Assessment of Meat-Type Sheep Welfare Using Animal-Based Measures.

This study aimed to assess the welfare of Tunisian sheep in extensive sheep production systems using animal-based measures of ewe welfare. This study encompasses the first national survey of sheep welfare in which animal-based outcomes were tested. Animal-based welfare measures were derived from previous welfare protocols. Fifty-two Tunisian farms were studied and a number from 20 to 100 animals by flock were examinated. The whole flock was also observed to detect clinical diseases, lameness, and coughing. The human-animal relationship was selected as welfare indicators. It was evaluated through the avoidance distance test. The average avoidance distance was 10.47 ± 1.23 and 8.12 ± 0.97 m for a novel person and farmer, respectively. The global mean of body condition score (BCS) was 2.4 with 47% of ewes having a BCS of two, which may be associated with an increased risk of nutritional stress, disease, and low productivity. Ten farms had more than 7% of lambs with a low body condition score, which may be an indication of a welfare problem. The results obtained in the present study suggest that the used animal-based measures were the most reliable indicators that can be included in welfare protocols for extensive sheep production systems.

Modelling THI effects on milk production and lactation curve parameters of Holstein dairy cows.

The main objective of this study was to determine the potential impact of heat stress (HS) on milk production and lactation curve parameters of Holstein dairy cows. Milk, fat, protein, and somatic cell count test-day records collected between 2013 and 2019 from 947 cows in 23 herds were combined with THI calculated from meteorological data recorded between 2013 and 2019. The temperature-humidity index (THI) was used to investigate the effect of heat stress. The severity of heat stress was measured using the temperature-humidity index (THI) and the impacts of different THIs-low (≤68), moderate (68-72), and high (≥72) on production performance and lactation curve parameters were measured. The nonlinear model of Wood was applied for modeling the lactation curve. Analysis of variance was applied to test the effects of three levels of THI on milk production, its composition, and lactation curve parameters. Results showed losses due to heat stress. A decrease in milk yield and fat and protein content was reported. Fat and protein contents tended to decrease steadily with increasing values of THI. Milk yield ranged from 17.882±0.064 (6872), fat and protein contents ranged from 3.551 ±0.041 to 3.449 ±0.026 and from 3.246 ±0.031%, to 3.113 (0.029) for 6872, respectively. Somatic cell score was marked by an increase (from 4.143 to 4.358) at the highest ranges of THI>72 and decreased values (from 4.143 to 3.857) at the lowest ranges of THI. Heat stress showed a significant effect on the parameters of the lactation curve. The increased value of THI showed a significant effect on milk yield THI was in a significant negative correlation with the yield, and quality of milk. The effect of THI was highly significant (P < 0.05) for all parameters of the lactation curve and milk yield. Cows exposed to THI between 68 and 72 achieved the highest peak milk yields and the highest total yield of 305 days of lactation (Y305).