Veal Production Research Articles

Vergleichende Wirtschaftlichkeitsanalyse des Kälbermastsystems «Freiluftkalb» und der konventionellen IP-SUISSE-Labelmast

The evaluation of new animal husbandry concepts includes, beyond the exploration of chosen parameters, that the question is addressed whether economic benefits for producers and ethical benefits for society result of the new system when compared to traditional systems. In a previous study, a novel management and housing concept for veal production («outdoor veal calf», OVC) was tested from October 2016 to July 2018. The OVC concept was associated with distinctly lower antimicrobial use while average daily weight gain was similar and calf welfare better; furthermore mortality was lower compared to conventional label fattening. The aim of the present study was to compare economics between the OVC concept on intervention farms (IF) and the IP-SUISSE label concept on control farms (CF) by calculating contribution margins (CM). The CM indicates the difference between the performance of a production branch (e. g. slaughter return) and the allocable costs for this production branch (e. g. feed costs). In the present study, two different approaches were used for CM calculation to analyze the available data in detail. No substantial differences in CM between the OVC concept and the IP-SUISSE concept were found in either approach. However, the specific CM varied between the approaches as different calculation criteria for quantities and prices were applied (approach «real» with accurate costs and returns from the OVC study and approach «standardized» with costs and returns based on the CM catalogue). The CM varied slightly for the CM per man-hour (IF «real»: 6.96CHF/man-hour, «standardized»: 4.49CHF/man-hour; CF: 7.90CHF/man-hour and 8.08CHF/man-hour, respectively) and considerably for the CM per fattening space and year (IF «real»: -380.36CHF, «standardized»: -559.50CHF; CF: -244.70CHF and -318.80CHF, -respectively). Producing veal with the OVC concept -allowed for achieving comparable CM/man-hour as in conventional label production. Thus, the farmers' economic interests should be warranted when implementing the OVC concept.

Factors affecting dairy calf price in auction markets in Québec, Canada: 2008–2019

Dairy calves not kept for replacement are sold at young age in Québec auction markets for white and grain-fed veal calf production. The province of Québec produces 80% of the Canadian veal meat, but little information is available on the factors associated with the calves' price per crude weight (Can$/kg; Can$1 = US$0.78 at time of writing). The characteristics of calves sold in Québec auction markets from 12 complete years (2008-2019) were retrospectively studied. The calves' weight, breed and sex, the year and season of sale, the auction site, as well as the estimated distance traveled between the farm of origin and the auction site were analyzed as potential covariates associated with calf price. Two multivariable logistic models associated with low sale value (below the 10th or the 25th percentile of the day price) and 2 models associated with good sale characteristics (above the 50th or the 75th percentile of the day price) were built. The median distance between the farm and the auction site was 52 km (interquartile range: 30-95 km). Only 5% of calves traveled distances greater than 220 km. The weight, breed, sex, and auction sites explained most of the variability in the different models. Distance traveled and multiple interactions were also significantly associated with the outcomes. Calves with body weight from 48 to <56 kg were sold in higher percentiles of the day than lighter or heavier calves. Beef-crossed calves had better sale prices than Holstein, whereas colored dairy calves had lower sale characteristics than both Holstein and beef-crossed calves. The effect of distance traveled was complex, varying depending on the model and interactions, and explained a small portion of the total deviance in every model. Calves traveling from distances ≥110 km had lower sale characteristics in summer and fall in the different studied models. This study gives relevant insights on calves' characteristics associated with good versus low sale prices in Québec auction markets.

A Perspective on the Use of Sexed Semen to Reduce the Number of Surplus Male Dairy Calves in Ireland: A Pilot Study.

The production of surplus male offspring illustrates a socioethical concern in the dairy industry. In this article, we highlight the animal health and welfare implications of production outputs for surplus dairy calves, namely veal production, dairy calf to beef production, and euthanasia. Moreover, we present a pilot study focus on exploring the perception of key industry actors within the dairy industry in Ireland regarding the use of sexed semen as a mitigation strategy to reduce the production of surplus male dairy calves. A pilot survey was completed by farmers (n = 6), veterinarians (n = 17), and dairy farm advisors (n = 11). All the veterinarians, 80% of the farmers, and 62% of the advisors believed that the use of sexed semen had a positive influence on herd welfare. All participants identified the same barriers to the implementation of sexed semen: lower conception rate, lower availability, and higher cost. The reviewed literature highlights the importance of tailored communication to support knowledge exchange between stakeholders and key industry actors such as dairy farmers, their veterinarians, and advisors. Research to understand stakeholders' perception is pivotal to address socioethical concerns such as the surplus male dairy calves.

Livestock-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Related Risk Factors in Holdings of Veal Calves in Northwest Italy.

Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) have emerged worldwide as zoonotic pathogens. Data on LA-MRSA in veal calf production in Italy are lacking; the aim of this survey was to fill current knowledge gaps in its prevalence and characteristics. Between February 2012 and January 2013 nasal swabs were taken from 1650 three- to six-month-old veal calves on 55 farms in Piedmont (northwest Italy), including gathering-related epidemiological data. S. aureus were screened for methicillin resistance by phenotypic and molecular (mecA gene detection) methods. MRSA were further genotyped by multilocus sequence typing. About 30% of the herds tested positive for MRSA: three different clonal complexes (CC398, CC97, and CC1) and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec types (IVa, IVb, and V) were detected. Multilevel logistic regression model indicated poor cleaning, importation from Austria, and animal age as risk factors and coagulase-negative staphylococci colonization as a predictive factor for the occurrence of MRSA. The detection of CCs circulating in pigs and dairy cattle in Italy underscores the ability of the LA-MRSA clones to spread among animal production systems. In addition to maintaining preventive control measures for human health, better cleaning procedures need to be implemented, especially after new calves have been introduced into the herd.

Organizational and economic aspects of functioning of the field of cattle breeding in Ukraine

The article conducted with a scientific assessment and substantiated organizational and economic aspects of the functioning of the field of cattle breeding. The field of cattle breeding has been traditionally and remains one of the leading ones for Ukraine. The dynamics of livestock, milk production and beef and veal production were analyzed. It was established that the main producers of products of cattle breeding were the economy of the population, which provide more than 70 % of production volumes. The problematic issues of the functioning of the field of cattle were generalized: a reduction in the number of cattle, reducing its productivity, deterioration of production indices and its efficiency, unsatisfactory level of feed base, breeding and tribal work and technological support, insufficient state support, reduction of the level of consumption of products of cattle breeding. It was substantiated that the further functioning of the industry and its efficiency depends on the policy of the government and the motivational mechanism. The important areas for increasing the efficiency of the field of cattle are the concentration of production, including on the basis of co-operation of manufacturers, improvement of feed base and tribal affairs, modernization of logistical support, investment and innovation activity was argued

Purebreeding with sexed semen and crossbreeding with semen from double-muscled sires to improve beef production from dairy herds: Live and slaughter performances of crossbred calves

The use of sexed semen to produce purebred replacement heifers allows a large proportion of dairy cows to be mated to beef sires, and quantitative and qualitative improvements to be made to beef production from dairy herds. The major dairy and beef breeds are undergoing rapid genetic improvement as a result of more efficient selection methods, prompting a need to evaluate the meat production of crossbred beef × dairy cattle produced using current genetics. As part of a large project involving 125 commercial dairy farms, we evaluated the combined use of purebreeding with sexed semen and crossbreeding with semen from beef sires, particularly double-muscled breeds. A survey of 1,530 crossbred calves revealed that, whereas purebred dairy calves are destined almost exclusively for veal production, beef × dairy crossbred calves are also destined for beef production after fattening on either the dairy farm of birth or by specialized fatteners. In veal production, compared with Belgian Blue-sired calves (taken as the reference), double-muscled INRA 95-sired calves had a lighter slaughter weight (303 vs. 346 kg), but a greater dressing percent (62.3 vs. 58.4%). Limousin (also known as Limousine)-sired calves had a smaller average daily gain (1.26 vs. 1.34 kg/d), and lighter slaughter (314 vs. 346 kg) and carcass weights (182 vs. 201 kg). Last, Simmental-sired calves had a similar growth rate, but lighter carcass weight (177 vs. 201 kg), smaller dressing percentage (55.3 vs. 58.4%), and smaller muscularity scores (3.25 vs. 3.72). In the case of young bulls and heifers fattened on the dairy farm of birth, Belgian Blue-, Piemontese (also known as Piedmontese)-, and Limousin-sired calves performed similarly; the only exception was that Piemontese-sired calves had a greater dressing percentage. Belgian Blue- and Limousin-sired calves performed similarly when fattened by specialized beef producers. In both veal and beef production, the effects of dam breed were less important than sire breed. Considering the entire project, we can conclude that the combined use of sexed semen for purebreeding and conventional beef semen for terminal crossbreeding improves meat production from dairy herds, especially when the sires are double-muscled beef breeds.

Influence of birth weight and weaning weight on performance and veal quality

Influence of birth weight and weaning weight on performance and veal quality

Veterinary drug administration in German veal calves: An exploratory study on retrospective data

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to characterise the usage of antibiotic and non-antibiotic drugs with a withdrawal period in German veal calves in more detail. In Germany, the documentation of the usage of veterinary medicinal products in food producing animals is mandatory. In the German monitoring system antibiotic use in calves under the age of eight months is recorded irrespective of the production type and only some basic measures (50 % and 75 % percentiles of the entire distributions of the treatment frequencies) are published regularly. Within this study 57 farms were included contributing data of 169 veal calf groups with a total of 91,196 individual calves. To assess the drug use the treatment frequency (TF) was calculated. Most treatments were applied in the first weeks after arrival at the farm against respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders, accounting for 65.2 % and 28.6 % of the TF, respectively. Antibiotics account for 91 % of the TF. The antibiotics used most frequently were tetracyclines (35.6 %), beta-lactams (21.9 %), macrolides (12.7 %), sulphonamides (6.0 %) and trimethoprimes (5.3 %). Tetracyclines and polypeptides were administered as group treatments in more than half of the recorded applications. The number of antibiotic group treatments decreased considerably from the first to the second half of the fattening period. Logistic regression analyses revealed no statistically significant association between TF and groups size or mortality. Nevertheless, the results indicate a negative associated between TF and mortality. Concerning non-antibiotics mainly iron compounds, arylpropionic acids, mucolytics and avermectines were applied, accounting for about 5 % of the total TF. The present study provides basic data on antibiotic and non-antibiotic use in German veal calf production.

Economic importance of antibiotic sale for private food animal practices in Switzerland - example veal production

The use of antibiotics in Swiss veal production is considered an established method for controlling bacterial infectious diseases. Although the veterinary profession aims to ensure animal welfare, the veterinary business income needs to be ensured at the same time. Against the background of increasing problems with resistant pathogens in human and veterinary medicine, the use of antibiotics should be significantly reduced and used more selectively. The associated economic consequences for food animal practitioners are unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the economic importance of antibiotic sale volume for private food animal practitioners in veal production. An anonymized questionnaire was sent to 120 mixed veterinary practices in Switzerland, which offered services to veal and beef cattle farmers. Questions involved the pharmaceutical sale volume, details on veterinary invoices from three farms with average, below and above average animal health throughout 2017. Twenty-nine complete questionnaires (response rate: 24.2%) and veterinary invoices of 84 farms were returned. The study is not representative, but it allows a rough assessment of the economic framework in Swiss livestock practice. The majority of the total turnover with livestock farms was generated by the sale of antibiotics (54%). Antibiotic sales per animal were higher as expected in farms with a below-average animal health than in farms with an average or above-average animal health. Consulting services turnover contributed only 0.5% to the total sale volume in veal farming. The results document, that antibiotic reduction measurements in veal and beef production will have economic consequences for veterinary livestock practices. In the medium term, the profitable existence of livestock veterinary practice requires a change to cost based consulting services.

Ökonomische Bedeutung des Umsatzes mit Antibiotika für private Nutztierpraxen in der Schweiz – Beispiel Kälbermast

The use of antibiotics in Swiss veal production is considered an established method for controlling bacterial infectious diseases. Although the veterinary profession aims to ensure animal welfare, the veterinary business income needs to be ensured at the same time. Against the background of increasing problems with resistant pathogens in human and veterinary medicine, the use of antibiotics should be significantly reduced and used more selectively. The associated economic consequences for food animal practitioners are unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the economic importance of antibiotic sale volume for private food animal practitioners in veal production. An anonymized questionnaire was sent to 120 mixed veterinary practices in Switzerland, which offered services to veal and beef cattle farmers. Questions involved the pharmaceutical sale volume, details on veterinary invoices from three farms with average, below and above average animal health throughout 2017. Twenty-nine complete questionnaires (response rate: 24.2%) and veterinary invoices of 84 farms were returned. The study is not representative, but it allows a rough assessment of the economic framework in Swiss livestock practice. The majority of the total turnover with livestock farms was generated by the sale of antibiotics (54%). Antibiotic sales per animal were higher as expected in farms with a below-average animal health than in farms with an average or above-average animal health. Consulting services turnover contributed only 0.5% to the total sale volume in veal farming. The results document, that antibiotic reduction measurements in veal and beef production will have economic consequences for veterinary livestock practices. In the medium term, the profitable existence of livestock veterinary practice requires a change to cost based consulting services.

Stakeholders’ perceptions of the challenges to improving calf health and reducing antimicrobial use in Swiss veal production

Large quantities of antimicrobials are used in Swiss veal production. To develop strategies to reduce antimicrobial use, it is important to understand how stakeholders along the veal production chain perceive the current situation and to find the key issues that challenge them about calf health management and antimicrobial use. However, there has been insufficient research into the individual contexts of the supply chain actors, and the central themes that they perceive to enable or limit their actions remain largely unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the perceptions of the current situation of the Swiss veal production system, in terms of calf health management and antimicrobial use held by industry stakeholders, i.e. dairy farmers, veal producers, traders, slaughterhouse managers, advisors and veterinarians. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 27 respondents and analyzed using content analysis. The results show that stakeholders are aware of the current need to minimize resistance development and the related risks for public health by reducing antimicrobial use. The main reason for high antimicrobial use was nominated as the practice of purchasing calves from many different dairy farms and bringing them together in large groups at a young age, which exposes them to a variety of pathogens that their still developing immune systems are not able to cope with. To prevent and combat infectious diseases which are a frequent consequence of this practice, antimicrobial group treatments are commonly administered, which significantly raises the total amount of antimicrobials used. Group level treatments with antimicrobials were associated directly with the large-scale veal farming system, which uses excess calves from specialized dairy farms, and which the respondents perceive to cause financial pressure and mutual dependencies among participants.In addition, disunity between actors was perceived as a further challenge to find strategies for the reduction of antimicrobial use. The respondents suggested downscaling the production system so that calves can be treated individually but conceded that the current system may be very difficult to change, so also suggested various improvement measures within the existing system. The results of this study provide a basis for further research to investigate possible interventions that could considerably reduce antimicrobial use in veal production.

Short communication: Pure-breeding with sexed semen and crossbreeding with semen from double-muscled sires to improve beef production from dairy herds: Weight and value of calves

The use of sexed semen to produce purebred replacement heifers allows a large proportion of dairy cows to be mated to double-muscled sires and for quantitative and qualitative improvements to be made to beef production from dairy herds. A survey of 1,285 crossbred calves showed that they are destined not only for veal production (like purebred dairy calves) but also for beef production. Crossbred calves obtained from Belgian Blue sires (sold on average at 34 d of age and 64 kg of weight) had a higher market value (€363/calf) than those obtained from double-muscled INRA 95 sires (€297/calf, used for veal production) and from Limousin sires (€216/calf for veal and €271/calf for beef production). As a sire breed, Simmental did not differ significantly from Belgian Blue, but as a dam breed, the crossbred calves fetched a higher price (€5.11/kg) than when Holstein was the dam breed (€4.50/kg). Compared with heifer calves, crossbred bull calves at sale were younger (34.1 vs. 37.2 d) and heavier (64.0 vs. 62.6 kg of live weight), fetched a higher price (€5.13 vs. €4.99/kg), and had a greater value (€328 vs. €312/calf). As the value of purebred dairy calves was about €80 to €100/calf, we are able to confirm that the combined use of sexed semen for pure-breeding and conventional beef semen for terminal crossbreeding can increase the income from dairy farms, especially when the sires are double-muscled beef bulls.

Effects of glycerol-esters of saturated short- and medium chain fatty acids on immune, health and growth variables in veal calves

In veal and dairy beef production systems, Holstein bull calves experience many stressors and excessive pathogen exposure, necessitating the use of antimicrobials for welfare and production reasons. The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to explore the effects of esterified fatty acids used as feed supplement on health, production and immune variables in veal calves. Different glycerol-esters of fatty acids were used: short chain fatty acid (SCFA)-based glycerol-mono- (C4) and tributyrate (C4), and medium chain fatty acid (MCFA)-based glycerol-monocaprylate/monocaprinate (C8/C10) and glycerol-monolaurate (C12) in two different doses. One hundred sixty eight calves (2-to 4-week-old) were randomly assigned to 6 treatment groups; tributyrate (0.5 g/animal/day); monobutyrate (1 g/animal/day); low C8/C10 (7 g/animal/day) and high C8/C10 (10 g/animal/day); low C12 (4 g/animal/day) and high C12 (6 g/animal/day) and a control group (CON). Duration of in-feed supplementation was 14 weeks. Average daily gain, bodyweight at 14 weeks on feed and slaughter weight were determined. Health monitoring consisted of clinical signs and repeated thoracic ultrasonography. After 4, 8 and 12 weeks of supplementation, the function of neutrophils, monocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was evaluated ex vivo by measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by neutrophils and monocytes, proliferation of and cytokine release by PBMCs.Study power was based upon ROS production by neutrophils and treatment groups were too limited to detect significant differences in growth and health variables. Glycerol-ester supplementation resulted in different effects on immune cell function, depending on the type and dose of the glycerol-ester as well as duration of supplementation. Our main findings were increased secretion of interleukin IL-17A by PBMCs at 4 weeks of feed supplementation in high C8/C10 (P< 0.01), low C12 (P < 0.01) and monobutyrate (P< 0.01) groups, combined with decreased ROS production in neutrophils (P < 0.001) and monocytes (P < 0.05) in the high C8/C10 and monocytes (P < 0.05) in low C12 groups compared to the control animals. After 12 weeks on feed, ROS production by neutrophils (P < 0.001) and monocytes (P < 0.01) of monobutyrate and by monocytes (P < 0.01) of tributyrate groups was decreased compared to control calves.In summary, supplementation of glycerol-esters of MCFAs resulted in immune-modulatory effects, which did not manifest themselves in improved health and growth of calves under the conditions and limitations of this study. Especially doses of high C8/C10 and low C12 show potential to promote an early, robust pro-inflammatory response with diminished ROS production. This might be beneficial for clearance of pathogens in young calves in periods of stress and high pathogen load.

РОЗВИТОК М’ЯСОПРОДУКТОВОГО ПІДКОМПЛЕКСУ АПК УКРАЇНИ

The development of domestic agri-food production affects the ability to achieve many socio-economic goals – to meet the food needs of the population, supply of non-food raw materials for industrial enterprises, increase foreign exchange earnings from the growth of exports and more. An important role in this process belongs to the meat subcomplex of the agro-industrial complex of Ukraine, which consists of agricultural producers engaged in animal husbandry, industrial enterprises engaged in the production of meat products and finished products, transport and trade infrastructure, ensuring the functioning of promotion channels and etc. The purpose of this article is research of problems of functioning of the national market of meat and meat products in general and meat subcomplex of agrarian and industrial complex in particular. The article examines the current state of the meat subcomplex of the agro-industrial complex. There is a continuing decline in livestock and beef, pork and lamb production. Poultry production is increasing through the use of innovative technologies. It indicates the formation of holding-type structures in meat production and processing and the disappearance of traditional vertically integrated cross-sectoral links. It is noted that in order to prevent the risks of food danger, it is necessary to stimulate the production of livestock products by small and medium-sized organizational forms of agricultural producers. Conclusions: 1) the crisis in the meat industry of Ukraine continues – over the past 30 years, the number of conventional livestock has decreased by 3 times and continues to decline; 2) during 2018-2019. there has been an increase in meat production only due to the accelerated decline in the number of cattle, pigs, sheep and goats; 3) in the period from 1990 to 2019. production of beef and veal, pork, lamb and goat decreased by 5.4, 2.2 and 3.3 times, respectively. The only industry in which there is an increase in production – poultry. This has been achieved through the use of advanced technologies; 4) agricultural enterprises have almost reached the pre-crisis share in the structure of meat production – 68.1% in 2019; 5) the share of the source of raw materials of meat processing plants «actually raised animals by processing enterprises» reached 81% in 2019. This indicates the formation of vertically integrated holding-type structures in meat production and processing, and the disappearance of traditional vertically integrated ties when raw material producers and processors were independent legal entities; 6) an additional source of raw materials that reduces the need of industrial enterprises in the formation and maintenance of their own raw material zones is the import of live animals, frozen products, offal, fat, food flour from meat or offal, etc.; 7) the development of agricultural holdings focused on the foreign market threatens the stability of the internal supply of food needs in meat and meat products. To neutralize the risks of food danger, it is necessary to implement a state program to stimulate the production of livestock products by small and medium-sized organizational forms of agricultural producers.

Public opinion and perception of rosé veal in the UK

Rosé veal is understood as meat from male purebred dairy calves. The UK veal market is limited, and calves are often killed at birth due to lack of purpose. A questionnaire, completed by 1002 respondents, investigated the UK public knowledge, perceptions and opinions of rosé veal, and whether raising awareness would sustain the rosé veal market. Most respondents (66%) did not eat rosé veal, mainly due to limited availability or exposure (31%) and animal welfare concerns (17%). A third of respondents knew the differences between rosé and white veal. After defining this, 61% of respondents would eat rosé veal, compared to 23% of respondents who ate it beforehand. Most respondents (91%) were willing to pay more for rosé veal burgers than the proposed average price for beef burgers. Increasing availability is key to encourage the sustainability of rosé veal production in the UK. These findings are useful for dairy farmers to strategically promote the use of purebred dairy bull calves.

Non-antibiotic approaches for disease prevention and control in beef and veal production: a scoping review.

Livestock producers are encouraged to reduce the use of antibiotics belonging to classes of medical importance to humans. We conducted a scoping review on non-antibiotic interventions in the form of products or management practices that could potentially reduce the need for antibiotics in beef and veal animals living under intensive production conditions. Our objectives were to systematically describe the research on this broad topic, identify specific topics that could feasibly support systematic reviews, and identify knowledge gaps. Multiple databases were searched. Two reviewers independently screened and charted the data. From the 13,598 articles screened, 722 relevant articles were charted. The number of relevant articles increased steadily from 1990. The Western European research was dominated by veal production studies whereas the North American research was dominated by beef production studies. The interventions and outcomes measured were diverse. The four most frequent interventions included non-antibiotic feed additives, vaccinations, breed type, and feed type. The four most frequent outcomes were indices of immunity, non-specific morbidity, respiratory disease, and mortality. There were seven topic areas evaluated in clinical trials that may share enough commonality to support systemic reviews. There was a dearth of studies in which interventions were compared to antibiotic comparison groups.

Investigating Factors Affecting Import Demand of Meat and Livestock Inputs in Iran

Introduction Despite the relative advantage of producing some agricultural products, Iran is one of the largest importers of agricultural sector, so the total agricultural imports in 2016 were about 8.78 billion dollars. One of the most imported products is red meat and livestock inputs. Animal corn is the first imported product of Iran and is one of the most important livestock feed. Due to the low level of domestic production of animal corn, large quantity of it is imported every year. Soybean meal is also the fourth-largest imported agricultural product and the seventh product of the country's import. High dependence on the import of red meat and livestock inputs and the lack of domestic production of these products in Iran have caused any change in import policy of these products will affect the welfare of many producers and consumers. Due to the close relationship between import of these products and food security and the welfare of the society, recognizing the factors affecting the import demand of these products is important to proper policy making in livestock sector. In fact, the import demand function in developing economies should be investigated because it has significant effects on the international trade policy in general and the exchange rate policy in particular. Materials and Methods In this study, contrary to previous studies which considered only a few factors, it was investigated the effects of tariff rate, GDP, real effective exchange rate, domestic production and relative price of imported products on the import demand of veal, lamb, chicken, animal corn and soybean meal. Due to correlation between the disturbance term in different equations, it was used the simultaneous equations method and also it was used imperfect substitution approach to derive import demand function. For this purpose, monthly data from April 2010 to March of 2016 has been used. To determine the appropriate estimator, Hegy test and diagonal disturbance covariance matrix test was used. In order to investigate co-integration, the Johansen-Juselius test was used for each import demand equation. Additionally, it was used Engle ARCH LM heteroscedasticity test and Harvey LM autocorrelation test for all equations. Results showed that there is no heteroscedasticity and autocorrelation in the system. Results and Discussion Based on results there was a long run relationship between variables in veal, lamb, chicken, animal corn and soybean meal equation. Results showed that all the variables in the import demand equations including veal, lamb, animal corn and soybean meal has been expected signs. Also results showed that in the equation of veal import demand, the coefficients of tariff rate and relative price was negative and significant. In the equation of lamb import demand, the coefficient of domestic production of veal was negative and significant. Moreover, in the equation of animal corn import demand, the coefficients of tariff rate and real effective exchange rate were negative and significant. Eventually in the equation of soybean meal import demand, the coefficients of tariff rate, real effective exchange rate and relative price were negative and significant. Therefore, it can be noted that due to high dependence on imports of livestock inputs, especially animal corn and soybean meal, it is decided every year to import these inputs only basis of factors such as tariff rate, real effective exchange rate and relative price. Suggestion Based on results which showed that tariff rate has significant effect on the import demand of veal, animal corn and soybean meal, it is helpful to use this tool to control the import quantity of veal, animal corn and soybean meal, whereas changing tariff rate to control the import quantity of lamb do not have much effect. Also, it was found that the import demand for livestock inputs was highly elastic to change in real effective exchange rate. So, it is necessary to prevent unreasonable increase in exchange rate and its fluctuations. Since, it was found that the lamb import demand was highly elastic to domestic production, it is recommended to adopt policies to increase production of lamb through the provision of livestock inputs required by producers. JEL Classification: F12, F31, F41

Antibiotic and quaternary ammonium compound resistance in Escherichia coli from calves at the beginning of the -fattening period in Switzerland (2017).

In the Swiss veal calf production, antimicrobials and disinfectants are used to control bacterial infectious diseases, leading to a risk of selecting for a resistant bacterial population. While the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in E. coli from calves has been monitored at slaughterhouses in Switzerland since 2006, the resistance situation of E. coli from young calves entering the fattening period is not known. A total of 100 calves entering the fattening period in 20 geographically distant farms in Switzerland were screened for the presence of E. coli using rectal swabs in 2017. Genetic diversity between isolates was determined using repetitive palindromic Polymerase Chain Reaction (rep-PCR) revealing a genetically diverse E. coli population. Susceptibility to 13 antibiotics and to alkyldimethylbenzylammonium (ADBAC) was determined by the measurement of the minimal inhibitory concentration. Antibiotic and quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) resistance genes were identified using microarray and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Sixty-four percent of the isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic, and 52% also exhibited decreased susceptibility to ADBAC. Resistance to more than 3 antibiotics was found in 40% of the isolates. Isolates exhibited resistance to tetracycline (57%) associated with the presence of tet genes (tet(A), (B), (E), (G)), to sulfonamides (61%) (sul1, sul2, sul3), ampicillin (56%) (blaTEM-1), trimethoprim (32%) (dfrA), phenicols (31%) (catA1, cmlA1, floR), gentamicin (27%) (ant(2")-Ia, aac(3)-IVa, aac(3)-VIa), and cefotaxime (2%) (blaCTX-M-14 (ESBL)). Mutations in GyrA (S83L) and ParC (S80I) were found in the fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates (6%). All isolates were susceptible to colistin, tigecycline and meropenem. No association between the presence of decreased susceptibility to ADBAC and qac genes was observed. In conclusion, antibiotic and QAC resistant E. coli are present in the gastrointestinal tract of young calves at the beginning of the fattening period, emphasizing the need for appropriate and reduced use of antibiotics and QAC-containing disinfectants in order to limit further selection of these bacteria during the fattening period.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ФУНКЦІОНУВАННЯ ТА ТЕНДЕНЦІЇ РОЗВИТКУ РИНКУ М’ЯСА ТА М’ЯСНОЇ ПРОДУКЦІЇ В УКРАЇНІ

On the basis of the analytical research the peculiarities of the meat processing enterprises functioning of Ukraine were identified, quantitative and qualitative trends of the meat and meat products market in Ukraine were investigated, factors influencing its development prospects were determined. The article points out that cattle meat production in Ukraine has been declining annually and has been unprofitable for the last 20 years. At the same time, it is proved that the meat industry in Ukraine has significant reserves and great prospects for development, the successful implementation of which is possible only if the negative phenomena and processes in the agricultural sector are overcome. The paper investigates that over the past year, there has been some increase in meat production, with a marked decrease in beef, veal and pork meat production and an increase in poultry meat production. The main problems of the industry and the ways of overcoming them in the current economic conditions are outlined. The main leaders of producers of meat products in Ukraine are highlighted. The dynamics of the poultry population and the production of this type of meat are discussed. The structure of livestock farming by agricultural enterprises and private farms is considered. The dynamics of the structure of meat production in Ukraine by types compared to 2014 and 2018 is provided. The desired market capacity, which could meet the needs of Ukrainians in the rational consumption of meat products, is 3.432 billion tons, but the actual consumption reaches only 2.295 billion tons, which is 66.9 % of the rational indicator. Among the main effective ways of providing market capacity are: increasing the availability of goods by introducing individual assistance to low-income categories of the population; an increase in the consumption of products outside the home, which will necessitate an increase in real wages; elimination in the food markets of non-equivalent product exchange; development of a balanced range of products at meat processing enterprises. Keywords: meat processing companies, meat and meat products market, meat and meat products production, poultry meat, turkey meat.

Methane Emissions and the Use of Desmanthus in Beef Cattle Production in Northern Australia.

Simple SummaryAn in-depth review of Australia’s tropical beef cattle production system is presented with emphasis on the use of Desmanthus, a tropical legume, as a nutritional supplementation strategy for the abatement and mitigation of methane emissions. It also identifies current knowledge gaps in in vivo methane emissions research.The Australian beef industry is a major contributor to the economy with an estimated annual revenue generation of over seven billion dollars. The tropical state of Queensland accounted for 48% of Australian beef and veal production in 2018. As the third biggest beef exporter in the world, Australia supplies 3% of the world’s beef exports and its agricultural sector accounts for an estimated 13.2% of its total greenhouse gas emissions. About 71% of total agricultural emissions are in the form of methane and nitrous oxide. In this review, an overview of the carbon footprint of the beef cattle production system in northern Australia is presented, with emphasis on the mitigation of greenhouse gases. The review also focuses on the tropical legume, Desmanthus, one of the more promising nutritional supplements for methane abatement and improvement of animal growth performance. Among the review’s findings is the need to select environmentally well-adapted and vigorous tropical legumes containing tannins that can persistently survive under the harsh northern Australian conditions for driving animal performance, improving meat quality and reducing methane emissions. The paper argues that the use of appropriate legumes such as Desmanthus, is a natural and preferred alternative to the use of chemicals for the abatement of methane emanating from tropical beef cattle production systems. It also highlights current gaps in knowledge and new research opportunities for in vivo studies on the impact of Desmanthus on methane emissions of supplemented tropical beef cattle.