Comparative Analysis of Broiler Housing Systems: Implications for Production and Wellbeing.

This study compares the effects of modern colony cage systems and traditional floor systems on the production and welfare of broiler chickens. Through two trials spanning 35 days each, we evaluated various physiological parameters, including growth performance, bone health, stress responses, and meat quality. Colony cages demonstrated superior thermal regulation and growth performance compared to traditional floor systems, but also exhibited higher frequencies of leg deformity and reduced standing ability. Conversely, the broilers in traditional floor systems experienced heat stress-related challenges, impacting the meat quality. Our findings underscore the need to balance productivity with animal welfare in broiler farming practices. By understanding the distinct impacts of different housing systems, we can work towards improving broiler rearing methods to ensure optimal welfare and production outcomes.

Cytological endometritis diagnosis in primiparous versus multiparous dairy cows.

Endometritis is a uterine disease of dairy cows causing substantial negative effects on reproductive performance and inflicting considerable economic losses. It is typically diagnosed by endometrial cytology evaluation and commonly named cytological endometritis (CEM). In most previous studies, cows were defined as CEM positive if the proportion of polymorphonuclear cells (%PMN) in their endometrial cytology was above a pre-set threshold. Thresholds were established based on CEM diagnosis in association with reproductive performance, typically analyzed by a single reproductive parameter and calculated for all cows together. Our objective was to examine whether primiparous and multiparous cows should optimally be diagnosed for CEM by different %PMN thresholds and sampling timings, using a combination of several reproductive performance parameters. Two endometrial cytobrush cytology samples were collected from Holstein-Friesian dairy cows (n = 415; 269 multiparous; 146 primiparous), at 30-40 d in milk (DIM) and 60-70 DIM, and %PMN were evaluated microscopically (blindly; Diff-Quick stain, Medi-Market). The %PMN thresholds were set at ≥1% to ≥10%, ≥15%, and ≥20%, and accordingly, for each of the thresholds, several reproductive performance parameters were compared between CEM-positive versus CEM-negative cows. Upon application of several analytic approaches, our results indicated that optimal CEM diagnosis should be performed by different criteria in primiparous and multiparous cows: in primiparous cows at 30-40 DIM, using a threshold of ≥7%PMN, and in multiparous cows at 60-70 DIM, using a threshold of ≥4%PMN. Such a diagnostic approach provides a comprehensive view of the reproductive prognosis of CEM-positive primiparous and multiparous cows, which is pertinent information for researchers, veterinarians, and farmers.

Outbreak of human leptospirosis linked to contaminated water bodies in Northern Israel, June to August 2018.

We report preliminary findings of a large outbreak of human leptospirosis with 36 confirmed/probable and 583 suspected cases from June-August 2018, linked to contaminated water bodies in Northern Israel. There was a travel-associated case in Germany; additional cases are being investigated in other countries. The presumed chain of transmission, implicating wild boar and cattle, raises multiple challenges for risk assessment, risk management and risk communication currently being addressed by a public health response team.

Microbial communities and inflammatory response in the endometrium differ between normal and metritic dairy cows at 5-10 days post-partum.

Post-partum metritis is among the most prevalent disease in dairy cows affecting animal welfare and inflicting considerable economic loses. While post-partum contamination of the uterus is rife in dairy cows, only a fraction of these animals will develop metritis. Our main objective was to compare the bacterial communities and the inflammatory response in the endometrium of healthy and metritic dairy cows. Holstein-Friesian cows (n = 35) were sampled immediately following clinical classification as healthy (n = 21), suffering from metritis (n = 13) or septic metritis (n = 1), based on veterinary examination at 5-10 days post-partum. Polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) percentage in endometrial cytology was significantly higher in cows with metritis. Full-thickness uterine biopsy analysis revealed that the luminal epithelium in inter-caruncle areas was preserved in healthy cows, but in metritis it was compromised, with marked PMN infiltration particularly in the apical endometrium. Gram staining revealed that bacterial load and spatial distribution was associated with disease severity. 16S-rDNA bacterial community analysis revealed unique endometrial bacterial community composition in metritic cows, as compared to more diverse communities among healthy cows. The most abundant phyla in healthy cows were Proteobacteria (31.8 ± 9.3%), Firmicutes (27.9 ± 8.4%) and Bacteroidetes (19.7 ± 7.2%), while Bacteroidetes (60.3 ± 10.3%), Fusobacteria (13.4 ± 5.9%) and Firmicutes (10.5 ± 3.3%) were most abundant in the endometrial mucosa of metritic cows. Relative abundance of Bacteroidetes (19.7 ± 7.2% vs. 60.3 ± 10.3%), Fusobacteria (7.5 ± 5.2% vs. 13.4 ± 5.9%) and Proteobacteria (31.8 ± 9.3% vs. 7.3 ± 5.6%) phyla differed significantly between healthy and metritic cows. In summary, endometrial PMN abundance, spatial distribution and bacterial communities differed between healthy and metritic dairy cows at early post-partum.

Evaluation of intrauterine antibiotic treatment of clinical metritis and retained fetal membranes in dairy cows.

Retained fetal membranes (RFM) and clinical metritis (CM) are frequently diagnosed disease conditions in dairy cows and considered of major economic impact due to negative effect on reproduction and milk production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of i.u. tetracycline for the treatment of RFM and CM in dairy cows. Affected cows were randomly assigned to two groups; treatment group animals received i.u. 5g chlortetracycline twice weekly for 2 wks, and no treatment group. A total of 1416 cows and 804 heifers in 5 herds calved during the study period. CM was diagnosed in 18.6% (inter farm range; 15.2-23.5%) and 30% (19.4-42.3%) of cows and heifers, respectively. RFM was diagnosed in 13.1% (9.4-18.1%) and 9.2% (3.6-13.8%) of cows and heifers, respectively. Conception rates after first insemination were 38.3%, 42.5% and 18% in normal, treated and non-treated CM cows, respectively. Numbers of days open were 140.5, 136.2 and 165.5 in normal, treated and non-treated CM cows, respectively. Based on 305-d corrected milk yield, cows and heifers affected by RFM and CM produced 300-500kg less milk compared with their normal herd mates. Cows treated for CM produced 654kg more milk per 305-d corrected lactation compared to non-treated control cows. Treatment of RFM had no effect on reproductive performance or milk production. In conclusion, i.u. chlortetracycline treatment was proven to prevent the detrimental effect of CM on reproductive performance in heifers and cows and on milk production in cows only.

Investigation and control of mastitis outbreaks caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a sheep flock and a goat herd.

Outbreaks of mastitis in a sheep flock and a goat herd caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and their control are described. The morbidity rates of mastitis in a sheep flock and in a goat herd were 18.7 and 18.2 per cent, respectively. The lethality and involuntary culling rates of the animals with sub-clinical mastitis correspond to the morbidity rate. The highest morbidity rates were noted in yearlings--22.5 and 30 per cent, as well as in animals pre- and post partum (7 and 20 per cent, in sheep and goats, respectively). The morbidity periods in the flock and in the herd were 20 and 27 months, respectively. A strict-hygiene milking programme and maintenance of the milking devices was introduced. In addition, prevention of crowding, provision of dry bedding and thorough cleaning of water troughs have also been instituted. Ruthless culling of all infected and carrier animals was an essential part of the control program against Pseudomonas aeruginosa mastitis.