scholarly journals Development of a Group-Adapted Housing System for Pregnant Sows: A Field Study on Performance and Welfare Aspects

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 28
Author(s):  
Eva Angermann ◽  
Camille M. C. Raoult ◽  
Monika Wensch-Dorendorf ◽  
Stephanie Frenking ◽  
Nicole Kemper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Field Study ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Liquid Feeding ◽  
Behavioral Needs ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Dry Diet ◽  
Functional Areas

A Sow-Welfare-Optimized-Feeding (SWOF) system with group-adapted ad libitum liquid feeding was developed to ensure that both optimal nutritional and behavioral needs are met in group-housed pregnant sows. This system comprises functional areas and allows sows to have either a low- or high-energy diet according to their current weight in relation to their parity. This field study aimed to investigate how this new system influences sows’ body weight, health status (lameness), aggression parameters (integument injuries, vulva injuries, and displacements at the trough), feed intake rhythm, and litter performance. In parallel, these parameters were also recorded in the existing system (group-housed sows restrictively fed a dry diet). In the SWOF system, the probability of displacements at the trough and occurrence of vulva injuries were reduced, whereas sows could follow a natural biphasic feed intake rhythm. Though lameness scores and litter performance were not affected, lower body weights and more integument injuries were, however, observed. Yet, results can only partially be attributed to the feeding system per se due to confounding effects such as management practices and group size differences (larger dynamic group vs. stable group). Hence, the SWOF system seems promising with regard to animal welfare but remains to be further validated.

scholarly journals Group-Adapted ad Libitum Feeding vs. Conventional Restrictive Feeding: Impact on Health, Behavior, and Reproductive Performance of Group-Housed Pregnant Sows

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Angermann ◽  
Monika Wensch-Dorendorf ◽  
Stephanie Frenking ◽  
Nicole Kemper ◽  
Eberhard von Borell
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Feeding System ◽  
Liquid Feeding ◽  
Whole Plant ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Ad Libitum Feeding

Abstract BackgroundCommon feeding systems for pregnant group-housed sows meet the nutritional demand but do not sufficiently consider their natural feeding behavior. A new group-adapted ad libitum feeding system called “SWOF” (Hölscher + Leuschner GmbH & Co. KG®, Emsbüren, Germany) was developed to ensure that both optimal nutritional and behavioral needs are met. This feeding system comprises an activity and lying area and two areas with ad libitum liquid feeding on the basis of whole plant wheat silage. Passing through a sorting gate, sows could be given either a low- or high-energy diet according to their weight and parity. The study’s aim was to investigate the effects of this new system on sows’ body weight, health status (lameness), aggression parameters (integument injuries, vulva injuries, displacements at the trough), feed intake rhythm, and litter performance, and to compare these with restrictively fed group-housed sows, which is the common standard in Germany. ResultsIn the group-adapted ad libitum feeding system, significantly less risk for displacements at the trough and vulva injuries were observed, and sows followed their natural biphasic feed intake rhythm. This system also resulted in lower body weight and more integument injuries than the restrictively fed group-housed sows. However, these might be due to different management practices and group size between the two systems. No influence of the feeding system was observed, neither on lameness nor litter performance. ConclusionThe data reported here show the promising effects of the group-adapted ad libitum “SWOF” feeding system with regard to animal welfare, as sows can freely choose when and how much feed they want to consume without taking the risk of over conditioning. The “SWOF” feeding system remains to be further validated, also considering the group size and management practices.

scholarly journals THE EFFECTS OF RESTRICTED FEEDING AND ENERGY CONTENT OF THE RATION ON THE PERFORMANCE OF BROILER BREEDING CHICKENS

1979 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 539-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. ROBBLEE ◽  
D. R. CLANDININ ◽  
K. DARLINGTON ◽  
G. R. MILNE
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Lower Energy ◽  
Egg Size ◽  
Free Choice ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Feeding Programs ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Dietary Treatments

In two experiments conducted in 1975 and 1976 Hubbard and Shaver stock were reared on a restricted feeding regimen known as the skip-a-day program. The experiment was commenced when the birds were 26 wk of age. The treatments consisted of feeding either a high energy, corn-based ration or a lower energy, wheat-based ration to each strain of pullets on either a free-choice or restricted basis. The experiment was terminated after 36 wk on treatment. The results obtained indicated that restriction of feed intake resulted in decreased mortality as compared to that in the full-fed groups. The general incidence of hemorrhagic liver syndrome was low but was significantly higher in the groups fed free choice as compared to the restricted groups. Production rate, calculated on a hen-day basis, was not affected by level of feeding, energy level of the ration, strain of bird or the year in which the experiment was conducted. Restricted feeding of either the high energy corn ration or the lower energy wheat ration resulted in significantly less feed required to produce a dozen eggs than when the rations were fed ad libitum. Some variability in hatchability of fertile eggs and in egg size between years was noted but the differences did not appear to be related to the dietary treatments. The Hubbard stock produced significantly larger eggs than the Shaver strain on both the restricted and full-feeding programs. In the Hubbard strain, egg size in the restricted groups was significantly lower than in the full-fed groups. Final body weights were higher in the groups fed either the corn- or wheat-based rations on a free-choice basis than in the groups in which feed intake was restricted.

EMPTY BODY WEIGHTS, CARCASS WEIGHTS AND OFFAL PROPORTIONS IN BULLS AND STEERS OF DIFFERENT MATURE SIZE

1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D. M. JONES ◽  
R. E. ROMPALA ◽  
J. W. WILTON ◽  
C. H. WATSON
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Small Animal ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Small Animals ◽  
Beef Steers ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Breed Crosses ◽  
Large Animals ◽  
Animal Size

Empty body weights, carcass weights and offal proportions were compared in 33 young beef bulls and 33 beef steers of different mature body size (35 small or mainly British breed crosses, 31 large or Continental crosses). All cattle were fed a high energy diet based on corn silage and high moisture corn from weaning to slaughter. Slaughter was carried out once 6 mm of fat had been attained at the 11/12th ribs, determined ultrasonically. Feed was removed 24 h and water 16 h prior to slaughter. The offal components were all weighed fresh and the alimentary components emptied of digesta. Bulls weighed 8.0% heavier (P < 0.05) than steers at slaughter, while large animals were 38.7% heavier (P < 0.0001) than small animals. Bulls and large animals had carcasses that dressed out 1.5% heavier than steers and small animals. To eliminate the effect of gutfill, carcass weights and offal components were expressed as a proportion of empty body weight. Bulls had a higher proportion of warm carcass weight and lower proportions of liver, spleen, heart, lungs, rumen, abomasum, large intestine and front feet relative to empty body weight than steers. Large animals had a greater proportion of warm carcass weight and hind feet, and a lower proportion of head, hide, liver, kidneys, omasum and small intestine relative to empty body weight than small animals. All castration by size interactions for liveweight, carcass weight, empty body weight and offal proportions were not significant. Castration and small animal size both increased the proportion of noncarcass parts relative to empty body weight in animals slaughtered at similar finish. Key words: Body, carcass, offal, bull, steer, maturity

scholarly journals Effects of Feeding Prepubertal Heifers a High-Energy Diet for Three, Six, or Twelve Weeks on Feed Intake, Body Growth, and Fat Deposition

2008 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 1913-1925 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.E. Davis Rincker ◽  
M.S. Weber Nielsen ◽  
L.T. Chapin ◽  
J.S. Liesman ◽  
M.J. VandeHaar
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Fat Deposition ◽  
Body Growth

Effects of obesity on insulin sensitivity and responsiveness in sheep

1989 ◽  
Vol 257 (5) ◽  
pp. E772-E781 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. N. Bergman ◽  
S. S. Reulein ◽  
R. E. Corlett
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Sensitivity ◽  
Insulin Receptors ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Response Curves ◽  
Peripheral Tissues ◽  
Glucose Clamp Technique ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Tissue Sensitivity ◽  
Free Body ◽  
The Right

To assess the mechanisms of insulin resistance in the ruminant, severe and adult-onset obesity was produced in Dorset ewes by overfeeding a high-energy ration over a 1- to 2-yr period. Body weights increased to 100 kg compared with 50 kg in lean control sheep; significant hyperinsulinemia (40 +/- 4 vs 10 +/- 1 microU/ml) also developed as did a moderate hyperglycemia (62 +/- 2 vs. 52 +/- 1 mg/100 ml). Tissue sensitivity and responsiveness to insulin were then determined in both obese and lean sheep by the euglycemic glucose-clamp technique. Insulin was infused at eight different rates from 0.2 to 50 mU.kg-1.min-1 and [6-3H]-glucose was infused for measurement of glucose kinetics. The mean dose-response curves for glucose utilization and clearance rates were displaced to the right in obese compared with lean sheep. As a result, the half-maximally effective insulin concentrations usually were elevated two- to fourfold, indicating decreased insulin sensitivity in obese sheep, and this is consistent with decreased insulin receptors in peripheral tissues. On the basis of fat-free body weight, the maximal glucose responses, however, were not significantly different between obese and lean sheep, indicating that postreceptor defects do not exist in muscle tissue. Furthermore, lean ruminants are more resistant to insulin than are humans, but this resistance seems only because of the sheep's decreased responsiveness to insulin and thus only because of postreceptor insulin effects in peripheral tissues.

scholarly journals Low turbidity in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) reduces feeding behaviour and increases stress-related physiological parameters in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) during grow-out

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan S W Ende ◽  
Ekaterina Larceva ◽  
Mirko Bögner ◽  
Vincent Lugert ◽  
Matthew James Slater ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Feeding Time ◽  
Sander Lucioperca ◽  
Recirculating Aquaculture ◽  
Recirculating Aquaculture Systems ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
High Turbidity ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Species Specific

Abstract There is a tendency to farm fish in low turbidity water when production takes place in the land-based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). However, the effect of water turbidity on stress and performance is unknown for many species cultured in RAS. The effect of different turbidity treatments as Formazine Attenuation Units (0 FAU, 15 FAU, and 38 FAU) on feed intake performance (latency, total feeding time, and total feed intake) and physiological blood stress parameters (cortisol, lactate, and glucose) in medium-sized pikeperch ((Sander lucioperca) n = 27, undetermined sex and age) of initial body weights of 508.13g ± 83 g (at FAU 0, 15 and 38, respectively) was investigated. The rearing system consisted of 9 rectangular tanks (200 L per tank). Fish were housed individually (n = 1, per tank, n replicates per treatment = 9). All tanks were connected to a recirculation system equipped with a moving bed biofilter. Feed intake in pikeperch kept at low turbidity (0 FAU) was 25% lower than pikeperch kept at high turbidity (38 FAU) (P&lt;0.01) and also significantly (10.5%) lower compared to feed intake in pikeperch kept at intermediate turbidity (15 FAU) (P&lt;0.01 for 0 FAU vs 15 FAU, feed intake sign. Value as the main effect is P&lt;0.01). Pikeperch kept at low turbidity showed significantly slower feeding response (latency time) towards pellets entering the tank, shorter feeding times (both P&lt; 0.05), and higher glucose blood concentration (73%) in contrast to pikeperch kept at highest turbidity. A reduction of 25% feed intake has obvious economic consequences for any fish farm and present data strongly emphasize the importance of considering the species-specific biology in future RAS farming.

Leveraging City-level Climate Change Law and Policy for the Protection of Children

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 872-896
Author(s):  
Rongedzayi Fambasayi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Energy Usage ◽  
Developmental Needs ◽  
Impact Of Climate Change ◽  
Global Challenge ◽  
Legislative Authority ◽  
Law And Policy ◽  
Functional Areas ◽  
The Impact

Abstract While climate change is a global challenge, its impact is generally felt in local communities, particularly cities. The impact of climate change in urban settings is exacerbated by the built environment, high energy usage, air pollution and urbanisation, among other factors. Due to urbanisation, more children will be born and raised, or migrate to live in cities. Children in cities are vulnerable to the impact of climate change due to their physiology and developmental needs. City authorities are expected to utilise their constitutional and legislative powers in climate governance to protect children from the impact of climate change. The central inquiry of this article is to explore how city-level climate law and policy protects children in the context of climate change. Using Kenya and South Africa, as key examples, it illustrates that cities have constitutional powers and legislative authority to plan, implement and govern in certain climate-related functional areas and that could be leveraged to ensure the protection of children. The discussion of cities, children’s rights and climate change governance has global significance given the trends of urban growth in the present and coming decade.

scholarly journals Drivers and Barriers to Industrial Energy Efficiency in Textile Industries of Bangladesh

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1775 ◽  
Author(s):  
A S M Monjurul Hasan ◽  
Mohammad Rokonuzzaman ◽  
Rashedul Amin Tuhin ◽  
Shah Md. Salimullah ◽  
Mahfuz Ullah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Energy Management ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Capital Expenditure ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Industrial Sector ◽  
Energy Prices ◽  
Energy Service ◽  
Textile Industries

Bangladesh faced a substantial growth in primary energy demand in the last few years. According to several studies, energy generation is not the only means to address energy demand; efficient energy management practices are also very critical. A pertinent contribution in the energy management at the industrial sector ensures the proper utilization of energy. Energy management and its efficiency in the textile industries of Bangladesh are studied in this paper. The outcomes demonstrate several barriers to energy management practices which are inadequate technical cost-effective measures, inadequate capital expenditure, and poor research and development. However, this study also demonstrates that the risk of high energy prices in the future, assistance from energy professionals, and an energy management scheme constitute the important drivers for the implementation of energy efficiency measures in the studied textile mills. The studied textile industries seem unaccustomed to the dedicated energy service company concept, and insufficient information regarding energy service companies (ESCOs) and the shortage of trained professionals in energy management seem to be the reasons behind this. This paper likewise finds that 3–4% energy efficiency improvements can be gained with the help of energy management practices in these industries.

The effects of liquid feed on the small intestine mucosa and performance of finishing pigs at different water to feed ratios

2001 ◽  
Vol 2001 ◽  
pp. 161-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Hurst ◽  
I.J. Lean ◽  
A.D. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Small Intestine ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Finishing Pigs ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Liquid Form ◽  
Physiological Basis ◽  
Liquid Feeding ◽  
Intestine Mucosa ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Dry Diet

Liquid feeding of growing pigs is believed to increase feed intake and growth performance compared to a dry diet. There is little information on the comparative feed conversion efficiency of pigs on the two forms of diet or the underlying physiological basis for the differences and how liquid diets affect the absorptive mucosa of the small intestine. This study was designed to investigate differences in feed utilisation and mucosal structure in modern genotype pigs offered equal amounts of feed in dry and liquid form. Additionally, the effect of reducing the pH of the liquid diet was considered.

Effect of housing management on production performance of crossbred cows during hot-humid season

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ranjana Sinha ◽  
Madan Lal Kamboj ◽  
Surendra Singh Lathwal ◽  
Ashish Ranjan
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
System Analysis ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Crossbred Cows ◽  
Comfort Index ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Daily Milk Yield

Present investigation was carried out to study the effect of modified housing system on production performance of crossbred (Karan-Fries) cows during hot humid seasons. For this study 16 lactating crossbred cows in their early lactation were selected based on parity, milk yield and body weights and randomly divided into two groups (G-I and G-II) with eight animals in each group. G-I group was housed under existing loose housing system and G-II under modified housing system. Analysis revealed that, the maximum temperature and THI were significantly (P less than 0.05) lower in modified shed as compared to existing shed. Percent cow comfort index was significantly (P less than 0.01) higher in G-II (94.25%) group as compared to G-I (72.75%). There was significant (P less than 0.05) differences of dry matter intake and average daily milk yield of cows and higher mean values were recorded in modified shed as compared to existing shed. Highly significant (P less than 0.01) increase in lying time of cows was recorded in modified shed (53.43%) as compared to existing shed (46.51%). It was concluded that the cows housed inside modified shed during hot-humid season were more comfortable and exhibited improved overall production performance as compared to the animals under existing shed.

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