The pig industry faces many animal welfare issues. Among these, biting behaviour has a high incidence. It is indicative of an existing problem in biters and is a source of physical damage and ...psychological stress for the victims. We categorize this behaviour into aggressive and non-aggressive biting, the latter often being directed towards the tail. This review focusses specifically on predisposing factors in early life, comprising the prenatal and postnatal periods up to weaning, for the expression of aggressive and non-aggressive biting later in life. The influence of personality and coping style has been examined in a few studies. It varies according to these studies and, thus, further evaluation is needed. Regarding the effect of environmental factors, the number of scientific papers is low (less than five papers for most factors). No clear influence of prenatal factors has been identified to date. Aggressive biting is reduced by undernutrition, cross-fostering and socialization before weaning. Non-aggressive biting is increased by undernutrition, social stress due to competition and cross-fostering. These latter three factors are highly dependent on litter size at birth. The use of familiar odours may contribute to reducing biting when pigs are moved from one environment to another by alleviating the level of stress associated with novelty. Even though the current environment in which pigs are expressing biting behaviours is of major importance, the pre-weaning environment should be optimized to reduce the likelihood of this problem.
•Behavioural changes in grazing dairy cows to moderate heat were explored.•Reticular temperature can be suitable for monitoring heat stress on pasture.•Changes in behaviour indicated responses to ...moderate heat stress.•Proximity to the water trough may be useful for the timely monitoring of heat stress.•Small inter-individual distances may be useful for the timely monitoring of heat stress.
Exposure to direct solar radiation, high ambient temperature, lack of wind movement, coupled with own metabolic heat production, makes grazing dairy cows vulnerable to heat stress. In pastures, it would be beneficial to monitor heat stress by observable changes in behaviour. We hypothesised that grazing dairy cows exhibit behavioural changes due to increasing heat load in temperate climate. Over two consecutive summers, 38 full-time grazing Holstein dairy cows were investigated in 12 experimental periods of up to 3 consecutive days where the cows were repeatedly exposed to various levels of moderate heat load determined by the comprehensive climate index (CCI). The CCI defines the ambient climate conditions, combining air temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation and wind speed. Vaginal temperature (VT) was automatically measured as an indicator of heat stress. In addition, as a less invasive method, we investigated if reticular temperature (RET) can be indicative of heat stress on pastures. Walking activity, lying-, feeding, and ruminating durations were recorded continuously with sensors. Respiration rate (RR), proximity to and competition at the water trough, social licking, self-licking, inter-individual distance, and fly intensity were directly observed. Data were analysed in the morning (0900–1100 h) and during the hottest time of day when cows were on pasture (1230–1430 h). The VT and RET showed similar patterns in relation to the CCI, suggesting that RET can be suitable for continuous monitoring of heat stress on pastures. In the morning, the cow’s VT and RET did not relevantly react to the CCI. During the period 1230–1430 h, the cow’s mean VT (mean vaginal temperature (VTMEAN); range: 37.7–40.3 °C) and mean RET (mean reticular temperature; range: 37.0–41.1 °C) were positively related to the mean CCI (mean comprehensive climate index) in this period (mean ± SD: 25.9 ± 5.71 °C). For cows with greater VTMEAN, an increased mean RR and decreased durations of walking, lying, feeding, and ruminating were found. These cows were also more likely to be in proximity to the water trough and to have small inter-individual distances. Changes in these traits seem to reflect behavioural adaptations to heat stress in a temperate climate and could be used to detect the heat stress in individual dairy cows on pastures.
In order to assess chronic stress in entire and castrated male pigs and to describe effects of a provision of grass silage in those pigs, a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment comprising the factors ...castration, chronic intermittent social stress and provision of grass silage was carried out with 147 growing-finishing pigs from 25.6 to 102.1 kg body weight. The experimental design allowed investigating interactions between the three factors, but only few were statistically significant. Stress exposure consisted of repeated short-term confrontations with unfamiliar pigs and short-term separations. Carcasses of stress-exposed pigs had thicker backfat, lower lean meat percentage and a different fatty acids composition of the adipose tissue. While entire males differed strongly from castrates in performance, carcass characteristics and adipose tissue properties, we found no evidence for an increased level of chronic stress in entire males compared to castrates. Provision of grass silage increased stomach weight and reduced dressing percentage, but did not impair performance, adipose tissue properties or meat quality.
•Effects of castration, chronic stress, and grass silage were studied in pigs.•Chronic intermittent social stress had an effect on carcass and adipose tissue properties.•Indicators for chronic stress were not elevated in entire male pigs.•Provision of grass silage increased stomach weight and reduced dressing percentage.•Provision of grass silage did not impair performance, meat or adipose tissue properties.
This intervention study investigated the effect of farm specific concentrate amounts and concentrate feeding reduction over two years on herd health and production in 69 organic dairy herds ...considering further feeding management factors and herd characteristics. All farms were participating in the Swiss ‘Feed no Food’ project and decided for themselves the extent of the reduction they desired in concentrate feeding amounts. The average concentrate amount fed before project start was 363kg/cow/year. The maximum amount of concentrate was 10% of the yearly dry matter intake, according to the Swiss organic ‘Bio Suisse’ standards. Health and production data were calculated at farm level from milk recording data. Somatic cell score (SCS) and calving interval (CI) were used as indicators for udder health and fertility, respectively. Medicine use was assessed as the total number of veterinary treatments (TM) generated from obligatory farm records. Milk recording data and treatment data were collected retrospectively for a one-year period before and during the two year project period. Concentrate amounts, feeding management factors, and herd characteristics were assessed by questionnaires. The intervention was performed as an advising process regarding feeding and herd health during quarterly farm visits and regular contacts with the farmers after receiving new milk recording data. General linear models for repeated measurements were used to analyse the development at farm level. A significant reduction in concentrate feeding, to an average concentrate amount of 276kg/cow/year, was achieved within the project period. Milk yield and TM incidences were higher and CIs were longer if more concentrates were fed in general, but these parameters were not related to a reduction in concentrate feeding within the project years. The total amount and the reduction in concentrate feeding within the project showed no association with SCS. Within breeds, Holstein Friesians had the highest milk yield, and Swiss Brown Cattle had the highest incidences of TM compared to the other breeds. Larger herds showed higher SCSs and lower CIs. Herds with mostly or entirely bought-in replacement heifers had higher SCS. Herds with more own replacement heifers than bought-in heifers showed lower CIs than herds with entirely own young stock or entirely bought-in replacement heifers. Regarding feeding management, maize as a component of the roughage ration was significantly related to a higher milk yield. In summary, under Swiss roughage based dairy production conditions, a reduction in concentrate use was achieved after a two year intervention study, compared to the year before project start, without significant losses in milk yield, health and fertility status.
•We investigated feeding system effect on herd health and production in dairy herds.•Farms reduced use of concentrates during a two year intervention study.•Reduction was not combined with impaired milk yield, health and fertility status.•Advising increased farmers’ awareness to improve roughage quality and management.
Pulmonary artery sling: Current results with cardiopulmonary bypass Backer, Carl L., MD; Russell, Hyde M., MD; Kaushal, Sunjay, MD, PhD ...
The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery,
2012, 2012-Jan, 2012-01-00, 20120101, Letnik:
143, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Objective We have used cardiopulmonary bypass with left pulmonary artery reimplantation for pulmonary artery sling repair since 1985. This review presents our current results with this technique, ...emphasizing the importance of diagnosis and treatment of frequently associated tracheal stenosis. Methods Since 1985, 34 patients have undergone pulmonary artery sling repair using a median sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass. Age ranged from 9 days to 43 years (mean 2.1 ± 7.5 years, median 0.2 years). Twenty-seven patients (79%) had tracheal stenosis secondary to complete cartilage tracheal rings. All patients had preoperative airway imaging with rigid bronchoscopy, and since 2000 all patients have had computed tomography imaging of the chest with 3-dimensional reconstruction (n = 14). Tracheal repair has included pericardial patch tracheoplasty (n = 7), tracheal autograft (n = 10), tracheal resection (n = 4), and slide tracheoplasty (n = 5). All patients had an echocardiogram, and cardiac lesions repaired simultaneously included atrial septal defect (4), tetralogy of Fallot (2), and ventricular septal defect (1). One patient had a severely hypoplastic right lung, and 3 patients had an absent right lung. In these patients, the left pulmonary artery was translocated anterior to the trachea. In all other patients, the left pulmonary artery was reimplanted into the main pulmonary artery. Results There have been no early deaths or complications related to the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. Median hospital stay was 24 days. There have been 4 late deaths. Two late deaths were the result of complications of tracheal surgery (1 pericardial patch 6 months postoperatively and 1 autograft 1.7 years postoperatively). One child died of biliary atresia (0.2 years postoperatively), and 1 child died of pneumonia (5.8 years postoperatively). All recent tracheal stenosis repairs have been with slide tracheoplasty. All left pulmonary arteries are patent with a mean percent flow by perfusion scan of 41% ± 13%. Older patients (n = 2) have noted a significant improvement in exercise tolerance. Conclusions Pulmonary artery sling is best repaired with median sternotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass, and left pulmonary artery reimplantation. This resulted in uniformly patent left pulmonary arteries in all patients. Preoperative computed tomography imaging, echocardiography, and bronchoscopy are essential for precise operative planning. The frequently associated tracheal stenosis is best repaired with slide tracheoplasty.
Infants with congenital tracheal stenosis may also have unilateral lung agenesis or severe lung hypoplasia. The purpose of this review is to evaluate our results with these patients and compare their ...presentations and outcomes to those of tracheal stenosis patients with two lungs.
Our database was queried for patients undergoing tracheal stenosis repair since 1982. Patients were divided into two groups based on pulmonary anatomy of single lung (SL = unilateral lung agenesis or severe hypoplasia) or two lungs (BL = bilateral lungs) and analyzed to compare presentation and outcomes.
From 1982 to 2008, 71 patients had tracheal stenosis repair. Bilateral lungs were present in 60 patients; 9 patients had an absent (4) or severely hypoplastic (5) right lung, and 2 patients had an absent left lung (SL = 11). Age at repair was similar between groups; median age 0.42 years in the SL group (mean 0.80 +/- 1.0 years) versus 0.37 years in the BL group (mean 0.91 +/- 2.1 years, p = not significant ns). In the SL group 8 of 11 (73%) were intubated preoperatively versus 15 of 60 (25%) in the BL group (p = 0.004). In the SL group 4 of 11 (36%) patients had pulmonary artery sling versus 20 of 60 (33%) of BL patients (p = ns). In the SL group 2 of 11 (18%) versus 14 of 60 (23%) in the BL group had intracardiac anomalies requiring simultaneous repair (p = ns). Procedures included pericardial tracheoplasty (2 vs 26), tracheal autograft (4 vs 16), slide tracheoplasty (3 vs 8), and tracheal resection (2 vs 10). Overall mortality (operative and late) was 2 of 11 (18%) SL versus 10 of 60 (17%) BL (p = ns). Median postoperative length of stay was 43 days SL (mean 48.6 +/- 40) versus 30 days BL (mean 52.2 +/- 65) (p = ns). The incidence of postoperative tracheostomy (SL group) was 0 of 3 for slide tracheoplasty and 5 of 8 for the other techniques (p = 0.12).
Despite the increased severity of pathology and increased critical presentation of tracheal stenosis patients with unilateral lung agenesis or severe hypoplasia, outcome measures of mortality and length of stay were similar to patients with two lungs. The incidence of associated pulmonary artery sling (1 of 3) and intracardiac anomalies (1 of 4) was similar. Unilateral lung agenesis or severe hypoplasia should not preclude operative repair of tracheal stenosis. Slide tracheoplasty is our current procedure of choice for these infants.
Congenital laryngeal stenosis Schroeder, Jr, James W; Holinger, Lauren D
Otolaryngologic clinics of North America,
10/2008, Letnik:
41, Številka:
5
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Congenital subglottic stenosis is rare and as a consequence may not be considered in children experiencing respiratory difficulty at birth. Diagnosis after a child already is intubated complicates ...the recognition and blurs the boundary between congenital and acquired lesions. This article discusses the anatomy of the larynx, its common anatomic variations, and its response to trauma, a thorough understanding of which is required for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of this complicated problem. The authors discuss evaluation and assessment options to guide treatment.
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