scholarly journals The Health and Welfare of Rabbits as Indicated by Post-Mortem Findings at the Slaughterhouse

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 659
Author(s):  
Lenka Valkova ◽  
Vladimir Vecerek ◽  
Eva Voslarova ◽  
Veronika Zavrelova ◽  
Francesca Conte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Pathological Findings ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Husbandry Practices ◽  
Traumatic Origin ◽  
Post Mortem Findings

The aim of the study was to assess post-mortem findings according to their localization and the nature of damage and to assess the standard of health and welfare of farmed rabbits on the basis of these findings. A total of 40,206 pathological findings were recorded in 1,876,929 rabbits slaughtered at slaughterhouses in the Czech Republic in the period from 2010 to 2019. Pathological findings on the limbs (0.84%), the trunk (0.71%), the kidneys (0.17%), and the liver (0.05%), along with generalized changes (0.37%), occurred most frequently. Findings of traumatic origin dominated among findings on the limbs and trunk, which indicates the inappropriate housing and handling rabbits on farms and during transport. Findings in the kidneys and liver were most often of a chronic nature having an evident correlation with the diet of intensively fed rabbits, with shortcomings in the diet having an impact on the parenchyma with chronic manifestations in the liver and kidneys. Among the generalized findings, multiple abscesses, which were probably associated with the infection of injuries occurring during fattening, and emaciation resulting from current husbandry practices, leading to insufficient feed intake or the development of disease in some individuals, predominated.

scholarly journals The Health and Welfare of Pigs from the Perspective of Post Mortem Findings in Slaughterhouses

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 825
Author(s):  
Vladimir Vecerek ◽  
Eva Voslarova ◽  
Zbynek Semerad ◽  
Annamaria Passantino
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Pig Farms ◽  
Traumatic Lesions ◽  
Impaired Health ◽  
Post Mortem Findings ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Pig Husbandry

The health and welfare of pigs was evaluated on the basis of the data on patho-anatomic findings obtained during the veterinary examination of pigs slaughtered in slaughterhouses in the Czech Republic in the period from 2010 to 2017. High numbers of lesions in organs found especially in lungs (finisher pigs 41%, sows 24% and piglets 52%), kidneys (finisher pigs 14%, sows 32% and piglets 15%) and liver (finisher pigs 12%, sows 18% and piglets 19 %) indicate impaired health and welfare of pigs transported for slaughter. The differences in the number of findings between finisher pigs, sows and piglets were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The character of most findings was chronic, which document health and welfare problems occurring on farms as a result of the current pig husbandry. However, acute findings were also detected and indicated processes occurring shortly before and during transport to the slaughterhouse. An important finding is the incidence of parasitic lesions in the liver in finisher pigs (finisher pigs 4%, sows 1% and piglets 1%) that documents persistent occurrence of parasitic invasions on pig farms. Findings of traumatic lesions on limbs in sows and piglets (finisher pigs 0.08%, sows 0.14% and piglets 0.15%) are far below the frequency of the findings in organs; however, their incidence should be further reduced by adjusting the technology of housing, transport and handling. In conclusion, the level of health and related welfare of pigs based on the assessment of post mortem findings in the slaughterhouses vary. Overall, the worst situation is in piglets, followed by sows and the best evaluated are finisher pigs. Post mortem inspection revealed significant numbers of patho-anatomic changes even in pigs considered fit to be transported to the slaughterhouse and slaughtered for human consumption. It is clear that there is still a considerable space for improving the level of health and welfare of the individual categories of pigs.

scholarly journals Incidence of Characteristic Findings during Veterinary Carcass Inspections 2010–2019 in the Czech Republic and the Relation to the Level of Health and Welfare of Individual Classes of Cattle

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 537
Author(s):  
Michal Kaluza ◽  
Vladimir Vecerek ◽  
Eva Voslarova ◽  
Zbynek Semerad ◽  
Annamaria Passantino
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Pathological Findings ◽  
Pathological Changes ◽  
Great Intensity ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Stunted Growth ◽  
Liver And Pancreas ◽  
Systemic Disorder ◽  
The Individual

Pathological findings in individual classes of cattle were assessed from the viewpoint of their localization and category. The objective of the study was to evaluate whether there are differences in the range and number of findings made between the individual classes of cattle. The results of veterinary inspections on 2,514,666 head of cattle slaughtered in the Czech Republic in the period 2010–2019 were used for the assessment. In terms of localization, the most frequent findings in cows were in the liver and pancreas (46.13%), the urinary tract (40.76%) and the lungs (36.23%). These findings also predominated in heifers and bulls, though they were recorded at lower frequencies (p < 0.01) than in cows. The most frequent pathological changes in heifers and bulls were chronic findings in the lungs (16.09% and 12.27%, respectively). The range of findings in calves differed significantly from other classes of cattle, primarily as the result of respiratory and diarrheal syndrome being the most frequent diseases in calves. Calves were the class of cattle most frequently diagnosed with findings in the lungs (44.89%), as well as other unclassified changes (24.43%) and overall changes (21.55%), which point to a systemic disorder of the organism. The results of this study confirmed the differing states of health in the individual classes of cattle and the differing health issues to which treatment and the prevention of the most frequently occurring infectious and non-infectious diseases must be adapted. Cattle welfare is affected not only by the level of health but also by the herd management and economics. This is confirmed by the range of findings, and the deterioration of living conditions especially in cows, likely because of great intensity of farming, but also in calves which suffered from emaciation or stunted growth.

scholarly journals Assessing the Standard of Health and Welfare in Individual Categories of Cattle from the Viewpoint of Intravital Pathological Changes

Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 619
Author(s):  
Michal Kaluza ◽  
Vladimir Vecerek ◽  
Eva Voslarova ◽  
Zbynek Semerad ◽  
Annamaria Passantino
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Pathological Findings ◽  
Pathological Changes ◽  
The Czech Republic

The standard of the health and welfare of individual categories of cattle was assessed from the viewpoint of intravital pathological changes. The results of veterinary inspections of 2,514,666 head of cattle (1,136,754 cows, 257,912 heifers, 1,015,541 bulls and 104,459 calves) slaughtered in the Czech Republic in the period from 2010 to 2019 were analyzed. The results show significant differences (p < 0.01) between the categories of cattle in the total numbers of intravital findings. Intravital findings were most frequently recorded in cows (index 2.271) and least frequently recorded in bulls (index 0.479). In all categories of cattle, chronic findings predominated, where the largest number was recorded in cows (index 1.740) and calves (index 0.910). Parasitic and traumatic findings were only detected in low numbers in all categories of cattle. Assessment of the trend in the total number of intravital pathological findings in individual categories of cattle in the monitored period showed an evident fall in heifers (rSp = −0.915, p < 0.01), cows (rSp = −0.806, p < 0.01) and bulls (rSp = −0.636, p < 0.05). In calves, no decreasing trend was found (rSp = −0.382, p > 0.05). The results obtained in this study do not merely reflect the standard of health of the animals slaughtered at abattoirs in the Czech Republic, but also provide a picture of the standard of the living conditions provided by farmers rearing individual categories of cattle.

scholarly journals Comparison of the welfare of laying hens, broiler chickens and turkeys in terms of bird health as surveyed during inspection in slaughterhouses

2019 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-248
Author(s):  
Lenka Večerková ◽  
Eva Voslářová ◽  
Vladimír Večerek
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
The State ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Acute Changes ◽  
In Transit ◽  
Total Ratio

During the period 2010–2017 we monitored 17 346 183 laying hens, 887 994 167 broiler chickens and 919 843 turkeys slaughtered at slaughterhouses in the Czech Republic. In cooperation with the State Veterinary Administration, we recorded findings detected in slaughtered birds within the post mortem veterinary inspection. We analysed the total number of patho-anatomical findings (of intravital origin) and the number of findings divided into acute, chronic and traumatic diseases. In hens, the total ratio of the number of patho-anatomical intravital findings to the number of slaughtered birds (index) was found to be 0.378. This index of the incidence of patho-anatomical findings in hens was higher (P < 0.001) than that found in broilers (0.016) and turkeys (0.101). The prevailing findings in hens were chronic changes (26.32%), followed by acute changes (5.29%), but also notable were traumatic changes (3.90%). Compared to the findings in broilers which were divided into chronic (0.34%), acute (0.10%) and traumatic diseases (0.02%) and turkey findings which were broken down into chronic (7.60%), acute (0.16%) and traumatic diseases (0.33%), the findings of acute, chronic and traumatic diseases were higher (P < 0.001) in hens than in broilers and turkeys. These findings show that the health condition and hence the welfare of laying hens as reflected in the patho-anatomical findings during the veterinary inspection of slaughtered birds is significantly worse than the health condition of broilers and turkeys. This demonstrates the need for increased care for laying hens both on farms and in transit to the slaughterhouse.

scholarly journals Effect of missense mutation Asp298Asn in MC4R on growth and fatness traits in commercial pig crosses in the Czech Republic

2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 176-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Dvořáková ◽  
R. Stupka ◽  
M. Šprysl ◽  
J. Čítek ◽  
M. Okrouhlá ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Czech Republic ◽  
Missense Mutation ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Mc4r Gene ◽  
Longissimus Lumborum ◽  
Commercial Farms

The current knowledge of factors regulating voluntary feed intake in pigs is quite limited. The objective of this study was to test the influence of the missense mutation p.Asp298Asn (AF087937:c.746G&gt;A) of the MC4R gene on selected production traits in pig crosses. These crosses are commonly used on commercial farms in the Czech Republic. The allele frequencies of c.746G&gt;A were as follows: G allele &ndash; 0.59 and A allele &ndash; 0.41. We detected statistically significant differences in the content of intramuscular fat in the musculus longissimus lumborum et thoracis, and a similar trend was observed in shoulder and neck. A allele correlated with higher values of fatness and G allele with a higher percentage of lean meat. However, we did not find any significant influence on either feed intake or growth rate in this study. For another mutation, p.Arg236His (NM_214173.1:c.707G&gt;A), frequencies of alleles were disproportional (A allele &ndash; 0.02 and G allele &ndash; 0.98), only two genotypes were observed (AG and GG) and linkage disequilibrium was not detected. Therefore, we assume that the effect of this polymorphism on growth rate and fatness in the Czech population of pigs is negligible.

scholarly journals Occurrence of Cryptosporidium suis and Cryptosporidium scrofarum on commercial swine farms in the Czech Republic and its associations with age and husbandry practices

2012 ◽  
Vol 112 (3) ◽  
pp. 1143-1154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karel Němejc ◽  
Bohumil Sak ◽  
Dana Květoňová ◽  
Naděžda Kernerová ◽  
Michael Rost ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Swine Farms ◽  
Husbandry Practices

scholarly journals The occurrence of technological damage in slaughtered cattle, pigs, sheep and goats in the Czech Republic

2021 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 439-451
Author(s):  
Petra Doleželová ◽  
Petra Mačáková ◽  
Petr Chloupek ◽  
Lenka Válková ◽  
Zbyněk Semerád ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Finishing Pigs ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Sheep And Goats

The occurrence of technological damage in cattle, pigs, sheep and goats reared and slaughtered in the Czech Republic was monitored by evaluation and analyzing results of post mortem inspections of official veterinarians from slaughterhouses in the period from 2010 to 2019. We found that technological damage was the most common in pigs, and less common in cattle, sheep and goats. Compared to other species, pigs have statistically the highest occurrence of lung congestion (51.9%–19.3%, in the order: sows, finishing pigs, piglets), insufficient technology processing (0.200%–0.018%, in the order: sows, finishing pigs, piglets), delayed evisceration (0.04%–0.02%, in the order: finishing pigs, sows, piglets), muscle spoilage (0.033%–0.004%, in the order: piglets, finishing pigs, sows) and over-scalding (0.028%–0.013%, in the order: finishing pigs, piglets, sows). Compared to other species, cattle have statistically the highest incidence of different sensory deviations (7.42%–0.33%, in the order: calves, dairy cows, heifers, bulls) and insufficient bleeding (4.4%–2.9%, in the order: bulls, heifers, dairy cows, calves). In all monitored animal species, a similar level of the occurrence of contamination during the carcass processing was recorded (0.37%–0.00%). In sheep and goats, technological damage is generally lower than in pigs and cattle.

scholarly journals Traumatic Injuries Detected during Post-Mortem Slaughterhouse Inspection as Welfare Indicators in Poultry and Rabbits

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2610
Author(s):  
Lenka Valkova ◽  
Eva Voslarova ◽  
Vladimir Vecerek ◽  
Petra Dolezelova ◽  
Veronika Zavrelova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Traumatic Injuries ◽  
Minimum Standards ◽  
Rearing Conditions ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Handling Methods

The findings of traumatic injuries during post-mortem inspection in slaughterhouses reflect the level of pre-slaughter handling of animals at the farm and during transport to the slaughterhouse. The prevalence of traumatic injuries was monitored in poultry (1,089,406,687 broiler chickens, 20,030,744 laying hens, 1,181,598 turkeys, 37,690 geese, 28,579,765 ducks) and rabbits (1,876,929) originating from farms in the Czech Republic and slaughtered in slaughterhouses in the Czech Republic between 2010 and 2019. The greatest incidence of traumatic injuries was found in laying hens (2.80%) and rabbits (1.52%); while the overall incidence of trauma was less than 0.5% in other species and categories. The results show that the current rearing conditions and/or pre-slaughter handling of poultry and rabbits particularly affect the limbs; traumatic findings were significantly (p < 0.01) more frequent on the limbs than on the trunk in all species studied. In poultry, traumatic findings on the trunk were orders of magnitude lower to negligible, so the focus should be on preventing injuries to the limbs. In rabbits, the difference was less pronounced, and many injuries were found on both limbs (0.83%) and trunk (0.69%). Our results emphasize the need to reconsider both housing and pre-slaughter handling methods to determine minimum standards for the protection of rabbits, which are still lacking in European legislation.

scholarly journals Agricultural Holdings and Slaughterhouses’ Impact on Patterns of Pathological Findings Observed during Post-Mortem Meat Inspection

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1442
Author(s):  
Johannes Klinger ◽  
Beate Conrady ◽  
Marina Mikula ◽  
Annemarie Käsbohrer
Keyword(s):  
Multivariate Analysis ◽  
Feedback System ◽  
Meat Inspection ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Pathological Findings ◽  
Herd Health ◽  
Post Mortem Findings ◽  
Explained Variance ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
Inspection Data

Meat inspection data can provide valuable information about herd health to producers, veterinarians and veterinary authorities and can be used as a feedback system for farmers to improve their herd management. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of agricultural holdings, slaughterhouses and time periods (quarters) on the occurrence and composition of the prevalence of post-mortem findings of 4 million pigs slaughtered in Austria in 2016, by applying a permutation multivariate analysis of variance. Pneumonia (21.9%) and milk spots (19.9%) were the most frequently recorded conditions. Our analysis indicated a statistically significant influence of all three considered factors (agricultural holdings, slaughterhouses and periods) on the prevalence of post-mortem findings. The observed prevalence could not only be explained by the differences between the farms of origin and slaughterhouses but also by the variability within the slaughterhouses. Much of the explained variance of the prevalence was due to differences between producers (mean R2 = 0.61), followed by slaughterhouses (mean R2 = 0.19) and period (mean R2 = 0.05). To meet the demand for a valid feedback system to farmers and attending veterinarians, a robust and ideally more detailed recording of frequent pathologies, especially those affecting the respiratory tract and the liver, should be developed.

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