Explanation and Elaboration Document for the STROBE‐Vet Statement: Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology—Veterinary Extension

The STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) statement was first published in 2007 and again in 2014. The purpose of the original STROBE was to provide guidance for authors, reviewers, and editors to improve the comprehensiveness of reporting; however, STROBE has a unique focus on observational studies. Although much of the guidance provided by the original STROBE document is directly applicable, it was deemed useful to map those statements to veterinary concepts, provide veterinary examples, and highlight unique aspects of reporting in veterinary observational studies. Here, we present the examples and explanations for the checklist items included in the STROBE‐Vet statement. Thus, this is a companion document to the STROBE‐Vet statement methods and process document (JVIM_14575 “Methods and Processes of Developing the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology—Veterinary (STROBE‐Vet) Statement” undergoing proofing), which describes the checklist and how it was developed.     

Experimental Infection of Danish Landrace/Yorkshire Crossbred Pigs with Schistosoma japonicum from the People’s Republic of China

This study was undertaken to assess the suitability of Danish Landrace/Yorkshire (L/Y) crossbred pigs as experimental hosts of a Chinese mainland strain of Schistosoma japonicum. Pigs were exposed to 200, 500 or 1000 cercariae and parasite burdens were determined by perfusion after either 8 or 11 weeks. All pigs became infected with onset of faecal egg excretion 6 to 7 weeks following exposure to cercariae. The pattern of faecal egg excretion differed markedly among the individual animals. Gross hepatic pathological lesions of varying degrees were noted in all of the pigs. Schistosome worm recoveries ranged from 1.5–23.4% of the cercarial exposure dose. Most schistosome eggs recovered from the tissues, expressed as eggs/g tissue, were found in the rectum (91%), caecum (3.1%) and liver (5.1%). The results show that Danish L/Y pigs may serve as appropriate experimental final hosts of the Chinese mainland strain of S. japonicum.     

Optimal contribution selection applied to the Norwegian and the North‐Swedish cold‐blooded trotter – a feasibility study

The aim of this study was to examine how to apply optimal contribution selection (OCS) in the Norwegian and the North‐Swedish cold‐blooded trotter and give practical recommendations for the future. OCS was implemented using the software Gencont with overlapping generations and selected a few, but young sires, as these turn over the generations faster and thus is less related to the mare candidates. In addition, a number of Swedish sires were selected as they were less related to the selection candidates. We concluded that implementing OCS is feasible to select sires (there is no selection on mares), and we recommend the number of available sire candidates to be continuously updated because of amongst others deaths and geldings. In addition, only considering sire candidates with phenotype above average within a year class would allow selection candidates from many year classes to be included and circumvent current limitation on number of selection candidates in Gencont (approx. 3000). The results showed that mare candidates can well be those being mated the previous year. OCS will, dynamically, recruit young stallions and manage the culling or renewal of annual breeding permits for stallions that had been previously approved. For the annual mating proportion per sire, a constraint in accordance with the maximum that a sire can mate naturally is recommended.     

Geno‐Diver: A combined coalescence and forward‐in‐time simulator for populations undergoing selection for complex traits

Geno‐Diver is a combined coalescence and forward‐in‐time simulator designed to simulate complex traits with a quantitative and/or fitness component and implement multiple selection and mating strategies utilizing pedigree or genomic information. The simulation is carried out in two steps. The first step generates whole‐genome sequence data for founder individuals. A variety of trait architectures can be generated for quantitative and fitness traits along with their covariance. The second step generates new individuals forward‐in‐time based on a variety of selection and mating scenarios. Genetic values are predicted for individuals utilizing pedigree or genomic information. Relationship matrices and their associated inverses are generated using computationally efficient routines. We benchmarked Geno‐Diver with a previous simulation program and described how to simulate a traditional quantitative trait along with a quantitative and fitness trait. A user manual with examples, source code in C++11 and executable versions of Geno‐Diver for Linux are freely available at https://github.com/jeremyhoward/Geno-Diver .     

本科院校动物生产学实践教学模式的创新研究与阶段性评价 ——以河南农业大学牧医工程学院为例

分析了动物生产学实践教学过程中存在的问题,从教学内容与方法创新、构建“3+1”实践教学模式、“双师”型教师培养和实践教学评价体系等方面进行了实践教学内容改革。结果显示：学生的综合素养明显提升,就业适应期缩短;校企合作更加紧密,促进了科研的选题和成果转化;初步建立了实践教学评价体系和企业用人反馈机制;实习基地软硬件建设得到改善;形成了动物生产学实验、实习、实训、毕业设计一整套完善的实践教学新模式。随着信息化技术的发展,农业科学类院校还需要不断完善实践教学工作,包括更新实验设备、虚拟仿真技术的应用、前沿科学技术引入以及现代化养殖场远程教学等。     

Geographical isolation of native sheep breeds in the UK—Evidence of endemism as a risk factor to genetic resources

This study addresses the potential risk to the genetic resources of UK sheep breeds from endemism. Twelve native breeds are analysed that exist in significant numbers and continue to be commercially farmed livestock. The breeds were selected to represent regions of the British Isles: North of England hill breeds (Herdwick, Rough Fell, Lonk, Dalesbred), South of England breeds (Southdown, Romney, Devon Closewool, Exmoor Horn), Scottish breed (South Country Cheviot) and Welsh/Welsh border breeds (Welsh Hill Speckled Face, South Wales Mountain (Nelson), Clun Forest).For each breed, numerical data were collected in collaboration with breed society members and analysed in terms of population size and structure together with the extent of their geographical range. The number of flocks per breed proved to be highly variable, questioning the assumption that has been made that the number of breeding units can be disregarded in the calculations of endangerment. The data also indicated that an average flock size for a breed cannot be estimated to gain an insight of the population structure, since this parameter was found to vary considerably within and between breeds. The endemism was best illustrated in the breed maps which clearly highlighted the degree to which each breed was associated with a distinct geographical area. From the maps, ten of the twelve breeds analysed were concentrated, but the flocks of two breeds were visually more dispersed. In numerical terms, the ten breeds were found to have up to 95% of their breed numbers concentrated within a radius of 65 km from the mean centre of each breed.The study provides a valuable foundation for future research into genetic diversity within and between the sheep breeds analysed, a baseline of information to enable population trends to be examined and a robust evidence-base for policy decisions on Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FAnGR).     

Happy pigs are dirty! – conflicting perspectives on animal welfare

The study of animal welfare cannot be based entirely on science. For a number of assumptions of an ethical nature will it inevitably enter the study of how good or bad animals fare under different systems of animal production.

In some cases, ethical assumptions may be uncontroversial, but they may also be the cause of disagreement. A case study is presented that seems to indicate that there is systematic disagreement between lay and expert views about what a good animal life is. The study is based on interviews about modern pig production. The title of this paper summarises the reaction of an interviewee when commenting on pictures of what is generally regarded as animal-friendly pig production. In the lay perspective, living a natural life is an important part of animal welfare – a part that supplements, and therefore needs to be combined with, the absence of suffering and frustration that are central components of the expert approach.

The main message of the paper for those who are professionally involved in animal production is that ethical assumptions and potential conflicts of view should be recognised and brought into the discussion of animal welfare.     

Quantitative verification of the correspondence between the Welfare Quality® operational definition of farm animal welfare and the opinion of Flemish farmers,citizens and vegetarians

The Welfare Quality® project has developed an operational definition of farm animal welfare, which consists of 12 criteria grouped into four principles (‘good feeding’, ‘good housing’, ‘good health’ and ‘appropriate behaviour’). As part of a larger survey, 204 farmers, 72 vegetarians, and a representative sample of 459 adult citizens in Flanders (Belgium) scored the importance of each of the 12 criteria on a 1–10 scale, and divided 100 points across the four principles according to the perceived relative weights for farm animal welfare. These data were analysed to verify quantitatively whether (1) the grouping of 12 criteria into the four principles, and (2) the relative weights used by Welfare Quality® for aggregating the 12 criteria into an overall welfare judgement correspond with the perception of these three stakeholder groups from a region and setting not previously covered by Welfare Quality® studies. Moreover, the effects of various socio-demographic variables on the importance allocated to the welfare criteria and principles were investigated. Vegetarians and females gave consistently higher importance scores to all 12 criteria as compared with farmers, citizens and males, respectively, particularly for the (criteria belonging to the) principle ‘appropriate behaviour’. Farmers allocated more weight to ‘good feeding’ than did vegetarians or citizens. These differences confirm that farmers view animal welfare more in terms of biological functioning (instead of affective states or natural living) as compared to other citizens, and vegetarians in particular. As the concept has a different meaning to different people, any operational definition of animal welfare is unlikely to match equally well with the perception of every single stakeholder group or person. The structure of the Welfare Quality® operational definition with the 12 criteria aggregated into four principles, corresponds well with the opinion of the stakeholders as they judged all 12 criteria as rather important to extremely important for farm animal welfare. Factor analysis restricted to contain four factors confirmed the grouping of the criteria into the correct principles. Exploratory factor analysis using Eigenvalues > 1 as extraction criterion indicated, however, that from the citizen perspective two principles (‘good feeding & health’ and ‘appropriate behaviour & housing’) rather than four would suffice. The main discrepancy with the Welfare Quality® approach concerns the aggregation procedure: the stakeholders did not consider all four principles as equally important, and the relative importance allocated to criteria corresponded poorly across principles. Some of these discrepancies were consistent across the three different stakeholder groups.     

We and they: Animal welfare in the era of advanced agricultural biotechnology

The paper discusses central moral issues raised by the applications of advanced biotechnology to animal agriculture and introduces the major ethical concepts and principles of animal bioethics. It is argued that biotechnology enables human beings to transform animals according to human needs, which blurs the boundary between humans and non-human animals in moral and biological sense. The more humans change animals, the more responsible humans are for the welfare of the animals and the greater their moral obligations. The paper introduces the main ethical approaches to animal welfare, traces the philosophical roots of animal ethics in the Judeo-Christian tradition and discusses the views of classical and contemporary ethicists such as Kant, Bentham, Mill, Peter Singer and Tom Regan. The paper explores the concept of animal welfare, suffering and rights, and the values behind Animal Liberation. Special attention is given to the animal welfare issues posed by cloning, genetic engineering and patenting of living organism. For each technology, actual or potential risks to animal welfare are identified and their moral implications are outlined. It is noted that the traditional moral principles of animal welfare, animal interests and animal rights are inadequate as means for evaluating the morality of certain advanced technologies because the technologies can change the animals in profound ways that make animal awareness too limited to give rise to claims about welfare, interests or rights. The principle of animal integrity is endorsed as an alternative better suited for evaluating the morality of advanced biotechnology.     

专题式教学与网络多媒体相结合在《动物生产学》教学中应用探讨

通过对《动物生产学》教学现状及存在问题进行分析,将《动物生产学》的基本理论和生产实践知识相互融合,设计不同教学专题,以设计好的专题为载体,学生为主体,师生互动,并结合多媒体及《动物生产学》教学网站,改革了《动物生产学》的教学方法,目的在于调动学生学习兴趣、培养学生自主学习和解决实际问题的能力,提高教学效果。     

干扰素在兽医临床上的应用

干扰素是细胞分泌的一类具有高度生物学活性的糖蛋白,由于其具有抗病毒、抗肿瘤和免疫调节等多种生物学活性而受到研究者的广泛重视,本文就对其在兽医临床上的应用作一概述。     

畜禽排泄物与环境保护

在畜牧业迅速发展的今天 ,如何控制和消除畜牧业的环境污染已成为环保事业和畜牧业生产面临的重要课题。本文在分析畜禽排泄物对环境影响的基础上 ,对饲料处理及排泄物处理等一系列减少环境污染的措施做了介绍。     

动物育种方法的回顾与展望

以数量遗传学理论为基础的动物育种方法在过去几十年的畜禽育种改良中起到了巨大的作用,也必将在相当长的时期内起主导作用.分子生物学的迅猛发展使人们在分子水平上对动物的遗传物质进行操作正在逐渐成为现实,进而为动物分子育种奠定了基础.与传统的动物选种方法相比,标记辅助选择是直接对基因型进行选择,因而其选种的准确性将大大提高.同时,转基因技术的成功应用还能充分利用所有可能的遗传变异,根据人们的需求创造出～些非常规性的畜牧产品.可以预言,分子育种将成为未来动物育种的重要方法.     

The role of councils on animal ethics in assessing acceptable welfare standards in agriculture

The way production animals are treated is a matter of public concern, and public opinion is often a driving force to introduce new animal welfare legislation. In Norway, a Council on Animal Ethics has been appointed by the authorities since 1993. The composition of the council is broad and it encounters both lay people and experts. The council is independent and advisory, only. It shall be a “guard dog” and follow the developments in animal production and other areas where man makes use of animals, and give advice to the authorities on the need for change in legislation and administrative practices. An important task for the council is also to contribute to and facilitate an informed public debate on animal welfare standards and animal ethics.     

Overall welfare assessment of laying hens: Comparing science‐based,environment‐based and animal‐based assessments

To increase the validity of evaluations and facilitate expansion and maintenance of assessment systems, we constructed a database of studies on the welfare of laying hens around the world. On the basis of this database, we devised a science‐based welfare assessment model. Our model includes measurements, levels and weightings based on the scientific studies in the database, and can clarify the advantages and disadvantages of housing systems for laying hens from the viewpoint of the five freedoms. We also evaluated the usefulness of our model by comparing it with environment‐based Animal Needs Index (ANI), another science‐based model called FOWEL, and animal‐based measurements. Our model showed that freedom from injury, pain and disease, and freedom from discomfort were more secure in the cage system, while non‐cage systems scored better for natural behavior and freedom from fear and distress. A significant strong‐positive correlation was found between the animal‐based assessment and the total scores of ANI (rs = 0.94, P < 0.05), FOWEL (rs = 0.99, P < 0.05) or our model (rs = 0.99, P < 0.05), which indicate that these different approaches to welfare assessment may be used almost interchangeably to ‘measure’ a common property (‘overall laying hen welfare’). However, assessments using our model and FOWEL were more sensitive than ANI and can be applied to cage systems, which suggest that our model and FOWEL may have added value.