25,840 research outputs found
Animal Health Policy and Practice: Scaling-up Community-based Animal Health Systems, Lessons from Human Health
No full textIn an extensive literature review, the author develops policy recommendations to facilitate scaling up community-based animal health systems to the national level. Noting that human and animal health services in rural areas have much in common, and that an extensive literature studies policy regarding primary healthcare for humans exists, she surveys that literature for observations and conclusions applicable to policy analysis of primary animal healthcare. She notes differences in the history and development of the two delivery systems. The push for human health services came with a worldwide initiative agreed at a high level in 1978. Health for All was set out as a moral imperative, and programmes have been strongly top-down. Delivery of animal health services, by contrast, has been viewed mainly in terms of economic development, and community-based systems have been cobbled together bottom-up, with NGOs taking the lead. As a result, community animal health workers are not integrated into national systems, and how they are trained and monitored varies even within districts. More broadly, the author details regional differences in community-based animal healthcare initiatives. Whereas in Asia there is considerable government involvement, private practitioners hold much more sway in East Africa. Although the literature is sparse on West Africa and Latin America, professional acceptance of community health workers appears to be high in both regions. The core of the paper is devoted to elaborating six criteria for assessing community-based animal health systems, which the author adapts from studies on primary healthcare systems for humans. She argues that the criteria equity, efficiency, accessibility of services, quality of services, human resources and financial resources must be addressed when scaling-up community-based programmes. The author recommends that policymakers clearly state their national animal health objectives and encourage dialogue between NGOs and existing national structures to allow better coordination of efforts and more equitable and consistent delivery of animal health services in rural areas. She adds that bringing community animal health workers into institutional frameworks and agreeing a standard training curriculum would improve equity in the distribution of benefits.Livestock Production/Industries,
MANURE BMP ADOPTION AMONG NORTH DAKOTA ANIMAL FEED OPERATIONS
No full textRegulations governing animal waste storage are primarily a state-level issue. Protecting water resources from animal waste contamination will depend upon how effective state-level animal waste regulations are in encouraging livestock producers to handle waste appropriately. Survey results from North Dakota indicate beef cattle feeding operations do not always comply with state regulations requiring adoption of manure storage BMP's. This is most likely due to incomplete inspection schedules by the regulatory agency. Statistical results suggest herd size plays a much larger role than regulation in promoting adoption of manure storage BMP's.Livestock Production/Industries,
Microorganisms: growth in the tannery
No full textAnimal skins naturally contain various types of microorganisms. Presence of a nutritional source, high moisture content, suitable pH and temperature in the tannery environment, particularly during the early stages of the leather manufacturing processes (eg, soaking, deliming and bating) may assist microbial growth and proliferation [1-4]. Control of the microorganisms is essential during the leather manufacturing processes since microorganisms can cause damage to the collagen structure of hides and skins producing an inferior leather [3]. Various studies [1-3,5,6] were therefore carried out in order to isolate and identify microorganisms that may cause damage to the hides, skins and leathe
Soil microorganisms: role in soil health
No full textMicroorganisms drive nutrient cycles in soil and without this key activity, many essential elements would not be available to plants. Conversely, without the input of carbon and energy, primarily from photosynthesis by green plants, soil would consist mainly of mineral particles produced by the weathering of rocks. Residues from plant, animal and microbial activity provide organic components, making soils fertile and binding together mineral particles into aggregates that, with the associated pore spaces, confer structure to the matrix that supports terrestrial life. In addition to providing a substrate for plants, soil also hosts a complex food web of microorganisms, micro- and mesofauna
Employee Management and Animal Care: A Comparative Ethnography of Two Large-Scale Dairy Farms in China
No full textFarm management can directly and indirectly affect animal care. We explored how farm management affected animal care on two large dairy farms in China (anonymized as Farm A and Farm B). We used a mini-ethnographic case study design whereby the first author lived for 38 days on Farm A and 23 days on Farm B. She conducted participant observation and ethnographic interviews with farm staff positions within five departments in Farm A and six departments in Farm B. In addition, she conducted 13 semi-structured interviews (seven on Farm A; six on Farm B). We used template analysis to generate key themes. On both farms, workers believed that animal care practices had improved over time, due to three key employee management factors: 1) organizational culture, 2) competency of worker and management, and 3) an effective incentive system. Our results suggest that animal care may be improved in this context by: 1) promoting a culture in which workers have ‘grit’ and are eager to learn, 2) ensuring basic worker wellbeing, and 3) using animal care outcomes as performance indicators linked to pay.Arts, Faculty ofOther UBCAnthropology, Department ofReviewedFacult
Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
No full textOptions available for utilization of animal wastes include sources of plant nutrients, feed ingredients for farm animals, substrate for methane generation, and substrate for microbial and insect protein synthesis. The wastes have the most economic value for use as animal feed. Performance of animals fed diets containing animal wastes is similar to that of animals fed conventional diets. Processing of animal wastes to be used as animal feed is necessary for destruction of pathogens, improvement of handling and storage characteristics, and maintenance or enhancement of palatability. Feeding of animal waste has not adversely affected the quality and taste of animal products. In the USA copper toxicity has been reported in sheep fed high-copper poultry litter, but this is not a serious problem with cattle. Potential pathogenic microorganisms in animal wastes are destroyed by processing such as heat treatment, ensiling and deep stacking. Incidents of botulism, caused by Clostridium botulinum, have been reported in cattle in some countries, and this problem was caused by the presence of poultry carcasses in litter. This problem has not occurred in the USA. With appropriate withdrawal, heavy metal, pesticide or medicinal drug accumulation in edible tissues of animals fed animal wastes is not a problem. Feeding of animal wastes is regulated by individual states in the USA. The practice is regulated in Canada, also. With good management, animal wastes can be used safely as animal feed
Small animal dermatology : a color atlas and therapeutic guide /
No full textDesigned with busy practitioners and students in mind, Small Animal Dermatology: A Color Atlas and Therapeutic Guide provides concise, thorough coverage of over 250 skin diseases affecting small animals. More than 1,000 high-quality images help to ensure accurate diagnoses, with coverage including clinical features, top differentials, treatment, and prognosis for each disorder. In this edition, author Keith A. Hnilica streamlines content for practical, everyday use in the clinic. The differential diagnosis chapter is updated for added clarity and easier use, and for quick access, chapters now list diseases based upon the frequency of their occurrence in the pet population. A user-friendly organization allows for quick and easy access to information on specific diseases. Vivid, full-color images facilitate accurate diagnosis of each disorder. A comprehensive drug appendix includes information about dosage, adverse reactions, indications, and contraindications.Designed with busy practitioners and students in mind, Small Animal Dermatology: A Color Atlas and Therapeutic Guide provides concise, thorough coverage of over 250 skin diseases affecting small animals. More than 1,000 high-quality images help to ensure accurate diagnoses, with coverage including clinical features, top differentials, treatment, and prognosis for each disorder. In this edition, author Keith A. Hnilica streamlines content for practical, everyday use in the clinic. The differential diagnosis chapter is updated for added clarity and easier use, and for quick access, chapters now list diseases based upon the frequency of their occurrence in the pet population. A user-friendly organization allows for quick and easy access to information on specific diseases. Vivid, full-color images facilitate accurate diagnosis of each disorder. A comprehensive drug appendix includes information about dosage, adverse reactions, indications, and contraindications.Revised edition of: Small animal dermatology / Linda Medleau, Keith A. Hnilica. 2nd ed. c2006.Includes bibliographical references and index.Differential diagnoses -- Diagnostic techniques -- Bacterial skin diseases -- Fungal skin diseases -- Parasitic skin disorders -- Viral, rickettsial, and protozoal skin diseases -- Hypersensitivity disorders -- Autoimmune and immune-mediated skin disorders -- Hereditary, congenital, and acquired alopecias -- Congenital diseases -- Pigmentary abnormalities -- Keratinization and seborrheic disorders -- Diseases of eyes, claws, anal sacs, and ear canals -- Neoplastic and nonneoplastic tumors / written by K.S. Coyner ; updated by A. LeBlanc -- Avian and exotic animal dermatology / Cheryl Greenacre -- Pre- and post-treatment response images.Print version record.Elsevie
Development and Implementation of a Health Planner for Pigs
No full textIn order to support animal health care on pig farms a Health Planner for Pigs has been developed. In 1998 the practical value of the system was tested under field condition on pig farms. Due to the promising results of the field experiment, the Dutch Farmers Organisation (LTO-Nederland) in 1999 adopted the system and coordinates the adaptation and introduction into practice. In 2001, veterinarians, farm advisers and farmers will be educated in using the Health Planner. Some parts of the Health Planner will be automised and linked to existing farm management information systems.Farm Management, Livestock Production/Industries,
Infrequent intra-household transmission of Clostridioides difficile between pet owners and their pets
No full textObjective
Companion animals have been shown to carry Clostridioides difficile strains that are similar or identical to strains found in
people, and a small number of studies have shown that pets carry genetically identical C. difficile isolates as their owners,
suggesting interspecies transmission. However, the directionality of transmission is ultimately unknown, and the frequency
with which animals acquire C. difficile following their owners’ infection is unclear. The goal of this study was to assess how
often pets belonging to people with C. difficile infection carry genetically related C. difficile isolates.
Methods
We enrolled pet owners from two medical institutions (University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) and The Ohio State
University Wexner Medical Center (OSUWMC)) who had diarrhea with or without positive C. difficile assays and tested their
feces and their pets’ feces for C. difficile using both anaerobic culture and PCR assays. When microorganisms were obtained
from both the owner and pet and had the same toxin profile or ribotype, isolates underwent genomic sequencing.
Results
Fecal samples were obtained from a total of 59 humans, 72 dogs, and 9 cats, representing 47 complete households (i.e., where
a sample was available from the owner and at least one pet). Of these, C. difficile was detected in 30 humans, 10 dogs, and 0
cats. There were only two households where C. difficile was detected in both the owner and pet. In one of these households,
the C. difficile isolates were of different toxin profiles/ribotypes (A+/B+ / RT 499 from the owner, A-/B- / RT PR22386 from
the dog). In the other household, the isolates were genetically identical (1 SNP difference). Interestingly, the dog from this
household had recently received a course of antibiotics (cefpodoxime and metronidazole).
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that interspecies transmission of C. difficile occurs infrequently in households with human C. difficile
infectionsU.S. National Institutes of HealthNational Agency for Agricultural Research - Czech RepublicThe Thomas B. and Jeannette E. Laws McCabe Fund, University of PennsylvaniaOhio State University College of Veterinary Medicin
The Canadian harp seal hunt: observations on the effectiveness of procedures to avoid poor animal welfare outcomes
No full textThe Canadian harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) hunt has, for several decades, raised public concerns related to animal welfare. The field conditions under which this hunt is carried out do not lend themselves easily to detailed observations and analyses of its killing practices. This article reports observations carried out over several seasons that aimed at obtaining more specific information about the conditions under which seals are killed, in order to assess potential welfare issues and explore avenues for possible improvements in its practice. A standardised three-step process for killing seals (ie stunning, checking by palpation of the skull, and bleeding) was recently implemented to maximise the proportion of animals that are killed rapidly with minimum pain. Based on field observations, the rifle and the hakapik, when used properly, appeared to be efficient tools for stunning and/or killing young harp seals. All carcases of seals observed to be killed with a rifle, either on the ice or in the water, could be recovered. However, shooting seals in water rather than on ice carried a higher risk of poor welfare outcome because of the limited opportunities to shoot the animals again if not stunned with the first shot. Based on current practices, there is no reliable evidence that the Canadian harp seal hunt differs from other forms of exploitation of wildlife resources from the perspective of animal welfare. Although opportunistic field observations may be less amenable to generalisation than structured studies, we believe that they reflect the reality of the hunt and provide valuable information to direct the evolution of its practice.P.-Y. Daoust and C. Carague
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