Handling of the petition for ritual slaughter (the area of conflict of the official veterinarian between the special requirements and legal possibilities). Veterinary specialist view

During the process for a permission of ritual slaughter, regulated by paragraph 4a (2) no.2 Animal Protection Law, the licensing authority has to weigh carefully, because there are different rights in the constitutional law. Ritual slaughter contradicts religious liberty and animal protection so it is necessary to find a balance. Demands on requests for ritual slaughter as well as rudiments for verification and notification are described and aspects of animal protection during ritual slaughter without stunning methods are demonstrated.     

关于深入开展奶业产业化经营若干问题的探讨(连载一)

随着农业产业结构调整的不断深入,我国的奶业发展面临着极好的机遇,同时也遇到极大的挑战。如何抓住机遇,迎接挑战?深入开展奶业产业化经营是其必由之路。奶业产业化经营从某种意义说是一项系统工程,在我国尚处于初级阶段,面临着许多需要解决的问题,这引起了业内许多领导、专家、企业管理者等的关注和探讨。为了让更多的业内人士了解这方面的情况和进展,我刊编发了由农业部奶类项目办公室暨奶业专家组撰写的“关于深入开展奶业产业化经营若干问题的探讨”一文以飨读者,旨在引起更广泛的关注和探讨。     

The least requirements for the rotation of swine for slaughter from loading to transport to resting time until stunning from the viewpoint of animal protection and meat quality

1. According to the loading density there is a significant increase of the physical burden (strain) during a transport of pigs to the slaughterhouse. Keeping up minimal requirements (kgs pigs/sqm) the stress reaction decreases and the meat quality becomes better. 2. Each transport produces excitement which can be shown in higher respiratory and heart frequencies. The slaughtering of excited animals shows a higher percentage of carcasses with bad meat quality. Waiting times from at least 2 hours up to a maximum of 4 hours shows that the percentage of carcasses with a better meat quality increases. 3. Handling of animals at the slaughterhouse prior to stunning by dividing the number of pigs into small groups of at least 9 animals is very important especially because it reduces the excitement of the pigs prior to stunning. The stunning results are getting better. Mistakes in handling pigs prior to stunning especially in guiding them to the stunning place usually destroy all positive efforts for optimal transparent conditions and keeping up waiting times after transport. 4. The last step ahead to the stunning equipment. No good solution does exist which makes the pigs willingly do this last step and enter the place where the stunning is performed. This results in the CO2 stunning system itself as well as in the automatic electrical stunning equipment using a restrainer. 5. Stunning with CO2.     

Role of the "National Reference Centre for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) detection" in the official control of food and feed

The National Reference Centre for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) detection was established in 2002 within the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Lazio e Toscana, with the aim of providing scientific and technical support to the National Health System and to the Ministry of Health within the scope of the regulation of GMO use in food and feed.The recently adopted EU legislation on GMOs (Regulation CE no. 1829/2003 and no. 1830/2003) introduced more rigorous procedures for the authorisation, labelling and analytical control of food and feed consisting, containing or derived from GMOs. The National Reference Centre, besides its institutional tasks as one of the laboratories of the Italian National Health System, collects and analyses data and results of the national official control of GMOs; carries out scientific research aimed at developing, improving, validating and harmonising detection and quantification methods, in cooperation with other scientific institutions, the Community Reference Laboratory and within the European Network of GMOs laboratories (ENGL); collaborates with the Ministry of Health in the definition of control programmes and promotes educational and training initiatives. Objectives defined for 2004-2006, activities in progress and goals already achieved are presented.     

Associations between the proportion of Salmonella seropositive slaughter pigs and the presence of herd level risk factors for introduction and transmission of Salmonella in 34 Danish organic, outdoor (non-organic) and indoor finishing-pig farms

This paper evaluates the association between herd level risk factors for introduction and transmission of Salmonella in farms with three different production systems: organic, outdoor (non-organic) and indoor finishing-pig farms, and the presence of seropositive animals in the herds. Potential risk factors for Salmonella in the three pig production systems were identified through a literature review, and management information as well as serological data were collected in 34 pig farms: 11 organic farms, 12 outdoor farms, and 11 indoor farms. There were no general differences in the proportion of Salmonella seropositive animals in the organic, outdoor, and indoor pig farms. Correspondence analysis showed that the occurrence of seropositive animals in the herds was mostly associated to the risk of introducing Salmonella in the herds by purchasing and transporting growing pigs. No associations between herd risk factors for transmission and survival of Salmonella and seropositive animals in the herds were found.     

Development and validation of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies for the detection of immunoglobulin G of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

Antibodies directed against species-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) have a broad range of applications in serologic and immunologic research and in the development of clinical assays. Validated anti-IgG antibodies for marine mammal species are in short supply. The objective of this study was to produce and validate antibodies with specificity for IgG of the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Bottlenose dolphin IgG was purified using protein G. Two mouse monoclonal antibodies and a rabbit polyclonal antibody were developed from mice and rabbits immunized with bottlenose dolphin IgG. The specificity of the monoclonal antibodies and the polyclonal antibody for bottlenose dolphin IgG was first verified by Western blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). For further validation, both monoclonal antibodies and the polyclonal antibody were incorporated in an indirect ELISA for the detection of the immune response of bottlenose dolphins to a vaccine antigen. Three bottlenose dolphins were immunized with a commercial Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae vaccine, and serial blood samples were collected from all dolphins for measurement of levels of circulating antibodies. Seroconversion was observed in all 3 dolphins by use of both monoclonal antibodies and the polyclonal antibody. Circulating antibodies were detectable as early as 6 days after immunization in 1 dolphin. Peak antibody levels were detected 14 days after the immunization. The ability to detect seroconversion in all 3 immunized bottlenose dolphins firmly establishes the specificity of the monoclonal antibodies and the polyclonal antibody for IgG of the common bottlenose dolphin.     

30个青贮玉米在雁门关地区品种评比试验

本研究旨在利用30个不同生态区玉米品种筛选出适合雁门关地区种植的青贮玉米品种。采用随机区组试验设计,测定并分析各品种农艺性状、生物产量、营养品质,同时用聚类分析法将30个供试品种分成4个类群并分析总结每一类群的主要特性。结果表明：1）以渝青3号和曲辰9号为代表的青贮专用型玉米品种表现为生物产量和干草产量较高,穗位高较高,持绿性表现较好,但营养品质低于粮饲通用型玉米。2）以屯玉661和先玉1225为代表的粮饲通用型玉米表现为干草产量低,但淀粉含量较高,其超过30%。3）生物学产量与绿叶数、绿叶重、株高、茎粗、茎重和穗重呈显著正相关。根据田间表现和综合评价结果,曲辰9号、晋单65、先单405为适宜在雁门关地区推广种植的青贮玉米品种。     

Foot-and-mouth disease and the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer). 1. Carriers as a source of infection for cattle

Ten pregnant buffalo cows, six of which were subsequently shown to be carriers of SAT 1, 2 and 3 viruses, were captured in the Kruger National Park (KNP) and allowed to calve in captivity. The buffalo cows and calves were separated by a fence from 6 FMD susceptible cattle but the buffalo and cattle were obliged to use common drinking troughs and hay racks. Over a period of 15 months, during which the buffalo calves lost their maternally-derived immunity, neither the buffalo calves nor the susceptible cattle became infected with FMD virus. By the end of the observation period, however, only 1 buffalo cow still had detectable virus in its oesophageal/pharyngeal specimens.     

Evaluation of safety and efficacy of acaricides for control of the African tortoise tick (Amblyomma marmoreum) on leopard tortoises (Geochelone pardalis).

Nine acaricides (amitraz, carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, cyfluthrin, fipronil, lindane, permethrin, phenothrin, and pyrethrins) were studied for their efficacy in killing the African tortoise tick (Amblyomma marmoreum). Only four of the acaricides (chlorpyrifos, cyfluthrin, lindane, and permethrin) produced 100% mortality within 24 hr of application, and only two (cyfluthrin and permethrin) continued to cause 100% mortality when diluted to as low as 1:10,000. Five of the acaricides (amitraz, carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, cyfluthrin, and permethrin) were studied for toxicity to the leopard tortoise (Geochelone pardalis), the most common host of A. marmoreum. The results indicate that cyfluthrin and permethrin, which were herein found to be the two most effective acaricides for control of A. marmoreum, are also the safest acaricides for use on leopard tortoises.     

Meloxicam and surgical denervation of the coxofemoral joint for the treatment of degenerative osteoarthritis in a Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris).

An adult male white Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) with pronounced atrophy of the pelvic musculature was diagnosed with degenerative osteoarthritis of the coxofemoral joints. Initial management with the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam and a semisynthetic sodium pentosan polysulfate resulted in clinical improvement and radiographic stabilization of the arthritic condition over several months. However, because pain was still evident, bilateral denervation of the coxofemoral joints was performed, successfully ameliorating the signs of osteoarthritic pain in the tiger. Meloxicam has shown good clinical efficacy for the treatment of osteoarthritis and other painful conditions in large felids. Coxofemoral joint denervation offers many advantages for the treatment of osteoarthritis in exotic carnivore species, and should be considered a viable treatment modality.     

A comparison of gross pathology,histopathology, and mycobacterial culture for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in elk (Cervus elaphus).

Using the isolation of Mycobacterium bovis as the reference standard, this study evaluated the sensitivity, specificity and kappa statistic of gross pathology (abattoir postmortem inspection), histopathology, and parallel or series combinations of the two for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in 430 elk and red deer. Two histopathology interpretations were evaluated: histopathology I, where the presence of lesions compatible with tuberculosis was considered positive, and histopathology II, where lesions compatible with tuberculosis or a select group of additional possible diagnoses were considered positive. In the 73 animals from which M. bovis was isolated, gross lesions of tuberculosis were most often in the lung (48), the retropharyngeal lymph nodes (36), the mesenteric lymph node (35), and the mediastinal lymph nodes (16). Other mycobacterial isolates included: 11 M. paratuberculosis, 11 M. avium, and 28 rapidly growing species or M. terrae complex. The sensitivity estimates of gross pathology and histopathology I were 93% (95% confidence limits [CL] 84.97%) and 88% [CL 77.94%], respectively, and the specificity of both was 89% [CL 85.92%]). The sensitivity and specificity of histopathology II were 89% (CL 79.95%) and 77% (CL 72.81%), respectively. The highest sensitivity estimates (93-95% [CL 84.98%]) were obtained by interpreting gross pathology and histopathology in parallel (where an animal had to be positive on at least one of the two, to be classified as combination positive). The highest specificity estimates (94-95% [CL 91-97%] were generated when the two tests were interpreted in series (an animal had to be positive on both tests to be classified as combination positive). The presence of gross or microscopic lesions showed moderate to good agreement with the isolation of M. bovis (Kappa = 65-69%). The results showed that post-mortem inspection, histopathology and culture do not necessarily recognize the same infected animals and that the spectra of animals identified by the tests overlaps.     

Reducing the proportion of animal protein in feed for rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). 2. Supplementation of methionine and lysine

Continuing previous investigations, two test feedstuffs whose fishmeal content had been reduced to 5% and which were supplemented with 4.5 g methionine and 5.0 g lysine per kg resp. 6 g methionine and 6 g lysine per kg were proofed in comparison with a fattening feed for trout as customary in trade and with a fish meal content of 35%. The content of animal protein in the control feed was at least 75% (crude protein content 41%), in test feed I at most 35% (crude protein content 35.4%), in test feed II at most 17% (crude protein content 33.9%). All feedstuffs had the same energy content. The tests were made with rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) of 80...100 g at the beginning and at water temperatures of 11...12 degrees C. They were conducted over a period of 112 days. After giving the same amount of feed, growth of and feed expenditure for the fish feed with the test feedstuffs were less suitable than of those fish which had received the control feed. Concerning the protein efficiency ratio, the productive protein value and the energetic expenditure too, the best results were achieved with the control feed.