scholarly journals Iceberg Indicators for Animal Welfare in Rural Sheep Farms Using the Five Domains Model Approach

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 2273
Author(s):  
Rick Obrian Hernandez ◽  
Jorge Alberto Sánchez ◽  
Marlyn H. Romero

Animal welfare for sheep in extensive rural farms is difficult to quantify among rural farmers due to several factors, including the lack of technology and the low level of interaction they have with the animals. The purpose of this study was to search for animal-based iceberg indicators using the Five Domains Model approach and study the relationship between sheep reactive behavior (flight distance), sheep handling training and farmers job satisfaction. Thirteen extensive commercial dual-purpose sheep farms (n = 520 animals) were evaluated in Marulanda, Caldas (Colombia, South America). On-farm Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) were assessed using an adapted version of this protocol. Socio-demographic characteristics, sheep handling training and job satisfaction were evaluated using a structured interview. Blood and stool samples were taken to determine Fecal Egg Count and Packed Cell Volume. Bivariate regression models were used to find animal-based indicators that predicted Nutrition, Ambience, Health and Behavior welfare domains, and a Qualitative Behavior Analysis was used for mind state domain analysis. Body condition score (BCS) (p = 0.001), fleece cleanliness (p = 0.03), FAMACHA© Score (p = 0.05), and flight distance in meters (p = 0.19) were found to be indicators, and were useful for predicting overall welfare assessment (R2 = 0.85) on theses farms. Regarding mind welfare domain, Qualitative Behavioral Assessment found two principal components (PC) that explained 82% and 67% of the variance, and described emotional valence and energy levels of sheep, respectively. Sheep handling training (β = −8.75, p = 0.004) and job satisfaction (β = −7.5, p = 0.013) had a negative association with the average flock flight distance. Spearman’s rank correlations were significant (p < 0.001) between Fecal Egg Count, Packed Cell Volume, FAMACHA© Score (FS), Body Weight (BW) and, BCS. The strongest association was observed between Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and Fecal Egg Count (FEC) (r = −0.43), also FS was correlated with PCV (r = −0.28) and FEC (r = 0.21), and BCS was correlated with weight (r = 0.32). We suggest that these animal-based indicators could be useful as iceberg indicators for extensive sheep production systems and may set the ground for more research in small extensive sheep farms to develop strategies to find welfare problems and solutions.

2011 ◽  
Vol 177 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 339-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Antonio Figueroa Castillo ◽  
Rubén Danilo Méndez Medina ◽  
José Manuel Berruecos Villalobos ◽  
Amanda Gayosso-Vázquez ◽  
Raúl Ulloa-Arvízu ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 78-78
Author(s):  
Andrew R Weaver ◽  
Donald L Wright ◽  
Scott P Greiner ◽  
Scott A Bowdridge

Abstract Genetic selection for internal parasite resistance in sheep is a valuable tool to mitigate effects of parasitism especially when significant within breed variability exists. To better understand the mechanism underpinning this variability, a divergent mating scheme was established. Katahdin rams (n = 4) were selected based on their estimated breeding value (EBV) for fecal egg count (FEC) and grouped as numerically high (HiFEC; n = 2) or low (LoFEC; n = 2). Rams were randomly mated to Katahdin ewes at the Southwest Virginia Agriculture Research and Extension Center. Lambs were born mid-March and managed as one group, then weaned in mid-June. Lambs were transported to the WVU Animal Sciences Farm where they were randomly allocated to four pens with even distribution of sire and sex. All lambs (n = 109) were infected with 10,000 H. contortus L3 and the infection persisted for 5 weeks. Weights, FEC, and packed cell volume (PCV) were collected weekly. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mixed Model procedure and repeated measures in SAS with fixed effects of sire group. Weaning FEC was numerically greater for HiFEC-sired lambs vs. LoFEC-sired lambs (2914 vs. 1821 eggs/g; respectively). However, death loss for HiFEC-sired lambs tended to be almost twice that of LoFEC-sired lambs (20% vs. 11%, P = 0.09; respectively). Weaning weights did not differ. Fecal egg count from the prepatent to patent period was greater in HiFEC vs. LoFEC-sired lambs (210 vs. 34 eggs/g; P = 0.05). Packed cell volume was numerically lower in HiFEC-sired lambs. There were no differences in post-weaning growth, ultrasound fat thickness, or loin depth in lambs from divergent sire groups. These data indicate that utilizing LoFEC EBV sires reduces FEC and improves disease resistance in progeny without affecting growth or carcass traits


2005 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 179-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Strasser ◽  
Eleanor C. Hawkins

Epistaxis was retrospectively evaluated in 35 dogs. Systemic disease was diagnosed in seven dogs and intranasal disease in 29. Nineteen dogs with intranasal disease had neoplasia. Dogs with neoplasia were older (mean 10.0 years) than dogs with nonneoplastic intranasal disease (mean 5.6 years). Signs persisting for &gt;1 month occurred more often in dogs with intranasal than systemic disease. Unilateral epistaxis did not distinguish intranasal from systemic disease. Only dogs with intranasal disease had facial deformity, decreased airflow, or regional sub-mandibular lymphadenopathy. Dogs with systemic disease had a lower packed cell volume (mean 31.8%) than dogs with intranasal disease (mean 42.7%).


1970 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 3038-3044
Author(s):  
Helen Chioma Okoye ◽  
Chilota Chibuife Efobi ◽  
Josephat Maduabuchi Chinawa ◽  
Odutola Israel Odetunde ◽  
Awoere Tamunosiki Chinawa ◽  
...  

Background: Maternal factors are determinants of birth outcome which includes birth weight, haematological indices and mode of delivery of their babies.Objectives: To determine the impact of parity and gestational age of hypertensive mothers on some neonatal variables.Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study of measurement of neonatal variables (birth weight, red blood cells and mode of delivery) among hypertensive mothers and their controls was conducted over a period of six months. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences program (SPSS), version 20.Results: There were statistically significant differences in means between the neonates of the hypertensive group and non-hypertensive group for maternal age (t =1.61, p = 0.002), baby weight (t =2.87, p < 0.001), haemoglobin (Hb) (t =4.65, p = 0.010) and packed cell volume (PCV) (t =4.75, p = 0.009), but none for gravidity (t =1.95, p = 0.927)For all subjects, there was poor correlation between gestational age and variables; birth weight , haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), nucleated red blood cell (nRBC) and parity. Likewise, parity poorly correlated with variables; age, birth weight, Hb, PCV, and nRBC. There was a statistically significant association between mode of delivery and hypertension (χ2 =53.082, p <0.001) but none with having a family history of hypertension (χ2 =1.13, p = 0.287).Conclusion: Parity and gestational age of mothers with hypertension have no impact on birth weight and red cells when compared with their non-hypertensive counterparts. However, mothers of babies delivered by elective and emergency caesarean section were about 2-3 times more likely to be hypertensive than those that delivered through spontaneous vertex delivery.Keywords: Hypertension; neonate; gestational age; parity.


2018 ◽  
pp. 457-458
Author(s):  
Craig R Breheny ◽  
Jorge Perez-Accino Salgado ◽  
Nicholas X Bommer ◽  
Ian Handel ◽  
Adam G Gow

Author(s):  
I. Iwanegbe ◽  
M. Suleiman ◽  
A. Jimah

Aims: To investigate the effect of food blends (plantain, soybean and ginger) on the blood glucose, lipid profile and haematological indices on streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Methodology: A total of 35 rats of mean body weight 219.07 g separated into7 groups (5 per group) where induced by a single intraperitoneal (I.P) injection of streptozotocin (0.1 g dissolved in 5 ml of freshly prepared sodium citrate buffer 0.1 M, pH 4.5) at a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight after fasting for 12 hours and fed with flours/blends. The flours were produced from plant materials for different treatments/blends (blend A=100% unripe plantain, B=80% unripe plantain, 14% soybean, 6% ginger, C=70% unripe plantain, 26% soybean, 4% ginger, D= 60% unripe plantain, 38% soybean, 2% ginger, E= 50% unripe plantain, 50% soybean) and the phytochemicals and minerals content were determined. Blood glucose was determined at 5 days interval for 25 days. Diabetes was confirmed in rats with blood glucose concentrations >200 mg/dl. After 25 days rats were anaesthetized with chloroform vapour and blood samples collected by cardiac puncture for haematology and lipid profile determination. Results: The results showed that unripe plantain, soya beans and ginger in adequate proportion(C=70% unripe plantain, 26% soybean, 4% ginger or D= 60% unripe plantain, 38% soybean, 2% ginger) could help to reduce blood glucose, improve haematological parameters and lipid profile. Significant reduction was observed in the blood glucose level of rats fed blends C and D from 286 to 85 mg/dl and 307 to 90 mg/dl respectively at the end of experiment. These results also demonstrated that the inclusion of ginger at 6% causes rise in blood glucose level. Total cholesterol (TC) increased in all the blends. However, the lowest concentration of TC was observed in blends C and D. The highest packed cell volume (60%) and Haemoglobin (20 g/dl) level observed in rats fed blend C was significantly higher than the normal control fed conventional feeds. The increase in packed cell volume (PCV) (50%) and Hb (17 g/dl) in diabetic rats demonstrated that the formulated blend C was able to raise PCV and Hb above 50% and 17 g/dl (Normal control NC) respectively. Significant increase (P<0.05) in low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) was also observed in all the blends with blend C having the least (4.0 mg/dl) close to NC (2.0 mg/dl). Conclusion: From the results it is evident that blend C will manage and improve the health status of diabetic patients.


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