Prevalence of microfilariae in cattle at slaughter in Zaria, Nigeria

Skin snips and blood taken from 372 randomly selected slaughtered cattle in Zaria, Nigeria were examined for microfilariae. A total of 293 (78.8%) skin snips and 218 (58.6%) blood samples were positive for microfilariae. Two types of microfilariae, identified as Onchocerca armillata, with a percentage prevalence of 64%, and O. gutturosa with a prevalence of 40% were isolated from the skin. The blood microfilariae were identified as those of Setaria labiatopapillosa.     

Cattle production systems in the derived Savannah and Southern Guinea Savannah regions of Oyo State,Southern Nigeria

Summary A single visit questionnaire survey was undertaken on 50 cattle owners in Oyo State, south-western Nigeria. Data were collected n grazing patterns, calving dates, calf mortalities and attitudes to the N'Dama breed and its crosses with Bunaji cattle. All cattle herds had similar grazing patterns, using natural pasture from April to November, crop residues in December, pasture regrowth after burning plus crop residues in January and regrowth and browse in February and March. The conception pattern was unimodal, reaching a peak in July after the new grass growth from the first rains. Calf mortalities were highest between 2 to 4 months of age during the early rainy season, but were significantly lower in mixed N'Dama/Bunaji herds than in the Bunaji herds. Most cattle owners were interested in purchasing N'Dama breeding stock, believing them to be more productive. This is a move away from the traditional pastoralist practice of keeping onlyBos indicus breeds.

---

Resumen Se llevó a cabo un sondeo con un formulario sencillo, en el Estado de Oyo, en el suroeste de Nigeria; 50 productores fueron encuestados. Se colectaron datos sobre hábitos de pastoreo, fechas de parición, mortalidad neonatal y actitudes hacia la raza N'Dama y sus crusces con ganado Bunaji. Todos los hatos presentaron patrones de pastoreo similares; en pasto natural de abril hasta noviembre, residuos de cosechas en diciembre, rebrote de pasto después de quemar más residuos de cosecha en enero y rebrote y ramoneo en febrero y marzo. El patrón de parición fue unimodal, alcanzando el pico en julio después de las primeras lluvias. La mortalidad neonatal fue alta en los primeros cuatro meses al comienzo de las lluvias, pero fue más baja en los hatos N'Dama/Bunaji, que en los hatos Bunaji. La mayoria de productores se encontraron interesados en adquirir ganado N'Dama, debido a lo productivo de la raza. El patrón entonces, parece que se aparta de las prácticas pastoriles tradicionales, con ganadoBos indicus.

---

Résumé Un questionnaire reposant sur une visite unique a été remis à 50 propriétaires de bétail dans l'état d'Oyo au Sud-ouest du Nigeria. Les données rassemblées ont concerné les modes de pature, les dates de vêlages, la mortalité des veaux et le comportement des propriétaires à l'égard du bétail de race N'Dama et de son croisement avęc le bétail Bunaji. Tous les troupeaux de bovins avaient les mêmes modes de pature, utilisant les paturages naturels d'avril à novembre, les résidus de culture en décembre, la repousse après br?lis et les résidus de culture en janvier, la repousse et les ligneux en février et mars. La conception du faire valoir était de type unimodal, avec un pic en juillet après de la nouvelle herbe à la suite des premières pluies. La mortalité des veaux a été plus élevée entre 2 et 4 mois au début de la saison des pluies, mais significativement plus basse dans les troupeaux mixtes N'Dama/Bunaji que dans les troupeaux Bunaji seuls. La plupart des propriétaires de bétail étaient intéressés par l'achat d'animaux reproducteurs de race N'Dama, pensant qu'ils étaient plus productifs. Ceci reorésente une évolution dans les pratiques pastorales traditionnelles qui veulent que l'on possède des troupeaux de race unique Bos indicus.

     

Bruises in beef cattle at slaughter in Mexico: implications on quality,safety and shelf life of the meat

In emergent economies and developing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America, the major cause for carcass rejection from the international market is bruising; nevertheless, many of these carcases are destined to local markets and meat processing industries for human consumption. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the effect of bruised meat on pH, microbiologic count and biogenic amine (BA) profiles along 21 days of ageing (sampling 1st, 7th, 14th and 21st day) with two packaging method (plastic bag vs vacuum) at 4 °C. A total of 50 bruised carcasses were sampled from 1000 young bulls (Brown Swiss X Zebu) of 18–24 months old and an average live weight of 450?±?66 kg. The results showed significant differences between packaging systems and bruised vs non-bruised meat. The bruised meat caused higher biogenic amine concentrations than did non-bruised meat. We conclude that bruised meat favoured increments of biogenic amine concentrations, even more than did non-bruised meat. The plastic bag?+?vacuum system limited the increments of BA concentration during storage time therefore it improved shelf life of meat. These results emphasized the importance of implementing best management practices during pre-slaughter operations of cattle in order to reduce a possible risk factor for bruised meat.     

张掖肉牛屠宰性能测定和肉品质评定

[目的]为了解张掖肉牛现阶段产肉性能,及时分析品种培育进展和成效,张掖市通过委托第三方专业检测机构开展肉牛屠宰性能测定和肉品质评价试验,根据其结果进行分析研判。[方法]从3家肉牛核心育种场选择具有继代关系的公犊牛持续育肥后根据屠宰性能测定和肉品质评定试验结果分析世代遗传进展和品种培育成效。[结果]试验历时5年,完成连续2个世代各20头育肥牛的屠宰测定和肉质评定。共测定性能指标35项,对其中25项测定值进行样本配对检验,试验B较试验A的体重、体高、胸围、胴体重、净肉重5项指标差异显著,管围、肉质大理石花纹、pH、系水力、蒸煮损失5项指标差异极显著,月龄、十字高、体斜长、腹围等其它15项指标有差异但尚未达到显著水平。而且试验B组较A组的屠宰月龄缩短1.64月,而体重增加59.91 kg,且体尺表型值相应增加。根据日增重遗传力(h²)0.42计算出宰前体重表型增加量为25.16 kg(即剔除由于育种场饲养管理改进、环境影响友好和其它有利因素叠加实现的提高量为34.75 kg),相当于产肉量增加11.6 kg。[结论]从2次结果反映出品种选育有成效,由活重体现出遗传进展。...     

Risk factors for hide contamination of Scottish cattle at slaughter with Escherichia coli O157

In the slaughter processing of cattle, contaminated hides have been identified as one of the major sources of Escherichia coli O157 carcase contamination. Logistic regression analysis was applied to data collected in a large scale study in Scotland involving 222 cattle forming 34 groups sent for slaughter from 30 farms to 10 slaughterhouses. Aspects of individual animal characteristics, farm management practices and slaughterhouse features were examined to identify potential risk factors for hide contamination at harvest. Two models were developed, the first in which slaughterhouse was modelled as a fixed effect, and a second model where slaughterhouse and farm groups were modelled as random effects. In the first model, there was a significantly increased risk of a carcase testing positive for E. coli O157 on the hide if either the hide of the carcase immediately before or after it on the line was contaminated (OR 3.6; 95% CI: 1.4–9.9). If both adjacent carcases had contaminated hides, the odds ratio for the study carcase having a contaminated hide rose to 11.5 (95% CI: 4.4–32.5). If animals were held in lairage, receiving hay as feed appeared to have a protective effect on hide contamination. Transportation to the slaughterhouse by haulier, as opposed to transport by the farmer, was associated with a 5.4 increase in the odds of E. coli O157 contamination. The use of a crush in the lairage, often employed when reading ear tags, was also found to significantly increase the odds of hide contamination with E. coli O157. In the second model, the inclusion of slaughterhouse and farm group as random effects resulted in two of the previously identified factors being associated with hide contamination. If at least one of the adjacent carcases on the line had a contaminated hide, the associated odds ratio was 6.6 (95% CI: 2.8–15.9), which rose to 22.7 (95% CI: 9.3–55.5) if both adjacent hides were contaminated. Receiving hay in lairage was found to be important to the model, although not significant in itself (OR 0.005; 95% CI: 1.2e⁻⁶–20.7). These results suggest that modifiable risk factors for hide contamination exist. However, in order best to reduce the prevalence of hide contamination at slaughter, individual slaughterhouse risk assessment and intervention strategies are appropriate.     

柠檬酸稀土对锦江黄牛屠宰性能、肉品质及脂肪代谢的影响

本试验旨在研究柠檬酸稀土对锦江黄牛屠宰性能、肉品质及脂肪代谢的影响。选用年龄、体质量相近的健康育肥期锦江公牛为试验动物,共12头,平均体质量为(374.75±4.02)kg,随机分成2组,即对照组和试验组,在试验组饲粮中的添加柠檬酸稀土400 mg/kg,对照组不添加柠檬酸稀土。试验期为期70 d。饲养试验结束进行屠宰,测定其屠宰性能,分析测定肉品质指标和脂肪代谢相关酶及激素指标。结果显示:饲粮中添加柠檬酸稀土显著提高了平均日增质量(P<0.05),显著降低了料质量比(P<0.05);饲粮中添加柠檬酸稀土可显著提高血清中GH和瘦素的水平(P<0.05);饲粮中添加柠檬酸稀土显著降低了育肥期锦江黄牛的脏脂率和脂肪率(P<0.05),有降低背膘厚及板油率的趋势(0.05≤P≤0.1);饲粮中添加柠檬酸稀土显著提高了牛肉中粗蛋白的含量(P<0.05),降低了粗脂肪及干物质的含量(P<0.05),同时具有提高剪切力的趋势(0.05≤P≤0.1);饲粮中添加柠檬酸稀土显著降低了肝脏中MDA的活性(P<0.05),对FAS活性具有降低的趋势(0.05≤P≤0.1);饲粮中添加柠檬酸稀土显著提高了肝脏中LPL的活性(P<0.05),对TL也有升高的趋势(0.05≤P≤0.1)。结果表明,饲粮中添加400 mg/kg的柠檬酸稀土可改善锦江黄牛生产性能和屠宰性能,提高肌肉中粗蛋白含量,同时还有明显的降低育肥期锦江黄牛体内脂肪含量的作用,提高肉牛养殖效益。     

Relationships between the turnover before slaughter, welfare and the occurrence of defective DFD type meat in cattle

In this article we have presented genetic predispositions and the influence of numerous factors that occur during cattle fattening, transport and holding in slaughter plants, on their welfare and subsequently on the occurrence of defective meat, known in the literature as DFD (Dark, Firm, Dry) meat. Such meat is unwillingly bought by contemporary consumers because of its consistency and processing plants cannot intend it for production of durable processed meat due to its compliance to decay. To a great extent the occurrence of this meat defect is caused by people as a result of ignorance and incompliance of cattle welfare. It should also be remarked that there is a rising number of consumers interested in the place of origin of cattle and the way it was treated.     

宰前运输应激对肉牛屠宰性能和牛肉品质的影响

30头西门塔尔杂交牛随机均分为2组,对照组(不运输组)和试验组(运输组),试验组肉牛经12 h的宰前运输。结果表明,与对照组相比,试验组屠宰率和净肉率分别显著降低了2.28(P0.05)和1.68个百分点(P0.05);试验组在12 h(P0.01)、24 h(P0.05)的肌肉滴水损失显著升高,但2组间在72 h的肌肉滴水损失差异不显著(P0.05);在45 min时的肌肉剪切力值,试验组比对照组高17.11%,差异显著(P0.05),在24,48,72 h时,2组间差异均不显著(P0.05);在12 h的肌肉p H值,试验组比对照组低9.33%,差异显著(P0.05),但在45 min,24,48,72 h的p H值,2组间差异均不显著(P0.05);2组间肌肉颜色差异不显著(P0.05);试验组肌糖元含量比对照组低24.03%(P0.05),肌肉乳酸含量比对照组高28.65%(P0.05),而肌肉乳酸脱氢酶、肌酸激酶2组间均差异不显著(P0.05)。结果表明,肉牛经12 h的宰前运输,降低了肉牛的屠宰性能和牛肉品质。     

Shedding of food-borne pathogens and microbiological carcass contamination in rabbits at slaughter

To obtain microbiological data from rabbits at slaughter, 500 fecal samples and 500 carcasses samples were examined. All samples tested negative for Listeria and Salmonella. Campylobacter were detected in two fecal samples. Of the 500 fecal samples, 45.8% tested positive for eae (intimin), 1.2% for stx (Shiga toxin), and 1.8% for both eae and stx. By colony hybridization, 56 eae positive Escherichia coli strains were isolated. Among them, 27 strains (48.2%) were of the serotypes O178:H7 and O153:H7, whereas 15 strains (26.8%) belonged to a serogroup that has not yet been described (O(CB10681):H7). All strains possessed intimin beta1 and the translocated intimin receptor (tir) capable of being tyrosine phosphorylated. None of the strains harbored the genes for Shiga toxins, EAST1 (astA), bundlin (bfpA), or the EAF plasmid. Slaughter rabbits therefore constitute a reservoir for certain atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. On rabbit carcasses, average total bacterial counts accounted for 3.3 log CFU cm(-2). Enterobacteriaceae and coagulase positive staphylococci (CPS) were detected on 118 (23.6%) and 153 (30.6%) carcasses, respectively. Enterobacteriaceae and CPS counts of positive samples were mainly <1.5 log CFU cm(-2). Among 153 selected CPS isolates, 98.7% were identified as Staphylococcus aureus. None of the 151 isolated strains harbored the gene for methicillin resistance (mecA). Genes for staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) were detected in 102 strains. The combinations of seg and sei (53 strains) and sed, seg, sei, and sej (27 strains) dominated.     

Live weights at slaughter significantly affect the meat quality and flavor components of pork meat

One‐hundred‐twenty crossbred pigs finished at 175–185 days of age were used to investigate the effects of live weights at slaughter on the meat quality, volatile flavor compounds, and sensory attributes of pork meat. Based on the live weights at slaughter, three weight groups (n = 36 per group) were classified as follows: light weight (LW: 100 kg), medium weight (MW: 110 kg), and heavy weight (HW: 120 kg). After slaughter, longissimus dorsi muscle samples were taken and used for the analyses of aforementioned parameters. The HW group had higher fat content and water holding capacity compared to the LW or MW group (p < 0.05). The HW group also showed higher levels for majority of unsaturated fatty acids and total polyunsaturated fatty acids than the LW group (p < 0.05). The slaughter weight significantly affected the amounts of 11 among the 47 flavor compounds identified. Significantly higher amounts of fatty acids oxidation‐derived flavor compounds (aldehydes) were found in the HW group than in the other groups. Noticeably, increasing slaughter weight was associated with higher sensorial scores for flavor, juiciness, and acceptance scores (p < 0.05). Based on the obtained results, 120 kg body weight is recommended as the market weight for this commercial breed without compromising the meat quality.     

Local poultry biosecurity risks to highly pathogenic avian influenza in Kaduna State, Nigeria

The study appraised local poultry biosecurity risks to highly pathogenic avian influenza by assessing farmers’ knowledge, beliefs and poultry practices using a standard questionnaire. Farmers’ knowledge on transmission and prevention was high but low on disease recognition. Radio was ineffective at informing Islamic educated farmers. Extensive knowledge on transmission and protection did not result in behavioural change as farmers engaged in risky practices of selling, eating or medicating infected poultry and not reporting poultry death. Islamic educated farmers do not believe highly pathogenic avian influenza is a serious and preventable disease. Women are more likely to self medicate when experiencing influenza-like illness. Audio-visual aids would improve avian influenza recognition while involvement of community leaders would enhance disease reporting. Outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in local poultry in Nigeria would follow a similar pattern in Southeast Asia if the risk perception among farmers is not urgently articulated.     

The prevalence of macroscopic sarcocysts in New Zealand cattle at slaughter

A survey carried out to determine the prevalence of visible Sarcocystis spp. infection in 100 slaughtered cattle in a South Island abattoir revealed 64% infected. Although all ages, genders, breeds and export grades were infected, only host age had a statistically significant effect on the infection rate.

Infections were most common in the rectus abdominis and the psoas muscles (47% and 41% respectively). Most infections were light, with less than ten macrocysts seen, though infections of more than 50 macrocysts occurred.

The average macrocyst length was 4.1±0.10 mm (SE) (n = 233), the average cyst wall thickness 5.3 ±0,12 μm (SE) (n = 45).

It is thought that the actual prevalence of infection is higher than that recorded and reasons for this are discussed.     

The prevalence of macroscopic sarcocysts in New Zealand cattle at slaughter

A survey carried out to determine the prevalence of visible Surcocystis spp. infection in 100 slaughtered cattle in a South Island abattoir revealed 64% infected. Although all ages, genders, breeds and export grades were infected, only host age had a statistically significant effect on the infection rate. Infections were most common in the rectus abdominis and the psoas muscles (47% and 41% respectively). Most infections were light, with less than ten macrocysts seen, though infections of more than 50 macrocysts occurred. The average macrocyst length was 4.WO.10 mm (SE) (n = 233), the average cyst wall thickness 5.3 +/- 0.2 microm (SE) (n = 45). It is thought that the actual prevalence of infection is higher than that recorded and reasons for this are discussed.     

饲喂薰衣草秸秆混合青贮对新疆褐牛生长性能、屠宰性能及肉品质的影响

试验旨在研究用全株玉米秸秆青贮(100%)、混贮1:薰衣草秸秆与野干草(55)、混贮2:薰衣草秸秆与小麦秸秆(46)饲喂新疆褐牛后对其生长性能、屠宰性能及肉品质的影响。根据生长发育相近的原则,将60头新疆褐牛随机分成3组,每组20头牛。结果表明,与混贮2组相比,对照组和混贮1组的终末体重、平均日增重极显著高于混贮2组(P<0.01),饲喂混贮1组的牛屠宰率分别比对照组、混贮2组高0.5个百分点和1.21个百分点(P>0.05)。肉品质方面,混贮1组的粗蛋白显著高于混贮2组的粗蛋白(P<0.05),玉米青贮和混贮1组的粗脂肪(EE)、中性洗涤纤维(NDF)、酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)和粗灰分(Ash)的含量高于混合青贮2组,但差异不显著(P>0.05)。检测氨基酸结果显示,与对照组相比,混贮1组和混贮2组的天冬氨酸(Asp)、苏氨酸(Thr)、丝氨酸(Ser)、谷氨酸(Glu)、脯氨酸(Pro)、甘氨酸(Gly)、丙氨酸(Ala)、缬氨酸(Val)、蛋氨酸(Met)、异亮氨酸(Ile)、亮氨酸(Leu)、络氨酸(Tyr)、苯丙氨酸(Phe)、赖氨酸(Lys)和精氨酸(Arg)含量略低,但差异不显著(P>0.05),其它各组间均无差异显著性。综上所述,通过青贮的方式可有效改善薰衣草秸秆的饲喂品质及适口性,提高薰衣草秸秆饲草利用率,为进一步开发利用薰衣草秸秆资源提供理论参考。     

Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in native breeds of cattle in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Despite numerous molecular epidemiologic studies of cryptosporidiosis in dairy cattle in industrialized countries, there are very few studies on the diversity and public health significance of Cryptosporidium species in native cattle in developing countries. In this study, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the small-subunit (SSU) rRNA gene was used to detect and identify Cryptosporidium spp. in 194 fecal specimens from 2 to 365 days old calves in 20 White Fulani and Sokoto Gudali herds in Nigeria. Thirty one (16.0%) of the specimens were positive for Cryptosporidium. Restriction digestion of the PCR products showed the presence of Cryptosporidium bovis (7.2%), Cryptosporidium ryanae (4.1%), Cryptosporidium andersoni (2.5%), and concurrent occurrence of C. bovis and C. ryanae (1.5%), and C. bovis and C. andersoni (0.5%). There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in Cryptosporidium infection rates by sex, herd location, management system, breed of calves, or fecal consistency. However, calves 180 days or younger had a higher infection rate of Cryptosporidium than older calves (p=0.034). Likewise, younger calves also had higher occurrence of C. bovis and C. ryanae (p=0.022). The absence of zoonotic Cryptosporidium parvum in the calves studied suggests that native breeds of cattle may not be important in the transmission of human cryptosporidiosis in Kaduna State, Nigeria.     

Comparative assessment of postmortem inspection and immunochromatographic techniques for the detection of bovine tuberculosis in slaughter cattle in Nigeria

Animals with tuberculosis pose some risks to humans, especially in developing countries of the world. In this study, postmortem inspection (PMI) and immunochromatographic assay (ICA) techniques were compared for the detection of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) in slaughter cattle in Enugu State, Nigeria using culture as the gold standard. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January–June, 2011 on animals presented at four purposively selected slaughterhouses in the study area, involving a total of 500 randomly selected animals. Blood samples were collected from the jugular veins of selected animals and serum samples harvested for ICA. Thorough PMI was carried out and tissue samples from the lung, liver, intestine, and lymph nodes were collected, with or without lesions for culture; from the animals examined, culture detected 11 positive cases giving a prevalence rate of 2.2 %, whereas PMI detected 22 positive cases including 7 (out of the 11) positive cases detected by culture, giving a prevalence rate of 4.4 %. Fifteen of the cases detected as positive by PMI were negative by culture. Therefore, the sensitivity and specificity of PMI were 64 and 97 %, respectively. ICA detected 59 positive cases including 10 of the 11 positive cases detected by culture, hence, a prevalence rate of 11.8 %. Forty-nine of the cases detected as positive by ICA were negative by culture. Hence, the sensitivity and specificity of ICA were 91 and 90 %, respectively. In conclusion, the performance of ICA was found sufficiently high to support its use in BTB surveillance and control in cattle in Enugu State, Nigeria.