Do methods for predicting paleohabitats apply for mountain and insular fossil bovids?

A variety of methods have been developed to use bovid postcranial elements in the functional morphology approach to paleohabitat prediction. This study represents a first attempt at testing morphometric methods based on astragalus and phalanges on extant mountain‐dwelling bovids and insular fossil bovids from Sardinia assigned to the so‐called ‘Nesogoral group’, already regarded as close to the Caprini tribe. We intended to answer the questions whether a classic four‐habitats model could be successfully applied to extant mountain‐dwelling bovids, and whether results obtained could support the hypothesis of a radiative evolution for the Sardinian bovids. Results obtained, on the one hand, highlighted some inadequacies of the method if not applied to African bovids; on the other hand, they stressed the difficulties of discriminating habitat preferences of Sardinian taxa only based on biometry of astragalus and phalanges. Nonetheless, statistical habitat predictions suggest the contemporaneous presence in Sardinia of bovids having about the same size, but inhabiting different environments, giving support to the hypothesis that Sardinian representatives of the genus Nesogoral originated from a still unknown ancestor by an adaptive radiation evolutionary process.     

Performance of Gannan Yak and Approaches for Improvement

At present, the yak population reached to 1.1 million in Gannan prefecture. Yak is dominant livestock in Gannan,and is the main source of herdsman income. In recent years, the population of Gannan yak continuously increased, but the performances such as body weight, dressing percentage and reproductivity are dropping.In order to improve quality, performance and economic benefits of yak production,it is very urgent to strengthen yak selective breeding.     

Nomenclature for parasitic diseases: cohabitation with inconsistency for how long and why?

The author surveys the early history of nomenclature for parasitic diseases or infections which led to the existing usage of synonymous names with diverse spellings for denominating the same disease entities. In order to diminish heterogeneity in nomenclatural usage, principles of the standardized nomenclature of parasitic diseases (SNOPAD) have been put forward by the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology. Pros and cons regarding the SNOPAD concept are discussed in seeking consensus terminology. The need for a standard nomenclature may be judged differently. SNOPAD is just a guideline based on carefully reasoned and clearly defined principles for those authors and editors dissatisfied with the existing heterogeneous and inconsistent nomenclatural usage and wish to rely on a uniform and standard disease nomenclature. The major suggestion of SNOPAD is the use solely of suffix -osis when disease name is coined from the name of a parasite taxon. Meanwhile, the proposed principles were found sensible and accepted more in the field of veterinary, less in medical parasitology. In a recent survey it has been revealed that the majority (73.8%) of 126 national language parasitological textbooks or compendia from 21 countries of Europe published since 1990 adopted consistent '-osis' disease terminology and the rest (26.2%) used a mixture of disease names ending in '-osis' and '-iasis' inconsistently. For achieving substantial shift towards the use of more consistent disease terminology, the interest and support of the parasitologists' community is required. Editorials and database producers hold the key to further progress provided they see the advantages of the use of a single name of worldwide currency for each disease entity.     

Haematology and blood‐chemistry for predicting abscesses and other abnormalities in slaughtered pigs

Summary

Blood values of slaughtered pigs were determined in an attempt to relate the blood profile with the prevalence of abscesses. To this end 319 pigs were selected and grouped into classes on the basis of pathological ante‐ and post‐mortem findings. The classes thus distinguished were (i) no pathology, (ii) pleurisy or pneumonia and (iii) abscesses occurring singly, metastasised or in combination with other abnormalities.

By stepwise discriminant analysis it was established that the blood variables ln(fibrinogen) and albumin were particularly suitable for the detection of abscesses in slaughtered pigs. In this way a correct classification of 89.3% of affected pigs is possible. The numbers of false‐positives and false‐negatives were 19.3% and 10.7%, respectively.

For meat‐inspection purposes application of blood analyses is promising. For application in meat‐inspection practice rapid on‐line methods need to be devised.     

Diagnostic orientation values for ACTH and other parameters for clinically healthy donkeys and mules (insulin,triglycerides, glucose,fructosamines, and ɣ-GT)

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction is the most prevalent endocrine disease in horses. Although donkeys and mules may also be affected, only a few data have been published. Reference values for diagnostic parameters, such as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), are especially scarce or even lacking. Therefore, in the present study, available data from the literature have been verified and completed to facilitate a reliable diagnosis. Clinical inspections and haematological and biochemical examinations were carried out four times in a three-month interval (February to November) in 44 donkeys and 31 mules. Data from clinically healthy animals were used as an orientation. Plasma ACTH concentrations showed seasonal changes in both animal groups. However, it was generally higher in donkeys than mules. Although blood glucose (EDTA plasma) showed no difference between groups, serum insulin concentrations were consistently higher in donkeys. Serum fructosamine levels were slightly higher in mules, whereas, in some cases, serum triglyceride levels were considerably higher in donkeys. Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase showed a striking peak in mules in August, whereas the remaining gamma-glutamyltransferase values were lower compared to donkeys. By comparing donkeys and mules, the present work reveals differences in various blood parameters which should be considered for diagnoses and future studies.     

Environmental and animal hygiene--an indispensable subject for veterinary education?

Based on conference reports, publications, and personal experiences in the field of veterinary environmental hygiene in Germany and abroad, the question is discussed whether the subjects environmental and animal hygiene have to be considered as indispensable subjects for the curricula in veterinary education or only play a secondary role as a fringe area of veterinary medicine. The analysis and evaluation of the relevant literature have shown that this subject has gained an extraordinary significance for science and practice during the last 4-5 decades. Due to its close interconnections with related fields of science like agriculture, human medicine, biology, ecology, engineering sciences and economics the veterinary environmental and animal hygiene has reached such a high standing that it is now an indispensable component of veterinary education in Germany.     

Laboratory test descriptions for bovine respiratory disease diagnosis and their strengths and weaknesses: Gold standards for diagnosis,do they exist?

The diagnosis of bovine respiratory diseases (BRD) poses significant challenges to the clinician as there are numerous infectious etiologies, operating singly or most often in combination. Clinical signs alone may not be diagnostic and the diagnostic laboratory is often used to assist the clinician. Recently many molecular-based tests have been taken from the research laboratory to the veterinary diagnostic laboratory. This review describes the “traditional tests” and several “molecular tests” and discusses the benefits and limitations of the tests and their interpretation. Clinicians should consult with their diagnostic laboratory regarding the interpretation of the test results. The rate of development and use of molecular diagnostic tests have outpaced validation, standardization, and standards for interpretation relative to their use in BRD diagnostics.     

Norwegian dairy farmers’ preferences for breeding goal traits and associations with herd and farm characteristics

ABSTRACT

The aims of this study were to investigate variation and clustering in breeding goal trait preferences among Norwegian dairy farmers and to identify factors with a systematic influence on their preferences. An internet-based questionnaire was sent out to dairy farmers connected to the Norwegian co-operative breeding organization Geno (N?=?8222), of which 10.8% answered (N?=?888). Of the 15 suggested traits fertility had the highest overall ranking, while parasite resistance and methane emission had the lowest. Four distinct preference clusters were identified by the means of cluster analysis, of which two had a high preference for milk production. Differences in terms of farm and herd characteristics between clusters suggests a mixture of systematic and intrinsic effects on breeding goal trait priorities. This study shows that Norwegian dairy farmers’ preferences for breeding goal traits fall into four distinct clusters, both affected by herd and farm characteristics along with intrinsic values.     

Informal value chain actors’ knowledge and perceptions about zoonotic diseases and biosecurity in Kenya and the importance for food safety and public health

Zoonotic diseases, transmitted from animals to humans, are a public health challenge in developing countries. Livestock value chain actors have an important role to play as the first line of defence in safeguarding public health. However, although the livelihood and economic impacts of zoonoses are widely known, adoption of biosecurity measures aimed at preventing zoonoses is low, particularly among actors in informal livestock value chains in low and middle-income countries. The main objective of this study was to investigate knowledge of zoonoses and adoption of biosecurity measures by livestock and milk value chain actors in Bura, Tana River County, in Kenya, where cattle, camels, sheep and goats are the main livestock kept. The study utilised a mixed methods approach, with a questionnaire survey administered to 154 value chain actors. Additional information was elicited through key informant interviews and participatory methods with relevant stakeholders outside the value chain. Our results found low levels of knowledge of zoonoses and low levels of adherence to food safety standards, with only 37% of milk traders knowing about brucellosis, in spite of a sero-prevalence of 9% in the small ruminants tested in this study, and no slaughterhouse worker knew about Q fever. Actors had little formal education (between 0 and 10%) and lacked training in food safety and biosecurity measures. Adoption of biosecurity measures by value chain actors was very low or non-existent, with only 11% of butchers wearing gloves. There was a gendered dimension, evidenced by markedly different participation in value chains and lower adoption rates and knowledge levels among female actors. Finally, cultural and religious practices were shown to play an important role in exposure and transmission of diseases, influencing perceptions and attitudes to risks and adoption of biosecurity measures.     

Killing and dignity of animals: a problem for veterinarians?

Killing of animals is an important task to be performed by veterinarians. Killing decisions and their implementation often raise ethical questions. As a result of an interdisciplinary workshop targeting the subject "killing of animals" with veterinarians and ethicists, a three-dimensional dimension scheme was developed. Whereas the first two dimensions are focused on the animal's past and future life and are discussed with regard to life quality and life accomplishment (the "telos"), the third dimension incorporates the reason to kill and may integrate the concept of dignity. This form of dignity and the weighing of interests are applied to example scenarios and the resulting responsibilities of veterinarians and society are discussed.