The deleterious effect of crossfostering in rat pups on hypoxic-ischemic injury tolerance and hypothermic neuroprotection

We study the effect of hypothermia (HT) following hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury in postnatal day 7 (P7) rats. In 2015, new European Union animal transport regulations prompted a change in practice at the breeding facility, which henceforth crossfostered P3 litters to P8 older lactating dam prior to transportation. It is generally assumed that crossfostering does not significantly affect the experimental results. The aim of this study was to examine whether crossfostering affects our model consistency by modifying injury susceptibility and hypothermic neuroprotection. We analysed 219 pups (56 litters) from 11 experiments conducted between 2013 and 2015: 73 non-crossfostered and 146 crossfostered pups. At P7, all pups underwent unilateral common carotid artery ligation followed by 50min of hypoxia (8% O2, 36°C). Immediately after this mild insult, the pups were randomised to post-insult normothermia (NT) or HT treatment. Pups were culled at P14. Injury was assessed by area loss of the ipsilateral hemisphere and histopathology scoring of hippocampus, cortex, thalamus, and basal ganglia. Crossfostered pups had double the injury compared to non-crossfostered pups irrespective of treatment group. Hypothermic neuroprotection was statistically significant, but with a smaller and less consistent effect in crossfostered pups (relative neuroprotection 16% vs. 31% in non-crossfostered). These results demonstrate hypothermic neuroprotection following a mild HI insult. A representative subset of 41 animals were also assessed for evidence of microglial reactivity, however no detectable difference in microglial reactivity was observed between any of the groups. In conclusion, crossfostering alters outcomes in our established model through reduced insult tolerance and variable neuroprotection. Crossfostering as a common breeding practice is a largely unexplored variable in animal research that may result in invalid research conclusions if inadequately adjusted for by larger group sizes. As a result, crossfostering is likely to be inconsistent with the principles of replacement, reduction, and refinement.

The Role of High-Volume Ranches as Cattle Suppliers: Supply Chain Connections and Cattle Production in Mato Grosso

Brazil’s zero-deforestation Cattle Agreements (CAs) have influenced the supply chain but their impact on deforestation has been limited in part because slaughterhouses monitor deforestation only on the properties they buy from directly. Consequently, deforestation continues to enter the supply chain indirectly from properties that are not monitored. Knowledge gaps and data limitations have made it challenging to close this loophole and achieve meaningful reductions in deforestation. Here we leverage our large property-level supply chain database that links together six years of records from the Animal Transport Guide (GTA), high-resolution satellite data, property boundaries, and land cover data to quantify different types of supply chain connections and characterize cattle production in Mato Grosso. We find that a relatively small number of high-volume suppliers—defined as the top 5% of cattle suppliers in terms of the volume of cattle sold–supplied 50–60% of the total volume purchased by major slaughterhouses. One-fourth of high-volume direct suppliers cleared forest between 2009–2018, and 90% of them also bought from indirect suppliers with deforestation, leading these high-volume direct suppliers to act as funnels for deforestation into the supply chain. Because they serve as important hubs in the supply chain, high-volume suppliers may represent a key starting point to expand the CAs to cover large numbers of indirect suppliers.

Cost of controlling Rhipicephalus microplus in dairy cattle through different methods

This study examines the cost of applying ixodicides by using three methods (subcutaneous injection, pour-on and spraying), in different animal categories, to generate information that can help in the choice of the method. The research was carried out between May and September 2017, in the dairy cattle section of the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of the South of Minas Gerais - IFSULDEMINAS - Muzambinho campus, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. All operational expenses related to the application of the ixodicides were recorded. Data were collected by three people: two to time the application of the product and one to record the measured data. Twenty-seven Holstein cattle infested with Rhipicephalus microplus were used, consisting of 12 calves, six heifers and nine adult cows. A simulation was carried out with 50 and 100 animals to check the effect of the production scale on the cost of applying the ixodicides. Application times (animal transport, product dosing and application itself) for the calves, heifers and cow categories were shorter in the injection and pour-on methods, which did not differ from each other in any of the three studied categories. The time spent per animal on the washing of personal protective equipment and washing of sprayer reduced as the number of animals increased, because these procedures are performed only once regardless of the number of animals. The pour-on method was the least expensive. Production scale was found to be an important factor for diluting fixed costs and optimizing labor.

Ethical Aspects of Sustainable Development in Polish Enterprises Transporting Animals for Slaughter

The issue of sustainable development is currently the subject of interest of researchers from many scientific fields. The idea of sustainable development includes the economy, the society and the environment. In the context of sustainable development, the subject of animal welfare is being increasingly regarded as essential. Ensuring animal welfare is now the key issue for public opinion, livestock farmers, animal rights organizations, entrepreneurs, transport companies and slaughterhouses. Animal welfare should be applied according to Five Freedoms, which are: freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from pain and injury, freedom from physical discomfort, freedom to express normal behavior, freedom from stress and fear. The purpose of this article is to present the current state of awareness about ensuring animal welfare as an element of sustainable development on the example of Polish companies which transport animals to slaughterhouses. As a research method the authors used the survey method. The questionnaire was addressed to the owners of enterprises transporting slaughter animals and to drivers of these enterprises. The results found out that there is a serious need to change the operation of the transport system due to ethical aspects.Keywords: Sustainable development, animal welfare, animal transport, transport management

MANAGEMENT OF ANIMAL TRANSPORT WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO ANIMAL WELFARE

Transport management takes into account a wide range of decisions: from defining a strategic plan to choosing the type and method of transport. The transport of live animals is a specific type of transport due to the type of “load” which is the living organism. For animals, transport, especially over long distances, carries the risk of injury and is undoubtedly a source of stress. Increased interest in the welfare of animals during transport is now an object of interest not only for animal organizations, but also business communities, animal breeders, slaughterhouses and enterprises transporting animals. The article presents and describes the requirements for managing the transport of slaughter animals, taking into account animal welfare.

A 35-Year-Old Male with Virocid-Chemical Disinfectant Poisoning

Virocid is a highly concentrated potent broad-spectrum disinfectant which is used in different sectors such as animal husbandry (poultry, pigs, cattle), agriculture, food processing, hospitals, horticulture, animal transport, feed storage, fish farming, personal hygiene etc. Here we report a case of a 35-year-old male poultry owner who attempted suicide following ingestion of about 10 mL of virocid (chemical disinfectant) and presented with severe burning sensation from throat to the epigastric region, abdominal pain, generalized muscle weakness, several episodes of vomiting and respiratory distress. The patient was treated conservatively along with mechanical ventilator support. After improving condition on 3rd day ventilator support was withdrawn and patient was shifted to step-down ICU. On 4th day the patient was transferred to general ward after consulting with psychiatrist and was discharged on the next day with an advice to follow-up every seven days interval. Two weeks later he was found quite normal. J Enam Med Col 2019; 9(3): 193-196

Farm animals against open borders: uncovering discrepancies between narratives and evidence regarding actors and motives in the animal trade

ABSTRACT: The paper examined dominant discourses in the debate about live animal transport and trade before reviewing trade figures from the UN Comtrade database. Between 1998 and 2015, the trade in cattle increased slightly, the trade in pigs increased by 76%, while the trade in poultry increased more than doubled. It is shown that an increased division of work is the driving force behind animal trade and that not even animal advocacy groups are effective in reducing the amount of trade. Largely independent of the ethical framework applied, in an environment that pays increasingly tribute to animal welfare, this is problematic. The paper concluded that animal trade results in externalities that should be internalized by governments.