Effect of environmental enrichment by providing trees as rubbing objects in grassland: Grazing cattle need tree-grooming

We examined the role of trees as grooming objects in grazing pasture and investigated their necessity. Four grazing Japanese Black cows were used. Experimental pastures with restricted (RST) and released (RLS) grooming with trees were established. Examination was carried out for 24 h in each RST and RLS. The respective frequencies and duration of self‐grooming, allo‐grooming (social grooming) and grooming with trees was recorded by a continuous scan sampling method, and maintenance behavior was recorded by a 2‐min group animal scan sampling method. Grooming with trees in RLS occurred 29 ± 12 times/24 h and for 1342 ± 475 s/24 h. Total frequencies and duration of grooming in RLS tended to increase from that in RST (P = 0.08, P = 0.06, respectively). However, self‐grooming and allo‐grooming exhibited no differences. The results indicate that cattle may enrich their grooming through the use of trees if the latter are available. Furthermore, they may not substitute grooming with trees with other forms of grooming if no trees are available in the grassland. No difference was observed in the general proportion of their maintenance behavior. These results suggest that trees in grassland provide a good environmental enrichment object that satisfies cattle's potential needs of grooming and did not restrict their general behavior.     

Effects of 'Five freedoms' environmental enrichment on the welfare of calves reared indoors

We provided comfortable resting areas in pens and tools for self-grooming and suppressing aggressive behavior for environmental enrichment in Japanese black and Japanese Shorthorn calves. At the start of the experiment, the black calves ( n  = 10) were 164 days old and 138 kg in weight, and the Japanese Shorthorn calves ( n  = 10) were 176 days old and 164 kg in weight. Calves of each breed were divided into two groups (the enrichment group and the non-treatment group), and each group was housed in a 4 m × 7.2 m pen. The effect of enrichment on calf welfare was estimated on the basis of daily weight gain and behavior. The brush stimulated the grooming behavior in calves although the mean time of using the brush decreased during the experiment. The partition of the feed trough and the wooden wall in the pen decreased the agonistic behavior in Japanese Shorthorn calves ( P  < 0.01) and increased the affiliative behavior in Japanese black calves ( P  = 0.08). The cleanliness of the bedding increased sternum lying and lying with the head touching the flank or ground in Japanese black calves and decreased the standing resting behavior in both breeds ( P  < 0.05 in all the cases). However, the treatments did not have an effect on daily weight gain. We concluded that the treatments would improve the welfare of calves and function as environmental enrichments.     

Effects of an environmental enrichment using a drum can on behavioral, physiological and productive characteristics in fattening beef cattle

To evaluate the effects of environmental enrichment on behavioral, physiological and productive characteristics, 71 Japanese Black × Holstein steers (8 months of age; 299.5 ± 22.6 kg) were allocated to three pens in two repetitive experiments. Pen C (n = 11 and 12) consisted of a feeding alley for grain feed, a trough for dry hay, a water bowl and a resting space as a control pen. Pen D (n = 12 and 12) included a drum can (58 cm diameter × 90 cm height) containing hay. Pen GD (n = 12 and 12) included a drum can that was placed around artificial plastic turf (30 × 120 cm) for grooming. The drum cans were removed after 5 months of installation. Behavioral observations were made for 2 h at 10 min intervals after feeding on three successive days each month for 10 months. Agonistic interactions were also continuously observed for 1 h after feeding to assess the dominance order (DO). Sampling blood and measuring bodyweight were performed bimonthly. The steers used the drum can frequently for 3 months after installation (1st, 2nd, 3rd months vs 4 months, all P < 0.05). The frequency of total eating of grain feed and hay was higher in pen D and pen GD than in pen C (both P < 0.01), while it was lowest in pen GD after removal of the drum can (P < 0.05). Grooming at the drum can was observed more frequently in pen GD than in pen D (P < 0.05). After they finished eating the grain feed, they ate hay at the drum can that contained additional hay rather than at the trough for hay (P < 0.01). Plasma dopamine concentrations were higher in pen D than in pen C (P < 0.05), and serum triglyceride concentrations were higher in pen C than in pen GD (P < 0.05) during the installation of the drum can. After removal of the drum can, serum total cholesterol concentrations became higher in pen D and GD than in pen C (both P < 0.05). Average daily gain correlated positively with the frequency of eating hay at the drum can in pen D (r_s = 0.52, P < 0.01). In pen GD, the frequency of using the drum can correlated negatively with DO (r_s = ?0.59, P < 0.01). Carcass belly fat was thicker in pens D and GD than in pen C (both P < 0.01). In pen GD, the frequency of eating hay (r_s = 0.79, P < 0.01) and grooming at the drum can (r_s = 0.63, P < 0.05) correlated positively with the marbling score. Although social factor affected the steers using the drum can, installing it in the early fattening stage encouraged the steers to eat and groom there and resulted in better carcass characteristics through the prolonged physiological positive effects.     

Using expected allele number as objective function to design between and within breed conservation of farm animal biodiversity

Conservation of genetic diversity in farm animal species can be achieved by preventing extinction of breeds and by reducing genetic drift within breeds. It is suggested to use the expected number of alleles segregating in the species after a given time period as objective function in the design of conservation strategies. A formal approach is presented to predict this quantity based on marker information, accounting for extinction probability of breeds and effective population size within breeds as the major component of genetic drift. Based on this model, relative efficiency of different strategies of diversity conservation can be quantified. Formulas are given to derive the marginal expected number of alleles with respect to genetic drift within population and extinction probability, respectively. The suggested approach is illustrated with an example of 13 European cattle breeds. With the assumed parameters, drift is shown to be the major force leading to loss of alleles, and different breeds are prioritized for activities to reduce risk of extinction and for measures to reduce genetic drift, respectively. Although different aspects of the model need to be further refined, the suggested methodology provides a general and flexible tool to derive the optimum conservation strategy in various scenarios.     

高尔夫旅游者的环境态度和环境行为意向：专业化水平的调节作用

高尔夫旅游提供的产品和服务依赖于自然环境,因此可持续性环境管理的重要性日益凸显。本研究以高尔夫旅游者作为研究对象,通过潜在结构和内部一致性分析,运用专业化的概念,将高尔夫旅游者划分为初级、中级和高级3类,并进一步检验不同专业化水平的高尔夫旅游者的环境态度和环境行为意向之间的关系。研究发现:1)高级高尔夫旅游者的环境态度和环境行为意向得分高于初级和中级高尔夫旅游者;2)因果分析证实了环境态度和行为意向之间的关系,且这两个构念之间的关系在不同专业化水平的样本中均得到了检验;3)高尔夫旅游者的专业化水平对环境态度和行为意向并未起到调节作用。     

The effects of environmental enrichment and transport stress on the weights of lymphoid organs,cell‐mediated immune response,heterophil functions and antibody production in laying hens

The effects of environmental enrichment and transport stress on the immune system were investigated in laying hens. A total of 48 1‐day‐old chickens were used, half of the chickens were reared in conventional cages (RCC) and the rest in enriched cages (REC). Transport stress was applied in the 17th week. Liver weight decreased, spleen and bursa of Fabricius weights, white blood cell count, CD4+ and CD8+ cell proportions increased due to the transport. Environmental enrichment significantly increased antibody production and tended to increase monocyte percentage and CD8+ cell proportion. The effect of transport on, heterophil (H) and lymphocyte (L) percentages was not significant in RCC chickens. While heterophil percentage and H:L ratio increased, lymphocyte percentage decreased in REC chickens subjected to transport. Transport stress increased heterophil functions both in REC and RCC chickens, but the increase was higher in REC hens than in RCC hens. In conclusion, although environmental enrichment did not neutralize the effect of transport on lymphoid organs, it activated the non‐specific immune system, cellular and the humoral branches of the specific immune system by increasing heterophil functions, CD8+ cells and antibody production, respectively. Therefore, environmental enrichment suggested for improving animal welfare may also be beneficial to improve the immune system of birds exposed to stress.     

Satisfaction and satisfaction affecting problem behavior in different types of adopted dogs

Many dogs are relinquished worldwide, so it is important to enhance adoptions’ success. We aimed at investigating factors associated with owners’ satisfaction with adopted dogs, both in general and focusing on galgos. Data on 392 dogs (191 galgos) were gathered using an online survey, investigating dogs’ and owners’ demographics, satisfaction with the adopted dog and post-adoption behavior. Satisfaction was affected by different variables in galgos’ owners as compared to non-sighthound non-podenco dogs’ ones, with only the presence of disobedience on walks negatively affecting satisfaction in both samples. Depending on dogs’ type, the presence of some behavioral problems was associated with decreased satisfaction with the dog (e.g., destructiveness for galgos, or separation problems for non-sighthound non-podenco dogs), whereas that of others increased it (e.g., not being interested in social interactions with dogs for galgos, and shadowing for non-sighthound non-podenco dogs). The variables most often being predictors of the behaviors influencing satisfaction were dog type, with being a galgo as a negative predictor, and dog’s age, with being older as a negative predictor. Further studies on dog adopters’ satisfaction are needed.     

Neospora caninum in pastured cattle: determination of climatic, environmental, farm management and individual animal risk factors using remote sensing and geographical information systems

A cross-sectional serological survey was conducted on cattle pasturing in an area of the southern Italian Apennines to evaluate the seroprevalence to Neospora caninum, and to investigate the climatic, environmental, farm management, and individual animal factors that influence the distribution of this protozoan. Blood samples were collected from 864 pastured cattle raised on 81 farms. Serum samples were tested for antibodies to N. caninum using an ELISA assay (HerdCheck), IDEXX). A geographical information system (GIS) for the study area was constructed using the following remote sensing (RS) and landscape feature data: autumn-winter, spring and summer normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), land cover, elevation, slope, aspect, mean rainfall and minimum, mean, and maximum temperature in spring, summer, autumn and winter. Data on each of these features were then extracted for "buffer zones" consisting of the area included in a circle of 3 km diameter centered on the 81 geo-referenced centroids of the main cattle pastures. Climatic and environmental data obtained from RS and GIS and individual animal characteristics and farm management data obtained from a questionnaire were analyzed in relation to N. caninum seropositivity and antibody titres both by linear and logistic regression models. Out of the 81 farms sampled, 63 (77.8%) had at least one tested animal positive for N. caninum. Out of the 864 bovine sera samples, 266 (30.8%) were found to have antibodies to N. caninum. The results of the logistic regression model show that significantly high seroprevalence to N. caninum was found in heifers/steers and adults, in cattle raised on farms having a large number of dogs, and in cattle raised in buffer zones having high minimum temperatures in the spring, and a narrow extension of summer NDVI. In addition, positive linear correlations were found between N. caninum antibody titres and the number of dogs on farm, and the minimum temperature in spring. All the above determined risk factors for N. caninum seroprevalence indicate that horizontal infection resulting from the ingestion of oocysts shed by dogs is the most probable route of N. caninum infection in pastured cattle of the southern Italian Apennines.     

海口地区商品猪场生产工艺和环境设计方法初探

地域气候差异、环境控制措施的选择对猪场设计及运行影响巨大。针对不同的养猪生产区,如何综合考虑气候特点对猪场进行标准化设计是满足猪场建成后正常运营的重要条件。海口市属华南地区,地处低纬度热带区域,年平均气温24℃,极端最高气温可达约41℃,平均相对湿度85％。文章针对海口地区特有的气候和地理环境特点,探讨了海口地区商品猪场在工艺设计、建筑设计和环境控制设计方面的设计思路,并通过案例分析进行了详细的说明。     

中国北方草地畜牧业监测预测系统的研制与应用

介绍了中国北方草地畜牧业监测预测系统开发与设计的目标及意义,阐述了系统的总体结构框架和功能模块划分,并在系统数据流程的基础上对监测预测模块进行了详细的分析与设计,给出了系统的部分运行结果,讨论了系统后期待完善的设计思路及目标.     

The combined effect of clothianidin and environmental stress on the behavioral and reproductive function in male mice

Neonicotinoids, some of the most widely used pesticides in the world, act as agonists to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) of insects, resulting in death from abnormal excitability. Neonicotinoids unexpectedly became a major topic as a compelling cause of honeybee colony collapse disorder, which is damaging crop production that requires pollination worldwide. Mammal nAChRs appear to have a certain affinity for neonicotinoids with lower levels than those of insects; there is thus rising concern about unpredictable adverse effects of neonicotinoids on vertebrates. We hypothesized that the effects of neonicotinoids would be enhanced under a chronic stressed condition, which is known to alter the expression of targets of neonicotinoids, i.e., neuronal nAChRs. We performed immunohistochemical and behavioral analyses in male mice actively administered a neonicotinoid, clothianidin (CTD; 0, 10, 50 and 250 mg/kg/day), for 4 weeks under an unpredictable chronic stress procedure. Vacuolated seminiferous epithelia and a decrease in the immunoreactivity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase 4 were observed in the testes of the CTD+stress mice. In an open field test, although the locomotor activities were not affected, the anxiety-like behaviors of the mice were elevated by both CTD and stress. The present study demonstrates that the behavioral and reproductive effects of CTD become more serious in combination with environmental stress, which may reflect our actual situation of multiple exposure.     

Case study: Treatment of oral and locomotory stereotypic behaviors in a mature sow

A 32-month-old female 225-kg nonpregnant cross-bred Newsham sow presented a 6-week history of stereotypic behaviors when housed in a laboratory research facility. A behavioral examination over 12 daylight hours revealed 3 main stereotypic motor patterns, namely (1) oral-nasal gate manipulation defined as placement of the snout between the bars of the pen gate with repetitive, forceful up and down movement; (2) head weaving defined as repetitive lateral head and snout movement toward the pen gates while rocking back and forth on her forequarters with hooves remaining on ground at all times; and (3) body weaving defined as repetitive shifting of body weight from one side to the other with front hooves lifting alternately off the ground. The sow performed the oral-nasal gate manipulation and head and body weaving 4.0%, 12.4%, and 6.8% of her total baseline time budget, respectively. The presumptive diagnosis was oral-nasal and locomotory stereotypies. Three treatments were used to mitigate the duration and frequency of these stereotypic behaviors. Treatment 1—Social treatment (change social stimuli by providing visual and nose-to-nose contact with different neighboring sows); Treatment 2—Forage treatment (change foraging substrates by providing peat moss as a rooting substrate); and Treatment 3—Space treatment (change pen configuration by increasing space). The sow performed the oral-nasal gate manipulation and head and body weaving 0%, 0.4%, and 0.1% of her total time budget, respectively; social treatment: the sow performed the oral-nasal gate manipulation and head and body weaving 0.9%, 15.3%, and 11.3% of her total time budget, respectively; and forage treatment: the sow performed the oral-nasal gate manipulation and head and body weaving 0.5%, 28.0%, and 15.5% of her total time budget, respectively. This study is one of the first reports to evaluate the treatment of established stereotypies in a mature sow. Results suggest the promise of environmental enrichment as an effective treatment strategy. Further research is needed to evaluate the persistence of these behavioral changes and relative importance of different environmental manipulations provided.     

A review of nutritional and toxicological implications of castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) meal in animal feeding systems

The nutrient‐rich defatted castor meal has been tested as a potential source of protein in diets of many livestock species but has limitation due to challenges of toxins. This review was conducted to compile the relevant research information on advances in the use of raw and differently processed castor seed meal in animal feed. In this article, distribution and uses of castor and its products were identified. Research findings on the nutrients profile, principal toxins, various detoxification strategies, nutritional value and toxicity on common livestock species were compiled and reviewed. The defatted seed meal had crude protein range of 32–48%, gross energy of about 3200 kcal/kg. Ricin content was 9.3 mg/g seed, and the average RCA content was 9.9 mg/g. The meal had high activity of lectin, which produced agglutination at about 4.70 mg/ml minimum assays. Reports of detoxification strategies showed varying degrees of success but high pH, moist heating and microbial techniques appeared to exert greater effect on deactivating ricin. Detoxification strategy for the allergen component is inconclusive. Tannins and the phenolic contents were present at trace level and did not constitute notable threat. It was concluded that castor seed holds great potential as feedstuff when upgraded but such upgrading must be safe, cost‐effective and labour efficient for commercial acceptability.     

Research progress on the role of melatonin and its receptors in animal reproduction: A comprehensive review

Melatonin and its receptors play a crucial role in the regulation of the animal reproductive process, primarily in follicular development. However, the role that melatonin performs in regulating hormones related with reproduction remains unclear. Melatonin and its receptors are present both in female and male animals’ organs, such as ovaries, heart, brain and liver. Melatonin regulates ovarian actions and is a key mediator of reproductive actions. Melatonin has numerous effects on animal reproduction, such as protection of gametes and embryos, response to clock genes, immune‐neuroendocrine, reconciliation of seasonal variations in immune function, and silence or blockage of genes. The growth ratio of reproductive illnesses in animals has raised a remarkable concern for the government, animal caretakers and farm managers. In order to resolve this challenging issue, it is very necessary to conduct state‐of‐the‐art research on melatonin and its receptors because melatonin has considerable physiognomies. This review article presents a current contemporary research conducted by numerous researchers from the entire world on the role of melatonin and its receptors in animal reproduction, from the year 1985 to the year 2017. Furthermore, this review shows scientific research challenges related to melatonin receptors and their explanations based on the findings of 172 numerous research articles, and also represents significant proficiencies of melatonin in order to show enthusiastic study direction for animal reproduction researchers.     

ASAS-NANP Symposium: Mathematical Modeling in Animal Nutrition: The progression of data analytics and artificial intelligence in support of sustainable development in animal science

A renewed interest in data analytics and decision support systems in developing automated computer systems is facilitating the emergence of hybrid intelligent systems by combining artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms with classical modeling paradigms such as mechanistic modeling (HIMM) and agent-based models (iABM). Data analytics have evolved remarkably, and the scientific community may not yet fully grasp the power and limitations of some tools. Existing statistical assumptions might need to be re-assessed to provide a more thorough competitive advantage in animal production systems towards sustainability. This paper discussed the evolution of data analytics from a competitive advantage perspective within academia and illustrated the combination of different advanced technological systems in developing HIMM. The progress of analytical tools was divided into three stages: collect and respond, predict and prescribe, and smart learning and policy making, depending on the level of their sophistication (simple to complicated analysis). The collect and respond stage is responsible for ensuring the data is correct and free of influential data points, and it represents the data and information phases for which data are cataloged and organized. The predict and prescribe stage results in gained knowledge from the data and comprises most predictive modeling paradigms, and optimization and risk assessment tools are used to prescribe future decision-making opportunities. The third stage aims to apply the information obtained in the previous stages to foment knowledge and use it for rational decisions. This stage represents the pinnacle of acquired knowledge that leads to wisdom, and AI technology is intrinsic. Although still incipient, HIMM and iABM form the forthcoming stage of competitive advantage. HIMM may not increase our ability to understand the underlying mechanisms controlling the outcomes of a system, but it may increase the predictive ability of existing models by helping the analyst explain more of the data variation. The scientific community still has some issues to be resolved, including the lack of transparency and reporting of AI that might limit code reproducibility. It might be prudent for the scientific community to avoid the shiny object syndrome (i.e., AI) and look beyond the current knowledge to understand the mechanisms that might improve productivity and efficiency to lead agriculture towards sustainable and responsible achievements.     

Improvement and retardation of wound healing: effects of pharmacological agents in laboratory animal studies

Impaired wound healing is an important problem; retardation of healing may be induced by endogenous and/or exogenous factors and treatments capable of ameliorating these effects are needed. The effects of solutions containing light ichthyol or povidone iodine, of ointments containing zinc oxide (ZO) and/or cod liver oil (CLO), and of a polyurethane-hydrogel foam wound dressing were examined on healing of full-thickness murine skin wounds impaired by systemic dexamethasone. The effects of the ointments were also studied on murine skin ulceration induced by subcutaneous sodium dodecyl sulphate solution. Light ichthyol at 1% and 2% but not at 5% and 10%, povidone iodine at 1% and the foam accelerated impaired healing. The ointments containing ZO or CLO accelerated healing of impaired full-thickness wounds and of ulcerated skin; ZO and CLO were synergistic. These studies demonstrate the value of murine models in the evaluation of agents employed in veterinary wound dressings.     

内蒙古短花针茅群落数量分类及环境解释

 群落分布格局与环境（环境因素、空间因素、生物因素）之间的关系一直以来便是生态学研究的热点。为了探讨环境对内蒙古短花针茅群落结构格局的影响,运用双向指示种分析法（ｔｗｏ ｗａｙｉｎｄｉｃａｔｏｒｓｐｅｃｉｅｓａｎａｌｙｓｉｓ,ＴＷＩＮＳＰＡＮ）对内蒙古自治区２０２个短花针茅群落进行数量分类,并结合环境因子、空间因子（各３个）运用除趋势典范对应分析排序方法（ｄｅｔｒｅｎｄｅｄｃａｎｏｎｉｃａｌｃｏｒｒｅｓｐｏｎｄｅｎｃｅａｎａｌｙｓｉｓ,ＤＣＣＡ）分析了环境因子、空间因子、环境因子与空间因子交互作用及其他因素对内蒙古短花针茅群落结构格局的影响。结果表明,１）ＴＷＩＮＳＰＡＮ 将内蒙古２０２个短花针茅群落在第４级水平上分为１６个群丛;２）ＤＣＣＡ 前２排序轴集中了大部分信息（７５．３％）,第１,２排序轴分别突出反映了群落结构格局在热量、水分梯度上的变化,结合ＴＷＩＮＳＰＡＮ 划分的群丛类型构建了内蒙古短花针茅草原生态系列图式;３）因子分离分析表明,环境因子对群落结构格局的解释能力为７０．７％,其中２６．５％为单纯环境因子引起,空间因子解释能力为５５．６％,其中１１．４％ 是独立于环境因子的,４４．２％ 是环境因子和空间因子交互作用导致的,未能解释的部分达１７．９％,结合其他研究有力地证明了“环境因素对植被的可解释程度是植被本身的复杂性决定的,植被越复杂,环境的可解释程度则越低”。     

The capacity of inspection on farm and at the abattoir to predict post-mortem outcomes in slaughter pigs: A study at animal level

The aim of this study was to investigate associations between ear, tail, and skin lesions, hernias, bursitis, and rectal prolapses at the abattoir and meat inspection outcomes in slaughter pigs, including carcass condemnations and trimmings, carcass weight, and carcass quality. This was an observational study whereby pigs were managed according to routine practices in a single abattoir. Data were collected from 1816 pigs. The relationship between animal-based welfare and post-mortem outcomes was analyzed using generalized mixed models (Proc Glimmix). Our findings showed that tail lesions were associated with entire carcass condemnations and trimmings (P < 0.001), a reduction in carcass weight (P < 0.05), and a potential to impair carcass quality by reducing muscle pH (P < 0.05), especially in carcasses from male pigs (P < 0.05). Additionally, hernias were associated with viscera condemnation (P < 0.05) and a reduction in carcass weight (P  < 0.05). Therefore, our findings confirm that ante-mortem inspection could be useful to predict post-mortem outcomes in the same pigs, especially in cases of tail lesions and hernia, which might trigger attention of the veterinary inspector in charge of the post-mortem inspection.