scholarly journals Livestock Precision Farming and the Kit Radicaux Libres Test: Two Simple Approaches to Detect Variation in Piglets’ Behaviour and Welfare

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 44
Author(s):  
Grazia Pastorelli ◽  
Raffaella Rossi ◽  
Marcella Guarino ◽  
Federica Borgonovo ◽  
Paolo Candotti ◽  
...  

<p>In commercial practice, the mixing of pigs from different litters is very frequently done in order to minimise the within-pen variation in weight. Aggressive behavior can be easily observed when unknown pigs are mixed into a group. Post-mixing fighting occurs between pigs that are unfamiliar with each other and some times leads to serious injury. For the establishment of social hierarchy, aggression may occur. The aim of the study was to evaluate the response of piglets fed and not with dietary plant extract (PE) when exposed to mixing-induced<strong> s</strong>tress. Behavioural and physiological indicators combined with Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) methods were used. A total of 84 female piglets (Dalland), (average live weight 5.53 ± 0.1 kg, corresponding to day 0 of experimental trial) divided into 6 pens of 14 piglets each were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments: a control diet (CON) and a diet supplemented with 5 mg/kg feed of plant extract (PE). At 37 d of the experimental trial, half the animals of two treated pens (7+7) and half the animals of two control pens (7+7) were mixed. The experimental trial lasted 59 days. Blood from piglets of each treatment was collected by anterior vena cava puncture before mixing, on day 37, and after mixing, on day 39, for assessing total blood antioxidant activity, by Kit Radicaux Libres (KRL) test and haptoglobin (HPT) and cortisol concentration as biological indicators of stress. Behaviour measurements were performed using an ethological rating scale and Precision Livestock Farming methods as indicator of qualitative behavioural assessment. Dietary treatment and mixing affected total antioxidant activity (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) of whole blood that was higher in the PE group and after mixing. A trend effect of mixing was found for cortisol and haptoglobin which were significantly (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) lower in the PE group. The rating scale and PLF showed significant variation in the abnormal animal behaviours due to mixing; continuous monitoring of pigs by PLF showed more (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) animal activity in the PE group than in CON. In this context, the behaviour measurements were demonstrated to be simple and reliable tools for evaluating pig behaviour and KRL test was an effective method for assessing antioxidant activity. <strong></strong></p>

2000 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Marchetti ◽  
M. Tassinari ◽  
S. Marchetti

AbstractWhen compared with other menadione derivatives such as menadione sodium bisulphite (MSB), menadione nicotinamide bisulphite (MNB), an organic salt combining menadione and nicotinamide, shows better stability towards physical and chemical factors once it is added to pre-mixes or foods. The present work evaluates the bioavailability of the two vitamins present in this compound and toxicity in the pig. To assess vitamin bioavailability, pigs were given small amounts of food containing MNB or equivalent amounts of MSB and nicotinamide in the free form. Menadione and nicotinamide concentrations in blood samples drawn at set times after the diets were given did not reveal any significant differences between the two modes of administration. Haematic levels of both vitamins in animals receiving MNB, or MSB and nicotinamide, were after 2, 4, 8 and 12 h higher (P < 0·001) than those of untreated animals. The tolerance level to MNB was evaluated in pigs given diets containing graded amounts of MNB (100, 500, 2500 mg/kg) for 28 days. No significant (P > 0·05) differences were recorded in live weight, food intake and gain/food ratio in pigs given these diets when compared with those given an unsupplemented diet. Haemoglobin and bilirubin levels did not differ between animals given various amounts of MNB and control animals. Plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities in pigs given 100 mg/kg of MNB did not show significant differences when compared with those observed in pigs given an unsupplemented control diet. In pigs on the diets supplemented with 500 and 2500 mg/kg of MNB there was a significant increase in the two enzymatic activities as compared with controls (P < 0·001 and P < 0·01). In the case of ALT this had disappeared by 28 weeks. MNB is a good source of vitamin K for the pig and does not appear to have any adverse effects, even when administered at levels higher than those normally used in pig food supplementation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcella Guarino ◽  
Tomas Norton ◽  
Dries Berckmans ◽  
Erik Vranken ◽  
Daniel Berckmans

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (7) ◽  
pp. 51-57
Author(s):  
S. Yu. Zaytsev ◽  
◽  
N. V. Bogolyubova ◽  

Pig breeding is one of the key areas for the development of livestock meat production both in Russia and in the world. According to forecasts of various agro-industrial companies and information and analytical agencies, by the end of 2020, pork production was predicted to grow similar to that in 2019, which was 5,1% (or more than 192,6 thousand tons, in slaughter weight, compared to 2018). This would represent more than a third of the total meat production in Russia, which was estimated at 11,04–11,22 million tons (as compared to 10,9 million tons in 2019). According to preliminary data from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation (dated February 4, 2021), pork production increased "at 8.9% by 2019, which in live weight is +446 thousand tons", while the total meat production in Russia in 2020 reached 15,6 million tons, an increase of 3,1% (+472 thousand tons) more than in 2019. These indicators significantly exceed the forecasts indicated above, which is associated with the implementation of investment projects (primarily with state participation) in this direction and "expansion of export opportunities for Russian suppliers" in 2020. Despite the sanctions, coronavirus and other global challenges to the Russian economy, pork has been the "main driver" for the growth of meat production in Russia in recent years. Now our country is on the 4th line in the ranking according to the pig numbers (46.5 million heads in 2019) after China, the European Union and the United States of America. Agricultural enterprises in Russia account for 83,4% of pigs, 14,6% – on personal subsidiary plots, 2,0% – on farms. According to experts, the long-term development trend is an increase in the number of pigs in 5 years by 27,7%, in 10 years – by 36,1%, and the annual increase in pork production is planned at about 5%. Thus, in recent years, pork production has determined a positive trend in all domestic livestock farming in terms of the volume and quality of meat produced in Russia.


2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-111
Author(s):  
S. O. Omoikhoje ◽  
J. E. Imade ◽  
M. O. Odiase

An eight weeks feeding trial was conducted to assess the effect of feeding graded level of soaked pigeon pea meal (SPPM) in wood ash extract or solution on the growth performance, haematological and serum biochemical indices of broiler chickens. A total of 144 day-old chicks (Anak 2000) were randomly allotted to four treatment diets (1, 2, 3 and 4) in a completely randomized design. Each treatment group was replicated three times with twelve birds per replicate, thus, having thirty-six chicks per treatment group. Diet 1 contained 0% SPPM in wood ash extract for 72hours as the control diet, while diets 2, 3 and 4 were formulated to contain 25, 50 and 75% inclusions of SPPM in place of soybean meal. Results showed that the average live weight, daily weight gain and feed intake as well as protein efficiency ratio were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments at the finisher phase. Broiler chickens fed 25% SPPM based diet had a higher (P<0.05) and comparable value of live weight, weight gain and protein efficiency ratio to that recorded in the control diet at the finisher phase. The haematological and serum biochemical indices revealed that albumin and total cholesterol were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the treatment diets. The albumin value (2.2g/dl) was highest in birds fed 50% SPPM, whereas, the cholesterol value decreased (P<0.05) with increasing levels of inclusion of SPPM from 0 to 75%. It therefore implies that SPPM can be partially included in broiler diets up to 25% level with optimum growth performance and without any detrimental effect on the blood profile of broiler chickens.


1998 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsi Partanen ◽  
Hilkka Siljander-Rasi ◽  
Timo Alaviuhkola ◽  
Nina Van Gilse van der Pals

A growth experiment was conducted using 50 pigs (25-100 kg) to evaluate the use of meat and bone meals of different ash content as a substitute for soyabean meal (SBM) for growing pigs and the potential of 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (FDNB) reactive lysine in diet formulation. The control diet consisted of barley and SBM. For test diets, either 33 or 67% of SBM was replaced with meat and bone meal of low (ML, 205 g ash/kg) or high (MH, 349 g ash/kg) ash content. SBM, ML33, ML67, MH33 and MH67 diets contained 7.8, 7.8, 8.2, 7.8 and 7.9 g FDNB-reactive lysine/feed unit (feed unit is equivalent to 9.3 MJ NE), respectively. For these diets, average daily live weight gains (ADG) were 859, 830, 805, 854 and 813 g/d with feed conversion ratios of 2.25, 2.40, 2.41, 2.31 and 2.44 feed units/kg, respectively. Pigs fed the SBM diet grew faster (P


Author(s):  
Mukesh S Sikarwar ◽  
Chew Khai Szeek ◽  
Neeraj Paliwal

Background: Herbal medicine mostly contains wide range of chemical compounds responsible for medicinal therapeutic use. Costus woodsonii is commonly called as Red Button Ginger and synonyms of the botanical name are Costus spiralis, Alpinia spiralis and Costus pisonis. In Malay, it is known as Setawar Halia Merah. In Chinese, it is known as Hong Bi Qiao Jiang. Objective: This research was conducted to study the pharmacognostical, phytochemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of C. woodsonii leaf extracts. Method: Macroscopy, microscopy, phytochemical analysis, thin layer chromatography, antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity of C. woodsonii leaf were carried out. Total flavonoids were estimated in the leaf extract. The total phenolic content of C. woodsonii leaf was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. The antioxidant activity of leaf extract of C. woodsonii was determined by performing DPPH radical scavenging. The microbial activity was determined by Well diffusion test, MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) test and MBC (Minimum Bactericidal Concentration) test. Result and Discussion: C. woodsonii belongs to costaceae with elliptical green leaves. Till now are no extensive studies on C. woodsonii. Preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoid, steroid, fat, phenol, tannin and mucilage in leaf extract. Physicochemical studies further revealed the ash value of leaf as 8.7%. Among the three extractions, alcohol extractive values showed the highest as 13%. Loss on drying at 105 degree Celsius in leaf was found to be 12.67%. The plant extract showed total phenolic content of 7.941 mg GAE/g at concentration of 5µg/ml. As for flavonoids content, plant extract showed 21.7 mg RE/g at concentration of 200µg/ml and 43.4 mg RE/g at concentration of 400µg/ml. For antioxidant activity, the plant extract showed weak antioxidant activity in DPPH scavenging activity assay. For antimicrobial test, the leaf extract of C. woodsonii showed weak antimicrobial activity. Conclusion: From this study, it can conclude that C. woodsonii leaf extract possess weak antioxidant activity and weak antimicrobial activity which need to be further validated by using more antioxidant assays and antimicrobial tests.


1970 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-16
Author(s):  
S Barua ◽  
MJ Khan ◽  
AKFH Bhuiyan ◽  
MN Islam ◽  
SS Islam

The study was undertaken to investigate the effects of concentrate supplementation with different protein levels on intake, digestibility and growth performance of Red Chittagong (RC) heifers fed urea molasses straw (UMS) based diet. Twelve RC heifers having average live weight of 124.83±43.15 kg and aged between 8 to 14 months were selected for 90 days feeding trial. Animals were divided into four groups having three animals in each and were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments in a Randomized Block Design (RBD). The experimental diets were formulated using urea molasses straw (UMS), German grass (Echinochloa grousgalli) with or without concentrate mix (having different levels of protein). All the animals received UMS ad libitum and German grass at the rate of 20% of total DM intake. In addition to UMS and German grass of control diet T0, animals on diets T1, T2 and T3 were supplied with concentrate mixture at the rate of 10% of DM intake containing 15, 20 and 25% CP, respectively. Average daily DM intake was 2.65, 3.06, 2.62 and 2.86 kg/100 kg LW for diets T0, T1, T2 and T3, respectively and the difference was non significant (P>0.05). The digestibility of DM, CP, EE, NFE and digestible nutrients (DCP, DEE and DNFE) for diets T1, T2 and T3 was significantly higher than those for diet T0. The daily average liveweight gain of RC heifers fed diets T0, T1, T2 and T3 were 100, 275, 333 and 291 g respectively (P<0.01). Concentrate mixture having 20% crude protein may be supplemented at the rate of 10% of DM intake per day for optimum growth of Red Chittagong heifers. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v37i1.9861 BJAS 2008; 37(1): 10-16


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