Enterocytozoon bieneusi Genotypes and Infections in the Horses in Korea

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a microsporidian pathogen. Recently, the equestrian population is increasing in Korea. The horse-related zoonotic pathogens, including E. bieneusi, are concerns of public health. A total of 1,200 horse fecal samples were collected from riding centers and breeding farms in Jeju Island and inland areas. Of the fecal samples 15 (1.3%) were PCR positive for E. bieneusi. Interestingly, all positive samples came from Jeju Island. Diarrhea and infection in foals were related. Two genotypes (horse1, horse2) were identified as possible zoonotic groups requiring continuous monitoring.

Assessment of the Effectiveness of a Portable NIRS Instrument in Controlling the Mixer Wagon Tuning and Ration Management

The adoption of the mixer wagon and total mixed ration aimed to decrease dysmetabolic diseases and improve feed efficiency in dairy cows. Differences between theoretical and eaten diets are imputable to errors in diet preparation or cow feed sorting. We proposed a method to measure the chemical composition and particle size distribution of the ration and determined its peNDF content through a portable Near Infra-Red spectrophotometer that allowed the calculation of two indexes: the homogeneity and the sorting indexes. In a cohort of 19 Italian Holstein breeding farms, we studied the correlation of these indexes with the mixer wagon settings. Determination coefficients in the validation (Rv2) for dry matter, crude protein, aNDF, and starch were 0.91, 0.54, 0.86, and 0.67, respectively. The ration fractions (%, w/w of wet weight) retained by the 3.8 and 1.8 mm sieves, and the bottom showed Rv2 of 0.46, 0.49, and 0.53, respectively. The homogeneity index regressed negatively with the mixer wagon load fullness (R2 = 0.374). The homogeneity-binary classification showed an odds ratio of 1.72 for dry matter and 0.39 for aNDF (p < 0.05). The sorting-binary classification showed an odds ratio of 2.54 for aNDF (p < 0.05). The studied farms showed low peNDF values (median = 17.9%).

Effects of Direct Additive and Direct Dominance on Litter Traits in Crossbred Sows between Danish Yorkshire and Danish Landrace Pigs in Vietnam

Background: The objectives of this study were to estimate the effects of direct additive and dominance on litter traits and to predict the reproduction of un-tested crossbred sows between Danish Yorkshire (Y) and Danish Landrace (L) pigs in Vietnam. Methods: Litter traits data were obtained between 2014 and 2017 in Binh Thang and Khang Minh An breeding farms, with 671 litters of crossbred sows crossed from 1,308 litters of purebred Yorkshire and Landrace sows. Result: In F1 sows, heterosis was manifested in all traits with 6.7-6.4% for TNB; 5.4-6.2% for NBA; 4.4-4.8% for NW and 5.7-6.0% for AWW traits. Additionally, direct dominance was the most positive effect on litter traits in crossbred sows. In rotational crossbred sows of L (YL) and L (LY), while the value of litter traits remarkably decreased in comparison with F1 groups, it was a noticeably higher than that of the purebred sows by 1.4-3.0%. In un-tested crossbred groups of Y (YL) and Y (LY), predicted values for litter traits were equal in tested crossbred groups of L (YL) and L (LY) and lower than F1 crossbred sows.

LEGAL DATABASE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES PREVENTION IN GOOSE INDUSTRY

Currently, there are a number of regulations governing the activities of poultry farms in general. The activity of goose-breeding farms implies the conduct of veterinary measures, which differ from the activities of poultry farms of other bird species. It is related with the presence of diseases inherent in this species of bird, as well as with the physiological features of waterfowl. However, in the existing regulatory documents and the system of recommendation documents of the agro-industrial complex, these features are not always taken into account, which may affect the effectiveness of the preventive anti-epizootic measures being carried out. We have studied the legal database governing the work and veterinary service of goose-breeding farms in the Russian Federation: recommendations, rules and instructions for the prevention and control of the most common infectious diseases of geese. According to the research, it was revealed that goose-breeding poultry farms have to independently organize a system of biological safety of the geese farms, since there is no modern unified effective system of the prevention of diseases in geese. There is a need to improve and finalize the current legal database of infectious diseases prevention in industrial goose breeding.

Genealogical and zootechnical characteristics of the breeding core of Akhal-Teke horses of the Stavropol Territory

The purpose of the study is to analyze the pedigree core of the Akhal-Teke breed bred in the Stavropol Territory using the example of the leading breeding farm LLC “Stavropol stud farm No. 170”. The object of the study was stud stallions (n = 5) and brood mares (n = 30) of the thoroughbred Akhal-Teke breed. Information sources of research: statements of results of assessment of pedigree horses, catalogs of stallions-producers, state studbooks of Akhal-Teke horses, data from the information retrieval system HORSES-3. Results and scope of application. The stallions-producers of the Akhal-Teke breed used in the LLC “Stavropol stud farm No. 170” belong to 4 lines: El, Posman, Gelishikli and Fakirpelvan. According to the direct male line, all mares of the breeding core belong to 6 lines: Gelishikli (36.7 %), El (23.3 %), Gaplan (16.7 %), Posman (13.3 %), Fakirpelvan (6.7 %) and Sere (3.3 %). Zootechnical assessment of breeding stallions and mares of the breeding core showed their compliance with the breed standard. The average age of breeding stallions is 18 years, and broodmares – 11.7 years. The research results can be recommended as an educational material for students and undergraduates of universities studying in the areas of zootechnical profile training, and can also be used in the practical work of zootechnicians of breeding farms and private individuals engaged in breeding Akhal-Teke horses. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that for the first time a detailed genealogical and zootechnical assessment of the breeding nucleus of the Akhal-Teke horses bred in the Stavropol Territory has been given.

THE EFFICIENCY OF RAISING DAIRY HEIFERS IN DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES

Изучена эффективность выращивания телок молочных пород при различных технологиях. В качестве объекта исследований выступали 14 племенных хозяйств Центрального Федерального округа, разводящих высококровную по голштинам черно-пеструю и голштинскую породы крупного рогатого скота при использовании разных способов содержания и технологических схем выращивания телок до 6-месячного возраста. Содержание молодняка молочного периода на открытом воздухе, относительно помещений, способствует увеличению его сохранности до 12 мес. на 5,2%, а также более высокой энергии прироста и соответственно живой массы как в первый и шестой (на 11,8 кг и 38,1 кг, или 26,6% и 26,0%, Р≤0,01—0,001), так и десятый и двенадцатый месяцы жизни (на 46,1 кг и 52,3 кг, или 19,5% и 18,6%; Р≤0,05). В онтогенезе условия содержания и кормления телят раннего возраста оказывают наиболее существенное влияние на формирование продуктивных качеств скота. Так, в первые 2 мес жизни телки, когда основными кормами являлись цельное молоко и концентраты, коэффициент корреляции между среднесуточным приростом и надоем молока был наиболее высоким, достигая значений: r=0,34—0,42; с содержанием жира и белка на порядок ниже — r=0,19—0,22 и r=0,11—0,13 соответственно. В последующих возрастных периодах выращивания телок, с 4- до 10—12-месячного возраста корреляционная зависимость между этими признаками снижалась до минимальных значений. Studies have been carried out to evaluate the efficiency of raising dairy heifer breeding using various technologies. The object of research were 14 breeding farms of the Central Federal District, breeding high-blooded Black-and-White and Holstein cattle breeds using different methods of housing and technological schemes for raising heifers up to 6 months of age. Housing young calves outdoors compared to building increases their survival rate up to 12 months by 5.2% and increased energy gain and live weight respectively in both the first and sixth months (by 11.8 kg and 38.1 kg, or 26.6% and 26.0%; P≤0.01-0.001) and the tenth and twelfth months (by 46.1 kg and 52.3 kg, or 19.5% and 18.6%; P≤0.05). During ontogeny, the conditions of housing and feeding of young calves have the most significant influence on the formation of productive qualities of livestock. Thus, in the first 2 months of the heifer's life, when the basic fodder was whole milk and concentrates, the correlation coefficient between an average daily gain in body weight and milk production was the highest, reaching the values: r=0.34-—0.42; with fat and protein content an order of magnitude lower - r=0.19-—0.22 and r=0.11—0.13, respectively. During the following age periods of heifer rearing, from 4 to 10—12 months of age, the correlation relationship between these traits decreased to minimum value.

GENETIC DIVERSITY OF THE HOLSTEIN CATTLE POPULATION IN THE YAROSLAVL REGION

В работе представлена генетическая структура популяции крупного рогатого скота голштинской породы 9-ти племенных хозяйств Ярославской области, основанная на иммуногенетических показателях групп крови по EAB-локусу. Было проанализировано 6343 головы крупного рогатого скота и выявлено 78 аллельных вариантов. Генотипирование животных по генетическим маркерам позволяет оценить динамику генетических процессов в породе и отдельных стадах. На основании расчета частот аллельных вариантов проведена клатеризация хозяйств методом k-means для выявления генетически близких групп. Популяция голштинской породы разделилась на несколько кластеров, имеющих различное генетическое происхождение и отличающихся уникальными аллельными вариантами групп крови. Доли дисперсии, объясняемые главными компонентами, имеют значения от 0,14 до 0,22, что свидетельствует о высокой степени отражения главными компонентами реальной дисперсии частот. Мера информационного полиморфизма (PIC) для всех хозяйств находится на уровне 0,022—0,024, что говорит о невысокой дискриминационной способности данного маркера. Разброс показателей среднего на локус индекса информации Шенона (I) составил 0,031±0,001—0,039±0,001 и генного разнообразия (Ht) — 0,022±0,005—0,024±0,005, что свидетельствует о более высоком селекционном потенциале животных отдельных хозяйств и об уменьшении вероятности внутрипородного инбридинга. Представленные методы анализа данных и параметры генетического разнообразия позволяют выявить группы скота внутри популяции и оценить его генный потенциал. Это даст возможность судить о генетических процессах, происходящих в стадах, и рекомендовать представленные методы для оценки эффективности и направленности селекционного процесса. The article presents the genetic structure of Holstein cattle population of 9 breeding farms in the Yaroslavl region, based on the immunogenetic parameters of blood types at the EAB-loci. 6343 heads of cattle and 78 allelic variants were analyzed and identified. Genotyping of animals by genetic markers makes it possible to assess the dynamics of genetic processes in the breed and individual herds. Based on the frequency calculations of allelic variants, we carried out the clustering of farms by the k-means method to identify genetically similar groups. The population of the Holstein cattle was divided into several clusters with different genetic origins and differing in unique allelic variants of blood types. The proportions of dispersion explained by the principal components have values from 0.14 to 0.22, which indicates a high degree of reflection by the principal components of the real frequency dispersion. The measure of information polymorphism (PIC) for all farms is at the level of 0.022—0.024, which indicates a low discriminatory ability of this marker. The scatter of the indices of the average per locus of the Shannon information index (I) was 0.031 ± 0.001—0.039 ± 0.001 and of genetic diversity (Ht) — 0.022 ± 0.005-0.024 ± 0.005, this indicates a higher breeding potential of animals on individual farms and a decrease in the probability of inbreeding. The presented methods of data analysis and parameters of genetic diversity make it possible to identify groups of livestock within a population and assess its genetic potential. This will make it possible to judge the genetic processes occurring in herds, and to recommend the presented methods for assessing the performance and direction of the breeding process.

Detection of pig based on improved RESNET model in natural scene

The behaviours of the pig are often closely related to their health. Pig recognition is very important for pig behaviour analysis and digital breeding. Currently, the early signs and abnormal behaviours of sick pigs in breeding farms are mainly completed by human observation. However, visual inspection is labour intensive and time-consuming, and it suffers from the problems of individual experiences and varying environments. An improved ResNet model was proposed and applied to detect individual pigs in this study based on deep learning knowledge. The developed model captured the features of pigs applying across layer connections, and the ability of feature expression was improved by adding a new residual module. The number of layers was reduced to minimise the net complexity. Generally, the ResNet frame was developed by reducing the number of convolution layers, constructing different types of the residual module and adding the number of convolution kernels. The training accuracy and testing accuracy reached 98.2% and 96.4%, respectively, when using the improved model. The experiment results showed that the method proposed in this paper for checking living situations and disease prevention of commercial pigs in pig farms is potential.

Studying the Prevalence Dynamics of Helminthosis in the Sheep-Breeding Farms in Azerbaijan

The main purpose of the research work is to identify the prevalence of helminthiasis in private sheep-breeding farms of the Sheki, Zagatala and Oguz districts of the Republic of Azerbaijan. One of the urgent problems is the study of mixed invasions that cause damage to animal husbandry. Based on this, as a result of the investigations, the extensiveness and intensity of helminthiasis in sheep of different age groups were studied as a result of the examinations. Extensiveness of invasion: in Sheki district for moniesiasis — 26.6%, for fascioliasis — 20.8%, for dicroceliosis — 23.3%, in Zagatala district for moniesiasis — 21.6%, for fascioliasis — 15.8%, for dicroceliosis — 17.5%, in Oguz distirct for monieziasis — 30.8%, for fascioliasis — 25.8%, for dicroceliosis — 28.3% were identified during the scatological examinations conducted. Presence the intensity of invasion on average: in the Sheki district with Moniezia expansa — 2–6, Fasciola hepatica — 4–14, Dicrocoelium lanceatum — 7–21, in the Zagatala district with Moniezia expansa — 1–4, Fasciola hepatica — 3–11, Dicrocoelium lanceatum — 5–17, in the Oguz district with Moniezia expansa — 2–7, Fasciola hepatica — 5–18, Dicrocoelium lanceatum — 9–24 specimens were identified when examining during the autopsy.

Environmental Sustainability Assessment of Pig Farms in Selected European Countries: Combining LCA and Key Performance Indicators for Biodiversity Assessment

The aim of this study was to combine Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) assessment focusing on biodiversity in order to examine the environmental impacts of different pig farm types (13 breeding, 23 finishing and 27 breeding-to-finishing farms) in seven European countries. In addition, the relationship between environmental impacts and selected farm management characteristics was explored. Fossil energy depletion (FED), global warming (GWP), acidification (AP) as well as marine (MEP) and fresh water (FEP) eutrophication potential were assessed by an attributional LCA and expressed per kilogram body mass net sold (BMNS). In addition, the potential biodiversity performance of all crop-livestock farms within the sample (n = 56) was evaluated with a KPI assessment of biodiversity-related field management characteristics. We found no relationship between LCA results and biodiversity scores (KPI). LCA and biodiversity performance varied more within than across farm types (breeding, finishing, breeding-to-finishing). For example, the GWP expressed per kg BMNS of the breeding unit of breeding-to-finishing farms was on average (median) 2.77 (range: 1.40–4.78) and of breeding farms 2.57 (range: 1.91–3.23) kg CO2-eq. The average (median) biodiversity theme score for breeding farms was 51% (range: 36–70%), for breeding-to-finishing farms 38% (range: 30–68%) and for finishing farms 43% (range: 28–67%). Several farm management characteristics (e.g. FCR, productivity, proportion of solid manure) correlated with all/some LCA results. Biodiversity performance depended especially on KPIs related to ecological focus areas, fertiliser management and GMO crops. The large range regarding environmental performance in both LCA and KPI assessment across farm types indicates that farm-specific improvement measures should be implemented to enhance overall environmental sustainability on farm. In conclusion, combining LCA with KPI assessment provides a more comprehensive environmental impact assessment of pig farms.