1
|
Upadhyay VR, Ramesh V, Kumar H, Somagond YM, Priyadarsini S, Kuniyal A, Prakash V, Sahoo A. Phenomics in Livestock Research: Bottlenecks and Promises of Digital Phenotyping and Other Quantification Techniques on a Global Scale. OMICS : A JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY 2024; 28:380-393. [PMID: 39012961 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2024.0109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Bottlenecks in moving genomics to real-life applications also include phenomics. This is true not only for genomics medicine and public health genomics but also in ecology and livestock phenomics. This expert narrative review explores the intricate relationship between genetic makeup and observable phenotypic traits across various biological levels in the context of livestock research. We unpack and emphasize the significance of precise phenotypic data in selective breeding outcomes and examine the multifaceted applications of phenomics, ranging from improvement to assessing welfare, reproductive traits, and environmental adaptation in livestock. As phenotypic traits exhibit strong correlations, their measurement alongside specific biological outcomes provides insights into performance, overall health, and clinical endpoints like morbidity and disease. In addition, automated assessment of livestock holds potential for monitoring the dynamic phenotypic traits across various species, facilitating a deeper comprehension of how they adapt to their environment and attendant stressors. A key challenge in genetic improvement in livestock is predicting individuals with optimal fitness without direct measurement. Temporal predictions from unmanned aerial systems can surpass genomic predictions, offering in-depth data on livestock. In the near future, digital phenotyping and digital biomarkers may further unravel the genetic intricacies of stress tolerance, adaptation and welfare aspects of animals enabling the selection of climate-resilient and productive livestock. This expert review thus delves into challenges associated with phenotyping and discusses technological advancements shaping the future of biological research concerning livestock.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Vikram Ramesh
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun, Medziphema, Nagaland, India
| | - Harshit Kumar
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun, Medziphema, Nagaland, India
| | - Y M Somagond
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun, Medziphema, Nagaland, India
| | | | - Aruna Kuniyal
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India
| | - Ved Prakash
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India
| | - Artabandhu Sahoo
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Jurkovich V, Hejel P, Kovács L. A Review of the Effects of Stress on Dairy Cattle Behaviour. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2038. [PMID: 39061500 PMCID: PMC11273513 DOI: 10.3390/ani14142038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In this narrative review, the authors summarise the relationship between stress and behaviour and how dairy cattle cope with stressors. Based on the available literature, the most common stressors in intensive dairy cattle farming, such as pain, disease, heat stress, poor comfort caused by technology, and social stress, are surveyed. The authors describe how these stressors modify the behaviour of dairy cattle, influencing their feeding patterns, social interactions, and overall well-being. Additionally, the review explores the effectiveness of various coping mechanisms employed by dairy cattle to mitigate stress, including physiological adaptations and behavioural responses. This review is a valuable resource for understanding and grading stress in dairy cattle through behavioural reactions. Elucidating the intricate interplay between stressors and behaviour offers insights into potential interventions to improve animal welfare and productivity in dairy farming. Furthermore, this review highlights areas for future research, suggesting avenues for more comprehensive behavioural studies to enhance our understanding of stress management strategies in dairy cattle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Jurkovich
- Centre for Animal Welfare, University of Veterinary Medicine, István u. 2, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - Péter Hejel
- Department of Animal Hygiene, Herd Health and Mobile Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine, István u. 2, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - Levente Kovács
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
- Bona Adventure Ltd., Peres u. 44, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rosales-Martínez F, Becerril-Pérez CM, Rosendo-Ponce A, Riaño-Gaya A, Cortez-Romero C, Gallegos-Sánchez J, Romo-García S. In Vitro Embryos of Romosinuano and Tropical Milking Cattle during Three Seasons in Veracruz, Mexico. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1922. [PMID: 38998034 PMCID: PMC11240306 DOI: 10.3390/ani14131922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
One of the main factors that influences the fertility of cattle in grazing systems in hot tropical climates is heat stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of season, breed, hormonal and physiological condition on the quantity and quality of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) and embryos produced in vitro, from Romosinuano (RM) and Tropical Milking (TM) donors. Three ovum pick-up and in vitro fertilization (OPU-IVF) were performed, one per season: hot dry (HD; 10, 10), hot humid (HH; 9, 9) and fresh dry (FD; 7, 10) in RM and LT donors. Serum levels of cortisol, insulin and glucose were measured, in addition to heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT). Effect of season x genotype interaction (p ≤ 0.05) was observed in all COC variables and only in cleavage embryos (CLI) (p ≤ 0.05). Body weight (BW) affected all COC variables (p ≤ 0.01), except unviable (UNV) although affected degenerated embryos (DEG) (p ≤ 0.01) and total blastocysts (BLAST) (p ≤ 0.01). Cow age only affected viable COCs (VIAB) (p ≤ 0.05), code one blastocysts (BC1) and BLAST (p ≤ 0.01). Cortisol affected total COCs (COCsT), VIAB and total matured in vitro (TMIV) (p ≤ 0.01), as well as CLI, BC1 (p ≤ 0.01) and BLAST (p ≤ 0.05). Insulin affected COCsT (p ≤ 0.01), UNV (p ≤ 0.05), denuded oocytes (DE) (p ≤ 0.01), BC1 and code two blastocysts (BC2) (p ≤ 0.01). Glucose affected all COC variables (p ≤ 0.01), except UNV and all embryo variables except BC2. HR affected COCsT, DE, TMIV (p ≤ 0.01), CLI, BLAST and DEG (p ≤ 0.05). RR affected COCsT, UNV, VIAB, CLI (p ≤ 0.05), BC1, BLAST and DEG (p ≤ 0.01). RT only affected DE, VIAB (p ≤ 0.01) and BLAST (p ≤ 0.05). The seasonal climatic year variation of Veracruz and changes in physiological and hormonal variables have diverse effects on the cumulus-oocyte complexes and embryos produced by RM and TM donors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Froylan Rosales-Martínez
- Facultad Maya de Estudios Agropecuarios, Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas, Catazajá C.P. 29980, Chiapas, Mexico;
| | - Carlos Miguel Becerril-Pérez
- Colegio de Postgraduados, Programa de Agroecosistemas Tropicales, Campus Veracruz, Manlio Fabio Altamirano C.P. 94251, Veracruz, Mexico;
- Colegio de Postgraduados, Programa de Ganadería, Campus Montecillo, Texcoco C.P. 56230, Estado de México, Mexico;
| | - Adalberto Rosendo-Ponce
- Colegio de Postgraduados, Programa de Agroecosistemas Tropicales, Campus Veracruz, Manlio Fabio Altamirano C.P. 94251, Veracruz, Mexico;
| | - Alberto Riaño-Gaya
- Reproducción Genética Avanzada RGA In Vitro, Boca del Río C.P. 94299, Veracruz, Mexico;
| | - César Cortez-Romero
- Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus San Luis, Salinas de Hidalgo C.P. 78622, San Luis Potosí, Mexico;
| | - Jaime Gallegos-Sánchez
- Colegio de Postgraduados, Programa de Ganadería, Campus Montecillo, Texcoco C.P. 56230, Estado de México, Mexico;
| | - Salvador Romo-García
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores de Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuatitlán Izcalli C.P. 54714, Estado de México, Mexico;
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
da Silva WC, da Silva JAR, Martorano LG, da Silva ÉBR, Belo TS, Neves KAL, Camargo Júnior RNC, de Araújo CV, Vilela LGP, Joaquim LA, de Carvalho Rodrigues TCG, Lourenço-Júnior JDB. Characterization of the Temperament and Reactivity of Nelore Cattle ( Bos indicus) Associated with Behavior Scores during Corral Management in the Humid Tropics. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1769. [PMID: 38929388 PMCID: PMC11200586 DOI: 10.3390/ani14121769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The evaluation of the reactivity and distress of cattle during corral management, by means of subjective scores, aims at the standardization of behavioral indicators, through non-invasive methods, in addition to enabling the development of more appropriate management practices, thus promoting the comfort and well-being of these animals. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to characterize the temperament and distress of cattle managed in a corral using behavioral indicators during the rainiest period. For this, the experiment was conducted on a property located in the municipality of Mojuí dos Campos, during the rainiest quarter (February-April). Thus, 30 male cattle, not castrated, approximately 29 months of age, clinically healthy, and weighing 310 + 20 kg, were divided into three rearing systems: silvopastoral (SP), traditional (SS), and integrated (SI) systems. There were 10 animals per system. Physiological parameters were collected to evaluate rectal temperature (RT) and respiratory rate (RR), as well as body surface temperature (BST), through thermal windows (head and flank infrared temperature and rump infrared temperature). To evaluate temperament and reactivity, scores indicative of corral behavior were used, namely escape speed (ES), tension score (SS_1), tension score (SS_2), reactivity scale (RS), movement score (MS), and temperament scale (TS). The results showed that there was a thermal amplitude of 5.9 °C on average and 8.6 °C at maximum when comparing the structure of the corral and the trees. In addition, the comparisons between the production systems for the behavioral variables did not differ at the 5% significance level, except for ES, where the traditional system differed from the integrated system and the silvopastoral system, showing intermediate average values for both. In addition, there was a positive correlation between the variables RT and RR (r = 0.72; p < 0.01), RR and SS_2 (r = 0.38; p = 0.04), flank infrared temperature and MS (r = 0.47; p = 0.01), rump infrared temperature and RS (r = 0.37; p = 0.04), SS_1 and RS (r = 0.41; p = 0.02), SS_1 and SS_2 (r = 0.39; p = 0.03), RS and SS_2 (r = 0.58; p = 0.00), RS and MS (r = 0.50; p = 0.01), RS and TS (r = 0.61; p = 0.00), SS_2 and MS (r = 0.51; p = 0.00), SS_2 and TS (r = 0.47; p = 0.01), and MS and TS (r = 0.44; p = 0.02), and a negative correlation between ES and TS (r = -0.42; p = 0.02). The rainy season had a major influence on the evaluation of temperature and distress levels during handling in the corral, as evidenced by the association between physiological and behavioral parameters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Welligton Conceição da Silva
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science (PPGCAN), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Para (UFPA), Castanhal 68746-360, Brazil; (É.B.R.d.S.); (R.N.C.C.J.); (L.A.J.); (T.C.G.d.C.R.); (J.d.B.L.-J.)
| | | | | | - Éder Bruno Rebelo da Silva
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science (PPGCAN), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Para (UFPA), Castanhal 68746-360, Brazil; (É.B.R.d.S.); (R.N.C.C.J.); (L.A.J.); (T.C.G.d.C.R.); (J.d.B.L.-J.)
| | - Tatiane Silva Belo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University Center of the Amazon (UNAMA), Santarem 68010-200, Brazil;
| | - Kedson Alessandri Lobo Neves
- Institute of Engineering and Geosciences, Federal University of Western Pará (UFOPA), Santarem 68040-255, Brazil;
| | - Raimundo Nonato Colares Camargo Júnior
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science (PPGCAN), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Para (UFPA), Castanhal 68746-360, Brazil; (É.B.R.d.S.); (R.N.C.C.J.); (L.A.J.); (T.C.G.d.C.R.); (J.d.B.L.-J.)
| | - Cláudio Vieira de Araújo
- Institute of Animal Science, Federal University of Western Pará (UFOPA), Santarem 68040-255, Brazil;
| | | | - Leonel António Joaquim
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science (PPGCAN), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Para (UFPA), Castanhal 68746-360, Brazil; (É.B.R.d.S.); (R.N.C.C.J.); (L.A.J.); (T.C.G.d.C.R.); (J.d.B.L.-J.)
| | - Thomaz Cyro Guimarães de Carvalho Rodrigues
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science (PPGCAN), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Para (UFPA), Castanhal 68746-360, Brazil; (É.B.R.d.S.); (R.N.C.C.J.); (L.A.J.); (T.C.G.d.C.R.); (J.d.B.L.-J.)
| | - José de Brito Lourenço-Júnior
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science (PPGCAN), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Para (UFPA), Castanhal 68746-360, Brazil; (É.B.R.d.S.); (R.N.C.C.J.); (L.A.J.); (T.C.G.d.C.R.); (J.d.B.L.-J.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sarubbi J, Martínez-Burnes J, Ghezzi MD, Olmos-Hernandez A, Lendez PA, Ceriani MC, Hernández-Avalos I. Hypothalamic Neuromodulation and Control of the Dermal Surface Temperature of Livestock during Hyperthermia. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1745. [PMID: 38929364 PMCID: PMC11200636 DOI: 10.3390/ani14121745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Hyperthermia elicits several physiological and behavioral responses in livestock to restore thermal neutrality. Among these responses, vasodilation and sweating help to reduce core body temperature by increasing heat dissipation by radiation and evaporation. Thermoregulatory behaviors such as increasing standing time, reducing feed intake, shade-seeking, and limiting locomotor activity also increase heat loss. These mechanisms are elicited by the connection between peripheral thermoreceptors and cerebral centers, such as the preoptic area of the hypothalamus. Considering the importance of this thermoregulatory pathway, this review aims to discuss the hypothalamic control of hyperthermia in livestock, including the main physiological and behavioral changes that animals adopt to maintain their thermal stability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Sarubbi
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Santa Maria, Av. Independência, Palmeira das Missões 3751, RS, Brazil
| | - Julio Martínez-Burnes
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Victoria City 87000, Mexico
| | - Marcelo Daniel Ghezzi
- Animal Welfare Area, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences (FCV), Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), University Campus, Tandil 7000, Argentina;
| | - Adriana Olmos-Hernandez
- Division of Biotechnology—Bioterio and Experimental Surgery, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación-Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra (INR-LGII), Mexico City 14389, Mexico
| | - Pamela Anahí Lendez
- Faculty of Veterinary Sciences (FCV), Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, CIVETAN, UNCPBA-CICPBA-CONICET (UNCPBA), University Campus, Tandil 7000, Argentina
| | - María Carolina Ceriani
- Faculty of Veterinary Sciences (FCV), Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, CIVETAN, UNCPBA-CICPBA-CONICET (UNCPBA), University Campus, Tandil 7000, Argentina
| | - Ismael Hernández-Avalos
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán (FESC), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM), Cuautitlán 54714, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ghezzi MD, Ceriani MC, Domínguez-Oliva A, Lendez PA, Olmos-Hernández A, Casas-Alvarado A, Hernández-Avalos I. Use of Infrared Thermography and Heart Rate Variability to Evaluate Autonomic Activity in Domestic Animals. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1366. [PMID: 38731370 PMCID: PMC11083326 DOI: 10.3390/ani14091366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Most of the responses present in animals when exposed to stressors are mediated by the autonomic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system, known as the one responsible for the "fight or flight" reaction, triggers cardiovascular changes such as tachycardia or vasomotor alterations to restore homeostasis. Increase in body temperature in stressed animals also activates peripheral compensatory mechanisms such as cutaneous vasodilation to increase heat exchange. Since changes in skin blood flow influence the amount of heat dissipation, infrared thermography is suggested as a tool that can detect said changes. The present review aims to analyze the application of infrared thermography as a method to assess stress-related autonomic activity, and their association with the cardiovascular and heart rate variability in domestic animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Daniel Ghezzi
- Anatomy Area, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences (FCV), Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), University Campus, Tandil 7000, Argentina
| | - María Carolina Ceriani
- Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil CIVETAN, UNCPBA-CICPBA-CONICET (UNCPBA), University Campus, Tandil 7000, Argentina
| | - Adriana Domínguez-Oliva
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Pamela Anahí Lendez
- Anatomy Area, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences (FCV), Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), University Campus, Tandil 7000, Argentina
- Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil CIVETAN, UNCPBA-CICPBA-CONICET (UNCPBA), University Campus, Tandil 7000, Argentina
| | - Adriana Olmos-Hernández
- Division of Biotechnology—Bioterio and Experimental Surgery, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación-Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra (INR-LGII), Tlalpan, Mexico City 14389, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Casas-Alvarado
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Ismael Hernández-Avalos
- Clinical Pharmacology and Veterinary Anesthesia, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuautitlán Izcalli 54714, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
de Jesús Mejía-Lastra A, Avendaño-Reyes L, Macías-Cruz U, de Jesús Velázquez-Alcaraz T, Robinson PH, López-Baca MÁ, Castañeda-Bustos VJ, Bombal-Catalán E, Gastélum-Delgado MÁ, Aguilar-Quiñonez JA, Mellado M. Cooling Holstein cows for 60 days prepartum in summer: effects on prepartum physiology, postpartum productivity, and calf growth. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2024; 68:899-908. [PMID: 38308729 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-024-02635-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Heat stress (HS) during the dry period of dairy cows in hot and dry conditions compromises the physiological status and mammary gland development of dairy cows, thereby negatively affecting milk component yield in the subsequent lactation. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of cooling Holstein cows under moderate or higher HS conditions (i.e., ambient temperature higher than 30 °C, with a temperature-humidity index of 78.2 units) during the dry period on prepartum physiological status, postpartum productivity, and calf growth. Twenty-four multiparous Holstein cows were divided into two groups: one with a cooling system based on spray and fans under a pen shade (CL, n = 12) and the other not-cooled (NC, n = 12). The cooling system operated 10 h/d (09:00-19:00 h) for 60 d prepartum. During the morning, rectal temperature and respiration frequency were lower in CL cows, but not in the afternoon, which was attributed to higher (P < 0.01) dry matter intake by CL cows. Total serum protein was higher (P < 0.01) in CL cows, but hemoglobin was higher in NC cows (P < 0.01), with no differences in other electrolytes, hormones, hematological components, and metabolites. Milk fat and fat and fat-protein corrected milk were higher (P < 0.05) in CL cows. Female and birth weight trended (P = 0.08) to be higher in CL cows. Cooling cows during the dry period had a limited effect on physiology prepartum but increased postpartum productivity of Holstein cows under hot and dry conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio de Jesús Mejía-Lastra
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Instituto de Ciencias Agrícolas, Valle de Mexicali, Baja California, 21705, México
- Doctorado en Ciencias Agropecuarias, Colegio de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Sinaloa, México
| | - Leonel Avendaño-Reyes
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Instituto de Ciencias Agrícolas, Valle de Mexicali, Baja California, 21705, México.
| | - Ulises Macías-Cruz
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Instituto de Ciencias Agrícolas, Valle de Mexicali, Baja California, 21705, México
| | | | - Peter H Robinson
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - M Ángeles López-Baca
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Instituto de Ciencias Agrícolas, Valle de Mexicali, Baja California, 21705, México
| | - Vielka J Castañeda-Bustos
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Instituto de Ciencias Agrícolas, Valle de Mexicali, Baja California, 21705, México
| | - Enrique Bombal-Catalán
- Regional Market Development Manager Cow Longevity Latin America - DeLaval, 1461, Osorno, Chile
| | - Miguel Á Gastélum-Delgado
- Doctorado en Ciencias Agropecuarias, Colegio de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Sinaloa, México
| | - José A Aguilar-Quiñonez
- Doctorado en Ciencias Agropecuarias, Colegio de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Sinaloa, México
| | - Miguel Mellado
- Departamento de Nutrición Animal, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, 21705, Saltillo, Coahuila, México
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Idris M, Sullivan M, Gaughan JB, Keeley T, Phillips CJC. Faecal cortisol metabolites, body temperature, and behaviour of beef cattle exposed to a heat load. Animal 2024; 18:101112. [PMID: 38518429 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Feedlot cattle are at times exposed to high environmental temperatures. Faecal cortisol metabolites were related to possible indicators of heat stress that could be measured under field conditions: respiratory dynamics (respiration rate), body surface temperature and adaptive behaviours, such as water consumption, posture (standing, lying), and activity (eating, drinking and rumination). Twelve (12) yearling Black Angus steers were divided into two treatment groups: a hot treatment (HOT; n = 6) and a thermoneutral-treatment (TN; n = 6) and individually housed in a climate-controlled facility at The University of Queensland, Australia. In the TN treatment, all animals were exposed to an ambient temperature of 20.34 ± 0.25 °C, relative humidity 71.51 ± 3.26% and Temperature humidity index (THI) 66.91 ± 0.33 throughout. In the HOT treatment group, environmental conditions were exposed to different climatic phases from thermoneutral to hot conditions, where they remained for 7 d, and then returned to TN conditions in the recovery period. The dry bulb ambient temperature (TA) and relative humidity (RH) in the pens of cattle in the HOT treatment were increased from 28 °C (daily maximum ambient temperature) and 45% RH at 0700 h to a daily maximum TA and RH of 35 °C (daily maximum ambient temperature) and 50% (THI 77) at 1100 h, which was maintained until 1600 h, after which it declined until it reached the baseline at 2000 h. In both treatments, there was a significant decrease in faecal cortisol metabolite concentration from the start to the end of the experiments they adapted to the experimental facility. The concentration of faecal cortisol metabolites was greater in the HOT treatment, compared to the TN treatment during the heat exposure period, but there was no difference in the transition or recovery periods. Respiration rate was greater in the HOT treatment during heat exposure, and it increased with ambient dry bulb temperature above 26 °C, the latter being the upper critical temperature. Although positive correlations were detected between faecal cortisol metabolites and body surface temperature measurements, particularly the shoulder and rump, as well as standing time, panting score and drinking, a stepwise regression found that faecal cortisol metabolites were only significantly correlated with one variable, respiration rate. It is concluded that respiration rate is the best indicator of the stress induced by hot conditions for cattle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Idris
- Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Punjab 63100, Pakistan.
| | - M Sullivan
- School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, Gatton Campus, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia
| | - J B Gaughan
- School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, Gatton Campus, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia
| | - T Keeley
- School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, Gatton Campus, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia
| | - C J C Phillips
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwalki 1, 51014 Tartu, Estonia; Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Phillips CJC. Farm Animal Welfare-From the Farmers' Perspective. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:671. [PMID: 38473056 DOI: 10.3390/ani14050671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Improvements in the welfare of animals in the intensive production industries are increasingly being demanded by the public. Scientific methods of welfare improvement have been developed and are beginning to be used on farms, including those provided by precision livestock farming. The number of welfare challenges that animals are facing in the livestock production industries is growing rapidly, and farmers are a key component in attempts to improve welfare because their livelihood is at stake. The challenges include climate change, which not only exposes animals to heat stress but also potentially reduces forage and water availability for livestock production systems. Heat-stressed animals have reduced welfare, and it is important to farmers that they convert feed to products for human consumption less efficiently, their immune system is compromised, and both the quality of the products and the animals' reproduction are adversely affected. Livestock farmers are also facing escalating feed and fertiliser costs, both of which may jeopardise feed availability for the animals. The availability of skilled labour to work in livestock industries is increasingly limited, with rural migration to cities and the succession of older farmers uncertain. In future, high-energy and protein feeds are unlikely to be available in large quantities when required for the expanding human population. It is expected that livestock farming will increasingly be confined to marginal land offering low-quality pasture, which will favour ruminant livestock, at the expense of pigs and poultry unable to readily digest coarse fibre in plants. Farmers also face disease challenges to their animals' welfare, as the development of antibiotic resistance in microbes has heralded an era when we can no longer rely on antibiotics to control disease or improve the feed conversion efficiency of livestock. Farmers can use medicinal plants, pro-, pre- and synbiotics and good husbandry to help maintain a high standard of health in their animals. Loss of biodiversity in livestock breeds reduces the availability of less productive genotypes that survive better on nutrient-poor diets than animals selected for high productivity. Farmers have a range of options to help address these challenges, including changing to less intensive diets, diversification from livestock farming to other enterprises, such as cereal and pseudocereal crops, silvopastoral systems and using less highly selected breeds. These options may not always produce good animal welfare, but they will help to give farm animals a better life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clive J C Phillips
- Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute, Kent St., Bentley 6102, Australia
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ghezzi MD, Napolitano F, Casas-Alvarado A, Hernández-Ávalos I, Domínguez-Oliva A, Olmos-Hernández A, Pereira AMF. Utilization of Infrared Thermography in Assessing Thermal Responses of Farm Animals under Heat Stress. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:616. [PMID: 38396584 PMCID: PMC10886350 DOI: 10.3390/ani14040616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Heat stress is a condition that can affect the health, performance, and welfare of farm animals. The perception of thermal stress leads to the activation of the autonomic nervous system to start a series of physiological and behavioral mechanisms to restore thermostability. One of these mechanisms is vasodilation of peripheral blood vessels to increase heat loss through the skin. Due to this aspect, infrared thermography has been suggested as a method to assess the thermal state of animals and predict rectal temperature values noninvasively. However, it is important to consider that predicting rectal temperature is challenging, and its association with IRT is not always a direct linear relationship. The present review aims to analyze the neurobiological response associated with heat stress and how thermal imaging in different thermal windows can be used to recognize heat stress in farmed ungulates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Daniel Ghezzi
- Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Research Center (CIVETAN), Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), CONICET-CICPBA, Tandil 7000, Argentina
| | - Fabio Napolitano
- Scuola di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Alejandro Casas-Alvarado
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Ismael Hernández-Ávalos
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuautitlan Izcalli 54714, Mexico
| | - Adriana Domínguez-Oliva
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Adriana Olmos-Hernández
- Division of Biotechnology—Bioterio and Experimental Surgery, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación-Luis Guillermo Ibarra (INR-LGII), Mexico City 14389, Mexico
| | - Alfredo M. F. Pereira
- Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development (MED), Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, Universidade de Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Brcko CC, da Silva JAR, Garcia AR, Silva AGME, Martorano LG, Vilela RA, Nahúm BDS, Barbosa AVC, da Silva WC, Rodrigues TCGDC, da Silva ÉBR, Lourenço-Júnior JDB. Effects of Climatic Conditions and Supplementation with Palm Cake on the Thermoregulation of Crossbred Buffaloes Raised in a Rotational Grazing System and with Natural Shade in Humid Tropical Regions. Animals (Basel) 2023; 14:53. [PMID: 38200784 PMCID: PMC10777955 DOI: 10.3390/ani14010053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In ruminants, diet composition has a positive correlation with heat production, which can influence thermoregulation, energy expenditure and, consequently, animal performance. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of climatic conditions and supplementation based on palm kernel cake, on the thermoregulation of crossbred buffaloes in the eastern Amazon. The research was carried out at Embrapa Amazônia Oriental (01°26' S and 48°24' W), Belém, Pará, and lasted 12 months (representing the entire year). Twenty-four buffaloes, females, with initial age and an average weight of 54 ± 7 months and 503.1 ± 23 kg, respectively, non-pregnant, non-lactating and clinically healthy were used, divided into four treatments based on the supplementation content of the palm cake (%DM) in relation to their body weight (%): 0, 0.25, 0.50 and 1.0. The animals were kept in paddocks with Brachiaria brizantha (cv. Marandu), in a rotating system, with water to drink and mineral salt ad libitum. Equipment was installed to record environmental data (temperature and relative humidity, dew point temperature, wet bulb and black globe) and physiological data: rectal temperature (RT); respiratory rate (RR); and body surface temperature (BST), recorded twice a day, always in the morning (6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.) and afternoon (12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.) shifts, and were used to calculate the Globe Temperature and Humidity Index (GTHI). Supplementation did not influence the physiological variables of thermoregulation (p > 0.05). However, there were differences in the GTHI between the shifts, with higher means in the afternoon shift, especially in the less rainy period of the year, where the GTHI reached 92.06 ± 2.74 (p < 0.05). In all periods of the year, the mean values of RT, RR and BST were higher in the afternoon shift (p > 0.05). The respiratory rate (RR) is associated with the annual seasonality of the thermal waters, with higher averages in the afternoons of the rainy season. The positive correlation for rectal temperature, respiratory rate and body surface temperature indicated that buffaloes respond to thermal elevations in the atmosphere (afternoon period) and, consequently, reflect on the GTHI. Supplementation does not influence thermoregulation; the changes observed occurred in response to the region's thermal and rainfall conditions (mainly in the afternoon shift), with higher GTHI values.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Carvalho Brcko
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science (PPGCAN), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Federal Rural University of the Amazônia (UFRA), Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Castanhal 68746-360, Brazil; (C.C.B.); (A.G.M.e.S.); (R.A.V.); (T.C.G.d.C.R.); (É.B.R.d.S.); (J.d.B.L.-J.)
| | - Jamile Andrea Rodrigues da Silva
- Institute of Animal Health and Production, Federal Rural University of the Amazônia (UFRA), Belem 66077-830, Brazil; (J.A.R.d.S.); (A.V.C.B.)
| | - Alexandre Rossetto Garcia
- Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Southeast Livestock, Rod Washington Luiz, São Carlos 13560-970, Brazil;
| | - André Guimarães Maciel e Silva
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science (PPGCAN), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Federal Rural University of the Amazônia (UFRA), Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Castanhal 68746-360, Brazil; (C.C.B.); (A.G.M.e.S.); (R.A.V.); (T.C.G.d.C.R.); (É.B.R.d.S.); (J.d.B.L.-J.)
| | | | - Reíssa Alves Vilela
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science (PPGCAN), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Federal Rural University of the Amazônia (UFRA), Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Castanhal 68746-360, Brazil; (C.C.B.); (A.G.M.e.S.); (R.A.V.); (T.C.G.d.C.R.); (É.B.R.d.S.); (J.d.B.L.-J.)
| | | | - Antônio Vinícius Corrêa Barbosa
- Institute of Animal Health and Production, Federal Rural University of the Amazônia (UFRA), Belem 66077-830, Brazil; (J.A.R.d.S.); (A.V.C.B.)
| | - Welligton Conceição da Silva
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science (PPGCAN), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Federal Rural University of the Amazônia (UFRA), Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Castanhal 68746-360, Brazil; (C.C.B.); (A.G.M.e.S.); (R.A.V.); (T.C.G.d.C.R.); (É.B.R.d.S.); (J.d.B.L.-J.)
| | - Thomaz Cyro Guimarães de Carvalho Rodrigues
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science (PPGCAN), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Federal Rural University of the Amazônia (UFRA), Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Castanhal 68746-360, Brazil; (C.C.B.); (A.G.M.e.S.); (R.A.V.); (T.C.G.d.C.R.); (É.B.R.d.S.); (J.d.B.L.-J.)
| | - Éder Bruno Rebelo da Silva
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science (PPGCAN), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Federal Rural University of the Amazônia (UFRA), Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Castanhal 68746-360, Brazil; (C.C.B.); (A.G.M.e.S.); (R.A.V.); (T.C.G.d.C.R.); (É.B.R.d.S.); (J.d.B.L.-J.)
| | - José de Brito Lourenço-Júnior
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science (PPGCAN), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Federal Rural University of the Amazônia (UFRA), Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Castanhal 68746-360, Brazil; (C.C.B.); (A.G.M.e.S.); (R.A.V.); (T.C.G.d.C.R.); (É.B.R.d.S.); (J.d.B.L.-J.)
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Giannone C, Bovo M, Ceccarelli M, Torreggiani D, Tassinari P. Review of the Heat Stress-Induced Responses in Dairy Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3451. [PMID: 38003069 PMCID: PMC10668733 DOI: 10.3390/ani13223451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In the dairy cattle sector, the evaluation of the effects induced by heat stress is still one of the most impactful and investigated aspects as it is strongly connected to both sustainability of the production and animal welfare. On the other hand, more recently, the possibility of collecting a large dataset made available by the increasing technology diffusion is paving the way for the application of advanced numerical techniques based on machine learning or big data approaches. In this scenario, driven by rapid change, there could be the risk of dispersing the relevant information represented by the physiological animal component, which should maintain the central role in the development of numerical models and tools. In light of this, the present literature review aims to consolidate and synthesize existing research on the physiological consequences of heat stress in dairy cattle. The present review provides, in a single document, an overview, as complete as possible, of the heat stress-induced responses in dairy cattle with the intent of filling the existing research gap for extracting the veterinary knowledge present in the literature and make it available for future applications also in different research fields.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco Bovo
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 48, 40127 Bologna, Italy; (C.G.); (M.C.); (D.T.); (P.T.)
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Buckham-Sporer K, Earley B, Marti S. Current Knowledge on the Transportation by Road of Cattle, including Unweaned Calves. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3393. [PMID: 37958148 PMCID: PMC10649969 DOI: 10.3390/ani13213393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Transport conditions have the potential to alter the physiological responses of animals to the psychological or physical stress of transport. Transportation may introduce multiple physical and psychological stressors to unweaned calves and adult cattle, including noise, overcrowding, food and water deprivation, extreme temperatures, commingling with unfamiliar animals, handling by unfamiliar humans, and being placed in a novel environment upon arrival. Apart from these factors, the type of road and even driving skill may affect the welfare of animals. One of the concerns regarding cattle transport is that the handling and marketing of animals prior to a journey may lengthen the period of feed withdrawal. Furthermore, feed withdrawal can impact animal welfare through hunger and metabolic stress. Transportation is also associated with a decrease in animal performance as well as an increase in the incidence of bovine respiratory disease. It is well established that the transportation of cattle is a stressor that causes a quantifiable response; however, excessive stress during transport resulting in physiological or pathological changes can be reduced with best management practices. The objective of this review was to analyse the available scientific literature pertaining to the transport by road of cattle, including unweaned calves.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Buckham-Sporer
- Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre (AGRIC), Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, C15 PW93 Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - Bernadette Earley
- Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre (AGRIC), Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, C15 PW93 Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - Sonia Marti
- Ruminant Production Program, IRTA, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon, 08140 Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Rodríguez-González D, Guerrero Legarreta I, Chay-Canul A, Hernández-Avalos I, Napolitano F, García-Herrera R, Pereira AMF, Domínguez-Oliva A, Casas-Alvarado A, Reyes-Sotelo B, Mota-Rojas D. Thermal Balance in Male Water Buffaloes Transported by Long and Short Journeys. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3274. [PMID: 37893998 PMCID: PMC10603650 DOI: 10.3390/ani13203274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Transport is a stressor that can cause physiological and metabolic imbalances in livestock, resulting in stress-induced hyperthermia. In water buffaloes, studies regarding the thermal state of animals during mobilization are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the thermal response of 1516 water buffaloes using infrared thermography (IRT) during 15 short trips (783 animals, 60,291 records, average duration = 50.33 min ± 5.48 min) and 14 long trips (733 animals, 56,441 records, average duration = 13.31 h ± 47.32 min). The surface temperature was assessed in 11 regions (periocular, lacrimal caruncle, nasal, lower eyelid, auricular, frontal-parietal, pelvic limb, torso, abdominal, lumbar, and thoracic) during seven phases from pasture to post-transport. It was found that the surface temperature of the periocular, lacrimal caruncle, nasal, auricular, frontal-parietal, pelvic limb, torso, abdominal, lumbar, and thoracic regions was significantly higher during SJs (+3 °C) when compared to LJs (p < 0.0001). In particular, the frontal-parietal region had a significant increase of 10 °C during the post-transport phase (p < 0.0001) in both groups, recording the highest temperatures during this phase. Likewise, a strong positive significant correlation between the different regions was found (r = 0.90, p < 0.0001). It is worth mentioning that the herding, loading, pre-, and post-transport phases were the ones where the greatest thermal response was recorded, possibly due to the influence of human interaction. Finally, a strong positive correlation (r above 0.9, p > 0.001) between the periocular, lacrimal caruncle, pinna, and pelvic limb was found. According to the results, SJ could be considered a stressful event that hinders thermal generation, contrarily to LJ.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Rodríguez-González
- Master in Science Program [Maestría en Ciencias Agropecuarias], Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Isabel Guerrero Legarreta
- Department of Biotechnology: Food Science, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Iztapalapa Campus (UAM-I), Mexico City 09340, Mexico
| | - Alfonso Chay-Canul
- División Académica de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa 86040, Mexico
| | - Ismael Hernández-Avalos
- Department of Biological Science, FESC, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuautitlán 04510, Mexico
| | - Fabio Napolitano
- Scuola di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Ricardo García-Herrera
- División Académica de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa 86040, Mexico
| | - Alfredo M. F. Pereira
- Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development (MED), Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, Universidade de Évora, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
| | - Adriana Domínguez-Oliva
- Neurophysiology, Behavior, and Animal Welfare Assessment, Department of Animal Production and Agriculture (DPAA), Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Casas-Alvarado
- Neurophysiology, Behavior, and Animal Welfare Assessment, Department of Animal Production and Agriculture (DPAA), Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Brenda Reyes-Sotelo
- Neurophysiology, Behavior, and Animal Welfare Assessment, Department of Animal Production and Agriculture (DPAA), Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Daniel Mota-Rojas
- Neurophysiology, Behavior, and Animal Welfare Assessment, Department of Animal Production and Agriculture (DPAA), Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Napolitano F, De Rosa G, Chay-Canul A, Álvarez-Macías A, Pereira AMF, Bragaglio A, Mora-Medina P, Rodríguez-González D, García-Herrera R, Hernández-Ávalos I, Domínguez-Oliva A, Pacelli C, Sabia E, Casas-Alvarado A, Reyes-Sotelo B, Braghieri A. The Challenge of Global Warming in Water Buffalo Farming: Physiological and Behavioral Aspects and Strategies to Face Heat Stress. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3103. [PMID: 37835709 PMCID: PMC10571975 DOI: 10.3390/ani13193103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Water buffaloes have morphological and behavioral characteristics for efficient thermoregulation. However, their health, welfare, and productive performance can be affected by GW. The objective of this review was to analyze the adverse effects of GW on the productive behavior and health of water buffaloes. The physiological, morphological, and behavioral characteristics of the species were discussed to understand the impact of climate change and extreme meteorological events on buffaloes' thermoregulation. In addition, management strategies in buffalo farms, as well as the use of infrared thermography as a method to recognize heat stress in water buffaloes, were addressed. We concluded that heat stress causes a change in energy mobilization to restore animal homeostasis. Preventing hyperthermia limits the physiological, endocrine, and behavioral changes so that they return to thermoneutrality. The use of fans, sprinklers, foggers, and natural sources of water are appropriate additions to current buffalo facilities, and infrared thermography could be used to monitor the thermal states of water buffaloes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Napolitano
- Scuola di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università Degli Studi della Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy (C.P.)
| | - Giuseppe De Rosa
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy;
| | - Alfonso Chay-Canul
- División Académica de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa 86025, Mexico
| | - Adolfo Álvarez-Macías
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City 04960, Mexico; (A.Á.-M.)
| | - Alfredo M. F. Pereira
- Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development (MED), Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, Universidade de Évora, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal;
| | - Andrea Bragaglio
- Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi Dell’Economia Agraria (CREA), Research Centre for Engineering and Food Processing, Via Milano 43, 24047 Treviglio, Italy;
| | - Patricia Mora-Medina
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), FESC, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Daniela Rodríguez-González
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City 04960, Mexico; (A.Á.-M.)
| | - Ricardo García-Herrera
- División Académica de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa 86025, Mexico
| | - Ismael Hernández-Ávalos
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), FESC, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Adriana Domínguez-Oliva
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City 04960, Mexico; (A.Á.-M.)
| | - Corrado Pacelli
- Scuola di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università Degli Studi della Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy (C.P.)
| | - Emilio Sabia
- Scuola di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università Degli Studi della Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy (C.P.)
| | - Alejandro Casas-Alvarado
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City 04960, Mexico; (A.Á.-M.)
| | - Brenda Reyes-Sotelo
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City 04960, Mexico; (A.Á.-M.)
| | - Ada Braghieri
- Scuola di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università Degli Studi della Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy (C.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Mincu M, Nicolae I, Gavojdian D. Infrared thermography as a non-invasive method for evaluating stress in lactating dairy cows during isolation challenges. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1236668. [PMID: 37745218 PMCID: PMC10517876 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1236668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The overall objective of the current data report was to evaluate and test the feasibility of using infrared thermography (IRT) as a non-invasive method for measuring stress signs in lactating dairy cows during short negative challenges, such as visual isolation from herd-mates. The study was carried out at the Experimental Farm of the Research and Development Institute for Bovine Romania, on 20 Holstein-Friesian lactating multiparous dairy cows, between August and September 2022. Cows were housed in two identical tied stanchion barns (170/85 cm), and were isolated individually from the herd for 240 min post-morning milking. Our results shown significant (p ≤ 0.05) rises for both orbital and nasal IRT temperatures following the isolation challenge, suggesting that such approaches could represent adequate tools for assessing social stress in cattle. Overall, current results are in accordance with previous studies which validated both eye and nasal regions as IRT thermal windows for studying the effects of painful and negative contexts on stress response in farmed ruminants, while considering the stress-induced hyperthermia as an integral part of the physiological response to negative stimuli, as well as the current limitations that this tool faces.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dinu Gavojdian
- Laboratory of Cattle Production Systems, Research and Development Institute for Bovine, Balotesti, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Guo Y, Li L, Yan S, Shi B. Plant Extracts to Alleviating Heat Stress in Dairy Cows. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2831. [PMID: 37760231 PMCID: PMC10525364 DOI: 10.3390/ani13182831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Heat stress (HS) in cows is a critical issue in the dairy industry. Dairy cows accumulate heat from body metabolism, along with that imposed by air temperature, humidity, air flow and solar radiation. HS in animals can occur during hot and humid summers when the ambient temperature is extremely high. Dairy cows have relatively high feed intakes and metabolic heat production and are thus susceptible to HS, leading to reductions in feed intake, lower milk yield, affected milk quality, reduced animal health and even shortening the productive lifespan of cows. Therefore, alleviating HS is a top priority for the dairy industry. Suitable plant extracts have advantages in safety, efficiency and few toxic side effects or residues for applications to alleviate HS in dairy cows. This paper reviews the effects of some plant extract products on alleviating HS in dairy cows and briefly discusses their possible mechanisms of action.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sumei Yan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science at University of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
| | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
da Silva WC, da Silva JAR, da Silva ÉBR, Barbosa AVC, Sousa CEL, de Carvalho KC, dos Santos MRP, Neves KAL, Martorano LG, Camargo Júnior RNC, Lourenço-Júnior JDB. Characterization of Thermal Patterns Using Infrared Thermography and Thermolytic Responses of Cattle Reared in Three Different Systems during the Transition Period in the Eastern Amazon, Brazil. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2735. [PMID: 37685000 PMCID: PMC10487038 DOI: 10.3390/ani13172735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In the Lower Amazon mesoregion, there are basically three types of production systems: the traditional (without shade and no bathing area), the silvopastoral (with shade and no bathing area), and the integrated (with shade and bathing area). It is considered that the type of production system influences the thermal comfort and productivity of cattle, so this research aims to evaluate the influence of these three types of production systems on the thermoregulation of Nellore cattle. The experiment was carried out on a rural property for raising cattle, located in Mojuí dos Campos, Pará, Brazil, during the transition period (June/July). Thirty bovine males (not castrated, aged between 18 and 20 months, average weight of 250 ± 36 kg, body condition score of 3.5, clinically healthy) were randomly divided into three groups: Silvopastoral System-SS (n = 10), Traditional System-TS (n = 10), and Integrated System-IS (n = 10). Climate variables were collected (air temperature (AT °C), relative humidity (RH %), wind speed (WS, m/s), solar radiation (SR), black globe temperature (BGT °C), and physiological parameters, such as respiratory rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT)) at 6 a.m., 12 p.m., 6 p.m., and 12 a.m. to determine the thermal comfort situation of the animals. Thermographic images of the environment and animals were captured in order to obtain the body surface temperature (BST) through infrared thermography. The Benezra Thermal Comfort Index (BTCI), Environmental Stress Index (ESI), Equivalent Temperature Index (ETI), and Iberian Heat Tolerance Index (Iberian HTI) were used. The results showed that the silvopastoral system, with shading by chestnut trees and an ample vegetative area, presented better thermal conditions, with an average of 28.98 °C, in comparison with the traditional system (35.93 °C) and the integrated one (34.11 °C). It was observed that the body surface temperature of cattle did not differ significantly between the anatomical regions of the body and the studied systems (p > 0.05). As for the respiratory rate, the traditional system registered higher values, with an average of 41 movements per minute, indicating possible thermal stress (p < 0.05). The thermal comfort indices revealed that all systems presented moderate stress conditions during times of higher solar intensity. It is concluded that the silvopastoral system proved to be more favorable for cattle, providing shade and reducing thermal stress, which may have a positive impact on animal welfare and productivity in this region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Welligton Conceição da Silva
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science (PPGCAN), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Para (UFPA), Federal Rural University of the Amazônia (UFRA), Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Castanhal 68746-360, Brazil; (É.B.R.d.S.); (R.N.C.C.J.); (J.d.B.L.-J.)
| | | | - Éder Bruno Rebelo da Silva
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science (PPGCAN), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Para (UFPA), Federal Rural University of the Amazônia (UFRA), Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Castanhal 68746-360, Brazil; (É.B.R.d.S.); (R.N.C.C.J.); (J.d.B.L.-J.)
| | | | - Carlos Eduardo Lima Sousa
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University Center of the Amazon (UNAMA), Santarem 68010-200, Brazil; (C.E.L.S.); (K.C.d.C.)
| | - Katarina Cardoso de Carvalho
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University Center of the Amazon (UNAMA), Santarem 68010-200, Brazil; (C.E.L.S.); (K.C.d.C.)
| | | | | | | | - Raimundo Nonato Colares Camargo Júnior
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science (PPGCAN), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Para (UFPA), Federal Rural University of the Amazônia (UFRA), Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Castanhal 68746-360, Brazil; (É.B.R.d.S.); (R.N.C.C.J.); (J.d.B.L.-J.)
| | - José de Brito Lourenço-Júnior
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science (PPGCAN), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Para (UFPA), Federal Rural University of the Amazônia (UFRA), Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Castanhal 68746-360, Brazil; (É.B.R.d.S.); (R.N.C.C.J.); (J.d.B.L.-J.)
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Türkgeldi B, Koç F, Lackner M, Okuyucu B, Okur E, Palangi V, Esen S. Infrared Thermography Assessment of Aerobic Stability of a Total Mixed Ration: An Innovative Approach to Evaluating Dairy Cow Feed. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2225. [PMID: 37444023 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A major objective of this study is to identify factors influencing the quality of high-moisture total mixed rations (TMRs) for livestock feed and explore possible manipulations that can enhance their fermentation characteristics and stability in order to address the problem of poor aerobic stability. Therefore, the current study utilized infrared thermography (IRT) to assess the aerobic stability of water-added TMRs in the feed bunker. By manipulating the moisture content of freshly prepared TMRs at four different levels through water addition and subjecting it to storage at two consistent temperatures, significant correlations between IRT values (center temperature (CT) and maximum temperature difference (MTD)) and key parameters such as lactic acid bacteria, water-soluble carbohydrates, and TMR pH were established. The first and second principal components together accounted for 44.3% of the variation, with the first component's load influenced by IRT parameters, fermentation characteristics, and air exposure times, while the second component's load was influenced by dry matter content and lactic acid concentration. The results of these studies indicate the possibility that feeding methods can be optimized by identifying portions with higher CT or MTD data using IRT measurements just before feeding dairy cows in the field. As a result, increasing the use of IRT in feed management and preservation processes is projected to have a positive impact on animal productivity in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Burak Türkgeldi
- Department of Animal Science, Tekirdağ Namik Kemal University, Tekirdağ 59030, Türkiye
| | - Fisun Koç
- Department of Animal Science, Tekirdağ Namik Kemal University, Tekirdağ 59030, Türkiye
| | - Maximilian Lackner
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien, Hoechstaedtplatz 6, 1200 Vienna, Austria
| | - Berrin Okuyucu
- Department of Animal Science, Tekirdağ Namik Kemal University, Tekirdağ 59030, Türkiye
| | - Ersen Okur
- Department of Biosystem Engineering, Tekirdağ Namik Kemal University, Tekirdağ 59030, Türkiye
| | - Valiollah Palangi
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ege University, Izmir 35100, Türkiye
| | - Selim Esen
- Balikesir Directorate of Provincial Agriculture and Forestry, Republic of Turkey Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Balikesir 10470, Türkiye
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Cartwright SL, Schmied J, Karrow N, Mallard BA. Impact of heat stress on dairy cattle and selection strategies for thermotolerance: a review. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1198697. [PMID: 37408833 PMCID: PMC10319441 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1198697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change is a problem that causes many environmental issues that impact the productivity of livestock species. One of the major issues associated with climate change is an increase of the frequency of hot days and heat waves, which increases the risk of heat stress for livestock species. Dairy cattle have been identified as being susceptible to heat stress due to their high metabolic heat load. Studies have shown heat stress impacts several biological processes that can result in large economic consequences. When heat stress occurs, dairy cattle employ several physiological and cellular mechanisms in order to dissipate heat and protect cells from damage. These mechanisms require an increase and diversion in energy toward protection and away from other biological processes. Therefore, in turn heat stress in dairy cattle can lead numerous issues including reductions in milk production and reproduction as well as increased risk for disease and mortality. This indicates a need to select dairy cattle that would be thermotolerant. Various selection strategies to confer thermotolerance have been discussed in the literature, including selecting for reduced milk production, crossbreeding with thermotolerant breeds, selecting based on physiological traits and most recently selecting for enhanced immune response. This review discusses the various issues associated with heat stress in dairy cattle and the pros and cons to the various selection strategies that have been proposed to select for thermotolerance in dairy cattle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shannon L. Cartwright
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Julie Schmied
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Niel Karrow
- Centre of Genetics of Improvement of Livestock, Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Bonnie A. Mallard
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Centre of Genetics of Improvement of Livestock, Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Vieira RA, Dias EA, Stumpf MT, Pereira GR, Barcellos JOJ, Kolling GJ, McManus C. Use of thermography and physiological rate to assess heat tolerance in cattle breeds. Trop Anim Health Prod 2023; 55:223. [PMID: 37222821 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-023-03613-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Thermography has grown in use in recent years. It is a valuable tool for measuring animal heat tolerance under heat stress conditions since it is a non-invasive, safe and practical methodology. Physiological variables such as respiration rate and eye temperature, and environmental variables such as air temperature and wet bulb temperature were analysed in animals from nine cattle breeds (Angus, Braford, Brangus, Canchim, Charolais, Hereford, Nelore, Simmental and Santa Gertrudis) and one bubaline (Mediterranean) at Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Positive correlations were observed between air temperature and respiration rate and eye temperature. Furthermore, the breed strongly influenced the eye temperature and respiration rate of the animals. Eye temperature showed strong correlation with air temperature and wet bulb temperature. Simmental and Nelore animals presented higher eye temperature values. Simmental presented alteration in respiratory rate before the other breeds and Nelore was the last breed to present this alteration. The inflection points in the broken line analysis indicated the environmental temperature limits at which breeds begin to change their respiration to compensate for environmental variation. The use of thermography has proven to be a technique with possible application to evaluate the temperature of animals. Logistic regression analysis allows us to observe how each breed behaves with the temperature change. Using respiration rates and eye temperatures it was possible to identify physiological limits for comfort in different breeds of bovine. In the future it would be interesting to conduct additional studies using other physiological variables and also other indices of climatic conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Renata A Vieira
- Faculdade de Agronomia E Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
| | - Eduardo A Dias
- Faculdade de Agroecologia E Licenciatura Em Educação Do Campo, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande, São Lourenço Do Sul, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil
| | - Marcelo T Stumpf
- Faculdade de Agroecologia E Licenciatura Em Educação Do Campo, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande, São Lourenço Do Sul, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil
| | - Gabriel R Pereira
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (Campus 2), Universidade Feevale, Novo Hamburgo, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil
| | - Julio O J Barcellos
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil
| | - Giovani J Kolling
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária IMED, Passo Fundo, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil
| | - Concepta McManus
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Rodríguez-González D, Guerrero Legarreta I, Cruz-Monterrosa RG, Napolitano F, Titto CG, Abd El-Aziz AH, Hernández-Avalos I, Casas-Alvarado A, Domínguez-Oliva A, Mota-Rojas D. Assessment of thermal changes in water buffalo mobilized from the paddock and transported by short journeys. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1184577. [PMID: 37252398 PMCID: PMC10217363 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1184577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Evaluating the welfare of buffaloes during transport is key to obtaining and commercializing high-quality meat products; however, effective assessments require recognizing several stressors that activate physiological mechanisms that can have repercussions on the health and productive performance of species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surface temperatures of different body and head regions in this species during events prior, and posterior, to transport for short periods; that is, from paddock to loading. The second goal was to determine the level of correlation between thermal windows. This study used infrared thermography (IRT) to evaluate the surface temperature of 624 water buffaloes (Buffalypso breed) during 12 short trips (average duration = 2 h ± 20 min) by focusing on 11 regions of the body (Regio corporis), in the head regions (Regiones capitis) the face regions (Regiones faciei), Orbital region (Regio orbitalis) with special attention to structures such as the lacrimal caruncle, periocular area and lower eyelid (Regio palpebralis inferior); nasal region (Regio nasalis) with special attention to nostril thermal window; and regions of the skull (Regiones cranii) such as auricular region (Regio auricularis) with special attention to auditory canal and frontal-parietal region (Regio frontalis-parietalis) and trunk region (Truncus regionis) such as thoracic and abdominal regions, regions of the vertebral column (Columna vertebralis) with the thoracic vertebral region (Regio vertebralis thoracis) and lumbar region (Regio lumbalis); and regions of the pelvis limb (Regiones membri pelvini). Recordings were made during seven phases: paddock (P1), herding (P2), corral (P3), chute handling (P4), shipping (P5), pre- (P6), and post-transport (P7). A total of 48,048 readings were obtained from 11 thermal windows. The results showed that the surface temperatures of the windows increased by as much as 5°C during P2, P3, P5, P6, and P7 compared to P1 and P4 (p < 0.0001). Differences of at least 1°C were also observed between thermal windows in the craniofacial, lateral corporal, and peripheral zones (p < 0.0001). Finally, a strong positive correlation (r = 0.9, p < 0.0001) was found between the thermal windows. These findings lead to the conclusion that the surface temperature of the craniofacial and corporal regions of buffaloes transported for short periods varied in relation to the phase of mobilization (from paddock to post-transport), likely as a response to stressful factors, since herding and loading increased the thermal values in each window. The second conclusion is that there are strong positive correlations between central and peripheral thermal windows.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Rodríguez-González
- Master’s Program in Agricultural and Livestock Sciences [Maestría en Ciencias Agropecuarias], Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Isabel Guerrero Legarreta
- Department of Biotechnology: Food Science, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Iztapalapa Campus (UAM-I), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rosy G. Cruz-Monterrosa
- Department of Food Science, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM-L), Campus Lerma, Lerma City, Mexico
| | - Fabio Napolitano
- Scuola di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| | - Cristiane Gonçalves Titto
- Laboratório de Biometeorologia e Etologia, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, FZEA-USP, Universidade de São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
| | - Ayman H. Abd El-Aziz
- Animal Husbandry and Animal Wealth Development Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
| | - Ismael Hernández-Avalos
- Department of Biological Science, FESC, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuautitlán Izcalli, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Casas-Alvarado
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Adriana Domínguez-Oliva
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Daniel Mota-Rojas
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Tekin M, Câmara DR, Binz TM, Bruckmaier RM, Bollwein H, Wagener K. Relationship between periparturient diseases, metabolic markers and the dynamics of hair cortisol concentrations in dairy cows. Res Vet Sci 2023; 158:134-140. [PMID: 37004427 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2023.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) might represent a promising marker for retrospective welfare assessment of dairy cows. The objective of the study was to explore the dynamics of HCC in diseased and healthy cows from eight-week ante partum (AP) to eight-week post partum (PP). Twenty-four pregnant cows were followed from drying off to week eight PP. Tail hair was used to measure cortisol at five different time points. The occurrence of peripartum diseases, lameness and the body condition score (BCS) were monitored on a weekly basis. Blood β-hydroxybutyric acid, non-esterified fatty acids, calcium and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations were measured. The temperature-humidity index (THI) was continuously recorded. The median values of HCC in all cows were 0.4, 0.3, 0.6, 0.8 and 0.5 pg/mg at weeks eight, four AP, calving, weeks four, eight PP, respectively. There was no association between HCC and the occurrence of peripartum diseases (P ≥ 0.05). A positive correlation between HCC and BCS loss (P < 0.01) and THI (P < 0.05) was observed. The occurrence of peripartum diseases was associated with low IGF-1 during the study period but no relationship was found between cortisol and IGF-1 levels (P ≥ 0.05). Brown Swiss cows showed higher HCC (P < 0.01) at weeks eight, four AP, and week four PP and lower average milk yield (P < 0.05) than Holstein-Friesian cows. In conclusion, HCC was not a suitable marker for peripartum diseases but it could reflect a stress response, which is linked to BCS loss, heat stress and breed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Tekin
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Clinical Unit for Herd Health Management in Ruminants, University Clinic for Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - D R Câmara
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Alagoas, Fazenda São Luiz 57700-000, Viçosa, AL, CEP, 57700-000, Brazil
| | - T M Binz
- Centre for Forensic Hair Analytics, Zurich Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - R M Bruckmaier
- Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 109a, 3001 Bern, Switzerland
| | - H Bollwein
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - K Wagener
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Clinical Unit for Herd Health Management in Ruminants, University Clinic for Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Riaz U, Idris M, Ahmed M, Ali F, Yang L. Infrared Thermography as a Potential Non-Invasive Tool for Estrus Detection in Cattle and Buffaloes. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13081425. [PMID: 37106988 PMCID: PMC10135134 DOI: 10.3390/ani13081425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The productivity of dairy animals has significantly increased over the past few decades due to intense genetic selection. However, the enhanced yield performance of milk animals caused a proportional increase in stress and compromised reproductive efficiency. Optimal reproductive performance is mandatory for the sustainable production of dairy animals. Reproductive efficiency is marked by proper estrus detection and precise breeding to achieve maximum pregnancies. The existing conventional methods of estrus detection are somewhat labor intensive and less efficient. Similarly, the modern automated methods that rely on detecting physical activity are expensive, and their efficiency is affected by factors such as type of housing (tie stall), flooring, and environment. Infrared thermography has recently emerged as a technique that does not depend on monitoring physical activity. Furthermore, infrared thermography is a non-invasive, user-friendly, and stress-free option that aids in the detection of estrus in dairy animals. Infrared thermography has the potential to be considered a useful non-invasive tool for detecting temperature fluctuations to generate estrus alerts without physical contact in cattle and buffaloes. This manuscript highlights the potential use of infrared thermography to understand reproductive physiology and practical implementation of this technique through discussing its advantages, limitations, and possible precautions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Umair Riaz
- International Joint Research Centre for Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction (IJRCAGBR), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Musadiq Idris
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Mehboob Ahmed
- International Joint Research Centre for Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction (IJRCAGBR), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Livestock and Dairy Development Department, Lahore 54000, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Farah Ali
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Liguo Yang
- International Joint Research Centre for Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction (IJRCAGBR), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Nielsen SS, Alvarez J, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin‐Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Gortazar Schmidt C, Herskin M, Michel V, Miranda Chueca MA, Padalino B, Pasquali P, Roberts HC, Spoolder H, Stahl K, Velarde A, Viltrop A, Jensen MB, Waiblinger S, Candiani D, Lima E, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Van der Stede Y, Vitali M, Winckler C. Welfare of calves. EFSA J 2023; 21:e07896. [PMID: 37009444 PMCID: PMC10050971 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
This Scientific Opinion addresses a European Commission request on the welfare of calves as part of the Farm to Fork strategy. EFSA was asked to provide a description of common husbandry systems and related welfare consequences, as well as measures to prevent or mitigate the hazards leading to them. In addition, recommendations on three specific issues were requested: welfare of calves reared for white veal (space, group housing, requirements of iron and fibre); risk of limited cow–calf contact; and animal‐based measures (ABMs) to monitor on‐farm welfare in slaughterhouses. The methodology developed by EFSA to address similar requests was followed. Fifteen highly relevant welfare consequences were identified, with respiratory disorders, inability to perform exploratory or foraging behaviour, gastroenteric disorders and group stress being the most frequent across husbandry systems. Recommendations to improve the welfare of calves include increasing space allowance, keeping calves in stable groups from an early age, ensuring good colostrum management and increasing the amounts of milk fed to dairy calves. In addition, calves should be provided with deformable lying surfaces, water via an open surface and long‐cut roughage in racks. Regarding specific recommendations for veal systems, calves should be kept in small groups (2–7 animals) within the first week of life, provided with ~ 20 m2/calf and fed on average 1 kg neutral detergent fibre (NDF) per day, preferably using long‐cut hay. Recommendations on cow–calf contact include keeping the calf with the dam for a minimum of 1 day post‐partum. Longer contact should progressively be implemented, but research is needed to guide this implementation in practice. The ABMs body condition, carcass condemnations, abomasal lesions, lung lesions, carcass colour and bursa swelling may be collected in slaughterhouses to monitor on‐farm welfare but should be complemented with behavioural ABMs collected on farm.
Collapse
|
26
|
Idris M, Gay CC, Woods IG, Sullivan M, Gaughan JB, Phillips CJC. Automated Quantification of the Behaviour of Beef Cattle Exposed to Heat Load Conditions. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13061125. [PMID: 36978665 PMCID: PMC10044595 DOI: 10.3390/ani13061125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cattle change their behaviour in response to hot temperatures, including by engaging in stepping that indicates agitation. The automated recording of these responses would be helpful in the timely diagnosis of animals experiencing heat loading. Behavioural responses of beef cattle to hot environmental conditions were studied to investigate whether it was possible to assess behavioural responses by video-digitised image analysis. Open-source automated behavioural quantification software was used to record pixel changes in 13 beef cattle videorecorded in a climate-controlled chamber during exposure to a simulated typical heat event in Queensland, Australia. Increased digitised movement was observed during the heat event, which was related to stepping and grooming/scratching activities in standing animals. The 13 cattle were exposed in two cohorts, in which the first group of cattle (n = 6) was fed a standard finisher diet based on a high percentage of cereal grains, and the second group of cattle (n = 7) received a substituted diet in which 8% of the grains were replaced by lucerne hay. The second group displayed a smaller increase in digitised movements on exposure to heat than the first, suggesting less discomfort under hot conditions. The results suggest that cattle exposed to heat display increased movement that can be detected automatically by video digitisation software, and that replacing some cereal grain with forage in the diet of feedlot cattle may reduce the measured activity responses to the heat.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Musadiq Idris
- Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Punjab 63100, Pakistan
| | - Caitlin C Gay
- School of Veterinary Science, Gatton Campus, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia
| | - Ian G Woods
- Department of Biology, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Megan Sullivan
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Gatton Campus, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia
| | - John B Gaughan
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Gatton Campus, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia
| | - Clive J C Phillips
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwalki 1, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
- Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Short-term physiological responses to moderate heat stress in grazing dairy cows in temperate climate. Animal 2023; 17:100718. [PMID: 36827848 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Even in temperate climate regions, an increase in ambient temperature and exposure to solar radiation can cause heat stress in lactating dairy cows. We hypothesised that grazing dairy cows exhibit short-term physiological changes due to increasing heat load under moderate climate conditions. Over two consecutive summers, 38 lactating Holstein dairy cows were studied in a full-time grazing system. Data were collected in 10 experimental periods of up to three consecutive days with a moderate comprehensive climate index (CCI). The individual animals' vaginal temperature (VT), heart rate, and locomotor activity data were automatically monitored with sensors. Blood samples and proportional whole milk samples were collected at afternoon milking. The concentrations of beta-hydroxybutyrate, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, urea nitrogen, plasma thyroxine and triiodothyronine were analysed in blood plasma, and fat, protein, lactose, urea nitrogen, cortisol, Na+, K+, and Cl- concentrations were analysed in milk. The daily distribution of VT recordings greater than 39 °C showed a circadian rhythm with a proportion of recordings of 2% and lower during the night and a percentage of 10% or higher in the afternoon. The cows' maximal daily vaginal temperature (VTMAX) between 0830 and 1430 h was positively related to the mean daily CCI in the same time period (CCIMEAN; mean and SD 23.6 ± 5.4 °C). Cows with greater VTMAX had an increased mean heart rate, plasma glucose and milk cortisol concentrations and decreased concentrations of plasma thyroxine and triiodothyronine. The concentration of Na+ in milk was lower, and the concentration of K+ in milk tended to be higher in cows with increased VTMAX. For beta-hydroxybutyrate, non-esterified fatty acids and urea nitrogen concentrations in plasma and fat and lactose concentrations in milk no relationships were found in terms of increasing VT. For milk urea nitrogen and protein concentrations, the proportion of total variance explained by inter-individual or -period variance was high. In conclusion, changes observed in milk and blood likely reflected short-term physiological responses to moderate heat stress. In particular, milk cortisol and Na+ may be useful traits for timely monitoring of heat stress in individual cows because their inter-individual variances were relatively small and samples can be collected non-invasively.
Collapse
|
28
|
Uddin J, McNeill DM, Phillips CJC. Infrared thermography as a tool for the measurement of negative emotions in dairy cows. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2023; 67:219-231. [PMID: 36402916 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-022-02410-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In commercial dairy cows, the conditions in which they are kept may lead to negative emotional states associated with the development of chronic physiological and behavioural abnormalities that may compromise their health, welfare and productivity. Such states include fear, stress or anxiety. Behavioural rather than physiological tests are more likely to be used to indicate these states but can be limited by their subjectivity, need for specialised infrastructure and training (of the operator and sometimes the animal) and the time-consuming nature of data collection. Popularly used physiological measures such as blood cortisol may be more appropriate for acute rather than chronic assessments but are easily confounded, for example by a response to the act of measurement per se. More sophisticated physiological measures such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) may be impractical due to cost and time and, like blood cortisol, have the confounding associated with the act of measurement. By contrast, infrared thermography of external body surfaces is remote, non-invasive, easily repeated and follows an objective methodology, allowing longitudinal data acquisition for the inference of changes in chronic emotional state over time. The objective of this review was to investigate the potential of infrared thermography to measure cow emotions. In lactating dairy cows, maximum IRT of the eyes and coronary band of the limbs seem to be most representative of thermoregulatory changes, which are repeatable and correlate with behavioural and physiological indicators of emotional state. IRT methodologies have the potential to become a fundamental tool for the objective assessment of welfare state in dairy cows.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jashim Uddin
- Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, 4343, Australia.
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh.
| | - David M McNeill
- Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, 4343, Australia
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2350, Australia
| | - Clive J C Phillips
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Estonia University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
- Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute, Kent St., Bentley, Perth, WA, 6102, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Dado-Senn B, Ouellet V, Lantigua V, Van Os J, Laporta J. Methods for detecting heat stress in hutch-housed dairy calves in a continental climate. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:1039-1050. [PMID: 36543645 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-22237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Dairy calves exposed to solar radiation, elevated ambient temperature, and humidity are at risk of impaired welfare and productivity. Initial detection of thermal discomfort requires determination of optimal heat stress indicators and thresholds. Such values have recently been established in calves in chronic, subtropical, and acute continental environments but not in continuous, temperate conditions. Herein, the objectives were to determine associations between animal-based and environmental heat stress indicators and establish environmental breakpoints for hutch-raised dairy calves during a continental summer. From June to August, dairy calves (n = 63; 14 to 42 d of age) were individually hutch-housed and managed according to the dairy standard operating procedures in Arlington, Wisconsin. Calf respiration rates (RR), rectal temperatures (RT), shaved or unshaved skin temperatures (ST), and hutch internal and external air speed were measured thrice weekly at 0700 and 1400 h after a 15 min hutch restriction. Environmental indices including dry bulb temperature (Tdb), black globe temperature, and relative humidity were measured every 15 min, averaged hourly, and used to calculate temperature-humidity index (THI) using 8 different equations (THI1-8). Correlation and linear regression models were used to determine relationships within and between animal-based and environmental indicators. Environmental breakpoints were established using segmented regression models to estimate THI and Tdb thresholds for abrupt changes in animal responses. There were strong, positive correlations between animal-based indicators and Tdb or THI1-8, with the strongest association observed between unshaved ST and Tdb (r = 0.80). The linear regression of animal-based indicators with the best fit included Tdb or Tdb plus relative humidity and air speed. The threshold at which RR and RT began to rise was at a THI of 69 for both or at a Tdb of 21.0 or 21.5°C, respectively. No threshold was established for ST. Together, these outcomes indicate that Tdb is an appropriate measurement to detect thermal discomfort for calves in a temperate summer climate and individual hutch housing. Monitoring of calves is warranted before ambient temperature reaches 21.0°C, corresponding to RR of 40 breaths per minute and RT of 38.5°C, to promote calf comfort and reduce the risk of hyperthermia-related welfare and productivity consequences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B Dado-Senn
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison 53706
| | - V Ouellet
- Department of Animal Sciences, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - V Lantigua
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611
| | - J Van Os
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison 53706
| | - J Laporta
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison 53706.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Napolitano F, Bragaglio A, Braghieri A, El-Aziz AHA, Titto CG, Villanueva-García D, Mora-Medina P, Pereira AMF, Hernández-Avalos I, José-Pérez N, Casas-Alvarado A, Lezama-García K, Domínguez-Oliva A, Rodríguez-González D, Bertoni A, Mota-Rojas D. The effect of birth weight and time of day on the thermal response of newborn water buffalo calves. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1084092. [PMID: 36925607 PMCID: PMC10011160 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1084092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
During the 1st days of life, water buffalo calves, especially those with low birth weight, are susceptible to hypothermic mortality due to scarce energy reserves provided by fats. This means that monitoring the thermal state of newborns is essential. The objectives of the present study were to apply infrared thermography (IRT) in 109 buffalo calves to detect differences in the surface temperatures of six thermal windows -lacrimal gland, lacrimal caruncle, periocular region, nostrils, ear canal, pelvic limbs-, and determine their association to birth weight during the first 6 days of life. The calves were divided into four categories according to their weight (Q1, 37.8-41.25 kg; Q2, 41.3-46.3 kg; Q3, 46.4-56.3 kg; Q4, 56.4-60.3 kg). The thermographic images were recorded in the morning and afternoon. Results showed that the animals in Q4 registered the highest temperatures in all the thermal windows, and that these were higher in the afternoon (p < 0.0001). When considering the thermal windows, those located in the facial region recorded the highest temperatures; in contrast, the temperatures at the pelvic limbs remained below the average values of the other windows (33.41 and 33.76°C in the morning and afternoon, respectively). According to these results, the birth weight of water buffaloes is a factor that alters their thermoregulation during the 1st days of life, a condition that can be partially compensated by colostrum intake to promote development of an efficient thermoregulatory mechanism in water buffalo calves.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Napolitano
- Scuola di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| | - Andrea Bragaglio
- Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi Dell'Economia Agraria (CREA), Research Centre for Engineering and Food Processing, Treviglio, Italy
| | - Ada Braghieri
- Scuola di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| | - Ayman H Abd El-Aziz
- Animal Husbandry and Animal Wealth Development Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
| | - Cristiane Gonçalves Titto
- Laboratório de Biometeorologia e Etologia, FZEA-USP, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
| | - Dina Villanueva-García
- Division of Neonatology, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Patricia Mora-Medina
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuautitlán, Mexico
| | - Alfredo M F Pereira
- Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development (MED), Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal
| | - Ismael Hernández-Avalos
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuautitlán, Mexico
| | - Nancy José-Pérez
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Casas-Alvarado
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Karina Lezama-García
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Adriana Domínguez-Oliva
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Daniela Rodríguez-González
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Aldo Bertoni
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Daniel Mota-Rojas
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Abduch NG, Pires BV, Souza LL, Vicentini RR, Zadra LEF, Fragomeni BO, Silva RMO, Baldi F, Paz CCP, Stafuzza NB. Effect of Thermal Stress on Thermoregulation, Hematological and Hormonal Characteristics of Caracu Beef Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12243473. [PMID: 36552393 PMCID: PMC9774310 DOI: 10.3390/ani12243473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study evaluated the influence of environmental temperature on thermoregulation, hormonal, and hematological characteristics in Caracu cattle. Blood samples, hair length, coat and muzzle colors, rectal (RT), and surface temperatures were collected from 48 males and 43 females before (morning) and after sun exposure for eight hours (afternoon). Infrared thermography (IRT) was used to identify superficial temperature that exhibits a high correlation with RT. Hematological parameters, hormone concentrations, RT, and the superficial temperature obtained by IRT that exhibited the highest correlation with RT were evaluated by variance analysis. Regarding IRT, the lower left side of the body (LS) showed the highest correlation with the RT. Interaction between period and sex was observed for LS, cortisol, and eosinophils. Cortisone, progesterone, and RT were influenced by period and sex. Neutrophils and segmented neutrophils were influenced by the period, which showed the highest concentrations after sun exposure. Platelets, leukocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes were influenced by sex. Heat stress changes several physiological characteristics where males and females exhibited differences in their responses to heat stress. Furthermore, most characteristics evaluated remained within the regular values observed for taurine Creole breeds, showing that Caracu is adapted to tropical climates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalya G Abduch
- Centro Avançado de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Bovinos de Corte, Instituto de Zootecnia (IZ), Sertãozinho 14174-000, SP, Brazil
| | - Bianca V Pires
- Departamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Luana L Souza
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Rogerio R Vicentini
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora 36036-900, MG, Brazil
| | - Lenira El Faro Zadra
- Centro Avançado de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Bovinos de Corte, Instituto de Zootecnia (IZ), Sertãozinho 14174-000, SP, Brazil
| | - Breno O Fragomeni
- Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | | | - Fernando Baldi
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Claudia C P Paz
- Centro Avançado de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Bovinos de Corte, Instituto de Zootecnia (IZ), Sertãozinho 14174-000, SP, Brazil
| | - Nedenia B Stafuzza
- Centro Avançado de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Bovinos de Corte, Instituto de Zootecnia (IZ), Sertãozinho 14174-000, SP, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Phillips CJC. Zoonotic Disease Risks of Live Export of Cattle and Sheep, with a Focus on Australian Shipments to Asia and the Middle East. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12233425. [PMID: 36496946 PMCID: PMC9738783 DOI: 10.3390/ani12233425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The growing human and livestock populations in the world today and increased international transport of livestock is increasing the risk of both emerging and endemic zoonotic diseases. This review focuses on the potential for the live export trade to transmit zoonotic diseases. Both cattle and sheep are exposed to major stresses during the transport process, which are described, together with the impact of these stresses on the immune function of transported animals. Heat stress, overcrowding, inanition, ship and vehicle motion and accumulation of noxious gases are analysed for their ability to potentiate infectious diseases. The major zoonoses are described: pustular dermatitis, pneumonia, salmonellosis, as well as some common conditions, such as conjunctivitis, with specific reference to stressors associated with each disorder. Historical precedents exist for restriction of the trade based on disease risks. Finally, the economic and regulatory frameworks are considered to evaluate ways in which the spread of zoonotic diseases can be controlled.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clive J. C. Phillips
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, 51014 Tartu, Estonia;
- Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute, Curtin University, Kent St., Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Water Buffalo Responsiveness during Milking: Implications for Production Outputs, Reproduction Fitness, and Animal Welfare. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12223115. [PMID: 36428343 PMCID: PMC9686578 DOI: 10.3390/ani12223115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the effects that milking temperament (MT) of water buffaloes has on milking traits, welfare indicators, and reproductive outputs. The study was performed on 60 multiparous buffalo cows (6.7 ± 0.6 lactations) at the beginning of their lactation (100 days in milk, DIM). Each buffalo cow was scored by two independent observers using a temperament scoring system (1: extremely calm, 2: calm, 3: alert, 4: reactive, and 5: aggressive), and then grouped as 'calm' (scores 1, 2, and 3; n = 42) or 'nervous' (scores 4 and 5; n = 18). Additionally, the milk yield at 100 DIM (MY), milking speed (MS), calving interval (CI), age at first calving (AFC), body condition score (BCS), animal-based welfare parameters, and infrared thermography data (IRT) were evaluated. The MT significantly influenced the MY (p = 0.0082), with calmer cows outperforming their nervous counterparts. The MS was significantly influenced by the MT (p = 0.0015), with calmer animals having a higher milk ejection rate. The MT of the cows had no influence on the CI, AFC, or BCS. The evidence from this study suggests that the responsiveness of buffalo cows during milking affects their milk yield and milking speed, with no associations being found for reproduction efficiency indicators or animal-based welfare indicators.
Collapse
|
34
|
Pires BV, Freitas AC, Klein JL, de Melo TP, Stafuzza NB, de Paz CCP. Meta-analysis and meta-regression of core body temperature in taurine and zebuine cattle under different environmental conditions. Livest Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2022.105104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
35
|
An Z, Luo G, Abdelrahman M, Riaz U, Gao S, Yao Z, Ye T, Lv H, Zhao J, Chen C, Yang L. Effects of capsicum oleoresin supplementation on rumen fermentation and microbial abundance under different temperature and dietary conditions in vitro. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1005818. [PMID: 36225375 PMCID: PMC9549126 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1005818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the effect of capsicum oleoresin (CAP) on rumen fermentation and microbial abundance under different temperature and dietary conditions in vitro. The experimental design was arranged in a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial format together with two temperatures (normal: 39°C; hyperthermal: 42°C), two forage/concentrate ratios (30:70; 70:30), and two CAP concentrations in the incubation fluid at 20 and 200 mg/L with a control group. Regarding the fermentation characteristics, high temperature reduced short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) production except for molar percentages of butyrate while increasing acetate-to-propionate ratio and ammonia concentration. The diets increased total SCFA, propionate, and ammonia concentrations while decreasing acetate percentage and acetate-to-propionate ratio. CAP reduced acetate percentage and acetate-to-propionate ratio. Under hyperthermal condition, CAP could reduce acetate percentage and increase acetate-to-propionate ratio, lessening the negative effect of high heat on SCFA. Hyperthermal condition and diet altered the relative abundance of microbial abundance in cellulose-degrading bacteria. CAP showed little effect on the microbial abundance which only increased Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens. Thus, CAP could improve rumen fermentation under different conditions, with plasticity in response to the ramp of different temperature and dietary conditions, although hardly affecting rumen microbial abundance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhigao An
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- International Joint Research Centre for Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction (IJRCAGBR), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Gan Luo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- International Joint Research Centre for Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction (IJRCAGBR), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Mohamed Abdelrahman
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Asyut, Egypt
| | - Umair Riaz
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- International Joint Research Centre for Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction (IJRCAGBR), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Shanshan Gao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- International Joint Research Centre for Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction (IJRCAGBR), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhiqiu Yao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- International Joint Research Centre for Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction (IJRCAGBR), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tingzhu Ye
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- International Joint Research Centre for Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction (IJRCAGBR), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Haimiao Lv
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- International Joint Research Centre for Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction (IJRCAGBR), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jvnwei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- International Joint Research Centre for Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction (IJRCAGBR), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | | | - Liguo Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- International Joint Research Centre for Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction (IJRCAGBR), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province’s Engineering Research Center in Buffalo Breeding and Products, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Liguo Yang,
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Neves SF, Silva MCF, Miranda JM, Stilwell G, Cortez PP. Predictive Models of Dairy Cow Thermal State: A Review from a Technological Perspective. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9080416. [PMID: 36006331 PMCID: PMC9416202 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9080416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Heat stress in cattle is broadly defined as a physiological condition in which body temperature rises, and the animals are no longer able to adequately dissipate body heat to maintain thermal equilibrium due to environmental factors. Dairy cattle are particularly sensitive to heat stress because of the higher metabolic rate needed for milk production. Due to global warming and the expected growth of milk production in warmer regions, an increase in the occurrence of heat stress can only be avoided with the use of environmental control systems. However, most available systems were developed to take corrective measures or are not accurate enough to effectively prevent heat stress, as there is not yet an automated technological solution that considers all the environmental and animal variables that determine the occurrence of this condition. Further, these systems must be connected in time to prevent this condition in cattle but also disconnected when they are no longer needed, as their use raises major economic and environmental concerns regarding energy and water consumption. This review describes and discusses three types of predictive models that can make these systems more effective in preventing heat stress and more efficient in the use of energy and water. Abstract Dairy cattle are particularly sensitive to heat stress due to the higher metabolic rate needed for milk production. In recent decades, global warming and the increase in dairy production in warmer countries have stimulated the development of a wide range of environmental control systems for dairy farms. Despite their proven effectiveness, the associated energy and water consumption can compromise the viability of dairy farms in many regions, due to the cost and scarcity of these resources. To make these systems more efficient, they should be activated in time to prevent thermal stress and switched off when that risk no longer exists, which must consider environmental variables as well as the variables of the animals themselves. Nowadays, there is a wide range of sensors and equipment that support farm routine procedures, and it is possible to measure several variables that, with the aid of algorithms based on predictive models, would allow anticipating animals’ thermal states. This review summarizes three types of approaches as predictive models: bioclimatic indexes, machine learning, and mechanistic models. It also focuses on the application of the current knowledge as algorithms to be used in the management of diverse types of environmental control systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Soraia F. Neves
- CEFT—Transport Phenomena Research Centre, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE—Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence:
| | - Mónica C. F. Silva
- CEFT—Transport Phenomena Research Centre, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE—Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - João M. Miranda
- CEFT—Transport Phenomena Research Centre, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE—Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - George Stilwell
- CIISA—Animal Behaviour and Welfare Laboratory, Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Paulo P. Cortez
- ICBAS-UP—Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- CECA/ICETA—Centre for Animal Science Studies, Rua D. Manuel II, Apartado 55142, 4051-401 Porto, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Chikkagoudara KP, Singh P, Bhatt N, Barman D, Selvaraj R, Lathwal SS, Singh SV, Choudhary S, Uddin J. Effect of heat stress mitigations on physiological, behavioural, and hormonal responses of Buffalo calves. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2022; 66:995-1003. [PMID: 35124759 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-022-02255-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kotresh Prasad Chikkagoudara
- Division of Livestock Production Management, ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, 132 001, Haryana, India.
- University of Agricultural Sciences, RaichurRaichur, Karnataka, India.
| | - Pawan Singh
- Division of Livestock Production Management, ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, 132 001, Haryana, India
| | - Ninad Bhatt
- Division of Livestock Production Management, ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, 132 001, Haryana, India
| | - Deepandita Barman
- Division of Livestock Production Management, ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, 132 001, Haryana, India
| | - Ragulraj Selvaraj
- Division of Livestock Production Management, ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, 132 001, Haryana, India
| | - Surender Singh Lathwal
- Division of Livestock Production Management, ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, 132 001, Haryana, India
| | - Sohan Vir Singh
- Division of Animal Physiology, ICAR - National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, 132 001, Haryana, India
| | - Sanjay Choudhary
- Division of Livestock Production Management, ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, 132 001, Haryana, India
| | - Jashim Uddin
- Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, 4343, Australia
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Shu H, Li Y, Fang T, Xing M, Sun F, Chen X, Bindelle J, Wang W, Guo L. Evaluation of the Best Region for Measuring Eye Temperature in Dairy Cows Exposed to Heat Stress. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:857777. [PMID: 35400107 PMCID: PMC8989422 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.857777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Eye temperature (ET) has long been used for predicting or indicating heat stress in dairy cows. However, the region of interest (ROI) and temperature parameter of the eye have not been standardized and various options were adopted by previous studies. The aim of this study was to determine the best ROI for measuring ET as the predictor of heat stress in dairy cows in consideration of repeatability and validity. The ET of 40 lactating Holstein dairy cows was measured using infrared thermography. The mean and maximum temperature of five ROIs—medial canthus (MC), lateral canthus, eyeball, whole eye (WE), and lacrimal sac (LS)—were manually captured. The results show that the ET of left eyes was slightly higher than that of right eyes. The ET taken in MC, WE, and LS within 2 min had a moderate to substantial repeatability. The maximum temperature obtained at the LS had the highest correlation coefficients with respiration rate and core body temperature (all p < 0.001). Therefore, the maximum temperature of LS should be considered by future studies that want to use ET as the predictor or indicator of heat stress in dairy cows.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hang Shu
- Agricultural Information Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- AgroBioChem/TERRA, Precision Livestock and Nutrition Unit, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Yongfeng Li
- Agricultural Information Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- AgroBioChem/TERRA, Precision Livestock and Nutrition Unit, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Tingting Fang
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mingjie Xing
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fuyu Sun
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyang Chen
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jérôme Bindelle
- AgroBioChem/TERRA, Precision Livestock and Nutrition Unit, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Wensheng Wang
- Agricultural Information Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Wensheng Wang
| | - Leifeng Guo
- Agricultural Information Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Leifeng Guo
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
The Adrenal Cortisol Response to Increasing Ambient Temperature in Polar Bears ( Ursus maritimus). Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12060672. [PMID: 35327071 PMCID: PMC8944560 DOI: 10.3390/ani12060672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Our objective was to identify the upper ambient temperature threshold that triggers an increase in cortisol in response to increased thermoregulatory demands in polar bears. The results reported here include endocrine data collected over two years from 25 polar bears housed in 11 accredited zoological institutions across North America. The effects of ambient temperature, sex, age group (juvenile, adult, elderly), breeding season and humidity on fecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) concentrations (N = 8439 samples) were evaluated using linear mixed models. Ambient temperatures were placed into five different categories: <5 °C, 6−10 °C, 11−15 °C, 16−20 °C, and >20 °C. Ambient temperature and humidity had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on FCM concentrations with significant (p < 0.05) interactions of sex, age and breeding season. Once biotic factors were accounted for, there was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in FCM concentrations associated with ambient temperatures above 20 °C in adult polar bears. The implications of these findings for the management of both zoo and wild polar bears are discussed.
Collapse
|
40
|
Joy A, Taheri S, Dunshea F, Leury B, DiGiacomo K, Osei-Amponsah R, Brodie G, Chauhan S. Non-invasive measure of heat stress in sheep using machine learning techniques and infrared thermography. Small Rumin Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2021.106592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
|
41
|
Elayadeth-Meethal M, Thazhathu Veettil A, Asaf M, Pramod S, Maloney SK, Martin GB, Rivero MJ, Sejian V, Naseef PP, Kuruniyan MS, Lee MRF. Comparative Expression Profiling and Sequence Characterization of ATP1A1 Gene Associated with Heat Tolerance in Tropically Adapted Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:2368. [PMID: 34438824 PMCID: PMC8388727 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change is an imminent threat to livestock production. One adaptation strategy is selection for heat tolerance. While it is established that the ATP1A1 gene and its product play an important role in the response to many stressors, there has been no attempt to characterize the sequence or to perform expression profiling of the gene in production animals. We undertook a field experiment to compare the expression profiles of ATP1A1 in heat-tolerant Vechur and Kasaragod cattle (Bos taurus indicus) with the profile of a heat-susceptible crossbreed (B. t. taurus × B. t. indicus). The cattle were exposed to heat stress while on pasture in the hot summer season. The environmental stress was quantified using the temperature humidity index (THI), while the heat tolerance of each breed was assessed using a heat tolerance coefficient (HTC). The ATP1A1 mRNA of Vechur cattle was amplified from cDNA and sequenced. The HTC varied significantly between the breeds and with time-of-day (p < 0.01). The breed-time-of-day interaction was also significant (p < 0.01). The relative expression of ATP1A1 differed between heat-tolerant and heat-susceptible breeds (p = 0.02). The expression of ATP1A1 at 08:00, 10:00 and 12:00, and the breed-time-of-day interaction, were not significant. The nucleotide sequence of Vechur ATP1A1 showed 99% homology with the B. t. taurus sequence. The protein sequence showed 98% homology with B. t. taurus cattle and with B. grunniens (yak) and 97.7% homology with Ovis aries (sheep). A molecular clock analysis revealed evidence of divergent adaptive evolution of the ATP1A1 gene favoring climate resilience in Vechur cattle. These findings further our knowledge of the relationship between the ATP1A1 gene and heat tolerance in phenotypically incongruent animals. We propose that ATP1A1 could be used in marker assisted selection (MAS) for heat tolerance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammed Elayadeth-Meethal
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode, Wayanad 673576, Kerala, India;
- Livestock Research Station, Thiruvazhamkunnu, Palakkad 678601, Kerala, India;
- UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia;
| | - Aravindakshan Thazhathu Veettil
- Centre for Advanced Studies in Animal Genetics and Breeding, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode, Wayanad 680651, Kerala, India;
| | - Muhasin Asaf
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode, Wayanad 673576, Kerala, India;
| | | | - Shane K. Maloney
- School of Human Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia;
| | - Graeme B. Martin
- UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia;
| | | | - Veerasamy Sejian
- ICAR-National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Adugodi 560030, Bangalore, India;
| | | | - Mohamed Saheer Kuruniyan
- Department of Dental Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Michael R. F. Lee
- School of Sustainable Food and Farming, Harper Adams University, Edgmond, Newport TF10 8NB, UK;
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Mota-Rojas D, Pereira AMF, Wang D, Martínez-Burnes J, Ghezzi M, Hernández-Avalos I, Lendez P, Mora-Medina P, Casas A, Olmos-Hernández A, Domínguez A, Bertoni A, Geraldo ADM. Clinical Applications and Factors Involved in Validating Thermal Windows Used in Infrared Thermography in Cattle and River Buffalo to Assess Health and Productivity. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:2247. [PMID: 34438705 PMCID: PMC8388381 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Infrared thermography (IRT) is a non-ionizing, non-invasive technique that permits evaluating the comfort levels of animals, a topic of concern due to the growing interest in determining the state of health and welfare of production animals. The operating principle of IRT is detecting the heat irradiated in anatomical regions characterized by a high density of near-surface blood vessels that can regulate temperature gain or loss from/to the environment by modifying blood flow. This is essential for understanding the various vascular thermoregulation mechanisms of different species, such as rodents and ruminants' tails. The usefulness of ocular, nasal, and vulvar thermal windows in the orbital (regio orbitalis), nasal (regio nasalis), and urogenital (regio urogenitalis) regions, respectively, has been demonstrated in cattle. However, recent evidence for the river buffalo has detected discrepancies in the data gathered from distinct thermal regions in these large ruminants, suggesting a limited sensitivity and specificity when used with this species due to various factors: the presence of hair, ambient temperature, and anatomical features, such as skin thickness and variations in blood supplies to different regions. In this review, a literature search was conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and PubMed, using keyword combinations that included "infrared thermography", "water buffalo", "river buffalo" "thermoregulation", "microvascular changes", "lacrimal caruncle", "udder", "mastitis", and "nostril". We discuss recent findings on four thermal windows-the orbital and nasal regions, mammary gland in the udder region (regio uberis), and vulvar in the urogenital region (regio urogenitalis)-to elucidate the factors that modulate and intervene in validating thermal windows and interpreting the information they provide, as it relates to the clinical usefulness of IRT for cattle (Bos) and the river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Mota-Rojas
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City 04960, Mexico; (A.C.); (A.D.); (A.B.)
| | - Alfredo M. F. Pereira
- Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development (MED), Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, Universidade de Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal;
| | - Dehua Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China;
| | - Julio Martínez-Burnes
- Animal Health Group, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Victoria City 87000, Mexico;
| | - Marcelo Ghezzi
- Animal Welfare Area, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences (FCV), Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), Buenos Aires 7000, Argentina; (M.G.); (P.L.)
| | - Ismael Hernández-Avalos
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuautitlan Izcalli 54714, Mexico; (I.H.-A.); (P.M.-M.)
| | - Pamela Lendez
- Animal Welfare Area, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences (FCV), Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), Buenos Aires 7000, Argentina; (M.G.); (P.L.)
| | - Patricia Mora-Medina
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuautitlan Izcalli 54714, Mexico; (I.H.-A.); (P.M.-M.)
| | - Alejandro Casas
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City 04960, Mexico; (A.C.); (A.D.); (A.B.)
| | - Adriana Olmos-Hernández
- Division of Biotechnology—Bioterio and Experimental Surgery, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación-Luis Guillermo Ibarra (INR-LGII), Tlalpan, Mexico City 14389, Mexico;
| | - Adriana Domínguez
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City 04960, Mexico; (A.C.); (A.D.); (A.B.)
| | - Aldo Bertoni
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City 04960, Mexico; (A.C.); (A.D.); (A.B.)
| | - Ana de Mira Geraldo
- Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development (MED), Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, Universidade de Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal;
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Discriminant analysis of response to Newcastle disease and heat tolerance among chicken genotypes in hot humid tropical environment. Trop Anim Health Prod 2021; 53:385. [PMID: 34212245 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-021-02841-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Newcastle disease and heat stress reduce the productivity of local chickens of Nigeria (LCN). This study compared the antibody response to Newcastle disease and heat tolerance among different LCN genotypes in hot humid tropics using multivariate discriminant analysis. A total of 299 birds were used for the study. Geometric mean titre against Newcastle disease before vaccination (GMTB), geometric mean titre against Newcastle disease after vaccination (GMTA), rectal temperature at week 4 (RT4), pulse rate at week 4 (PR4), respiratory rate at week 4 (RR4), heat stress index at week 4 (H4), rectal temperature at week 13 (RT13), pulse rate at week 13 (PR13), respiratory rate at week 13 (RR13) and heat stress index at week 13 (H13) were measured. All the traits were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by the genotype while sex differences were only observed in GMTB, GMTA and RR13. The stepwise discriminant analysis revealed RR4, PR13, RT13, H4, GMTA, GMTB, H13 and RT4 to be effective in differentiating the three chicken genotypes. Two canonical variables that accounted for 60.21% and 39.79% of the total variation were revealed. Linear discriminant functions for differentiation of the three chicken genotypes were also developed. 87.39% of normal feather, 76.58% of naked neck and 100% of frizzle feather chickens were correctly assigned into their genotypes. The longest Mahalanobis distance was observed between normal feather and frizzle feather chickens. The discriminant functions developed in this study could be used to differentiate the three genotypes of LCN using antibody response to Newcastle disease and heat tolerance.
Collapse
|