1,721,212 research outputs found
Prolonged observation and modelling of milk coagulation, curd firming, and syneresis
No full textThe aim of the present work was to evaluate the prolonging of the lactodynamographs observation
period from 30 to 90 min, and to model curd firmness as a function of time (CFt, mm) using a fourparameter
asymptotic function. The model tested was: CFt 1⁄4 CFP ð1 ekCFðtRCTÞÞ ekSRðtRCTÞ,
where RCT (min1) is the rennet coagulation time, CFP (mm) is the potential asymptotical CF at an infinite
time, kCF (min1) the curd-firming rate constant, and kSR (min1) the curd syneresis rate constant. The CFt
model was applied to data from milk of 105 Brown Swiss cows. The model appears promising as the four
novel parameters are less interdependent than are the traditional measures and it gives also an insight
on the syneresis. The repeatability of parameters of the CFt equation, estimated using information obtained
from 50 samples (two bulk milks 5 consecutive days 5 replicates each) gave better results
than traditional parameters
Analysis of factors affecting health status of animals under intensive beef production systems
No full textFrom 2001 to 2003 health data of 588 groups of fattening beefs (38723 animals) of 29 farms and 5 genetic types (Charolais, Female Charolais, French Crosses, Limousine and Polish Friesian) were collected and statistically analysed considering farm, breed, initial body weight, housing system, season, year, diet, average daily gain and density. The main causes of culling were problems of the locomotor and respiratory systems. As regards the genetic type and the initial body weight, the Polish Friesian breed and the lightest weights increased the probability of dying or getting injured respectively of 70 and 34%, while this probability decreased of 8.5% for every 100 g of daily growth higher than the mean value. As regards the other factors, bedding reduced the risk of culling by 33% in comparison with the slatted floor, while this risk increased of 10% for every m2 available/animal over the mean density
Genetic evaluation for cow fighting ability in the Valdostana breed
No full textThis study aimed to exploit the genetic components of cow fighting ability in Valdostana breed. Data from 41 knockout competitions in three different weight categories (WC) performed over two years were used. Two different variables to express fighting ability were considered: 1) a “placing score” (PS) dependent on the position reached in each WC, and 2) a “relative placing score” (RPS), calculated as relative position within WC. A complete data set (COMP) accounting for all fights (n=7157) or a reduced data set (REDU) considering only the best annual PS or RPS for each cow (n=4563), were also compared through ANOVA, REML variance components’ estimates and EBVs’ correlation. The PS in the COMP showed the highest R2 (0.44), and h2 resulted 0.163. The PS in the REDU showed a lower R2 (0.25), similar h2 value (0.189), but higher repeatability than PS in the COMP (0.373 vs. 0.294). The RPS variable in both data sets gave similar genetic parameters, but the R2 models resulted very low (0.02-0.04). The use of the PS variable and the COMP seems the most promising system to evaluate cow fighting ability in Valdostana breed, and a substantial genetic component for this ability seems to exist
EFSA EXTERNAL SCIENTIFIC REPORT: The use of animal-based measures to assess animal welfare in the EU - state of art of the last 10 years of activities and analysis of the gaps. Preparatory work.
No full textThe assignment was a study on how the concept and the use of animal-based measures (ABMs) have
penetrated the animal welfare (AW) community. The study is based on a gap mapping analysis in
order to identify and describe the main gaps of ten years of activities in the EU on the use of ABMs to
assess AW. The analysis was carried out by reviewing EU-research findings (i.e. EU-funded projects’
reports and peer-reviewed papers), quality assurance schemes (QAS) and taking into account EUlegislative
acts on ABMs. The outcomes of the study were used for further discussion on ABMs among
AW experts. The main gaps identified in scientific peer-reviewed papers were: a low number of papers
with the general ABMs terms (toolbox) and heterogeneity in the use of different synonyms; a high
number of specific ABMs (755) which were not easy to understand if they were similar in meaning and
in measurement methods. In the EU-funded projects, all the documents assessed contained general
ABMs terms and a total of 272 specific ABMs were found in 80% of documents. A general ABMs term
was found in 6 over 33 technical documents assessed for QAS, whereas specific ABMs (total 153)
were identified in 94% of them. Two of the nine EU-legislative acts considered contained the general
ABM’s concept (22%), and eight contained specific ABMs (89%). Assessing the penetration level in
the peer-reviewed papers, the ratio between number of papers with the general ABMs terms and
papers with AW was 0.79%: this could mean that the general terms are not largely used in the
scientific contest of AW. In conclusion, specific ABMs are largely used as tools in the AW community,
but there is a lack of their categorization within the general ABMs concept
The Use of the General Animal-Based Measures Codified Terms in the Scientific Literature on Farm Animal Welfare
Full text linkRelazioni tra muscolosità stimata in vivo e produzione di latte in vacche Pezzate Rosse.
No full textGrowth patterns of Italian local chicken populations
No full textPredictions of growth are important factors that contribute to the profitability of an operation in poultry production. Modern commercial hybrids have a higher body growth in comparison to the local purebreds. However a niche market for meat and egg poultry production needs to be established using local purebreds to promote biodiversity. The aim of this study was to model the growth response of male and female chickens belonging to five local Italian populations, a commercial slow-growing hybrid (Berlanda, B), the Padovana pure breed (two plumage varieties: chamois, camosciata - PC, and silver, argentata - PA) and their crosses PCxPA and PCxB. A total of 398 one-day birds were reared until 180 d of age under indoor conditions. The linear and three non linear models (logistic, Gompertz and Richards) were compared to study the growth patterns of these chicken populations. Significant (P<0.01) differences were observed among the genotypes for several curve parameters. In males, PCxB showed the lowest age at inflection point, B showed the highest age and body weight, whereas PA showed the highest age and the lowest weight. In females, the age at the inflection point did not differ among the groups; B showed the highest weight. All the non linear models gave a good fit of male and female data with R2 ranging from 0.992 and 0.999, but the logistic equation had higher value of root mean square error than the Gompertz and the Richards values. Based on residual sum of squares for both sexes, the Richards model was better (P<0.05) than the logistic but not superior to the Gompertz. The logistic equation showed an overestimation of initial body weight for all the groups and sex. For Italian local chicken populations, the Richards model requires a measure of body weight recorded at 90 d or after to obtain a good fit of the asymptotic weight. However, the Gompertz model has the advantage that it requires one fewer parameters than the Richards model
Evaluation of three-medetomidine based protocols for chemical restraint and sedation for non painful procedures in companion rats (Rattus norvegicus)
No full textThree medetomidine-based protocols were evaluated for sedation in companion rats undergoing diagnostic
procedures. Group Me received medetomidine at 150 μg/kg intramuscularly (IM); group Me-Bu
received medetomidine 100 μg/kg IM and butorphanol 2 mg/kg IM, and group Me-Bu-Mi received
medetomidine 50 μg/kg IM, butorphanol 2mg/kg IM and midazolam 1mg/kg IM.
The righting reflex disappeared more quickly in the Me-Bu-Mi group, but recovery after atipamezole
was longer. In group Me, a palpebral reflex was present throughout sedation in more rats than in the other
two groups. Pulse and respiratory rates were higher when lower doses of medetomidine were used, although
arterial haemoglobin O2 saturation was similar among groups. All protocols tested produced adequate
sedation lasting 25 min
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