1,721,083 research outputs found
Thermography during large felids’ gestation and determination of steroids in hair and faeces: Preliminary findings
No full textInfluence of visitor presence on the behaviour of captive red-faced spider monkeys (Ateles paniscus) housed at the London Zoo
No full textA field-friendly alternative to freeze-drying faeces for glucocorticoid metabolite analyses of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus)
Full text linkEndocrine studies using faeces as hormone matrix have become increasingly popular to examine adrenocortical activity in wildlife. A prerequisite for this approach is to minimize alteration of faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) composition post-defecation. This is done by freezing the collected material as soon as possible after collection, and removing moisture from the frozen faecal samples afterwards (usually by freeze-drying). In remote areas, freeze-drying opportunities are often limited, and in the case of the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), established assays revealed that fGCM concentrations remain comparable for only similar to 24h post-defaecation. In the present study, three cost-effective drying treatments (exposure to sunlight, placement in a solar oven, and use of a food dehydrator) were investigated as alternatives to the golden standard of freeze-drying faeces.In comparison to freeze-dried material, African wild dog faecal samples dried through sunlight exposure, a solar oven, and use of a food dehydrator revealed no significant differences in respective fGCM concentrations measured.A food dehydrator would be the preferable option to dry African wild dog faeces if limited electrical supply is available. This technique dries faeces the fastest, and negates any reliance on weather conditions
Limitations of Spatial Judgment Bias Test Application in Horses (Equus ferus caballus)
Full text linkAffective states are of increasing interest in the assessment of animal welfare. This research aimed to evaluate the possible limitations in the application of a spatial judgment bias test (JBT) in horses, considering the influence of stress level, personality traits, and the possible bias due to the test structure itself. The distinction between two positions, one rewarded (Positive) and the other not (Negative), was learned by 10 horses and 4 ponies,. Then, the latency to reach three unrewarded ambiguous positions (Near Positive, Middle, Near Negative) was measured. Furthermore, the validated Equine Behavior Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ) was employed to assess personality traits. Fecal and hair cortisol levels were measured through radioimmunoassay (RIA), and the frequency of behavioral stress indicators was recorded. Results showed that horses that had the rewarded position (Positive) on the right approached Near Negative and Middle faster than those that had Positive on the left. Certain personality traits influenced the latency to reach Middle and Near Positive, but chronic stress did not seem to affect horses’ judgment bias. This preliminary study highlighted several limitations in the employment of spatial JBT for the assessment of affective state in horses and that personality traits can partially influence the cognitive process. Further research is needed to refine the use of this test in horses, considering the peculiarities both of species and of individuals
Assessment of blood and productive parameters in mid-lactation dairy cows fed different diets: replacement of corn silage with triticale silage
Full text linkCorn crops require large amounts of resources that affect the environmental sustainability of dairy cow farming systems. The aim of the study was thus to investigate the effects of the replacement of corn silage (CS) with triticale silage (TS) by evaluating blood and productive parameters. The study lasted 7 weeks and involved two groups of 20 Italian Holstein Friesian dairy cows that were homogeneous in terms of parity ( [Formula: see text] ), days in milk (DIM) ( [Formula: see text] ), and daily milk production ( [Formula: see text] kg). Chemical analysis of feeds was carried out weekly. Dry-matter intake was estimated daily. At the beginning and end of the trial, haematological, metabolic, and immunological parameters were analysed. At the same, time body weight and body condition score were measured. Milk characteristics were also analysed weekly. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA on data of the second sampling, and a non-parametric test was performed to analyse BCS. Regarding the haematological parameters in the two groups, only lymphocyte values were not in the normal range (2.86 and [Formula: see text] L for CS and TS, respectively). Metabolic parameters were in the normal range except for blood ureic nitrogen (BUN; 13.65 and 14.04 [Formula: see text] ), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs; 21.40 and 31.93 [Formula: see text] ), and Cl (91.99 and 93.50 [Formula: see text] ). Hair cortisol was low (0.94 and 0.91 [Formula: see text] ), indicating the absence of stress signs, as confirmed by the results of other immunological parameters (serum lysozyme (SL), bactericidal activity (SBA), haptoglobin (HP), and oxygen free radicals (OFRs)). Statistical differences were not found either for haematological or biochemical parameters. The total replacement of CS with TS did not affect milk yield and composition. In conclusion, the replacement of CS by TS did not give rise to significant modifications in the parameters investigated and did not alter the health status of the animals, thus suggesting the feasibility of its introduction into the diet of mid-lactation dairy cows
Valutazione comportamentale ed endocrina dell’adattamento alla vita familiare di levrieri ex-agonisti.
No full textWELFARE PARAMETERS IN DAIRY COWS REARED IN TIE-STALL AND OPEN-STALL FARMING SYSTEMS
No full textWELFARE PARAMETERS IN DAIRY COWS REARED IN TIE-STALL AND OPEN-STALL FARMING SYSTEMS
Maria Novella Benvenuti1, Lorella Giuliotti1, Claudia Lotti2, Pier Attilio Accorsi3, Petrulli C. Adele3, Andrea Martini* 4
1 Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Pisa,
2 Scienze delle Produzioni Agroalimentari e dell'Ambiente, Università di Firenze, Firenze,
3 Scienze Mediche Veterinarie, Università di Bologna, Bologna,
4 Scienze Produzioni Agroalimentari e dell'Ambiente, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italy
Objectives: Housing and management conditions are expected to affect dairy cattle welfare. The animals could experience pain or distress as a result of widely accepted management practices, and possibly suffer being kept under apparently “unnatural” conditions. The animal welfare assessment requires the use of multiple indicators in order to analyse the heterogeneity of aspects involved. The aim of this study was to compare animal welfare of dairy cows reared in tie-stall and open-stall system by means of metabolic, immunological and stress related parameters.
Materials and Methods: The study involved 80 pluriparous lactating cows belonging eight dairy farms located in the area of Mugello (Florence district) reared in different system: tye-stall (TS) and open-stall (OS). Ten blood samples were collected in the morning from the jugular vein using vacutainer tubes containing EDTA to estimate non esterified fatty acids (NEFA), total proteins (TP), creatinine (Creat), nitrogen ureic (BUN), betahidroxibutirrate (BHBA), aspartateaminotransferase (AST) alanina-aminotransferase (ALT), calcium (Ca), chloride (Cl), potassium (K), oxygen free radicals (OFR), haptoglobin (HP), serum lisozyme (SL), bactericidal activity (SBA) and hair cortisol. Hair samples were carefully
cut from the tail switch using clippers and were frozen at the temperature of -20°C; cortisol was analysed by the method described by Accorsi et al. At the same time body condition score (BCS) was recorded.The experiment was performed in accordance with European Commission regulations (86/609/EEC) and Italian law (116/92).
Results: Results showed that the housing system affected some parameters such as ALT, AST, N ureic, BHBA, OFR and cortisol. Most of these showed mean values within the range of reference without revealing signs of suffering. An interesting outcome regarded OFR level that resulted higher in the OS system likely as consequence of a higher productive effort. Results regarding hair cortisol were particularly interesting because it is known as an indicator of chronic stress: TS displayed significant (P<0.001) higher mean value than OS (2.8±1.43 vs 1.6±1.05 pg/mg respectively).The two housing systems did not differ for BCS, that was 3.1 and 3.0 respectively for both the solution.
Conclusions: In this study did not emerge a situation of evident suffering in animals reared in TS. Tethered cows may have an improved welfare quality if they benefit from comfortable and clean stalls, quantitatively and qualitatively adequate feeding and watering, access to exercise and not in the least a good relationship with the stockperson
Blow progesterone profile during estrous cycle, pregnancy and Lactation in female bottlenose dolphins
No full textBLOW PROGESTERONE PROFILE DURING ESTROUS CYCLE, PREGNANCY AND LACTATION IN FEMALE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS
Tizzi, Raffaella*(1) , Accorsi, Pier Attilio(2), Zordan, Silvia(2) and Severi, Carlotta(1)
(1) Delfinario Rimini, Lungomare Tintori 2 – 47900 Rimini, Italy
(2) Dipartimento di Morfofisiologia Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 40064 Ozzano Emilia (BO), Italy
Previous studies underlined a significant correlation between progesterone concentrations measured in blood and in biological material released with the blow. The aim of present work was to take advantages of the complete non invasivity and results' reliability of the new technique based on blow sampling, for systematically monitoring progesterone profiles during estrous cycle (A), pregnancy (B) and lactation (C). Three Tursiops truncatus females were sampled every week: the subject "Alfa" (approx. 27 years old) was monitored from March 2006 for a period of 23 months during all the phases A, B and C; the captive born dolphins "Blue" and "Luna" (8 and 10 years old, respectively) were monitored from May 2005 for a period of 24 months (phases A and B) the former, and from March 2006 for a period of 14 months (phase A) the latter. While Blue was housed at Oltremare (Riccione, Italy), both other females were living in Rimini Delfinario (Italy). Progesterone concentrations were determined by a validated RIA. The results confirmed the bottlenose dolphin nature of seasonal poliestral species, with ovulation occurring at least 2-3 times per year in a period lasting between early spring and late autumn. A dramatic increase of blow progesterone concentrations emerged as soon as pregnancy started. In particular, both Alfa and Blue showed mean values of hormone significantly different (p<0.01) shifting from a non pregnant to a pregnant status (Alfa: 104.72 ± 11.19 vs. 206.22 ± 13.71 pg/ml; Luna: 75.60 ± 9.12 vs. 571.63 ± 44.46 pg/ml). The development of diagnostic procedures and stress avoiding approaches such as the blow sampling not only supports captive animals’ management with respect to their wellness, but also provides an opportunity for using the enhanced knowledge in programmes of conservation aimed at improving species' reproductive potential in the wild. This work was supported by a RFO (Bologna University) grant
Welfare parameters in dairy cows reared in tie-stall and open-stall housing systems
No full textThe increasing attention paid by both the legislature and consumers concerning animal welfare has raised criticism regarding the tie stall housing system of dairy cattle, since it restricts voluntary movement and limits the social behaviour of cows. The aim of this study was to compare the welfare of dairy cows kept in a tie-stall (TS) and an open-stall (OS) system by assessing metabolic, immunological and stress-related parameters. The study involved 155 cows in 18 farms located in Tuscany. Blood samples were collected in the morning in order to measure: aspartate-aminotransferase (AST), alanine-aminotransferase (ALT), betahydroxybutyrate (BHBA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), total proteins (TP), creatinine (Creat), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), lysozyme (SL), haptoglobin (Hp), and oxygen free radicals (OFR). At the same time, hair samples were collected to measure cortisol levels and the body condition score was recorded. The results showed that the housing system affected AST, ALT, BHBA, BUN, SL and OFR levels. Most parameters showed values within the range of reference. However, the OFR level was higher in the OS system, probably due to the higher productivity than in TS. Cortisol did not raise particular concern related to chronic stress, since the values were lower than the data reported in literature. The study revealed that the evaluation of welfare based on physiological parameters showed no severe signs of impairment in cows reared in the TS system.
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