A global livestock production and health atlas (GLiPHA) for interactive presentation,integration and analysis of livestock data

An interactive electronic atlas has been developed with the purpose of providing a scaleable overview of spatial and temporal variation in animal production and health-related information for decision and policy makers in national and international institutions. The information contained in the atlas is currently managed and presented using the Key Indicators Mapping System (KIMS), and will also be integrated using the Key Indicators Database System (KIDS). Both systems were developed by the World Agricultural Information Centre of the FAO (FAO-WAICENT), the former as a stand-alone application and the latter for access via the Internet. Components of the atlas include vector maps, livestock disease and production databases, rules for country-level disease risk classification and 'disease cards' containing basic background information on diseases included in the atlas. The disease data is currently based primarily on Office International des Epizooties (OIE) disease reports, and the livestock production data on the FAO-WAICENT database. The atlas is highly interactive and allows visual presentation of information using maps, tables and charts. It also contains links to relevant resource information on the Internet. Diseases covered in the animal health layer include most OIE List A diseases and a subset of OIE List B diseases. Extensive analyses have been conducted to develop a set of qualitative and semi-quantitative criteria that allow improved disease status classifications based on 5-years cumulative OIE disease reports, and official disease control declarations. Classification rules were determined depending on the epidemiological features of each disease and considering spatial heterogeneity of disease presence in local regions.     

Gross and microscopic observations on the lingual structure of the Florida Manatee Trichechus manatus latirostris

The tongue of the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) was studied macroscopically, light and electron microscopically. The tongue was slender, muscular and firmly fixed in the oral cavity; only the cranial tip was free and mobile. Numerous filiform papillae were distributed over the dorsal surface of the rostral tongue. Multiple raised, round fungiform-like papillae were distributed over most of the dorsum. Typical fungiform papillae were restricted to the lateral margins of the tongue. Foliate papillae, presenting as multi-fossulate openings, were noted on the caudolateral margins. Open pits were located on the dorsocaudal surface and lateral walls. Microscopic examination showed that most of the lingual dorsum was covered with a thick stratified squamous epithelium. Open pits led to well-developed mucous salivary glands. Glands within the foliate papillae were mostly mucous, although some seromucous glands were present. Taste buds were restricted to the epithelium of the foliate papillae. Throughout the tongue, striated muscle was abundant below the epithelium. Blood vessels, lymph channels and nerve fibres were freely distributed throughout the intermuscular stroma. Nerve fibres reacted positively with neurone specific enolase (NSE) antibody throughout the tongue, including nerve bundles, glands and taste buds. Clear to translucent vacuoles were found juxtaposed to nuclei in the stratum spinosum in the foliate papillae epithelium.     

Results of the confidential enquiry into perioperative small animal fatalities regarding risk factors for anesthetic-related death in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To identify major risk factors associated with anesthetic-related death in dogs. DESIGN: Case-control study. ANIMALS: 148 dogs that died or were euthanized within 48 hours after undergoing anesthesia or sedation and for which anesthesia could not be reasonably excluded as a contributory factor (cases) and 487 control dogs that did not die within 48 hours after undergoing anesthesia or sedation (controls). PROCEDURES: Details of patient characteristics, preoperative evaluation and preparation, procedure, anesthetic and sedative agents used, monitoring, postoperative management, and personnel involved were recorded. Mixed-effects logistic regression modeling was used to identify factors associated with anesthetic-related death. RESULTS: An increase in physical status grade, urgency of the procedure, age, or intended duration of the procedure; a decrease in body weight; anesthesia for a major versus a minor procedure; and use of injectable agents for anesthetic induction and halothane for maintenance or use of inhalant anesthetics alone (compared with use of injectable agents for induction and isoflurane for maintenance) were associated with increased odds of anesthetic-related death. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results suggested that specific factors could be associated with increased odds of anesthetic-related death in dogs. Knowledge of these factors should aid the preoperative assessment and perioperative management of dogs undergoing anesthesia and sedation.     

Factors effecting reproductive performance in Rwandan cattle

The objective of this study was to assess the reproductive performance of Rwandan cattle and determine the effects of husbandry practices on reproduction. One hundred and fifty Ankole and Crossbreed cattle from 87 farms, were body condition scored (BCS) on a scale of 1(lean) to 5 (fat), and examined rectally for pregnancy and ovary size and structures present. Questionnaires were completed by the farmers to obtain information on husbandry and management practices. The mean age of onset of puberty was 27.7 ± 10.4 months, the interval from parturition to first oestrus was 8.7 ± 7.8 months, calving index was 16.8 ± 5.2 months and 44% (95% CL 0.36-0.52) of cows examined rectally were anoestrus. Crossbred cattle reached puberty younger than Ankole cattle, 23.4 ± 10.4 and 28.4 ± 9.6 months respectively (p < 0.05; t = 1.944; df = 121). Cows in poor BCS (< 2.5) are 1.67 times as likely to be in anoestrus as those with higher BCS (≥ 2.5) (χ² = 9.476; df = 2; p < 0.01). Increased weaning age resulted in increased calving index (p < 0.001; t = −3.60; df = 38). Reproductive performance of Rwandan cattle is poor. Many of the problems can be attributed to husbandry practices and lack of experience and training in raising cattle.     

Effects of skirting on yield, fineness, and value of wool from fine-wool range ewes.

Eighty-one mixed-age (2 to 8 yr old) Rambouillet ewes (58.5 kg, SD 5.9 kg) were randomly assigned to three treatment groups that contained similar numbers to study the effects of wool skirting on clean yield, fiber diameter, and prices received for fine wool. The sheep were managed as a single flock on an experimental ranch close to Barnhart, TX during the 4-yr study. Two fleece-skirting techniques (SK1 and SK2) were compared with a control procedure in which fleeces were not skirted before packaging (original bag, OB method). Skirted wools were higher yielding (P < .05) and contained less vegetable matter (P < .05) than skirts. However, clean yield and vegetable matter content of skirted and OB wools were not different (P > .05). Weight-averaged prices received for grease wool from the SK1, SK2, and OB treatments over the 4-yr period were 4.49, 4.36, and 3.83 $/kg, respectively. Prices received for both types of skirted wool plus skirts were higher (P < .05) than prices received for OB wool.     

Productivity and socio-economic profile of dairy cattle farmers amongst rural smallholder communities in northern Vietnam

The objective of this field questionnaire survey was to describe the productivity and socio-economic profile of dairy cattle farmers in northern Vietnam considering regional differences in rural smallholder farming communities which have been targeted by a governmental dairy development policy. Using two-stage cluster sampling, a total of 99 dairy farming households (11 per commune) were recruited from 9 of 32 communes in Ba Vi District, Ha Tay Province, northern Vietnam. The results from this study indicate that there were regional differences in relation to basic management practices such as effective utilisation of agricultural by-products for feeding and hygiene practices. These can be explained by variation amongst the regions with respect to environmental factors affecting agricultural activities such as constraints on land use and access to water resources. There were also regional differences in the use of governmental support such as agricultural extension services and financial institutions. These can be attributed to proximity of the communities to each of the extension institutions as well as the phased and community-specific approach to the provision of governmental financial support for dairy development.