Music and Tactile Stimuli during Daily Milking Affect the Welfare and Productivity of Dairy Cows.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of tactile stimuli and music during daily milking on the productive, physiological, well-being, and health parameters of dairy cows. The experiment, which lasted 39 days, was conducted on a commercial farm with forty crossbred cows (age: 36 to 42 months; weight: 350 to 400 kg) distributed in a completely randomized design (2 × 2) via the following treatments: (Con)-cows not exposed to stimuli, (Tac)-cows exposed to tactile stimuli before milking, (Mus)-cows exposed to music during milking, (Tac+Mus)-cows exposed to both stimuli. In this study, classical music with a slow (75 to 107 BPM) and moderate tempo (90 to 100 BPM) was played, and tactile stimuli was provided manually using a flexible stick in the posterior region and udders of the cows. Cows not exposed to any of the stimuli had up to 41% higher residual milk quantity compared to those exposed to one of or both of the stimuli. The sound stimulus promoted an increase in milk letdown before the start of milking. Cows exposed to stimuli showed higher serotonin levels, indicating a beneficial effect on animal well-being. However, cows exposed to pre-milking tactile stimuli showed an increase in somatic cell count. Combining both techniques may have positive effects on milk productivity and well-being. However, using music alone may be more recommendable as it does not pose health risks.

Changes in the skin characteristics of Nellore steers during the rearing phase in hot climate pasture supplemented with protein sources.

We hypothesized that the protein source in supplements and the insolation and ambient temperature changes in different seasons could cause changes in the skin of Nellore steers during the rearing phase on warm-climate pasture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of replacing true protein (soybean meal) with NPN (extruded urea) in the supplement on the skin characteristics of steers grazing on Marandu grass pastures. Thirty-six Nellore steers with an average initial weight of 250.0 kg and 15 months of age were used. Skin biopsies were performed at three different times: summer, autumn, and winter. The protein source has effects on the length of the glandular portion, number of follicles, and gland area in steers during the rearing phase at different seasons of the year. In the summer, the skin presented a higher compact structure, while in the autumn and winter, the skin presented a sparser arrangement. Skin from steers that received soybean meal in supplement had a more significant number of follicles in the summer and a smaller area and length of sweat glands. The dermis thickness of steers supplemented with soybean meal was greater than that of urea supplemented. The epidermis thickness and dermis of the steers' skin were greater at the autumn (April). Sweat gland depth was greater in autumn (April) and winter (July) than in summer (December). The protein source in the supplement alters the skin characteristics by increasing of dermis thickness of Nellore steers during the growth phase. The insolation and ambient temperature changes in different seasons alter the skin structure by increasing the epidermis and dermis thickness, sweat glands depth, and glands area of the skin of steers during the growth phase.

Olfactory Stimulation as Environmental Enrichment for Domestic Horses-A Review.

Horses constantly face several challenges inherent to the domestic environment, and it is common for the expression of their natural behavior to be drastically limited. Environmental enrichment has been suggested as an alternative to improve the captive situation of domestic horses. Among the recently proposed enrichment strategies, olfactory stimulation has emerged as a method for improving several aspects related to animal behavior. Olfaction is a sensory modality that plays a significant role in the expression of equine behavior, and in recent years, studies have shown that olfactory stimulation can influence the physiological and behavioral parameters of horses. This review provides current information on the anatomical particularities of the equine olfactory system, presents the physiological mechanisms involved in the odor detection process, and demonstrates how stress can interfere with this process. Finally, the use of olfactory stimulation as an environmental enrichment for domestic horses (Equus ferus caballus) is explored. The need for new studies that answer pertinent questions related to this topic is discussed throughout the manuscript.

Dietary Supplementation of Eubiotic Fiber Based on Lignocellulose on Performance and Welfare of Gestating and Lactating Sows.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of partially fermentable insoluble dietary fiber supplementation on the behavior, surface temperature, and reproductive parameters of gestating and lactating sows, as well as on the performance of their litters. Four hundred hyper-prolific sows were assigned in a randomized block design with two treatment groups during the gestation phase: Control (C), corn-soy based diets, or corn-soy based diets with daily 55 g supplementation of eubiotic fiber (F) from the 85th day of gestation until the farrowing (late pregnancy). During the lactation phase, the sows were assigned in a 2 × 2 factorial design using the following treatment groups: (1) CC, no fiber included during gestation and lactation. (2) FC, daily inclusion of 55 g of fiber only during late pregnancy. (3) CF, daily inclusion of 55 g of fiber only during lactation. (4) FF, daily inclusion of 55 g of fiber during late pregnancy and lactation. Sows that received dietary fiber supplementation during the final third of gestation increased feed intake during lactation. Piglets from sows supplemented in both phases showed a significant increase in weight at weaning. The dietary supplementation of eubiotic fiber for sows in the end period of gestation and lactation improved performance and welfare, with positive consequences for developing their litters.

Health conditions associated with overweight in climacteric women.

This study aims to investigate the association between health conditions and overweight in climacteric women assisted by primary care professionals. It is a cross-sectional study conducted with 874 women from 40 to 65 years of age, selected by probabilistic sampling between August 2014 and August 2015. In addition to the outcome variable, overweight and obesity, other variables such as sociodemographic, reproductive, clinical, eating and behavioural factors were evaluated. Descriptive analyses of the variables investigated were performed to determine their frequency distributions. Then, bivariate analyses were performed through Poisson regression. For the multivariate analyses, hierarchical Poisson regression was used to identify factors associated with overweight and obesity in the climacteric period. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 74%. Attending public school (PR: 1.30-95% CI 1.14-1.50), less schooling (PR: 1.11-95% CI 1.01-1.23), gout (PR: 1.18-95% CI 1.16-1.44), kidney disease (PR: 1.18-95% CI 1.05-1.32), metabolic syndrome (MS) (PR: 1.19-95% CI 1.05-1.34) and fat intake (PR: 1.12-95% CI 1.02-1.23) were considered risk factors for overweight. Having the first birth after 18 years of age (PR: 0.89-95% CI 0.82 to 0.97) was shown to be a protective factor for overweight and obesity. The presence of overweight and obesity is associated with sociodemographic, reproductive, clinical and eating habits.