Effect of immunocastration on behaviour and blood parameters (cortisol and testosterone) of Holstein bulls

To evaluate the effect that immunocastration has on behaviour, testosterone and cortisol levels of feedlot Holstein bulls, 720 intact animals aged between 7 and 8 months, weighing 232±1.19 kg were randomly assigned to two treatments: immunocastration using the Bopriva vaccine and a placebo (360 animals per treatment). The bulls were slaughtered at day 239 of treatment. Animals were vaccinated on days 1, 21, 101, and 181, and on those same days testosterone levels were measured; while cortisol, glucose and creatin kinase measurements were done on day 181 and during exanguination at slaughter. Sexual, aggressive and social behaviours were evaluated and it was found that intact bulls showed a higher average of head butts, mounting, threats, flehmen sign and sniffing (P<0.05), no differences were found for vocalisations, lowering of the head and grooming (P>0.05). Testosterone levels in intact bulls remained at 0.47ng/mL throughout the study, however, by day 181 differences (P<0.05) were observed in immunised bulls, with values of 0.22ng/mL. At slaughter, testosterone levels were 0.21 ± 0.06 ng/mL in immunocastrated bulls and 0.54 ± 0.06 ng/mL in the placebo group. The use of immunocastration with Bopriva has shown to be effective to reduce testosterone, sexual and aggressive behaviours on Holstein bulls

Comparación de la castración quirúrgica al nacimiento versus inmunocastration sobre las características de la canal y carne en machos Holstein

El objetivo fue comparar el efecto de la castración quirúrgica al nacimiento vs immunocastración, sobre las características de la canal y carne en machos Holstein en engorda; se utilizaron 720 machos Holstein aproximadamente de 7 a 8 meses de edad con peso inicial de 240.82 kg. Se formaron 2 tratamientos con 4 corrales de 90 animales en cada uno: toros castrados quirúrgicamente que fueron castrados 24 h después del nacimiento y toros inmunocastrados vacunados con Bopriva aplicando cuatro dosis, al día 1, 21, 101 y 181 de engorda. Se tomaron pesos individuales en cada vacunación. Los animales se sacrificaron a los 242 días de engorda. A partir de la segunda vacunación se observaron diferencias (P0.05) entre tratamientos mientras que los valores de b*, C* y H* fueron más altos (P<0.05) en los animales inmunocastrados. Para fines de producción, el sacrificar los machos Holstein al nacimiento, se obtienen animales más pesados y con mejores características en la canal; sin embargo es importante evaluar el impacto del bienestar animal por la castración al nacimiento

Assessment of cattle welfare at a commercial slaughter plant in the northwest of Mexico

Slaughter plants have been undergoing radical transformations in recent years due to the need to increase efficiency and incorporate new technologies for the improvement of the infrastructure, animal welfare, and product quality. The aim of this study was to assess the cattle welfare status during the unloading, lairage, stunning, bleeding and quantify bruising incidence at a commercial slaughter plant in the northwest of Mexico. We monitored 8,118 cattle during the unloading, lairage, stunning, bleeding, and carcass bruise incidence. Our results showed that in the unloading stage, 2% of the cattle vocalized, 5% were prodded with an electric goad, and 4% either slipped or fell. In the lairage stage, 12% of the animals vocalized, 80% prodded with an electric goad, and 8% of the animals slipped or fell. In the stunning stage, 10% of the animals vocalized, 67% prodded with an electric goad, and 15% of the animals slipped or fell. Ninety-five percent of the animals were stunned with a single shot, and 51% of the animals were effectively desensitized. Ninety-two percent of the carcasses had some type of bruise. Although the slaughter plant had adequate infrastructure and stringent operational standards, in all of the stages except unloading handling had an impact on the welfare of the animals being slaughtered

Prolactin Receptor (PRLR) Gen Polymorphism and Associations with Reproductive Traits in Pigs

The Prolactin Receptor (PRLR) gene was investigated as candidate gene for swine reproductive traits. 335 sows of 4 genetic groups: Yorkshire (Y), Landrace (L) Duroc (D) and YL were included. The traits studied were: Total Number of Born (TNB), Number Born Alive (NBA), Number of Weaned Piglets (NWP), Litter Weight at Birth (LWB) and Litter Weight at Weaning (LWW). The polymorphism was identified by PCR-RFLP. Allelic frequencies between each genetic group and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were tested by chi-square test. The association between PRLR genotypes with reproductive traits was evaluated by a linear model. Additive and dominance effects were estimated. The frequency of A allele was in general 0.46, with variation between genetic groups. D had the highest values for TNB. YL showed the best performance for NBA. AA genotype in D showed the best performance for NWP but no differences were found among genotypes L, YL and L. Differences in first parity were observed between genotypes for TNB, with highest value in BB (10.40 piglets). In general, additive effect per allele A resulted in a negative increase of 2.26 pigs (TNB) and positive of 0.42 kg (LWB) per litter. For TNB and LWB, dominance effect was -2.67 pigs and -0.56 kg, respectively. For LWW, additive in L resulted in -8.37 kg while dominance effect was 8.37 kg.Se investigó el gen del Receptor de Prolactina (PRLR) como gen candidato para los rasgos reproductivos de los cerdos. Se incluyeron 335 cerdas de 4 grupos genéticos: Yorkshire (Y), Landrace (L) Duroc (D) y YL. Los rasgos estudiados fueron: Número total de nacidos (TNB), nacidos vivos (NBA), número de lechones destetados (NWP), peso de la camada al nacer (LWB) y peso de la camada al destete (LWW). El polimorfismo fue identificado por PCR-RFLP. Las frecuencias alélicas entre cada grupo genético y el equilibrio de Hardy-Weinberg se probaron mediante la prueba del chi-cuadrado. La asociación entre los genotipos PRLR con rasgos reproductivos se evaluó mediante un modelo lineal. Se estimaron efectos aditivos y dominantes. La frecuencia del alelo A fue en general 0,46, con variación entre grupos genéticos. D tuvo los valores más altos para TNB. YL mostró el mejor rendimiento para la NBA. El genotipo AA en D mostró el mejor desempeño para NWP pero no se encontraron diferencias entre los genotipos L, YL y L. Se observaron diferencias en la primera paridad entre genotipos para TNB, con mayor valor en BB (10,40 lechones). En general, el efecto aditivo por alelo A resultó en un aumento negativo de 2,26 cerdos (TNB) y positivo de 0,42 kg (LWB) por litera. Para TNB y LWB, el efecto de dominancia fue de -2,67 cerdos y -0,56 kg, respectivamente. Para LWW, el aditivo en L resultó en -8,37 kg mientras que el efecto de dominancia fue de 8,37 kg

Digestion and energy value of macerated sudangrass hay used in growing-finishing diets for feedlot cattle

Mechanical maceration enhances site and extent of digestion of low-moisture, low-quality forages. Four Holstein steers (172 ± 8 kg) with cannulas in rumen and proximal duodenum were used in 4x4 Latin square design to evaluate the process of mechanical maceration of sudangrass hay on the characteristics of ruminal and total tract digestion. Treatments consisted of a steam-flaked corn-based growing diet supplemented with 21 % forage (DM basis) as: i) wheat straw (Triticum aestivum, STRW), ii) sudangrass hay (Sorghum sudanense, SG), iii) macerated SG at intensity of 4,134 kPa (MAC600) and 4) macerated SG at intensity of 6,200 kPa (MAC900). All forages were ground to pass through a 3.8 cm screen before incorporation into complete mixed diets (21:79 forage to concentrate ratio). Maceration did not affect (p &#8805; 0.17) on site and extent of OM, N and ADF, and DE of sudangrass supplemented diets. Characteristics of ruminal digestion of OM, ADF, starch, as well as, microbial efficiency (microbial N, g kg-1 of OM fermentad) and protein efficiency (nonammonia N, g g-1 of N intake) were not different (p &#8805; 0.11) for wheat straw versus sudangrass supplemented diets. However, total tract digestion of OM, ADF, N, and DE diet were greater (p &#8804; 0.05) for sudangrass than for wheat straw supplemented diets. Using the replacement technique, DE value of SG averaged 9.59 MJ kg-1, very close to the expected value given its chemical composition. Mechanical maceration did not enhance the feeding value of sudangrass hay. Increase the intensity of maceration from 4,134 to 6,200 kPa did not altered ruminal or total tract digestion of OM, NDF or energy value of processed ha

BJS commission on surgery and perioperative care post-COVID-19

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the WHO on 11 March 2020 and global surgical practice was compromised. This Commission aimed to document and reflect on the changes seen in the surgical environment during the pandemic, by reviewing colleagues experiences and published evidence. Methods: In late 2020, BJS contacted colleagues across the global surgical community and asked them to describe how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) had affected their practice. In addition to this, the Commission undertook a literature review on the impact of COVID-19 on surgery and perioperative care. A thematic analysis was performed to identify the issues most frequently encountered by the correspondents, as well as the solutions and ideas suggested to address them. Results: BJS received communications for this Commission from leading clinicians and academics across a variety of surgical specialties in every inhabited continent. The responses from all over the world provided insights into multiple facets of surgical practice from a governmental level to individual clinical practice and training. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has uncovered a variety of problems in healthcare systems, including negative impacts on surgical practice. Global surgical multidisciplinary teams are working collaboratively to address research questions about the future of surgery in the post-COVID-19 era. The COVID-19 pandemic is severely damaging surgical training. The establishment of a multidisciplinary ethics committee should be encouraged at all surgical oncology centres. Innovative leadership and collaboration is vital in the post-COVID-19 era

BJS commission on surgery and perioperative care post-COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the WHO on 11 March 2020 and global surgical practice was compromised. This Commission aimed to document and reflect on the changes seen in the surgical environment during the pandemic, by reviewing colleagues' experiences and published evidence