A Canonical Correlation Analysis of Relationships Between Growth, Compositional Traits and Longevity, Lifetime Productivity and Efficiency in Polish Landrace Sows

Relationships between performance test traits (growth rate, backfat thickness, loin depth, lean meat percentage, exterior, phenotypic selection index) and longevity traits (length of productive life, number of litters, total number of weaned pigs, number of weaned piglets per year, number of litters per year) in Landrace sows were evaluated using canonical correlation analysis. The data set consisted of 23,012 purebred sows that farrowed from 1994 to 2011 in 161 herds. The first three canonical correlations (0.37, 0.25, 0.07) were highly significant (P<0.0001). Correlations of the first canonical variate with the original measured variables indicated that sows with high values for this variate had lower growth rate (r=-0.31) and loin depth (r=-0.43), greater backfat thickness (r=0.23), as well as being older at birth of their last litter (r=0.98). These sows also had a greater number of litters (r=0.94) and better lifetime efficiency (r=0.61 and r=0.70 for number of weaned piglets per year and number of litters per year, respectively). Canonical loadings for the second canonical function indicate that sows with high values for the second set of variates had high growth rate (r=0.79) and phenotypic selection index (r=0.83), excellent conformation (r=0.62), as well as better efficiency in pig production (r=0.67). The squared multiple correlations show that the first canonical variate of the performance traits is a poor predictor of longevity (0.13) and nearly useless for predicting efficiency traits (0.07). Performance test traits explain 11% of the variance in the variables of longevity and lifetime productivity, whereas dependent variables explain only 3% of the variance in performance test traits. The relationships between performance test data and subsequent lifetime productivity or longevity were significant and unfavourable but low for Polish Landrace population

Determinants Of Dominance, Resting Place And Neighbour Preferences In Wrzosówka Polska Ewes Kept Indoors

The aim of this study was to recognize features determining social hierarchy in Wrzosówka Polska ewes kept indoors as well as to investigate their resting place and companionship preferences. Observations (156 hours in total) were carried out in a group of 22 ewes. The social rank of sheep was determined by their age, body weight and length of horns. Social position was positively correlated with aggressive behaviour performed and negatively with aggressive behaviour received. Use of space while resting was influenced by ewe social behaviour; aggressive individuals lied more often in attractive places, namely against walls and fodder troughs compared to other animals. In general, the ewes rested by having physical contact with animals of similar rank and aggressiveness. Kinship appeared not to be important in neighbour preference. As can be concluded, social interactions influenced the use of space and neighbourhood in ewes

Comparative Analysis of Nutrient Digestibility and Nitrogen Retention in Wild and Farmed Canids

The aim of this study, conducted in November 2012, was to determine whether farming of common foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) leads to changes in nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention in comparison with their wild counterparts. Wild and farmed animals were compared within and between species. Each group consisted of five males and five females aged around eight months. Farmed silver foxes - a variety of the common red fox (group FSF) and farmed raccoon dogs (group FRD) were purchased from a breeding farm in southeastern Poland. Wild red foxes (group WRF) and wild raccoon dogs (group WRD) were trapped in the hunting grounds of the Polish Hunting Association (Olsztyn Division). The animals were placed in metabolism cages. The coefficients of nutrient and energy digestibility, and daily nitrogen balance and retention values were compared between groups. Farmed animals tended to have higher digestibility coefficients than their wild counterparts. No significant differences were noted within species. The coefficients of dry matter (P≤0.01), organic matter (P≤0.05, P≤0.05) and protein (only FSF vs. WRD - P≤0.05) digestibility were higher in foxes. Raccoon dogs were characterized by higher digestibility of carbohydrates - N-free extracts (P≤0.01). Nitrogen retention was higher in farmed animals. The highest and lowest levels of retained nitrogen were observed in groups FSF and WRD, respectively

Prediction of the Carcass Value of Young Holstein-Friesian Bulls Based on Live Body Measurements

The aim of this study was to determine the suitability of ultrasound and zoometric measurements and visual muscle scoring for predicting the carcass value of 167 young Holstein-Friesian (HF) bulls. Zoometric and ultrasound measurements were performed and live muscle scoring was estimated before slaughter. After slaughter, hot carcass weight (HCW) was determined and carcasses were assigned to conformation and fat classes according to the EUROP system. Multiple regression equations were derived to estimate the weight, conformation and fatness of carcasses. HCW was estimated using the following equations: Ŷ = 1.507x1 + 1.103x2 + 4.043x3 + 5.53x4 + 0.379x5 + + 8.076x6 - 678.93 (R2=0.892; Sy = 16.28) and Ŷ = 2.525x4 + 0.579x7 + 0.451x8 - 134.17 (R2=0.943; Sy = 11.84); independent variables x1 - height at sacrum (cm); x2 - chest girth (cm); x3 - pelvic width (cm); x4 - pelvic length (cm); x5 - thickness of M. gluteo-biceps (mm); x6 - intravital muscle scoring (points); x7 - thickness of M. longissimus dorsi (mm); x8 - live weight (kg). Validation of the first regression equation revealed overestimation of HCW by 1.25% on average, while validation of the second equation revealed its underestimation by 1.85% on average. It was found that intravital muscle scoring and selected ultrasound and zoometric measurements of HF bulls can be used in formulating regression equations for predicting the carcass value of live animals. The proposed models enable predicting the carcass value of young bulls with satisfactory accuracy, thus contributing to an objective live beef cattle assessment

Normalization of Showjumping Competition’s Results

The aim of this study was to verify the newly proposed transformation of penalty points and ranking of showjumping horses for the purpose of genetic evaluation. Genomic information in the transformation of input data was used as well. Data of showjumping competition Global Champions Tour was used. Profit of penalty points was transformed to normally distributed variable using Blom formula (height of obstacles and height of obstacles with single nucleotide polymorphism - SNP effect taken into account). Non-normal distribution was obtained. The rankings of sport horses in competitions were transformed using the Blom formula (height of obstacles taken into account) to normal distribution (tests of normality Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test Pr>D, D 0.011, P>0.150, Cramer-von Mises (CM) test Pr>W-Sq, W-Sq 0.039, P>0.250, Anderson-Darling test (AD) Pr>A-Sq, A-Sq 0.638, P<0.097). Better distributed variable ranking transformed by Blom formula (height of obstacles and SNP effect taken into account) was obtained (KS test Pr>D, D 0.004, P>0.150, CM test Pr>W-Sq, W-Sq 0.004, P>0.250, AD test Pr>A-Sq, A-Sq 0.062, P>0.250). Model where all used fixed effects to equation were applied without any combination of the effects was tested, R2 0.54. Variable ranking was transformed to normal score by Blom formula (height of obstacles was taken into account). In the following model some effects were taken into account in the form of quadratic regression, R2 0.61. Variable ranking was transformed to normal score, the same as in previous model. In the last model we transformed variable ranking to normal score by Blom formula, taking into account height of obstacles and SNP effect. Same effects as in previous model were used, R2 0.60

Level of Fatty Acids, Selected Quality Traits of Longissimus Dorsi and Semimembranosus Muscles and Their Relationship with Fattening and Slaughter Performance in Polish Landrace Pigs

The aim of this study was to perform a comprehensive analysis of the level of fatty acids and selected meat quality traits, as well as their association with fattening and slaughter performance in Polish Landrace pigs. The study was conducted for two muscles: musculus longissimus dorsi and musculus semimembranosus. The study used 100 Polish Landrace gilts. The experimental animals originated from nucleus farms located in Poland. Their parents were animals with a known status of the RYR 1 genotype (all animals were dominant homozygotes). Pigs were fattened, slaughtered and evaluated postmortem in piggeries of the Experimental Stations of the National Research Institute of Animal Production using test station procedures. After reaching 100 kg body weight, pigs were slaughtered and their half-carcasses dissected. Fattening and slaughter parameters were determined. Meat samples were analysed for crude fat using the Soxhlet method. The composition of higher fatty acids was determined by gas chromatography. Research results indicate that saturated fatty acids found in m. longissimus dorsi and m. semimembranosus were positively correlated to n-3 and n-6 PUFA . A similarly high correlation was observed between the level of UFA and n-6 and n-3 PUFA in the loin and ham. The fact that the proportions of some acids (e.g. n-6/n-3 PUFA ) fail to meet WHO standards requires making efforts to improve them. Likewise, selection work is necessary to improve IMF levels in meat. The low correlations between meat quality traits and fattening and slaughter performance suggest that quality parameters should be regarded as independent traits in pig improvement models. In order to limit meat quality traits in pig improvement models, it is necessary to make use of the correlations between them

Effect of Noise Generated by the Wind Turbine on the Quality of Goose Muscles and Abdominal Fat

The objective of this study was to assess the physicochemical properties of breast and thigh muscles and fatty acid composition of abdominal fat of geese reared at a distance of 50 metres from the wind turbine compared to those reared 460 metres from the wind turbine. The study was carried out on 40 Kołuda White® geese (Anser anser f. domestica) divided into two groups: Treatment 1 - reared at a distance of 50 metres and Treatment 2 - reared at a distance of 460 metres from the wind turbine (Vestas V90 wind turbine). The muscles were analysed for pH, thermal loss, shear force, TBARS values and colour parameters (L* a* b*). The fatty acids composition of abdominal fat was also analysed. The results of the present study suggest that noise generated by the wind turbine affected the quality of muscles and the fatty acid profile of abdominal fat of geese. The results showed that the muscles of geese reared at a distance of 50 metres from the wind turbine were characterized by higher pH and TBARS values compared to those reared at a longer distance from the wind turbine. The significantly lower content of C 18:3 n-3 fatty acid in abdominal fat was observed for geese reared 50 metres from the wind turbine. Further studies should be undertaken to establish the safe distance of a wind turbine from livestock buildings

In Vitro Cellulase Production from Five Herbivore Microbial Ecosystems and Consortia

As the most abundant biomass in nature, cellulose is the main chemical component in herbivore forages. The energy locked in these complex polymers can only be released by cellulolytic enzymes. Therefore, research aiming to increase the expression of cellulolytic enzymes or browsing uncultured microbial ecosystem in search of potential fibrolytic enzymes is imperative. The main objectives were to: (a) investigate the variation of cellulase enzymes in cow (CW), horse (H), miniature horse (mH), wildebeest (WB) and zebra (ZB); and (b) identify their presence and activeness in microbial consortia, N1 (H+WB), N2 (H+ZB), N3 (WB+ZB) and N4 (H+WB+ZB). Fresh faecal or rumen inocula were cultured in the laboratory on maize stover and lucerne (1:1) with salivary buffer for 72 h at 38°C. Crude proteins (CPZ) were precipitated from both fresh and cultured inocula using 60% ammonium sulfate for enzyme assays and zymography. Endocellulases and their activity were identified on 1% (m/v) carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) zymograms stained with Congo red. All CPZ extracts were active as reducing sugars were produced after incubation with crystalline cellulose, CMC and xylan. The number and types of proteins with endocellulase activity varied (P<0.05) among and within the different animal species CW (15), H (14), mH (14), WB (13) and ZB (13). Microbial consortia were active with relatively higher number of endocellulases, N1 (17), N3 (14), N4 (14), and N2 (13). Cellulase enzymes vary among and within herbivore species grazing on the same or different fields. Therefore, identifying specific enzymes and microbes with higher fibrolytic potentials from different ecosystems for transinoculation could play a vital role in improving forage digestibility in ruminants

Effect of Protein Concentrate Supplement on the Qualitative and Quantitative Parameters of Milk from Dairy Cows in Organic Farming

In our experiment, we studied the effects of protein concentrate addition on the qualitative and quantitative composition of milk in organically farmed dairy cows. A total number of 40 Holstein cows were divided into two groups. Live weight of dairy cows was around 625±25 kg. Average production efficiency of animals was 7600±50 kg milk for the lactation period. Animals of both groups received identical basal feed ration. The first experimental group of cows (n=20) received in the feed ration a protein concentrate from organic production (soybean cake 60%, sunflower cake 20%, linseed cake 20%) at 1 kg per head and day. The second group served as a control (n=20) without the addition of protein concentrate. The experiment lasted 30 days. The goal of the experiment was to investigate whether the addition of protein concentrate can affect individual milk components. The measured values show that the experimental group of dairy cows with the addition of protein concentrate exhibited increases in fat content by 7.4% (P≤0.05), in urea content by 83.1% (P≤0.001) and in citric acid content by 18.6% (P≤0.01), and decreases in free fatty acids by 54.9% (P≤0.001), in ECM by 5.5% (P≤0.05) and in FCM by 6.1% (P≤0.05). The control group of cows exhibited the citric acid content in milk increased by 20.0% (P≤0.05). The results indicate that the protein concentrate composed of soybean, sunflower and linseed cakes can affect the composition of milk from organically farmed dairy cows

Dehorning of Calves – Methods of Pain and Stress Alleviation – A Review

Dehorning of calves is intended to facilitate handling and increase the safety of people and animals. The study aimed to review the methods of calf dehorning and use of pharmacological analgesic, anaesthetic and sedation drugs, as well as their impact on pain perception. Regardless of the age of calves, dehorning is always associated with pain and stress. The changes in behaviour, physiological parameters, changes in heart rate, respiratory rate and increased cortisol secretion are observed during this procedure. The welfare of calves is significantly reduced during dehorning. Many studies point to minimization of the pain perceived by the use of pharmacological agents. Beneficial effects were observed with the combined use of anaesthetics and non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs