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Pharmacology, medicine, psychology, and the animal sciences all employ repeated measurement designs (RMDs). However, RMDs may experience carryover effects, which are the primary cause of bias in treatment effect estimation. In order to eliminate the carryover effects for odd v (the number of treatments), minimal circular balanced and strongly balanced repeated measurement designs (RMDs) are the ones that should be used. The minimal circular partially balanced and weakly balanced RMDs are used for even v. In order to obtain these important classes of minimal circular RMDs in periods of equal, two, and three different sizes, an R-based algorithm is developed in this article. The newly developed algorithm has made so simple the construction of balanced RMDs and their generalized classes. As a result, it is a novel piece of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Originating from human psychology, the concepts of “optimism” and “pessimism” were transferred to animal welfare science about 20 years ago to study emotional states in non‐human animals. Over time, “optimism” and “pessimism” have developed into valuable welfare indicators, but little focus has been put on the ecological implications of this concept. Here, we aim to bridge this gap and underline the great potential for transferring it to behavioural ecology. We start by outlining why “optimism” and “pessimism” can be considered as aspects of animal personalities. Furthermore, we argue that considering “optimism”/“pessimism” in a behavioural ecology context can facilitate our understanding of individual adjustment to the environment. Specifically, we show how variation in “optimism”/“pessimism” can play a crucial role in adaptation processes to environmental heterogeneity, for example, niche choice and niche conformance. Building on these considerations, we hypothesise that “optimists” might be less plastic than “pessimists” in their behaviour, which could considerably affect the way they adjust to environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has emerged as a significant threat to the pig farming industry worldwide, resulting in considerable economic losses. However, few reports detail its economic impact on the pig farming sector. A study was conducted on 23 breeding pig farms in Hubei Province from January 2021 to December 2023, and the PRRSV infection status and associated economic losses were monitored to address this gap. PRRSV antigens and antibodies were identified through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Additional monthly production data and weaning costs were gathered. The Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test was used to assess the differences in production efficiency and weaning costs across various PRRSV infection statuses. Dunn's test was used to compare multiple groups. The parameter distributions of various variables were determined via @RISK (V. 8.5.2) software. Models were developed to evaluate the economic impact of PRRSV infection status on breeding pig farms and assess the losses from a PRRSV outbreak in either provisional PRRSV-negative or PRRSV-positive stable farms. A total of 754 months of monitoring was conducted across 23 breeding pig farms, which included 131 months (17.37%) classified as PRRSV provisional negative, 298 months (39.52%) as PRRSV-positive stable, and 325 months (43.11%) as PRRSV-positive unstable. The production efficiency and weaning costs were similar between provisional PRRSV-negative farms and PRRSV-positive stable farms, revealing no significant differences. However, these metrics varied significantly compared with those of PRRSV-positive unstable farms. With respect to provisional PRRSV-negative farms, PRRSV-positive stable farms and unstable farms faced additional annual losses of ¥3,135.17 and ¥4,898.79 per sow, respectively. Compared with PRRSV-positive stable farms, PRRSV-positive unstable farms incurred an extra annual loss of ¥1,763.62 per sow. Upon a PRRSV outbreak on a swine farm, followed by a return to preoutbreak conditions, the average economic loss per sow on provisional PRRSV-negative farms is approximately ¥3,061.21. Conversely, PRRSV-positive stable farms face an average loss of approximately ¥508.42 per sow. This study provides a systematic evaluation of the economic impact of PRRSV on Chinese pig farms, offering data to support the quantitative assessment of economic losses stemming from PRRSV within the domestic pig farming industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The increasing diversity of the agricultural workforce has created a pressing need to address the communication gap between English-speaking veterinarians/animal science professionals and the growing Spanish-speaking Hispanic population employed in these industries. To effectively meet the needs of diverse populations in agricultural settings, it is crucial that veterinary and animal science programs develop a workforce that can navigate cross-cultural communication. One promising approach to bridging this gap is the integration of Spanish for Specific Purposes in Agriculture (SSPA) in veterinary medicine and animal science programs focused on the unique language and cultural needs of the agricultural sector. Implementing SSPA courses within veterinary and animal sciences curricula can provide students with the targeted language skills and cultural competence necessary to communicate effectively with the Spanish-speaking workforce. This approach is designed to equip students with the specific communication skills required for their future careers, ensuring they are prepared to thrive in their chosen professions by developing language skills needed to communicate with the Hispanic workforce. This study addresses the integration of Spanish for Specific Purposes in Agriculture (SSPA) into the curricula of English-speaking veterinary and animal sciences students at three collaborating universities (Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, and Tarleton State University), to bridge communication gaps in agricultural settings. We designed and implemented three SSPA courses focused on key areas such as animal health, welfare, and food safety, using insights from industry professionals. The courses incorporated contextualized language instruction, including vocabulary, grammar, and practical communication scenarios relevant to the field. Teaching materials including interactive resources and metacognitive strategies were developed to enhance learning and engagement. The results showed that while the courses improved students' communication skills, challenges such as technical issues and balancing academic commitments required adjustments to course delivery. Significant differences in performance were observed between institutions, with a considerable impact on the course completion rates and final test scores. The study concludes that SSPA courses significantly enhance the ability of veterinary and animal sciences students to effectively communicate with the Hispanic workforce, providing a model for similar language integration efforts in specialized fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The genetic quality of laboratory mice may have a direct impact on the results of research. Therefore, it is essential to improve genetic monitoring methods to guarantee research quality. However, few current methods boast high efficiency, high throughput, low cost, and general applicability at the same time. Methods: First, we got 34 SNP loci from previous studies for inbred strains and screened out 15 loci with good polymorphism for outbred groups from these 34 loci. Then, by using the Luminex xTAG assay, we tested inbred strains and outbred groups. Results: We tested commonly used inbred strains and five DNA samples from the International Council for Laboratory Animal Science, obtaining correct genotyping results. Additionally, some loci were potentially confirmed to be useful for distinguishing C57BL/6 and BALB/c mouse substrains. Furthermore, we tested three outbred groups and analyzed the genetic structure, and we compared the results of the SNP markers by xTAG assay to the STR markers by PCR, the trends of the three groups are the same. Conclusions: In our studies, the panels could meet the requirements for method promotion and provide a good choice for the genetic monitoring of inbred and outbred mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistance to antimicrobial drugs is an urgent problem not only in public health, but also in animal husbandry. The widespread use of antimicrobials in feed additives is one of the main reasons for the rapid spread of antibiotic resistance in the microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract of farm animals. To characterize antibiotic resistance genes (resistome), we performed metagenomic analysis of the feces of 24 cattle from different regions of Russia, including cows of different breeds and yaks. Animals differed in the type of housing: year-round on pastures or in barns of conventional farms, with consumption of feed additives. Although genes of resistance to aminoglycosides, β-lactams, glycopeptides, MLS antibiotics (macrolides, lincosamides, and streptogramins), phenicols, and tetracyclines were detected in samples from both groups of animals, the content of the resistome in the fecal microbiome of stall-bred cattle was about ten times higher than in animals kept on pastures. The resistome of stall cattle was dominated by β-lactamases and tetracycline resistance genes, the content of which in the microbiome was 24 and 60 times higher, respectively, than in animals kept on pastures. Apparently, the spread of resistance to β-lactams and tetracyclines in stall cattle reflects the active use of these antibiotics in livestock production. Metagenomic analysis of livestock feces can be used to quantify antibiotic resistance genes for the purpose of monitoring antimicrobial drugs used in animal husbandry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides assessment criteria for evaluation of each of the Learning Outcomes of the Modules specified (in addition to the Core Modules) for those designing procedures and projects in the Education and Training Framework guidance document by the European Commission and endorsed by the Member States Competent Authorities. This Working Group was tasked to produce these criteria by the Education & Training Platform for Laboratory Animal Science, which was funded by the European Commission to this aim. The assessment criteria address knowledge and skills (including critical thinking) expected to be acquired during education and training of persons preparing to design research procedures and projects using animals under the scope of Directive 2010/63/EU. Recognizing the diversity of expertise and experiences of those being educated and trained, we provide two levels of attainment, an ideal response and one that would be acceptable for each Learning Outcome. The balance between ideal and acceptable could be decided by the particular course providers and/or assessors, according to their local requirements. We envisage that the use of these assessment criteria by training providers and accrediting or approving bodies will help harmonize the education and training for those who will design procedures and projects using animals for scientific purposes. In Europe, this may also contribute to mutual recognition of training, and facilitate free movement of scientists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the European socio-cultural landscape, which is increasingly attuned to animal welfare concerns and characterized by growing multiculturalism, ritual slaughter has become a subject of considerable debate due to its legal, economic, and health implications. This debate is increasingly fueled by interventions by judicial bodies that, not infrequently, have filled protection gaps in legislation on the relationship between human rights and the treatment of animals. In this review, the authors aim to describe the evolutionary path of supranational jurisprudence in the case of religious slaughter, focusing on the most recent animal welfare decision rendered by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on 13 February 2024. This innovative judgement, in line with other precedents, indicates the orientation of the international and European law, which, driven by public morality, is increasingly characterized by the compression of human rights in favor of animal interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Methods in Ecology & Evolution is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study analyzed the effect of boar semen storage and dilution rate on sperm motility, swimming patterns and kinematics. It used 35 sexually mature, healthy boars, with an average age of 19.0 ± 10.34 months and known fertility. Samples were separated into four treatments according to dilution ratio (1:1, 1:4, 1:8 and 1:16; v:v) with Androstar Plus® and refrigerated at 17°C in the dark for 96 h. Subsamples were analyzed at 12, 24, 28, 72 and 96 h using the ISAS®v1 Computer-Assisted Semen Analysis System (CASA). Total and progressive motility decreased (P < 0.05) as semen storage time increased. The percentage of morphological abnormalities increased after 48 h of semen storage. Samples diluted 1:1 (v:v) had higher values of total motility and faster spermatozoa compared to other dilution rates. It was concluded that sperm motility, swimming patterns and plasma membrane integrity showed a significant downward pattern as semen storage time and dilution rate increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of increased CO2 levels as a compound of mixed emissions from a poultry housing (transported by an air duct into a greenhouse), on lettuce’ trace elements content. The experiment was carried out at the experimental poultry farm of the Institute of Animal Science - Kostinbrod in May and June, 2019, for 40 days. During the experiment the following parameters were controlled and measured both in control and experimental greenhouses (lettuce groups): average level of CO2, indoor air temperature and relative humidity, - three times a week during irrigation at noon by handset IAQ Monitor SM-2100; Average level of ammonia (NH3) - three times a week during irrigation at noon by handset Aeroqual Series 200 Monitor. At the end of the experiment, soil and plants samples from both groups were taken and tested for the content of 15 microelements - Vanadium (V), Chromium (Cr), Manganese (Mn), Cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Arsenic (As), Selenium (Se), Molybdenum (Mo), Silver (Ag), Cadmium (Cd), Tin (Sn), Mercury (Hg) and Lead (Pb) by mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS). The obtained results show that the triple increase in the cobalt concentration in the experimental group (P <0.001) can definitely be associated with the increased photosynthesis and the expected Vit. B12 levels. Of interest are also the levels of the elements vanadium and chromium – respectively, 3.3 and 10.7 times higher in the experimental group compared to the control group (P <0.001). The content of copper and selenium in the plants corresponds to their high level in the soil, but in copper the accumulation in the experimental group is suppressed (P <0.01), while for selenium we can assume that CO2 stimulates to some extent its accumulation (P <0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to provide a bibliometric analysis of “Bulgarian Journal of Animal Husbandry” for a period of sixty years (from the first issue, published on 1964, to the last one of year 2023). The data collected from the titles of each article, authors, their nationality and institutional affiliation, represent the development of the animal science and scientific periodical in Bulgaria. It also reflects historical and political changes, which are clearly reflected in the analyzed data set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent tracking technology has shown that some birds migrate at extreme altitudes, potentially to avoid predators. Predation risk during migration is a significant factor contributing to high mortality rates among birds. A study tracking Grey Plovers revealed that one bird was killed by a Peregrine Falcon at 3000m above ground, challenging the idea that flying at extreme altitudes can always protect against predators. The research was funded by the Dutch Research Council and conducted by a team of scientists. [Extracted from the article]

This document contains summaries of various research studies related to poultry production. The first study investigated the effects of feeding sprouted barley to hens and found that increased levels of sprouted barley decreased laying rate and feed intake. The second study examined the effects of antioxidant feed stabilizers on broiler performance and meat yield, showing that supplementation improved feed conversion ratio and breast meat yield. The third study explored broiler farmers' perceptions of slow-growing broiler production, finding positive interest but also barriers to adoption. These summaries provide valuable insights for researchers and farmers interested in poultry production. [Extracted from the article]

Simple Summary: This study explores the phylogenetic relationships among Korean native black goats, whose genetic resources are being preserved by the National Institute of Animal Science through the collection of purebred specimens. We analyzed the complete mitochondrial genomes of 282 native goats and 82 reference populations. The native population exhibits a haplotype diversity of 0.659 and includes 39 distinct haplotypes. Neighbor-joining tree and median-joining network analyses established that these goats form a unique clade (A') within Haplogroup A, suggesting a shared ancestry with diverse goat populations from around the world. This study explores the phylogeny of Korean native black goats through analysis of their complete mitochondrial DNA. The National Institute of Animal Science has gathered genetic material on purebred goats from isolated regions such as Tongyeong, Dangjin, and Jangsu, and is actively breeding them on a national level. These populations, however, are small and exhibit high inbreeding rates, highlighting the urgent need to preserve genetic diversity. The haplotype diversity within this native group is 0.659, with 39 haplotypes identified. By contrast, including international breeds in the analysis increases the overall haplotype diversity to 0.925 with 203 haplotypes identified, highlighting the limited genetic diversity among native black goats. For phylogenetic assessment, a neighbor-joining tree and median-joining network were constructed using identified haplogroups (A, B, C, D, G, and F) from prior studies. The results pinpoint the native black goats as closely related to, but distinct from, Haplogroup A with a bootstrap value of 98, establishing them as a separate clade (A'). This supports the notion of a shared ancestry with various global populations. This research provides essential data on the origins and evolutionary history of Korean native black goats, supporting conservation and breeding efforts aimed at enhancing genetic diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, video monitoring of farrowing and automatic video evaluation using Deep Learning have become increasingly important in farm animal science research and open up new possibilities for addressing specific research questions like the determination of husbandry relevant indicators. A robust detection performance of newborn piglets is essential for reliably monitoring the farrowing process and to access important information about the welfare status of the sow and piglets. Although object detection algorithms are increasingly being used in various scenarios in the field of livestock farming, their usability for detecting newborn piglets has so far been limited. Challenges such as frequent animal occlusions, high overlapping rates or strong heterogeneous animal postures increase the complexity and place new demands on the detection model. Typically, new data is manually annotated to improve model performance, but the annotation effort is expensive and time-consuming. To address this problem, we propose a Noisy Student approach to automatically generate annotation information and train an improved piglet detection model. By using a teacher-student model relationship we transform the image structure and generate pseudo-labels for the object classes piglet and tail. As a result, we improve the initial detection performance of the teacher model from 0.561, 0.838, 0.672 to 0.901, 0.944, 0.922 for the performance metrics Recall, Precision and F1-score, respectively. The results of this study can be used in two ways. Firstly, the results contribute directly to the improvement of piglet detection in the context of birth monitoring systems and the evaluation of the farrowing progress. Secondly, the approach presented can be transferred to other research questions and species, thereby reducing the problem of cost-intensive annotation processes and increase training efficiency. In addition, we provide a unique dataset for the detection and evaluation of newborn piglets and sow body parts to support researchers in the task of monitoring the farrowing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Canada uses a decentralized approach to regulate animal use in science that can weaken protections, create confusion for compliance, and complicate enforcement. We propose a stepwise approach to centralizing animal welfare laws, beginning with an enhancement of the existing 3Rs (Replacement, Refinement, and Reduction) framework by adding two new Rs: Reflection and Responsiveness. The two new Rs encourage the continuous evaluation of research progress, timely action based on new findings, and the publication of all data. We suggest that proactive consideration of all five Rs in research and education would immediately improve the welfare of animals used in science across Canada while restructuring towards a more centralized approach is explored. In this paper, we review the standard-setting tools of different levels of government in Canada for overseeing the care of animals used in science against a landscape of other international efforts. We find regulatory inconsistencies, argue that the related shortcomings are detrimental to the level of care afforded to animals, and offer suggestions for a centralized and proactive approach that could close the existing gaps. Given the resources, cost, and time it would take to transform the current system into a single cohesive one, the proposed approach is a stepwise one, and begins with the addition of two new Rs—Reflection and Responsiveness—to the existing 3Rs framework: Replacement, Refinement, and Reduction. Reflection emphasizes more continuous and specific attention to progress in the research pathway as it applies to animals than is currently required by institutional review and reporting; Responsiveness speaks to the immediate action that researchers can take responsively to that ongoing evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In the coming years, major governance changes in the form of policy directives and regulations will catalyse major top-down change with respect to animal health on European farms in an effort to combat the OneHealth threat of antimicrobial resistance. This top-down approach must be met with bottom-up strategies to ensure target actors (namely, farmers and vets) are supported and motivated to change their practices, thus, avoiding unintended consequences of forced change. Although much behavioural research has explored the factors influencing antimicrobial practices on farms, a gap exists translating these findings into evidence-based behaviour change interventions that can be put into practice. The current study aims to fill this gap. It provides insights into identifying, understanding, and changing the behaviours of farmers and veterinarians with respect to the responsible use of antimicrobials in farming. Results Through an inter-disciplinary and multi-actor approach, the study combines scientific knowledge from the behavioural sciences and animal health sciences, coupled with tacit knowledge from a co-design, participatory approach to recommend seven behaviour change interventions that can help to support good practices amongst farmers and vets, with respect to animal health, and reduce the use of antimicrobials on farms. The behaviour change interventions include message framing; OneHealth awareness campaign; specialised communications training; onfarm visual prompts and tools; social support strategies (for both farmers and vets); and antimicrobial use monitoring. The study details each intervention with respect to their evidence base and scientific concept, grounded in behavioural science, along with stakeholder feedback on design and delivery of the interventions. Conclusions These behaviour change interventions can be taken, adapted, and put into practice by the agri-food community to support good animal health practices and responsible antimicrobial use on farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the impact of ectoparasitic mites on cage-free egg production in the United States and strategies for managing these mites. The transition to cage-free housing has resulted in an increase in mite infestations, which negatively affect the health, behavior, and productivity of hens. The article discusses the genetic variability for mite resistance and the potential use of genomic selection to improve mite resistance in poultry populations. It also provides information on the biology of the northern fowl mite and poultry red mite, as well as various management strategies, including the use of pesticides and biosecurity measures. The authors stress the importance of monitoring and managing mite infestations in egg production and call for further research to develop effective and sustainable strategies for improving hen welfare. They suggest that genomic selection could be a promising approach for breeding mite-resistant poultry strains. [Extracted from the article]

Sugar beets account for 30% of global sugar production each year, and their byproducts are an important source of bioethanol and animal feed. Sugar beet is an important cash crop in Inner Mongolia, China. To achieve high yields and sugar content, it is essential to supply nitrogen fertilizer in accordance with the growth characteristics of sugar beet, thereby enhancing the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer utilization. A two-year experiment was carried out in the experimental field of the Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural & Animal Husbandry Sciences. The impact of varying ratios of nitrogen-based fertilizer to topdressing on nitrate nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen levels in the 20–60 cm soil layer, as well as the activities of protease, urease, catalase, and sucrose in the 20–40 cm soil layer were investigated during the rapid leaf growth period and root and sugar growth period. Results indicated that different ratios of nitrogen-based fertilizer to topdressing significantly influenced the levels of nitrate nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen, and the activities of protease and urease in the 0–20 cm soil layer, with these effects diminishing as soil depth increased. The activities of catalase and sucrose were minimally impacted. Nitrogen was applied at 150 kg/ha during the growth period of sugar beet, according to the growth characteristics of sugar beet to maximize nitrogen utilization efficiency. Topdressing was completed with irrigation at the rapid growth stage. The nitrogen-based fertilizer to topdressing ratio of 6:4 resulted in optimal crop yield and sugar yield of sugar beet under shallow drip irrigation. Additionally, the activities of protease and urease in different soil treatments were significantly different, and the activities of protease and urease in the 0–40 cm soil layer were identified as useful soil physiological indicators for nitrogen utilization in sugar beet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of intelligent systems for the tracking of free-range livestock is a challenge to both information and communication technology (ICT) scientists and those in the animal sciences. Cyber-physical systems make it possible to track and control processes involving intelligent objects from the physical and virtual worlds. In the case of free-range grazing, it is necessary to manage processes in two domains - that of the intelligent pasture management and that of the animals. Due to the differences in the conditions of different types of pastures - plain or high land and the characteristics of the cattle breeds, ready-made models cannot be used, but it is necessary to build a specific multi-aspect model for the behaviour and life cycle of cows. Our team organised their research on cows from two different breeds (Rhodope Shorthorn Cattle and Bulgarian Rhodope Cattle) raised in similar technologies, grazed on two different types of pasture. The aim of the study is to develop a comprehensive model for determining cattle behavioural activities on pastures using sensor groups, by incorporating physical observations and appropriate statistical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A majority of the current debates in experimental animal science research focus to a large extent on the significance and implementation of the 3Rs principle according to Russell and Burch. In this context, not least due to the EU Directive 2010/63/EU, the concept of a culture of care has become more prevalent. Although animals are essential actors in the field of laboratory science, the discussion around animal agency, as well as the resulting consequences for laboratory animal science, is currently unconsidered. Methods: The purpose of this qualitative survey was to identify the perception and understanding of professional workers in laboratory animal science regarding the culture of care in general and aspects of animal agency in particular. Using a non-standardized qualitative survey method (topic-oriented, guideline-based expert interviews), persons involved in animal experimentation in different groups (management, science, regulation, and care) were interviewed. Results: Overall, the results of the qualitative survey showed that animal agency plays a subordinate role in the question of a culture of care in animal research. Although not all groups explicitly applied the construct of animal agency or comparable terminology for this, there were links to the theoretical construct. Overall, the interviews showed a recognized network between humans and animals and that animals can interact dialogically in research. This is justified, for example, by the transfer of emotions from carers or scientists to animals. Nevertheless, a differentiated reflection of an animal's agency remains disregarded. Conclusion: The present qualitative survey approached the understanding of a culture of care among experts in the field of animal research. Animal agency does occur in the theoretical reception of the culture of care model. However, it is not conclusively established in everyday practice. Rather, the results lead to the assumption that strategies are being implemented to largely fade out animal agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Proportion of roughage and concentrate supply to dairy animal is a major challenge in commercial dairying of Bangladesh that directly correlated with quality and quantity of milk. Several studies revealed that, level of milk urea nitrogen (MUN) is an indication of proper feed supply of the animals. Therefore, the study was the attempt to find, the relationship between the level of MUN with metabolic energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) by supplied ratio of roughage, concentrate and effect of altered level MUN with milk quality and quantity in commercial dairy farms of Chittagong, Bangladesh. Methods: For the study, feed and milk samples were taken from randomly selected three different farm categories for the period of July 2014 to June 2015 monthly. The herd average milk production was taken from the recorded data. The feed and milk composition were analyzed in the dairy lab of Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU). MUN was determined by spectrophotometric method in the Poultry Research and Tanning Laboratory (PRTC) of CVASU, Chittagong, Bangladesh. Observed data was analyzed by using Pearson's correlation methods to find out the correlation among MUN level, supplied source of ME and CP and milk production and composition. Result: The results suggested that there was significant level difference of MUN (P<0.05) irrespective of seasons and farm categories with the sources of ME and CP of supplied feed. Milk yield relate significantly (P<0.05) with MUN level when there was lowest supply of roughage and maximum M.E comes from concentrate feed irrespective of farm categories. So, determination of MUN level will be helpful to commercial dairy farmers when the issues related to milk quality and quantity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Humanitas: International Journal of Social Sciences / Uluslararasi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi is the property of Humanitas: International Journal of Social Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Journal of Irrigation & Drainage Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Tardigrades, the most resilient animals known to science, have survived several mass extinctions, flown into orbit and landed on the Moon. New research reveals details of their exceptional survival skills and how they evolved. Michael Gross reports. Tardigrades, the most resilient animals known to science, have survived several mass extinctions, flown into orbit and landed on the Moon. New research reveals details of their exceptional survival skills and how they evolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a case of severe mastitis outbreak in a meat sheep herd in the United States caused by livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST398. The study identified MRSA as the causative agent of mastitis in affected ewes, leading to a decline in lamb performance. The research highlights the zoonotic potential of MRSA strains and the importance of surveillance of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in livestock to prevent occupational diseases in humans. Further investigations are needed to understand the epidemiology of MRSA in sheep herds and its implications for public health. [Extracted from the article]

The last twenty years have seen increased interest in animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and animal-assisted activity (AAA). However, there has been little research exploring these interactions as experienced by the animals themselves. In this paper, we bring a "more-than-human" lens to concepts and practices within AAA/T, synthesizing ideas about animal sentience and subjectivity that have emerged within animal geography scholarship and animal welfare science. We draw from empirical work with practitioners involved in donkey-facilitated learning (DFL) to examine the knowledge base of equine facilitators, including their beliefs, opinions, and assumptions about donkeys, their understanding of animal welfare, and their role in DFL. We discuss how knowledge of donkeys is mobilized to ensure more-than-human welfare during DFL; how animals' "choice" to participate is encouraged and centered; how ideas of nonhuman labor create opportunities for considering more-than-human welfare; and how practitioners advocate for animals and embed practices of care for humans and nonhumans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To this date, livestock activity continues to constitute one of the main bastions of the world economy and global food security. Still, just as it is vital for the subsistence of humanity, it also generates environmental and health effects that deserve attention, and that forge the irrevocable need to look for all possible alternatives to guarantee the sustainability of animal production processes. Therefore, this research has been developed under the framework of a review of the scientific literature related to the use of technology to develop sustainable livestock production processes. This review consisted of a bibliometric analysis developed within the Scopus database, delimiting all the documents published between 1987 and 2023, based on the keywords: "Sustainability", "Livestock" and "Technology", from which the data was obtained, using the search equation (TITLE-ABS-KEY ("sustainability") AND TITLE-ABS-KEY ("livestock") OR TITLE-ABS-KEY ("cattle breeding") OR TITLE-ABS-KEY ("cattle raising") OR TITLE-ABS-KEY ("cattle") AND TITLE-ABS-KEY ("technology")). A total of 887 papers in all were discovered as a consequence, with journal articles accounting for 59% of them, reviews for 19%, conference articles for 11%, and other formats for the remaining 11%. The scientific output examined between 1987 and 2023 demonstrates an increasing tendency in the study area, with the years 2019 to 2022 exhibiting the biggest publishing peaks (47% of all published papers). The findings indicate that 60% of the papers produced for the study subject were published in the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Australia and Italy. Furthermore, Sustainability (Switzerland), Animal, Journal of Animal Science, Journal of Cleaner Production and IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, were the journals that published the most on the topic, accounting for 13% of the total publications. The remaining publications are distributed among various journals. Considering that 92% of researchers in this subject are temporary, Koziel JA is the author with the most publications with seven. Similarly, Wageningen University and Research, Iowa State University, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária - Embrapa, University of Guelph and Università Degli Studi di Milano were the institutions that conducted the most research on the study's subject, accounting for 11% of the publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repeated measurement designs (RMDs) are economical and commonly utilized in pharmacology, psychology, and animal science experiments. However, RMDs might have carryover effects, which become the main source of bias in estimation of treatment effects. Carry over effects can economically be controlled with the use of minimal balanced RMDs, strongly balanced RMDs or their generalized classes. No general procedure is available in literature to obtain these important classes of RMDs. An R-Package has been developed in this article to check the given values v and p for the possible existence of minimal circular balanced and strongly balanced RMDs (along with their generalized classes), generate the sets of shifts for possible designs, and to calculate the efficiency of separability and carry over effects for the generated design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate that usually occurs in aging men and some higher mammals. Many studies have been conducted to explore different treatment strategies for managing BPH. However, a suitable animal model for studying BPH is necessary. So far, only a few animal models, such as rat and dog models, have been used for this purpose. This study aimed to compare the assessment of the BPH model induced in rabbits through the administration of exogenous testosterone and estrogen post-bilateral orchidectomy. Fifteen (N=15) indigenous Nigerian rabbits were used for this experiment. The rabbits were orchiectomized and randomly divided into 3 groups: the testosterone, estrogen, and control groups. Seven days after bilateral orchidectomy, BPH was induced using exogenous subcutaneous administration of testosterone (15 mg kg-1), estrogen (0.75 mg kg-1), and normal saline (1 mL) for 4 weeks. After completion of the treatments, prostates were removed. The weight, volume, prostate index, and histologic scoring were determined. There were significant changes (p<0.05) in prostate weight, volume, and index. Testosterone and estrogen-treated groups differed significantly from the control groups. There were no significant differences in all the parameters between the testosterone and the estrogen groups. Histological evaluation revealed hyperplasia of the epithelium of the prostate gland and increased stromal connective tissues with a corresponding increase in the number of glandular units with secretory-filled fluid within the lumens of the glands. The benign prostate hyperplasia rabbit model was developed successfully using exogenous treatment with testosterone propionate. Testosterone appeared to have significant roles in the development of prostate hyperplasia when compared to estrogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Veterinary research relies heavily on data analysis to understand animal health and disease. While inferential statistics are crucial for concluding, descriptive statistics form the foundation for effective data exploration and interpretation. This review delves into the importance of descriptive statistics in veterinary science. It outlines the key objectives of descriptive analysis and provides multiple examples of its application. The application of common measures like frequency distributions, central tendency, data spread, and visualization in veterinary contexts is explored. The review emphasizes the role of descriptive statistics in establishing a strong foundation for further statistical analysis of veterinary data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to evaluate knowledge gained from training programs conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Barnala of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab. In these scientific fish farming training programs, a total 94 trainees (farmer, farm women and rural youth) have participated during the year 2021 to 2023. Majority of respondents constituting 60.64 percent were from middle age group (31-50 years) followed by rural youth (18-30 years) and old age participants (above 51 years). All the participants were asked to fill pre and post-test questionnaire which included questions related to fisheries such as fishpond maintenance, feeding, freshwater species and other cultural practices. A score of one and zero mark was given to each correct and incorrect answers. Data revealed that in pre-test majority of participants (79.78%) were having less knowledge about the fish farming which scored (0-30%). Whereas, knowledge gained by 72.34 percent of the respondents had scored above 60 percent in the post-test. This is clear indication of knowledge gain and positive impact of training programme conducted by KVK, Barnala. The result of knowledge gained by the participants in fish farming is helpful in upliftment of their socio-economic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The main challenge of animal production in Iran is the lack of fodder, and corn is one of the important agricultural crops to provide fodder. The level of cultivation and performance of corn have increased significantly in recent decades, and it is predicted that the demand for corn may double the current demand by 2050. Many factors are involved in the increase or decrease of corn yield, but choosing a superior, compatible, and high-yielding hybrid in each region is one of the main factors in increasing the production and yield of the corn crop. One of the limiting factors is the lack of water resources and the occurrence of droughts in Iran in the last few years. In this regard, it is necessary to better understand the morphological characteristics of the plant, the performance of different hybrids, and their nutritional value in different stages of growth and different cultivars in livestock feeding. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of the growth stages of some fodder corn cultivars on chemical compounds, parameters of gas production, and ruminal degradability in four hybrid varieties, namely corn single-cross Simon, single-cross Valbum, single-cross corn BC 678, and single-cross N.S 770 maize variety. Methods: Four varieties of fodder corn were planted in a uniform field with similar crop management in the farm of Behdis Protein Nasr Company, Behshahr, Mazandaran province, Iran, with an area of about one hectare for each variety. After the operation, they were planted in two stages (August 2 and 24 2022). Harvesting and laboratory operations were carried out in the Animal Nutrition Laboratory of the Animal Science Department, Sari University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (SANRU). In this research, four fodder corn cultivars were used in a completely randomized design in four treatments with four replications and two harvesting stages. Chemical compounds, including dry and organic matter, crude ash, NDF and ADF, crude protein, crude fat, and non-fibrous carbohydrates, were determined in the cultivars. The potential of gas production, digestibility, metabolizable energy, and volatile fatty acids were assessed in vitro. In addition, rumen degradability and effective parameters of dry matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber in rumen incubation at 0, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, and 96 hours were determined on site using three rumen fistulated Zel sheep. Results: Chemical compounds were affected by cultivars and harvest time. In two stages of harvest, the crude protein content and percentage of dry matter were significantly higher in singlecross NS770 cultivar, and fat, insoluble fiber in acid detergent, and insoluble fiber in neutral detergent rose in the singlecross BC678 cultivar. The effect of corn varieties on the parameters of gas production at harvest times was different. In the first and second harvests, the rate of gas production and gas production in 96 hours, digestibility of organic matter, metabolizable energy, and the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were higher in the singlecross NS770 variety. There was a significant difference in the gas production capacity of Single-Cross-Simon and Single-Cross NS770 cultivars in the first and second stages of harvesting. The gas production rate constant in the second stage of harvest was different between the treatments, with a higher rate in single-cross BC678 and single-cross NS770 than in single-cross-Simon and single-cross-Valbum varieties. The percentage of organic matter digestibility was different between the treatments in the first and second harvests. The organic matter digestibility was higher in Single-Cross-Simon and Single-Cross NS770 in the first harvest, and Single-Cross-Simon contained the highest amount of digestibility in the second harvest. The concentration of SCFAs was also significantly different between the treatments in the first and second harvests, with the highest concentration in Single-Cross-Simon in the first and second harvests. The degradability of dry matter, crude protein, insoluble fiber in neutral detergent, fast degradable, slow degradable, potentially degradable, and effective degradability ractions were higher in the singlecross NS770 silage at 2, 5, and 8% passage rates. The results of the gas test and determination of degradability showed that the Single Cross NS770 variety had gas production capacity, a constant rate of gas production, digestibility of organic matter, the parameters of degradability (dry matter, crude protein, and insoluble fibers in neutral detergent), and higher effective degradability in the first harvest. Conclusion: The test results showed that chemical compounds were affected by cultivars and harvest time. In two stages of harvest, the crude protein content and percentage of dry matter were significantly higher in the single-cross NS770 cultivar, and fat, insoluble fiber in acid detergent, and insoluble fiber in neutral detergent rose in the single-cross BC678 cultivar. The results of the gas test and determination of degradability showed that the Single Cross NS770 variety had gas production capacity, a constant rate of gas production, digestibility of organic matter, a, b, and a + b, Kd as parameters of degradability of dry matter, crude protein, insoluble fibers in neutral detergent, and higher effective degradability in the first harvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is an important task to practice ideological and political education and cultivate students' feelings of "agriculture, rural areas and farmers" and their responsibility to strengthen agriculture and revitalize agriculture for the construction of new agricultural science. Guided by the requirements of the construction of new agricultural science and the core of the school's "integration of animal husbandry, industry and commerce", for the cultivation goal of professional talents in animal science, an ideological and political curriculum chain was established from three levels of professional basic courses, professional courses and professional practice courses. Meanwhile, the focus and requirements of the ideological and political education of the curriculum chain were clarified, and the case base of the ideological and political education matrix design of the "curriculum chain" was constructed through the design of the ideological and political content and teaching matrix of the curriculum chain. Finally, a four-layer progressive and linkage model of "school-profession-course-classroom" was formed, which realized the same direction of professional education and ideological and political education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repeated measurements designs (RMDs) are mostly used in animal sciences, pharmacology, medicine, and animal husbandry, etc. But residual effects are often a serious problem in such experiments. In literature, minimal strongly balanced RMDs have been introduced to overcome this problem under low budget constraints, but these designs cannot be constructed for every number of treatments and period sizes. As an alternate, generalized strongly balanced RMDs can be preferred since they yield results close to those of strongly balanced RMDs. Here, some generators are proposed for generalized strongly balanced RMDs which possess the high efficiency of Separability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Italian Association for Laboratory Animal Sciences (AISAL) held its annual meeting in September 2022. The main topic of the meeting was the section 'Quality Control of the Components in the Study' of the PREPARE guidelines. Among the audience, all stakeholders of AISAL were present: animal caretakers, technicians, facility managers, veterinarians, scientists, and animal welfare officers. One session was also dedicated to the round table on education and training, with the aim to discuss the legislative requirements as per Italian Decree 5 August 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poultry egg industry is volatile, and this study investigates the impact of the 2023 cash crunch on the poultry egg industry in Ogun State, Nigeria. Data from sixty-four poultry egg farmers were collected using structured e-questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and a paired sample t-test. Results show that 83% of respondents were small-medium scale farmers and 73% used commercial feeds. Total egg production before (12,210 crates) and during the cash crunch (12,391 crates) did not differ significantly. The average feed cost per bag before and during the crunch was ₦7 097 and ₦7 151, respectively. However, the average sales of 2,213,867 crates before the crunch and 199,437 crates during the cash crunch significantly differed. A 36% cumulative decrease in egg price from ₦2472 (December 2022) to ₦1587 (March 2023) resulted in an 83% fall in daily farm revenue. The fall in price did not increase demand for eggs, as demand was not price-dependent but driven by cash scarcity. Coping strategies adopted by farmers to mitigate egg glut included increased delivery to customers (18%), gifting of eggs (56%), and sales of poultry birds (25%). The study recommends that the government provide grants and review loan tenure for farmers while encouraging poultry farmers to collaboratively explore egg processing options. Moreover, the study emphasizes the importance of supporting animal science research to investigate possible ways of halting laying of eggs for a while during periods of economic challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The principles of three Rs—REPLACEMENT, REDUCTION, and REFINEMENT—govern the protection and use of animals, including fish, for research purposes in the European Union and Norway. In this paper, we discuss some straightforward steps to simplify the delivery of these principles at the idea stage and adapt some of these examples for conducting fish trials related to health and welfare. Although some of the approaches are well established in other animal science arenas, we believe there can be a timely recap of their key facets. We discuss a number of simple strategies to emphasize how a reduction in fish numbers can be achieved from initial project conception to implementation, highlighting not only their advantages but also their limitations. We also highlight the role that funding agencies can play in the implementation of the 3R principles in aquaculture research. These simple points can be used in frameworks to initiate a broader and dynamic intersectoral dialogue among stakeholders of aquaculture research on how to promote ethics and embrace opportunities for this within the tenets of the 3Rs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was conducted during January, 2022 to January, 2023 at the Department of Animal Genetics & Breeding, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Navsari, Gujarat, India to identify polymorphisms in HSP 70 gene. Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) known as molecular chaperones are essential for cells' ability to recover from stress and serve as the primary defence mechanism within cells. They are extremely conserved and essential to the response to heat stress and cellular thermotolerance. Even though there are numerous HSP genes, in livestock species, heat tolerance is primarily associated with HSP 70. This gene polymorphisms have been linked to heat tolerance, milk production, fertility and cattle susceptibility to disease. They can be utilised as genetic markers to help choose animals that are more resilient to climate change, have stronger immune systems and perform better overall. A 220 bp fragment of bovine HSP 70 gene was subjected to Polymerase Chain Reaction-Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) technique to identify the polymorphism. PCR-SSCP pattern was associated with the thermotolerance traits in Kankrej cattle using the univariate GLM model of SPSS 26. HSP 70 gene (220 bp fragment) was found to be monomorphic documented on SSCP gel which revealed only one genotype (AA) in all Kankrej cattle. It is concluded that genotype and its association with thermotolerance traits were found to be non-significant. However, The HSP 70 polymorphism is expected to strongly predict cattle heat tolerance, aiding in selection for thermotolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One primary goal of laboratory animal welfare science is to provide a comprehensive severity assessment of the experimental and husbandry procedures or conditions these animals experience. The severity, or degree of suffering, of these conditions experienced by animals are typically scored based on anthropocentric assumptions. We propose to (a) assess an animal's subjective experience of condition severity, and (b) not only rank but scale different conditions in relation to one another using choice-based preference testing. The Choice-based Severity Scale (CSS) utilizes animals' relative preferences for different conditions, which are compared by how much reward is needed to outweigh the perceived severity of a given condition. Thus, this animal-centric approach provides a common scale for condition severity based on the animal's perspective. To assess and test the CSS concept, we offered three opportunistically selected male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) choices between two conditions: performing a cognitive task in a typical neuroscience laboratory setup (laboratory condition) versus the monkey's home environment (cage condition). Our data show a shift in one individual's preference for the cage condition to the laboratory condition when we changed the type of reward provided in the task. Two additional monkeys strongly preferred the cage condition over the laboratory condition, irrespective of reward amount and type. We tested the CSS concept further by showing that monkeys' choices between tasks varying in trial duration can be influenced by the amount of reward provided. Altogether, the CSS concept is built upon laboratory animals' subjective experiences and has the potential to de-anthropomorphize severity assessments, refine experimental protocols, and provide a common framework to assess animal welfare across different domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]