Determination of range enrichment for improved hen welfare on commercial fixed-range free-range layer farms

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (7) ◽  
pp. 1336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn de Koning ◽  
Soressa M. Kitessa ◽  
Reza Barekatain ◽  
Kelly Drake

An observational study on range enrichment was conducted on three commercial fixed-range, free-range layer farms comprising four flocks in South Australia (flock sizes ranged from 3000 to 11700 hens). Two strategies were compared; a ‘standard’ Control treatment, typical of the type of range used in the commercial industry and a highly ‘enriched’ treatment. Both treatments were implemented on the same range with no subdivisional fences. The highly enriched side of the range incorporated shade shelters, alongside a continuum of additional enrichment structures (e.g. dust baths, peck objects and hay bales). Range treatments were investigated to determine the effects on motivating hens to use the range more effectively, and their potential to lead to a decrease in abnormal behaviours, such as injurious feather pecking and cannibalism. Additionally, two farms with high levels of tree coverage were also observed. Farms were visited monthly for 6 months. At each visit several measures were recorded live: the numbers of hens out on the range, location of hens on the range and plumage score of birds outdoors and indoors. Enrichment structure utilisation on the range was measured via video recordings and continuous counts of the number of hen visits to enrichment structures within 1 h. It was found that more hens used the ‘enriched’ side of the range, in comparison with the ‘standard’ Control range treatment (P ≤ 0.01). Overhead cover provided by constructed shelters and dust bathing pits were instrumental in enticing birds out onto the range (306 ± 27 s.e.m. and 366 ± 24 s.e.m., average number hen visits). Hay bales were also highly utilised (116 ± 14 s.e.m., average number hen visits), even though the hen numbers attracted to the hay bales were not as high as shelters and dust baths. It was also observed on one property that natural cover provided by trees attracted the greatest number of hens (1652 ± 358 s.e.m., average number of hen visits). Prevailing weather conditions and the age of the flock strongly influenced the number of hens utilising the range outdoors. Furthermore, hens outside on the range had better plumage scores with lower feather loss and decreased areas of bare skin compared with birds scored in the shed.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 08-15
Author(s):  
Rahma Triyana ◽  
Salmi Salmi

Malaria is one of the health problems in Indonesia, especially West Sumatra. Determination of the description of Malaria disease in an area is needed to determine the spread and severity of the disease. This study aims to determine the frequency distribution according to age, sex and place of residence, description of the types of Plasmodium causes of Malaria and hematological features in Malaria patients at Siti Rahmah Padang Hospital in 2018. This type of research is a descriptive observational study with an approach or design cross section (cross sectional). The frequency distribution of Malaria sufferers in Siti Rahmah Padang Hospital in 2018 according to the highest age was in the age group 21-30 years as many as 28 cases (36.8%), the highest sex among men was 46 (60.5%) and the highest number of residences was found in Koto Tangah sub-district there were 31 cases (40.8%). The type of Plasmodium found in Malaria cases in Siti Rahmah Padang Hospital in 2018 was P. vivax (73 cases (96.05%)) and P. falciparum (3 cases (3.95%)). The results of laboratory tests on Hb, hematocrit, platelet and leukocyte levels in Malaria positive patients in Siti Rahmah Padang Hospital in 2018 were in the normal range.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 08-15
Author(s):  
Rahma Triyana Y ◽  
Salmi Salmi

Malaria is one of the health problems in Indonesia, especially West Sumatra. Determination of the description of Malaria disease in an area is needed to determine the spread and severity of the disease. This study aims to determine the frequency distribution according to age, sex and place of residence, description of the types of Plasmodium causes of Malaria and hematological features in Malaria patients at Siti Rahmah Padang Hospital in 2018. This type of research is a descriptive observational study with an approach or design cross section (cross sectional). The frequency distribution of Malaria sufferers in Siti Rahmah Padang Hospital in 2018 according to the highest age was in the age group 21-30 years as many as 28 cases (36.8%), the highest sex among men was 46 (60.5%) and the highest number of residences was found in Koto Tangah sub-district there were 31 cases (40.8%). The type of Plasmodium found in Malaria cases in Siti Rahmah Padang Hospital in 2018 was P. vivax (73 cases (96.05%)) and P. falciparum (3 cases (3.95%)). The results of laboratory tests on Hb, hematocrit, platelet and leukocyte levels in Malaria positive patients in Siti Rahmah Padang Hospital in 2018 were in the normal range.


Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 961
Author(s):  
J. Antonio Cortiñas Rodríguez ◽  
María Fernández-González ◽  
Estefanía González-Fernández ◽  
Rosa A. Vázquez-Ruiz ◽  
F. Javier Rodríguez-Rajo ◽  
...  

In the present study, we analyzed the main parameters related with the potential fertilization ability of two grapevine varieties, Godello and Mencía, during the years 2017 and 2018. The research was carried out in two vineyards of the Galician winegrowing Designation of Origin areas of Ribeiro and Ribeira Sacra. Ten vines of each variety were selected for bunch and flower counting, pollen calculations, pollen viability studies by means of aceto-carmine (AC) stain and 2, 3, 5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) methods, and the determination of their germination rate. In all vineyards the 50% fruitset was reached, except for Godello in Cenlle during 2017. The mean coulure value was higher for Godello (40.5%) than for Mencía (31%). Analyzing the pollen production per plant and airborne pollen levels, we observed important discordances between them, which can be due to the influence of weather conditions and be related with self-pollination processes. We found important differences on pollen viability depending on the applied method and variety, with higher values for the AC method than the TTC for both varieties in all study plots, and higher values for Mencía variety than Godello. Regarding germination rates, we observed a marked reduction in 2017 with respect to 2018, in all study sites and for both varieties. The analyzed parameters were useful to explain the different productive abilities of Godello and Mencía varieties in the two studied bioclimatic regions of Ribeiro and Ribeira Sacra.


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 936
Author(s):  
Milan Kojić ◽  
Branka Protić Gava ◽  
Milan Bajin ◽  
Marko Vasiljević ◽  
Jasmina Bašić ◽  
...  

Background: The research objective of the study is to determine the differences in the manifestation of the motor status of normally fed preschool test subjects, classified into groups according to foot status. Methods: This is a simple, comparative observational study. Preschool children included in this study have been subjected to anthropometric measurements in order to determine BMI, tests for motor skills assessment (running at 20 m from a high start, standing broad jump, backwards polygon, rectangular seated forward bend, plate tapping, sit-ups for 60 s, and bent arm hang), and a determination of foot status. The total sample was comprised of 202 test subjects who attended a regular sports program, aged 3.9 to 6.5 years of decimal age (M = 141; Age = 5.3 ± 0.74; Height = 117.3 ± 7.1; Weight = 22 ± 3.7; F = 61; Age = 5.1 ± 0.73; Height = 114.9 ± 7.4; Weight = 21.2 ± 3.8), of which 153 (75.7%) were normally fed, 6 (3%) were undernourished, 30 were overweight (14.9%), and 13 were obese (6.4%). Results: In the total sample, 30 (14.9%) subjects had normal arch feet, 90 (44.6%) high arched feet, and 41 (20.3%) flat feet. We found 41 (20.3%) subjects who had different left and right foot statuses within this sample. The data were processed by means of nonparametric tests (the Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests) at a significance level p ≤ 0.05. Conclusion: The results show that there is a statistically significant difference between groups of subjects with different foot statuses in the manifestation of motor status in most tests, with a significance level of p ≤ 0.01, and in tests of sit-ups for 60 s and the bent arm hang, there is a statistically significant difference, the level of which is p ≤ 0.05. It is only in the inclination test of rectangular seated forward bend that no statistically significant difference was displayed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dipriya R. Lyngkhoi

The present study was undertaken to estimate the costs and returns structure of maize cultivation and identifying the prominent production constraints in West Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. A sample of 60 farmers was randomly drawn from six villages of Mawthadraishan and Nongstoin block of the selected district. The costs and returns per hectare were calculated on the basis of cost concepts and Garett ranking method was used for employed for determination of constraints in maize production. The overall cost of cultivation was found to be ` 37185.22 per ha and the major cost components were manures (48.25%) and human labour (34.73%). The overall net return was evaluated at ` 19038.20 with small, medium and large farmers having similar returns with the exception of marginal farmers gaining a net return of only ` 13889.83 which was 27.04 per cent lower than the average return among the sample farmers. It may be attributed to their heavy dependence on labour and lack of investment on irrigation, plant protection and better-quality seeds. The realised average yield was found to be 23.65 q/ha which was abysmally low compared to other maize producing states of India. A positive trend between the return over cost ratio and the operational holding was observed with an average of 1.51. The prominent constraints as perceived by the farmers were unfavorable weather conditions, the incidence of pests and diseases and costly fertilizers and manures with the Garrett’s score of 64.70, 62.75 and 54.40 respectively


2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Minov ◽  
J Karadzinska-Bislimovska ◽  
K Vasilevska ◽  
S Stoleski ◽  
D Mijakoski

Introduction : Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) is a multidimensional disease, and no single isolated parameter is proved to have sufficient power for any overall determination of its severity and prognosis. Objective : To compare the results of the assessment of the NCFB severity with respect to its prognosis in the same patients by two different validated scores, i.e. the FACED score and the Bronchiectasis Severity Index (BSI). Methods : An observational study including 37 patients with NCFB (16 males and 21 female aged 46 to 76 years) was performed. All patients underwent evaluation of the variables incorporated in the FACED score (FEV1 % predicted, age, chronic colonization by Pseudomaonas aeruginosa, radiological extent of the disease, and dyspnea) and in the BSI (age, body mass index, FEV1 % predicted, hospitalization and exacerbations in previous year, dyspnea, chronic colonization by Pseudomaonas aeruginosa and other microrganisms, and radiological extent of the disease). Results : According to the value of the derived overall FACED score we found 17 patients (45.9%) with mild bronchiectasis, 14 patients (37.8%) with moderate bronchiectasis and 6 patients (16.2%) with severe bronchiectasis. The mean derived FACED score was 3.4 ± 1.3. In addition, according to the value of the derived overall BSI score, the frequency of patients with low, intermediate and high BSI score was 16 patients (43,2%), 14 patients (37.8%) and 7 patients (18.9%), respectively. The mean derived BSI score was 6.4 ± 2.5. Conclusion : We found similar results by the assessment of the NCFB severity in regard to its prognosis by both the FACED score and the BSI. Further studies determining how these scores may impact clinical practice are needed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (13) ◽  
pp. 157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Jiménez Pérez ◽  
José Israel Israel Yerena Yamallel ◽  
Eduardo Alanís Rodríguez ◽  
Oscar Alberto Aguirre Calderón ◽  
René Alejandro Martínez Barrón

In 1997, a restoration of Pinus culminicola was established under three exclusion areas: E1 = cattle plus small mammal exclusion, E2 = cattle exclusion and E3 = no exclusion (free range), in the Cerro El Potosi Protected Natural Area, located in Nuevo León, Mexico. The objective of this study was to determine the survival rate and the increase in diameter and height of Pinus culminicola individuals at three and 17 years after planting. The results show differences between 2000 and 2014 in survival rate and diameter and height growth in the three exclusion areas; E1 and E2 recorded higher averages. The main causes of mortality in this species are attributed to extreme weather conditions and the damage caused by cattle and small mammals.


2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz Zubala ◽  
Magdalena Patro

Abstract The growing water deficit and the increased demand for water, as well as economic problems and inadequate spatial planning in many regions indicate a necessity of developing more effective rules of programming and realisation of works concerning the water management in small catchments. The paper presents a sample analysis of the possibilities of increasing water retention in the agricultural loess catchments with periodic streams. The scope of the study included the determination of physical parameters of selected sub-catchments (geometry, soil cover, land use, etc.) and of the sources of threat to water resources, resulting from construction and geomorphological conditions. Pre-design assumptions of dammings were developed, taking into account anti-erosion protective measures, and treatments increasing the landscape retention of water were proposed. Creating surface retention objects should be an important source of water in simplified agroecosystems, especially in regions, where productivity to a great extent depends on natural weather conditions. Proper management of the fourth-order loess basin of the Ciemięga River (area of about 150 km2, the presence of 50 lateral valleys) could give a temporary reservoir retention reaching 500 thousand m3. Farmers should be encouraged to seek “own water sources” (including the accumulation of water within wasteland), using appropriate economic instruments (tax reliefs for the documented volume of retained water, e.g. in small retention reservoirs).


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