93 research outputs found
Assessment of feeding, ruminating and locomotion behaviors in dairy cows around calving - a retrospective clinical study to early detect spontaneous disease appearance.
No full textThe study aims to verify the usefulness of new intervals-based algorithms for clinical interpretation of animal behavior in dairy cows around calving period. Thirteen activities associated with feeding-ruminating-locomotion-behaviors of 42 adult Holstein-Friesian cows were continuously monitored for the week (wk) -2, wk -1 and wk +1 relative to calving (overall 30'340 min/animal). Soon after, animals were retrospectively assigned to group-S (at least one spontaneous diseases; n = 24) and group-H (healthy; n = 18). The average activities performed by the groups, recorded by RumiWatch® halter and pedometer, were compared at the different weekly intervals. The average activities on the day of clinical diagnosis (dd0), as well as one (dd-1) and two days before (dd-2) were also assessed. Differences of dd0 vs. dd-1 (ΔD1), dd0 vs. wk -1 (ΔD2), and wk +1 vs. wk -1 (Δweeks) were calculated. Variables showing significant differences between the groups were used for a univariate logistic regression, a receiver operating characteristic analysis, and a multivariate logistic regression model. At wk +1 and dd0, eating- and ruminating-time, eating- and ruminate-chews and ruminating boluses were significantly lower in group-S as compared to group-H, while other activity time was higher. For ΔD2 and Δweeks, the differences of eating- and ruminating-time, as well as of eating-and ruminate-chews were significantly lower in group-S as compared to group-H. Concerning the locomotion behaviors, the lying time was significantly higher in group-S vs. group-H at wk +1 and dd-2. The number of strides was significantly lower in group-S compared to group-H at wk +1. The model including eating-chews, ruminate-chews and other activity time reached the highest accuracy in detecting sick cows in wk +1 (area under the curve: 81%; sensitivity: 73.7%; specificity: 82.4%). Some of the new algorithms for the clinical interpretation of cow behaviour as described in this study may contribute to monitoring animals' health around calving
Survival and gene expression under different temperature and humidity regimes in ants
No full textShort term variation in environmental conditions requires individuals to adapt via changes in behavior and/or physiology. In particular variation in temperature and humidity are common, and the physiological adaptation to changes in temperature and humidity often involves alterations in gene expression, in particular that of heat-shock proteins. However, not only traits involved in the resistance to environmental stresses, but also other traits, such as immune defenses, may be influenced indirectly by changes in temperature and humidity. Here we investigated the response of the ant F. exsecta to two temperature regimes (20°C & 25°C), and two humidity regimes (50% & 75%), for two populations. We measured the survival and the expression of six metabolism- and immunity-related genes, and furthermore compared the expression levels in each condition with the pre-experiment expression levels. Both populations survived equally well at the two humidities, but one population showed higher mortality at 25°C than 20°, at 50% humidity. Similarly, the two populations showed striking differences in their gene expression before the experiment, and in their responses to the environmental conditions. Surprisingly, instead of converging to similar expression levels in the same environmental conditions, gene expression diverged further apart. This indicates different reaction norms to both temperature and humidity for the two populations. Furthermore, our results suggest that also immune defenses are indirectly affected by environmental conditions.peerReviewe
PSX-B-27 Physiological changes in grazing dairy cows at increasing temperatures under moderate climate conditions
No full textThe continuous direct exposure to solar radiation, coupled with their own metabolic heat production, make grazing dairy cows on pasture particularly susceptible to heat stress. Heat stress can impair performance, animal welfare, and health. The objective of the present study was to identify physiological indicators of heat stress in dairy cows in a pasture-based production system under moderate climate conditions. The study was performed with 24 lactating Holstein dairy cows during summer 2018 and 2019 at the experimental farm of Agroscope (Posieux, Switzerland). Cows grazed full-time using a set stocking system. Climate conditions were recorded every min and were used to calculate the comprehensive climate index (CCI), which reflects the felt temperature in °C. The vaginal temperature (VT) of each cow was measured every 10 minutes with temperature loggers and was used as a physiological indicator of heat stress. Blood and milk were sampled once daily in the afternoon before and during milking, respectively. The concentrations of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) were analyzed in blood plasma and cortisol concentration was analyzed in milk. Data from 12 periods of up to 3 consecutive days with increasing CCI was analyzed. Analysis were performed with the averaged CCI and the maximal VT recorded between 0830 and 1430 h. The VT(max) was positively correlated with CCI(average) (P < 0.001). The T4 and T3 concentrations decreased with increasing CCI(average) and VT(max) (P < 0.01). Cortisol concentrations were positively correlated with CCI(average) and VT(max) (P < 0.05). Changes in VT and hormones showed that cows responded to increasing environmental temperature and may have perceived the rising heat load as a stressor
Associations between measured Climate Parameters, Barn Characteristics, and Health Indicators in Swiss Veal Calf Herds
No full textEasy-to-use digital devices to measure climate parameters that can also be used in calf barns have become available commercially in recent years. Data collected in a prospective cohort study in 43 Swiss veal calf operations were evaluated with regard to validity of measured climate parameters, potential associations of those with barn features, and relationships between values of climate parameters and barn characteristics, respectively, with indicators of calf health. Barn parameters, such as ventilation system, access to an outdoor pen and barn size, were recorded, and temperature, air humidity, ammonia and carbone dioxide concentrations were measured at five different locations in each barn during an average of six farm visits over a year. Furthermore, continuous measurements of temperature and humidity (over a period of 72 hours each) were performed once in summer and once in winter in each farm. Whether barn parameters and measured barn climate values are associated as significant risk factors with indicators of calf health (antimicrobial use, mortality and daily weight gain) was explored with statistical methods. Values outside the optimal range were observed for all parameters measured punctually during farm visits and in all seasons. Values of temperature and humidity outside the optimal range were observed more often by continuous than by punctual measurements. Relevant correlations were observed neither among the barn climate values measured punctually nor among measured barn climate values and number of calves, barn surface, bedded surface and barn volume. High maximal group size and presence of mechanic ventilation were positively associated with high antimicrobial use, and high maximal group size and high number of fattening groups were associated with mortality >3%. Farms in lowland regions and high air volume per calf were positively associated with daily weight gain. None of the measured barn climate parameters was associated with the calf health indicators antimicrobial use, mortality and daily weight gain. Therefore, climate parameter measurements appear inadequate to predict calf health in veal fattening operations. The present results show that these (easily) measured parameters are difficult to interpret and should be considered critically
Data-Based Variables Used as Indicators of Dairy Cow Welfare at Farm Level: A Review
No full textDuring the last years, the interest in data-based variables (DBVs) as easy-to-obtain, costeffective
animal welfare indicators has continued to grow. This interest has led to publications
focusing on the relationship between DBVs and animal welfare. This review compiles 13 papers
identified through a systematic literature search to provide an overview of the current state of
research on the relationship between DBVs and dairy cow welfare at farm level. The selected
papers were examined regarding their definition of animal welfare and classified according to this
definition into three categories: (a) papers evaluating DBVs as predictors of animal welfare violations, (b) papers investigating the relationship between DBVs and animal-based measurements, and (c) papers investigating the relationship of DBVs to scores of welfare assessments like the Welfare Quality protocol or to overall welfare scores at farm level. In addition, associations between DBVs and indicators of animal welfare were extracted, grouped by the type of DBV, and examined for replications that may confirm the associations. All the identified studies demonstrated associations between DBVs and animal welfare. Overall, the first indications of a possible suitability of DBVs for predicting herds with animal welfare violations as well as good or poor animal welfare status were given. The evaluation of relationships between DBVs and animal-based measurements (ABMs) found mortality-based DBVs to be frequently associated with ABMs. However, owing to varying definitions of animal welfare, the use of different variants of DBVs, and different methods used to assess DBVs, the studies could only be compared to a limited extent. Future research would benefit from a harmonisation of DBVs and the use of valid measurements that reflect the multidimensionality of welfare. Data sources rarely investigated so far may have the potential to provide additional DBVs that can contribute to the monitoring of cow welfare at farm level
Individual stress-resistance in the ant Formica exsecta
No full textCompared to solitary insects, the social organization and interactions in eusocial insects are expected to render them more vulnerable to parasitic exploitation. As a consequence, eusocial insects in turn evolved social immune defenses – sophisticated behaviors that complement the individual immune defenses and increase their resistance against parasitic exploitation. Thus, within the network of the eusocial community, host-parasite interactions occur not only between a single host and its parasites,but among all individuals in the network. Yet, although in eusocial insects host-parasite interactions and other ecological stresses affect the entire community, the individuals provide the basic physiological responses in the defense against external influences. Thus, individual stress responses are an important factor in mediating the variation within the colony to ecological stresses. In this thesis I investigated the physiological stress responses of the ant F. exsecta in the light of host-parasite interactions. I found that oral exposure to bacteria can have a beneficial effect on the survival of food deprivation. Yet, the response to the infection in combination with starvation showed temporal variation. Furthermore, I found striking similarities in the immune responses of young males and foraging workers,as compared to young queens and nursing workers. This suggests that the residual life expectancy may have a role in mediating immune defenses among the castes of F. exsecta. Stress responses not only varied among the castes, but also between two natural populations. I found different reaction norms to temperature and humidity, possibly due to the different environmental conditions that the ants experience in their natural habitat. Given that these reaction norms also affected the expression of immune genes, it is likely that variation in the environmental conditions can affect the immune defenses, and thus, may influence host-parasite interactions. In conclusion, this thesis provides insight into the impact of ecological factors on the resistance and responses to stress in a social insect. I show that individual stress responses are tightly linked to immune defenses, which in turn may affect the stress response of the entire community. As a consequence, variation in the environmental conditions, and thus, exposure to different ecological stresses, may result in different evolutionary trajectories among populations, and even among colonies.Sosiaalisten hyönteisten oletetaan olevan yksin eläviä hyönteisiä alttiimpia loisille niiden yhteiskuntarakenteen ja sosiaalisen vuorovaikutuksen vuoksi. Siksi sosiaalisille hyönteisille on kehittynyt sosiaalista immuunipuolustusta – erityisiä käyttäytymismalleja jotka täydentävät yksilön varsinaista immuunipuolustusta ja lisäävät niiden vastustuskykyä loisia vastaan. Täten lois-isäntä –suhteet eivät rajoitu vain yksittäisen lois-isäntä –parin välille vaan vaikuttavat laajemmin koko eusosiaalisen yhteiskunnan verkostossa, kaikkien sen yksilöiden välillä. Huolimatta siitä, että eusosiaalisilla hyönteisillä lois-isäntäsuhteet ja muut ekologiset stressitekijät vaikuttavat koko yhteiskuntaan, näihin ulkoisiin tekijöihin vastaavat fysiologiset perustoiminnot tapahtuvat kuitenkin yksilötasolla. Tässä väitöskirjassa tarkastelen loviniskamuurahaisen (F. exsecta) fysiologisia stressivasteita lois-isäntäsuhteen yhteydessä. Havaitsin, että bakteereille altistuminen suun kautta saattaa parantaa ravinnonpuutteesta selviämistä, vaikkakin infektiovaste yhdessä nälkiintymisen kanssa vaihteli eri ajanjaksoina. Havaitsin myös selkeitä samankaltaisuuksia immuunivasteessa nuorten koiraiden ja pesän ulkopuolella liikkuvien työläisten kesken verrattuna nuoriin kuningattariin ja jälkeläisiä hoivaaviin työläisiin. Tämä viittaisi siihen, että yksilön odotettavissa oleva elinikä vaikuttaisi immuunivasteisiin loviniskamuurahaisen eri kasteissa. Stressivasteet vaihtelivat kastien lisäksi myös kahden eri populaation välillä. Havaitsin erilaiset reaktionormit lämpötilaan ja kosteuteen, mahdollisesti liittyen populaatioiden luonnossa kokemiin erilaisiin ympäristöoloihin. Koska reaktionormit vaikuttivat myös immuunigeenien ilmenemiseen, on todennäköistä, että ympäristöolojen vaihtelu vaikuttaa immuunipuolustukseen ja voi täten vaikuttaa myös lois-isäntä –suhteisiin. Tämä väitöskirja valottaa ympäristötekijöiden vaikutusta stressinsietokykyyn ja stressivasteisiin sosiaalisilla hyönteisillä. Osoitan, että yksilöiden stressivasteet ovat tiukasti kytköksissä immuunipuolustukseen, mikä puolestaan voi vaikuttaa koko yhteiskunnan stressivasteeseen. Tämän seurauksena ympäristöolojen vaihtelu ja erilaisille ekologisille stressitekijöille altistuminen voi johtaa erilaisiin evolutiivisiin polkuihin eri populaatioissa, mahdollisesti jopa eri kolonioissa.ei saavutettav
Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella enterica subsp. diarizonae serovar 61:k:1,5,(7) in Swiss sheep flocks.
No full textSalmonella (S.) enterica subspecies diarizonae (IIIb) serovar 61:k:1,5,(7) (S. IIIb 61:k:1,5,(7)) is considered to be sheep-associated, as it can be found in the intestine, tonsils and nose of clinically healthy sheep, but it has also been described in separate clinical disorders in sheep. In particular, S. IIIb 61:k:1,5,(7) is described as the causative agent of chronic proliferative rhinitis (CPR) in sheep. In Switzerland, CPR in sheep due to S. IIIb 61:k:1,5,(7) was first described in 2017 in a flock of Texel sheep. Therefore, we assessed the prevalence of S. IIIb 61:k:1,5,(7) within the Swiss sheep population using a representative sampling strategy. From May 2017 to June 2018 a total of 681 nasal swabs from individual clinically healthy sheep of 141 different flocks throughout Switzerland were taken. Swabs were analysed by selective enrichment for the presence of S. IIIb 61:k:1,5,(7). Additionally, antimicrobial resistance of the isolates was determined by broth microdilution. A total of 146 out of 681 nasal swabs tested positive for S. IIIb 61:k:1,5,(7), which corresponds to a prevalence on animal level of 21% (95%CI 18%-25%). In 73 out of 141 flocks tested, at least one sheep tested positive for S. IIIb 61:k:1.5,(7), resulting in a minimal prevalence on flock level of 52% (95%CI 43%-60%). Positive flocks were found in all cantons except the canton of Jura. Adults were significantly more affected than sheep under one year/lambs and positive sheep were found in several breeds. No microbiologically resistant isolates were detected, except for one isolate showing resistance against ampicillin. Because of its widespread occurrence in the Swiss sheep population, further research should focus on the pathogenic impact of S. IIIb 61:k:1,5,(7) on the health status of sheep
Prevalence of BRD-related viral pathogens in the upper respiratory tract of Swiss veal calves
No full textThe prevention of bovine respiratory disease is important, as it may lead to impaired welfare, economic losses, and considerable antimicrobial use, which can be associated with antimicrobial resistance. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of respiratory viruses and to identify risk factors for their occurrence. A convenience sample of 764 deep nasopharyngeal swab samples from veal calves was screened by PCR for bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), bovine parainfluenza-3 virus (BPI3V), bovine coronavirus (BCoV), influenza D virus (IDV), and influenza C virus (ICV). The following prevalence rates were observed: BRSV, 2.1%; BPI3V, 3.3%; BCoV, 53.5%; IDV, 4.1%; ICV, 0%. Logistic mixed regression models were built for BCoV to explore associations with calf management and housing. Positive swab samples were more frequent in younger calves than older calves (>100 days; p < 0.001). The probability of detecting BCoV increased with increasing group size in young calves. Findings from this study suggested that young calves should be fattened in small groups to limit the risk of occurrence of BCoV, although an extended spectrum of risk factors for viral associated respiratory disorders such as nutritional aspects should be considered in future studies
Evaluation of candidate data-based welfare indicators for veal calves in Switzerland.
No full textWelfare assessment protocols have been developed for dairy cows and veal calves during the past decades. One practical use of such protocols may be conducting welfare assessments by using routinely collected digital data (i.e., data-based assessment). This approach can allow for continuous monitoring of animal welfare in a large number of farms. It recognises changes in the animal welfare status over time and enables comparison between farms. Since no comprehensive data-based assessment for veal calves is currently available, the purposes of this review are (i) to provide an overview of single existing data-based indicators for veal calves and (ii) to work out the necessary requirements for data-based indicators to be used in a comprehensive welfare assessment for veal calves in Switzerland. We used the Welfare Quality Protocol® (WQ) for veal calves and the Terrestrial Animal Health Code from the World Organisation of Animal Health for guidance throughout this process. Subsequently, routinely collected data were evaluated as data sources for welfare assessment in Swiss veal operations. The four WQ principles reflecting animal welfare, i.e., 'good feeding', 'good housing', 'good health' and 'appropriate behaviour' were scarcely reflected in routinely available data. Animal health, as one element of animal welfare, could be partially assessed using data-based indicators through evaluation of mortality, treatments, and carcass traits. No data-based indicators reflecting feeding, housing and animal behaviour were available. Thus, it is not possible to assess welfare in its multidimensionality using routinely collected digital data in Swiss veal calves to date. A major underlying difficulty is to differentiate between veal calves and other youngstock using routine data, since an identifying category for veal calves is missing in official Swiss databases. In order to infer animal welfare from routine data, adaptations of data collection strategies and animal identification are required. Data-based welfare assessment could then be used to complement on-farm assessments efficiently and, e.g., to attribute financial incentives for specifically high welfare standards accordingly
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