Young Stock Research Articles

Animal performance over 16 years after implementing a lucerne grazing system on Bog Roy Station - a case study

In 2023, the animal performance data for Bog Roy station show 151 t weaned lamb is being produced from 4272 ewes plus 9.0 t from hogget lambs. The ability to mate merino hoggets has resulted from increased feed supply that means mixed age ewes are now consistently averaging 65.6±1.17 kg/hd at mating (2019-2023). This has enabled an emphasis on two-tooth weight at mating, which has also increased 0.74±0.14 kg/hd/yr (R2 = 0.64) from 52 kg/hd in 2012 to 61 kg/hd in 2023. Consequently, scanning is consistently ~167±1.59% for the mixed age ewes (2012-2023) and increased from 113% (2008) to 154% (2023) in the two-tooths. Lamb wastage for the mixed age ewes has decreased 0.70±0.08%/yr (R2 = 0.88) to 15% in 2023 and, although more variable (R2 = 0.13), the wastage in two-tooths has also reduced from 32% (2014) to 21% (2023). Lamb wastage is negatively related to two-tooth weight at set-stocking, so feeding young stock is a priority. Since 2016, pre-weaning merino lamb growth rates have averaged 286±4.39 g/hd/d with weaning now at 79.3±2.56 days. This consistency coincided with the addition of 210 ha of feed under pivot irrigation that was initially sown in red and white clover and is now in lucerne/grass mixes. The additional feed has meant wool production has remained constant throughout the 15 years of pasture development. Cow numbers have been used to buffer the changes in pasture supply as the dryland and pivot development occurred. These have now increased to their highest level since the development began. The major change in farm income has resulted from the earlier sale of more lambs at a higher average price because they are heavier due to the extra feed. This unique long-term dataset of on-farm performance provides a commercial example of transformational change that has resulted from changes in the farm system, driven by direct feeding of dryland lucerne and irrigation development focused on growing young stock in this 420 mm rainfall environment.

PSII-15 Comparative analysis of equine diets on growth metrics and economic feasibility

Abstract The objective of the study was to assess the impact of two commonly available low non-structural carbohydrate equine diets on growth parameters and economic factors in young growing horses. To do this, young stock type horses n = 11; 6 fillies, 5 colts; body weight (BW) = 380.3 ± 15 kg] were separated into two groups that were balanced by age, sex, and BW. All horses were backgrounded for 14 d on a hay-only diet prior to the beginning of the study. Additionally, each group was assigned to one of two dietary treatments fed at 0.75% BW/d (as fed) twice daily in 12 h intervals for 56 d. Dietary treatments consisted of a leading national brand feed (n = 5) and Thomas Moore Calm and Safe (n = 6). Horses were allowed ad libitum access to Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) hay and fresh water. For the 56-d period, horses were exercised at a light workload for 30 min/d and 4 d/wk. For all growth measurements, a baseline measurement was recorded per horse. Growth measurements were then recorded at 7 d intervals. Data from these growth measurements were analyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS v9.4 with the fixed effects of day and diet. Growth metrics increased on all horses throughout the length of the trial regardless of dietary treatment (P ≤ 0.01), which is expected from young growing horses. A Diet x Day trend towards significance (P = 0.075) was observed for BW, as the leading national brand feed dietary treatment group tended to have heavier BW than the Thomas Moore Calm and Safe during the duration of the study. Additionally, body fat percentage was greater (P = 0.04) in the national leading brand feed group compared with the Thomas Moore group. None of the remaining growth metrics had any statistical difference across diets. Furthermore, there was no difference in dietary intake between dietary groups (P > 0.5). These results suggest that the Thomas Moore Calm and Safe concentrate serves as a good alternative and economically friendly for young growing horses when compared with more traditional feeds currently on the market.

Cost-benefit analysis of intervention reducing young stock mortality in Ethiopia.

Livestock provide meat, milk, draught labour, are used for breeding, and act as a store of value for smallholder farmers. High young stock mortality (YSM) has the potential to cause significant financial loss. The Young Stock Mortality Reduction Consortium collaborated on a project to deliver a package of basic health and husbandry interventions to reduce YSM for cattle and small ruminants in mixed and pastoral production systems in Ethiopia. Prior to the intervention, YSM rates ranged from 9.8% for calves in mixed systems, to 35.6% for small ruminants in pastoral systems. Proportional reductions YSM from the intervention ranged from 60% for calves and for small ruminants in mixed systems, to 72% for calves in pastoral systems. This brief research report assesses the costs and benefits of the intervention ex-poste to determine its efficiency. NPVs for the intervention (per household) were calculated for a range of benefit periods (from 1 to 20 years), based on the cost of training enumerators and farmers and the net annual household benefits realised within each benefit period. We found in both pastoral and mixed systems the net annual household benefit for the intervention was positive. For pastoral households the intervention achieves a positive NPV after 2 years. For mixed households the intervention achieves a positive NPV after 11 years. Overall, we found the benefits of the intervention exceed the costs, by a very large amount in pastoral systems, and that benefits were larger for households that kept larger numbers of breeding females.

Estimating the cost of young stock mortality in livestock systems-An application to sheep farming in Ethiopia.

In sub-Saharan Africa, pre-weaning young stock mortality (YSM) is in the order of 20 to 30% across most livestock species and production systems. High YSM has significant economic implications for livestock keepers, but few studies provide estimates of the "cost of YSM." This study explores a bio-economic herd modeling approach to estimate the "cost of YSM" at farming/livestock system level. The static zero-growth version of DYNMOD was used to calculate the annual physical and monetary output of a sheep flock consisting of 100 breeding females at different levels of lamb mortality. Production parameter values and prices were taken from recently published research. Calculations were carried out for values of lamb mortality decreasing from 30% to 0% in 5% intervals, with 20% representing the "baseline" YSM. Calculations were repeated for a "high" fertility scenario (100% vs. 59% parturition rate) to gauge the sensitivity of the cost of YSM to another parameter determining flock productivity. The relation of revenue per head and YSM is close to linear over the range of analyzed YSM with 1% decrease in YSM resulting in an increase in revenue per animal of approximately 1%. At the higher fertility rate, the absolute cost of YSM to sheep farmers is higher while the relative increase in revenue per animal resulting from YSM reduction is lower. The estimated difference in revenue of the 100-ewe flock between the 20% and 0% lamb mortality scenarios (at baseline fertility) amounts to approximately USD 90 per additionally surviving lamb, which is far above its market value. Reduced lamb mortality ultimately impacts flock revenue through increased sales of "mature" animals, which embody the value of a lamb plus the revenue/profit from raising it to marketable age/weight. The modeling results suggest that foregone profit is an important component of the systemic "cost of YSM." Consequently, expected profit per animal, in addition to its current market value, is essential for estimating the absolute cost of YSM at farming system level.

Influence of Season, Age, and Sex on Prevalence of Tick-Borne Diseases in Goats

The current study aimed to assess the prevalence of tick-borne diseases among different goat breeds in relation to season, sex, and age at the Livestock Production Research Institute, Bahadurnagar, Okara, Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 960 blood smears from apparently healthy animals were screened for haemoprotozoan infestations using Giemsa's staining technique and observed under an oil immersion lens (100X). The overall prevalence was 7.81%, with 4.68%, 2.18%, and 0.93% of theileriosis, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis, respectively, recorded on examination of blood smears. The prevalence of theileriosis was significantly higher in summer (7.08%), followed by autumn, spring, and winter at 4.58%, 4.16%, and 2.91%, respectively. However, no significant seasonal influence was observed on the prevalence of anaplasmosis and babesiosis. Analysis of age groups revealed a significantly higher prevalence of tick-borne diseases in young stock (11.56%) compared to adults (7.81%) and sucklers (4.06%). There was no significant influence observed regarding the occurrence of these diseases based on sex and breed. The study suggests that these diseases were more prevalent during summer, and young stock goats were more susceptible to haemoprotozoan diseases than adults and sucklers.

A longitudinal study of tick infestations and management practices in young stock smallholder dairy cattle in the Tanga region, Tanzania

A longitudinal study involving cohorts of young stock animals (<3 years old) kept on smallholder dairy farms in the Tanga region, Tanzania, was conducted to identify and quantify tick infestations and describe on-farm tick management practices. A total of 549 young stock were followed for 23 months, and 3127 grazing and acaricide treatment observations were obtained. Tick counts were low in the present study, and while more than 30% of animals had a tick on one occasion, most animals had no ticks at most examinations. The most commonly encountered spp. were R. appendiculatus, Boophilus spp., A. variegatum and R. evertsi. Most animals were zero-grazed, a management system that significantly limits animal exposure to ticks; however, grazed calves were more than three times more likely to carry R. appendiclatus and Boophilus spp. ticks than zero-grazed calves were (OR [odds ratio] = 4.4, P < 0.001; 3.6, P < 0.001). There were no significant differences among sampling rounds in the numbers of animals carrying R. appendiculatus ticks (likelihood ratio test P = 0.520). Hand spraying was the common method used, acaricides that require on farm dilution were most commonly used, and most farmers used this method at concentrations considerably less than those recommended by the manufacturer, most likely due to poor understanding, high cost (tempting them to over dilute) and weak extension/veterinary services. Variation in acaricide treatment frequency was not associated with variations in tick attachment, suggesting that most farms were under a strong acaricide regime or at irregular intervals or with tick-building resistance. Our findings suggest that geographic variations in vector densities might partly influence the extent of infection caused by tick-borne pathogens. The applicability of this study to large and extensive cattle production systems is recommended to widen the scope of tick management practices while generating additional data that will inform national tick and tick-borne disease control policy reform in Tanzania.

Quality of hatching eggs and young quails of different breeds depending on the age of the birds

The most important link in the production technology of poultry products is the production of high-quality hatching eggs. Assessing egg quality is the fi rst necessary step for successful brooding. In order to realize the maximum genetic productivity potential of any breed, it is necessary to obtain high-quality young stock for rearing. In order to do this, it is also necessary to have information about the quality of hatching eggs, the characteristics of the embryonic development of quails and the requirements for the quality of day-old quails, both in general and separately for each breed. These issues have been little studied in quail breeds of meat and meat-egg productivity. The purpose of the research was to study the brooding traits of eggs and the quality of day-old young quails of meat and meat-egg breeds at the beginning, middle and end of the productive period. Research was carried out at the Siberian Poultry Research Institute on eggs and young quails of Omsk and Radonezh breeds of meat-egg and meat productivity. It has been established that the age of the quails aff ected the quality of hatching quail eggs, and accordingly the results of brooding the quality of day-old young quails, and further productivity. In order to improve the quality of the herd and the economic effi ciency of production, eggs obtained from laying quails aged 126–238 days should be used for brooding. The hatchability of eggs at this age was higher in Omsk breed by 2,56–8,14 abs.%, in the Radonezh breed by 2,39–8,73 abs.%. The hatching was also higher for breeds Omsk by 3,55–8,43 abs.%, Radonezh by 2,74–8,89 abs.%. Quails from small eggs obtained from a young laying quails grow more intensively. The livability of young quails was higher among breeds Omsk by 2–4 abs.%, Radonezh by 4 abs.%

Balancing farm profit and greenhouse gas emissions along the dairy production chain through breeding indices

Breeding is a promising greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation option for the dairy sector that offers potential permanent and cumulative effects. However, there is limited understanding of how genetic traits affect GHG emissions from the dairy production chain and how breeding indices could be used to find a balance between GHG emissions and farm profit. Using a typical Chinese dairy farm as a case study, we developed a novel method to address these gaps. The farm comprised of 1523 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows and 1429 young stock. The average milk yield at the farm was 11,533 kg per cow per year. Life cycle assessment was combined with an existing bio-economic model to determine the emission intensity values (IV) of six genetic traits: milk yield, protein yield, fat yield, calving interval, productive life, and incidence of clinical mastitis. The IVs and economic values of the traits were used to form different breeding indices, of which the economic and environmental consequences were assessed. Results showed that for the next generation, breeding animals with optimal indices could reduce carbon dioxide equivalents per ton of fat-and-protein-corrected milk by six to 10 kg, while increasing profitability by 822 to 1355 Chinese Yuan per cow unit. Different indices can balance farm profit and GHG emissions to different degrees. However, the indices with higher profit showed less potential in reducing GHG emissions. This study provides insights into how breeding strategies could contribute to GHG mitigation in the dairy sector.

Особливості епізоотологічного нагляду та контролю за мікобактеріозами продуктивних тварин в умовах молочнотоварних господарств України

The increase in mycobacteriosis, an infectious disease caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteriosis, has become an urgent issue for humane medicine. The mycobacteriosis of animals is a subject of intense study by veterinary scientists across most countries globally. In Ukraine, the number of farms with productive animals exhibiting paraallergic reactions to tuberculin is steadily rising, making the diagnosis of tuberculosis more complicated. In dairy cattle breeding, this issue also has significant economic implications. The forced slaughter of breeding young stock and high-producing cows is often a consequence. On the other hand, the identification of various non-tuberculous mycobacteria species in human mycobacteriosis patients, which can sensitize the cows, gives the issue of preventing animal mycobacteriosis both medical and social significance. All of the factors mentioned previously led to the decision to permanently retain cows that react positively to tuberculin testing on a dairy farm in the Volyn region, which has historically been free of tuberculosis. A comprehensive study was conducted from 2018 to 2023, utilizing methods of epizootological analysis as well as clinical, pathological, histological, bacteriological, and statistical research techniques. It was shown that an epizootic process, caused by the infection of cattle with non-tuberculosis mycobacteria, is occurring on the dairy farm. Mycobacterium scrofulaceum, M. fortuitum, and Nocardia spp. were isolated and identified from the lymph nodes and lymphoid tissue of the large intestine submucosa in the infected animals. These pathogens cause significant histological and pathological changes, indicating the presence of a clinically covert infectious process accompanied by sensitization of the animal organism. Epizootological analysis of the results from simultaneous allergic testing, as well as multiple bacteriological studies of samples from animals that reacted positively to both purified protein derivate tuberculin and atypical mycobacteria allergens, established that the allergic reactions to tuberculin were paraallergic in nature. This indicated the presence of an active infectious process within the animals’ bodies.

Evaluation of rabbit young stock grown using starter compound feed by growth intensity and functional state of the body

The possibility of improving the technology of raising suckling and weaned kits aged 18–42 days, which would involve the use of starter compound feed, was studied in the conducted research. The object of the research was the livestock of rabbits of the Poltava Silver breed. The research was conducted at the experimental rabbitry of the Cherkasy Research Station of Bioresources. The experiments were carried out in a closed capital ventilated premises using metal cages for keeping suckling does with litters measuring 95×39 cm, equipped with feeders and automatic waterers. The cages intended for feeding suckling kits with starter compound feed were slightly modified: an additional feeder was installed in the compartment for young stock, and only the kits had the possibility of free movement between different compartments of the cage. By the method of group analogs from nests of suckling 18-day-old kits, two subgroups of 25 heads each were formed. The preparatory period lasted 5 days, and the main one – 19 days (raising up to 42 days of age, with weaning at 35). Suckling does of both groups were fed a complete granulated feed PK 91 (for adult rabbits and does aged 90 days and older “Lux”) produced by LLC “KreMix”. For the animals of the experimental group, a recipe for additional complete granulated starter compound feed was developed, produced at a farm in the village of Tashlik, Smila district. Thus, both starter compound feed and feed for feeding suckling does were used for the kits of the experimental group, and for the analogs of the control group - the same feed as for the does. The conducted research revealed that the use of complete granulated starter compound feed for feeding young rabbits aged 18–42 days as an additional feed, developed according to international standards, did not lead to an increase in the total cost of feed per 1 kg of live weight gain, but on the contrary, reduced it. Due to the increase in the retention rate of the replacement young stock in the experimental group by 8.0 % provided its realization for further breeding per 100 heads, contributed to additional income of 1015.28 UAH. (market realization price – 140.00 UAH/kg of live weight). Based on the conducted research, an information database of growth and development indicators of replacement young stock of rabbits when fed starter compound feed at the age of 18–42 days has been created.

Triticale: A General Overview of Its Use in Poultry Production

Triticale, a hybrid of wheat and rye, is one of the most promising grain crops. In terms of productivity, the level of metabolizable energy, and the composition of essential amino acids, triticale surpasses rye and is not inferior to wheat. It is resistant to the most dangerous diseases and pests. In terms of nutritional value, triticale can compete with wheat, corn, sorghum, and barley. The presence, however, of antinutrients in triticale such as non-starch polysaccharides, alkylresorcinols, and trypsin inhibitors significantly reduces the biological value of this crop. In the global practice of compound feed production, there are many methods and technologies for processing grain raw materials to increase their nutritional value. Enzymatic treatment and extrusion technologies are worthy of special attention. The high content of triticale in the compound feed of poultry breeder flocks should be used effectively, taking into account the characteristics of triticale varieties and climatic conditions. An optimal triticale level in feed (15% for layer and broiler chicks) may improve body weight gain and reduce feed costs when raising replacement young stock. Layer breeder flocks fed a 20% triticale-based diet may have increased egg production, high viability, and flock uniformity. Producing triticale–soy and triticale–sunflower extrudates and supplementing the diet of poultry flocks with essential amino acids represent promising avenues for maximizing the benefits of triticale. Innovative methods of achieving this goal should be further developed and put into practice, particularly given the expansion of triticale’s cultivation areas.

Dynamics of live weight and reproductive traits of crossbreds obtained from grading Simmentals with Holsteins

The most important condition for increasing milk production is proper rearing of replacement young stock. The purpose of the research was to study the formation of reproductive and productive traits of heifers with high portion of Holstein blood obtained from crossbreeding Simmental cows with sires of Red-and-White Holstein breed during intensive rearing. Analysis of the data obtained made it possible to identify the unequal nature of the dynamics of live weight and growth intensity of experimental animals during their intensive rearing under the conditions of an industrial complex. High-blooded (31/32 Holstein blood) animals respond better to intensive rearing, reaching a live weight of 531,5 kg at 21 months, which was by 17,1–36,6 kg more than their herdmates from other groups. From birth to 21 months heifers with portion 96,87 % of Holstein breed blood were characterized by a large average daily gain, from which they received 782 g, which was 28–57 g more than their herdmates from other groups. A study of the fertility of heifers depending on their weight and age showed that physiological maturity was achieved at a relatively constant live weight at diff erent age periods. The age of fi rst insemination of heifers was in 13–15 months. Upon reaching a live weight of 400–420 kg, 70,0–93,4 % of heifers were effectively inseminated depending on portion of Holstein breed blood. At 12 months of age, heifers with an increased growth rate were inseminated, reaching the live weight of 377–411 kg. Early insemination of heifers did not affect their further growth and development. With the increase in live weight, the fertility of heifers decreased.

Realization of reproductive qualities of cows and productivity of young stock.

For the first time, on the basis of complex research, scientifically based and experimentally proven zootechnical feasibility of using the Prevention-N-A biologics developed by us based on the polysaccharide complex of yeast cells Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the aminoglycoside group bactericidal preparation in the technology of obtaining and growing calves in comparison with the previously approved PS-2 preparation. It is proved that three-time intramuscular injection of PS-2 and Prevention-N-A biologics to down-calvers 45-40, 25-20 and 15-10 days before calving in a dose of 10 ml prevents gynecological diseases and increases reproductive function. Under the influence of preparations in cows, the time of separation of the fetal membranes was reduced by 6.0 and 6.4 hours, retention of placenta, post-parturient complications and breast diseases were prevented. The risk of subinvolution of the uterus and endometritis in the first case decreased by 3.0 and 2.0 times, respectively, and in the second - was excluded (P<0.05). Against the background of immunocorrection in cows, the time of onset of heat by 11.6 and 14.2 days, the insemination index by 1.6 and 1.8 times, the service period by 22.4 and 28.4 days, and fertilization in 1 oestrus increased by 2.5 and 3.0 times (P<0.05-0.01). It was found that twice intramuscular injection of PS-2 and Prevention-N-A to calves on 2...3rd and 7... 9th day of life in a dose of 3 ml stimulates their growth and development, reduces the incidence. By the end of the growing period, the animals of the 1st and 2nd experimental groups were superior in live weight to control peers by 4.6 and 7.0 kg, rearing - 13.8 and 17.0 kg, and fattening - by 19.4 and 24.2 kg, respectively (P<0.05-0.01). A similar pattern occurred in the nature of changes in exterior measurements and the growth coefficient of animals of the compared groups. In calves of the experimental groups, the incidence of respiratory and digestive organs decreased by 2.3 and 7.0 times, the recovery time - by 1.3 and 4.3 days, respectively, compared to the control (P<0.05).

Совершенствование продуктивных качеств овец казахской курдючной полугрубошерстной породы

The researches were carried out on sheep of the Kazakh Kurdy semi-coarse wool breed: rams of producers of the Bayyssk type of the same breed were used on uteruses of the Kargali inbreed type. The level and dynamics of live weight for the suckling period and up to 16 (yarki) months of age, as well as slaughter and meat qualities of rams of 2 and 4 months of age were studied in the obtained offspring. The level of live weight for all the studied age periods was the highest in the young stock obtained from crossing of Kargali inbred type mothers with rams of Bayys type producers, the superiority amounted to 6.0-3.9% at birth (rams - yarochki), 4.3-3.3% at weaning and 2.7% at 16 months of age (yarki). The study of features of articles of physique of 4 and 16 months old yaks showed that in these age periods yarks with genotype KPG-B × KPG-K have an advantage over purebred Kargalinsky coevals KPG-K by all measures of physique. In terms of slaughter indices, KPG-B × KPG-K lambs had superiority over purebred Kargala lambs at both age periods of slaughter

Lifetime estimation of meat qualities in selection of sheep curds

Creation of types, lines and families within the breed, which differ from each other by the degree of expression of the most important breeding traits, in sheep breeding allows to evaluate meat qualities. From a practical point of view it is very important to identify animals of desirable type at an earlier age. Body weight at birth is an important trait of sheep and is largely determined by heredity. As a rule, breeding evaluation of sheep is carried out at 1.5 - 1 year of age. In those farms, where part of the young stock is sold for meat at the age of up to a year, animals valuable in breeding respect can be slaughtered. In this connection, in this paper the meat qualities of turkey sheep are evaluated, the relationship of measurements with live and slaughter weight, carcass weight, and correlation coefficients are calculated.

Determinant of Stock Investment Intention on Young Generation in Indonesia

The young generation is a generation that has a major contribution to development in Indonesia. Malang City was chosen as the object of this research because the level of financial literacy and inclusion in Malang City has high rates. This study aims to determine whether financial literacy and inclusion affect the investment intention of young generation stocks in Malang City. This study used primary data with descriptive quantitative methods and analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis. The results of this study indicate that financial literacy and inclusion have a positive and significant effect on stock investment intentions of the young generation in Malang City. This research is expected to contribute to improving investment policy, especially stock investment in Malang City. So that stock investment in Malang City can have a positive influence on increasing the income of the people of Malang City in a sustainable manner.

Can a machine learn from behavioral biases? Evidence from stock return predictability of deep learning models

We examine how the return predictability of deep learning models varies with stocks’ vulnerability to investors’ behavioral biases. Using an extensive list of anomaly variables, we find that the long-short strategy of buying (shorting) stocks with high (low) deep learning signals generates greater returns for stocks more vulnerable to behavioral biases, i.e., small, young, unprofitable, volatile, non-dividend-paying, close-to-default, and lottery-like stocks. This performance of deep learning models for speculative stocks becomes pronounced when investor sentiment is high, and when new information is delivered through earnings announcements. Moreover, our nonlinear deep learning signals are negatively associated with analysts’ earnings forecast error especially for speculative stocks, implying that analysts’ forecasts are too low for speculative stocks with high deep learning signals. These results suggest that deep learning models with nonlinear structures are useful for capturing mispricing induced by behavioral biases.

Interventions to reduce camel and small ruminant young stock morbidity and mortality in Ethiopia.

Morbidity and mortality of young stock is a challenge for livestock producers globally. In Ethiopia, where camels and small ruminants (sheep and goats) are essential smallholder and pastoral livestock, young stock losses can cause severe consequences to livelihoods. This pilot study, part of a Government-led Young Stock Mortality Reduction Consortium project, was undertaken to identify and evaluate interventions to reduce young stock mortality in mixed crop-livestock and pastoral production systems in Ethiopia. Pastoralists and mixed crop-livestock farmers were enrolled by convenience sampling across four regions. Households were sampled with questionnaire surveys to establish baseline mortality risk and prevalence of diarrhoea and respiratory disease in animals younger than one year, and followed longitudinally over a one-year period, with final evaluations conducted from March to July 2020. Mortality risk and prevalence of diarrhoea and respiratory disease before and after implementation were compared using Poisson regression models including household as random effect. Prior to intervention, median camel mortality, prevalence of diarrhoea, and respiratory disease across production systems in the different households was 0.4, 0.44 and 0.2, respectively. This compared to median pastoralist small ruminant mortality risk and prevalence of diarrhoea and respiratory disease of 0.45, 0.32 and 0.18, respectively. Post-intervention, median camel mortality, prevalence of diarrhoea and respiratory disease dropped to 0.1, 0.08 and 0. Similarly, more than half of the small ruminant households reported no mortality, and no cases of diarrhoea or respiratory disease. In camels, rate ratios of mortality risk, prevalence of diarrhoea, and respiratory disease post-intervention compared to the baseline were 0.41, 0.41 and 0.37. In small ruminants, rate ratios were 0.33, 0.35 and 0.46. All reductions were statistically significant (p<0.01). Generally, pastoralists experienced higher mortality and disease prevalence compared to mixed crop-livestock smallholders, and the effect of intervention was slightly higher in pastoralist households. The pilot study findings demonstrated highly significant reductions in mortality and risk of diarrhoea and respiratory disease post-interventions. However, not all households benefitted from the interventions, with a few households reporting increased mortality and morbidity. Many households had very few animals which made it challenging to measure impact and the study was conducted over a single year, without a control group, so between year effects could not be accounted for in the reductions observed. These findings should contribute to improved livestock productivity in Ethiopia.

Genome-wide association study identifies functional genomic variants associated with young stock survival in Nordic Red Dairy Cattle

Identifying quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with calf survival is essential for both reducing economic loss in cattle industry and understanding the genetic basis of the trait. To identify mutations and genes underlying young stock survival (YSS), we performed GWAS using de-regressed estimated breeding values of a YSS index and its component traits defined by sex and age in 3,077 Nordic Red Dairy Cattle (RDC) bulls and 2 stillbirth traits (first lactation and later lactations) in 5,141 RDC bulls. Two associated QTL regions on Bos taurus autosome (BTA) 4 and 6 were identified for the YSS index. The results of 4 YSS component traits indicate that same QTL regions were associated with bull and heifer calf mortality, but the effects were different over the growing period and suggested an additional QTL on BTA23. The GWAS on stillbirth identified 3 additional QTL regions on BTA5, 14, and 24 compared with YSS and its component traits. The conditional test of BTA6 showed at least 2 closely located QTL segregating for YSS component traits and stillbirth. We found 2 independent QTL for stillbirth on BTA23. The post-GWAS revealed LCORL, PPM1K, SSP1, MED28, and LAP3 are putative causal genes on BTA6, and a frame shift variant within LCORL, BTA6:37401770 (rs384548488) could be the putative causal variant. On BTA4, the GRB10 gene is the putative causal gene and BTA4:5296018 is the putative causal variant. In addition, NDUFA9 and FGF23 on BTA5, LYN on BTA14, and KCNK5 on BTA23 are putative causal genes for QTL for stillbirth. The gene analysis also proposed several candidate genes. Our findings shed new light on the candidate genes affecting calf survival, and the knowledge could be utilized to reduce calf mortality and thereby enhance welfare of dairy cattle.

Kid mortality indicators based on census data in dairy goat herds in the Netherlands

Optimal young stock rearing benefits animal health and welfare and therefore contributes to a more sustainable herd. In order to be able to evaluate the rearing process, producers need insight into their kid rearing results, preferably based on key indicators. Although mortality is considered a useful parameter to assess animal health and welfare, little is known about the prevalence and factors influencing mortality in dairy goat farming. Calculating kid mortality risks may be further challenged by how and when producers record mortality after birth. This study aimed to develop key kid mortality indicators which can support producers in optimising their rearing system. Census data were available from 395 Dutch dairy goat herds from 2016 until and including 2020. Four mortality indicators were defined: mortality risk of neonatal kids, and mortality rates of postnatal, preweaning, and postweaning kids. Mortality percentages were determined for three subgroups of dairy goat herds depending on the quality of available data i.e. accuracy and completeness of data. The quality of mortality data was classified as good in 39 % (n = 153), fair in 49 % (n = 192), or poor in 13 % (n = 50) of the included herds. For each of the three quality groups, recorded kid mortality for all four mortality indicators was higher in herds with accurate animal registration. Kid mortality was significantly different (p 0.001) between all quality groups. Other factors affecting kid mortality levels included herd size as the 25 % largest herds had lower kid mortality (p = 0.005), and a decreasing trend was associated with the age of dairy kids. This study provided insight into kid mortality in Dutch dairy goat herds and showed that it is possible to monitor kid mortality based on routinely collected data. Nevertheless, data quality should be considered when communicating benchmark values and individual results back to farmers. It is therefore recommended that benchmark values are calculated on data from herds with the highest data quality.