This study aimed to compare fungal contamination of poultry litter between warm and cold seasons. It was carried out in commercial production conditions over two five-week fattening periods: one in ...the summer (July-August) and one in the winter (December-January). Broilers were reared on a litter composed of chopped straw and sawdust. Litter fungal concentration and composition were investigated weekly, along with litter temperature, moisture, and pH. Litter concentration of total fungi increased over both fattening periods, with no differences in median concentrations between them. Season also had no effect on yeast,
section
, and
,
, and
spp. concentrations, while the
section
and
spp. combined showed higher concentrations in the summer, and
and
spp. in the winter. Total fungal concentration highly correlated with litter temperature, moisture, and pH, regardless of the season. Our findings can be useful in the assessment and control of potential harmful effect of fungi on the health of poultry and poultry farm workers.
This study aimed to investigate dust and bacterial air contamination in a broiler house during different seasons. The study was carried out in commercial housing conditions during five weeks of the ...rearing cycle in summer and winter. The total dust concentration ranged from 1.90 to 4.50 mg/m3 in summer and from 2.80 to 5.10 mg/m3 in winter. The total bacterial count ranged from 2.85 × 104 to 1.03 × 105 CFU/m3 in summer and from 2.12 × 104 to 2.28 × 105 CFU/m3 in winter. The study results showed the dust concentration to be increased in winter as compared to summer, yielding a significant correlation (r = 0.602, p < 0.05) with a significantly higher airborne bacterial count in winter (p < 0.001). Furthermore, dust concentration showed significant correlations (p < 0.05) with air temperature (r = −0.418), relative humidity (r = 0.673), and broiler activity (r = 0.709), while bacterial count yielded significant correlations (p < 0.05) with air temperature (r = −0.756), relative humidity (r = 0.831), and airflow rate (r = 0.511). The results obtained in the study can prove useful in the field. Seasonal variability in dust and bacterial air contamination should be considered in the development of guidelines or standards of air quality in broiler housing and evaluation of the effectiveness of remedial strategies.
The aim of this retrospective study was to show the prevalence of hip dysplasia (HD) in the indigenous dog breed Bosnian and Herzegovinian - Croatian Shepherd Dog (Tornjak) in the period from 2001 to ...2016. A total of 735 radiographs were evaluated according to the FCI protocol. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistica 13.5.0.17. (TIBCO Software Inc.) software. Significant differences between categorical variables were analysed using the Chi-square test. The median value of age of examined dogs was 18 (13.8-26.0) months, with majority of dogs (523) under 24 months. In the overall examined population 74.97% of hip radiographs were interpreted as healthy (grades A and B) and 25.03% were interpreted as dysplastic (grades C, D and E). In dogs under 24 months of age, the most common age for HD survey, 76.86 % was interpreted as healthy and 23.14% as dysplastic. Comparing the frequency of diagnosed HD according to the breeding licence during the 15 years period there was a statistically significant increase in dogs with HD grades A, B, C, D and a decrease in dogs with grade HD E restricted for further breeding (P
Escherichia coli is the most common bacterial cause of infections in poultry farms. It is known for its genetic heterogenicity that complicates the protection of poultry health through ...immunoprophylaxis. In farms with continuous problems with colibacillosis, autogenous E. coli vaccine was implemented to the vaccination program instead of commercial vaccines. In this study, we investigated the effect of the autogenous vaccine on E. coli phylogroup diversity on 2 broiler breeder farms with 4 and 5 flocks, respectively. The first flocks on both farms were vaccinated with commercial vaccines, while application of autogenous vaccine was introduced in the second flock on both farms. In total, 113 strains were selected based on the target organs and age of chickens. Targeted organs were the peritoneum, liver, oviduct, and bone marrow, and analyzed strains were isolated from chickens older than 21 wk of age when problems with colibacillosis start emerging. The strains were phylotyped by PCR and allocated to phylogroups A, B1, B2, C, D, E, F or clades I–V. The results showed that autogenous vaccine could significantly affect the phylogroup shift of the strains. On farm A, application of the autogenous vaccine induced significantly lower prevalence (P = 0.01) of the phylogroups represented in the vaccine among the strains later isolated from the vaccinated flock, while on farm B, the results showed a decrease in the phylogenetic diversity with a dominant prevalence of group B2 despite the vaccine application. The results indicate that implementation of the autogenous vaccine can repress the majority of the strains, but also be unable to eliminate the presence of certain phylogroups, and thus lead to strain shift. Further detailed analyses of multilocus sequence typing and virulence genes will elucidate the pathogenic potential and selection of certain strains, with emphasis on B2 phylogroup.
This study was aimed at analysing single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the oestrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) genes in a hyperprolific line of Landrace × Large White ...(Topigs 20) cross sows (n = 101). The following litter size traits were analysed: total number born, number of born alive and number of weaned piglets. ESR1 and RBP4 genotypes determined on the basis of single-nucleotide polymorphisms were analysed using the least square method with the GLM procedure in SAS with eight effects. The REG procedure was used to calculate the effects of the additive and dominance components. The second parity sows with ESR1 BB genotype had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) number of weaned piglets compared to AB, with a tendency towards difference (P < 0.1) between homozygotes for number of born alive and number of weaned piglets. In the case of the RBP4 gene, the first parity sows of the AA genotype had a significantly higher total number born (P < 0.05) compared with the BB genotype, with a tendency towards difference (P < 0.1) between AA and heterozygotes for total number born, and homozygotes for number of born alive. The BB genotype showed a tendency for higher number of weaned piglets (P < 0.1) as compared with the AA genotype in the third parity sows for the RBP4 gene. In all parities, significant effects (P < 0.05) of parity were recorded for total number born, number of born alive and number of weaned piglets, season of farrowing for total number born, and the ESR1 and RBP4 interaction for number of born alive. In the first parity sows, significant effects (P < 0.05) on total number born were determined for gene interaction and gestation length, the latter also being recorded in the second parity sows. The additive (a) effect of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in RBP4 was significant (P < 0.05) for total number born in all parities as well as in the first parity sows, and dominance effect (d) (P < 0.05) of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in ESR1 for number of weaned piglets in the third parity sows. The obtained results regarding the investigated genes could help to provide a better understanding of the effect of single-nucleotide polymorphisms on litter size and thus promote genetic progress in pig reproduction management.
The aim of this study was to analyse the non-genetic factors influencing the birth weight of Romanov lambs, and to determine which of them may be a useful source of information in the selection of ...female lambs for replacement. The study included 1712 lambs born in the period from 2016 to 2019. The linear model used in birth weight estimation included: birth type, sex, parity, year of birth, season of birth, and breeding group as fixed factors. Year of birth x season of birth interaction was also included in the model. All factors, except the season of birth, significantly affected birth weight (P<0.05). Birth weight decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing birth type and singles, twins, triplets and quadruplets weighing 4.11 ± 0.07, 3.56 ± 0.05, 3.07 ± 0.05 and 2.66 ± 0.08 kg, respectively. Male lambs (3.44 ± 0.05 kg) were significantly (P<0.05) heavier than female lambs (3.25 ± 0.05 kg). The lightest lambs (2.99 ± 0.05 kg) were born in the first litter, after which the birth weight gradually increased up to the sixth litter (3.54 ± 0.10 kg). Litter weight showed a nonlinear increase with an increase in birth type (P<0.05). The birth weight of female lambs from litters of twins and triplets with different ratios of male and female lambs did not differ significantly (P>0.05). Variations in birth weight are influenced by non-genetic factors, with birth type, sex, and parity being the most important. These factors should be considered in breeding and selection programs for lamb meat production, where fertility and growth traits have the key role.
Contents
The aim of the present study was to investigate whether and to what extent the RNF4‐SacII gene polymorphism influences reproduction performances in hyperprolific sow lines. The study ...involved 101 Landrace x Large White crossbred sows, with 461 records collected on the following reproductive traits: Total Number of piglets Born per litter (TNB), Number of piglets Born Alive per litter (NBA), Number of StillBorn piglets per litter (NSB), piglet Pre‐Weaning Mortality (PWM) and Number of piglets at Weaning per litter (NW). The least square method with the GLM procedure in SAS with eight effects was used to pursue the data analysis. Study results revealed that TT homozygotes and TC heterozygotes had a significantly higher (p < .05) NW than CC homozygotes for the life‐span performance in all parities and first parity analysed. In the fourth parity analysed, TNB and NBA in TC genotype were significantly higher (p < .05) as compared with TT genotype. Based on the life‐span performance, significant effect (p < .05) was recorded for order of parity on TNB, NBA and NW, for farrowing season on TNB and NSB, and for lactation length on PWM. In the second parity, significant effect (p < .05) was recorded for sire of boar on NSB and for gestation length on TNB. Only in the fourth parity, significant effect (p < .05) of RNF4 gene was observed on NBA. There was significant additive effect (p < .05) of the RNF4 gene polymorphism identified on NW in all parities analysed, and significant additive and dominance effects (p < .05) on NSB in the third parity analysed. In conclusion, additional research on related production pig genotypes is necessary to elucidate the effect of RNF4 gene mutation on reproductive traits.
This research aimed to analyze whether ewes' total reproductive performance up to the fourth year of life (RP4) can be predicted based on the data available at an early stage of a ewe's productive ...life. The RP4 of 133 Romanov ewes was measured in terms of the total number of lambs born per ewe (TNLE) and total birth weight of lambs per ewe (TBLE). Multiple regression was used to analyze whether early reproductive performance indicators (first litter size - FLS, age at first lambing - AFL, first lambing interval - FLI), ewe birth rank, dam age, and dam birth rank can be used as the predictors of RP4. Predicted
and 95 % prediction intervals were used as indicators of the precision of prediction. Average TNLE and TBLE at the end of fourth year of ewe life were 11.84 lambs and 37.96 kg, respectively. FLS and FLI significantly (
) influenced TNLE and TBLE, while AFL was not a significant (
) variable. Ewes with shorter FLI had significantly (
) higher TNLE (10.94 lambs) and TBLE (36.17 kg) than ewes with long FLI (TNLE
9.12 lambs and TBLE
28.05 kg).
predicted for TNLE and TBLE was 7.54 % and 11.49 %, respectively. The ewe's birth rank and the dam's birth rank significantly (
) influenced TNLE and TBLE. Ewes born as singletons and ewes from singleton-born dams had significantly (
) lower TNLE and TBLE than ewes born as triplets and ewes from triplet-born dams.
predicted for TNLE was 16.76 %, and 25.69 % for TBLE. FLS and FLI are better predictors of RP4 than AFL. The birth rank of ewe and dam also proved significant predictors of RP4. For both sets of predictors (early reproductive indicators and birth rank data), low values of
predicted indicate that precise prediction of RP4 cannot be made.
The aim of the study was to evaluate reproductive parameters in a population of the Banija Spotted (BS) pig breed. A total of 69 breeding sows registered in the herdbook were analysed according to ...the Order of Parity (OP) (1st, 2nd, 3rd, joint 4th and 5th parity, and all parities). Basic descriptive statistical analyses were used to calculate reproductive parameters such as age at mating and farrowing, Age of the Boar (AB) at mating, gestation length and farrowing interval; the following parameters were analysed for Litter Size (LS): Total Number of Born (TNB), Number of Born Alive (NBA), Number of Still Born (NSB) and Number of Weaned (NW) piglets. Analyses were carried out using the GLM procedure in SAS, whereas the Pairwise Pearson PROC CORR procedure was used to calculate correlation coefficients (r) between LS traits. On average 8.26 TNB, 7.57 NBA, 0.67 NSB and 6.95 NW piglets were determined. Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed between 1st and 2nd, and 1st and 3rd OP for TNB and NBA. NW was significantly different (P<0.05) between 1st and 2nd OP, and between 3rd and joint 4th and 5th parities, with a significant (P<0.05) effect of Gestation Length (GL) and Farrowing Season (FS) on NBA in 2nd parity. A significant effect of Herd Group (HG) and AB on NBA was recorded in 3rd OP. Joint 4th and 5th parities with the lowest number of litters analysed showed a significant effect (P<0.05) of AB on TNB, NBA and NW, as well as of GL on NSB. High correlation coefficients (r = 0.7-0.9; P<0.05, per parity analysed) were found between TNB-NBA, TNB-NW and NBA-NW in all parities and single parity analysed, with the highest value recorded between NBA-NW in the joint 4th and 5th parities (r = 0.94). According to the analysed LS traits, Banija Spotted pig breed is characterised by moderate fertility. Key words: Banija Spotted pig; sows; litter size; revitalization
In this study, the features influencing finding and returning missing cats to their owners were investigated. The data were collected on the missing and recovered cats in the City of Zagreb, Croatia, ...during the 2011–2016 period, including the following features: breed, sex, age, colour, hair length, castration and microchipping. A data analysis was performed by use of the Statistica v13.4 software. Out of 946 cats reported to be missing, 372 (39%) were returned to their owners. Purebred (P < 0.01), castrated (P < 0.05), microchipped (P < 0.05) cats, and those with semi-long and long hair (P < 0.05) were more frequently returned to their owners, whereas the sex, age and colour had no significant impact on the missing cat recovery. The study results showed particular cat features influencing their finding to be correlated (P < 0.05). In conclusion, cat owners should attempt to control their movements, in particular of older and non-castrated cats, to reduce the rate of cats going missing. In addition, microchipping would facilitate finding them. The large-scale implementation of the concepts highlighted in this study can contribute to reducing the number of missing cats and increasing the number of cats being returned to their owners.
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