Optimizing welfare in transport and slaughter of cattle

Author(s):  
Jan Shearer ◽  

Transport represents one of the most stressful events an animal may experience. Its impact on the welfare of beef and dairy cattle is frequently underestimated, as are the effects of transport on carcass quality issues such as bruises and dark cutting beef. For ease of discussion, the process is broken down into three phases: pre-transport, transport and arrival at slaughter. The pre-transport phase includes selection of animals to be removed from herds and determining their fitness for travel, and making preparations based upon weather conditions, time and distance to the ultimate destination. The behavioral tendency of cattle to stand during transport increases stress, fatigue and the potential for injury as time in transit increases, especially for compromised animals. Upon arrival at slaughter, animals should exit at that their own speed into an alleyway that provides an obvious unrestricted path to follow in route to a holding pen. The holding pen should provide immediate access to water and be large enough to avoid overcrowding of animals. The movement of animals from the pre-slaughter holding pen to the alleyway leading to the stun box should move in an orderly and calm manner with little, or preferably no use of prodding devices. Once the animal enters the restrainer, stunning should proceed without delay.

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
А.В. Семенютина ◽  
С.Е. Лазарев ◽  
К.А. Мельник

Представители родовых комплексов Robinia (Робиния), Gleditsia (Гледичия) относятся к экономически важным и перспективным, для деградированных ландшафтов засушливого региона, видам растений. Несмотря на это до последнего времени отсутствуют сведения по многим видам этих родовых комплексов, связанные с вопросами экологических основ семеноведения и их репродуктивной способности в условиях светлокаштановых почв Волгоградской области. Все это направлено на выявление и расширение перспективных ареалов культивирования для лесомелиорации и озеленения населенных пунктов. Цель исследований изучение репродуктивной способности представителей родовых комплексов Robinia (Робиния), Gleditsia (Гледичия) в коллекциях ФНЦ агроэкологии РАН и выявление особенностей их селекционного семеноведения для лесомелиорации и озеленения населенных пунктов в сухостепных условиях. Объектами исследований являлись виды и формы рода Robinia: R. viscosa Vent. R. neomexicana Gray. R. pseudoacacia L. R. neomexicana х pseudoacacia, и Gleditsia (G. triacanthos L., G. triacanthos L. f. inermis, G. caspica Desf, G. texana Sarg., G. aquatica, G. japonica, G. caspica, G. sinensis), произрастающие в кластерных участках коллекций ФНЦ агроэкологии РАН, кадастр 34:34:000000:122, 34:34:060061:10. Разработка основ селекционного семеноведения базируется на изучении репродуктивных особенностей выделенных для целевого использования собственных биоресурсов с учетом возможностей всестороннего изучения генеративных качеств и оценки биологического потенциала. Выявлено, что стабильность плодоношения фиксируется через несколько лет после вступления в генеративную фазу: у Robinia и Gleditsia 67 лет. Первое цветение у Gleditsia triacanthos и G. texana, G. aquatica наблюдалось в возрасте 5 лет, G. japonica 6, G. caspica и G. sinensis 8 лет. Завязываемость плодов зависит не только от возраста растения, но и от погодных условий во время цветения. На семенную продуктивность влияет количество выпавших осадков и сумма активных температур в период созревания плодов. Формирование более крупных плодов и семян наблюдается в возрасте до 15 лет. В результате исследований (20172019 гг.) выявлено влияние лимитирующих факторов на биологический потенциал цветения, плодоношения и семенную продуктивность для определения ареалов их культивирования. Representatives of generic systems Robinia, Gleditsia are economically important and promising for degraded arid landscapes of the region, types of plants. Despite this, until recently, there is no information on many types of these generic complexes related to the environmental foundations of seed and their reproductive capacity in light chestnut soils of the Volgograd region. All this is aimed at identifying and expanding promising areas of cultivation for forest reclamation and greening of settlements. The aim of the research is to study the reproductive capacity of representatives of ancestral complexes Robinia, Gleditsia in the collections of the Federal scientific center for Agroecology Russian Academy of Sciences and the identifying features of their selection of seed for forest reclamation and landscaping of settlements in the dry steppe conditions. The objects of research were species and forms of the genus Robinia: R. viscosa Vent. R. neomexicana Gray. R. pseudoacacia L. R. neomexicana x pseudoacacia and Gleditsia (G. triacanthos L., G. triacanthos L. f. inermis, G. caspica Desf, G. texana Sarg., G. aquatica, G. japonica, G. caspica, G. sinensis), growing in the cluster areas of collections of FSC Agroecology RAS, cadastre 34:34:000000:122, 34:34:060061:10. The development of the principles of seed breeding is based on the study of reproductive characteristics of the allocated for the targeted use of their own bioresources, taking into account the possibilities of a comprehensive study of generative qualities and assessment of biological potential. It was found that the stability of fruiting is fixed a few years after entering the generative phase: Robinia and Gleditsia 67 years. The first flowering in Gleditsia triacanthos and G. texana, G. aquatica was observed at the age of 5 years, G. japonica 6, G. caspica and G. sinensis 8 years. Fruit setability depends not only on the age of the plant, but also on weather conditions during flowering. Seed productivity is affected by the amount of precipitation and the amount of active temperatures during the ripening period. The formation of larger fruits and seeds is observed in the age of 15 years. As a result of studies (20172019), the influence of limiting factors on the biological potential of flowering, fruiting and seed production to determine the areas of their cultivation was revealed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 6-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. V. Gladiy ◽  
G. S. Kovalenko ◽  
S. V. Priyma ◽  
G. A. Holyosa ◽  
A. V. Tuchyk ◽  
...  

The main goal of dairy breeds selection should be improving breeding and productive qualities of animals under modern conditions. The majority of farms, using native breeds to produce milk, has created optimal conditions for keeping and feeding, selection and matching, growing of replacements etc. Further improvement of created native dairy breeds for economically useful traits occurs at total use of purebred Holstein bulls (semen) of foreign selection. In order to realistically assess milk productivity (milk yield, fat content in milk and fat yield) of Ukrainian Black-and-White and Red-and-White Dairy cows should be conducted a comparative analysis of Holstein cows under the same conditions of feeding and keeping. It was established that Ukrainian Red-and-White Dairy cows were characterized by the highest milk yields for 305 days of all lactations, taken into account, the among three investigated breeds. Their milk yield during the first lactation was 5933 kg of milk, during the second – 6393 kg, the third – 6391 kg and during higher lactation – 6650 kg. Ukrainian Black-and-White Dairy cows were second by milk yield (except for the second lactation), during the first lactation – 5932 kg of milk, the third – 6462 kg and higher – 6541 kg, and Holstein cows were third, during the first lactation – 5794 kg of milk, the second – 6381 kg, the third – 6335 kg and higher – 6469 kg. The fat content was almost the same and varied within 3.49-3.58% in milk of Ukrainian Red-and-White Dairy cattle, 3.50-3.60% in milk of Ukrainian Black-and-White Dairy cattle and 3.50-3.56% in Holsteins’ milk. The difference between the breeds was within 0.01-0.04%. All the investigated breeds had predominance in fat yield for three lactations over standards of these breeds: Ukrainian Red-and-White Dairy cows from 75.1 to 93.4 kg, Ukrainian Black-and-White Dairy cows – 75.1-89.0 kg respectively and Holstein cows – 41.9-60.2 kg. It was found different level of positive correlation between milk yield and fat yield in all the cases and high correlation (r = 0.604-0.921, P < 0.001) in five cases (41.7%) Negative correlation coefficients indicate that selection of animals to higher milk yield in the herd will decrease the second trait – fat content in milk. Positive and highly significant correlation between milk yield and fat yield indicates that selection of cows in the herd to higher milk yields will increase fat yield. It was revealed that bulls were among the factors impacted the milk productivity (milk yield, fat content, fat yield) of three investigated breeds. So, the force (η²x) of father’s impact on milk yield was15.4-47.9%, fat content – 22.0-43.4% and fat yield – 14.9-47.7% taking into account a lactation and a breed. The force of lines impact (η²x) was second; it was on milk yield 6.1-24.5%, fat content – 4.1-17.1 and fat yield – 5.8-23.5%. The force of breeds impact (η²x) was last; it was on milk yield 0.3-2.9%, fat content – 0.2-0.3% and fat yield – 0.6-2.7%. So, the comparative studies of milk productivity of Ukrainian Red-and-White and Black-and-White Dairy cattle with Holsteins indicate that under similar conditions of feeding and keeping, these native breeds can compete with Holstein cattle. The milk yield for 305 days of higher lactation was 6650 kg of milk in Ukrainian Red-and-White Dairy cows, 6541 kg in Ukrainian Black-and-White Dairy cows and 6469 kg in Holsteins. It was found the inverse correlation r = -0.025-0.316 between milk yield and fat content in milk in most cases. Selection and matching of animals in the herd should be carried out simultaneously on these traits. It was found positive repeatability of milk yields between the first and second, the third and higher lactations (rs = 0.036-0.741), indicating the reliability of forecasting increase in milk productivity during the next lactations in all herd. Bulls have the greatest impact (η²x) on milk productivity among the factors taken into account: milk yield – 15.4-47.9%, fat content in milk – 22.0-43.4% and fat yield – 14.9-47.7%.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 599
Author(s):  
Miguel A. Gutierrez-Reinoso ◽  
Pedro M. Aponte ◽  
Manuel Garcia-Herreros

Genomics comprises a set of current and valuable technologies implemented as selection tools in dairy cattle commercial breeding programs. The intensive progeny testing for production and reproductive traits based on genomic breeding values (GEBVs) has been crucial to increasing dairy cattle productivity. The knowledge of key genes and haplotypes, including their regulation mechanisms, as markers for productivity traits, may improve the strategies on the present and future for dairy cattle selection. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) such as quantitative trait loci (QTL), single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), or single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (ssGBLUP) methods have already been included in global dairy programs for the estimation of marker-assisted selection-derived effects. The increase in genetic progress based on genomic predicting accuracy has also contributed to the understanding of genetic effects in dairy cattle offspring. However, the crossing within inbred-lines critically increased homozygosis with accumulated negative effects of inbreeding like a decline in reproductive performance. Thus, inaccurate-biased estimations based on empirical-conventional models of dairy production systems face an increased risk of providing suboptimal results derived from errors in the selection of candidates of high genetic merit-based just on low-heritability phenotypic traits. This extends the generation intervals and increases costs due to the significant reduction of genetic gains. The remarkable progress of genomic prediction increases the accurate selection of superior candidates. The scope of the present review is to summarize and discuss the advances and challenges of genomic tools for dairy cattle selection for optimizing breeding programs and controlling negative inbreeding depression effects on productivity and consequently, achieving economic-effective advances in food production efficiency. Particular attention is given to the potential genomic selection-derived results to facilitate precision management on modern dairy farms, including an overview of novel genome editing methodologies as perspectives toward the future.


1961 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Charette

The effects of sex and age of castration of males on growth rate, feed efficiency and carcass characteristics in bacon type swine were measured using 16 pigs each as gilts, entire boars, and boars castrated at birth, 6, 12, 16, and 20 weeks of age. Castration at 20 weeks was too late since some pigs reached 200 pounds live weight before that age. Boars consumed less feed daily than barrows and gilts, were thinner in loin fat, and yielded a higher percentage of shoulder than gilts. The carcasses of boars and gilts were longer, had less fat covering over the shoulder and back, a larger area of loin, and a higher iodine number than those castrated late. Acceptability tests showed that sex or age of castration did not affect the flavour, odour, or tenderness of the meat.Purebred breeders can delay castration for better selection of boars without any serious effect on growth, physical carcass characteristics, and feed requirements. Although the market discriminates against boars, it appears questionable whether castration is necessary when boars are slaughtered at 200 pounds before they reach the age of 150 days.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 1382-1391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sucharitha P ◽  
Satyanarayana SV ◽  
Bhaskar Reddy K

The current study aims to explore and identify the screening of formulation components and evaluates the quality issues of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) for the phenolic secoirodoid Oleuropein. The stepwise screening of the components for preparation of NLCs includes the selection of solid lipid, liquid lipid based on the relative solubility of Oleuropein in different lipids. Polaxomer 188 was selected as the main surfactant for the preparation of NLCs because of its good emulsification efficacy for the solid lipid liquid mix. Lecithin was used to enhance the stability of NLC. The optimized formulation was also evaluated for different quality issues. Thermal analysis by DSC revealed that the lipid particles maintained sufficiently good melting point even after nanonization. Absence of gelation and resilience for the stress provided by autoclaving further established the quality of the developed NLCs. In a nutshell, a systematic protocol was developed for designing of Oleuropein NLC with good particulate parameters of minimum particle size and maximum zeta potential with narrow polydispersity index.


Agromet ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-61
Author(s):  
Nofi Yendri Sudiar

This research reveals visitors perceptions of climate comfort in nature-based tourism areas in Ecopark Ancol, Bogor Botanical Gardens (KRB) and Cibodas Botanical Gardens (KRC). In addition to calculating the comfort score using the TCI and HCI methods and modifying their thermal aspects, a survey was also carried out in all three tourism areas simultaneously. The survey was conducted to collect data on climate comfort perceptions and the role of the weather on these comfort. A total of 793 respondents participated in this study. The majority of visitors stated that the weather affected the comfort of the climate during the tour. But weather conditions do not fully influence decisions in the selection of tourist visits. The level of perceived climate comfort for the three tourism sites namely Ecopark was perceived as neutral (57.3%), KRB was perceived as comfortable (60%) and KRC was perceived as comfortable (78.4%). While based on the score calculation approaching the survey results in Ecopark is TCI index modified in its thermal aspect with PET Tianjin (57.2). KRB is HCI without modification (59) and KRC is HCI modified by its thermal aspect with PET Tianjin (77.6). Statistically there are significant differences between sex, age, education level and topography. By understanding visitor perceptions, strategies and appropriate actions can be developed to increase comfort in the nature-based tourism industry.


Author(s):  
O. V. Gorelik ◽  
N. A. Fedoseeva ◽  
A. S. Gorelik ◽  
E. V. Koksharov

In the last few decades the improvement of domestic dairy cattle was due to the widespread use of the gene pool of the best world breed such as Holstein. As a result of crossbreeding the breeding stock of the domestic Black-and-White breed with the sires of Holstein breed in different regions of the country a population of crossbreds has been created. The purpose of the work was to study the age dynamics of the live weight of replacement heifers depending on the paternal origin and the correlation between the indicators for the growth periods. The daughters of different sires have a difference in their live weight at the first insemination. The live weight of more than 400 kg was obtained from replacement heifers obtained from the sires Saber, Decaro and Baquero. The daughters of the sires Gatedenser, Bentley and Alta Ciara in live weight were inferior to their herdmates by 2,7–9,3 kg or by 0,7–2,8 % (P ≥ 0,05). The bulk of the replacement heifers are inseminated at the age of 13 months and only the daughters of the sire Alta Ciara are inseminated at the age of 14,1 months with a live weight of 396,7 kg. Despite the almost identical live weight of heifers at birth they differed from each other in the process of rearing. It has been established that the live weight at birth is not an indicator for assessing the further growth of replacement young animals. At 6 months of age the correlation of live weight at the age of 6 months and at the first insemination was positive and ranges from 0,01 (daughters of the sire Baquero) to 0,55 (daughters of the sire Decaro). Selection of heifers at the age of 6 months by their live weight allows us to choose the best and provide the opportunity to inseminate them at the age of 12–13 months with the organization of intensive rearing.


2002 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. B. PINTO ◽  
V. THOMAZ-SOCCOL ◽  
R. ROCHADELLI ◽  
R. R. ANDRADE ◽  
C. R. MONTANUCCI

O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido na UFPR - Campus Palotina e em três propriedades rurais do município de Palotina, Paraná, durante o período de setembro de 1997 a agosto de 1999. O experimento foi delineado com o objetivo de estudar possíveis marcadores (parasitológicos e hematológicos) que refletem a habilidade do gado de leite (raça Holandesa Preto e Branco) em resistir à parasitose por larvas de Dermatobia hominis (Linnaeus Jr., 1781). Um total de 1050 larvas de D. hominis foram expulsas por meio de compressão digital. Os maiores valores de contagem total de leucócitos foram observados nos animais que apresentaram o menor número de nódulos de larvas de D. hominis. Study of parasitological and hematological markers for the selection of dermatobiose resistant bovines Abstract The present research work has been carried out from September 1997 through August 1999 at Federal University of Paraná Palotina Campus and in three farms from the same County. The main aim of this study was to analyze the possible parasitological and hematological markers that reflect Black and White Holstein dairy cattle resistance towards parasitism by Dermatobia hominis (Linnaeus Jr, 1781) larvae. From the group of 14 experimental animals a total of 1050 D. hominis were collected by manual compression during the period of time of the experiment. From the hematological data it was possible to conclude that there was an inverse relationship between the total leucocytes counting values and the number of larvae nodules, so that the highest the number of leucocytes per l of blood, the lowest the number of larvae nodules.


1990 ◽  
Vol 112 (4) ◽  
pp. 257-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Huang ◽  
S. W. Hsieh

The steady-state performance test of solar collectors using ANSI/ASHRAE 93-1986 Standard was revised and an automation for the testing was carried out in the present study in order that the test can be easily performed outdoors in areas with variable weather conditions. It was shown that the 95 percent settling time of the collector τ95 can be adopted as the time basis in the selection of steady-state period for the test. To make the best use of the time available for the testing, the steady-state period defined by ANSI/ASHRAE 93-1986 Standard was changed to the τ95 plus five minutes, or ten minutes, whichever is larger. To reduce scatter uncertainty in the test results, the test period for the efficiency calculation was chosen as the segment of the last five minutes in the steady-state period and a steadiness condition defined statistically was adopted. To shorten the time for each test run a PC-based expert testing system, which is completely automatic and requires no operator, was developed in the present study. Using this expert system associated with the modified ANSI/ASHRAE 93-1986 Standard, we can effectively carry out the collector test at variable weather conditions with small scatter uncertainty and can substantially shorten the duration of a test.


1987 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. Goddard

ABSTRACTIn the breeding of dairy cattle the selection of bulls to breed young bulls for progeny testing is a crucial process. This paper compares several policies for making this selection based on the criteria-selection response, inbreeding depression, loss of genetic variance and variability of response. A number called the ‘effective number of new bulls to breed bulls selected each year’ (NBBe) is defined which is closely related to the last three of these criteria. Past studies of the design of dairy cattle breeding programmes have assumed that selection is within a group of bulls progeny tested in the same year (policy I). However, modern sire evaluation methods allow comparison of sires tested in different years. To evaluate the effect of selecting bulls to breed bulls from all available bulls (policy II) a computer simulation program was used. Policy II results in an increase in the response to selection but a substantial decrease in NBBe. When compared at the same NBBe, policy II results in a smaller selection response than policy I. A policy which allows the best bulls to be used for more than 1 year but which limits the maximum number of years for which they can be used, results in the best compromise. If bulls are to be used for several years there is little advantage to be gained from making more matings within each year to more high-rated bulls or to older, more reliably evaluated bulls.


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