Providing ramps in rearing aviaries affects laying pullet distribution, behavior and bone properties

To ensure that laying hens can make full use of the various resources within an aviary barn and develop optimum bone health while minimizing keel bone fractures, appropriate cognitive and bone development during rearing is critical. Given previous work documenting the benefit of ramps that could be used by hens to transition between tiers and reduced incidence of keel bone fractures, the project examined the provision of ramps during the rearing period, which birds could use voluntarily from 10 d of age. We hypothesized that the provision of ramps would influence how pullets distribute within the aviary and how birds vertically move between the aviary tiers leading to greater bone strength in birds with access to ramps. The study used 2 flocks of laying hen chicks (Lohmann Selected Leghorn; 4,800 chicks/flock) that were reared in one of 2 commercial rearing facilities with each divided into 4 pens (600 chicks/pen) to allow for treatment assignments. In 2 pens of each facility, ramps were installed from each of the 3 tiers providing a walking path that birds could access from 10 d of age. Video recordings were made at 4 times per day at 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, and 14 wk of age to determine the relative distribution of birds and the number of transitions between each tier. At 16 wk of age, 10 birds per pen per flock were killed and the tibia and humerus collected for biomechanical assessment; the keel was also collected for bone mineral density via computed tomography. Chicks/pullets within pens provided ramps demonstrated a rapid use of the upper tiers of the aviary paralleling greater usage of ramps between all aviary levels. Despite the ramp and tier usage following the predicted pattern, differences in bone strength were opposite than expected for tibiae and may reflect the different behaviors pens with ramps and without ramps would allow. Results support the position that provision of ramps within a commercial system will lead to voluntary usage of the ramps with long term effects on the distribution of birds in the system throughout the rearing period.Egg Industry Cente

La Intersectorialidad en la prevención del embarazo adolescente: análisis del proceso de implementación del CONPES 147 en el municipio de Popayán

El presente trabajo de grado tuvo como propósito analizar la implementación del proyecto piloto del CONPES 147 de 2012 “Lineamientos para el desarrollo de una estrategia para la prevención del embarazo en la adolescencia y la promoción de proyectos de vida para los niños, niñas, adolescentes y jóvenes en edades entre 6 y 19 años” en el municipio de Popayán, el cual tuvo cuatro líneas estratégicas: (i) el fortalecimiento de la intersectorialidad; (ii) la promoción del desarrollo humano y los proyectos de vida de niños, niñas, adolescentes y jóvenes de los 6 a los 19 años; (iii) la consolidación de la oferta de servicios en Salud Sexual y Reproductiva (SSR), incluidos los de atención en SSR, la educación y la formación de competencias en DSR; y (iv) el monitoreo, el seguimiento y la evaluación de las acciones que fortalezcan la prevención y reducción del embarazo en la adolescencia y contribuyan al mejor conocimiento en el tema -- De estas cuatro líneas estratégicas, se eligió la de fortalecimiento de la intersectorialidad, ya que esta condición se ha convertido en una condición sine qua non en el ciclo de las políticas públicas, particularmente las de carácter social, ya que estas al enfrentar problemáticas complejas requieren de la intervención de varios sectores -- Con el fin de identificar los actores involucrados y las instancias intersectoriales en las que estos interactuaban, se realizó un diseño metodológico cualitativo utilizando el estudio de caso ya que este permite realizar el registro del comportamiento de los diferentes actores y emplear varias fuentes de información que van desde documentos, registro de archivos, entrevistas directas, observación directa -- La revisión y análisis de documentos públicos, al igual que las entrevistas a funcionarios y contratistas de los sectores involucrados en la implementación del CONPES 147, fueron dando cuenta del proceso llevado a cabo en la entidad territorial -- El marco teórico parte de una disertación conceptual acerca de los modelos de implementación de las políticas públicas, teniendo en cuenta que la estrategia de prevención de embarazos adolescentes es formulada por el gobierno nacional e implementada en el nivel local, resulta apropiado acudir a este debate -- Posteriormente se aborda la intersectorialidad y las diferentes variables que la integran, con el fin de valorar las mismas en el estudio de caso -- Los hallazgos que dejo el presente trabajo es que aunque hubieron algunos errores en la implementación de la estrategia por parte de las instituciones que la formularon al no brindar lineamientos claros acerca de cómo hacer el proceso, la intersectorialidad debe ser fortalecida en la entidad territorial ya que debido a dinámicas internas como la falta de planeación, alta rotación del personal no ha podido establecer instancias intersectoriales que vayan más allá del papel, por lo tanto se presentan duplicidad de acciones, uso ineficiente de los recursos, razón por la cual cualquier política que requiera esta condición tiene un riesgo muy alto de fracasa

Genetic markers associated with bone composition in Rhode Island Red laying hens

Background Bone damage has welfare and economic impacts on modern commercial poultry and is known as one of the major challenges in the poultry industry. Bone damage is particularly common in laying hens and is probably due to the physiological link between bone and the egg laying process. Previous studies identified and validated quantitative trait loci (QTL) for bone strength in White Leghorn laying hens based on several measurements, including bone composition measurements on the cortex and medulla of the tibia bone. In a previous pedigree-based analysis, bone composition measurements showed heritabilities ranging from 0.18 to 0.41 and moderate to strong genetic correlations with tibia strength and density. Bone composition was measured using infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. The aim of this study was to combine these bone composition measurements with genotyping data via a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to investigate genetic markers that contribute to genetic variance in bone composition in Rhode Island Red laying hens. In addition, we investigated the genetic correlations between bone composition and bone strength. Results We found novel genetic markers that are significantly associated with cortical lipid, cortical mineral scattering, medullary organic matter, and medullary mineralization. Composition of the bone organic matter showed more significant associations than bone mineral composition. We also found interesting overlaps between the GWAS results for tibia composition traits, particularly for cortical lipid and tibia strength. Bone composition measurements by infrared spectroscopy showed more significant associations than thermogravimetry measurements. Based on the results of infrared spectroscopy, cortical lipid showed the highest genetic correlations with tibia density, which was negative (− 0.20 ± 0.04), followed by cortical CO3/PO4 (0.18 ± 0.04). Based on the results of thermogravimetry, medullary organic matter% and mineral% showed the highest genetic correlations with tibia density (− 0.25 ± 0.04 and 0.25 ± 0.04, respectively). Conclusions This study detected novel genetic associations for bone composition traits, particularly those involving organic matter, that could be used as a basis for further molecular genetic investigations. Tibia cortical lipids displayed the strongest genetic associations of all the composition measurements, including a significantly high genetic correlation with tibia density and strength. Our results also highlighted that cortical lipid may be a key measurement for further avian bone studies.Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.ERANET Grant to ICD (BBSRC BB/ M028291/1)Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas, 2014-01840(Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, 291815Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas (2019-02116 and 2016-01386)The COST Action CA15224 Keel Bone Damag

A gender- based approach to the current situation of Spanish dentists

To determine the perception of Spanish dentists about the situation of the profession nowadays and how the changes occurred in dental workforce (in number and gender of the past twenty years) have affected their personal and professional lives, under a g

Impact of Different Layer Housing Systems on Eggshell Cuticle Quality and Salmonella Adherence in Table Eggs

The bacterial load on the eggshell surface is a key factor in predicting the bacterial penetration and contamination of the egg interior. The eggshell cuticle is the first line of defense against vertical penetration by microbial food-borne pathogens such as Salmonella Enteritidis. Egg producers are increasingly introducing alternative caging systems into their production chain as animal welfare concerns become of greater relevance to today’s consumer. Stress that is introduced by hen aggression and modified nesting behavior in furnished cages can alter the physiology of egg formation and affect the cuticle deposition/quality. The goal of this study was to determine the impact of caging systems (conventional, enriched, free-run, and free-range), on eggshell cuticle parameters and the eggshell bacterial load. The cuticle plug thickness and pore length were higher in the free-range eggs as compared to conventional eggs. The eggshells from alternative caging (enriched and free-range) had a higher total cuticle as compared to conventional cages. A reduction in bacterial cell counts was observed on eggshells that were obtained from free-range eggs as compared to the enriched systems. An inverse correlation between the contact angle and Salmonella adherence was observed. These results indicate that the housing systems of layer hens can modify the cuticle quality and thereby impact bacterial adherence and food safety.Egg Farmers of Canada (EFC) grant number: 551562, Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) grant number 570593PID2020- 116660GB-I00, RNM-938 group (Junta de Andalucía)UCE PP 2016.05 (Universidad de Granada

Bone quality and composition are influenced by egg production, layer line, and oestradiol-17ß in laying hens

Part of this work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion [grant number CGL2015-64683-P].Keel bone fractures are a serious animal welfare problem in laying hens. The aim of the current study was to assess the influence of egg production, oestradiol-17ß, and selection for high laying performance on bone quality. Hens of two layer lines differing in laying performance (WLA: 320 eggs per year, G11: 200 eggs per year) were allocated to four treatment groups. Group S received a deslorelin acetate implant that suppressed egg production. Group E received an implant with the sexual steroid oestradiol-17ß. Group SE received both implants and group C did not receive any implant. In the 63rd week of age, composition and characteristics of the tibiotarsi were assessed using histological analysis, three-point bending test, thermogravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and two-dimensional X-ray diffraction, respectively. Non-egg-laying hens showed a higher total bone area and a higher relative amount of cortical bone compared to egg-laying hens. Hens of layer line G11 showed a higher relative amount of medullary bone and a higher degree of mineralization of the cortical bone compared to hens of layer line WLA. These differences in bone composition may explain different susceptibility to keel bone fractures in non-egg-laying compared to egg-laying hens as well as in hens of layer lines differing in laying performance. The effect of exogenous oestradiol-17ß on bone parameters varied between the layer lines indicating a genetic influence on bone physiology and the way it can be modulated by hormone substitution.Instituto de Salud Carlos III Spanish Government CGL2015-64683-

Relationship between Bone Quality, Egg Production and Eggshell Quality in Laying Hens at the End of an Extended Production Cycle (105 Weeks)

(1) Background: Nowadays the industry aims to improve lay persistency for extended cycles (100 weeks or longer) to make egg production more sustainable. However, intensive egg pro‐ duction challenges hen health, inducing severe osteoporosis and the incidence of bone fractures. In this study, the relationship between bone quality and egg production, and/or eggshell quality, was evaluated at the end of an extended laying cycle of 100 weeks, comparing groups of hens with dif‐ ferent production and eggshell quality parameters; (2) Methods: Quality parameters of egg (as weight, egg white height), eggshell (as thickness, weight, breaking strength, elasticity and micro‐ structure) and tibiae bone (weight, diameter, cortical thickness, ash weight, breaking strength, me‐ dullary bone) were determined; (3) Results: Hens from groups with a high egg production and good eggshell quality have poorer bone quality (lower ash weight and lesser amount of medullary bone). However, Pearson’s correlation analysis shows no clearrelationship between bone and egg/eggshell parameters. (4) Conclusions: Bone and egg production/eggshell quality are independent and can be improved separately. Medullary bone has an important contribution to bone mechanical properties, being important to accumulate enough bone medullary bone early in life to maintain skeletal integ‐ rity and eggshell quality in old hens.ITC‐20161169/Ovofortis (MINECO/AEI/FEDER, UE)CGL2015‐64683‐PRNM‐179 group (Junta de Andalucía)UCE PP 2016.05 (Universidad de Granada

No evidence that selection for egg production persistency causes loss of bone quality in laying hens

ERANET grant BBSRC BB/M028291/1Swedish Research Council Formas 2014-01840ARN (Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria) 291815European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) CA15224UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) BB/P013759/

Does Backgrounds Color Influence the Appearance of Gingiva-Colored Resin-Based Composites?

This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, grant number PGC2018-101904-A-100, the Government of Andalusia, grant number P20-00200, the University of Granada, grant number A.TEP.280.UGR18, and the APC was funded by the grant number PGC2018-101904-A-100.Dental materials are mainly tested in vitro, so laboratory conditions must reproduce the oral environment to ensure the validity of their results. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of backgrounds on the color of gingiva-colored resin-based composites (GCRBC). Three discs of each of 20 shades of GCRBCs and each thickness (1 and 2 mm) were prepared. Diffuse reflectance was measured on-air and over three natural teeth (0M3/B1, 3M3/B3, and 5M3/B4 shades of Vita 3D Master/Vita Classical guides, respectively) using a calibrated spectroradiometer, CIE D65 illuminant and the CIE 45 degrees/0 degrees geometry. CIEDE2000 color difference formula and its 50:50% perceptibility and acceptability thresholds have been used to calculate and interpret the results. It can be stated that the background influences the color of all GCRBCs tested, although the effect is more pronounced for 1 mm thick samples. L*, a* and b* coordinates values of GCRBCs on air were significantly different from those obtained on natural teeth backgrounds, and the total color differences were greater than the acceptability thresholds. Since GCRBCs are placed on a dental substrate in clinical conditions, it is not advisable to perform color measurements of GCRBCs on-air because of the high color differences found. This recommendation is especially relevant for thin specimens.Spanish Government PGC2018-101904-A-100Government of Andalusia P20-00200University of Granada A.TEP.280.UGR1

Color stability and degree of conversion of gingiva-colored resin-based composites

Objectives: To evaluate gingiva-colored resin-based composites' (GCRBC) color stability and degree of conversion (DC%). Methods: Eight discs (8 1 mm) of 20 shades of GCRBC were prepared. Color coordinates were measured against a gray background with a calibrated spectroradiometer, CIE D65 illuminant and the CIE 45 /0 geometry at baseline and after 30 days of storage in distilled water, coffee, and red wine. Color differences (ΔE00) between final and baseline conditions were calculated. An ATR-FTIR spectrometer with a diamond tip was used to calculate DC%. The results were analyzed statistically using ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc test. The level of significance was p < 0.05. Results: DC% and color stability correlated with each other and with the GCRBC brand. DC% ranged between 43% and 96%, highest values correspond to flowable composites. All composites have experienced color changes after immersion in water, wine and coffee. However, the magnitude of the color change has varied widely depending on the immersion medium and the GCRBC. Color changes generated by the wine were, globally, greater than those induced by coffee (p < 0.001) and above the acceptability thresholds. Conclusions: The DC% of GCRBCs is sufficient to achieve adequate biocompatibility and physicomechanical properties, but the high susceptibility to staining could compromise aesthetic long-term results. Clinical Significance: The degree of conversion and the color stability of gingivacolored resin-based composites correlated with each other. All composites have experienced color changes after immersion in water, wine and coffee. Color changes generated by wine were, globally, greater than those induced by coffee and above the acceptability thresholds that could compromise aesthetic long-term results.Junta de Andalucía, Grant/Award Number: P20-00200; Universidad de GranadaGrant/Award Number: CBU