Comparison of locomotion problems and its economic impact on Cobb and Ross broiler strains

The rapid weight gain and fast muscle growth due to intense genetic selection and improved nutrition for additional breast muscle in broiler commercial strains affect chickens health. In order to compare the main locomotive problems in broilers of Cobb and Ross strains, two pens from a commercial farm in Veracruz, Mexico were used. The first pen housed 16,500 males and 16,500 females of Cobb strain and the second one 16,500 males and 16,500 females of Ross strain. Chicks were checked for locomotion problems from day one until their sale. Animals with problems were recorded and necropsies were performed to identify the pathology. Out of 1406 animals with locomotive problems (2.13% of the total), 58.9% were Cobb and 41.1% Ross (P <0.05). The frequency of locomotive problems was 2.51% for Cobb and 1.75% for Ross. Most common individual lesions were osteochondrosis (38.61%), inflamed joints with purulent contents (37.13%), and valgus (19.65%). Locomotive problems appeared since the first week, but its number increased as birds gained weight, particularly from the fourth week on. Problems occurred more in males than in females and in Cobb birds than in the Ross strain. Economic loss due to locomotion problems was higher for the Cobb strain.

Potential pollinators of Fragaria ananassa (Rosales: Rosaceae) in the Perico valleys of Jujuy (Argentina)

The aims of this study were to identify and estimate the potential pollinators of Fragaria ananassa Duch. “strawberry”, through the analysis of pollen carried out on their bodies. The study was carried out on a commercial farm in Las Pampitas, located in the Perico valleys, Jujuy province (Argentina). Floral visitors and other arthropods were sampled and identified, and their diversity was analyzed. The samples of insects selected to obtain the pollen carried were processed following the acetolysis technique. The potential pollinators of the strawberry crop were estimated by calculating the pollination probability index. The floral visitors corresponded to representatives of Hymenoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and even Araneae. Apis mellifera L. was the most frequent floral visitor and presented more strawberry pollen than other selected insects. The pollination probability index estimated that this species had a high probability of being a pollinator. Other pollinators such as Allograpta exotica Wiedemann, Halictidae, Meliponini and even Thripidae could complement the action of the honeybee. This is the first contribution to the knowledge of the pollination of F. ananassa in the agroecosystems of Jujuy.

Maternal Dietary Nitrate Supplementation Lowers Incidence of Stillbirth in Hyper Prolific Sows under Commercial Circumstances

The objective of the current experiment was to investigate whether or not maternal dietary nitrate supplementation, a nitric oxide (NO) precursor, could reduce piglet losses under commercial circumstances. In the current experiment, 120 hyper prolific gilts and sows (Landrace x Yorkshire: Danbred) on a commercial farm in Denmark received either a control lactation diet or a lactation diet containing 0.1% of calcium nitrate (containing 63.1% of nitrate) from approximately 5 days pre-farrowing until day 4 of lactation. The number of piglets born total, alive, and stillborn, as well as birth weights, weights after cross-fostering (approximately 1 day of age), 24 h after cross-fostering, day 3 of age, and at weaning was recorded. Placentas of sows were collected after expulsion and scored on redness. No effect of nitrate supplementation was found on piglet weight, piglet growth, placental redness score, and pre-weaning mortality during lactation. Maternal dietary nitrate supplementation decreased stillbirth percentage with 2.5% (9.9 vs. 7.4%; p = 0.05). It can be concluded that maternal dietary nitrate supplementation shows the potential to decrease the incidence of stillbirth in hyper prolific sows.

Effects of physical or fenceline boar exposure and exogenous gonadotropins on puberty induction and subsequent fertility in gilts

The present study was part of a larger experiment that evaluated litter of origin effects on gilt production. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of physical or fenceline boar exposure and exogenous gonadotropins on puberty induction and subsequent fertility in a commercial farm environment. The experiment was performed in three replicates. Prepubertal gilts were assigned by pen (13/pen) to receive 15 min of daily Fenceline (FBE, n = 153) or Physical (PBE, n = 154) Boar Exposure (BE) for 3 weeks starting at 184 d of age in a purpose-designed Boar Exposure Area (BEAR). At the start of week 3, prepubertal gilts were randomly assigned to receive PG600 or none (Control). From weeks 4 to 6, estrus was checked using only FBE. During weeks 1 to 3, measures of reproductive status were obtained weekly or until expression of estrus. Upon detection of first estrus, gilts were relocated into stalls and inseminated at second estrus. PBE reduced age (P = 0.001) and days to puberty (P = 0.002), increased the proportion of gilts in estrus (P = 0.04) in week 1 (38.3 vs. 27.5%), and tended (P = 0.08) to improve estrus in week 2 (37.6 vs. 26.1%) compared to FBE, respectively. In week 3, more prepubertal gilts receiving PBE-PG600 exhibited estrus (P = 0.04; 81.8%) compared to PBE-Control (40.3%), FBE-PG600 (56.4%), and FBE-Control (47.8%). Overall, expression of estrus through week 6 tended (P = 0.08) to be greater for PBE than FBE (91.5 vs. 85.0%). PBE increased (P ≤ 0.05) or tended to increase (P &gt; 0.05 and ≤0.10) service and farrowing rates in parities 1 through 4, but within parity, there were no effects (P &gt; 0.10) on pig production or wean to service interval. Analyses also indicated that weeks from start of boar exposure to puberty, litter of origin traits, and follicle measures at puberty were related to the subsequent fertility. The results of this study confirm the advantages of using increased intensity of boar exposure, combined with PG600 treatment, for effective induction of pubertal estrus in a commercial setting.

Comportamento de Leitões na Fase de Creche Criados em Região de Clima Tropical

O ambiente em que o animal habita está relacionado com o comportamento que esse vai expressar, portanto, problemas comportamentais podem ser indicativos de deficiências ambientais ou de manejo, alterando o bem-estar do animal. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o comportamento de leitões, na fase de creche, de acordo com variações de temperatura e umidade do ambiente em granja comercial localizada em Maranguape-Ceará. Foram utilizados 60 leitões de ambos os sexos desmamados aos 21 dias de idade com peso médio de 6,1±0,4 kg distribuídos em quatro baias de 15 animais cada, que foram observados em dois horários por dia. Foi instalada uma câmera, na parte superior da baia, para fazer a filmagem dos leitões, que filmava das 05:00 horas às 07:00 horas da manhã, e de 12:00 horas às 14:00 horas da tarde, além de serem registradas a temperatura e umidade, através de um termohigrômetro. Para analisar o comportamento dos animais foi utilizada uma ficha de etograma, calculando-se os percentuais de ocorrência de cada comportamento. As médias de temperatura registradas foram 25 e 28 °C e de umidade 84% e 73% para os horários 05:00 horas e 12:00 horas, respectivamente. Os animais passaram a maior parte do tempo dormindo ou deitados (69 e 70%) em ambos os horários de observação. O comportamento apresentado pelo animal pode ser um indicativo de conforto térmico, situação essencial para expressão de seu potencial produtivo. Palavras-chave: Bem-Estar Animal. Conforto Térmico. Etograma. Suinocultura. Abstract The environment in which the animal lives is related to the behavior it will express, so behavioral problems may be indicative of environmental or management deficiencies, altering the animal’s welfare. The objective of this work is to evaluate the piglets behavior in the nursery phase according to temperature and humidity variations in a commercial farm located in Maranguape-Ceará. Sixty piglets of both sexes weaned at 21 days of age with an average weight of 6.1±0.4 kg were used, distributed in four pens of 15 animals each, which were observed at two times per day. A camera was installed in the upper part of the pen for filming the piglets, which filmed from 5:00 am to 7:00 am, and from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm, and was recorded at temperature and humidity through a hygrometer term. To analyze the animals behavior, an ethogram form was used. The average temperatures recorded were 25 and 28 °C and humidity 84% and 73% at 05:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. hours, respectively. The animals spent most of the time sleeping or lying down (69 and 70%) at both observation times. The behavior shown by the animal can be an indication of thermal comfort, an essential situation for the expression of its productive potential. Keywords: Animal Welfare. Thermal Comfort. Ethogram. Pig Breeding.

Study of Purchase-sell of Livestock and Availing of Subsidy Benefits among Commercial Dairy Farmers of Gujarat

A field survey was conducted in Navsari district by selecting 40 commercial dairy farmers randomly from Navsari and adjoining areas. The commercial farm that possessed 20 Adult Unit of either cattle or buffalo was considered for the study. The desired information pertaining to livestock purchase-selling practices with criteria was collected with the help of pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire. The data regarding problems found in purchased animals were collected by using 5 point Likert agreement scale. Analyzed data revealed that overall total herd strength was 52.07±5.24. It included 16.48±2.44 milch buffalo, 4.82±0.82 dry buffaloes, 5.90±0.76 milch cows and 2.12±0.33 cows. The herd strength across both regions was nonsignificant. Many livestock keepers were availing subsidies for construction of shed, purchase of chaff cutter, milking machine, rubber mats and livestock. Subsidy for purchase of chaff cutter was enjoyed by 20% respondents, whereas 12.5% respondents were benefited by subsidy for construction of shed and purchase of livestock. However, about 47% of them were not taken any kind of subsidy for their farm. The reasons for not availing subsidy showing that 17.5% respondents were not knowing/not tried to avail subsidy benefits. The analyzed data on livestock prizing showed that buffaloes were costlier than cows. The average purchase price was Rs. 72161±2195 and 58291±5233 for buffaloes and cows, respectively. Average selling price was quite lower than purchased price for cows and buffaloes. It was Rs. 28463±625 and 27083±2083 for buffalo and cow, respectively. Further, the livestock buyer was not much satisfied with purchased animals as they were having many problems like mastitis, repeat breeding, less milk production etc.

Potassium Distribution in Surface Soils of Kust Teaching, Research and Commercial Farm, Gaya, Kano State

A study was conducted on the distribution of potassium in the surface soil of Kano University of Science and Technology teaching, research and commercial farm, Gaya during 2018/2019 session. The contents of different forms of potassium were observed. Water soluble, exchangeable, non-exchangeable, mineral and total potassium were determined in surface soil (0–15cm) in KUST teaching, research and commercial farm, Gaya. The results showed that the average values for water soluble K, exchangeable K, non-exchangeable K, mineral K and total K were: 0.14, 0.18, 0.35, 1.36 and 3.92 Cmol/Kg soil respectively. The values for K saturation percentage (KSP) ranged between 0.12–019 and exchangeable K between 0.13–0.20 Cmol/Kg clay. There was a wide variation in the values of various forms of K and among indices associated with mineral composition in different soils. The results show that the values of K form in most of the studied soils are quite low. Consequently, the supplying power of potassium in these soils is low and the need for potassium fertilizer is recommended.