Bacteriological and epidemiological studies of campylobacter spp. in Swedish broilers

Campylobacter jejuni is the most frequently reported cause of bacterial gastrointestinal illness in humans in Sweden. Chicken products are considered an important risk factor for human infection. This thesis analyses and identifies sources and risk factors for colonisation of Campylobacter spp. in broilers at both farm level and slaughter. Slaughter groups with a low within-group prevalence were identified, split slaughter was confirmed as a risk factor and contamination of carcasses was shown to occur both during transport and during the slaughter process. Environmental campylobacter load was comparable on high and low incidence farms, indicating that hygiene regime is of greater importance than environmental load. Slaughter groups with a high within-flock prevalence had significantly higher campylobacter load in carcasses at slaughter than slaughter groups with a low degree of colonisation Campylobacter jejuni is the Campylobacter sp. predominantly found in broilers. Strain characterisation below species level, so-called subtyping, is a helpful tool in epidemiological studies, e.g. in determination of transmission routes. Certain subtypes were shown to be common in Sweden and may have a higher ability to survive in the environment around broiler houses. The results from phylogenetic analysis indicated that typing based on 16S rRNA sequencing is not always sufficient for differentiating between C. jejuni and C. coli. However, nine different 16S rRNA types were identified among 47 Swedish campylobacter isolates from broilers. About one-third of Swedish broiler producers seldom deliver any campylobacter-positive broilers to slaughter, demonstrating that it is possible to produce campylobacter-free chickens in Sweden. The factors identified as carrying the highest risk of producing campylobacter-positive broilers in Sweden were (i) insufficient general tidiness on the farm, (ii) split slaughter, (iii) an in-line position of the doors between the outside and access into broiler houses instead of an angled position. Furthermore, (iv) high risk farms often had other livestock such as cattle and pigs, and (v) high risk farms were more frequently situated in groves than in forest. Reducing the proportion of campylobacter-infected broiler flocks and the numbers of campylobacter on broiler carcasses would considerably lower the risk for consumers

Strategy and slaughter

Colin Gray's ‘Clausewitz Rules, OK’ was the one contribution to the Interregnum special issue of this Review that engaged the problem of modern war in general. Issues of war and peace were represented only patchily in a volume aiming to reflect on the ‘post-Cold War’ decade, but put together before ‘9/11’ brought it to an abrupt end. The Balkans didn't play a large part in William Wallace's account of Europe; unstable Asian great-power rivalries and local wars, which could make Rosemary Foot and Andrew Walter's ‘Pacific Century’ anything but pacific were barely noted; while Caroline Thomas wrote about the Third World without mentioning Africa's wars. The Middle East, Rwanda and genocide were not covered. Bruce Cumings' wise reflections on the military bases of American liberalism, a brief discussion of the ‘new interventionism’ by Geoffrey Hawthorn, and dutiful mentions of Kosovo across the chapters, hardly compensated for these omissions

Slaughter weight and carcass of male New Zealand White rabbits after rationing with koro bean (Mucuna pruriens var. utilis)

Santoso U, Sutarno. 2009. Slaughter weight and carcass of male New Zealand White rabbits after rationing with koro bean (Mucuna pruriens var. utilis). Nusantara Bioscience 1: 117-122. The objectives of the research were to know the effects of koro bean (Mucuna pruriens var. utilis) present on slaughter weight and carcass of rabbits and to know the optimum dosage that resulted the best slaughter weight and carcass. The research used Randomized Block Design whereas 25 heads of six weeks old rabbits with 450-1270 g of body weight were devided into five groups according to the body weight. Each group were treated with different treatment. The treatment were unpresent of M. pruriens as a control (R0) and various percentage of M. pruriens as much as 21.5%, in the ration with treatment as follows: R1 (raw), R2 (heating), R3 (boiling), and R4 (fermentation). The parameters observed were slaughter weight, carcass weight, meat weight, bone weight, and adipose tissue weigth. The data analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed with Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The present of processed M. pruriens could increase production of slaughter weight better than the present of unprocessed M. pruriens. The additional of 21.5% of fermented M. pruriens resulted in the best production of slaughter weight and carcass of rabbits. Key words: koro bean, Mucuna pruriens, ration, rabbits, New Zealand white

Economics of Homeland Security: Carcass Disposal and the Design of Animal Disease Defense

In an effort to bolster confidence and protect the nation the U.S. government through agencies like the Department of Homeland Security is identifying vulnerabilities and evolving strategies for protection. Agricultural food supply is one identified vulnerable area, and animal disease defense is one of the major concerns there under. Should an outbreak of animal disease occur, it is likely to have a mass slaughter and disposal of animal carcasses. The current existing policy, mainly including slaughter policy and strict movement bans, may be not sufficient to control disease spread at reasonable cost. We address the issue modeling vaccination as a supporting strategy with later slaughter of animals and argue that vaccination can decrease slaughter and disposal cost in the case of emergency. Our results show that (a) Vaccination gains time to slow down the flow of slaughter, thereafter the disposal operation of animal carcasses. By smoothing slaughter/disposal flow, vaccination likely decreases slaughter and disposal cost; (b) Vaccination likely reduce the total amount of slaughter and disposal of animals mainly because vaccinated animals shed less and disease spread slower; and (c) Vaccination becomes more valuable in reducing slaughter and disposal costs when the marginal cost of vaccination falls, the even size of disease outbreak is larger, the disease is more contagious and spreads faster, and/or vaccines are more effective in controlling disease spread.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Impact of diversity of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae strains on lung lesions in slaughter pigs

The importance of diversity of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyopneumoniae) strains is not yet fully known. This study investigated the genetic diversity of M. hyopneumoniae strains in ten pig herds, and assessed associations between the presence of different strains of M. hyopneumoniae and lung lesions at slaughter. Within each herd, three batches of slaughter pigs were investigated. At slaughter, from each batch, 20 post mortem bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples were collected for multiple locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA), and lung lesions (Mycoplasma-like lesions, fissures) were examined. Multivariable analyses including potential risk factors for respiratory disease were performed to assess associations between the number of different strains per batch (three categories: one strain, two-six strains, >= seven strains), and the lung lesions as outcome variables. In total, 135 different M. hyopneumoniae strains were found. The mean (min.-max.) number of different strains per batch were 7 (1-13). Batches with two-six strains or more than six strains had more severe Mycoplasma-like lesions (P = 0.064 and P = 0.012, respectively), a higher prevalence of pneumonia [odds ratio (OR): 1.30, P = 0.33 and OR: 2.08, P = 0.012, respectively], and fissures (OR = 1.35, P = 0.094 and OR = 1.70, P = 0.007, respectively) compared to batches with only one strain. In conclusion, many different M. hyopneumoniae strains were found, and batches of slaughter pigs with different M. hyopneumoniae strains had a higher prevalence and severity of Mycoplasma-like lung lesions at slaughter, implying that reducing the number of different strains may lead to less lung lesions at slaughter and better respiratory health of the pigs

A comparison of finishing strategies to fixed slaughter weights for Holstein Friesian and Belgian Blue × Holstein Friesian steers

peer-reviewedCattle finishing strategies may involve feeding a high energy diet throughout or following a period of moderate growth. The objective of this study was to compare Holstein Friesian (HF) and Belgian Blue × Holstein Friesian (BB) steers (24 per breed type, initial live weight 434 and 431 kg for HF and BB, respectively) finished to 560 kg or 620 kg target slaughter weight, on either a concentrate diet ad libitum from the start of the finishing period (C), or on a concentrate diet ad libitum following an 84-day period on grass silage (SC). Slaughter weights were similar for HF and BB, but kill-out proportion, carcass weight and carcass conformation class were superior (P < 0.001), and carcass fat score was inferior (P < 0.001), for BB. Total concentrate, dry matter and net energy intakes were higher (P < 0.001) for HF, and efficiency of utilization of net energy for carcass-weight gain was lower (P < 0.01). Mean daily live-weight gain was higher for C than SC (P < 0.001) and for slaughter at 560 kg than at 620 kg (P < 0.05). Killout proportion was higher for C than SC (P < 0.05) and for 620 kg compared to 560 kg slaughter weight (P < 0.001). Measures of fatness were unaffected by feeding treatment but all were higher (P < 0.01) for the 620 kg slaughter weight. Net energy required per unit carcass-weight gain was higher for C than SC (P < 0.001) and for 620 kg than for 560 kg slaughter weight (P < 0.001). When slaughtered at 620 kg live weight there was no difference between the feeding treatments in net energy required per unit carcass-weight gain. While both breed types had similar live-weight gain BB had 9% greater (P < 0.01) carcass-weight gain and were 14% more efficient (P < 0.01) in converting feed energy to carcass weight. Neither breed type had commercially acceptable carcasses at 560 kg slaughter weight when finished on SC

Magnetic moments of the ground-state JP=(3/2)+\mathbf{J^P=(3/2)}^{+} baryon decuplet

The magnetic moment - a function of the electric charge form factor $F_{1}(q^{2})$ and the magnetic dipole form factor $F_{2}(q^{2})$ at zero four-momentum transfer $q^{2}$-of the ground-state $J^{P}=(3/2)^{+}$ baryon decuplet magnetic moments have been studied for many years with limited success. At present, only the magnetic moment of the $\Omega^{-}$ has been accurately determined. We calculate nonperturbatively the magnetic moments of the \emph{physical baryon decuplet $J^{P}=(3/2)^{+}$} members and in particular, we obtain $\mu_{\Delta^{++}}= (+3.67 \pm 0.07) \mu_{N}$, $\mu_{\Delta^{+}}= (+1.83 \pm 0.04) \mu_{N}$, $\mu_{\Delta^{0}}= (0) \mu_{N}$, and the magnetic moments of their $U$-Spin partners in terms of $\Omega^{-}$ magnetic moment data.Comment: 9 pages including 1 figure and 1 table. Corrected typos in Eqs.(7) and (8). Results and conclusions unchanged. arXiv admin note: repeats content from arXiv:1105.3786 and arXiv:0911.475

Effect of pig production system and transport on the potential pathogen transfer risk into the food chain from Salmonella shed in pig faeces

The prevalence of faecal Salmonella shedding has been compared in organic, conventional outdoor, and indoor finishing pig herds in a Danish survey with participation of 34 herds. Individual faecal and meat juice samples were collected from 30-50 pigs per herd and analysed for presence of Salmonella, and Salmonella antibodies, respectively. The results showed a low level of on-farm Salmonella shedding (<0,2 %) in organic and conventional outdoor herds compared to 2,5 % in indoor pigs (P<0,0001), and also a lower prevalence of Salmonella shedding in outdoor systems at slaughter (<2 %) compared to 4,1 % in indoor systems (P<0,01). The overall seroprevalence was 8,5 % with no significant differences between systems. Seropositivity was a significant predictor of Salmonella shedding at slaughter in individual pigs from conventional systems, but not in organic pigs. The duration of transport did not affect the risk of Salmonella shedding at slaughter