| 1. |
- Anglart, D, et al.
(författare)
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Detecting and predicting changes in milk homogeneity using data from automatic milking systems.
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Dairy Science. - : American Dairy Science Association. - 0022-0302 .- 1525-3198. ; 104:10, s. 11009-11017
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To ensure milk quality and detect cows with signs of mastitis, visual inspection of milk by prestripping quarters before milking is recommended in many countries. An objective method to find milk changed in homogeneity (i.e., with clots) is to use commercially available inline filters to inspect the milk. Due to the required manual labor, this method is not applicable in automatic milking systems (AMS). We investigated the possibility of detecting and predicting changes in milk homogeneity using data generated by AMS. In total, 21,335 quarter-level milk inspections were performed on 5,424 milkings of 624 unique cows on 4 farms by applying visual inspection of inline filters that assembled clots from the separate quarters during milking. Images of the filters with clots were scored for density, resulting in 892 observations with signs of clots for analysis (77% traces or mild cases, 15% moderate cases, and 8% heavy cases). The quarter density scores were combined into 1 score indicating the presence of clots during a single cow milking and into 2 scores summarizing the density scores in cow milkings during a 30-h sampling period. Data generated from the AMS, such as milk yield, milk flow, conductivity, and online somatic cell counts, were used as input to 4 multilayer perceptron models to detect or predict single milkings with clots and to detect milking periods with clots. All models resulted in high specificity (98-100%), showing that the models correctly classified cow milkings or cow milking periods with no clots observed. The ability to successfully classify cow milkings or cow periods with observed clots had a low sensitivity. The highest sensitivity (26%) was obtained by the model that detected clots in a single milking. The prevalence of clots in the data was low (2.4%), which was reflected in the results. The positive predictive value depends on the prevalence and was relatively high, with the highest positive predictive value (72%) reached in the model that detected clots during the 30-h sampling periods. The misclassification rate for cow milkings that included higher-density scores was lower, indicating that the models that detected or predicted clots in a single milking could better distinguish the heavier cases of clots. Using data from AMS to detect and predict changes in milk homogeneity seems to be possible, although the prediction performance for the definitions of clots used in this study was poor.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Axelsson, Erik, et al.
(författare)
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The genetic consequences of dog breed formation-Accumulation of deleterious genetic variation and fixation of mutations associated with myxomatous mitral valve disease in cavalier King Charles spaniels
- 2021
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Ingår i: PLOS Genetics. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1553-7390 .- 1553-7404. ; 17:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Selective breeding for desirable traits in strictly controlled populations has generated an extraordinary diversity in canine morphology and behaviour, but has also led to loss of genetic variation and random entrapment of disease alleles. As a consequence, specific diseases are now prevalent in certain breeds, but whether the recent breeding practice led to an overall increase in genetic load remains unclear. Here we generate whole genome sequencing (WGS) data from 20 dogs per breed from eight breeds and document a similar to 10% rise in the number of derived alleles per genome at evolutionarily conserved sites in the heavily bottlenecked cavalier King Charles spaniel breed (cKCs) relative to in most breeds studied here. Our finding represents the first clear indication of a relative increase in levels of deleterious genetic variation in a specific breed, arguing that recent breeding practices probably were associated with an accumulation of genetic load in dogs. We then use the WGS data to identify candidate risk alleles for the most common cause for veterinary care in cKCs-the heart disease myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). We verify a potential link to MMVD for candidate variants near the heart specific NEBL gene in a dachshund population and show that two of the NEBL candidate variants have regulatory potential in heartderived cell lines and are associated with reduced NEBL isoform nebulette expression in papillary muscle (but not in mitral valve, nor in left ventricular wall). Alleles linked to reduced nebulette expression may hence predispose cKCs and other breeds to MMVD via loss of papillary muscle integrity.
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| 4. |
- Churakov, Mikhail, et al.
(författare)
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Parity and days in milk affect cubicle occupancy in dairy cows
- 2021
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Ingår i: Applied Animal Behaviour Science. - : Elsevier B.V.. - 0168-1591 .- 1872-9045. ; 244
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Modern dairy cattle farms are usually equipped with cubicle systems to provide cows with comfortable conditions for lying down and resting. Cows are free to choose any cubicle they want, but in reality, they do not distribute themselves uniformly throughout the barn. There are many factors that affect where a cow lies down, such as hierarchy of a cow, access to resources, cow traffic nearby, etc. In this study, we used real-time location system data from two commercial farms to examine patterns of cubicle occupancy in relation to parity and lactation stage. We summarized cubicle occupancy over several days and compared different areas of the barn. Our findings suggest that, in general, there was a higher occupancy of cubicles close to the feeding areas. High parity cows lay down more frequently in cubicles close to the milking area as opposed to first lactation cows that tend to occupy less busy areas of the barn. The overall conclusion is that cubicle occupancy is not uniform throughout the barn, and patterns related to parity and DIM are seen. This information can be important for future studies on spread of diseases and for management purposes. © 2021 The Authors
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| 5. |
- Gottlieb, Uliana, et al.
(författare)
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Accounting and accountability for farm animals : Conceptual limits and the possibilities of caring
- 2022
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Ingår i: Critical Perspectives on Accounting. - : Elsevier BV. - 1045-2354 .- 1095-9955. ; 84
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study explores dairy farmers’ accounts of farm animals in a context heavily influenced by the concept of farm animal welfare (FAW). We illustrate how external demands linked to FAW, performance concerns, and proximity to animals shape farmers’ formal and cognitive accounts of animals. We explain how different accounts underlie farmers’ accountability for animals. Using FAW as an example of a referent concept, we propose that accountability can be limited conceptually by its referent. This limit is not a matter of its (in)ability to account fully for all lived experiences. Rather, it is a matter of what one is or is not accountable for—such as the mortality rate but not culling—as well as assumptions regarding the referent—such as the nature of animal welfare and how it can be assessed and safeguarded. Even when it is conceptually bounded in this way, self-accountability has potential to alter farming practices by reflecting on caring about animals and on what this implies for oneself and the animals.
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| 6. |
- Hallén Sandgren, C, et al.
(författare)
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Homogeneity density scores of quarter milk in automatic milking systems.
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Dairy Science. - : American Dairy Science Association. - 0022-0302 .- 1525-3198. ; 104:9, s. 10121-10130
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Milk quality and clinical mastitis in dairy cows are monitored by detecting visually abnormal milk. A standardized method to evaluate clots in milk and studies of the incidence and dynamics of clots in milk at the quarter level are lacking. We validated a method to score clot density in quarter milk samples and describe the prevalence and dynamics of the density scores between consecutive samplings and periods in 4 farms with automatic milking systems. Using in-line filters, we collected quarter milk samples at each milking during 3 periods of 30 h each in each farm. Clot density was scored based on coverage of the filter area as 0 (negative), 1 (trace), 2 (mild), 3 (moderate), 4 (heavy), and 5 (very heavy). The score for a specific quarter and milking is referred to as the quarter milking score (QMS). Three assessors independently scored 902 images of filter samples with a Fleiss kappa value of 0.72. In total, 21,202 quarter milk samples from 5,398 milkings of 621 cows were collected. Of the quarter filter samples, 2.4% had visible clots, distributed as mild (1.4%), moderate (0.6%), heavy (0.3%), and very heavy (<0.1%, n = 8). Cases with a cow period sum of QMS ≥ 4, corresponding to 9.4% of all periods, harbored 86% and 94% of all QMS of 2 to 5 and 3 to 5, respectively. Of these cases, cows sampled in all 3 periods and clots in only 1 period had a quarter period sum score ≥ 1 in 1.8 different quarters in average. Corresponding numbers for the cows with clots or traces in 2 or 3 periods were 2.2 and 2.5 different quarters, respectively. A QMS of 2 to 5 in the preceding milking increased the chance of a QMS >1 in the following milking, with an average chance of 38%. The probability of a QMS > 1 increased with increasing previous QMS, a higher sum of QMS during the milking period, longer milking interval, and higher lactation number, but decreased with increasing days in milk. Our study showed that the method of clot-density scoring is feasible to perform and reproducible for investigating the occurrence and dynamics of clots in milk. Elevated clot-density scores clustered within certain cows and cow periods and appeared in new quarters of the cows over time. The low recurrence of QMS of 1 and 2 within quarters indicated that QMS 3 could be a reasonable threshold for detecting quarters with abnormal milk that require further attention.
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| 7. |
- Handlin, Linda
(författare)
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Human-Human and Human-Animal Interaction : Some Common Physiological and Psychological Effects
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The aim of the present thesis was to investigate hormonal and physiological effects in mothers during a breastfeeding session and in dogs and their owners in response to short-term interaction. In study one, sixty-six mothers receiving either exogenous oxytocin infusion and/or epidural analgesia (EDA) during labor or intramuscular oxytocin injection post partum were studied. Oxytocin, prolactin, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels, as well as blood pressure were measured during a breastfeeding session two days after birth. In response to breastfeeding two days after birth, the mothers displayed a pulsatile release of oxytocin and increasing prolactin levels. In addition, the activity in the HPA-axis was reduced and maternal blood pressure decreased. The results also show that EDA administration in combination with oxytocin during labor resulted insignificantly lower oxytocin levels and higher cortisol levels, as well as higher bloodpressure in response to breastfeeding two days after birth, compared to EDA administration alone. In addition, oxytocin infusions dose-dependently lowered the mothers’ endogenous oxytocin levels two days after birth. In study two, ten female dog owners and their male Labrador dogs participated, together with ten controls. Their levels of oxytocin, cortisol and insulin, as well as their heart rate, were measured. The connection between the quality of the dogowner relationship and hormone levels was also explored. Short-term interaction between dogs and their owners resulted in oxytocin release in both species and their cortisol levels and heart rate were also affected. Oxytocin levels and positive attitudes regarding the dog-owner relationship were positively correlated. In conclusion, both human-human and human-animal interactions induce oxytocin release and promote oxytocin mediated effects, such as decreasing cortisol levels and blood pressure. In addition, social interaction and oxytocin levels arepositively related.
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| 8. |
- Hansson, I, et al.
(författare)
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Cow characteristics associated with the variation in number of contacts between dairy cows
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Dairy Science. - : Elsevier Inc.. - 0022-0302 .- 1525-3198. ; 106:4, s. 2685-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In modern freestall barns where large groups of cows are housed together, the behavior displayed by herd mates can influence the welfare and production of other individuals. Therefore, understanding social interactions in groups of dairy cows is important to enhance herd management and optimize the outcomes of both animal health and welfare in the future. Many factors can affect the number of social contacts in a group. This study aimed to identify which characteristics of a cow are associated with the number of contacts it has with other group members in 2 different functional areas (feeding and resting area) to increase our understanding of the social behavior of dairy cows. Inside 2 herds housed in freestall barns with around 200 lactating cows each, cow positions were recorded with an ultra-wideband real-time location system collecting all cows' positions every second over 2 wk. Using the positioning data of the cows, we quantified the number of contacts between them, assuming that cows spending time in proximity to one another (within a distance of 2.5 m for at least 10 min per day) were interacting socially. We documented in which barn areas these interactions occurred and used linear mixed models to investigate if lactation stage, parity, breed, pregnancy status, estrus, udder health, and claw health affect the number of contacts. We found variation in the number of contacts a cow had between individuals in both functional areas. Cows in later lactation had more contacts in the feeding area than cows in early lactation. Furthermore, in one herd, higher parity cows had fewer contacts in the feeding area than first parity cows, and in the other herd, cows in third parity or higher had more contacts in the resting area. This study indicates that cow characteristics such as parity and days in milk are associated with the number of contacts a cow has daily to its herd mates and provides useful information for further research on social interactions of dairy cows.
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| 9. |
- Hartmann, Elke, et al.
(författare)
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From the horse’s perspective : Investigating attachment behaviour and the effect of training method on fear reactions and ease of handling—a pilot study
- 2021
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Ingår i: Animals. - : MDPI AG. - 2076-2615. ; 11:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The study investigated equine responses to novelty and handling, aiming to reveal whether horse–human relationships reflect criteria of an attachment bond. Twelve adult Standardbreds were subjected to a fear-eliciting test (novel objects presented close to two humans) and a handling test (being led passing novel objects) to study attachment-related behaviours and ease of handling. The tests were performed both before (pre-test) and after (post-test) horses had been trained by the same female handler (10 sessions of 15 min). Horses were assigned to three groups of four, each of which underwent different operant conditioning protocols: negative reinforcement (NR; pressure, release of lead, and whip tap signals) or combined NR with either positive reinforcement using food (PRf) or wither scratching (PRs). Results showed that neither familiarity of the person nor training method had a significant impact on the horses’ behavioural responses in the post-tests. However, horses showed decreased heart rates between pre-and post-tests, which may indicate habituation, an effect of training per se, or that the presence of the familiar trainer served to calm the horses during the challenging situations. There were large individual variations among the horses’ responses and further studies are needed to increase our understanding of horse–human relationships. © 2021 by the authors.
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| 10. |
- Herlin, Anders Henrik, et al.
(författare)
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Animal welfare implications of digital tools for monitoring and management of cattle and sheep on pasture
- 2021
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Ingår i: Animals. - : MDPI AG. - 2076-2615. ; 11:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The opportunities for natural animal behaviours in pastures imply animal welfare benefits. Nevertheless, monitoring the animals can be challenging. The use of sensors, cameras, positioning equipment and unmanned aerial vehicles in large pastures has the potential to improve animal welfare surveillance. Directly or indirectly, sensors measure environmental factors together with the behaviour and physiological state of the animal, and deviations can trigger alarms for, e.g., disease, heat stress and imminent calving. Electronic positioning includes Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) for the recording of animals at fixed points. Positioning units (GPS) mounted on collars can determine animal movements over large areas, determine their habitat and, somewhat, health and welfare. In combination with other sensors, such units can give information that helps to evaluate the welfare of free-ranging animals. Drones equipped with cameras can also locate and count the animals, as well as herd them. Digitally defined virtual fences can keep animals within a predefined area without the use of physical barriers, relying on acoustic signals and weak electric shocks. Due to individual variations in learning ability, some individuals may be exposed to numerous electric shocks, which might compromise their welfare. More research and development are required, especially regarding the use of drones and virtual fences. © 2021 by the authors.
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| 11. |
- Ivarsson, Emma, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of algal supplementation in feed to broiler breeders on transfer of nutrients and antibodies to chicks and quality of hatchlings
- 2023
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Ingår i: Animal. - 1751-7311 .- 1751-732X. ; 17:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Breeder nutrition is an important factor for chick quality since the chick embryo relies on nutrients available in the egg for growth and development. In addition, the egg is providing the chick with important antibodies that are vital during the first weeks of life. Brown algae contains several bioactive compounds, and dietary supplementation with algal extracts have shown improved gut health and immune responses in both pigs and poultry. The aim of this study was to investigate if feeding the brown algae Saccharina latissima, intact or as an extract, to broiler breeders can affect breeder hens’ antibody responses to vaccination, egg quality and transfer of antibodies and nutrients to the egg and thereby improve the quality of newly hatched chicks. Forty-five hens and nine roosters of the parent lines of the fast-growing broiler Ross 308 were included in the experiment where hens were 31 weeks at the start. The hens were housed individually and fed one of three dietary treatments for seven weeks; (a) control, (b) addition of 0.6% algal meal or (c) addition of 0.08% algal extract. The hens were given a booster vaccination against infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) 21 days after the start of experiment. During experimental days 32–42, hens were naturally mated every 5th day and hatching eggs were collected. A total of 255 chicks were hatched, and chick quality was assessed. Moreover, on chick day three, blood was collected from 48 focal chickens and total immunoglobulin Y levels and specific titres to IBV in serum were determined. The results showed that feeding the brown algae Saccharina latissima, intact or as an extract to broiler breeders did not affect egg production, egg quality, antibody responses to vaccination or transfer of antibodies from hen to chick. However, feeding intact algae significantly increased the levels of iodine and decreased the level of selenium in the eggs and resulted in a lower proportion of chicks with maximum quality score. Interestingly, algal feeding, both intact and as an extract, increased the abdominal fat pad in broiler breeders by about 17% without affecting BW. In conclusion, supplementation of broiler breeder diets with algal extract from Saccharina latissima, but not intact algal meal is a promising dietary strategy to increase the abdominal fat pad without causing any adverse effects on nutrient level in eggs or chick quality.
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| 12. |
- Keeling, Linda
(författare)
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Welfare Quality® project: from scientific research to on farm assessment of animal welfare
- 2009
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Ingår i: Italian Journal of Animal Science. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1594-4077 .- 1828-051X. ; 8, s. 900-903
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Welfare Quality (R) is the acronym of the European research project "Integration of animal welfare in the food quality chain: from public concern to improved welfare and transparent quality". This European project is focused on the integration of animal welfare in the food quality chain. Italian researchers from University of Milan, Naples, Padua, Parma and Pisa are involved in different tasks of this project. The second sub-project of Welfare Quality (R) aims to develop assessment systems to evaluate and monitor the quality of animal welfare on farms or at slaughter in 7 livestock species. Researchers of the Department of Animal Science of the University of Milan worked together other European partners to find and develop the most suitable animal-based measures for dairy and beef cattle.
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| 13. |
- Kumar Dey, Tushar, et al.
(författare)
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Molecular Characterization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococci from the Dairy Value Chain in Two Indian States
- 2023
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Ingår i: Pathogens. - : MDPI. - 2076-0817. ; 12:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Bovine milk and milk products may contain pathogens, antimicrobial resistant bacteria, and antibiotic residues that could harm consumers. We analyzed 282 gram-positive isolates from milk samples from dairy farmers and vendors in Haryana and Assam, India, to assess the prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci using microbiological tests, antibiotic susceptibility testing, and genotyping by PCR. The prevalence of genotypic methicillin resistance in isolates from raw milk samples was 5% [95% confidence interval, CI (3-8)], with 7% [CI (3-10)] in Haryana, in contrast to 2% [CI (0.2-6)] in Assam. The prevalence was the same in isolates from milk samples collected from farmers [5% (n = 6), CI (2-11)] and vendors [5% (n = 7), CI (2-10)]. Methicillin resistance was also observed in 15% of the isolates from pasteurized milk [(n = 3), CI (3-38)]. Two staphylococci harboring a novel mecC gene were identified for the first time in Indian dairy products. The only SCCmec type identified was Type V. The staphylococci with the mecA (n = 11) gene in raw milk were commonly resistant to oxacillin [92%, CI (59-100)] and cefoxitin [74%, CI (39-94)], while the isolates with mecC (n = 2) were resistant to oxacillin (100%) only. All the staphylococci with the mecA (n = 3) gene in pasteurized milk were resistant to both oxacillin and cefoxitin. Our results provided evidence that methicillin-resistant staphylococci occur in dairy products in India with potential public health implications. The state with more intensive dairy systems (Haryana) had higher levels of methicillin-resistant bacteria in milk.
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| 14. |
- Lindahl, Johanna, et al.
(författare)
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The Extent and Structure of Peri-urban Smallholder Dairy Farming in Five Cities in India
- 2020
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Veterinary Science. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2297-1769. ; 7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Livestock keeping is common in many cities in India, driven by the demand for animal-source foods, particularly perishable milk. We selected five cities from different regions of the country and conducted a census in 34 randomly selected peri-urban villages to identify and describe all smallholder dairy farms. In total 1,690 smallholder dairy farms were identified, keeping on average 2.2 milking cows and 0.7 milking buffaloes. In Bhubaneswar, the proportion of cows milking was only 50%, but in other cities it was 63-73%. In two of the five cities, more than 90% of the farmers stated that dairy production was their main source of income, while <50% in the other cities reported this. In one of the cities, only 36% of the households kept milk for themselves. Market channels varied considerably; in one city about 90% of farms sold milk to traders, in another, 90% sold to the dairy cooperative, and in another around 90% sold directly to consumers. In conclusion, peri-urban dairy systems in India are important but also varying between different cities, with only one city, Bengaluru, having a well-developed cooperative system, and the northeastern poorer region being more dependent on traders. Further studies may be needed to elucidate the importance and to design appropriate developmental interventions.
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| 15. |
- Lindahl, Johanna, et al.
(författare)
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Urban livestock-keeping: Contributions to food and nutrition security
- 2018
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Ingår i: Encyclopedia of Food Security and Sustainability. - : Elsevier. - 9780128126875 ; , s. 317-321, s. 317-321
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- When more and more people live in cities, there is increased need to produce food close to and within cities. The high value of livestock products and the increasing demand from the growing urban middle classes create a niche for urban livestock keeping, which contribute to the food security and the livelihoods of many different value chain actors. This chapter explores the different kinds of urban livestock keeping in low and middle-income countries and provides a view of the dynamics as well as the importance.
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| 16. |
- Lundström, Christina, et al.
(författare)
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Care in dairy farming with automatic milking systems, identified using an Activity Theory lens
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Rural Studies. - : Elsevier. - 0743-0167 .- 1873-1392. ; 87, s. 386-403
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ContextIn Sweden, 34% of herds in official statistics 2021 (77% of the cows) have an automatic milking system (AMS) and keep 19% of the dairy cows.ObjectiveThis study should be considered in relation to the rapid increase of digitalisation in agriculture. It aimed at investigating Swedish farmers’ experiences and reflections in dairy farming concerning AMS use from a care perspective, based on two research questions: 1) What kinds of success factors and management challenges do farmers experience with AMS usage? and 2) How do farmers view their work environment in this kind of system?MethodsA mixed method approach was performed, using method triangulation through a questionnaire, interviews, and field visits. The Activity Theory (AT) was used as a theoretical lens to consider care practice in the dairy farming as a learning system.Results and conclusionsParticipating dairy farmers were found to be in a continuous learning process on different levels in their system, from detailed problems with an individual cow or the herd to the whole dairy system. Implementation of AMS required learning in order to manage, and thus care for, a system comprising of animals, technology, and humans, to increase business viability. In successful AMS use, willingness to learn, adapt to the local situation, and continually improve practice, or care as a patterning of activities, appeared to be the most important factors. With more people involved, differentiations were possible, which in turn accentuated the need for more trained staff who can perform more complicated tasks. The findings indicated high importance of experience and a ‘stockperson's eye’, in combination with tool-mediated seeing using data from the robot, in developing enhanced professional vision and good care. A good stockperson had broad competence combining a stockperson's eye with experience with robot data. One of the greatest challenges for dairy farms was finding a good stockperson as staff or advisor. Increased flexibility in work and better physical health were important driving forces for implementing AMS, while handling alarms was mentally stressful and gave different perspectives on AMS vulnerability. Overall, the analysis of the collected data showed that AMS had brought major, primarily positive, changes in daily work and increased work satisfaction for most farmers, with a clear majority of the respondents feeling good in their work situation and enjoying their work.SignificanceApplication of AT in studying AMS from a care perspective, represents a shift from traditional research that normally addresses technological inventions, to studying farmers’ socio-technical system. The AT lens revealed the work practices in performing care, as a patterning of activities accomplished by a tinkering learning process, in the rich and messy matrix of humans, cows, and technology.
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| 17. |
- Metzger, Julia, et al.
(författare)
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Genome data uncover four synergistic key regulators for extremely small body size in horses
- 2018
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Ingår i: BMC Genomics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2164. ; 19:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Miniature size in horses represents an extreme reduction of withers height that originated after domestication. In some breeds, it is a highly desired trait representing a breed- or subtype-specific feature. The genomic changes that emerged due to strong-targeted selection towards this distinct type remain unclear.Results: Comparisons of whole-genome sequencing data from two Miniature Shetland ponies and one standard-sized Shetland pony, performed to elucidate genetic determinants for miniature size, revealed four synergistic variants, limiting withers height to 34.25 in. (87 cm). Runs of homozygosity regions were detected spanning these four variants in both the Miniature Shetland ponies and the standard-sized Shetland pony. They were shown to be characteristic of the Shetland pony breed, resulting in a miniature type under specific genotypic combinations. These four genetic variants explained 72% of the size variation among Shetland ponies and related breeds. The length of the homozygous regions indicate that they arose over 1000 years ago. In addition, a copy number variant was identified in DIAPH3 harboring a loss exclusively in ponies and donkeys and thus representing a potential height-associated variant.Conclusion: This study reveals main drivers for miniature size in horses identified in whole genome data and thus provides relevant candidate genes for extremely short stature in mammals.
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| 18. |
- Nilsson, Kajsa, et al.
(författare)
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Characterisation of non-coagulating milk and effects of milk composition and physical properties on rennet-induced coagulation in Swedish Red Dairy Cattle
- 2019
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Ingår i: International Dairy Journal. - : Elsevier BV. - 0958-6946 .- 1879-0143. ; 95, s. 50-57
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Non-coagulating milk is a serious problem in the cheese industry, since it decreases cheese yield, resulting in decreased economic output. This study evaluated rennet-induced coagulation properties and composition of milk from individual Swedish Red Dairy Cattle. Milk samples from 679 individual cows were rheologically evaluated, of which 18.1% of the cows produced non-coagulating milk and 18.9% produced poor-coagulating milk. This resulted in 37% of the milk samples being non-optimal in cheese production, which is an alarmingly high figure. A comparison between non-coagulating and coagulating milk showed a significantly lower calcium content and less free Ca 2+ in non-coagulating milk. The results provide more information about non- and poor-coagulating milk and will be further used to understand the genetic background of non-coagulating milk and breed against this undesired milk property.
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| 19. |
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| 20. |
- Priyashantha, Hasitha, et al.
(författare)
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Composition and properties of bovine milk: A study from dairy farms in northern Sweden; Part I. Effect of dairy farming system
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Dairy Science. - : Elsevier. - 0022-0302 .- 1525-3198. ; 104:8, s. 8582-8594
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study was part of a larger project that aimed to understand the causes for increasing variation in cheese ripening in a cheese-producing region in northern Sweden. The influence of different on-farm factors on raw milk composition and properties was investigated and is described in this paper, whereas the monthly variation in the milk quality traits during 1 yr is described in our companion paper. The dairy farming systems on a total of 42 dairy farms were characterized through a questionnaire and farm visits. Milk from farm tanks was sampled monthly over 1 yr and analyzed for quality attributes important for cheese making. On applying principal component analyses to evaluate the variation in on-farm factors, different types of farms were distinguished. Farms with loose housing and automatic milking system (AMS) or milking parlor had a higher number of lactating cows, and predominantly Swedish Holstein (SH) breed. Farms associated with tiestalls had a lower number of lactating cows and breeds other than SH. Applying principal component analyses to study the variation in composition and properties of tank milk samples from farms revealed a tendency for the formation of 2 clusters: milk from farms with AMS or a milking parlor, and milk from farms with tiestall milking. The interaction between the milking system, housing system, and breed probably contributed to this grouping. Other factors that were used in the characterization of the farming systems only showed a minor influence on raw milk quality. Despite the interaction, milk from tiestall farms with various cow breeds had higher concentrations (g/100 g of milk) of fat (4.74) and protein (3.63), and lower lactose concentrations (4.67) than milk from farms with predominantly SH cows and AMS (4.32, 3.47, and 4.74 g/100 g of milk, respectively) or a milking parlor (4.47, 3.54, and 4.79 g/100 g of milk, respectively). Higher somatic cell count (195 × 103/mL) and lower free fatty acid concentration (0.75 mmol/100 g of fat) were observed in milk from farms with AMS than in milk from tiestall systems (150 × 103/mL and 0.83 mmol/100 g of fat, respectively). Type of farm influenced milk gel strength, with milk from farms with predominantly SH cows showing the lowest gel strength (65.0 Pa), but not a longer rennet coagulation time. Effects of dairy farming system (e.g., dominant breed, milking system, housing, and herd size) on milk quality attributes indicate a need for further studies to evaluate the in-depth effects of farm-related factors on milk quality attributes.
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| 21. |
- Ren, Keni, 1983-, et al.
(författare)
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Where do we find missing data in a commercial real-time location system? Evidence from 2 dairy farms
- 2021
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Ingår i: JDS Communications. - : American Dairy Science Association. - 2666-9102. ; 2, s. 345-350
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Real-time indoor positioning using ultra-wideband devices provides an opportunity for modern dairy farms to monitor the behavior of individual cows; however, missing data from these devices hinders reliable continuous monitoring and analysis of animal movement and social behavior. The objective of this study was to examine the data quality, in terms of missing data, in one commercially available ultra-wideband–based real-time location system for dairy cows. The focus was on detecting major obstacles, or sections, inside open freestall barns that resulted in increased levels of missing data. The study was conducted on 2 dairy farms with an existing commercial real-time location system. Position data were recorded for 6 full days from 69 cows on farm 1 and from 59 cows on farm 2. These data were used in subsequent analyses to determine the locations within the dairy barns where position data were missing for individual cows. The proportions of missing data were found to be evenly distributed within the 2 barns after fitting a linear mixed model with spatial smoothing to logit-transformed proportions (mean = 18% vs. 4% missing data for farm 1 and farm 2, respectively), with the exception of larger proportions of missing data along one of the walls on both farms. On farm 1, the variation between individual tags was large (range: 9–49%) compared with farm 2 (range: 12–38%). This greater individual variation of proportions of missing data indicates a potential problem with the individual tag, such as a battery malfunction or tag placement issue. Further research is needed to guide researchers in identifying problems relating to data capture problems in real-time monitoring systems on dairy farms. This is especially important when undertaking detailed analyses of animal movement and social interactions between animals.
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| 22. |
- Soderquist, Astrid, et al.
(författare)
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Social Support in a Novel Situation Aimed for Stunning and Euthanasia of Pigs May Be Increased by Familiar Pigs—A Behavioural Study with Weaners
- 2023
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Ingår i: Animals. - : MDPI. - 2076-2615. ; 13:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The common method of stunning pigs using high concentration carbon dioxide prior to slaughter poses an animal welfare issue, as the gas is aversive. Proof of concept for using nitrogen gas encapsulated in high-expansion foam as an alternative non-aversive method for stunning pigs has recently been presented. However, the individually tested pigs showed distress-related responses to foam exposure, regardless of whether it was nitrogen- or air-filled. This study examined the effect of companionship from a familiar or unfamiliar pig on behaviours in 72 nine-weeks old pigs during exposure to air-filled foam. Escape attempts were observed by 75% of solitary pigs, 42% of pigs with unfamiliar conspecifics, and 33% of pigs with familiar conspecifics. Familiar pig pairs clearly preferred social contact during foam exposure, whereas this was not as clear in unfamiliar pig pairs, and their motivation for social contact could have multiple explanations. The results from this study highlight the importance of contact with conspecifics when studying animal welfare and suggest that familiarity between pigs is important for social support, thus emphasizing the importance of maintaining social groups to reduce distress in pigs at slaughter. © 2023 by the authors.
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| 23. |
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| 24. |
- Svensson, Catarina, et al.
(författare)
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Dairy farmer and farm staff attitudes and perceptions regarding daily milk allowance to calves
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Dairy Science. - : Elsevier. - 0022-0302 .- 1525-3198. ; 106:10, s. 7220-7239
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The benefits of feeding calves more milk are increasingly being recognized by dairy farmers. However, most producers have still not implemented higher feeding plans. The aim of the present study was to gain a deeper understanding of farmer and farm staff attitudes, and the perceptions and factors considered in their decision-making regarding daily milk allowances. We collected data through focus group interviews with dairy farmers, farm managers, and calf-care workers who were selected using purposive and snowball sampling. In total, 40 persons (24 women and 16 men) joined a focus group interview (6 in all, each with 5–8 participants). Interviews were recorded, and recordings were transcribed and analyzed thematically. Participants had contrasting opinions about the minimum, maximum, and recommended daily milk allowances to their calves. Their suggested lowest daily milk allowance to sustain animal welfare ranged from 4 to 8–10 L and the maximum allowance from 6 to 15 L. We found that farmers' and farm staff's choices and recommendations of milk-feeding protocols were influenced by a large number of factors that could be grouped into 4 themes: (1) Life beyond work, (2) Farm facilities and equipment, (3) Care of the calves, and (4) Profitability and production. Participants' considerations were similar and aimed to maximize daily milk allowance based on farm conditions. However, the allowances they described as optimal for their calves often differed from what they considered practically feasible. We found that the care of the calves and the well-being of the owners and the staff was central in the participants' decision-making, but that this care perspective was challenged by the social and economic sustainability of the farm. Most participants fed their calves twice daily and did not think that increasing that number would be practically feasible. Our results indicate that the participants' viewpoints regarding calves were important for their decision-making about milk allowances. We suggest that a more holistic perspective should be used when advising farmers about milk allowances, putting particular emphasis on the caring and social sustainability aspects of the individual farm.
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| 25. |
- Valečková, Eliška, et al.
(författare)
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Silage and haylage as forage in slow and fast-growing broilers - effects on performance in Campylobacter jejuni infected birds
- 2020
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Ingår i: British Poultry Science. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0007-1668 .- 1466-1799. ; 61:4, s. 433-441
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- 1. This study investigated the effects of daily intake of silage or haylage on broiler production performance and organ development. Furthermore, effects of daily intake of Lactobacillus plantarum either via silage or by supplemented drinking water, on Campylobacter jejuni loads in faeces were studied.2. To test this, a 42-d experiment using Ross 308 and a 63-d experiment with Rowan Rangers hybrids, were performed. Silage inoculated with L. plantarum strain 256 and haylage were fed in total mixed rations with mixtures of 85% of pellets and 15% of respective forage (DM-based weight). Feed intake (FI), forage intake, body weight (BW) and feed conversion ration (FCR) were monitored weekly. Mortality was recorded daily, and organ weights were registered at slaughter. Quantification of C. jejuni was performed by colony counts from faecal samples after culture on agar plates.3. There was a negative effect of haylage on BW and FI in the fast-growing Ross 308 hybrid. Silage had a negative effect on BW only on week four and six. Water inoculated with L. plantarum 256 increased BW in the starter period. Interestingly, no significant adverse effect of forage inclusion was observed in the Rowan Ranger birds.4. Relative weight of the emptied gizzard was higher in both Ross 308 and Rowan Ranger birds fed haylage and silage than in the control group. In Ross 308 birds, both forages significantly reased the relative weight of gizzard with digestive content when compared to birds fed solely pellets.5. In both studies, higher consumption of silage than haylage was observed.6. In conclusion, daily intake of L. plantarum 256 either via silage or supplemented in drinking water, was not effective in reducing the shedding of C. jejuni in either Ross 308 or Rowan Ranger hybrids at the end of the rearing period.
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| 26. |
- Welderufael, Berihu, et al.
(författare)
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Simultaneous genetic evaluation of simulated mastitis susceptibility and recovery ability using a bivariate threshold sire model
- 2016
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Ingår i: Acta agriculturae Scandinavica. Section A, Animal science. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0906-4702 .- 1651-1972. ; 66:3, s. 125-134
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to develop a new approach for joint genetic evaluation of mastitis and recovery. Two mastitis incidences (0.28 and 0.95) measured via somatic cell count and three between traits genetic correlations (0.0, 0.2, and -0.2) were simulated for daughter group sizes of 60 and 240. A transition model was applied to model transitions between healthy and disease state. The RJMC package in DMU was used to estimate (co)variances. Heritabilities were consistent with the simulated value (0.039) for susceptibility and a bit upward biased for recovery. Estimates of genetic correlations were -0.055, 0.205, and -0.192 for the simulated values of 0.0, 0.2, and -0.2, respectively. For daughter group size of 60, accuracies of sire EBV ranged from 0.56 to 0.69 for mastitis and from 0.26 to 0.48 for recovery. The study demonstrated that both traits can be modeled jointly and simulated correlations could be correctly reproduced.
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| 27. |
- Aalaei, Kataneh, et al.
(författare)
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Application of a dye-binding method for the determination of available lysine in skim milk powders.
- 2016
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Ingår i: Food Chemistry. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-7072 .- 0308-8146. ; 196, s. 815-820
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A dye-binding method using Acid Orange 12 was investigated regarding its suitability for the quantification of available lysine, as a means of monitoring the Maillard reaction in skim milk powders. The method was evaluated by analyzing a wide range of milk powders produced by three different drying methods and stored under various conditions. A pilot-scale freeze-dryer, spray-dryer and drum-dryer were used to produce skim milk powders and the samples were stored at two temperatures (20°C and 30°C) and two relative humidities (33% and 52%) under strictly controlled conditions. Moreover to validate the method, two protein isolates; bovine serum albumin and casein were investigated for their available lysine content. The results demonstrate the suitability of this method for measuring the available lysine in skim milk powders with good precision and high reproducibility. The relative standard deviations obtained from the 125 freeze-dried powders were 1.8%, and those from the 100 drum-dried samples were all 1.9%. The highest variation was found for the spray-dried powders, which showed relative standard deviations between 0.9% and 6.7%.
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| 28. |
- Aalaei, Kataneh, et al.
(författare)
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Chemical methods and techniques to monitor early Maillard reaction in milk products; A review
- 2019
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Ingår i: Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1040-8398 .- 1549-7852. ; 59:12, s. 1829-1839
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Maillard reaction is an extensively studied, yet unresolved chemical reaction that occurs as a result of application of the heat and during the storage of foods. The formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) has been the focus of several investigations recently. These molecules which are formed at the advanced stage of the Maillard reaction, are suspected to be involved in autoimmune diseases in humans. Therefore, understanding to which extent this reaction occurs in foods, is of vital significance. Because of their composition, milk products are ideal media for this reaction, especially when application of heat and prolonged storage are considered. Thus, in this work several chemical approaches to monitor this reaction in an early stage are reviewed. This is mostly done regarding available lysine blockage which takes place in the very beginning of the reaction. The most popular methods and their applications to various products are reviewed. The methods including their modifications are described in detail and their findings are discussed. The present paper provides an insight into the history of the most frequently-used methods and provides an overview on the indicators of the Maillard reaction in the early stage with its focus on milk products and especially milk powders.
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| 29. |
- Aalaei, Kataneh, et al.
(författare)
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Storage stability of freeze-dried, spray-dried and drum-dried skim milk powders evaluated by available lysine
- 2016
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Ingår i: LWT - Food Science and Technology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0023-6438. ; 73, s. 675-682
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Formation of Maillard products and the influencing factors, which are of crucial importance for both manufacturers and consumers, are still not fully understood. Thus in this study available lysine was used as a marker to monitor the extent of Maillard reactions in freeze-dried, spray-dried and drum-dried skim milk powders during 200 days of storage at highly controlled atmospheres. Storage variables included two temperatures (20 °C, 30 °C) and two relative humidities (33%, 52%). The available lysine in five replicates was quantified at pre-determined intervals by a dye-binding method using Acid-orange 12, validated in our previous work. Findings of this study show that temperature and relative humidity during storage have a profound influence on the rate of available lysine loss. Choice of the drying technology as the other investigated variable also had a significant impact. The drying process least affected the available lysine content in freeze-dried powders, followed by spray-dried and drum-dried powders. Storage at 52% relative humidity and 30 °C for 200 days led to a 39.2–45.9% decrease in the available lysine content, regardless of the drying of skim milk powder, while the powders stored at 33% relative humidity and 20 °C did not show a significant loss during the same period of time.
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| 30. |
- Ablondi, Michela, et al.
(författare)
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Performance of Swedish Warmblood fragile foal syndrome carriers and breeding prospects
- 2022
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Ingår i: Genetics Selection Evolution. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0999-193X .- 1297-9686. ; 54
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Warmblood fragile foal syndrome (WFFS) is a monogenetic defect caused by a recessive lethal missense point mutation in the procollagen-lysine, 2-oxoglutarate 5-dioxygenase 1 gene (PLOD1, c.2032G>A). The majority of homozygous WFFS horses are aborted during gestation. Clinical signs of affected horses include fragile skin, skin and mucosa lacerations, hyperextension of the articulations, and hematomas. In spite of its harmful effect, a relatively high frequency of WFFS carriers has been found in Warmblood horses, suggesting a heterozygote advantage. Thus, in this study our aims were to: (1) estimate the frequency of WFFS carriers in the Swedish Warmblood breed (SWB), (2) estimate the effect of WFFS carrier genotype on performance traits in two SWB subpopulations bred for different disciplines, and (3) simulate the potential effects of balancing selection and different selection strategies on the frequency of carriers. Methods In total, 2288 SWB sport horses born between 1971 and 2020 were tested for the WFFS mutation and had estimated breeding values (EBV) for ten traditional evaluating and 50 linear descriptive traits. Results The frequency of WFFS carriers calculated from a pool of 511 randomly selected SWB horses born in 2017 was equal to 7.4% and ranged from 0.0 to 12.0% among the whole set of tested SWB horses, starting from 1971 till 2020. The effect of the WFFS carrier genotype was significant for several EBV mainly related to movements and dressage traits and especially for horses not bred for the show jumping discipline. Using simulation, we showed that balancing selection can maintain a recessive lethal allele in populations such as the SWB breed over generations and that the frequency is expected to slowly decrease in absence of balancing selection. Finally, we showed that selection against carrier sires can result in a more rapid decrease of the frequency of the mutant allele over time. Conclusion Further research is needed to confirm the apparent association between equine performance and the WFFS carrier genotype. Identification of such associations or new causative mutations for horse performance traits can serve as new tools in horse breeding to select for healthy, sustainable, and better performing horses.
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| 31. |
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| 32. |
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| 33. |
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| 34. |
- Ablondi, Michela, et al.
(författare)
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Signatures of selection in the genome of Swedish warmblood horses selected for sport performance
- 2019
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Ingår i: BMC Genomics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2164. ; 20
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background A growing demand for improved physical skills and mental attitude in modern sport horses has led to strong selection for performance in many warmblood studbooks. The aim of this study was to detect genomic regions with low diversity, and therefore potentially under selection, in Swedish Warmblood horses (SWB) by analysing high-density SNP data. To investigate if such signatures could be the result of selection for equestrian sport performance, we compared our SWB SNP data with those from Exmoor ponies, a horse breed not selected for sport performance traits. Results The genomic scan for homozygous regions identified long runs of homozygosity (ROH) shared by more than 85% of the genotyped SWB individuals. Such ROH were located on ECA4, ECA6, ECA7, ECA10 and ECA17. Long ROH were instead distributed evenly across the genome of Exmoor ponies in 77% of the chromosomes. Two population differentiation tests (F-ST and XP-EHH) revealed signatures of selection on ECA1, ECA4, and ECA6 in SWB horses. Conclusions Genes related to behaviour, physical abilities and fertility, appear to be targets of selection in the SWB breed. This study provides a genome-wide map of selection signatures in SWB horses, and ground for further functional studies to unravel the biological mechanisms behind complex traits in horses.
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| 35. |
- Aboshady, Hadeer Moursy, et al.
(författare)
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Immunoglobulins as Biomarkers for Gastrointestinal Nematodes Resistance in Small Ruminants: A systematic review
- 2020
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 10
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The rise of anthelmintic resistance worldwide has led to the development of alternative control strategies for gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) infections, which are one of the main constraints on the health of grazing small ruminants. Presently, breeding schemes rely mainly on fecal egg count (FEC) measurements on infected animals which are time-consuming and requires expertise in parasitology. Identifying and understanding the role of immunoglobulins in the mechanisms of resistance could provide a more efficient and sustainable method of identifying nematode-resistant animals for selection. In this study we review the findings on immunoglobulin response to GIN in the literature published to date (june 2019) and discuss the potential to use immunoglobulins as biomarkers. The literature review revealed 41 studies which measured at least one immunoglobulin: 35 focused on lamb immune response (18 used non-naive lambs) and 7 on yearlings. In this review we propose a conceptual model summarizing the role of immunoglobulins in resistance to GIN. We highlight the need for more carefully designed and documented studies to allow comparisons across different populations on the immunoglobulin response to GIN infection.
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| 36. |
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| 37. |
- Aboshady, Hadeer Moursy, et al.
(författare)
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Transcriptome variation in response to gastrointestinal nematode infection in goats
- 2019
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Ingår i: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 14, s. 20-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) are a major constraint for small ruminant production. Due to the rise of anthelmintic resistance throughout the world, alternative control strategies are needed. The development of GIN resistance breeding programs is a promising strategy. However, a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying genetic resistance might lead to more effective breeding programmes. In this study, we compare transcriptome profiling of abomasal mucosa and lymph node tissues from non-infected, resistant and susceptible infected Creole goats using RNA-sequencing. A total of 24 kids, 12 susceptible and 12 GIN resistant based on the estimated breeding value, were infected twice with 10,000 L3 Haemonchus contortus. Physiological and parasitological parameters were monitored during infection. Seven weeks after the second infection, extreme kids (n = 6 resistant and 6 susceptible), chosen on the basis of the fecal egg counts (FEC), and 3 uninfected control animals were slaughtered. Susceptible kids had significantly higher FEC compared with resistant kids during the second infection with no differences in worm burden, male and female worm count or establishment rate. A higher number of differentially expressed genes (DEG) were identified in infected compared with non-infected animals in both abomasal mucosa (792 DEG) and lymph nodes (1726 DEG). There were fewer DEG in resistant versus susceptible groups (342 and 450 DEG, in abomasal mucosa and lymph nodes respectively). 'Cell cycle' and 'cell death and survival' were the main identified networks in mucosal tissue when comparing infected versus non-infected kids. Antigen processing and presentation of peptide antigen via major histocompatibility complex class I were in the top biological functions for the DEG identified in lymph nodes. The TGF beta 1 gene was one of the top 5 upstream DEG in mucosal tissue. Our results are one of the fist investigating differences in the expression profile induced by GIN infection in goats.
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| 38. |
- Abouhatab, Assem, et al.
(författare)
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COVID-19, Livestock Systems and Food Security in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review of an Emerging Literature
- 2021
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Ingår i: Pathogens. - : MDPI AG. - 2076-0817. ; 10
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this paper, we carried out a systematic literature review to document the emerging scientific knowledge about COVID-19 impact on livestock systems and food security in developing countries to identify gaps and possible avenues for future research undertakings. Specifically, we systematically reviewed 68 peer-reviewed articles extracted based on rigorous selection criteria from Scopus, PubMed and ISI Web of Science databases and published between December 2019 and February 2021. Our results reveal that livestock supply chains presented an important 'intermediary' pathway through which the pandemic affected various dimensions of food security in developing countries. Although the research response has been rapid in terms of both quantity and temporal succession, we find a highly suggestive disjunction in studies analyzing the interconnections between COVID-19 pandemic, livestock systems and food security in developing countries. With respect to the livestock supply chain, the bulk of the reviewed evidence focuses on production and consumption, whereas considerably less focus is given to the pandemic's impact on intermediaries within livestock chains, including traders, intermediaries and processors. The analysis of livestock supply chain resilience revolves predominantly around the 'absorbance' and 'recovery' phases of resilience, whereas only a small subset of the literature investigates actions taken by supply chain actors to 'plan' or to 'adapt' livestock systems in order to reduce their vulnerability and enhance their overall resilience. Furthermore, food security has often been narrowly defined, with the majority of articles focusing on 'availability' and 'accessibility' to food due to the pandemic, and other dimensions of food security, including utilization, stability and sustainability, have been widely neglected. Based on our findings, we recommend future research to examine the dynamics of propagation of COVID-19 impact through livestock supply chains in order to develop more targeted interventions that enhance the capacity of developing countries to cope with this and future disruptions and mitigate their food insecurity outcomes. To this end, more holistic, integrated and resilience-based approaches are much recommended to recognize the complex nature of livestock systems in developing countries and to address the multifaceted and widespread effects of COVID-19 on food security channeled through livestock chains.
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| 39. |
- Abouhatab, Assem, et al.
(författare)
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Urbanization, livestock systems and food security in developing countries: A systematic review of the literature
- 2019
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Ingår i: Food Security. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1876-4517 .- 1876-4525. ; 11, s. 279-299
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study systematically reviews the peer-reviewed literature on livestock production and food security in urbanizing environments of developing countries to synthesize the existing evidence and identify priorities for future research. Specifically, a systematic literature review was undertaken using PubMed, ISI Web of Science and Scopus databases over the period 1980-2017, resulting in a final number of 72 articles meeting our selection criteria. The results revealed a fragmentation in the literature, which draws from a very small number of studies, and is positioned in widely varied research areas, environments, livestock systems and consumption patterns. With such heterogeneity, drawing generalizations from the literature may be unreachable. Furthermore, the literature is largely qualitative in nature, with very few comprehensive models to capture and integrate empirical evidence. Food security was typically found to be narrowly defined, focusing primarily on interlinks with livestock supply. Considerably less attention has been given to other relevant dimensions of food security, such as accessibility, utilization and stability. Another important finding of relevance to food security is a need to address the missing middle in livestock value chains since the literature has customarily concentrated extensively on the two ends of the livestock value chain, i.e., on production and consumption, while widely ignoring other elements and actors along the value chain. A further focus on the interrelationships between livestock production, food security and urbanization in developing countries through a holistic and interdisciplinary approach is recommended. Particularly, future research aiming to understand livestock systems in the context of rapid urbanization should put more emphasis on addressing the full continuum of the livestock value chain and the four dimensions that drive food security in developing countries and how they possibly interrelate.
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| 40. |
- Abraham, Maria Celina, et al.
(författare)
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Breed influences on in vitro development of abattoir-derived bovine oocytes
- 2012
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Ingår i: Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0044-605X .- 1751-0147. ; 54
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: There is a discrepancy in the reproductive performance between different cattle breeds. Using abattoir-derived ovaries and data base information we studied the effects of breed on in vitro fertilization and early embryo development. Methods: The in vitro developmental competence of oocytes from cattle (n = 202) of Swedish Red (SR), Swedish Holstein (SH) and mixed beef breeds was compared, retrospectively tracing donors of abattoir-derived ovaries using a combination of the national animal databases and abattoir information. Age was significantly lower and carcass conformation score was higher in the beef breeds than in the dairy breeds. Cumulus oocyte complexes (n = 1351) were aspirated from abattoir-derived ovaries from animals of known breed (visual inspection confirmed through databases), age (databases), and abattoir information. Oocytes were matured, fertilized (frozen semen from two dairy bulls) and cultured according to conventional protocols. On day 8, blastocysts were graded and the number of nuclei determined. Results: Cleavage rate was not different between the breeds but was significantly different between bulls. The percentage of blastocysts on day 8 was significantly higher when the oocyte donor's breed was beef or SR than SH. There was no significant difference in blastocyst grades or stages between the breeds, but the number of nuclei in day 8 blastocysts was significantly lower in SH compared to the beef. Conclusions: The use of abattoir-derived ovaries from animals whose background is traceable can be a valuable tool for research. Using this approach in the present study, oocyte donor breed was seen to affect early embryo development during in vitro embryo production, which may be a contributing factor to the declining fertility in some dairy breeds seen today.
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| 41. |
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| 42. |
- Adamie, Birhanu Addisu, et al.
(författare)
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Dairy cow longevity and farm economic performance: Evidence from Swedish dairy farms
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Dairy Science. - 0022-0302 .- 1525-3198. ; 106, s. 8926-8941
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The longevity of dairy cows is mainly determined by farmers' subjective culling decisions and can be linked to the environmental impact of dairy production and to the social acceptance of the industry. Still, the economic impacts of dairy cow longevity are not well understood. The aim of this study was to examine how herd average dairy cow longevity is related to the farm economic outcome. We used 3 indicators of economic outcome: technical efficiency, profitability, and average milk yield per cow. We used 2 indicators of dairy cow longevity: average herd length of life and average herd length of productive life. The study was based on a unique and detailed dataset from Swedish dairy agriculture, where herd-management data from the national dairy herd recording scheme were combined with farm-level economic variables from the Swedish Farm Accountancy Survey, for a total of 1,959 observations from 2010 to 2018. The regression results highlight that both measures of average herd dairy cow longevity have an overall positive and significant association with farm-level economic performance. These associations had an inverted U-shape, which implies that the association is first positive and then declines. Descriptive statistics indicate that the point where the maximum economic performance is attained varied across the economic indicators. Our results are relevant for individual dairy farmers and their advisors, who are interested in understanding how herd average longevity relates to economic performance on the farms. Our results are also important from a greater sustainability perspective, because linking them to previous knowledge about the environmental and social sustainability benefits of keeping cows longer highlights longevity-associated trade-offs between those benefits and the farm economic outcomes.
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| 43. |
- Adamie, Birhanu Addisu, et al.
(författare)
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Dairy cow welfare measures: Can production economic data help?
- 2022
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Ingår i: Sustainable Production and Consumption. - : Elsevier BV. - 2352-5509. ; 32, s. 296-305
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Using a dataset from dairy farms in Germany that combines two types of welfare measures, namely welfare quality protocol (WQP) measures and production economic and herd-management data, this study aims to validate the use of production economic and herd-management data to proxy dairy cow welfare measures. The paper implements two multivariate estimation approaches of Seemingly Unrelated Estimation and Canonical Correlation Analysis. Data from on-farm animal welfare assessments based on WQP require time intensive collection and are typically unavailable for research based on large-scale panel datasets. On the other hand, survey data on production economic and herd management are available for such analysis, especially in European countries, but their informational value regarding animal welfare is debated. In this paper, we were able to establish relationships between the four WQP principles (feed, health, housing, behaviour) and variables from production economics and herd-management data. We find that concentrated feed, building costs, cell counts, milk fat content, calving intervals, and age at calving have strong links to the different principles of the WQP measures. In conclusion, our findings support the use of already existing and routinely collected production economic and herd-management data from dairy cows to enable an analysis of farm animal welfare on a larger scale using panel data. (c) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Institution of Chemical Engineers. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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| 44. |
- Agar, David
(författare)
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Distribution of ash forming elements during pyrolysis of municipal wastewater sludge and sludge from milk processing factories
- 2018
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the long term, there is a need for alternative methods to recover energy and nutrients from increasing volumes of sludge generated from wastewater treatment plants. Pyrolysis can be an interesting option, which can reduce health and environmental risks, while providing an avenue for the recovery of energy and nutrients. One of the main concerns related to thermal conversion technologies is the release and fate of heavy metals and contaminants existing in the feedstock. Therefore, a detailed understanding of the transformation pathways of problematic compounds is necessary to assess the suitability of pyrolysis. In this study pyrolysis of dried dairy sludge and sewage sludge was carried out using a simple laboratory fixed bed reactor. Characterisation of the feedstock and pyrolysis products was performed through proximate and ultimate analysis and the content of major and minor ash forming elements were determined. The mass balance information obtained from the experimental tests was used for an indicative distribution of Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P, S, Si, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Ti, V and Zn between solid and liquid pyrolysis products. Results indicate that distribution of major elements between pyrolysis products was similar for dairy sludge and sewage sludge, with Ca, Mg, Fe, P, Si, Al, Na and K predominantly retained in pyrolysis chars (pyrogenic solids). However, substantial quantities of Al, K, Na and Si were detected in pyrolysis oil and in the aqueous fraction. The heavy metals and trace elements were mainly retained in the pyrolysis chars (pyrogenic solids) with the exception of As, Ba, Cd, Se, Sb and Pb, which were also detected in the liquid products.
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| 45. |
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| 46. |
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| 47. |
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| 48. |
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| 49. |
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| 50. |
- Agenäs, Sigrid
(författare)
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Rapid eye movement sleep time in dairy cows changes during the lactation cycle
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of Dairy Science. - : American Dairy Science Association. - 0022-0302 .- 1525-3198. ; 102, s. 5458-5465
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The importance of rest and sleep is well established; we know, for example, that lack of sleep impairs immune function in rats and increases pain sensitivity in humans. However, little is known about sleep in dairy cows, but a lack of rest and sleep is discussed as a possible welfare problem in cattle. A first step toward a better understanding of sleep in dairy cows is to quantify the time cows spend awake and asleep in different stages of lactation. Using electrophysiological recordings on 7 occasions in wk -2, 2, 7, 13, 22, 37, and 45 in relation to calving, we investigated changes in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep time as well as non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, drowsing, awake, and rumination in 19 dairy cows of the Swedish Red breed kept in single pens with ad libitum access to feed and water. The recordings on wk 2 and 45 were conducted during the dry period, and all others during lactation. The PROC MIXED procedure in SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) was used to test for significant differences in REM, NREM, drowsing, awake, and rumination between the different stages of lactation cycle. Pairwise comparisons between all recording occasions showed that total REM sleep duration was shorter for cows in wk 2 relative to calving compared with wk -2, and the number of REM sleep bouts were fewer in wk 2 compared with wk -2. The HEM sleep was recorded during both the day (0500-2100 h) and night (2100-0500 h), but predominantly performed at night compared with daytime, and the bout duration was longer during nighttime compared with daytime. A tendency was observed for time spent in NREM sleep to be shorter in wk 2 relative to calving compared with wk -2. The duration spent drowsing was shorter for cows in wk 2 and 13 relative to calving compared with wk -2. We found no effect of stage of lactation cycle on the duration of awake or ruminating. Our study is the first to assess sleep distribution during a lactation cycle, and our results show that stage of lactation is important to consider when moving forward with sleep investigations in dairy cows. The shortest REM sleep duration was found for cows 2 wk after calving and longest 2 wk before calving, and the difference was due a higher number of REM sleep bouts in the recording 2 wk before calving. The REM sleep and rumination predominantly occurred at night but were recorded during both day and night.
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