Estimating the body temperature of groups of pigs by thermal imaging

Measurements on 28 pens of pigs containing 384 animals to be slaughtered at a commercial abattoir showed that the mean ear temperatures of the pigs in each pen, measured with a thermal imaging camera, were significantly correlated (r=0.71, P<0.001) with the mean temperature of the blood the pigs lost at exsanguination. In measurements on 220 pigs in 16 of the 28 pens, the mean activity of serum creatine kinase was positively correlated with the mean ear temperature (r=0.55, P<0.05) and the mean concentration of serum cortisol was positively correlated with the mean blood temperature (r=0.50, P<0.05), suggesting that the hotter pigs were suffering from a higher level of stress.     

Changes in Selected Biochemical Indices Resulting from Various Pre-sampling Handling Techniques in Broilers

Background

Since it is not yet clear whether it is possible to satisfactorily avoid sampling-induced stress interference in poultry, more studies on the pattern of physiological response and detailed quantification of stress connected with the first few minutes of capture and pre-sampling handling in poultry are required. This study focused on detection of changes in the corticosterone level and concentrations of other selected biochemical parameters in broilers handled in two different manners during blood sampling (involving catching, carrying, restraint, and blood collection itself) that lasted for various time periods within the interval 30-180 seconds.

Methods

Stress effects of pre-sampling handling were studied in a group (n = 144) of unsexed ROSS 308 broiler chickens aged 42 d. Handling (catching, carrying, restraint, and blood sampling itself) was carried out in a gentle (caught, held and carried carefully in an upright position) or rough (caught by the leg, held and carried with lack of care in inverted position) manner and lasted for 30 s, 60 s, 90 s, 120 s, 150 s, and 180 s. Plasma corticosterone, albumin, glucose, cholesterol, lactate, triglycerides and total protein were measured in order to assess the stress-induced changes to these biochemical indices following handling in the first few minutes of capture.

Results

Pre-sampling handling in a rough manner resulted in considerably higher plasma concentrations of all biochemical indices monitored when compared with gentle handling. Concentrations of plasma corticosterone after 150 and 180 s of handling were considerably higher (P < 0.01) than concentrations after 30-120 s of handling regardless of handling technique. Concentrations of plasma lactate were also increased by prolonged handling duration. Handling for 90-180 seconds resulted in a highly significant elevation of lactate concentration in comparison with 30 s handling regardless of handling technique. Similarly to corticosterone concentrations, a strong positive correlation was found between plasma lactate and duration of pre-sampling handling. Other biochemical indices monitored did not show any correlation pattern in connection with duration of pre-sampling handling.

Conclusions

These results indicate that the pre-sampling procedure may be a considerably stressful procedure for broilers, particularly when carried out with lack of care and exceeding 120 seconds.     

Evaluation of serum cortisol, metabolic parameters, acute phase proteins and faecal corticosterone as indicators of stress in cows

To assess the validity of laboratory parameters in blood and faeces as indicators of stress in cows, concentrations of cortisol, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), 3-hydroxybutyrate, glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglobin in serum, as well as corticosterone in faeces, were determined in two breeds of cattle (Alberes and Bruna dels Pirineus) under different systems of housing and feeding. Serum cortisol concentrations were markedly elevated in the Alberes group, probably because they were less habituated to human handling. Corticosterone concentrations in faeces were significantly increased in the Bruna dels Pirineus cattle on Alberes pastures. Concentrations of NEFAs and cholesterol were significantly elevated in the Alberes cows, indicating an adrenergic stimulus of lipolysis or the existence of nutritional stress. SAA concentrations were significantly higher in groups living in hardy conditions, whereas there were no significant differences in haptoglobin between the three groups.     

Corticosterone,cortisol, triglycerides,aspartate aminotransferase and uric acid plasma concentrations during foie gras production in male mule ducks (Anas platyrhynchos × Cairina moschata)

1. Corticosterone, cortisol, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and uric acid (UA) plasma concentration were measured at 8 (7 days after group housing), 12 (after 7 days of force feeding) and 13 weeks of age (at slaughter after 12 days of force feeding), and 45?min after an adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test at 8 weeks of age in 12 male mule ducks in an on-farm experiment.

2. No significant increase of corticosterone was found during the force-feeding period compared with the concentration after housing.

3. Comparison of corticosterone and cortisol values indicates that cortisol can be considered as a reliable acute stress indicator in future routine examinations.

4. Plasma concentrations of triglycerides and aspartate aminotransferase increased progressively from pre-force feeding period to slaughtering.

5. Plasma concentrations of uric acid increased from the start at 8 weeks of age to the mid-force feeding period but no difference was noticed between the mid-force feeding period and slaughtering.

6. It is concluded that acute stress induced by force-feeding is similar at the beginning and end of the commercial production of foie gras.     

The Effects of Loose Group versus Individual Stall Transport on Glucocorticosteriods and Dehydroepiandrosterone in Yearling Horses

The European Union recently published regulations regarding the welfare of horses during transport, requiring that horses be transported in individual stalls. The objective of this study was to determine whether concentrations of cortisol, corticosterone, or dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) differed among horses transported in individual stalls versus in loose groups. A total of 20 yearlings that were regularly handled and accustomed to being tied, but were naïve to transport, were assigned to be transported for 6 hours in either individual stalls or a loose group. The experiment was replicated with a second trial 35 days later following a switchback design. Jugular blood samples were analyzed for plasma cortisol, corticosterone, and DHEA concentrations at pretransport, after 2, 4, and 6 hours of transport, and at 2 and 4 hours after unloading. The data were analyzed using a mixed model repeated measures analysis of variance for treatment effects, whereas differences between sample times within each trial, and pretransport concentrations between trials, were analyzed using paired T-tests. No significant differences were found between treatment groups in concentrations of cortisol (P = .713), corticosterone (P = .370), or DHEA (P = .416). Cortisol and corticosterone concentrations increased significantly during transport, and returned to pretransport concentrations by 2 hours post-transport (P < .01). Changes in concentrations of cortisol and corticosterone indicated that transportation was a significant stressor; however, being transported in a loose group versus individual stalls was not different for these horses.     

Simultaneous steroids measurement in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism using a column-switching liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method

We developed an analytical method using an on-line column-switching liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) for quantifying multiple steroids in serum. Using the developed method, we evaluated the serum concentration of nine steroids (cortisol, corticosterone, cortisone, 11-deoxycortisol, 21-deoxycortisol, deoxycorticosterone, progesterone, 17α-OH-progesterone and aldosterone) in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism (HAC). Serum was mixed with stable isotope internal standards and thereafter purified by the automated column-switching system. The limit of detection ranged 2–16 pg/ml for nine steroids. In the baseline samples, five steroids (cortisol, corticosterone, cortisone, 11-deoxycortisol, and 17α-OH-progesterone) were detected in all dogs. The concentrations of cortisone, 11-deoxycortisol, and 17α-OH-progesterone in dogs with HAC (n=19) were significantly higher those in dogs without HAC (n=15, P<0.02). After the adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test, six steroids (cortisol, corticosterone, cortisone, 11-deoxycortisol, 17α-OH-progesterone, and deoxycorticosterone) were above the limit of quantification in all dogs. Cortisol, corticosterone, cortisone, and deoxycorticosterone concentrations of dogs with HAC were significantly higher than those of dogs without HAC (P<0.02). In addition, 11-deoxycortisol and 17α-OH-progesterone concentration was higher in dogs with HAC than in dogs without HAC (P=0.044 and P=0.048, respectively). The on-line column-switching LC/MS/MS would be feasible for measuring multiple steroids in dog serum. The results suggest that cortisone, 11-deoxycortisol, and 17α-OH-progesterone would be related to HAC. Further studies are warranted to assess the clinical feasibility of steroid profile in dogs with HAC.     

Bovine tuberculosis: prevalence and diagnostic efficacy of routine meat inspection procedure in Woldiya municipality abattoir north Wollo zone, Ethiopia

Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is a widespread and endemic disease of cattle in Ethiopia posing a significant threat to public health. Regular surveillance by skin test, bacteriology, and molecular methods is not feasible due to lack of resources. Thus, routine abattoir (RA) inspection will continue to play a key role for national surveillance. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Woldiya municipal abattoir from April 1, 2009 to April 5, 2010 to estimate the prevalence of BTB in slaughtered cattle on the basis of detailed abattoir inspection and to compare efficacy of RA inspection with respect to detailed abattoir inspection and isolation and identification of Mycobacterium. Diagnostic accuracies (with corresponding measures of statistical uncertainty) were determined by computing test property statistics (sensitivity and specificity). Agreement between RA and detailed abattoir inspections was measured using kappa statistics. Out of 1,029 slaughtered heads of cattle examined during the study period, 63 (6.12 %) and 15 (1.45 %) were diagnosed with gross tuberculous lesions by detailed abattoir meat inspections and RA meat inspections, respectively, making a prevalence of 6.12 % (95 % CI: 5.2–7.1) on the basis of detailed abattoir inspection. About 59.45 % of tuberculous lesions were observed in the lungs and associated lymph nodes, whereas 35.13 % lesions were from the lymph nodes of the head. From 63 cattle suspected with tuberculosis (TB) based on detailed abattoir meat inspection, nine (19.05 %) were identified as Mycobacterium bovis, while three (4.8 %) as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The sensitivity of RA meat inspection was 23.8 % in comparison to the detailed abattoir meat inspection and 25 % in comparison to culture, respectively. Poor agreement (k?=?0.37) was seen between RA meat examination and detailed abattoir meat examination methods. Similarly, poor agreement (k?=?0.013) was seen between RA meat examination and culture results. In conclusion, relatively higher prevalence (6.12 %) was recorded in Woldiya municipal abattoir on the basis of detailed Abattoir inspection and RA meat inspection protocols currently utilized in Ethiopia which are insufficient to detect the majority (76.19 %) of TB lesions at the gross level, which indicates the magnitude of meat borne zoonotic TB as an ongoing risk to public health. Detailed abattoir inspection protocols were demonstrated to improve the detection level by approximately fourfold. In conclusion, routine meat inspections have limitations in detecting BTB-suggestive lesions which indicate the magnitude of meat-borne zoonotic TB as an ongoing risk to public health.     

Prevalence study on bovine tuberculosis and molecular characterization of its causative agents in cattle slaughtered at Addis Ababa municipal abattoir, Central Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 500 cattle slaughtered at Addis Ababa abattoir to determine the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) and characterize its causative agents. Postmortem examination, mycobacteriological culturing, region of difference-4 (RD4)-based PCR and spoligotyping were applied. The prevalence of BTB was 5 % on the basis of postmortem inspection alone but 1.2 % based on molecular confirmation. Factors including age, sex, and breed showed statistically significant association with BTB (p?<?0.05). Gross lesions were observed most frequently (68 %) in the lungs and lung-associated lymph nodes compared to other organs and lymph nodes. Of the 25 grossly suspicious TB lesions processed and cultured, only six (24 %) were culture-positive, yielding Mycobacterium bovis confirmed by RD4 deletion typing. Further characterization of the six M. bovis isolates at the strain level by using spoligotyping revealed that one did not belong to any previously known type, while the others belonged to types SB1176 (two), SB1477 (two), and SB0133 (one). The new strain was submitted to the international M. Bovis.org database for international code designation. The study confirms the considerable prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle slaughtered at Addis Ababa abattoir and highlights the need for control of bovine tuberculosis in the country.     

Activation of the ovine hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and febrile response by interleukin-6: A comparative study with bacterial lipopolysaccharide endotoxin

Sheep were subjected to immune challenge with either recombinant human interleukin-6 (rhIL-6; 2.0 μg/kg; n = 5), Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin (400 ng/kg; n = 7), or saline (n = 6) to determine if IL-6 activates the febrile and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) responses in sheep, and to compare these responses with those associated with endotoxemia. Blood was collected over time to measure plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and serum cortisol concentrations as indicators of HPAA activity. Unlike LPS, rhIL-6 was not pyrogenic in sheep at this challenge dose. In contrast, rhIL-6 elicited ACTH and cortisol responses that peaked earlier than those induced by LPS. These results suggest that this dose of IL-6, alone, is not sufficient to elicit the febrile response in sheep, however, it is a potent activator of the ovine HPAA response.     

Prevalence study in horses infected by Gasterophilus sp. in an eastern region of Poland

A survey to determine current prevalence of Gasterophilus spp. (bot flies) in equids (n = 400) at necropsy in slaughtered horses was conducted at the abattoir in Rawicz. The evaluation was performed according to sex, age, larval stages, severity of infestation and localization, respectively. Only Gasterophilus intestinalis and Gasterophilus nasalis were detected. The prevalence determined in the eastern part of Poland was of 47%. The high prevalence of this parasite infection in the Polish horse population confirms that Gasterophilosis spp. has to be taken into serious consideration and prophylactic measures might be indicated.     

Pharmacokinetics of tulathromycin after subcutaneous injection in North American bison (Bison bison)

Tulathromycin is approved for the treatment of respiratory disease in cattle and swine. It is intended for long‐acting, single‐dose injection therapy (Draxxin), making it particularly desirable for use in bison due to the difficulty in handling and ease of creating stress in these animals. The pharmacokinetic properties of tulathromycin in bison were investigated. Ten wood bison received a single 2.5 mg/kg subcutaneous injection of Draxxin. Serum concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC‐MS) detection. Tulathromycin demonstrated early maximal serum concentrations, extensive distribution, and slow elimination characteristics. The mean maximum serum concentration (C_max) was 195 ng/mL at 1.04 h (t_max) postinjection. The mean area under the serum concentration–time curve, extrapolated to infinity (AUC_0–inf), was 9341 ng·h/mL. The mean apparent volume of distribution (V_d/F) and clearance (Cls/F) was 111 L/kg and 0.4 L/h/kg, respectively, and the mean half‐life (t_1/2) was 214 h (8.9 days). Compared to values for cattle, C_max and AUC_0–inf were lower in bison, while the V_d/F was larger and the t_1/2 longer. Tissue distribution and clinical efficacy studies in bison are needed to confirm the purported extensive distribution of tulathromycin into lung tissue and to determine whether a 2.5 mg/kg subcutaneous dosage is adequate for bison.     

Slaughter value, meat quality, creatine kinase activity and cortisol levels in the blood serum of growing-finishing pigs slaughtered immediately after transport and after a rest period

The experimental materials comprised 44 hybrid [female (Polish Large White x Polish Landrace) x male Duroc] growing-finishing pigs. The animals were randomly divided into two groups: 24 pigs were slaughtered immediately after transport and 20 pigs were slaughtered after a 24-hour rest period in the lairage. The meat content of pork carcasses, carcass dressing percentage, the proximate chemical composition, physicochemical and sensory properties of meat and shear force values were determined. Serum creatine kinase activity and cortisol levels were determined in blood samples collected before transport and during carcass bleeding. Pigs slaughtered immediately after transport, compared with those slaughtered after a 24-hour rest period, were characterized by a higher meat content of the carcass and a higher carcass dressing percentage. Pre-slaughter handling had no effect on pork quality. The incidence of normal-quality meat, partially PSE (pale, soft, exudative) meat and PSE meat was similar in both groups. Chemical analysis showed that the content of dry matter, total protein, fat and minerals in meat was comparable in both groups. As regards the functional properties of the pork, samples from the carcasses of pigs that had rested before slaughter had a higher contribution of the red color component. Meat from pigs slaughtered immediately after transport had more desirable sensory properties. Pre-slaughter resting had a significant effect on those analyzed physiological parameters which were found to be good indicators of pre-slaughter stress. Serum creatine kinase activity and cortisol levels were higher in blood samples collected after transport (during carcass bleeding) than in samples collected before transport, pointing to a strong stress response of animals to pre-slaughter treatment. The decrease in serum cortisol levels in blood samples collected during bleeding from the carcasses of pigs slaughtered after a 24-hour rest period, compared with samples collected from animals slaughtered immediately after transport, suggests that rest before slaughter alleviated stress induced by pre-slaughter handling operations.     

A 6-year survey of pathological conditions of slaughtered animals at Zango abattoir in Zaria,Kaduna State,Nigeria

A 6-year retrospective study (2000–2005) of animals slaughtered at the Zango abattoir in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria was carried out to determine disease conditions encountered in slaughtered animals. Records kept at the abattoir were analysed. A total of 69,307 cattle, 3,820 goats and 1,763 sheep were slaughtered for the period under study. Of the 69,307 cattle slaughtered for the period, 22,459 (32.41%) were males and 46,848 (67.59%) were females, while 1,763 sheep were slaughtered comprising of 506 (28.70%) males and 1,257 (71.30%) females, and 3,820 goats made up of 1,212 (31.73%) males and 2,608 (68.27%) were females. The major disease and/or pathological conditions were helminthosis (fascioliasis, haemonchosis and paramphistomosis) 16.20%, Streptothricosis 4.15%, Pericarditis 2.20%, liver cirrhosis 2.08%, abscesses 1.04%, pneumonia 0.14%, nephritis 0.05% and Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, Tuberculosis and Nocardiosis 0.01% each. Out of the 15,075 infected organs, 13,314 (88.38%) were partially salvaged while 1,751 (11.6%) whole organs were condemned. A total of 1,239 pregnant cows, 221 pregnant ewes and 637 pregnant does were slaughtered, representing a foetal wastage of 2.65% for cattle, 17.58% for sheep and 24.43% for goats. The result of this study apart from serving as an indicator of field disease condition also demonstrates cases of serious losses in production due to slaughter of pregnant animals especially for sheep and goats.     

Time in lairage needed by pigs to recover from the stress of transport.

Two experiments were carried out in which a total of 602 pigs were slaughtered after being held in lairage for periods ranging from less than one hour to 21 hours. In the first experiment the pigs were handled under ideal conditions and slaughtered at the University of Bristol slaughterhouse; in the second the pigs were killed at a commercial plant. Blood samples collected at exsanguination were analysed for indices of stress. There were no consistent effects of time in lairage on the levels of lactate and creatine phosphokinase. Plasma cortisol and beta-endorphin levels were reduced by lairage for three hours or more in the first experiment and cortisol was reduced by lairage for two hours or more in the second; beta-endorphin was not measured in the second experiment. A period of rest in lairage allowed the pigs to recover from transport and the associated handling and the recovery appeared to be complete within two to three hours.     

Steer stress levels during long distance transport throughout the year in Japan

The objective of this study was to investigate transportation conditions and behavioral and physiological responses of beef steers to long distance commercial transport throughout the year Japan. Japanese Black × Holstein steers (7.9 ± 0.6 months of age; 320.0 ± 19.0 kg) were transported by truck in spring (n = 8), summer (n = 5), autumn (n = 8) and winter (n = 5). Transport distances (time) were 1020.6 km (25 h including lairage periods): 615.4 km (6.4 h) on expressways, 163.2 km (3.7 h) on arterial roads and 242.0 km (10.5 h) by ferry. The space allowance of the truck was about 1.6 m²/head in all seasons. Internal temperatures of the truck were 14.7 ± 4.7°C in spring, 27.9 ± 2.6°C in summer, 24.4 ± 2.8°C in autumn and 9.2 ± 4.3°C in winter. Although internal noise and airflow velocity of the truck were louder and greater while moving on expressways (101.1 ± 8.3 dB and 1.50 ± 1.50 m/s) than on arterial roads (92.0 ± 15.2 dB and 1.32 ± 1.41 m/s) (both P < 0.05), more steers lay down while moving on expressways (P < 0.001). Blood glucose, plasma cortisol, and serum triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations and ALT activity were higher in spring (all P < 0.05). This could be explained by that vibration acceleration (m/s²) of the truck in the longitudinal direction was greater in spring (?0.19 ± 0.43) than in the other seasons (?0.14 ± 0.09 in summer, ?0.15 ± 0.20 in autumn and ?0.15 ± 0.13 in winter) (all P < 0.05). Heart rate, serum concentrations of T₃, total cholesterol, total protein, and AST and ALT activities were higher just after transport than 1 week after transport (all P < 0.05). However, transport stress should be not severe, since no difference between before and after transport was shown on concentrations of plasma cortisol, blood lactate and serum NEFA, serum triglyceride and serum pH and liveweight.     

Cattle acclimate more substantially to repeated handling when confined individually in a pen than when assessed as a group

Chute (CS) and exit (ES) scores are common subjective methods used to evaluate temperament in cattle production systems. A pen test, which allows behavior to be observed in a non-restrained setting, may also be an effective method to evaluate temperament by allowing more variation among animals to be expressed. The merit of pen scores in assisting producers in evaluating temperament is equivocal. The objectives of this study were to validate the usefulness of a pen score in delineating temperamental cattle and to determine whether these behavioral scores change under repeated and routine management. Over 3 consecutive years, a factorial design of two measurement protocols (frequent [F], infrequent [IN]) and three recording periods was used. The F measurements were collected over 3 consecutive days and IN measurements only on day 1 within a recording period. Each year, 20 mostly Angus commercial Bos taurus heifers were randomly assigned to each protocol. Behavior was measured using a CS, ES, and exit velocity. Body temperature and heart rate also were recorded. A fecal and blood sample were collected and analyzed for levels of various metabolites including glucose concentration and serum cortisol. Following routine handling, each heifers’ response to 30 s of exposure to a human stressor was recorded both individually and in groups of four. An individual (IPS) and group (GPS) pen scores were assigned from 1 (docile) to 6 (aggressive). For all heifers, protocol, event, and their interaction, were compared on the first day of an event. For F heifers, event and day within event were instead used. Body weight was included as a covariate, with sire and year fitted as random effects. Reliability of IPS and GPS were determined using a kappa (K) coefficient. Both IPS and GPS were reliably assigned (K = 0.64 and 0.44 for IPS and GPS, respectively) and positively correlated with body temperature, heart rate, glucose, and serum cortisol (r = 0.28 to 0.37). Furthermore, F heifers acclimated to repeated handling in an individual pen setting (P < 0.05) while acclimation to handling within groups was not evident (P > 0.14). IPS provides a reliable evaluation of temperament in a non-restrained setting that is indicative of an animal’s response to stress and may be useful when attempting to make phenotypic selection decisions. However, temperamental heifers became calmer with repeated gentle handling.     

Low cortisol levels in blood from dairy cows with ketosis: a field study

Background

An elevated plasma glucose concentration has been considered to be a potential risk factor in the pathogenesis of left-displaced abomasums (DA). Therefore the present study was performed to investigate if spontaneous disease (parturient paresis, metritis, ketosis etc) in dairy cows results in elevated concentrations of glucose and cortisol in blood as cortisol is the major regulator of glucose in ruminants.

Methods

Cortisol, insulin, β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), non esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and serum calcium were analyzed in blood serum and glucose, in whole blood, from 57 spontaneously diseased cows collected at different farms. The cows were grouped according to the disease; parturient paresis, recumbent for other reasons, mastitis, metritis, ketosis, inappetance and others.

Results

No elevated concentrations of cortisol or glucose were found in cows with metritis and mastitis but both cortisol and glucose were elevated in cows stressed by recumbency. Cows with ketonemia (BHBA > 1.5 mmol/l) did not have low concentration of glucose in blood but significantly low levels of cortisol. Some of these cows even had cortisol concentrations below the detection limit of the analysing method (< 14 nmol/l).

Conclusions

The study gives patho-physiological support to the treatment strategies of ketosis, recommending glucocorticoids, insulin etc. However further studies of this problem are needed to understand why cows with ketosis have low levels of cortisol and normal levels of glucose. To what extent elevated cortisol and glucose levels in hypocalcemic and recumbent cows are involved in the ethiology and /or the pathogenesis of DA also will need further research.     

Dietary supplementation of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product attenuates exercise-induced stress markers in young horses

Mitigation of exercise-induced stress is of key interest in determining ways to optimize performance horse health. To test the hypothesis that dietary supplementation of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product would decrease markers of exercise-induced stress and inflammation in young horses, Quarter Horse yearlings (mean ± SD; 9 ± 1 mo) were randomly assigned to receive either no supplementation (CON; n = 8) or 21 g/d S. cerevisiae fermentation product (10.5 g/feeding twice daily; SCFP; n = 10) top-dressed on a basal diet of custom-formulated grain as well as ad libitum Coastal bermudagrass hay. After 8 wk of dietary treatments, horses underwent a 2-h submaximal exercise test (SET) on a free-stall mechanical exerciser. Serum was collected before dietary treatment supplementation (week 0), at week 8 pre-SET, and 0, 1, and 6 h post-SET and analyzed for concentrations of cortisol and serum amyloid A (SAA) by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and for cytokine concentrations by commercial bead-based ELISA. Data were analyzed using linear models with repeated measures in SAS v9.4. From week 0 to 8 (pre-SET), serum cortisol decreased (P = 0.01) and SAA did not change, but neither were affected by diet. Serum concentrations of all cytokines decreased from week 0 to 8 (P ≤ 0.008), but granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and interleukin-8 (IL-8) decreased to a greater extent in CON than in SCFP horses (P ≤0.003). In response to the week 8 SET, serum cortisol increased in all horses (P < 0.0001) but returned to pre-SET levels by 1 h post-SET in horses receiving SCFP. At 6 h post-SET, cortisol concentrations in CON horses returned to pre-SET concentrations, whereas cortisol declined further in SCFP horses to below pre-SET levels (P = 0.0002) and lower than CON (P = 0.003) at that time point. SAA increased at 6 h post-SET in CON (P < 0.0001) but was unchanged through 6 h in SCFP horses. All cytokines except G-CSF increased in response to the SET (P < 0.0001) but showed differing response patterns. Concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were lesser (P ≤ 0.05), and concentrations of G-CSF and IL-18 tended to be lesser (P ≤ 0.09) in SCFP compared with CON horses throughout recovery from the SET. In summary, 8 wk of dietary supplementation with 21 g/d of SCFP may mitigate cellular stress following a single, prolonged submaximal exercise bout in young horses.     

Assessment of producer conducted antemortem inspection of market pigs in Australia

OBJECTIVE: A field trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of on-farm antemortem inspection performed by Australian pig producers in terms of proficiency in detecting unhealthy animals (suspects), the impact on food safety and animal welfare outcomes. ANIMALS: A total of 64 trial groups of market pigs (n= 10,703) were dispatched from 20 herds to three abattoirs in three states. PROCEDURE: All producers and abattoir antemortem inspectors were trained in antemortem inspection prior to the trial using a standardised set of antemortem criteria. Study 1 consisted of three comparisons: on-farm versus abattoir antemortem inspections on the same pigs, transport effects in suspect and normal pigs, and meat rejection and carcase disposition in suspect and normal pigs. Study 2 compared Salmonella spp status of suspect and normal pigs. Studies 3 and 4 were conducted to assist the interpretation of the results of on-farm versus abattoir inspection. Antemortem inspection results of three producers and one abattoir antemortem inspector were compared with those of a reference inspector (Gold Standard). RESULTS: Of the pigs examined, 2.12% (95% CI: 1.84%, 2.42%) were classified as suspect at on-farm antemortem inspection compared to only 0.14% at abattoir antemortem inspection. Forty one percent of pigs classified as suspect on-farm had locomotor problems (arthritis, lameness and foot abscess). Compared to normal pigs, suspect pigs had a relative risk of 67.7 (P < 0.0001) of suffering transport injuries. Meat rejection amounted to the equivalent of 9.68% of suspect carcases, compared to the equivalent of 0.35% of normal carcases. The isolation of Salmonella species from caecal content from 20.9% of 67 suspect pigs and 18.8% of 133 control pigs (two matched healthy pigs from the same batch for each suspect pig) were not significantly different. When compared with the reference inspector on-farm, three producers classified abnormalities in 2,495 pigs with high specificity (0.98), acceptable sensitivity (0.82) and kappa (0.57). CONCLUSIONS: With training, producer sensitivity in antemortem inspection may be high and more proficient than abattoir antemortem inspection. Use of producer inspections may have benefits for animal welfare and chain efficiency, but not food safety.     

Effect of sub-anesthetic xylazine and ketamine ('ketamine stun') administered to calves immediately prior to castration

ObjectiveTo describe the pharmacokinetics, cortisol response and behavioral changes associated with administration of sub-anesthetic xylazine and ketamine prior to castration.Study designProspective, randomized experiment.AnimalsTwenty-two male beef calves (260-310 kg).MethodsCalves were randomly assigned to receive the following treatment immediately prior to surgical or simulated castration; 1) uncastrated, placebo-treated control (CONT) (n = 4), 2) Castrated, placebo treated control (CAST) (n = 6), 3) castrated with intravenous xylazine (X) (0.05 mg kg^?1) (n = 6), and 4) castrated with IV xylazine (X) (0.05 mg kg^?1) combined with ketamine (K) (0.1 mg kg^?1) (n = 6). Blood samples collected over 10 hours post-castration were analyzed by LC-MS-MS for drug concentrations and chemiluminescent immunoassay for cortisol determination.ResultsDrug concentrations during the first 60 minutes post-castration fit a one-compartment open model with first-order elimination. The harmonic mean elimination half-lives (± pseudo SD) for X, X with K and K were 12.9 ± 1.2, 11.2 ± 3.1 and 10.6 ± 2.8 minutes, respectively. The proportion of the total area under the effect curve (AUEC) for cortisol during this period was significantly lower in the X group (13 ± 3%; p = 0.006) and the X+K group (14 ± 2%; p = 0.016) compared with the CAST calves (21 ± 2%). However, after 300 minutes the AUEC in the X group was higher than CAST. Significantly more calves demonstrated attitude that was unchanged from pre-manipulation behavior in the CONT (p = 0.021) and X+K treated calves (p = 0.0051) compared with the CAST calves.ConclusionsBehavioral changes and lower serum cortisol concentrations during the first 60 minutes post-castration were associated with quantifiable xylazine and ketamine concentrations.Clinical relevanceLow doses of xylazine and ketamine administered immediately prior to castration may offer a safe, efficacious and cost-effective systemically administered alternative or adjunct to local anesthesia.