Effect of a ceiling fan ventilation system on finishing young bulls' health, behaviour and growth performance

Strategies to alleviate heat stress on performance and physiological parameters in feedlot-finished cattle under heat stress conditions. A systematic review-meta-analysis

Strategies to alleviate heat stress on live performance - dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) - and on physiological parameters - respiratory rate (RR) and panting score (PS) - of feedlot-finished cattle were evaluated by systematic review-meta-analysis. Using the PICO framework were identified 3813 records, with 31 publications and 6729 cattle being considered in the meta-analysis (MA). The comparison most reported was sun vs. shade (n = 24 publications), followed by shade vs. shade (area per animal and effectivity in reduce solar load) (n = 7 publications) and sun vs. sprinkling (n = 4 publications). Cattle with access to shade with total reduction in solar load improved ADG (p = 0.008) and FCE (p = 0.024), and reduced RR (p < 0.001) compared to unshaded animals. Cattle with access to shade with a height between 3 and 4 m increased ADG (p < 0.001), tended to improve FCE (p = 0.054), and reduced RR (p < 0.001) compared to unshaded animals. An area of shade from 2 to 4 m2/animal increased ADG (p = 0.002), and higher than 4 m2/animal reduced RR (p < 0.001) compared to unshaded animals. Animals that received sprinkling volume below 1 L/animal/min improved ADG (p = 0.008) compared to unshaded animals. Cattle with access to shade with a high area per animal improved DMI (p = 0.023) and ADG (p < 0.001) compared to animals with a low area. In univariate meta-regression, it was observed that the variables significantly (P < 0.05) influencing DMI were THI category; influencing ADG were cattle gender, THI category, and coat color; influencing FCE were cattle age and hemisphere; and influencing RR were country, THI category and climate. Performance and physiological parameters of feedlot-finished cattle under heat stress depend on animal and environmental characteristics.

Using Expert Elicitation for ranking hazards, promoters and animal-based measures for on-farm welfare assessment of indoor reared beef cattle: an Italian experience

On-farm welfare assessment gives the opportunity to monitor and improve the quality of the animal life on the farm. In order to build the first Italian public standard for the welfare of indoor reared beef cattle, a list of 25 potential hazards and 22 potential promoters of beef cattle welfare was judged by a group of national experts by taking into account their negative or positive impacts on the welfare-state of the target population. In addition, the experts were asked to rank a list of 11 animal-based measures for identifying the most appropriate and important for measuring negative welfare outcomes in beef cattle. Based on experts' ratings, an "impact score" (IS_overall) was calculated for the proposed measures. Management hazards and promoters were ranked to have a greater impact on beef cattle welfare than housing factors. Keeping cattle in large (≥ 40 animals) and heterogeneous groups obtained the highest IS_overall among the proposed hazards (IS_overall = 5.54), followed by the presence of animals without free access to drinking water (IS_overall = 4.39) and the use of high-concentrate corn silage diets (concentrate > 80% and fiber < 6%) (IS_overall = 4.39). On the other hand, housing animals in small (≤ 20 animals) and homogeneous groups (IS_overall = 5.41), checking them at least twice a day (IS_overall = 4.62) and rearing cattle in loose housing systems with access to an outdoor area/pasture (IS_overall = 4.27) were ranked among the top 3 promoters. Concerning animal-based measures, experts scored lameness, severe respiratory diseases, body condition scoring and mortality rate to be measures most important for assessing serious welfare impairment.

Effects of extrinsic factors on some rumination patterns: A review

The rumen and its activity, rumination, are the characterizing traits of the suborder Ruminantia, and it is accompanied by related feeding habits and consequent animal behavior. Several extrinsic (not related to the animal itself) factors affect rumination behavior; most are reflected in rumination timing (considering overall daily duration as well as circadian differences in rumination patterns): age, environmental factors, and diet. For these reasons, great efforts have been sustained at the research level for monitoring rumination patterns. Currently, some research outcomes are applied at the farm level; others are still at the experimental level. All of these efforts are finalized mainly for the use of rumination pattern recording as an effective prediction tool for the early detection of health and welfare problems, both in a single head and at the herd level. Moreover, knowledge of the effects of extrinsic factors on rumination physiology represents a great challenge for improving the efficiency of ruminant livestock management, from the diet to the housing system, from parasites to heat stress. The present review deals mainly with the worldwide raised ruminant species.

Effect of Cooling Blanket on the Heat Stress of Horses in Hot and Humid Environments

Simple Summary

Heat stress is serious problem for livestock. While riding horses and racehorses spend the majority of their days in stalls, there are few reports on effective methods for reducing stall heat stress. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an ice horse blanket in hot and humid environments. Twenty healthy horses were measured first without the blanket (C) and then measured with the blanket (IB), or vice versa, in a cross-over trial. The blanket was designed to keep cooling the front back, the rear back, and the loin. The skin surface temperature of the front back was decreased with cooling time in IB, whereas it was not changed in C. Similarly, respiratory rate and plasma cortisol level also decreased only in IB. The blanket used in the present study had the advantage of allowing for gentle cooling of the horse’s body without the use of water or fans. Applying this methodology should enable effective reduction of heat stress not only in horses but also in other mammals kept in barns.

Abstract

Heat stress is serious problem for livestock. While riding horses and racehorses spend the majority of their days in stalls, there are few reports on effective methods for reducing stall heat stress. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an ice horse blanket in hot and humid environments. Twenty healthy horses were measured first without the blanket (C) and then measured with the blanket (IB), or vice versa, in a cross-over trial. The blanket was designed to keep cooling the front back, the rear back, and the loin. Skin surface temperature, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, and plasma cortisol level in both C and IB were measured at 10:00, 12:30, and 15:00. The skin surface temperature of the front back was decreased with cooling time in IB, whereas it was not changed in C. Similarly, heart rate, respiratory rate, and plasma cortisol level also decreased only in IB. The blanket used in the present study had the advantage of allowing for gentle cooling of the horse’s body without the use of water or fans. Applying this methodology should enable effective reduction of heat stress not only in horses but also in other mammals kept in barns.

Effects of a Ceiling Fan Ventilation System and THI on Young Limousin Bulls' Social Behaviour

The study investigated the relationship between the temperature humidity index (THI) and the behaviour of 24 young fattening Limousin bulls reared in two farms in Tuscany, Italy. In each farm, six animals were undergone to ceiling fans (switched on at THI values up to 72), and six animals represented the control group. The trial lasted three days for two consecutive weeks in August 2020. Behavioural observations were conducted using scan sampling technique and eating, ruminating, drinking, resting and other social activities were registered every 5 min, from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm. Two different microclimatic conditions were evaluated to assess the effect of the ventilation system: normal (THI < 78) and alert (THI ≥ 78) conditions. Results showed that the ventilation system had significant effects increasing inactivity and lying down compared to control groups and decreasing eating and drinking activities. THI alert condition caused a significant decrease in eating and an increase in lying down behaviours. Ventilation system did not influence the animals’ cleanliness. The ceiling fans’ efficiency in changing the behaviour of young fattening bulls was demonstrated but further studies are needed to assess the ventilation system effects, especially during longer heat stress periods.

Effect of heat stress mitigations on physiological, behavioural, and hormonal responses of Buffalo calves

This study assessed the effect of heat stress mitigations on the physiological, behavioural, and hormonal responses of buffalo during the hot summer season. Twenty Murrah buffalo male calves were distributed randomly into controlled (C, n = 10) and treatment groups (T, n = 10). The buffalo calves in the C group were housed in the existing shed (10-12-ft height and 10-ft width). Buffalo calves of the T group were allocated in the modified shed: 15-ft height and 20-ft width along with time-controlled pressure mist with fans and rubber mats on the floor. Fans were running all days. The cool water was misted on calves at the rate of 1 min in 5 min, from 11:00 to 18:00 h. The water misting system was installed below the roof, but at 3.5 m above the floor. The calves' body weight, rectal temperature, infrared temperature of the eye, blood samples, respiration rate, and pulse rate were recorded fortnightly for two consecutive months. In one-way ANOVA, rectal temperature, eye temperature, cortisol level, and afternoon's respiration and pulse rate were higher in the calves of C group than that of T group (P < 0.05). Conversely, eating and resting time (min/day) and triiodothyronine were lower in the calves of C group than that of T group (P < 0.05). Therefore, an increase in shed's height and width, using rubber mats on the floor, and cool water misting to buffaloes during the hot summer seasons positively influence their physiological, hormonal, and behavioural responses.

Dynamic cooling strategy based on individual animal response mitigated heat stress in dairy cows

Technological progress enables individual cow's temperatures to be measured in real time, using a bolus sensor inserted into the rumen (reticulorumen). However, current cooling systems often work at a constant schedule based on the ambient temperature and not on monitoring the animal itself. This study hypothesized that tailoring the cooling management to the cow's thermal reaction can mitigate heat stress. We propose a dynamic cooling system based on in vivo temperature sensors (boluses). Thus, cooling can be activated as needed and is thus most efficacious. A total of 30 lactating cows were randomly assigned to one of two groups; the groups received two different evaporative cooling regimes. A control group received cooling sessions on a preset time-based schedule, the method commonly used in farms; and an experimental group, which received the sensor-based (SB) cooling regime. Sensor-based was changed weekly according to the cow's reaction, as reflected in the changes in body temperatures from the previous week, as measured by reticulorumen boluses. The two treatment groups of cows had similar milk yields (44.7 kg/d), but those in the experimental group had higher milk fat (3.65 vs 3.43%), higher milk protein (3.23 vs 3.13%), higher energy corrected milk (ECM, 42.84 vs 41.48 kg/d), higher fat corrected milk 4%; (42.76 vs 41.34 kg/d), and shorter heat stress duration (5.03 vs 9.46 h/day) comparing to the control. Dry matter intake was higher in the experimental group. Daily visits to the feed trough were less frequent, with each visit lasting longer. The sensor-based cooling regime may be an effective tool to detect and ease heat stress in high-producing dairy cows during transitional seasons when heat load can become severe in arid and semi-arid zones.

The impact of smog on the concentration of particulate matter in the antelope house in the Silesian zoological garden

Persistent negligence in the field of environmental protection in Poland as well as strong dependance of the energy sector on the fossil fuels have led to serious pollution of the air with particulate matter, which at high concentrations is capable of penetrating into the buildings. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of particulate airborne pollution on the concentration of particulate matter inside the antelope house in the Silesian Zoological Garden located within the Upper Silesia in Poland. The research was conducted from February to May in 2018. The records taken in the research period show that the concentration of PM10 exceeded the level of 50 µg/m³ outside the building during 26 days and 11 days when it comes to the concentration of particulate matter inside the antelope house. The quantity of particulate matter in the antelope house is strongly correlated with the concentration of the particles in the air. Despite fitting existing ventilation system with a filter that reduces the dust level by 60% during the highest level of smog, particulate matter concentration in the antelope house exceeded acceptable limit for PM10 more than twofold. Particle size-fraction analysis revealed that as much as 85% of the particles detected in the studied compartment constitute PM2.5.

Risk factors for claw disorders in intensively finished Charolais beef cattle

This cross-sectional study aimed at performing a risk factor analysis of on-farm housing and management factors associated with infectious and non-infectious claw disorders of intensively finished Charolais young bulls and heifers. Claws' health condition of a total of 1305 animals belonging to 88 batches finished in farms located in the Eastern Po Valley (Italy) was assessed at slaughterhouse. Batch prevalence of feet affected by sole hemorrhage (SH) and white line abscess (WLA) was calculated and foot condition was summarized by infectious lesion (ILS) and non-infectious lesion (NILS) scores according to diseases' etiology. Batch prevalence of feet with SH, WLA, and assigned to the worst score classes were the outcomes in the risk factor analysis. Information about rearing facilities and health management of the tested batches were gathered in each origin farm along with a dietary sample used for chemical and physical analyses. Five categorized factors and 30 continuous covariates were considered as independent predictors and a cluster analysis of the continuous covariates was performed to select the most representative ones. Percentage of feet/batch affected by SH was on average 57.0 ± 32.5 % (SD) and by WLA was 9.94 ± 12.7 %. Percentage of feet/batch with the worst ILS and NILS was 29.6 ± 32.8 % and 12.5 ± 14.1 %, respectively. Charolais bulls showed a higher risk of SH and WLA than heifers and an increasing dietary NDF content acted as preventive factor. Concrete slats increased the risk of SH. Animals slaughtered in winter had the highest risk of WLA and the increasing level of dietary water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) was a further risk factor. The risk for the worst NILS was lowest in spring and in presence of ventilation systems. It increased for bulls and in those batches fed diets with higher WSC content. Batches for which the farmer reported a higher prevalence of urgently slaughtered animals during finishing showed a higher risk of WLA and infectious claw diseases. The risk for infectious claw diseases was reduced in animals slaughtered in summer, housed on deep litter and fed diet with increased NDF content. It increased in farms where diet formulation was not under the nutritionist control. As general outcomes of the study, benefits for the claw health of finishing Charolaise may come from the use of the deep litter and ventilation systems, the involvement of a nutritionist in diet formulation, and the provision of diets with reduced WSC and increased NDF contents.