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Rats were the first mammals to be domesticated for scientific research, and abundant physiological data are available on them. Rats are expected to continue to play an important role as experimental animals, especially with advancements such as CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Environmental enrichment aims to promote species-specific behaviors and psychological well-being. In the present study, we designed a double-decker (DD) cage, which utilizes two stacked plastic cages for rat enrichment, and investigated the influence of housing in the DD cage on rat mating behavior. The results indicated that mount frequency, total mount counts, and total ejaculation latency were significantly lower in the DD cages than in the single-decker (SD) cages. Notably, in the DD cages, the body weight loss of male rats after mating behavior was lower than that observed in the SD cage. Water consumption per day during mating behavior was also significantly lower in the DD cages, although no significant differences were observed in daily food intake during mating behavior. In addition, reproductive performance, including pregnancy rate and birth rate, did not change in the DD cages. In summary, our study demonstrated that DD cages reduce mount frequency and ejaculation latency during rat mating, resulting in decreased water consumption and weight loss in male rats. Therefore, housing in DD cages may serve as a beneficial enrichment for rats.

Cryptosporidiosis, primarily caused by Cryptosporidium parvum, is a significant cause of diarrhea in pre-weaned dairy calves. To investigate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium among pre-weaned diarrheic dairy calves and identify potential sources of infection in northern China, 234 fecal samples from 18 farms in six regions were analyzed for Cryptosporidium. Furthermore, 217 bedding samples from both occupied and unoccupied calf hutches, heating lamp pens, and individual calving pens in eight farms in Beijing were also examined for the presence of the parasite. All samples were screened for Cryptosporidium spp. using nested PCR targeting the SSU rRNA gene fragment, and C. parvum was subtyped with nested PCR targeting the 60 kDa glycoprotein gene. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium was 33.3%, with C. parvum and C. bovis constituting 29.9% and 3.4% of cases, respectively. The positive rate of Cryptosporidium in 1- to 4-week-old calves ranged from 9.6 to 63.6%. Analysis of the gp60 fragment of C. parvum revealed four subtypes: IIdA15G1, IIdA17G1, IIdA19G1, and IIdA20G1. Besides the bedding samples in heating lamp pens, both C. parvum and C. bovis were detected in bedding samples throughout the other regions. A significant positive correlation between the detection rate of Cryptosporidium in fecal samples and that in the bedding materials of occupied calf hutches (R = 0.93, P = 0.002). These findings suggest that C. parvum is the predominant species among pre-weaned diarrheic dairy calves in northern China. Contaminated bedding materials may act as sources of infection for newborn calves., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Foodborne pathogens such as Campylobacter jejuni are responsible for a large proportion of the gastrointestinal infections worldwide associated with poultry meat. Campylobacter spp. can be found in the chicken fecal microbiome and can contaminate poultry meat during the slaughter process. Commonly used sampling methods to detect Campylobacter spp. at poultry farms use fecal droppings or boot swabs in combination with conventional culture techniques or PCR. In this pilot study, we have used air filtering and filters spiked with mock communities in combination with shotgun metagenomics to detect Campylobacter and test the applicability of this approach for the detection and characterization of foodborne pathogens. To the best of our knowledge is this the first study that combines air filtering with shotgun metagenomic sequencing for detection and characterization of Campylobacter., Results: Analysis of air filters spiked with different levels of Campylobacter, into a background of mock or poultry house communities, indicated that we could detect as little as 200 colony forming units (CFU) Campylobacter per sample using our protocols. The results indicate that even with limited sequencing effort we could detect Campylobacter in the samples analysed in this study. We observed significant amounts of Campylobacter in real-life samples from poultry houses using both real-time PCR as well as shotgun metagenomics, suggesting that the flocks in both houses were infected with Campylobacter spp. Interestingly, in both houses we find diverse microbial communities present in the indoor air which reflect the fecal microbiome of poultry. Some of the identified genera such as Staphylococcus, Escherichia and Pseudomonas are known to contain opportunistic pathogenic species., Conclusions: These results show that air sampling of poultry houses in combination with shotgun metagenomics can detect and identify Campylobacter spp. present at low levels. This is important since early detection of Campylobacter enables measures to be put in place to ensure the safety of broiler products, animal health and public health. This approach has the potential to detect any pathogen present in poultry house air., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a significant global health issue. Despite historically higher rates among men, AUD prevalence and negative alcohol-related outcomes in women are rising. Loneliness in humans has been associated with increased alcohol use, and traditional rodent drinking models involve single housing, presenting challenges for studying social enrichment. We developed LIQ PARTI (Lick Instance Quantifier with Poly-Animal RFID Tracking Integration), an open-source tool to examine home cage continuous access two-bottle choice drinking behavior in a group-housed setting, investigating the influence of sex and social isolation on ethanol consumption and bout microstructure in C57Bl/6J mice. LIQ PARTI, based on our previously developed single-housed LIQ HD system, accurately tracks drinking behavior using capacitive-based sensors and RFID technology. Group-housed female mice exhibited higher ethanol preference than males, while males displayed a unique undulating pattern of ethanol preference linked to cage changes, suggesting a potential stress or novelty-related response. Chronic ethanol intake distinctly altered bout microstructure between male and female mice, highlighting sex and social environmental influences on drinking behavior. Social isolation with the LIQ HD system amplified fluid intake and ethanol preference in both sexes, accompanied by sex- and fluid-dependent changes in bout microstructure. However, these effects largely reversed upon resocialization, indicating the plasticity of these behaviors in response to social context. Utilizing a novel group-housed home cage lickometer device, our findings illustrate the critical interplay of sex and housing conditions in voluntary alcohol drinking behaviors in C57Bl/6J mice, facilitating nuanced insights into the potential contributions to AUD etiology., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests., (Copyright © 2024 Petersen et al.)

In this study, the effects of fully littered, slatted and their varying combinations on growth, performance, carcass and meat quality characteristics in broiler chickens were investigated. In the experiment, five treatment groups were formed as fully littered (FL), fully slatted (FS), 1/3 littered + 2/3 slatted (2/3 SF), 1/2 littered + 1/2 slatted (1/2SF), 2/3 littered + 1/3 slatted (1/3 SF). Each treatment group included 5 replicates (24 chicks in each) and a total of 600 male-female mixed fast growing broiler chicks (Ross-308) were used during 6 weeks. Weekly body weight (BW, g), feed intake (FI, g), feed conversion ratio (FCR, g.feed intake/g.weight gain), livability (%) and EPEF (European Production Efficiency Factor) were determined as performance characteristics. Carcass yield (CY, %), and the percentages of abdominal fat (AFP, %), edible internal organs (EIOP, %), gizzard (GP, %), breast (BRP, %) and thigh (TP, %) meat were the carcass characteristics. Meat quality measured by pH and color (L*: lightness, a*: redness, b*: yellowness) of breast and thigh meat, and occurrence of white striping and hemorrhaging in breast meat. The weekly BW differences among the floor treatments were significant (P < 0.01), and 1/3SF broilers were the heaviest at slaughter age (3311.6 g). The 6-week FCR in FS broilers was significantly worse than the others (1.471), but FI, livability and EPEF were similar among treatments. AFP tended to be higher in FL birds (P = 0.066), while CY, EIOP, GP, BRP and TP did not differ between groups. Breast pH was similar between treatments, with 1/2SF showing the highest (6.34) and FL the lowest (6.24) breast pH (P < 0.01). The partially slatted systems caused lighter, redder and yellower color values in breast meat (P < 0.01) than the fully littered or slatted systems, but did not change the color of the thigh meat. White striping and hemorrhaging in breast meat were not affected by the floor treatments. This study suggests that the use of partially slatted systems in broiler chickens improves meat color without compromising performance traits (body weight, feed efficiency, EPEF), litter moisture and slaughter traits and these systems could be an alternative to fully littered systems., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Introduction: Maternal care plays a fundamental role in early life, and the alteration of its patterns can negatively affect the developmental course of the offspring in a myriad of domains in both rats and humans. The limited bedding and nesting (LBN) protocol is an extensively used paradigm in rodents to address the impact of altered maternal behavior patterns on infants' neurodevelopment. Here, we explore the altered patterns of maternal care in rats in LBN conditions by describing sequences of transition between maternal behavior components using network analysis. Using this technique, we capture how often maternal behavior transitions take place during the LBN period and which behaviors play central roles in those transitions over time., Materials and Methods: Female rats and their pups were placed in standard and LBN housing conditions from Postpartum Days 2 to 9, during which maternal behavior was observed during the light and dark phases. We used inferential statistical analysis to compare the maternal behavior profiles of control and LBN dams, and network analysis was used to capture the altered sequence of maternal behavior transitions during the period of LBN., Results: Compared to control dams, LBN dams significantly increased their high crouch nursing posture during light/dark phases (p = 0.018), and the number of behavioral transitions increased only during the dark phase (p = 0.0004). Network analysis revealed specific altered patterns of behavioral transitions in LBN dams, characterized by the predominance of switches between active nursing postures during the first five days of the LBN protocol., Conclusion: Nursing behavior was the most disrupted component of maternal behavior under the LBN protocol, mainly during the dark phase. Network analysis can complement and extend traditional methods to gain a more thorough understanding of maternal care strategies and behavioral patterns in LBN conditions and potential consequences for the offspring., (© 2024 The Author(s). Brain and Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The number of piglets born alive is frequently greater than the functional teats, and some farms are equalizing litters with surplus piglets, limiting piglet udder access. Removing the barrier among farrowing crates may allow piglets to socialize and seek other sows. Thus, we evaluated the effects litter size at cross-fostering and socialization on the sow and piglet performance during lactation. Two factors were included in a 2 × 2 factorial design: socialization and litter size relative to sow functional teat number at cross-fostering. Litters (n = 189) were then assigned to one of four groups: CONT+0 (litters not co-mingled with no additional piglet), CONT+1 (not co-mingled with one additional piglet), Co-M+0 (co-mingled with no additional piglet), Co-M+1 (co-mingled with one additional piglet). Piglets were cross-fostered from 12-16 h after birth, and 24 h later, Co-M groups were socialized by removing the barrier between two adjacent pens. During lactation, sows lost more caliper units in the + 1 group than in the + 0 group (P = 0.04). The number of functional teats did not differ among groups, but Co-M sows had a higher udder lesion score at weaning than CONT (6.55 vs 4.83; P < 0.01). Furthermore, +1 sows had fewer vacant teats throughout lactation (P < 0.01). Milk yield did not differ among the groups (P ≥ 0.13). Regarding the number of weaned piglets, no difference was observed for socialization (P = 0.84), but + 1 sows weaned 0.67 more piglets than + 0 (P < 0.01). Although CONT+0 had the heaviest piglets at weaning (P < 0.01), litter weight did not differ among the groups (P ≥ 0.08). Facial and joint lesions were frequently observed in Co-M (P < 0.01) than CONT. Piglet loss rate did not differ among treatments (overall rate = 12.6%; P ≥ 0.26). The removal rate, however, was more frequent in + 1 litters than in  + 0 (P < 0.01). Death due to starvation was higher in CONT+1 than CONT+0 (P < 0.01) but did not differ between the Co-M groups (P = 0.99). Litters formed with one additional piglet relative to functional teat number weaned more piglets, albeit with lower individual weight. Litter socialization may alleviate the impact of high litter size but shows greater percentages of udder injuries and facial and joint lesions in weaned piglets., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

BackgroundOutbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) on poultry farms and in wild birds worldwide persists despite intensified control measures. It causes unprecedented mortality in bird populations and is increasingly affecting mammalian species. Better understanding of HPAI introduction pathways into farms are needed for targeted disease prevention and control. The relevance of airborne transmission has been suggested but research involving air sampling is limited and unequivocal evidence on transmission routes is lacking.AimWe aimed to investigate whether HPAI virus from wild birds can enter poultry houses through air inlets by characterising host materials through eukaryote DNA sequencing.MethodsWe collected particulate matter samples in and around three HPAI-affected poultry farms which were cleared and decontaminated before sampling. Indoor measurements (n = 61) were taken directly in the airflow entering through air inlets, while outdoor air samples (n = 60) were collected around the poultry house. Positive controls were obtained from a bird rehabilitation shelter. We performed metabarcoding on environmental DNA by deep sequencing 18S rRNA gene amplicons.ResultsWe detected waterbird DNA in air inside all three, and outside of two, poultry farms. Sequences annotated at species level included swans and tufted ducks. Waterbird DNA was present in all indoor and outdoor air samples from the bird shelter.ConclusionAirborne matter derived from contaminated wild birds can potentially introduce HPAI virus to poultry houses through air inlets. The eDNA metabarcoding could assess breaches in biosecurity for HPAI virus and other pathogens potentially transmitted through air via detection of their hosts.

Rooting is a strongly motivated, species-specific behaviour of pigs. Most housing systems do not provide appropriate materials that enable the full expression of this behaviour, and it remains unclear whether straw is suitable to entirely fulfil the rooting motivation of pigs. We therefore investigated the suitability of small (minimal) and large (deep) amounts of straw as well as large amounts of compost to satisfy rooting motivation in pigs. Fifty-seven growing-finishing pigs were housed in three pens, each providing permanent access to one of the three treatment substrates. Eight pigs per group were tested individually in a classical preference test (PT) and another eight pigs in a conditioned place preference test (CPPT). In the tests, pigs could show their preference to consume freely available feed ("feed") or feed hidden in sawdust ("root"). In the CPPT, feed was only present during training but not during testing. Pigs were exposed to the test situation twice, with approximately 72 kg and 115 kg BW. In both tests, the following variables were measured and used as outcome variables in linear mixed effect models: first decision to choose one of the two stimuli ("feed" or "root"), duration of time spent in proximity to "root", number of changes between stimuli, and latency to the first decision. Overall, the pigs' first decision (by tendency; P = 0.076) and the duration in proximity to "root" (P = 0.034) varied among treatments: Pigs housed with minimal straw tended to be more likely to choose "root" first (posthoc comparison; P = 0.090) and spent more time in proximity to "root" (P = 0.030) than pigs housed with compost, whereas pigs housed with deep straw were intermediate. Interestingly, the patterns of response to the treatment differed depending on the behavioural tests for both, first decision (interaction; P = 0.032) and duration in proximity to "root" (interaction; by tendency; P = 0.006). In addition, pigs in the PT changed more often between stimuli than pigs in the CPPT (P < 0.001). There was a tendency for an interactive effect between test and treatment for latency to first decision (interaction; P = 0.082), though pairwise comparisons did not reveal any differences. We concluded that in this study housing with permanent access to compost satisfied rooting motivation in pigs more than housing with minimal amounts of straw., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cage effects: some researchers worry about them, some don't, and some aren't even aware of them. When statistical analyses do not account for cage effects, there is real reason to worry. Regardless of researchers' worries or lack thereof, all researchers should be aware of how cage effects can affect the results. The "how" depends, in part, on the experimental design. Here, I (a) define cage effects; (b) illustrate a completely randomized design (CRD) often used in animal experiments; (c) explain how statistical significance is artificially inflated when cage effects are ignored and (d) give guidance on proper analyses and on how to increase statistical power in CRDs., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author declares no conflict of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Cubicle partitions divide the resting area of free-stalls into individual lying places for cows, thereby facilitating the maintenance of good hygiene and reducing competition by separating animals. The forward lunge space in lying cubicles is often insufficient for a natural head lunge movement during rising. Cubicles with open frame partitions and a flexible neck strap aim to alleviate this welfare issue. The open partition frame facilitates lateral space sharing (using space of neighbouring cubicles for the head lunge movement) and the flexible neck strap is presumably less painful upon collision. In an observational study, we investigated the lying behaviour of free-stall housed dairy cows in this 'permissive' cubicle type with open frame partitions and a flexible neck strap positioned relatively high above the lying surface compared to 'restrictive' cubicles with partitions with more bar work in the lateral lunge space and a lower-positioned rigid neck rail. The study was conducted on commercial Swiss dairy farms with exclusively wall-facing lying cubicles of either the permissive (four farms) or restrictive (six farms) type. The forward lunge space on these farms ranged from 55 to 70 cm, which we considered insufficient for adult cows to lunge their heads forward. On each farm, 18-20 lactating dairy cows were selected. In total, 188 animals were used in the statistical analysis. Over 1.5 days, rising and lying down movements were videotaped, and the prevalence of atypical behaviours during these movements was recorded. In addition, we determined the daily lying duration, the lying frequency, and the mean lying bout duration using accelerometers mounted on the left hind leg. The data was analysed in relation to the cubicle type (permissive or restrictive). In the permissive cubicle type, staggered head lunge movements during rising and displays of hesitance before lying down were less prevalent. The lying frequency was higher, and daily lying duration was longer in the permissive cubicle type, although these estimates should be interpreted with caution due to the short data collection period. The results of this study suggest that the permissive cubicle with open partitions and a high-positioned flexible neck strap may improve conditions for dairy cows to rise and lie down. A permissive cubicle design may therefore improve cow welfare in free-stalls with insufficient forward lunge space, where increasing lunge space is not feasible., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

While several countries impose minimum light requirements for pig housing, it remains unknown whether these requirements are beneficial for pig welfare. Therefore, we aim to review the current knowledge on the effects of light on pig welfare. In this paper, we explain concepts defining light, discuss the relevance of vision for pigs and systematically review the effects of light on pig welfare. Systematic literature searches were performed in two databases to find studies about light and welfare-related topics, including behaviour, health, hormonal secretions and productivity. After screening, 63 studies were reviewed. According to literature, light is relevant in pigs' lives as they are diurnal animals and use vision in combination with other senses to, for example, locate food and interact with conspecifics. Throughout this paper, the investigated light parameters are photoperiod, intensity and spectrum. Pigs seem to have p for a certain light intensity and spectrum, but these preferences vary over production phases. Photoperiod influences feed intake and growth, especially in piglets, but no conclusion can be drawn because of contradictory results. Furthermore, pigs' activity patterns adapt to the provided light schedule and show a diurnal rhythm with higher activity during lit hours. Photoperiod also plays a role in the diurnal secretion of hormones. Cortisol secretion increases shortly before the moment of light onset, and melatonin secretion is influenced by the light and dark contrast with a nocturnal rise after light offset. Some behaviours are impacted by light intensity; for instance, dim conditions are associated with resting and bright conditions with elimination behaviour. Moreover, a few studies showed that in dimmer conditions, more negative social interactions occur, while brighter conditions lead to more positive interactions. Lastly, even though light spectrum is the least explored light parameter, several studies showed that UV B light can activate the cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D 3 . A limitation in the current literature is that several studies tested light treatments differing in more than one light parameter, making the interpretation of each light parameter difficult. Moreover, most studies do not provide information on other light parameters not targeted by the study, particularly on light spectrum. Some clear knowledge gaps that emerged from this review are on light spectrum and on affective states of pigs in relation to light., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Commercial laying hen housing is shifting from traditional cages to non-cage housing systems, such as the aviary, which has gained popularity due to potential for more species-typical behavior. However, birds housed in aviaries may have difficulties moving through the vertical tiers of the system leading to health problems such as keel bone fracture (KBF). One possible way to improve movement is to add ramps into an aviary system, allowing hens to walk between tiers rather than jump or fly. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of adding ramps to rearing and laying aviaries on bird health, production, and movement across vertical tiers of the aviary. Lohmann Selected Leghorn pullets were raised in 2 treatments: 4 pens (600 birds/pen) were raised with wire mesh ramps to aid movement between aviary tiers (RR) and 4 pens (600 birds/pen) were raised without ramps (RO). At 17 wk of age (WOA), birds were moved to the laying facility, in which 16 aviary pens with 225 birds/pen were populated. Half the pens (n = 8) were supplemented with wire mesh ramps (LR) and the other half were not (LO). Within each laying treatment group, 4 pens were populated with RR hens and 4 pens were populated with RO hens, creating 4 treatment combinations (RRLR, RRLO, ROLR, ROLO). From each pen, 15 focal hens were selected for radiographic imaging of their keel bones taken at 21, 36, 45, and 60 WOA and the images were subsequently scored for KBF severity. Focal hens were also scored for feather condition and footpad quality at 36 and 60 WOA using a standardized welfare assessment protocol. The number of downward transitions among aviary areas and falls were recorded at 19 to 20 and 30 to 31 WOA. Data were analyzed using (generalized) linear mixed models in R software. When ramps were available, they were used in most of the observed downward transitions (79% in ROLR and 86% in RRLR). Hens who received ramps in lay (i.e., RRLR and ROLR) showed more transitions immediately after lights on compared to midday or dusk phases (p < 0.001), performed more transitions from the first aviary tier compared to nest or top tier (p = 0.013) and had lower KBF severity than those who did not receive ramps in the laying aviaries (ROLO, RRLO; p < 0.001). At 60 WOA, hens in the RRLR treatment had greater feather coverage than those in ROLR and RRLO treatments (p < 0.001). Birds in the RRLR treatment had better foot health overall than those in treatments without ramps in lay (p = 0.018). Providing ramps to hens in aviaries appeared to be the preferred means of transitioning between aviary tiers though had positive effects on welfare parameters such as food health, feather coverage, and KBF severity, without negative impacts on production. Benefits were seen primarily when ramps were provided in lay, though their installation in rearing provided evidence of easier adaptation to the laying barn. Our study supports providing ramps throughout the lifetime of the bird to accommodate hens' preferred means of moving vertically in aviaries and deliver consequent benefits to health and welfare., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Plains zebras are commonly hosted in zoos, but few welfare-related studies are available in the literature. This research aimed to assess the effect of enclosure design on two groups of captive zebras housed at the Giardino Zoologico di Pistoia - GZP (Italy) and Parco Faunistico Valcorba - PFV (Italy) through the analysis of behavior and enclosure use. The groups consisted of an adult pair and a male juvenile at GZP and six adult females at PFV. We collected data in 2019 over 19 sampling days using the continuous focal animal sampling technique. We performed 12 observation sessions per day, with each session lasting 30 min. We analyzed the subjects' behavioral time budget and enclosure use using Generalized Linear Mixed Models and the Electivity Index. The results showed that the time allocated to feeding behavior varied from 8-16% in the enclosure with gravel substrate (GZP) to 72-85% in the exhibit enriched with a pasture (PFV), with this last percentage resembling data reported for wild zebras. Results showed that institution was a significant predictor of feeding behavior, suggesting that the presence of a pasture can stimulate food-related behavioral patterns. Regarding enclosure use, the presence of hay and water troughs influenced the animals' space use. Our findings also suggest that evaluating both behavior and enclosure use can provide a more comprehensive overview of the welfare state of the animals. However, future studies are needed to better investigate the influence of social factors on the behavior and enclosure usage of captive Plains zebras.

1. In recent years, public concern regarding animal welfare has increased while, at the same time, cage systems for animal production have been greatly criticised by EU citizens. In addition, large food retailers promote food products that are made with eggs produced in cage-free systems.2. The objective of this study was to evaluate the economic viability of the transition of laying hens' to production systems; from conventional to alternative systems with improved welfare. Three independent scenarios were assumed as follows: transition from enriched colony cages to barn (S1), transition from barn to free-range (S2), and transition from free-range to organic (S3). Economic assessments of each transition was applied to a model farm in Greece with 12 000 hens, through partial budget analysis and net benefits and costs were estimated.3. The results showed a positive economic impact in all transitions to a production system of improved animal welfare (€12,044 in S1, €18,957 in S2 and €7,977 in S3) which indicated that they are economically sustainable. In all scenarios, unit cost increased by 19% in S1, 12% in S2, and 85% in S3.4. In conclusion, transitioning towards improved animal welfare production systems in laying hen farms could be an economically viable option for egg producers in compliance with societal demands and market trends.

1. Preventing disease is important in poultry production systems, but this has mainly been studied in chickens. The aim of this study is to explore the impact of microbial aerosols in intensive goose house environments.2. To evaluate the environmental quality of geese housing, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was collected using an ambient air particulate matter sampler. High-throughput sequencing was used to analyse bacterial diversity and relative abundance. Results showed that the number of general and operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were 1,578 and 19 112 in all PM2.5 samples. Firmicutes , Bacteroidota , Proteobacteria , Acidobacterota were the four most abundant phyla in PM2.5.3. Compared with bacterial phyla in the PM2.5 from chicken houses, those in the genus Acidobacterota were increased in goose housing. There are various genera of bacteria present in PM2.5, and their composition was similar across different samples. No significant change was observed in the diversity of microbiota in the PM2.5, although multiple pathogenic bacteria were detected.4. A prediction function showed that a variety of bacterial phyla correlated positively with the human diseases.5. In summary, the microbial aerosols in the goose shed pose significant risks to the health of the geese. Regular monitoring of the composition of microbial aerosols is important for the healthy growth of geese and disease prevention and control.

In poultry behavior research, the reliance on presence data to estimate actual resource usage has substantially increased with the advent of tracking technologies such as radio frequency identification (RFID) and image-based systems. Although such widely used technologies are fundamentally designed for presence tracking, many studies claim to use them to investigate actual resource usage. This study investigates whether the duration of chickens' presence near key resources accurately reflects their actual usage. To this end, we analyzed 210 ten-min video sequences from 5 days of recordings of 21 chickens, focusing on their proximity to and use of 6 key resources in a mobile poultry barn. Human observers manually assessed the durations of proximity-presence in defined functional areas of interest-and resource use for each individual in the video sequences. Significant correlations (Spearman's coefficient 0.83-1) were found for most resources, except the pophole (Rho = -0.30). Usage-to-presence ratios varied: perches exceeded 87%, feeder and enrichments around 66%, drinker 50%, and pophole 10%. Our findings highlight that mere proximity to resources does not always guarantee their effective use. We emphasize the need for careful interpretation of data from tracking technologies, acknowledging the distinction between mere proximity and actual resource use. Future studies should include larger sample sizes and varied conditions to ensure broader applicability., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The optimization of animal welfare, meat quality, environmental impact, and economic sustainability in alternative poultry farming can be achieved by modulating several productive factors and improving the synergy between the chicken genotype and the outdoor environment. The objective of the study was to characterize 4 slow-growing chicken genotypes reared in free range conditions. Eight hundred chickens (SGs; 25 chickens/replicates/genotype/enrichment) belonging to the following genotypes, Red JA57 (RJ), Naked Neck (NN), Lohmann Dual meat-type (LD), and an Italian crossbreed (Robusta Maculata x Sasso, CB). were utilised and slaughtered at 81 d: The grazing areas were alternatively provided with enrichment constituted by strips of sorghum plants (ENR) or only grass (NO ENR). Productive performance (daily weight gain, daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, live weight) were recorded weekly. Behaviour observations (walking and grass pecking), carcass and meat quality of breast and drumstick were also assessed in 15 chickens/replicate/genotypes/enrichment. Results demonstrated that both LD and CB showed the highest walking activity, but the different strains were differently capable of using the foraging resources (eating grass). The better productive performance was recorded in RJ followed by NN, CB and LD. In LD and CB, the different walking activities also affected the physico-chemical profiles (lower pHu, WHC, and lipids) of the breast and drumstick. The oxidative status was worse in CB than in the other groups (lower tocols, higher carbonyls), in both meat cuts. Fatty acid profile was also related to the genetic strain: a higher amount of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was recorded both in the breast and drumstick of RJ and NN. The Healthy Fatty Index resulted excellent in all the chicken genotypes. In conclusion, the environment/animal interaction resulted as an important factor affecting the adaptability of genotypes to an extensive rearing system. All four genotypes, to different extents, showed good adaptability and production performance, with the exception of LD and CB, which were too light for the commercial supply chain requirements., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Indoor arenas do not always include mechanical ventilation or stirring fans and occupancy by horses and humans can be sporadic and inconsistent, which creates a challenging space for understanding and predicting variations in temperature, moisture, and airflow. To understand the interior environment within indoor arenas, monitoring was conducted at 15 facilities within 200 kilometres of Lexington, KY. Environmental monitoring of dry bulb temperature, relative humidity, dew point temperature, air speeds, and solar radiation took place over 7 days in the winter and summer to examine temporal variability. Environmental data was collected every 5 minutes using the HOBO RX3000 Remote Monitoring Station with the HOBOnet Temp/RH Sensor, HOBOnet Solar Radiation (Silicon Pyranometer) Sensor, and HOBOnet Ultrasonic Wind Speed and Direction Sensor. Clear seasonal differences and diurnal patterns were evident in all environmental conditions, but the relative humidity. The relative humidity and dew point temperatures indicated moisture could be an issue in many of the indoor arenas. High relative humidity and excess moisture can negatively impact horse and human health as well as the lifespan of the facility. Similar results to previous spatial variability indoor arena characterizations were observed during the environmental monitoring with air speeds being below the threshold for still air in livestock facilities (0.51 m s -1 ). Sensor technology and implementation provides a better understanding of the interior environment and how indoor arena design can impact it., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interest or personal relationships that could appear to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Dietary forage levels contribute to the performance of non-nutritive oral behaviors (NNOB) in cattle, yet the impact of varying forage levels on these behaviors is unknown. To evaluate the impact of dietary corn stalk inclusion (CSI) levels on NNOB, rumination time, and activity, pre-dominantly British-continental crossbred drylot-housed steers (n=27) were blocked by weight and randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments (5%, 10%, or 15%) of CSI on a DM basis. Animals were fitted with a rumination collar upon arrival that measured rumination time and activity and video recorded. Cattle that spent more time bar licking had greater DMI, tended to have greater ADG and be more active. CSI in this study did influence NNOB performance; however, the impacts observed were not as expected. Cattle fed the 10% CSI performed the most bar licking and tongue rolling. This pilot investigation suggest that these CSI were insufficient to have a meaningful impact on NNOBs. Cattle spending more time bar licking and bar licked more frequently may be more orally motivated as reflected in their increased DMI and activity levels.

Over the years, scientific research with fish models has grown at a rapid pace, and issues such as animal welfare are becoming increasingly important in various areas of animal husbandry and experimentation. Here, we evaluated whether Danio rerio behavior is affected by long-term maintenance (75 days) in an enriched environment or a chronic stress (CS) situation. In addition, we evaluated some biochemical parameters related to redox status. We concluded that long-term maintenance of zebrafish in enriched environment might induce an anxiety-like behavior pattern when these fish are faced with an acute subsequent stressor. These anxiety results, the increased school cohesion, and the absence of oxidative damage allow us to hypothesize that the fish maintained in environmental enrichment (EE) situation is more reactive, showing a strong protective reaction to the stress. From an applicable perspective, we show that both too much stress and too little stress are not ideal for zebrafish stocks. In CS situations, fish can habituate and might not respond optimally to test conditions. In opposite, the low stress promoted by environmental enrichment also renders the fish incapable of dealing with occasional stressors optimally, because now even normal conditions appear stressful to them and may elicit fear behaviors they normally would not exhibit.

This research examines the predictors of volunteer satisfaction in animal shelters. It assesses the relative importance of volunteer demographics, the attributes of the shelter, and the policies and procedures governing the volunteer experience. Volunteering takes place within organizational contexts creating a dynamic relationship between the individual and the organization. The study compares the importance of volunteer and organizational traits and organizational policies in volunteer satisfaction. Based on a survey of 651 animal shelter volunteers, it concludes that policies and procedures under the control of the organization are most important in contributing to volunteer satisfaction.

Horses maintained outdoors may experience a lower-allergenic environment compared to their stabled counterparts. This study hypothesizes that climatic changes in southern Brazil can influence respiratory status. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the lower airways of 17 horses from a teaching herd in southern Brazil, maintained outdoors, during winter, spring, and summer. Except for one mare with a history of severe asthma, all horses were considered healthy and underwent a physical examination. Airway endoscopic evaluation included scoring for tracheal mucus (0-5) and bronchial septum thickness (1-5). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected at three time points, while bronchial septum biopsies were performed during spring and summer for airway epithelial investigation. Data analysis involved repeated measures ANOVA and Wilcoxon tests (p < 0.05). Tracheal mucus score and septal thickness did not differ across investigation periods. In BALF cytology, the mean percentage of neutrophils was higher in spring than summer (7.9 ± 13.4 % vs. 4.5 ± 11.7 %, P = 0.037), and eosinophil count was higher in winter than spring (0.64 ± 1.29 % vs. 0.03 ± 0.13 %, P = 0.034) and summer (0.64 ± 1.29 % vs. 0.14 ± 0.60 %, P = 0.023). Histopathological observations showed no differences between time points, and no correlations were observed with BALF analyses (P > 0.05). This study demonstrates that, even in an outdoor environment, horses' airways exhibit cytological modifications associated with different seasons, indicating a need for deeper investigation; endobronchial biopsy did not contribute to the clinical diagnosis., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None of the authors have financial or personal relationships with other people or organisations that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The ability of animal shelter employees to identify poor welfare states in kenneled dogs is crucial for the mitigation of suffering. Animal shelter employees (n = 28), animal behavior professional (n = 49), and the general public (n = 41) watched 10 videos of kenneled dogs then rated the welfare of the dogs, stated the rationale for their score, indicated how they would improve the welfare, and rated the feasibility of improvements. Professionals gave slightly lower (poorer) welfare scores compared to the public (z = -1.998, p = 0.046). Shelter employees (z = -5.976, p < 0.001) and professionals (z = 9.047, p < 0.001) used body language and behavior to explain their welfare scores more than the public. All three populations mentioned the addition of enrichment to improve the welfare, however, shelter employees (z = -5.748, p < 0.001) and professionals (z = 6.046, p < 0.001) mentioned it significantly more. There were no significant differences in the perceived feasibility of changes. Future research should explore possible reasons for the lack of welfare improvements within animal shelters.

Dip nets are widely used to retrieve fish from the water but can cause injuries to the fish. The objective of this study was to document the potential effects of dip net mesh size with respect to external injuries, more specifically fin splits and scale losses, in Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ). The study included 273 post-smolt Atlantic salmon from two fish batches referred to as the Tank group ( w -  = 178 ± 36 g, n = 198) and the Cage group ( w -  = 1319 ± 334 g, n = 75). Four identical dip nets with mesh sizes of 5, 10, 15, and 20 mm, respectively, were used to net fish out of their enclosures before the external injuries were assessed by visual inspection. The results showed that the number and severity of fin splits increased with dip net mesh size, but no effect of mesh size on the percentage of scale losses was found. Dip-netting of five fish at a time instead of one with the 20 mm dip net, had no statistically significant effect on the examined injuries. It is concluded that the use of dip nets with smaller mesh sizes can be positive for fish welfare by reducing fin splitting.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of varying stocking densities during the first 10 days on the performance, welfare, slaughter and meat quality characteristics of broiler chickens in the subsequent period (11-42 days). In the study, treatments representing 3 different stocking densities with the same group sizes were established and a total of 432 d-old chicks were used. In the first 10 days of the rearing period, treatments of 18 (SD18), 27 (SD27) and 36 (SD36) chicks per m 2 were formed, and at 11 days of age, chicks in all treatments were reared at a density of 18 chicks/m 2 . Body weight differences in SD18, SD27 and SD36 treatments at 10 and 42 days of age were significant (P < 0.05), they were 252.6, 254.3 and 241.5 g in SD18, SD27 and SD36 groups at 10 days and 2961.1, 2874.8 and 2842.7 g at 42 days of age, respectively. In the first 10 days of growing period, SD36 showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) from the other groups in feed intake and feed conversion ratio, but this was not significant at slaughter age. The livability at 10 and 42 days was not different among treatments and was between 98.6 and 99.3% and 93.5-93.8%, respectively. The uniformity at 10 days was significant among the stocking density groups (P < 0.05) and the best uniformity level was obtained in the SD36 group, the differences in CV values at 42 days were not significant among the treatments. EPEF (European production efficiency factor) values were not different between the groups, the highest numerical value was determined in the SD36 group. Foot pad dermatitis, hock burn and breast burn levels were significantly higher in SD18 chickens (P < 0.05), however incidence of finger crookedness and valgus-varus deformity did not differ between the treatments. The litter moisture contents were similar between treatments, and ranged from 25.6 to 32.6%. Different stocking density treatments during the first 10 days of the experiment had no significant effect on slaughter, abdominal fat, carcass parts, color and pH values in the breast and thigh meat. In conclusion, rearing broiler chickens by dividing the poultry house area by half during the first 10 days (36 birds/m 2 ) could help to improve the overall productivity (EPEF) by providing ease of maintenance, efficient heating and better control., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether jacket wearing by semi-indoor Holstein calves affected performance, body measurements and health status in the preweaning period throughout the winter months. A total of one hundred calves were allocated into two treatment groups (control and jacket) in terms of their weights and sex. The calves throughout the study period were raised at individual calf hutches in a semi-open barn. All calves and the consumed concentrate intakes were weighed every 28 days to determine body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), total and daily feed consumption (TFC, DFC). Incidence rate (IR) ratios were calculated from the records of daily health assessments. Calves in treatment group were jacketed from first to 45 days of age. The weaning process started gradually at 56 days of age and the calves were weaned on day 63. No significant effects of wearing jackets in terms of body measurements and performance. The respiratory diseases IR was 1.15 times higher in calves without jackets, which means that calf health was positively affected by wearing jackets. The improved health status of the treatment group showed that wearing jackets may protect calves from adverse effects of cold stress. There is a need for more comprehensive studies about the effect of calf jackets in early periods of preweaning, especially in calves in outdoor hutches., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Within the same species, individuals exhibiting faster growth tend to have shorter lifespans, even if their fast growth arises from early-life pharmacological interventions. However, in vertebrates, the impact of the early-life environment on the growth rate and lifespan has not been fully elucidated. In this study, by utilizing the short-lived African turquoise killifish, which is suitable for a comprehensive life-stage analysis in a brief timeframe, we explored the effects of housing density during the juvenile stage on holistic life traits. As a result, we found that lower housing densities resulted in faster growth, but led to longer adult lifespan, which was contrary to the common notion. Furthermore, the single-housed adult fish displayed a longer egg-laying period than did their group-housed counterparts. Our transcriptome analysis also demonstrated that, in terms of internal transcriptional programs, the life stage progression and aging process of single-housed fish were slower than those of group-housed fish. Collectively, our results suggest that sharing housing with others in early life might influence whole-life attributes, potentially leading to specific life history traits beyond the typical relationship between the growth rate and lifespan.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a genetic blinding disease with over 80 causative genes. Disease progression varies between patients with similar genetic backgrounds. We assessed the association between environment, gut microbiota, and retinal degeneration in the RP rat model Royal College of Surgeons (RCS). The rats were born and raised for two generations under specific pathogen-free (SPF, n = 69) or non-SPF conditions (n = 48). At the age of four weeks, SPF rats had significantly shorter dark-adapted a-wave and dark and light-adapted b-wave implicit times by electroretinogram (p = 0.014, p = 9.5*10 -6 , p = 0.009, respectively). The SPF rats had significantly less photoreceptor apoptosis at ages four, eight, and twelve weeks (all p < 0.022), significantly thicker debris zone at age 14 weeks, and smaller hypofluorescent lesions in SPF rats at ages 10-16 weeks, especially in the inferior retina. The non-SPF rats had significantly higher microbiota alpha diversity (p = 0.037) and failed to present the age-related maturation of Proteobacteria, Spirochaetes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes seen in SPF conditions. Specific microbial amplicon sequence variants were reduced in rats with more severe retinal degeneration. Our data suggest an environmental effect on retinal deterioration in RCS rats. These findings may lead to the development of novel microbiome-related interventions for retinal degeneration., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Different organic and inorganic bedding materials can be used in dairy farms. Among organic materials, there is an increasing interest in alternative substrates based on recycled manure solids (RMS). Microbiological analyses are crucial to monitor the microbial load and evaluate the presence of pathogens impacting animal welfare and health. However, logistic factors may hamper the possibility of immediately sending fresh samples to the laboratory, requiring storage in cooled conditions before analysis., Methods: We assessed the impact of sample refrigeration and freezing of different organic and inorganic bedding substrates including separated raw manure solids (SRMS), anaerobically digested manure solids (ADMS), and new sand (NS), on the total bacterial count (TBC) and on different microbial classes., Results: The TBC was higher in fresh NS and ADMS than in refrigerated and frozen samples of the same substrates; in addition, the TBC of ADMS was higher in refrigerated than frozen samples. The TBC of SRMS did not change significantly with refrigeration and freezing. Freezing reduced the total Gram-negative bacterial count more than refrigeration in all substrates. In fresh NS, Gram-negatives were higher than in both refrigerated and frozen NS. Escherichia coli counts were significantly lower in frozen than in refrigerated SRMS. However, both refrigeration and freezing of ADMS resulted in no E. coli growth. The coliform counts were also lower in frozen than refrigerated NS and SRMS. Frozen NS and ADMS showed lower counts compared to refrigeration for Gram-negative bacteria other than E. coli and coliforms. On the other hand, cold storage did not significantly impact the streptococci and streptococcus-like organisms (SSLO) count of all evaluated bedding substrates., Conclusion: Refrigeration and freezing affect the bacteriological results of bedding substrates, with freezing generally leading to lower counts than refrigeration. Whenever possible, preference should be given to analyzing fresh bedding samples, however, when necessary, refrigeration would be recommended over freezing, while acknowledging that the measured bacterial load might underestimate the actual microbial content., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Pododermatitis is common in penguins kept under human care. Substrate optimization plays an important role in prevention and treatment; however, there is limited information on biomechanical properties of commonly used substrates on penguin feet. The objectives were to test the ability of different substrates to decrease weight loading on the central metatarsal pad of penguin feet in an ex vivo model using feet with and without bumblefoot harvested from two Magellanic penguin ( Spheniscus magellanicus ) cadavers. Penguin feet were attached to a digital force gauge mounted onto a stand for compression testing at 2.5 and 5 kg. Forces at the central metatarsal pad were measured in triplicate using small force sensors. Tested substrates included five granular surfaces (sand, wet sand, pea gravel, wet pea gravel, and crushed ice), three compliant surfaces (short-leaf Astroturf, long-leaf Astroturf, and neoprene), and three firm surfaces (tile, rubber drainage mat, and 3M Safety-Walk Wet Area Matting). Data were analyzed using linear mixed models. There were multifaceted effects of applied pressures, substrate surfaces, and pododermatitis on central metatarsal measured pressures. In general, doubling compression forces resulted in higher measured pressures in all firm and compliant surfaces but not in granular surfaces. Firm surfaces were associated with higher recorded plantar pressures at 2.5 kg, but different significance groupings emerged at 5 kg with a high-, medium-, and low-pressure cluster of surfaces. Pododermatitis lesions resulted in significant alterations in statistical significance clustering among substrate surfaces and unique substrate behaviors. The results of this study could help in making recommendations pertaining to foot health for penguin exhibits.

An unavoidable consequence of chicken meat production is the generation of substantial quantities of spent litter. This poses several environmental and social challenges, as broiler farms become hotspots for odour emissions. The main source of odour from broiler litter is the microbial decomposition of organic material. Thus, lignite's previously shown capacity to reduce microbial activity in broiler litter was expected to reduce odour emissions from broiler housing. The effect of lignite on odour emission rate (OER) (ou/s) was investigated using dynamic olfactometry over two consecutive summer broiler grow-out cycles in Victoria, Australia, with lignite applied at 3.5 kg/m 2 . The air quality dispersion model, AERMOD, was used to investigate how lignite's effect on OER influenced the predicted odour dispersion distances and concentrations in the context of various Australian regulatory requirements. Additionally, the effect of lignite on bird production performance was also determined. This study showed that lignite reduced the OER from commercial broiler housing by an average of 56% over both grow-outs. This effect was observed for the duration of the trial. The observed reduction in OER reduced the required separation distances by 44-53% according to the state odour criteria for Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. There were no observed differences in feed conversion ratio, bird live weight or mortality throughout either grow-out. This study demonstrated the capacity of lignite to reduce odour emissions from commercial broiler housing without reducing bird production performance., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Providing evidence-based care to animals is a common goal in zoos and aquariums. However, there are many understudied species with a lack of information available, which may result in suboptimal care for individuals of these species. Using preference tests to ask individual animals what they want can be an effective means to enhance their care, and subsequently, their welfare. Using 24-h remote monitoring, we assessed substrate, enclosure feature, and lighting preferences of five aquatic turtles (two wood turtles, one Blanding's turtle, and two spotted turtles) that share an indoor enclosure at Lincoln Park Zoo. In addition, we compared enclosure feature and lighting preferences between winter and summer to determine whether the turtles had changing seasonal preferences despite being housed indoors. We found that the wood turtles and Blanding's turtle had substrate preferences, whereas the spotted turtles did not. In addition, we found that the turtles' enclosure feature preferences were consistent between winter and summer, but the amount of time spent on land, logs, and in water varied by individual. Finally, we found that the turtles utilized areas with ambient lighting more than areas with a heat lamp or UV lamp; this was consistent between winter and summer. The turtle preferences observed in this study can contribute to the development of care strategies that support their welfare and, in turn, may inspire similar preference studies at other institutions as we collectively advance toward providing animals of all taxonomic groups with evidence-based care., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

With an ongoing transition towards the use of Light Emitting Diodes, more knowledge is needed on which light settings optimise sustainability parameters in pig production. We studied the effects of four light intensities on social, environmental and economic sustainability indicators, including ammonia emissions, space use, pen fouling, weight gain, carcass quality, perception of the stockkeeper, costs of the light system, and use of drinking water, electricity and medicines. Light treatments included a low (45 lux), medium (198 lux) and high (968 lux) uniform intensity, and a spatial gradient treatment ranging from 71 lux in the front to 330 lux in the back of each pen. The latter treatment aimed to improve the space use of functional areas. A total of 448 growing-finishing pigs were studied on a commercial farm using two consecutive batches of four rooms containing eight pens with seven pigs. Light intensity influenced some aspects of space use and pen fouling. For example, the proportion of pigs lying in the resting area was higher in the high and medium light intensity treatment than in the low intensity and gradient treatment. Moreover, the high-intensity treatment resulted in more fouling with faeces in the feeding area compared with the low-intensity and the gradient treatment. Ammonia emissions were higher in the gradient than in the low intensity treatment (not measured in medium and high intensity treatment). Furthermore, light intensity did not affect weight gain, carcass quality, water use and medicine use. The stockkeeper was content to work in all light conditions, but slightly preferred the medium intensity due to optimal visibility. Concerning economic performance, the costs of the light system and electricity use increased in the following order: low intensity, gradient, medium intensity, and high intensity. In conclusion, contrary to expectation the spatial gradient did not notably improve space use or reduce pen fouling, but rather increased ammonia emissions in comparison with uniform light. This is likely because the gradient could not be applied in an optimal way in the existing housing conditions. Among the other sustainability indicators, mainly electricity use and costs of the light system differed per treatment. These aspects can be improved by further optimising the number of light sources needed per pen to achieve the targeted intensities., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Magnetic alignment (MA) is a biological phenomenon denoting spontaneous orientation of an animal's body at rest, when fleeing a threat, hunting, etc. in relation to the Earth's magnetic field lines, often parallel to the field lines, i.e. in a north-south (NS) direction. MA has been demonstrated in several animal species, including grazing and resting domestic mammals. Based on the assumption that cows prefer to orientate their bodies in the NS direction when resting and sleeping, we hypothesised that MA could contribute to the incidence of technopathies in dairy cows, i.e. various disorders caused by the stable equipment that pose a serious animal welfare problem. It was hypothesised that the incidence of technopathies increases when the cubicles (resting places) orientation deviates from the NS position. The incidence of technopathies was recorded in 34 free-stall dairy farms. The type (hairless patch, scratch, swelling, wound), location and size of the lesions were recorded in almost 1 200 dairy cows. Based on the number of cubicles available and the number of cows, the cubicle-per-cow index (CC index) was calculated and divided into two groups: CC index ≥ 1 for stables with at least one cubicle per cow and CC index < 1 if the number of cows exceeded the number of cubicles available. The orientation of the cubicles was determined by the azimuth (the angle between north and the chosen clockwise direction). The farms were categorised into two groups according to azimuth: NS (azimuth deviating ± 15° from north or south, i.e. 345-15° and 165-195°) and non-NS (azimuth 15-165° and 195-345°). We found that the frequency of cows with technopathies was 30% lower in the NS-orientated cubicles and the number of technopathies per cow was 40% lower in the NS-orientated cubicles than in the non-NS-orientated cubicles. In addition, a higher number of technopathies per cow was observed when the CC index was ≥ 1, with a significant difference in the non-NS-aligned cubicles. According to our results, cubicle orientation has some influence on the incidence of technopathies. Although biological phenomena such as MA are seemingly unimportant and usually overlooked, they should be considered in livestock production when planning the positioning of stable equipment/ cubicle., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Zoos are often limited by exhibit design in the opportunities they can provide animals to express natural behaviors; however, the opportunity to perform certain natural behaviors is key to supporting good animal welfare. Traditionally, in zoos, naked mole rats (Heterocephalus glaber) are housed in gunite-lined acrylic chambers that replicate the look of their tunnel systems in the wild but don't offer the opportunity for natural digging and tunnel construction behaviors. In this study, naked mole rat behavior was evaluated when providing two different presentations of movable substrate added on to the original exhibit-a tank with loose substrate and a dig pit with hard-packed clay. We recorded 299 5-min focal observations with 30-s intervals and 30 group scans to understand behavioral changes across treatments (10 days of observation per treatment). Results were analyzed using Bayesian mixed models. Digging behavior emerged in both presentations of moveable substrate. A potential indicator of negative welfare, barrier-directed behavior, decreased when the mole rats had access to the tank of loose substrate. A potential indicator of positive welfare, exploratory behavior, increased with access to the dig pit when the mole rats had the opportunity to build tunnels. Additionally, affiliative social interactions increased, and aggressive interactions decreased with access to either presentation of movable substrate. The observed changes in colony behavior demonstrate that captive naked mole rats readily exhibited the natural behaviors of digging and tunnel building when the opportunity was presented, and the habitat modification likely improved naked mole rat welfare., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

This work was designed to assess the impact of varying zeolite concentrations in diet and litter to enhance broiler's growth performance, immunity, and litter quality. A complete random arrangement was used for distributing 525 unsexed "Cobb 500" broiler chicks into seven treatments (75 chick / treatment), each treatment divided into 3 replicates (25 chicks / replicate). The 1st group (control one) received the recommended basal diet. Zeolite has been introduced to the basal diet (ZD) of the second, third, and fourth groups at concentrations of 5, 10, and 15 g/kg, respectively. The 5th, 6th and 7th groups used zeolite mixed with litter (ZL) at 0.5, 1, and 1.5 kg/m 2 of litter, respectively. Due to the obtained results, adding zeolite with levels 15 g/kg of diet and 1.5 kg/1 m 2 of litter, a significant improvement occurred in live body weight (LBW), body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and European production efficiency factor (EPEF). Also, transaminase enzymes (ALT and AST), creatinine, white blood cells (WBCs) and different Immunoglobulins were significantly increased with different zeolite levels, except urea concentrations which showed reduced due to different zeolite treatments. In addition, spleen relative weight hasn't been affected by zeolite treatments, even though thymus and bursa relative weights had been affected significantly. Moreover, the antibodies' production to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and Avian influenza virus (AIV) had increased significantly with adding zeolite with levels 10 g/kg of diet and 1.5 kg/1m 2 of litter. Litter quality traits (NH 3 concentration, pH values, and Moisture content) were improved with zeolite addition. So, zeolite could be employed in both feed and litter of broilers to maximize their production, immunity and improve farm's climate., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Evaluation of heat stress abatement for pre-weaned dairy calves is a rare endeavor. We aimed to assess the impacts of cooling the environment of pre-weaned calves through ceiling fans on their performance after weaning and during their first lactation. We randomly assigned female Holstein calves to one of two treatment at birth (day 0): individual frame-wire hutches in a non-cooled barn ("SH", n = 125) and individual frame-wire hutches in a barn equipped with ceiling fans ("SHF", n = 101). Calves were housed under the same barn, with treatments applied in three alternating sections. Ceiling fans (2.1 m in diameter) were positioned 4.1 m from the ground and 7.6 m apart (center-to-center). Shade cloths were used to separate the sections designated for the SH and SHF treatments. Post-weaning, heifers were commingled. We recorded body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) at weaning, 5, 7, and 10 mo of age. Pregnancy to first artificial insemination (P/1AI), hazard of pregnancy, and the hazard of commencing the first lactation are reported. Body weight at first calving, P/1AI, hazard of pregnancy, and milk yield in the first lactation are reported. No differences in BW (5 mo: SH = 162.9 ± 1.6 kg vs. SHF = 162.3 ± 1.6 kg; 7 mo: SH = 200.8 ± 2.2 kg vs. SHF = 201.1 ± 2.3 kg; 10 mo: SH = 300.5 ± 2.6 kg vs. SHF = 300.0 ± 2.8 kg) and ADG (SH = 0.94 ± 0.02 kg/d, SHF = 0.94 ± 0.02 kg/d) from 5 to 10 mo of age were detected. Treatment did not affect P/1AI (SH = 53.5 %, SHF = 45.9 %) and hazard of pregnancy [SH = referent, SHF - adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) = 0.87 (95 % CI = 0.65, 1.18)], but heifers in the SHF treatment were less likely to initiate the first lactation (76.2 % vs. 86.4 %). Body weight at calving (SH = 612.4 ± 5.3 kg, SHF = 618.2 ± 5.9 kg) and milk yield (SH = 39.0 ± 0.48 kg/d, SHF = 38.3 ± 0.57 kg/d) were not different, but the SHF treatment resulted in lower P/1AI (38.4 % vs. 51.4 %) and hazard of pregnancy (AHR = 0.68, 95 % CI = 0.49, 0.93) and fewer cows starting their second lactation (57.4 % vs. 72.8 %). In our experiment, providing cooling through ceiling fans during the pre-weaning phase had a negative impact on the reproductive performance of Holstein cows during their first lactation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None of the authors have any conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can be transmitted between pigs and humans on farms. Hence, the reduction of MRSA carriage in pigs could decrease the risk of zoonotic transmission. Recently, straw bedding has been found to significantly reduce MRSA carriage in pigs. The mechanisms behind this effect remain unclear but changes in the nasal microbiome may play a role. In this exploratory study, the nasal microbiota of pigs kept on straw was examined using V1/V2 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Nasal swabs were collected from 13 pigs at six different time points during the course of a full fattening cycle resulting in 74 porcine samples. In addition, straw samples were collected at each time point. Eleven out of 13 pigs were MRSA positive at housing-in. We found a strong temporal pattern in the microbial communities. Both microbial diversity and abundance of Staphylococcus species peaked in week 5 after introduction to the straw stable decreased in week 10, when all pigs turned MRSA-negative, and increased again toward the end of the fattening period. These findings show that the introduction of pigs into a new environment has a huge impact on their nasal microbiota, which might lead to unfavorable conditions for MRSA. Moreover, other Staphylococcus species may play a role in eliminating MRSA carriage. We designed a follow-up study including two different husbandry systems to further assess these effects., (© 2023 The Author(s). Molecular Microbiology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Different rearing systems have varying effect on animal welfare and meat quality of poultry. Currently, there are no established standards for the rearing systems of Chinese indigenous chickens. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of different rearing systems on the meat quality, gene profiles, and metabolites of Chinese indigenous chickens (Nanchuan chicken). 10-wk-old Nanchuan chickens (n=360) were randomly divided into 3 groups (cage, net, and free-range groups), with 6 replicates per group (20 chickens per replicate). The experiment lasted for 12 wk. At 154-days-old, 36 healthy chickens (6 males and 6 females per group) were randomly selected, euthanized, and their breast muscles were collected to assess the meat quality parameters and histomorphological characteristics. Additionally, breast muscles from 18 random hens (3 males and 3 females per group) were used for metabolomics and RNA-seq analysis. The results showed that rearing systems significantly affected the meat quality and myofiber characteristics. The meat quality of breast muscles from free-range chickens was superior to that of caged chickens, characterized by more tender meat and smaller myofiber cross-sectional areas. Integrative metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes of chicken breast muscles were primarily involved in the myofiber differentiation. Mechanically, the improved meat quality of breast muscle in free-range chickens were mainly associated with enhanced skeletal muscle differentiation facilitated by fibromodulin, increased levels of up-regulated Acetyl-L-carnitine and Propionylcarnitine level, and decreased levels of Nonanoic acid and Elaidic acid abundance (Graphical abstract). This provides a comprehensive understanding of the most effective and sustainable breeding, production, and rearing systems for Chinese indigenous chickens. It also contributes to the current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of rearing systems on growth performance and meat quality of chickens., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The increased consumption of animal products has led to a proliferation of animal husbandry operations, particularly in agricultural countries. Animal husbandry facilities or livestock farming directly impact the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the environment, giving rise to various issues such as odors, contamination of water and air sources with pathogens, and potential contamination of meat products originating from these facilities. This research aims to assess the impacts on the physical (temperature, relative humidity and air velocity), chemical (carbon dioxide, total volatile organic compounds and particulate matter), and biological air quality assessment (amount and type of bioaerosols) aspects resulting from pig and poultry farming. The findings will serve as valuable data for managing and addressing these aforementioned issues. It was found that both in poultry and swine houses generated total suspended particles (TSP) and PM10 (Particulate Matter with a diameter of 10 µm or less). Analysis of poultry house exhaust revealed elevated concentrations of TSP and PM10 exceeding established health benchmarks. Chickens tend to produce a higher concentration of VOCs (2.07 ± 0.57 ppm) compared to swine (0.82 ± 0.53 ppm). Staphylococcus epidermidis was predominant bacteria in both swine and poultry houses while Cladosporium sp was the most prevalent fungi in poultry houses. These results in this study are very useful for developing targeted mitigation strategies, products, devices to address specific pollutants produced by each type of livestock, reducing overall environmental impact and improving air quality within and around animal husbandry facilities. Implications : This research highlights how the growing demand for meat is affecting the environment, especially in farming areas. By studying the effects of pig and poultry farming on things like air and water quality, the study shows the challenges these farms pose, like bad smells and pollution. They found that both types of farms release a lot of tiny particles and smelly chemicals into the air, but there are differences between them. Understanding these findings can help us develop ways to reduce the pollution from these farms and make the air cleaner for everyone.

Habitat use monitoring is necessary for a comprehensive understanding of the biological and psychological requirements of animals under human care, facilitating improved exhibit designs and promoting animal welfare. Current studies focused on the space use of the exhibit while limited studies examined the pathway use of the zoo-housed animals. This study aimed to investigate the habitat use of An An, the world-oldest male giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) at Ocean Park Hong Kong using a pathway utilization monitoring method. The result showed uneven utilization of pathways favoring the upper area near his den over the lower area which required longer walking in the hilly exhibit. Moreover, the comparisons of walking directions showed a preference for gentle slopes during uphill movement and a favor for steep slopes during downhill movement. Our study also compared the walking distance between uphill and downhill movements and the results showed that An An walked longer distances heading upward than moving downward due to his choice of pathways. Our results are in line with the findings in the wild population, showing a preference for gentle slopes, especially in uphill movement. Our study demonstrated the value of the pathway monitoring technique. Due to its easy and time-effective use, this technique can be incorporated into the care teams' operation, providing valuable information on daily activity (e.g. accessing the walking ability of the aged animals by investigating the pathway use and walking distance) and habitat use. Consequently, the pathway monitoring technique can help improve exhibit designs promoting welfare., (© 2024 The Author(s). Zoo Biology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Conventional broiler production needs to evolve towards more animal-friendly production systems in order to meet increasing consumer concerns regarding animal welfare. Genetics and stocking density are 2 of the most promising leads to make this change possible. In this study, 6 strains with different growth rates (42-61 g/d) were reared at contrasting densities: 37 kg/m² (HD) and 29 kg/m² (LD). At the same body weight of 1.80-1.95 kg, we evaluated how growth rate and stocking density influenced broiler behaviors (general activity, interactions with enrichments), broiler health (mortality, leg problems, cleanliness and plumage growth) and litter quality. Density did not affect body weight, mortality or behaviors. For all strains, LD was associated with a lower prevalence of hock burns, a better gait score, and improved litter quality and broiler cleanliness. For the 3 strains most affected by pododermatitis, a lower prevalence was observed in LD than in HD pens. Fewer birds were inactive and more birds were standing and interacting with the enrichments (as proposed in the experiment) as soon as the growth rate was lower than that of the control strain (Ross 308). Others welfare indicators such as gait score, plumage growth improved as well. Litter humidity decreased with growth rate, contributing to better leg conditions and cleaner breasts. The prevalence of hock burns and certain behaviors (i.e., the proportion of birds grooming or walking/running) were not affected by growth rate. The proportion of birds foraging was higher at a lower growth rate. These results suggest that reducing growth rate as a preliminary measure, and reducing density as a supplementary one, would improve conventional broiler welfare., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The loss of carbon and nitrogen from broiler litter limits nutrient recycling and is damaging to the environment. This study investigated lignite, a low-rank brown coal, as an amendment to reduce the loss of carbon and nitrogen from broiler litter over 3 consecutive grow-out cycles, November 2021 to May 2022, at a commercially operated farm in Victoria, Australia. Lignite-treated litter contained significantly more carbon and nitrogen, with an increase of 70.1 g/bird and 12.6 g/bird for carbon and nitrogen, respectively. Lignite also reduced aerobic microbial respiration, with a 46.0% reduction in CO 2 flux recorded in week 7 of the study, resulting in reduced mass loss. It is expected that this is a key mechanism responsible for nutrient retention in litter following treatment with lignite. Furthermore, lignite treatment lowered litter moisture content by 7, 6 and 3 percentage points for grow-out 1, 2 and 3, respectively. These findings present lignite as a beneficial litter amendment for increasing the nutrient value of waste and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The study highlights the potential of lignite to reduce the environmental impact of poultry production and presents an alternative use for lignite as an existing resource., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Although it is well established that wildfire smoke exposure can increase cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, the combined effects of non-chemical stressors and wildfire smoke remains understudied. Housing is a non-chemical stressor that is a major determinant of cardiovascular health, however, disparities in neighborhood and social status have exacerbated the cardiovascular health gaps within the United States. Further, pre-existing cardiovascular morbidities, such as atherosclerosis, can worsen the response to wildfire smoke exposures. This represents a potentially hazardous interaction between inadequate housing and stress, cardiovascular morbidities, and worsened responses to wildfire smoke exposures. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of enriched (EH) versus depleted (DH) housing on pulmonary and cardiovascular responses to a single flaming eucalyptus wildfire smoke (WS) exposure in male and female apolipoprotein E (ApoE) knockout mice, which develop an atherosclerosis-like phenotype. The results of this study show that cardiopulmonary responses to WS exposure occur in a sex-specific manner. EH blunts adverse WS-induced ventilatory responses, specifically an increase in tidal volume (TV), expiratory time (Te), and relaxation time (RT) after a WS exposure, but only in females. EH also blunted an increase in isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) and the myocardial performance index (MPI) 1-week after exposures, also only in females. Our results suggest that housing alters the cardiovascular response to a single WS exposure, and that DH might cause increased susceptibility to environmental exposures that manifest in altered ventilation patterns and diastolic dysfunction in a sex-specific manner., (© 2024. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

Environmental enrichment, that is making the environment of animals more complex, was first designed to enhance the welfare and cognitive abilities of captive animals, and was more recently applied to farm animals. Enrichments can be sensory, physical, social, occupational, feeding-based, or a mix of these, with a view to improve animals' welfare. We posit that enrichments share the common factor of providing information to animals so that enrichment is all about providing the animal with a way to acquire information by interacting with the environment. Animals enjoy acquiring information, and the process of acquiring information acts in a way that enables them to better adapt to future environments. This reframed view of enrichment has several implications including prolonging the duration of exposure to an enrichment does not necessarily increase the impact of that enrichment, neutral and even slightly negative stimuli may still be enriching, complex and variable environments are enriching, and the more intensively an animal can engage with the environment, the more it will benefit from enrichments. These implications should be further explored by comprehensive re-analyses of findings from the enrichment literature and/or by dedicated experiments., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Freestall comfort is reflected in various indicators, including the ability for dairy cattle to display unhindered posture transition movements in the cubicles. To ensure farm animal welfare, it is instrumental for the farm management to be able to continuously monitor occurrences of abnormal motions. Advances in computer vision have enabled accurate kinematic measurements in several fields, such as human, equine, and bovine biomechanics. An important step upstream to measuring displacement during posture transitions is determining that the behavior is accurately detected. In this study, we propose a framework for detecting lying-to-standing posture transitions from 3-dimensional (3D) pose estimation data. A multiview computer vision system recorded posture transitions between December 2021 and April 2022 in a Swedish stall housing 183 individual cows. The output data consisted of the 3D coordinates of specific anatomical landmarks. The sensitivity of posture transition detection was 88.2%, and precision reached 99.5%. In analyzing those transition movements, breakpoints detected the timestamp of onset of the rising motion, which was compared with that annotated by observers. Agreement between observers, measured by intraclass correlation, was 0.85 between 3 human observers and 0.81 when adding the automated detection. The intra-observer mean absolute difference in annotated timestamps ranged from 0.4 s to 0.7 s. The mean absolute difference between each observer and the automated detection ranged from 1.0 s to 1.3 s. We found a significant difference in annotated timestamps between all observer pairs, but not between the observers and the automated detection, leading to the conclusion that the automated detection does not introduce a distinct bias. We conclude that the model is able to accurately detect the phenomenon of interest and that it is equitable to an observer., (The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Dairy Science Association®. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).)

Evaluation of weight loss drugs is usually performed in diet-induced obese mice housed at ∼22°C. This is a cold stress that increases energy expenditure by ∼35% compared to thermoneutrality (∼30°C), which may overestimate drug-induced weight loss. We investigated five anti-obesity mechanisms that have been in clinical development, comparing weight loss in mice housed at 22°C vs. 30°C. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), human fibroblast growth factor 21 (hFGF21), and melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) agonist induced similar weight losses. Peptide YY elicited greater vehicle-subtracted weight loss at 30°C (7.2% vs. 1.4%), whereas growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) was more effective at 22°C (13% vs. 6%). Independent of ambient temperature, GLP-1 and hFGF21 prevented the reduction in metabolic rate caused by weight loss. There was no simple rule for a better prediction of human drug efficacy based on ambient temperature, but since humans live at thermoneutrality, drug testing using mice should include experiments near thermoneutrality., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests J.M.J., N.P., M.K.G., K.P., S.O., B.S.W., B.A., B.O.C., and R.E.K. are employed by Novo Nordisk A/S, and some are minor shareholders in Novo Nordisk A/S., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Recycled manure solids has emerged as a promising alternative for animal bedding, owing to its economic feasibility, ready availability on farms, and soft, non-abrasive nature. This research aimed to assess the impact of recycled manure solids (RMS) bedding, combined with a conditioner containing 7.5% lime and 6% sodium hydrosulphate, on dairy cow welfare and gait kinematics over three months. Hock and knee injury scores, lameness incidence, and gait kinematic parameters were evaluated for animals housed on cement flooring (Control), RMS bedding (Treatment I), and conditioner-added RMS bedding (Treatment II) on days 0, 45, and 90 of the experiment with six crossbred cows in each group. The results revealed a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in lameness scores (5-point scale) for animals in both the RMS and conditioner-added RMS groups, with scores of 1.09 ± 0.05 and 1.04 ± 0.03, respectively, compared to those on cement floors. Moreover, a noteworthy decrease (p < 0.05) in knee and hock injury scores (4-point scale) was observed in the RMS groups, indicating a potentially positive impact on joint health. Gait kinematic analysis demonstrated that animals in the RMS (1.03 ± 0.04 m/s) and conditioner-added RMS (1.02 ± 0.06 m/s) groups exhibited higher walking speeds and increased step angles (158.59 ± 4.82° and 149.58 ± 3.85°) compared to their cement-floor counterparts. No significant changes (p > 0.05) were observed in stride length, step asymmetry, step length, and step width. The study concluded that the conditioner incorporated recycled manure solids resulting in a substantial decrease in lameness incidence and a reduction in hock and knee injuries among dairy cows. Additionally, the improved gait kinematics observed in non-lame animals suggest that this bedding combination positively influences overall animal well-being. These findings underscore the potential of sustainable bedding practices to enhance both physical health and locomotor behaviour in dairy cattle., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)