Wood Shavings Bedding Research Articles

EFFECTS OF DWELLING CONDITIONS ON CARDIOVASCULAR PARAMETERS IN SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

SUMMARY 1 Living conditions are an important environmental factor for laboratory animals. We studied the effects of different living conditions on the cardiovascular parameters in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). 2 In both the light and the dark phase, the heart rate of rats kept in a wire-mesh cage was significantly greater than the heart rate of rats kept under the other living conditions (with wood-shaving bedding material in a plastic cage, with cloth bedding material in a plastic cage and with cloth bedding material in a wire-mesh cage, P < 0.01 by the paired t-test). 3 Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure of rats kept in a wire-mesh cage in the light phase was significantly higher than the heart rates of rats kept under the other living conditions (with wood-shaving bedding materials in a plastic cage, with cloth bedding materials in a plastic cage, P < 0.01 by the paired t-test). 4 Based on these results, we concluded that the living conditions had a substantial influence on the cardiovascular parameters in SHR.

Respirable dust concentrations in equine stables. Part 1: Validation of equipment and effect of various management systems

Traditional methods of measuring airborne dust concentrations (ADC) in animal housing have included the collection of dust onto pre-weighed filters permitting the calculation of mean, not maximum, ADC. However real-time continuous particle monitors are advantageous in identifying short duration elevations in ADC which may be detrimental to equine respiratory health in the face of a relatively low mean ADC. These monitors have not previously been used to measure ADC in equine stables. Comparisons of a filter-based sampler and a real-time continuous particle monitor revealed no significant difference ( P = 0.079) and good agreement (⩾95% of the points fell within two standard deviations of the mean of the differences and the mean of the differences approximated zero) between the devices, with respect to mean respirable dust concentration (RDC) measurements. Investigations of the influence of various equine management systems on RDC revealed that both mean and maximum breathing zone RDC were significantly reduced ( P < 0.05) in equine stables by changing the environment from hay feed and straw bedding, to haylage feed and wood shavings bedding (reduction in mean – 0.0867 mg/m 3 to 0.0260 mg/m 3; reduction in maximum – 4.0758 mg/m 3 to 0.2182 mg/m 3, respectively).

Respirable dust concentrations in equine stables. Part 2: The benefits of soaking hay and optimising the environment in a neighbouring stable

The effect of soaking hay to minimise equine breathing zone respirable dust concentration (RDC) is unknown, as is the duration of soaking required. Additionally, the influence of the bedding and forage used in one stable on the mean and maximum RDC in a neighbouring stable within a common airspace is unknown. Consequently, in the management of equine environmental respiratory disease uncertainty remains about the necessity for optimising conditions in neighbouring stables. Investigations using a real-time continuous particle monitor revealed that when feeding hay, horses’ mean breathing zone RDC was significantly reduced if the hay was immersed or soaked for a prolonged time, prior to feeding. There was no advantage in soaking for an extended time period. Implementing management changes in one stable (changing from straw bedding and hay feeding to wood shavings bedding and haylage feeding) significantly reduced mean and maximum background RDC in a neighbouring stable within a common airspace.

Small-Scale Composting of Horse Manure Mixed with Wood Shavings

There is an increased interest in composting manure on small horse farms (1-5 horses). It is known that simple backyard, food waste composters do not efficiently reduce pathogens due to their small scale. However, it was not clear if small-scale manure composting on horse farms could ensure pathogen reduction during all seasons. Furthermore, because of potential human health concerns, the release of Aspergillus fumigatus on small horse farms was of interest. The objective of this study was to evaluate pathogen reduction in a simple shed composter and the release of Aspergillus fumigatus emissions from fall to spring under typical farm operational conditions. Horse manure mixed with wood shavings (bedding) was composted for 4-8 weeks in the fall, winter, early spring and late spring. Fecal streptococci and eggs of strongyles, which are a major recognized health concern for horses, were used as pathogen indicator organisms. Temperatures increased in all composting piles during all seasons, but tended to be higher in warmer weather. After 4 weeks, the fecal streptococci reduction was about 10- to 100-fold and, after 8 weeks, about 100- to 1000-fold. There was some effect of season on fecal streptococci levels, with the higher composting temperatures appearing to provide greater reductions. Strongyle eggs in this study were very low and were reduced over time. Levels of viable A. fumigatus spores during turning ranged from 12-2084 CFU m−3, while background levels ranged between 6 - 300 CFU m−3. Overall, this study indicates that composting horse manure mixed with wood shavings reduces pathogens. A. fumigatus levels are elevated during turning, but the levels are lower than those found at sewage sludge/municipal solid waste composting facilities or inside barns.

Effect of sand and wood-shavings bedding on the behavior of broiler chickens

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of 2 different bedding types, sand and wood shavings, on the behavior of broiler chickens. In experiment 1, 6 pens were divided down the center and bedded half with sand and half with wood shavings. Male broilers (10/pen) were observed by scan sampling at 5- or 12-min intervals throughout the 6-wk growth period during the morning (between 0800 to 0900 h), afternoon (1200 to 1500 h), and night (2300 to 0600 h). There was a significant behavior x substrate x week interaction during the day (P < 0.0001) and at night (P < 0.0002). Drinking, dustbathing, preening, and sitting increased in frequency on the sand side but decreased on the wood shavings side during the day, as did resting at night. In general, broilers performed a greater proportion of their total behavioral time budget on the sand (P < 0.0001) as they aged. Broilers used the divider between the 2 bedding types to perch; perching behavior peaked during wk 4. In experiment 2, male broilers were housed in 8 pens (50 birds/pen) bedded only in sand or wood shavings. Bedding type had no effect on behavioral time budgets (P = 0.8946), although there were age-related changes in behavior on both bedding types. These results indicate that when given a choice, broilers increasingly performed many of their behaviors on sand, but if only one bedding type was provided they performed those behaviors with similar frequency on sand or wood shavings.

Efeito do genótipo halotano e de diferentes sistemas de produção na qualidade da carne suína

Verificou-se o efeito dos genótipos halotano homozigoto dominante e heterozigoto e dos sistemas de criação confinado sobre piso de cimento, confinado sobre cama de maravalha e ao ar livre sobre a qualidade da carne suína. Foram utilizados 96 suínos machos castrados selecionados através do exame de DNA genômico, utilizando-se a técnica de reação em cadeia de polimerase (PCR) para amplificar a região do receptor rianodina. A região amplificada foi clivada pela técnica polimorfismo do comprimento dos fragmentos de restrição (RFLP). Mediu-se o pH nos músculos Longissimus dorsi e Semimembranosus aos quarenta e cinco minutos e vinte e quatro horas após o abate. A capacidade de retenção de água foi avaliada em amostras do músculo Longissimus dorsi através das técnicas de perda de líquido por gotejamento, de cocção e de descongelamento. Escores para a cor e o grau de marmorização da carne foram atribuídos com auxílio de padrões fotográficos. A maciez da carne foi medida pela força de cisalhamento em equipamento Warner-Bratzler Shear. Suínos com gene halotano heterozigotos apresentaram valores inferiores de pH, menor capacidade de retenção de água e uma freqüência de carcaças com carne PSE três vezes maior. O sistema de criação não afetou os valores de pH inicial e final ou a capacidade de retenção de água da carne suína. A maior incidência de carne PSE foi observada nas carcaças dos suínos criados em sistema confinado sobre piso de concreto. Não houve efeito significativo da interação genótipo halotano e sistema de criação para as características avaliadas.

Efeito do genótipo halotano e de diferentes sistemas de produção no desempenho produtivo e na qualidade da carcaça suína

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar o efeito dos genótipos halotano homozigoto dominante e heterozigoto e de três sistemas de criação (confinado sobre piso de cimento, confinado sobre cama de maravalha e ao ar livre) no desempenho produtivo e na qualidade da carcaça e da carne suína. Foram utilizados 96 suínos machos castrados selecionados pelo exame de DNA genômico no sangue utilizando-se a técnica de reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) para amplificar a região do receptor rianodina. A região amplificada foi clivada pela técnica do polimorfismo do comprimento dos fragmentos de restrição (RFLP). Nas fases de crescimento e terminação, avaliaram-se ganho de peso, consumo de ração e conversão alimentar. Após o abate, as carcaças foram pesadas e tipificadas eletronicamente. Vinte e quatro horas após o abate, foram separados e pesados o pernil e o carrê e medida a área de olho de lombo. A presença do gene halotano não afetou o desempenho dos suínos, mas aumentou a porcentagem de carne magra e diminuiu a quantidade de gordura na carcaça. Suínos criados no sistema intensivo ao ar livre apresentaram menor ganho de peso e pior conversão alimentar. No sistema intensivo de criação confinado sobre cama, os suínos produziram carcaças com menor quantidade de carne magra e maior quantidade de gordura. Não houve efeito significativo da interação genótipo halotano e sistema de criação para as características avaliadas.

Effects of Biodynamic Preparations on Compost Development

ABSTRACT Biodynamic (BD) agriculture is an organic farming system that relies heavily on compost as a fertilizer. Six herbal preparations are added to composting materials in order to make BD compost. Proponents claim these additions produce higher quality compost under farm conditions. In this study, BD compost preparations were applied to 3.5 t compost piles made of dairy manure and woodshaving bedding. Application of the BD preparations also requires 6 1 soil and 8 1 water; therefore control piles received the same additions of soil and water as BD compost piles, but no BD preparations. Biodynamic-treated composts maintained an average 3.4°C higher temperature throughout the eight-week active composting period, suggesting more thermophilic microbial activity and/or faster development of compost with BD treatment. Final samples were taken when active composting slowed and the piles entered a ripening stage. At the final sampling, BD-treated piles respired C02 at a 10% lower rate and had a larger ratio of dehydrogenase enzyme activity to C02 production. Microbial communities in the finished BD and control piles were differentiated by principal component analysis of microbial phospholipid fatty acids. Final samples of BD-treated composts also had 65% more nitrate than control piles. Biodynamic preparations thus effected discernible changes in compost chemical and microbial parameters.

EFFECTS OF FLUCTUATING TEMPERATURES ON ISOWEAN PIGS

This study quantifies responses of isowean pigs (10 to 12 days of age, PIC breed) to potential in-transittemperature fluctuations for 54 h, followed by a 14-day growth period under thermoneutrality. The 54-h temperatureregimens included a constant air temperature of 26.7C (as control) and three cyclic air temperatures of 26.7 2.8C,26.7 5.6C and 26.7 8.3C, all using woodshavings bedding atop rigid board insulation. The pigs received an averagedosage of 0.91 kg/pig water replacement supply during the 54-h treatment period, and ad-libitum feeding and wateringduring the growth period. Pigs in all three treatments and the control had similar growth performance, physiological, andenergetic responses during both treatment and growth periods. At the end of the treatment period, the pigs had elevatedconcentrations of hematocrit, plasma protein, blood urea nitrogen, sodium and chloride, but declined concentration ofglucose (P < 0.05). Potassium and bicarbonate levels remained relatively constant (P > 0.05). Concentrations of theblood constituents returned to normal during the growth period. The results suggest that the isowean pigs respond well toair temperature fluctuations of up to 8.3C around the thermoneutral condition of 26.7C air temperature coupled withwoodshavings bedding.

Accumulation of Elements in Fractionated Broiler Litter during Re-Utilization

Poultry litter is a mixture of broiler (chicken, Gallus gallus domesticus) excreta and bedding material. The broiler industry may produce more litter than can be locally land-applied without causing environmental degradation. Passing whole litter through 0.83- and 3.33-mm sieves separates a fine fraction that can be land-applied as fertilizer and a coarse fraction that can be mixed with bedding and re-utilized in broiler houses. A study was conducted to determine whether the coarse litter fraction could be re-utilized as a supplement for bedding in broiler houses without significant accumulation of heavy metals and other elements. Wood shavings supplemented with either stored or fresh coarse litter and a treatment of unsupplemented wood shavings were used as bedding material during a 40-day broiler growth period. Initial and final litter samples were collected and analyzed for Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, N, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Si, Sr, and Zn. Results indicated that element concentrations in wood shavings bedding supplemented with litter did not increase significantly during the final 30 days of a 40-day growth period. However, significant accumulation of several litter elements in unsupplemented wood shavings bedding during the entire 40-day growth period indicated that repeated recycling of litter as a bedding supplement may lead to significant accumulation of elements in litter.

Bacterial Pathogens and Indicators in Poultry Litter during Re-Utilization

A study of broiler litter re-utilization potential was conducted with a goal of determining if a coarse litter fraction could be safely re-utilized as a supplement for wood shavings bedding without significant pathogen accumulation. Pathogenic and indicator bacteria were monitored in three litter types (coarse fractions of fresh or stored litter supplemented with wood shavings, or wood shavings alone) during a 40-day growth period in broiler house pens. Initial microbial concentrations were higher in fresh litter than in stored litter or wood shavings. Significant increases in microbial concentrations occurred during 40 days of re-utilization in fresh/stored/shavings litter. No consistent significant differences were found among concentrations of microorganisms in fresh/stored/shavings litter during re-utilization.

Bacterial Counts Associated with Recycled Newspaper Bedding

Bacterial counts associated with recycled newspaper, wood shavings, and pelleted corn cobs used as bedding for lactating dairy cows were compared. Chopped newspaper and pelleted corn cobs had similar gram-negative bacterial, coliform, and streptococcal bedding counts. Staphylococcal counts in pelleted corn cobs were greater than in chopped newspaper. Conversely, gram-negative bacterial, coliform, and staphylococcal counts in chopped newspaper were greater than in wood shavings. Coliform and streptococcal counts did not differ between chopped newspaper and wood shavings bedding materials. Teat swab counts from cows bedded on pelleted corn cobs were greater than those from cows bedded on chopped newspaper for gram-negative bacterial, coliform, Klebsiella species, and staphylococci. Streptococcal teat swab counts did not differ between cows bedded on chopped newspaper and pelleted corn cobs. Cows bedded on chopped newspaper and wood shavings had similar gram-negative bacterial, coliform, and Klebsiella species teat swab counts. Streptococcal and staphylococcal teat swab counts were greater from cows bedded on chopped newspaper than those from cows bedded on wood shavings. Teat swab and bedding counts were correlated. In general, bacterial counts in bedding suggest no advantage in using chopped newspaper over pelleted corn cobs or wood shavings in reducing exposure of teats to environmental mastitis pathogens.

Cadaverine and burying in the laboratory rat

When rats housed in an environment that contained wood-shaving bedding material were given normal food pellets or food pellets soaked with cadaverine, they buried more cadaverine-soaked pellets than normal pellets. They also hoarded and ate cadaverine-soaked pellets and ate a mash saturated with cadaverine. Thus, cadaverine is not noxious to rats. The fact that they bury substances soaked with it indicates that burying can be a nondefensive unconditional species-typical response. We suggest that given the rich behavioral repertoire of rats, behavioral profiles consisting of a number of different tests are necessary to establish the transsituation-ality of the reinforcing valence of objects.

Proceedings: Zearalenone in the diet, podophyllotoxin in the wood shavings bedding, are likely to affect the incidence of "spontaneous" tumours among laboratory animals.

Proceedings: Zearalenone in the diet, podophyllotoxin in the wood shavings bedding, are likely to affect the incidence of spontaneous tumours among laboratory animals