Beteende och renhet hos kalvar på självrengörande golv

Självrengörande golv som inhysningssystem för ungdjur är något relativt nytt. Golven består av en rörlig gummimatta på ett träunderlag och mattan drivs framåt med hjälp av tryckluft. Hur långt och vid vilka tider golvet ska gå programmeras in i en dator som sedan styr driften. Om det fungerar väl både utifrån människors och djurs perspektiv skulle det kunna vara ett alternativ till traditionella inhysningssystem. Detta examensarbete syftar till att ta reda på om djurens beteende störs av att golvet rör sig och hur väl hygienen fungerar i boxen. Beteendestudier samt renhetsbedömningar utfördes på två grupper med kalvar av en ålder på ca 6,5 respektive 8,5 månader. Vid insättning i boxen fick kalvarna en inkörningsperiod för att vänja sig vid att golvet rör sig. Deras beteeende under denna period studerades och redan efter ett fåtal gånger reagerade de mycket lite. De yngsta kalvarna vande sig snabbast och blev minst stressade av att golvet rörde sig. Då kalvarnas vilobeteende studerades fanns att den totala liggtiden inte avvek från resultat i liknande studier. Däremot var antalet läggningstillfällen något fler än i andra jämförbara resultat. Det kan bero på att kalvarna ibland tvingades upp i samband med utgödsling. Kalvarna valde att lägga sig i den bakre delen av boxen som också är den renaste. För att boxen ska hållas torr, ha en halkfri yta, och att kalvarna ska hålla sig rena, är det nödvändigt att golvet körs så långt att hela golvytan är ren efter varje utgödsling och att använda strö i boxen. Halm, som ger en torrare och trevligare miljö samt sysselsättning för kalvarna, är att föredra framför spån. Det blev smutsigast i boxen under dagtid och speciellt i samband med utfodring. För att hålla boxen så ren som möjligt och för att störa djuren så lite som möjligt ska utgödsling ske oftare dagtid än nattetid och särskilt efter varje utfodringstillfälle. Med en väl fungerande drift kan hygienen i boxen hållas mycket god, men vid ett eventuellt driftstopp blir den snabbt oacceptabel. Service måste kunna tillhandahållas mycket snabbt.Selfcleaning floors is a relatively new way to house young cattle. The floor is composed of a rubber mat on wood and it is moved forward by compressed air. How far and at which times the floor shall move can be controlled both manually as well as by a computer. If this system works well out of the perspective of both man and animal it could be an alternative to traditional housing systems. This paper aims to examine if the floor movements have an influence on the behaviour of the animals, and how well the system keeps the floor surface and the animals clean. Studies on behaviour and cleanliness was performed on calves in two groups at an age of 6.5 and 8.5 months respectively. At their first day in their new pen the calves were given a period of a few hours to get accustomed to the moving floor. During that time their behaviour was studied and when the floor had moved only a few times their reactions were very small. The youngest were the fastest to get accustomed and the least stressed by the moving floor. When studying the resting behaviour the total lying time did not deviate from the results of similar studies. However, the number of lying periods were found to be slightly more than in comparable studies. This could be due to the calves being forced to get up when the floor moved. The calves chose to lie down in the rear area of the pen, which was also the cleanest part. To keep the pen dry, with a non slippery floor surface, and the calves clean, it is necessary to run the floor long enough to get the entire floor surface clean every time, and to use bedding. Straw, which gives a more dry and pleasant environment and the calves something to do, is preferable to sawdust. The pen was more dirty during daytime and especially at feeding time. To keep the pen as clean as possible and to disturb the animals as little as possible, the cleaning of the pen should be performed more often during daytime than during the night and especially after every feeding time. With a well functioning system, the pen can be kept very clean, but at a breakdown it will soon become unacceptably dirty. It is necessary that service can be obtained immediately

Decreased startle modulation during anticipation in the postpartum period in comparison to late pregnancy

Knowledge about healthy women’s psychophysiological adaptations during the large neuroendocrine changes of pregnancy and childbirth is essential in order to understand why these events have the potential to disrupt mental health in vulnerable individuals. This study aimed to compare startle response modulation, an objective psychophysiological measure demonstrated to be influenced by anxiety and depression, longitudinally across late pregnancy and the postpartum period. The acoustic startle response modulation was assessed during anticipation of affective images and during image viewing in 31 healthy women during gestational weeks 36–39 and again at 4 to 6 weeks postpartum. No startle modulation by affective images was observed at either time point. Significant modulation during anticipation stimuli was found at pregnancy assessment but was reduced in the postpartum period. The women rated the unpleasant images more negative and more arousing and the pleasant images more positive at the postpartum assessment. Self-reported anxiety and depressive symptoms did not change between assessments. The observed postpartum decrease in modulation of startle by anticipation suggests a relatively deactivated defense system in the postpartum period

The Effect of Steroid Hormones in the Female Brain During Different Reproductive States

Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from depression and anxiety disorders and have an increased risk of onset during periods associated with hormonal changes, such as the postpartum period and the menopausal transition. Furthermore, some women seem more sensitive to normal hormone fluctuations across the menstrual cycle, since approximately 3-5% suffers from premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Why these disorders are so common in women has not been established but there is a probable involvement of the ovarian hormones. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the effect of the ovarian hormones on the female brain during different reproductive states using psychological tests known to affect brain activity in different ways. Paper one examined the effect of the ovarian hormones on prepulse inhibition (PPI) on the acoustic startle response (ASR) and comprised cycling women and postmenopausal women. The cycling women had lower levels of PPI compared to postmenopausal women and postmenopausal women with moderate estradiol levels had lower PPI compared to postmenopausal women with low estradiol levels. Paper two examined the effect of anticipation and affective modulation on the ASR in women with PMDD and healthy controls. Women with PMDD have an increased modulation during anticipation of affective pictures compared to healthy controls during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Paper three examined brain activity during response inhibition among women with PMDD and healthy controls by the use of a Go/NoGo task and fMRI. Women with PMDD displayed a decreased activity in the left insula during follicular phase and an increased activity during the luteal phase compared to controls. Paper four comprised women in the postpartum period and non-pregnant controls to examine brain activity during response inhibition. While this study revealed decreased activity at 4 weeks postpartum compared to 48 hours postpartum we cannot ascertain the role of the ovarian steroids, since none of the significant brain areas correlated with ovarian steroid or neurosteroid serum concentrations. The results of this thesis demonstrate that the ovarian hormones, or at least various hormonal states, have a probable impact on how the female brain works

The Effect of Steroid Hormones in the Female Brain During Different Reproductive States

Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from depression and anxiety disorders and have an increased risk of onset during periods associated with hormonal changes, such as the postpartum period and the menopausal transition. Furthermore, some women seem more sensitive to normal hormone fluctuations across the menstrual cycle, since approximately 3-5% suffers from premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Why these disorders are so common in women has not been established but there is a probable involvement of the ovarian hormones. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the effect of the ovarian hormones on the female brain during different reproductive states using psychological tests known to affect brain activity in different ways. Paper one examined the effect of the ovarian hormones on prepulse inhibition (PPI) on the acoustic startle response (ASR) and comprised cycling women and postmenopausal women. The cycling women had lower levels of PPI compared to postmenopausal women and postmenopausal women with moderate estradiol levels had lower PPI compared to postmenopausal women with low estradiol levels. Paper two examined the effect of anticipation and affective modulation on the ASR in women with PMDD and healthy controls. Women with PMDD have an increased modulation during anticipation of affective pictures compared to healthy controls during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Paper three examined brain activity during response inhibition among women with PMDD and healthy controls by the use of a Go/NoGo task and fMRI. Women with PMDD displayed a decreased activity in the left insula during follicular phase and an increased activity during the luteal phase compared to controls. Paper four comprised women in the postpartum period and non-pregnant controls to examine brain activity during response inhibition. While this study revealed decreased activity at 4 weeks postpartum compared to 48 hours postpartum we cannot ascertain the role of the ovarian steroids, since none of the significant brain areas correlated with ovarian steroid or neurosteroid serum concentrations. The results of this thesis demonstrate that the ovarian hormones, or at least various hormonal states, have a probable impact on how the female brain works

The Effect of Steroid Hormones in the Female Brain During Different Reproductive States

Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from depression and anxiety disorders and have an increased risk of onset during periods associated with hormonal changes, such as the postpartum period and the menopausal transition. Furthermore, some women seem more sensitive to normal hormone fluctuations across the menstrual cycle, since approximately 3-5% suffers from premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Why these disorders are so common in women has not been established but there is a probable involvement of the ovarian hormones. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the effect of the ovarian hormones on the female brain during different reproductive states using psychological tests known to affect brain activity in different ways. Paper one examined the effect of the ovarian hormones on prepulse inhibition (PPI) on the acoustic startle response (ASR) and comprised cycling women and postmenopausal women. The cycling women had lower levels of PPI compared to postmenopausal women and postmenopausal women with moderate estradiol levels had lower PPI compared to postmenopausal women with low estradiol levels. Paper two examined the effect of anticipation and affective modulation on the ASR in women with PMDD and healthy controls. Women with PMDD have an increased modulation during anticipation of affective pictures compared to healthy controls during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Paper three examined brain activity during response inhibition among women with PMDD and healthy controls by the use of a Go/NoGo task and fMRI. Women with PMDD displayed a decreased activity in the left insula during follicular phase and an increased activity during the luteal phase compared to controls. Paper four comprised women in the postpartum period and non-pregnant controls to examine brain activity during response inhibition. While this study revealed decreased activity at 4 weeks postpartum compared to 48 hours postpartum we cannot ascertain the role of the ovarian steroids, since none of the significant brain areas correlated with ovarian steroid or neurosteroid serum concentrations. The results of this thesis demonstrate that the ovarian hormones, or at least various hormonal states, have a probable impact on how the female brain works

Arbetsmiljö och säkerhet vid surgörning av flytgödsel : Rapport från WP2, Aktivitet 5

Stallgödsel från animalieproduktion är en källa för kvävetillförseln till Östersjön i form av utsläpp till vatten och atmosfäriskt nedfall. Ammoniakavgång kommer från gödseln vid hantering i stallar, vid lagring och spridning. Jordbruket står för största delen av ammoniakutsläppen och åtgärder för att minska ammoniak-avgången från jordbruket har därför stor effekt på de totala utsläppsmängderna. Att minska kväveläckaget från jordbruket är en viktig del i att minska övergöd-ningen av Östersjön. Minskade kväveförluster från stallgödseln ger även ökad växtnäring till de odlade grödorna och en effektivare recirkulation av kvävet. Ökat växtnäringsvärde hos stallgödseln leder till bättre utvecklade grödor, som förmår att ta upp mer av miljöbelastande fosfor jämfört med sämre utvecklade grödor. Att minska kväveförlusterna genom att förbättra hanteringen av stall-gödseln ger därmed många vinster för miljön och odlaren. Surgörning av flytgödsel är en känd metod för att minska ammoniakavgången från stallgödsel i stall, i lager och vid och efter spridning i fält (Petersen, 2012). Metoden praktiseras dock inte i Sverige, till stor del för att tekniken inte är till-gänglig och för att det i stort saknas erfarenheter. Teknik för surgörning finns nu utvecklad i Danmark, där 18 % av all flytgödsel försurades år 2014 (SEGES, 2015). Vid surgörningen minskas förlusterna av kväve genom att den kemiska jämvikten mellan ammonium och ammoniak förskjuts mot större andel ammoniumkväve, som inte kan avgå i gasform. Teknik finns för surgörning i stallar, i lager respektive vid spridning. I stallar och lager strävar man efter att pH-värdet i gödseln ska vara mindre än 5,5 för att få effekt under längre tid dvs. under efterföljande lagring och spridning. I test enligt VERA:s testprotokoll minskade ammoniakavgången i medeltal med 64 % från de två studerade svinstallarna när man surgjorde gödseln i stallet med tekniken från JH Forsuring NH4+ jämfört med ingen surgörning (ETA-Danmark, 2011). I ett av de två studerade stallarna kunde man påvisa en årlig luktminskning med 29 procent vid surgörning. För Sverige är det dock inte aktuellt med surgörning i stallar med nuvarande system och lagstiftning. Istället kan system för tillförsel av syra i lager vara aktuellt. Vid tillförsel i lager strax innan spridning eftersträvas pH<6. För att begränsa mängden syra som behöver tillsättas är det då viktigt att snarast möjligt påbörja spridningen efter att svavelsyran blandats med gödseln i lagret, med tanke på gödselns buffrande förmåga (pH stiger). För att surgöra flytgödseln under spridning doseras svavelsyran till gödseln automatiskt under körning i fält med på marknaden olika tekniker. Målet är då att gödseln håller pH <6,4 vid spridningstillfället för att det ska vara godkänt i Danmark som ammoniakbegränsande åtgärd, och ett alternativ till att mylla ner gödseln vid spridning. Enligt VERA:s testprotokoll så minskade ammoniakavgången med 49 % vid surgörning till pH 6,4 vid spridning med tekniken SyreN jämfört med ingen försurning (VERA, 2012). Det gick inte att påvisa någon luktminskning med surgörning.Baltic Slurry Acidificatio

Emotional anticipation after delivery - a longitudinal neuroimaging study of the postpartum period

Neuroimaging research has begun to unveil the mechanisms behind emotion processing during the postpartum period, which, in turn, may be of relevance for the development of postpartum depression. The present study sought to longitudinally investigate the neural correlates of emotion anticipation during the postpartum period in healthy women. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was employed to measure the blood oxygen level-dependent signal in the brain in response to anticipation of negative emotional stimuli and during processing of images with positive or negative valence. The participating women were scanned twice: the first scan occurred during the first 48 hours after delivery, and the second was performed 4-6 weeks after delivery. The early postpartum period was characterized by higher anterior cingulate cortex reactivity during anticipation of negative emotional stimuli than the late postpartum period. This was accompanied by a negative relationship with insular reactivity during the early postpartum period and a trend towards an increase in insular reactivity in the late postpartum period. Thus, during the first four weeks of the postpartum period, a diminished top-down regulatory feedback on emotion-related areas of the brain was noted. This finding suggests a physiologically important adaptation during the healthy postpartum period

Emotion Reactivity Is Increased 4-6 Weeks Postpartum in Healthy Women : A Longitudinal fMRI Study

Marked endocrine alterations occur after delivery. Most women cope well with these changes, but the postpartum period is associated with an increased risk of depressive episodes. Previous studies of emotion processing have focused on maternal-infant bonding or postpartum depression (PPD), and longitudinal studies of the neural correlates of emotion processing throughout the postpartum period in healthy women are lacking. In this study, 13 women, without signs of post partum depression, underwent fMRI with an emotional face matching task and completed the MADRS-S, STAI-S, and EPDS within 48 h (early postpartum) and 4-6 weeks after delivery (late postpartum). Also, data from a previous study including 15 naturally cycling controls assessed in the luteal and follicular phase of the menstrual cycle was used. Women had lower reactivity in insula, middle frontal gyrus (MFG), and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) in the early as compared to the late postpartum assessment. Insular reactivity was positively correlated with anxiety in the early postpartum period and with depressive symptoms late postpartum. Reactivity in insula and IFG were greater in postpartum women than in non-pregnant control subjects. Brain reactivity was not correlated with serum estradiol or progesterone levels. Increased reactivity in the insula, IFG, and MFG may reflect normal postpartum adaptation, but correlation with self-rated symptoms of depression and anxiety in these otherwise healthy postpartum women, may also suggest that these changes place susceptible women at increased risk of PPD. These findings contribute to our understanding of the neurobiological aspects of the postpartum period, which might shed light on the mechanisms underlying affective puerperal disorders, such as PPD

Data from: Emotion reactivity is increased 4-6 weeks postpartum in healthy women: a longitudinal fMRI study

Marked endocrine alterations occur after delivery. Most women cope well with these changes, but the postpartum period is associated with an increased risk of depressive episodes. Previous studies of emotion processing have focused on maternal–infant bonding or postpartum depression (PPD), and longitudinal studies of the neural correlates of emotion processing throughout the postpartum period in healthy women are lacking. In this study, 13 women, without signs of post partum depression, underwent fMRI with an emotional face matching task and completed the MADRS-S, STAI-S, and EPDS within 48 h (early postpartum) and 4–6 weeks after delivery (late postpartum). Also, data from a previous study including 15 naturally cycling controls assessed in the luteal and follicular phase of the menstrual cycle was used. Women had lower reactivity in insula, middle frontal gyrus (MFG), and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) in the early as compared to the late postpartum assessment. Insular reactivity was positively correlated with anxiety in the early postpartum period and with depressive symptoms late postpartum. Reactivity in insula and IFG were greater in postpartum women than in non-pregnant control subjects. Brain reactivity was not correlated with serum estradiol or progesterone levels. Increased reactivity in the insula, IFG, and MFG may reflect normal postpartum adaptation, but correlation with self-rated symptoms of depression and anxiety in these otherwise healthy postpartum women, may also suggest that these changes place susceptible women at increased risk of PPD. These findings contribute to our understanding of the neurobiological aspects of the postpartum period, which might shed light on the mechanisms underlying affective puerperal disorders, such as PPD