Feeding regime and management of local Lao pigs in Central Lao PDR

A survey was carried out in smallholder farming systems in the districts of Borrikun, Khamkeuth, and Pakkading, in central Lao People's Democratic Republic, to assess the feeding regime and health status of local Lao pigs. In total, 216 farmers, 72 in each district, were interviewed using a questionnaire. Feed samples were collected for nutrient analysis and pen soil samples for mineral content determination. Farmers kept sows of native breeds such as Moo Lath, Moo Chid, and Moo Hmong. The number of sows per household was low (1.1?±?0.1, 1.1?±?0.1, and 1.2?±?0.1 in Borrikun, Khamkeuth, and Pakkading, respectively) and pigs were mainly fed with rice bran and fresh cassava roots. Daily protein and mineral (Calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium) allowances were lower than requirements. In all districts, the number of piglets at birth was around seven and pre-weaning piglet mortality was around 20 %. The most common causes of piglet death, before weaning, were diarrhea, runts, and squashed piglets. Most piglets were weaned after 4 months of age, but in the Borrikun and Pakkading districts, 11–16 % of households were weaned at <4 months. In all districts, pig management was mainly women's responsibility (around 90 %) and most farmers spent less than 1 h per day on pig management. A feasible and cheap way to increase nutrient supply to local pigs in central Lao People's Democratic Republic would be to include more fresh plant material (e.g., thick head, taro) and salt in the diet. Information and education on improving pig management should be targeted towards women.     

饲粮添加益生菌对山羊屠宰性能、肉品质和器官发育的影响

为探明饲粮添加益生菌对山羊屠宰性能、肉品质和器官发育的影响,本研究将36只健康、体重相近的2月龄左右努比亚母羊随机分为3组,每组12只羊,试验羊分别饲喂添加0 (试验Ⅰ组)、0.5‰ (试验Ⅱ组)和1.0‰ (试验Ⅲ组)益生菌的基础饲粮,试验期为70 d。结果表明：1) 试验Ⅱ组山羊的胴体重和后腿重显著高于试验Ⅲ组(P < 0.05),试验Ⅱ组山羊的宰前活重、屠宰率和眼肌面积均高于其他两组(P > 0.05)。2) 各组间山羊的肌肉pH、熟肉率、失水率、剪切力和肉色无显著差异(P > 0.05)。3) 试验Ⅲ组山羊的心脏重量和指数显著低于试验Ⅰ组(P < 0.05),但其他指标在各组间无显著差异(P > 0.05)。4) 试验Ⅱ组山羊的十二指肠绒毛高度和绒毛高度/隐窝深度(villus height/crypt depth, VH/CD)显著高于试验Ⅲ组(P < 0.05);试验Ⅰ组山羊的空肠隐窝深度显著低于试验Ⅱ组(P < 0.05),而回肠绒毛高度则显著高于试验Ⅲ组(P < 0.05),其他指标在各组间无显著差异(P > 0.05)。综上所述,饲粮中添加低水平益生菌在一定程度上能够改善山羊的屠宰性能和器官发育。     

饲粮添加益生菌对山羊屠宰性能、肉品质和器官发育的影响

为探明饲粮添加益生菌对山羊屠宰性能、肉品质和器官发育的影响,本研究将36只健康、体重相近的2月龄左右努比亚母羊随机分为3组,每组12只羊,试验羊分别饲喂添加0?(试验Ⅰ组)、0.5‰?(试验Ⅱ组)和1.0‰?(试验Ⅲ组)益生菌的基础饲粮,试验期为70?d.结果表明:1)?试验Ⅱ组山羊的胴体重和后腿重显著高于试验Ⅲ组(P?<0.05),试验Ⅱ组山羊的宰前活重、屠宰率和眼肌面积均高于其他两组(P?>?0.05).2)?各组间山羊的肌肉pH、熟肉率、失水率、剪切力和肉色无显著差异(P?>?0.05).3)?试验Ⅲ组山羊的心脏重量和指数显著低于试验Ⅰ组(P??0.05).4)?试验Ⅱ组山羊的十二指肠绒毛高度和绒毛高度/隐窝深度(villus?height/crypt depth,?VH/CD)显著高于试验Ⅲ组(P??0.05).综上所述,饲粮中添加低水平益生菌在一定程度上能够改善山羊的屠宰性能和器官发育.     

Feeding and performance of pigs in smallholder production systems in Northern Lao PDR

A survey was carried out in the North of Lao PDR to study feeding systems and the performance of pigs in smallholder systems. A total of 341 farmers from five provinces were interviewed. To feed their pigs, farmers mainly rely on feedstuffs produced on the farm and collected from areas near the village. The feedstuffs used included by-products such as rice bran and distiller’s waste, planted feeds, mainly maize and cassava, and various green plant materials. The feedstuffs used are usually high in energy and low in protein content, and the only readily available protein source is green plant material. This results in nutritionally imbalanced diets and as a result poor pig performance. The average growth rate of pigs in these systems was found to be only approximately 100 g/day. The reproductive performance of sows was found to be relatively low, as is the case of local breeds in the region, with an average litter size at birth of 6.8 piglets. The mortality of piglets was as high as 50% and was a main concern of farmers. In order to improve the productivity of pigs in smallholder systems, there is a need to find alternative feed resources to improve the nutritional feed quality, and to develop management systems which are suited to the needs and practices of smallholders.     

Bartonella and Rickettsia in arthropods from the Lao PDR and from Borneo, Malaysia

Rickettsioses and bartonelloses are arthropod-borne diseases of mammals with widespread geographical distributions. Yet their occurrence in specific regions, their association with different vectors and hosts and the infection rate of arthropod-vectors with these agents remain poorly studied in South-east Asia. We conducted entomological field surveys in the Lao PDR (Laos) and Borneo, Malaysia by surveying fleas, ticks, and lice from domestic dogs and collected additional samples from domestic cows and pigs in Laos. Rickettsia felis was detected by real-time PCR with similar overall flea infection rate in Laos (76.6%, 69/90) and Borneo (74.4%, 268/360). Both of the encountered flea vectors Ctenocephalides orientis and Ctenocephalides felis felis were infected with R. felis. The degrees of similarity of partial gltA and ompA genes with recognized species indicate the rickettsia detected in two Boophilus spp. ticks collected from a cow in Laos may be a new species. Isolation and further characterization will be necessary to specify it as a new species. Bartonella clarridgeiae was detected in 3/90 (3.3%) and 2/360 (0.6%) of examined fleas from Laos and Borneo, respectively. Two fleas collected in Laos and one flea collected in Borneo were co-infected with both R. felis and B. clarridgeiae. Further investigations are needed in order to isolate these agents and to determine their epidemiology and aetiological role in unknown fever in patients from these areas.     

红棕油对樱桃谷肉鸭屠宰性能、肉品质及肌肉营养成分的影响

为研究红棕油对樱桃谷肉鸭屠宰性能、肉品质及肌肉营养物成分的影响,选取1日龄健康、体重为(50±2.01)g的樱桃谷肉仔鸭640羽,随机分为4组,每组10个重复,每个重复16羽,公母各半.对照组饲喂添加0.45％棕榈油的基础饲粮,试验1组饲喂添加0.15％红棕油+0.3％棕榈油的基础饲粮,试验2组饲喂添加0.3％红棕油+...     

Significant mortality of large ruminants due to hypothermia in northern and central Lao PDR

An extreme cold exposure event occurred between March 14th and 19th 2011 in northern and central Lao PDR resulting in a major mortality of cattle and buffalo. At least six northern and one central province reported losses, involving 46 districts and 1,384 smallholder farmers, with a total of 7,162 cattle and 3,744 buffalo reported to have died in association with cold weather. Affected animals were observed to shiver, display slow and shallow respiration, lose consciousness and eventually die. Many deaths occurred at night and were recorded in both sexes and all ages of large ruminants. However, mortalities occurred mostly in animals that were free-grazing in the forest and natural grassland, and exposed to the cold weather. Some housed animals that were provided with warmth from shelter and fires and supplementary feed did not die. Samples from dead animals collected for laboratory analysis confirmed that bacterial or viral pathogens were not present. The cause of the mortality was attributed to hypothermia, and the economic losses were estimated at USD 2,463,912.00. Xieng Khouang Province reported the most severe losses with deaths of 4,600 cattle and 1,665 buffalo. At Thong Haihin meteorological station in this province on March 16th and 17th 2011, minimum temperatures recorded were 6.7°C and 7.5°C and rainfall recorded was 36.6 mm and 61.7 mm, respectively. This was the first reported extreme cold event in living memory occurring between the end of dry season and beginning of the wet season in northern Laos. This event is reported in detail as it caused a major loss of wealth for poor smallholder farmers and indicates that strategies to minimise the impact of extreme cold weather events need to be included in livestock development extension programmes.     

Prevalence and clinical impact of Toxocara vitulorum in cattle and buffalo calves in northern Lao PDR

This study was completed to determine the prevalence and distribution of Toxocara vitulorum infection in cattle and buffalo calves and investigate its clinical impact in northern Lao PDR (Peoples Democratic Republic). The results aim to assist decisions on disease control measures that can contribute to increasing cattle and buffalo productivity within smallholder farming systems in tropical areas. A prevalence survey for T. vitulorum in buffalo and cattle calves aged <3 months was conducted between September 2009 and June 2010 in five provinces of northern Lao PDR using a two-stage sampling technique to select 69 villages and 899 calves, with faecal samples collected and examined for T. vitulorum eggs at a local laboratory. At the time of sampling, data on calf morbidity and anthelmintic treatment was also collected. Factors potentially associated with infection and severity of infection were analyzed at univariable and multivariable levels, using T. vitulorum status (positive/negative) and on the positive calves only, faecal egg count levels as outcome variables. The estimated prevalence of T. vitulorum in northern Lao was 22.6 % (95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.17–0.28), and 76.8 % of villages had at least one positive calf. Province was the only significant (p?<?0.05) variable investigated associated with calf infection status. Species (buffalo) was the only variable significantly (p?<?0.05) associated with higher egg per gram of faeces levels among infected calves. Prevalence in calves aged 1–21 days, the reported prepatent period, was 17.5 % (CI 0.11–0.24). Treatment levels were very low (8.2 %) and if treatment occurred it was mostly unsuccessful. The high and wide spread infection of T. vitulorum in cattle and buffalo calves identified in this survey is likely to result in suboptimal cattle and buffalo productivity. Improved management of T. vitulorum infection in cattle and buffalo calves in northern Lao PDR is indicated to reduce potential negative production impacts and enable more efficient development of large ruminant livestock industry as a pathway from rural poverty for smallholder farmers in northern Lao PDR. In addition to quantifying this disease problem in calves, the conduct of this applied participatory research study provided an important opportunity to improve animal health services by increasing the parasite, large ruminant handling and research knowledge and capacity of government animal health staff and farmers.     

早期断奶对舍饲哈萨克羔羊屠宰性能、器官发育及肉品质的影响

试验旨在研究不同断奶日龄对哈萨克羔羊屠宰性能、器官发育及肉品质的影响,进而确定哈萨克羔羊早期断奶的最佳时间。按照出生日龄基本一致、体重接近、性别比例一致( 公母比为2:3) 、母羊产羔胎次一致的原则将40 只健康的哈萨克羔羊随机分成4 组,每组10 只,4 只公羔,6 只母羔。对照组随母羊哺乳,试验组羔羊分别在30 日龄、38 日龄和45 日龄断奶,饲喂代乳料至60 日龄。90 日龄时随机从各组中选取4只羔羊进行屠宰,对其屠宰性能、器官发育及肉品质进行测定。结果表明: ( 1) 对照组的宰前活重显著低于38 日龄、45 日龄断奶组( P0.05) ; 对照组的胴体重显著低于38 日龄断奶组( P0.05) ,断奶日龄对羔羊的屠宰率和眼肌面积影响不大( P0.05) ; ( 2) 对照组的瘤胃重显著低于38 日龄、45 日龄断奶组( P0.01) ,30 日龄断奶组的瘤胃重显著高于对照组( P0.05) ,38 日龄断奶组的瘤胃重显著高于30 日龄断奶组( P0.01) ; 30 日龄断奶组和38 日龄断奶组的瘤胃乳头密度均高于45 日龄断奶组和对照组( P0.05) ,30 日龄断奶组、38 日龄断奶组和对照组之间的瘤胃乳头长度差别较大( P 0.01) ,且38 d 断奶组的瘤胃乳头长度最长; 对照组的小肠重显著低于38 日龄、45 日龄断奶组( P0.05) ; 各断奶组的网胃重、脾脏重、肺脏重和肾脏重与对照组相差不大( P0.05) ; 各组间的心脏重依次为45 d 断奶组38 d 断奶组30 d 断奶组对照组,且对照组的心脏重显著低于45 日龄断奶组( P 0.01) ,此外,对照组的肝脏重也显著低于38 日龄和45 日龄断奶组( P 0.01) ;( 3) 对照组和各断奶组羔羊的肉色、大理石纹、pH、嫩度之间差异不大( P0.05) 。综上所述: 早期断奶有利于提高羔羊屠宰性能,促进其器官发育。通过比较各项指标的测定结果可知,对哈萨克羔羊实施早期断奶是切实可行的,且羔羊于38 日龄断奶效果较好。     

糖肽酮萜素对肉仔鸡屠宰性能与肉质性状的影响

选1日龄Avian肉仔鸡600羽,随机分成3组,每组4个重复,每个重复50羽。空白对照组基础日粮(无抗生素添加剂日粮),抗生素对照组基础日粮 380mg/kg金霉素,试验组饲喂基础日粮 500mg/kg糖肽酮萜素,试验期49d。屠宰试验结果表明,在饲料中添加糖肽酮萜素有提高肉仔鸡的腿肌率和胸肌率以及降低腹脂率的趋势(P<0.05);试验组肌肉中的胆固醇含量较空白对照组和抗生素对照组分别降低了28.94%和27.15%,差异极显著;试验组的胸肌中重金属铅的含量比空白对照组和抗生素对照组分别降低了27.13%和19.66%,差异显著;试验组的重金属镉的含量比空白对照组和抗生素对照组分别降低了36.00%和30.43%,差异极显著。试验结果表明,饲料中添加糖肽酮萜素可以明显提高肉仔鸡的屠宰性能和改善肉质性状。     

屠宰过程中肉品检疫和品质检验的区别及存在的问题

屠宰检疫和肉品品质检验是两个不同的概念，其主管实施部门以及它们的职责、权利在相关法律、法规中都有明确规定，但是社会上许多人，包括新闻媒体、消费者等对这些问题的认识存在一定误区，常常将注水肉、公母猪肉、中毒肉等问题都统统归咎于动物检疫部门。现将我们在学习和实践过程中的一些粗浅认识提出来，供大家商榷。     

日粮ADF水平对肉兔胃肠道发育、免疫及屠宰性能的影响

选用60只体重相近的2月龄新西兰肉兔,随机分为5组,分别饲喂5种酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)水平(13%、16%、19%、22%和25%)的日粮,旨在探讨我国家兔适宜的ADF需要量。结果表明:随日粮ADF水平升高,胃占活重比重先增加后降低(P<0.05),小肠占活重比重各处理间差异不显著(P>0.05),盲肠占活重比重显著增加(P<0.05)。日粮ADF水平对试兔胸腺指数日粮影响显著(P<0.05),对脾脏指数影响不显著(P>0.05)。随日粮ADF水平提高,试兔心脏和肾脏相对重量先上升后下降(P<0.05),肝脏相对重量逐渐下降(P<0.05);试兔全净膛和半净膛屠宰率呈先上升后下降的趋势(P>0.05)。由此认为,2～3月龄肉兔适宜的ADF水平为16%～19%。     

日粮添加干桑叶对郏县红牛生长性能、屠宰性能和肉质性状影响的研究

试验旨在研究日粮中添加桑叶对郏县红牛生长性能、屠宰性能和肉品质的影响。选择健康、体重相近的12月龄郏县红牛公牛40头,随机分为4组。按照添加不同干桑叶比例分为对照组(青贮玉米+精料)、试验Ⅰ组(10%干桑叶+青贮玉米+精料)、试验Ⅱ组(15%干桑叶+青贮玉米+精料)、试验Ⅲ组(20%干桑叶+青贮玉米+精料)。预试期7 d,正式试验期180 d。结果表明:Ⅰ、Ⅱ组的平均日增重和平均采食量都高于对照组,平均日增重分别高5.10%、12.24%,差异显著(P<0.05),平均采食量分别高1.15%、2.94%,差异不显著(P>0.05),3个试验组料重比均低于对照组。Ⅱ组郏县红牛背膘厚度和大理石纹等级显著高于其他各组(P<0.05)。相比对照组,Ⅱ组粗脂肪、粗蛋白质含量提高了24.02%、7.89%。各组间背最长肌氨基酸的影响无显著性差异(P>0.05)。试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ和Ⅲ组的总氨基酸比对照组分别提高了1.57%、2.07%和3.79%。随着添加比例增加,饱和脂肪酸含量逐渐下降,不饱和脂肪酸随着添加比例的增加而升高。试验表明,日龄添加干桑叶对郏县红牛生产性能无显著影响,但是可以提高粗脂肪、粗蛋白质、总氨基酸和不饱和脂肪酸含量,有助于优质肉牛生产。     

Promoting transboundary animal disease risk management via a multiple health and husbandry intervention strategies in upland Lao PDR

Surveys of smallholder farmer knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP) and income were conducted in 2011 and 2012 in five northern provinces of Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR; n?=?200 farmers). Participating villages were classified as either from a livelihood development project (LV; n?=?80 farmers) or a livestock research project that contained both ‘high-intervention’ (HI; n?=?60 farmers) or ‘low-intervention’ (LI; n?=?60 farmers) villages. Farmer training plus a suite of health and productivity interventions were implemented in HI sites; only vaccination was implemented in LI sites, whilst various interventions and limited vaccination were introduced to LV sites. Farmer interviews were conducted with survey questions on socioeconomic variables and KAP of large ruminant health and disease risk management, enabling determination of quantitative and dichotomous qualitative traits and comparison of results from HI, LI and LV villages. The average farmer income from sales of large ruminants in HI was USD 621, in LI was USD 547 and in LV was USD 225 (p?<?0.001). The predicted mean of total knowledge scores (/42) in the 2012 survey in HI was 28, in LI was 22 and in LV was 17 (p?<?0.001). We conclude that improved KAP of large ruminant health and production can be achieved by intensive training, although with some farmers yet to apply their knowledge on husbandry and biosecurity practices, continued learning support and closed linkage of research and development projects to improve extension capacity is recommended. This multiple participatory approach promoting biosecurity in addition to vaccination may provide a more sustainable pathway for the advancement of Lao PDR on the Progressive Control Pathway for foot and mouth disease control.     

Physiological indicators of stress and meat and carcass characteristics in tail bitten slaughter pigs

Background

Tail biting is a common welfare problem in pig production and in addition to being a sign of underlying welfare problems, tail biting reduces welfare in itself. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of tail biting on different pre and post mortem indicators of stress in slaughter pigs and on carcass and meat characteristics. A total of 12 tail bitten (TB) and 13 control (C) pigs from a farm with a long-term tail biting problem were selected for salivary cortisol analyses before and after transport to the slaughterhouse. After stunning, samples were taken for the analysis of serum cortisol, blood lactate, intestinal heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), and meat quality characteristics. In addition, body temperature immediately after and muscle temperature 35 min after stunning were measured, as well as lean meat percentage and carcass weight.

Results

TB pigs showed a lower cortisol response to the transport-induced stress than C pigs and also had a lower serum cortisol concentration after stunning. HSP70 content in the small intestine was higher in the TB pigs than in C pigs. TB pigs had a considerably lower carcass weight therefore produced a lower total amount of lean meat per carcass than C pigs.

Conclusions

This study suggests that prolonged or repeated stress in the form of tail biting causes a blunted stress response, possibly a sign of hypocortisolism. In addition, it underlines the importance of reducing tail biting, both from an animal welfare and an economic point-of-view.     

Challenges for beef production in smallholder communities with low reproductive management skills: a case study from Northern Lao PDR

Improved large ruminant productivity is increasingly acknowledged as a pathway for the alleviation of rural poverty and food insecurity in smallholder communities in Southeast Asia; yet, in much of Laos, bovine reproductive management is practically absent. Large ruminant reproduction skills were studied, using face-to-face surveys (n=60) of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of farmers, plus an extension of an examination of parameters of reproductive efficiency (n?=?1786 cattle and 434 buffalo) in the northern provinces of Luang Prabang and Xieng Khouang. The surveys particularly involved female farmers to provide gender-disaggregated data, with females making up 38.3 % of participants. Results confirmed that KAPs of smallholder farmers on bovine reproductive management were low (34–46 %) with trends toward higher KAP scores in male survey respondents. Poor reproductive parameters were identified in both provinces, with low calving percentages of 54–75 and 45–54 % in cattle and buffalo groups, respectively, and prolonged inter-calving intervals of 14.1–19.8 and 26.0 months for the cattle and buffalo groups, respectively. Improving the reproductive efficiency of large ruminants in the northern upland regions would enable smallholder farmers to be more effectively engaged in the dramatic economic growth of the Southeast Asia region, although these findings indicate that intensive training and supportive interventions are required to improve large ruminant reproductive outcomes in communities that have low-level large ruminant husbandry skills.     

Predictability of post mortem abnormalities in shipments of slaughter pigs as an aid for meat inspection

This paper reports on the predictability of post mortem abnormalities in individual deliveries of pigs, shipped from the fattening herd to the slaughterhouse. The percentage of pigs in a delivery having post mortem abnormalities was expressed in a Meat Inspection Index. This index is based on data about relevant abnormalities, weighted on the specific significance of each for meat inspection. It was investigated whether Meat Inspection Indices of previous deliveries of pigs could be used for prediction of indices of future deliveries. Results suggest that the Meat Inspection Index cannot be used in such a predictive capacity, partly because of great variation among individual shipments. However, a Meat Inspection Index could play a role in signalling farms that are likely to deliver pigs with a higher level of abnormalities. More attention could then be paid to animals coming from these herds.     

Association between lean meat percentage and average daily weight gain in Danish slaughter pigs

Danish pigs that are within optimal weight limits and have a high lean meat percentage (LMP) obtain the best prices at slaughter. Another reason to consider the variation in LMP is the assumed association between LMP and average daily weight gain (ADG) at the individual level. The aim of this study was to test whether high ADG was associated with low LMP and vice versa. A cohort of 99 pigs from a conventional Danish herd was followed from 30kg to slaughter. The data included days in the herd, start- and end-weights, calculated ADG and LMP, reported from the abattoir. The study also included existing data from 13,057 boars from a Danish boar test station. The results of the study demonstrated a significant negative association between LMP and ADG: Pearson's correlation coefficient (r)=-0.42 (95% CI: -0.57; -0.24) (p<0.0001) for the cohort and r=-0.42 (95% CI: -0.48; -0.36) (p<0.0001) for the boars.     

3个品种鸭的屠宰性能及肌肉营养成分比较

将番鸭、樱桃谷鸭、高邮鸭饲养到70日龄屠宰。测定屠宰性能,同时取胸肉和腿肉测定营养成分。结果表明:樱桃谷鸭早期生长速度最快;番鸭是3个鸭品种中肉用性能最好的优质肉鸭,樱桃谷鸭的腿肉比例偏小,高邮鸭的胸、腿肌率均未达到优质肉鸭的要求。番鸭鸭肉中水分含量较高,樱桃谷鸭与高邮鸭鸭肉中脂肪含量较高。