How Housing Conditions Determine the Welfare of Pigs.

Humans who care for pigs prefer an environment that not only allows the pigs to express their natural behaviors but also limits the development of aggression and stereotypes. Most of the behavioral and health problems encountered by pigs in barren, conventional conditions are solved by alternative housing systems. However, it is not known whether these systems are advantageous in terms of the performance of pigs. In this work, we review the effects of housing systems on pigs' behaviors and performance, which are among the major indicators of the welfare of these animals. Research results point out that outdoor systems are more ideal for sows and fatteners than buildings. Nonetheless, outdoor housing is associated with two major effects in both groups: increased activity due to environmental exploration and higher space allowance, and increased incidence of injuries compared to indoor systems. Sows are more active when housed in groups, but they experience an increased frequency of injuries. According to the literature, group-housed sows give birth to healthy piglets with good daily weight gains. The difference in the fattening and slaughter performance of pigs raised indoors vs. outdoors remains unclear, and the results reported so far are inconsistent. Outdoor systems seem to be associated with a higher incidence of osteochondrosis and lesions of elbow and hock joints, whereas indoor systems cause a greater degree of body soiling in pigs. Based on the reviewed literature, it may be concluded that outdoor housing helps to solve behavioral issues in pigs but leads to other problems in pig production.

Mineral status and enteric methane production in dairy cows during different stages of lactation.

BACKGROUND: Lactating dairy cows are the greatest livestock contributor of methane, a major global greenhouse gas (GHG). However, good feeding management with adequate mineral intake can offers an effective approach to maintaining high levels of milk production and the health of dairy cows over the entire course of lactation, while also helping to reduce methane emission. The study described here investigated the plasma concentrations of both macroelements (Ca, Na, K, Mg, P) and microelements (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn), as well as enteric methane emission and milk composition in high-yielding dairy cows in different lactation periods. The experiment was performed on Holstein-Friesian dairy cows with the average milk yield of 41 (± 9) L/day in a Polish commercial farm with modern dairy systems. A total of thirty high-yielding dairy cows were randomly assigned into three groups differing by lactation stage: early stage (Early, days 25-100), middle stage (Middle, days 101-250), and late stage (Late, day 250 and later). Dietary treatment for all cows was a total mixture ration (TMR) with maize and alfalfa silage the main forage components. RESULTS: The greatest milk yield and methane production were recorded in early-stage lactating cows, but the greatest methane intensity per kg of corrected milk was recorded in the late stage of lactation. Plasma concentrations of macroelements and microelements did not differ by lactation stages, but increased plasma concentrations of Zn and Fe and decreased plasma levels of Mg were noted during lactation. A positive correlation was found between plasma levels of Mg and other macroelements (Ca, Na, K), and between the concentrations of Fe and Zn, P in plasma, but no correlation between methane emission and mineral status was detected in the different lactation stages. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed different mineral requirements and enteric methane emissions in each lactation stage. The feeding strategy and mineral utilization were adequate to maintain the health, mineral status, and milk production of the Holstein cows during the entire lactation period, and suggest an effective way of reducing methane emission.

The Long-Term Effects of High-Fat and High-Protein Diets on the Metabolic and Endocrine Activity of Adipocytes in Rats.

The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity and the rising awareness of their negative consequences are forcing researchers to take a new view of nutrition and its consequences for the metabolism of whole organisms as well as the metabolism of their individual systems and cells. Despite studies on nutrition having been carried out for a few decades, not many of them have focused on the impacts of these diets on changes in the metabolism and endocrine functions of isolated adipocytes. Therefore, we decided to investigate the effects of the long-term use (60 and 120 days) of a high-fat diet (HFD) and of a high-protein diet (HPD) on basic metabolic processes in fat cells-lipogenesis, lipolysis, and glucose uptake-and endocrine function, which was determined according to the secretion of adipokines into the incubation medium. Our results proved that the HPD diet improved insulin sensitivity, increased the intracellular uptake of glucose (p < 0.01) and its incorporation into lipids (p < 0.01) and modulated the endocrine function of these cells (decreasing leptin secretion; p < 0.01). The levels of biochemical parameters in the serum blood also changed in the HPD-fed rats. The effects of the HFD were inverse, as expected. We observed a decrease in adiponectin secretion and a diminished rate of lipogenesis (p < 0.01). Simultaneously, the secretion of leptin and resistin (p < 0.01) from isolated adipocytes increased. In conclusion, we noted that the long-term use of HPD and HFD diets modulates the metabolism and endocrine functions of isolated rat adipocytes. We summarize that an HFD had a negative effect on fat tissue functioning, whereas an HPD had positive results, such as increased insulin sensitivity and an improved metabolism of glucose and lipids in fat tissue. Moreover, we noticed that negative metabolic changes are reflected more rapidly in isolated cells than in the metabolism of the whole organism.

Welfare Health and Productivity in Commercial Pig Herds.

In recent years, there have been very dynamic changes in both pork production and pig breeding technology around the world. The general trend of increasing the efficiency of pig production, with reduced employment, requires optimisation and a comprehensive approach to herd management. One of the most important elements on the way to achieving this goal is to maintain animal welfare and health. The health of the pigs on the farm is also a key aspect in production economics. The need to maintain a high health status of pig herds by eliminating the frequency of different disease units and reducing the need for antimicrobial substances is part of a broadly understood high potential herd management strategy. Thanks to the use of sensors (cameras, microphones, accelerometers, or radio-frequency identification transponders), the images, sounds, movements, and vital signs of animals are combined through algorithms and analysed for non-invasive monitoring of animals, which allows for early detection of diseases, improves their welfare, and increases the productivity of breeding. Automated, innovative early warning systems based on continuous monitoring of specific physiological (e.g., body temperature) and behavioural parameters can provide an alternative to direct diagnosis and visual assessment by the veterinarian or the herd keeper.

Effect of Fasting on the Spexin System in Broiler Chickens.

Spexin (SPX) is a highly conservative peptide hormone containing 14 amino acids and was discovered in 2007 by bioinformatics methods. However, nothing is yet known about its role in the metabolism of birds, including broilers. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of short-term fasting (2, 4, and 8 h) on the concentration of SPX in blood serum and the expression levels of the genes encoding this peptide (SPX1) and its receptors, GALR2 and GALR3, in the tissues involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism (muscles, adipose tissue, and liver). We also analyzed the mRNA expression of these genes in various chicken tissues. Moreover, we studied the correlation between the serum level of SPX and other metabolic parameters (insulin, glucagon, glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol). Using RT-qPCR, we found that SPX1, GALR2, and GALR3 are expressed in all investigated tissues in broiler chicken. Moreover, using a commercially available radio-immunoassay, we noted an increase of the SPX level in blood serum after 4 and 8 h of fasting compared to nonfasted animals (p < 0.05). This increase was positively correlated with glucagon concentration (r = 0.341; p < 0.05) and negatively with glucose concentration (r = -0.484; p < 0.01). Additionally, we discovered that in the short term, food deprivation leads to the expression regulation of SPX1, GALR2, and GLAR3 in tissues associated with metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids. The obtained results indicate that SPX is involved in the regulation of metabolism in broiler chickens.

The seasonal variation in the quality of venison from wild fallow deer (Dama dama) - A pilot study.

The studied material included 19 fallow deer does hunt-harvested in two seasons, summer and winter. The post-mortem body weight of analysed animals was not affected by the season (P = 0.762). The pH value measured 24 h post-mortem in the M. longissimus lumborum was significantly higher in the summer compared to the winter season. The venison obtained in the winter season characterized with higher L* (P < 0.0001) and b* (P = 0.002) and lower a* (P < .0001) compared to meat from the summer season. There was also a seasonal variation in the purge in vacuum bags (P = 0.001), water compartments and cooking loss (P < 0.0001). Considering the proximal chemical composition, the extractable fat content was higher in winter (P < 0.0001) compared to the summer season. On the basis of the research results, one can conclude about greater usability for processing and storage of venison obtained in the winter season.

Novel ultrasound approach for measuring marbling in pork.

An ultrasound examination was done on the m. longissimus lumborum, between the 10th and the 11th thoracic vertebra, on two sides (inside and outside the thoracic cavity) of the left half-carcasses of 162 fatteners. The carcasses were classified for lean meat percentage using the SEUROP system. The R pig carcasses (47.7% lean) had the thickest backfat (30.6mm; P≤0.01) and the highest content of intramuscular fat (IMF=2.28%; P≤0.01). More artifacts-free images were collected from the inside compared to the outside of the pig carcasses (90.1% vs. 58.6%; P≤0.01). The percent of bright pixels (PBP) was the highest for the inside, for all the lean-meat-content classes (P≤0.01). The correlation between the PBP and the IMF was higher for the images of the inside compared to the outside (r=0.811; P=0.001 vs. r=0.523; P=0.009). The ultrasound images of the inside of the carcasses proved to be the most useful for making an assessment of the marbling.

Effect of storage on quality traits of the semimembranosus muscle of farmed fallow deer (Dama dama) bucks and does.

A total of 12 farmed fallow deer bucks and 12 does aged 31-32 months were included in a study on the effect of storage in vacuum packaging on the functionality of venison of the Semimembranosus muscle. All the analyzed meat quality traits were not affected by sex. The storage of meat in vacuum led to: an increase of pH (by 0.13 units; P = 0.001), L* (by 1.85 units; P = 0.002), a* (by 1.15 units; P = 0.013) and chroma (by 1.16 units; P = 0.016), a decrease of free water (by 6.62 percentage points (p.p.); P = 0.001) and water-holding capacity (cm2 ) (by 29.61%; P = 0.001), and the increase of dry matter content (by 0.67 p.p.; P = 0.001). The results indicate that the chilled storage of venison caused the stabilization of pH and color, improvement of water-holding capacity, with no negative effect on the proximate chemical composition. The quality of deer meat obtained from does and bucks was similar.

Use of entropy in the analysis of nominal traits in sheep.

In the analysis of dependencies between nominal traits entropy and its function, mutual information seems to be a proper descriptive statistic. This is shown by characterizing the relationships between the prolificacy of dams and selected genetic attributes: the genotype of transferrin, the genotype of hemoglobin, and the type of birth, as well as the environmental attribute, i.e., year of birth. The entropy method may improve the exactitude of investigations concerning the influence of different factors on production trait. The index of relative uniformity, introduced in this study, proved to be an adequate tool for the determination of similarity in the examined flocks. The application of mutual information in the determination of values of the dependence measures in the analyzed experiment was justified.