processes on Aflatoxin M1 in Naturally Contaminated Fresh Cow Milk

The reducing efficiencies of the commonly used heat treatment methods and fermentation processes on aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in Nigeria were investigated. Seventy samples of fresh cow milk from both conventional and traditional dairy cattle herds were collected and analyzed for the determination of AFM1 using Cobra-cell incorporated high performance liquid chromatography. Of these analyzed samples, 56 (80.0%) tested positive for AFM1 out of which 3 milk samples with high AFM1 concentrations were selectively pooled and subjected to varied conditions of heat treatments and fermentation processes using both indigenized and exotic strains of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus bulgaricus + Streptococcus thermophilus and L. rhamnosus and L. plantarum) as starter cultures respectively. Both processes used either singly or combined, demonstrated high degrees of reducing effects on AFM1 levels. Sterilization of the milk at 121˚C and 80˚C under the same condition of time (15 - 20) min showed significant reduction of up to 58.8% (p 0.05) in the level of AFM1 when compared with the initial mean AFM1 concentration of the untreated fresh milk. The situation was however different around the boiling temperature of 100˚C at which point the level of AFM1 reduction was found to be inconsistent. The indigenized combined strains showed some slight margins of AFM1 reduction in the proportions of (20.5, 30.8 and 43.9)% over and above that of the exotic strains (17.4, 30.0 and 41.1)% in 12 h, 48 h and 72 h of fermentation respectively. Generally, fermentation alone showed lower reduction of AFM1 in milk from 24.5% to 43.9% compared with the reducing activities of (35.4 to 58.8)% when heat-treated milk samples were subsequently subjected to varied fermentation conditions.

Detection and risk factors of Coxiella burnetii infection in dairy cattle based on bulk tank milk samples in center of Iran

Infection with Coxiella burnetii has a worldwide distribution in ruminants and is associated with abortions and reproductive problems in this group of animals. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of C. burnetii DNA in bulk tank milk (BTM) of dairy cattle herds and to identify the risk factors of infection.This cross-sectional study was conducted in spring 2015. A total of 163 BTM samples from 74 commercial and 89 traditional dairy cattle herds in Isfahan, Iran was tested for the IS1111 transposon of C. burnetii by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A checklist containing general information of the herds was filled for each farm. Data were analyzed using univariate tests (chi square and t-tests) and multivariable binary logistic regression analysis.Bacterial DNA was detected in 8.6% of the samples (95% CI: 4.2- 12.9). In univariate analysis, the prevalence rate was higher in traditional herds than in commercial herds (n=12; 13.5% vs. n=2; 2.7%; P=0.01). The prevalence rate was inversely associated with the size and infection control score of the herd. In multivariable binary logistic regression, however, only herd size was found to be related with the infection rate, i.e. herds with ≥80 cattle were less likely to be infected (OR: 0.07; 95% CI: 0.01- 0.77; P=0.03).The only identified risk factor for this infection was the herd size. In fact, smaller herds (size <80) were more likely to be infected.

Multivariate factor analysis of detailed milk fatty acid profile: Effects of dairy system, feeding, herd, parity, and stage of lactation

We investigated the potential of using multivariate factor analysis to extract metabolic information from data on the quantity and quality of milk produced under different management systems. We collected data from individual milk samples taken from 1,158 Brown Swiss cows farmed in 85 traditional or modern herds in Trento Province (Italy). Factor analysis was carried out on 47 individual fatty acids, milk yield, and 5 compositional milk traits (fat, protein, casein, and lactose contents, somatic cell score). According to a previous study on multivariate factor analysis, a variable was considered to be associated with a specific factor if the absolute value of its correlation with the factor was ≥0.60. The extracted factors were representative of the following 12 groups of fatty acids or functions: de novo fatty acids, branched fatty acid-milk yield, biohydrogenation, long-chain fatty acids, desaturation, short-chain fatty acids, milk protein and fat contents, odd fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acids, linoleic acid, udder health, and vaccelenic acid. Only 5 fatty acids showed small correlations with these groups. Factor analysis suggested the existence of differences in the metabolic pathways for de novo short- and medium-chain fatty acids and Δ9-desaturase products. An ANOVA of factor scores highlighted significant effects of the dairy farming system (traditional or modern), season, herd/date, parity, and days in milk. Factor behavior across levels of fixed factors was consistent with current knowledge. For example, compared with cows farmed in modern herds, those in traditional herds had higher scores for branched fatty acids, which were inversely associated with milk yield; primiparous cows had lower scores than older cows for de novo fatty acids, probably due to a larger contribution of lipids mobilized from body depots on milk fat yield. The statistical approach allowed us to reduce a large number of variables to a few latent factors with biological meaning and able to represent groups of fatty acids with a common origin and function. Multivariate factor analysis would therefore be a valuable tool for studying the influence of different production environments and individual animal factors on milk fatty acid composition, and for developing nutritional strategies able to manipulate the milk fatty acid profile according to consumer demand.