Analysis of risk factors for dermatitis and cellulitis in turkeys using abattoir post mortem data.

1. Cellulitis and dermatitis are often seen in turkeys at slaughter and are, in many cases, reasons for rejection at meat inspection. Using the results of meat inspections and information about the housing conditions of the animals may provide information on causative factors in the development of cellulitis and dermatitis. 2. A census of two years of turkey production in a company including both fattening farms and an abattoir in the north of England was used to study the relationship between the prevalence of cellulitis/dermatitis and mechanical versus natural ventilation in the poultry house, litter type (long straw, short straw and wood shavings) and stocking density. 3. The overall prevalence of cellulitis and dermatitis in this population was 0.12 %, which was extremely low compared to reports in the literature. In mechanically ventilated houses, the odds of developing cellulitis and/or dermatitis was significantly higher than in naturally ventilated houses (Odds Ratio 3.18). Long straw had a protective effect compared to wood shavings (Odds Ratio 0.18). 4. The study showed that using slaughter data can be helpful in studying on-farm risk factors for disease development.

Influence of experimental protocol on response rate and repeatability of mechanical threshold testing in dogs.

Mechanical threshold (MT) testing is widely used to measure nociceptive thresholds. However, there has been little research into factors that contribute to the response rate and repeatability (collectively termed 'efficacy') of MT testing protocols. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the efficacy of a protocol using a hand-held algometer to measure MTs (N) in healthy dogs (n = 12) was affected by varying (1) the area over which force was applied (tip diameter), (2) rate of force application, (3) position of dog during testing, and (4) anatomical site of testing. The effect of these factors on MT and the impact of individual dog effects on both efficacy and MT were also investigated. Overall, 3175/3888 tests (82%) resulted in a measurable response. The response rate was reduced by using wider tip diameters, testing at the tibia, and testing when the dog was lying down (compared to sitting upright). Wider tips were associated with higher, more variable MTs (mean ± standard deviation) with values of 4.18 ± 2.55 N for 2 mm diameter tips, 5.54 ± 3.33 for those of 4 mm, and 7.59 ± 4.73 for 8 mm tips. Individual dog effects had the most significant impact on efficacy and MT. The findings indicate that tip diameter, dog position, and anatomical site may affect both protocol efficacy and MTs, and should be taken into account when comparing different studies and in designing protocols to measure MTs in dogs. The predominant effect of the individual dog over other factors indicates that between-subject differences should always be accounted for in future studies.

Herd monitoring in traditional cattle husbandry as a tool for productivity research and livestock development.

In the Western Province of Zambia, a productivity study was carried out in traditionally managed cattle herds. The organisational design of the study and the procedures involved in the management of the data are described. Some possibilities of use of the data are discussed.

[Veterinary medicine and organic animal husbandry. II. Organic animal husbandry: a challenge for veterinary medicine]. / Diergeneeskunde en biologische veehouderij. II Biologische veehouderij: een uitdaging voor de diergeneeskunde.

Biological agriculture serves as an example on an endeavour to achieve durability. Government policies offer possibilities for the further development of biological animal husbandry. Biological veterinary practice places emphasis on the promotion of animal health, rather than on the treatment of disease. Because the aim is to reduce medication, this goal is consistent with the approach of biological animal husbandry. These new developments are of interest to veterinary practitioners and require professional knowledge to be adapted to the biological way of thinking.

[Veterinary medicine and organic animal husbandry. III. Animal health in organic dairy farms]. / Diergeneeskunde en biologische veehouderij. III Diergezondheid op biologische melkvee-bedrijven.

Animal health is dealt with differently on biological farms then on conventional farms. On biological farms, stockmen see their animals not only as individual animals, but also as part of a herd in a balanced ecosystem. Disease prevention is therefore given much thought. The use of medicines is selective and subjected to strict regulations. This paper presents a summary of disease incidence in dairy cattle on biological farms and highlights specific problems and problem prevention in biological animal husbandry.

A comparison of different enrichment media for the isolation of Salmonella dublin from livers, kidneys and muscles of Salmonella-positive veal calves.

Amongst a herd of 250, approximately 22 weeks old, Dutch Friesian veal calves, 84 were condemned on meat inspection because of typical pathology of salmonellosis, confirmed by isolation of Salmonella dublin from spleens. From the condemned animals 15 carcasses were randomly selected for further investigation. Their livers, kidneys and samples of their longissimus dorsi muscles were examined for Salmonella using Rappaport-Vassiliadis' and Muller-Kauffmann's enrichment media. In addition, livers were macroscopically scanned for necrotic foci. Signs of (multiple) miliary liver necrosis were not consistently related to isolation of Salmonella from the three tissues examined. Although all spleens had been found positive for Salmonella, from only 53% of the livers, 33% of the kidneys and 27% of the muscles could salmonellae be isolated by one or both enrichment procedures. The Rappaport-Vassiliadis enrichment medium was found to be slightly superior for the isolation of salmonellae. All Salmonella-isolates were serotyped as Salmonella dublin. Their antibiograms showed the expected resistance to chloramphenicol and tetracyclines but, surprisingly, sensitivity to ampicillin, kanamycin, neomycin and streptomycin.