Study on the major welfare problems of dairy cows from the Galicia region (NW Spain)

The aim of the present paper wasto evaluate the dairy cattle welfare in a population from the Galicia region (NW Spain) according to the Welfare Quality®protocol guidelines. For this purpose, 37 dairy farms were randomly selected. The on-farm welfare was evaluated according to Welfare Quality®guidelines. At principle level, the categorical classification indicated that regarding “good feeding” 5.4% (0%-13.1%) of the farms were classified as “excellent”, 29.7% (14.3%-45.3%) “enhanced”, 48.6% (31.7%-65.5%) “acceptable” and 16.2% (3.8%-28.7%) “not classified”. As regards “good housing”, 5.4% (0%-13.1%) were classified as “excellent”, 64.9% (48.7%-81.0%) “enhanced” and 29.7% (14.3%-45.2%) “acceptable”. 100% (100%-100%) were considered “acceptable” for the “good health” principle. Finally, for “appropriate behaviour” 2.7% (0-8.2%) was classified as “enhanced”, 13.5% (1.9%-25.1%) “acceptable” and 83.8% (71.3%-96.2%) “not classified”. Overall, according to the Welfare Quality®protocol 94.6% (86.5%-100%) farms were classified as “acceptable”, 2.7% (0-8.2%) as “enhanced” and 2.7% (0-8.2%) “not classified”. In conclusion, farms from Galicia could only be considered as “acceptable” in terms of animal welfare, presenting many areas for improvement. The principle scored at its lowest has been “appropriate behaviour”, presenting it as an issue not properly taken into the farmer consideration. Another warning aspect is the management of disease, marked on a bad score for “good health”: As it seems, farmers should include new health-control plans providing better prevention of disease, and include anaesthetic and analgesic plans for dehorning.

Study on the major welfare problems of dairy cows from the Galicia region (NW Spain)

The aim of the present paper wasto evaluate the dairy cattle welfare in a population from the Galicia region (NW Spain) according to the Welfare Quality®protocol guidelines. For this purpose, 37 dairy farms were randomly selected. The on-farm welfare was evaluated according to Welfare Quality®guidelines. At principle level, the categorical classification indicated that regarding “good feeding” 5.4% (0%-13.1%) of the farms were classified as “excellent”, 29.7% (14.3%-45.3%) “enhanced”, 48.6% (31.7%-65.5%) “acceptable” and 16.2% (3.8%-28.7%) “not classified”. As regards “good housing”, 5.4% (0%-13.1%) were classified as “excellent”, 64.9% (48.7%-81.0%) “enhanced” and 29.7% (14.3%-45.2%) “acceptable”. 100% (100%-100%) were considered “acceptable” for the “good health” principle. Finally, for “appropriate behaviour” 2.7% (0-8.2%) was classified as “enhanced”, 13.5% (1.9%-25.1%) “acceptable” and 83.8% (71.3%-96.2%) “not classified”. Overall, according to the Welfare Quality®protocol 94.6% (86.5%-100%) farms were classified as “acceptable”, 2.7% (0-8.2%) as “enhanced” and 2.7% (0-8.2%) “not classified”. In conclusion, farms from Galicia could only be considered as “acceptable” in terms of animal welfare, presenting many areas for improvement. The principle scored at its lowest has been “appropriate behaviour”, presenting it as an issue not properly taken into the farmer consideration. Another warning aspect is the management of disease, marked on a bad score for “good health”: As it seems, farmers should include new health-control plans providing better prevention of disease, and include anaesthetic and analgesic plans for dehorning.(AU)

La fenestración endoscópica como tratamiento de los quistes aracnoideos intracraneales / Endoscopic fenestration to treat intracranial arachnoid cysts

Los quistes aracnoideos son lesiones quísticas con un contenido similar al líquido cefalorraquídeo. Representan alrededor del 1% de todas las lesiones expansivas intracraneales y son característicos de las dos primeras décadas de la vida, aunque en ocasiones se diagnostican en adultos. Presentamos una revisión sobre nuestra experiencia en el tratamiento quirúrgico de quistes aracnoideos intracraneales. Material y métodos: Realizamos una revisión de 103 niños menores de 16 años intervenidos quirúrgicamente por un quiste aracnoideo intracraneal en los que se empleó una derivación cistoperitoneal en 53 casos; una craneotomía con fenestración del quiste, en 44 niños, y 11 casos con fenestración por vía endoscópica. Resultados: En todos los pacientes se consiguió alivio de la sintomatología y reducción o desaparición del quiste. Se presentaron 21 complicaciones quirúrgicas: 12 en los pacientes tratados con válvula (22.6%) y 9 en los sometidos a craneotomía (20.4%). La mortalidad de la serie fue de dos casos (1.95%). Discusión y conclusiones: El tratamiento de los quistes aracnoideos intracraneales debe reservarse exclusivamente para los casos sintomáticos. La craneotomía con fenestración de las membranas y la derivación cistoperitoneal son buenas opciones de tratamiento, ya que consiguen un buen control, tanto del tamaño del quiste como en la resolución de la sintomatología. La mejor opción terapéutica es en la actualidad la fenestración endoscópica, ya que se trata de una técnica poco invasiva, que no requiere la implantación de materiales extraños y cuyo índice de complicaciones y recidivas es relativamente bajo...