Untersuchungen zu einer möglichen Vorverlegung der Schlachtleistungsprüfung beim Schwein mit Hilfe der Magnetresonanztomographie (MRT) und Dualenergie-Röntgenabsorptiometrie (DXA) in vivo

Das Ziel dieser Dissertation war es zu untersuchen, ob es möglich ist, die Körperzusammensetzung von Zuchttieren bei 100 kg Körpergewicht zu einem früheren Termin bzw. bei einem niedrigeren Körpergewicht genau vorherzusagen. Dazu wurden die Tiere bei 80 kg und bei 100 kg mittels Magnetresonanztomographie (MRT) und Dualenergie-Röntgenabsorptiometrie (DXA) analysiert. Insgesamt gingen 117 Zuchttiere, darunter 22 intakte Eber und 95 Sauen in die Untersuchung ein. Jedes Tier wurde zweimal mittels MRT und DXA untersucht. Am ersten Untersuchungstermin wogen die Tiere durchschnittlich 84,5 kg, bei der zweiten Untersuchung im Durchschnitt 102 kg. In dieser Arbeit wurden verschiedene reinrassige Linien und deren Kreuzungen verwendet. Die Rassenverteilung war dabei wie folgt: Deutsche Landrasse (n = 19), Deutsches Edelschwein (n = 7), Large Black (n = 18), Schwäbisch Hällisches Landschwein (n = 3), Piétrain (n = 4), Duroc (n = 3) und ihre verschiedenen Kreuzungen (n = 63). Für die Untersuchungen wurden die Tiere mittels Azaperon (2mg/kg) und Ketamin (40mg/kg) sediert. Anschließend wurden die Tiere mittels MRT untersucht. Verwendet wurde ein Siemens Magnetom Open, mit einer Feldstärke von 0,2 Tesla. Die Lenden- sowie die Oberschenkel- und Glutealregion wurden bei jedem Schwein als Untersuchungsregionen herangezogen. Hierzu wurde eine T1-gewichtete Spinechosequenz verwendet. Die Schichtdicke betrug 15 mm und der Distanzfaktor 3,75 mm (=0,25). Für die Lendenregion wurde eine axiale Schnittrichtung verwendet, für die Oberschenkel- und Glutealregion eine coronare. Ausgewertet wurden die MR-Bilder mit Hilfe der Able 3D-Doctor 3.0 Software (Lexington, MA, USA). In der Lendenregion wurden fünf Schnittbilder in caudale Richtung, beginnend an der letzten Rippe, auf das Volumen des Musculus longissimus dorsi und dessen Speckauflage ausgewertet. Für die Oberschenkel- und Glutealregion wurde ein halbautomatisches Auswertungsverfahren gewählt, mit dem vier Schnittbilder in ventrale Richtung ausgewertet wurden, beginnend auf Höhe des Acetabulums. Für Referenzmessungen mittels Dualenergie-Röntgenabsorptiometrie (DXA) wurde ein GE Lunar DPX IQ-Scanner als quantitatives Analyseverfahren eingesetzt. Jedes Schwein wurde nach der MRT-Untersuchung mittels DXA (Modus “Ganzkörper Adult Normal”) untersucht. Die Daten wurden mittels „Proc Reg“ der Statistik-Software SAS 9.2 ausgewertet. Das Volumen des Musculus longissimus dorsi bei 80 kg zeigt eine hohe Beziehung zum Volumen des Musculus longissimus dorsi bei 100 kg (R2 = 0,86; RMSE = 82021 mm3). Bei der Gegenüberstellung der Volumina des Musculus longissimus dorsi bei 80 kg und bei 100 kg allein für die Eber ergibt sich das höchste Bestimmtheitsmaß mit R2 = 0,97 (RMSE = 35340 mm3). Ein ebenso hohes Bestimmtheitsmaß erreicht die Beziehung zwischen dem Volumen der Fettauflage (über dem Musculus longissimus dorsi) bei 80 kg und bei 100 kg allein für die Eber (R2 = 0,97, RMSE = 23757 mm3). Für die Speckauflage aller Tiere bei 80 kg und bei 100 kg resultiert ein Regressionskoeffizient von R2 = 0,91 (RMSE = 41781 mm3). Für die Oberschenkel- und Glutealregion ergeben sich geringere Beziehungen. So kann für die Muskelvolumina bei 80 kg und bei 100 kg ein Regressionskoeffizient von R2 = 0,79 (RMSE = 292079 mm3) erreicht werden. Für die entsprechenden Fettvolumina der Oberschenkel- und Glutealregion liegt das Bestimmtheitsmaß bei R2 = 0,44 (RMSE = 137143 mm3). Im Rahmen einer multiplen Regressionsanalyse kann ein Bestimmtheitsmaß von R2 = 0,82 (RMSE = 3,31 %) erreicht werden, indem das Volumen des Musculus longissimus dorsi und das Volumen der Speckauflage jeweils bei 80 kg als Variablen eingesetzt werden, um das DXA-Gesamtkörperfett (%) bei 100 kg als Referenzwert zu bestimmen. Zudem wurde eine statistische Auswertung verschiedener Einflussfaktoren anhand einer Mischmodell-Analyse mittels REML (restricted maximum likelihood) durchgeführt (p < 0,05). Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass signifikante Rassen- bzw. Kreuzungsgruppenunterschiede bezogen auf die MRT-Muskel- und Fettvolumina in den untersuchten Regionen, sowie für die DXA-Ergebnisse vorliegen. Eher extensiv genutzte Rassen bzw. Kreuzungsgruppen weisen ein signifikant höheres MRT-Fettvolumen bei erwartungsgemäß signifikant geringem MRT-Muskelvolumen auf. Dabei weisen sie korrespondierend die geringsten DXA-Magerweichgewebewerte und die höchsten DXA-Gesamtkörperfettgehalte auf. Auffällig ist zudem, dass die weniger bemuskelten Rassen bzw. Kreuzungsgruppen über eine höhere Knochenmineraldichte verfügen. Diese Ergebnisse zeigen, dass - obwohl rassespezifische Unterschiede existieren - eine Vorhersage der Körperzusammensetzung (z.B.: DXA-Fettgehalt %) bei 100 kg durch die Untersuchung mittels MRT bei 80 kg möglich ist. Die MRT bietet die Möglichkeit Schlachtkörpermerkmale an potentiellen Zuchttieren in vivo zu erfassen, ohne auf Nachkommenschaftsergebnisse aus der Prüfschlachtung angewiesen zu sein. Somit kann die Schlachtleistung an jedem potentiellen Zuchttier selbst als Eigenleistungsprüfung erhoben werden, was die Kosten der Leistungsprüfanstalten und die für die Versuchsschlachtungen deutlich reduziert. Zudem kann aufgrund der anzunehmend hohen Heritabilitäten das Generationsintervall sowohl für den potentiellen Zuchteber als auch für die potentielle Zuchtsau deutlich reduziert werden, ohne an Genauigkeit zu verlieren

Sex and body region effects on bone mineralization in male pigs

Lameness in pigs is one of the major reasons for culling and early losses in pigs. This can be linked to osteoporosis due to pathologic alterations in bone mineral density (BMD) or bone mineral content (BMC) and may also be linked to the sex. Dealing with the ban on piglet castration without anaesthesia in Germany 2021, we have three male "sex" types: entire boars (EB), immunocastrated boars (IB), and surgically castrated boars (SB). The hypothesis of the present study is that BMC or BMD varies between different male sex types. If sex has an effect on bone mineralization (BMC or BMD) and if this affects leg health, it could result in more lameness and problems during fattening in the negatively affected sex type. The present study evaluated bone mineralization (in terms of BMD and BMC) and body composition traits using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) three times during growth at 30, 50, and 90 kg live body weight. Nine body regions were analysed for bone mineral traits and compared for different male sex types and the fattening season. Significant differences were found regarding BMD (and BMC) among EB, IB, and SB for whole-body BMD (BMC). Additionally significant differences were found in the front and lower hind limbs, where SB showed a significantly higher BMD compared to EB, with IB in between. Additionally regional differences were detected among the groups. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of these differences in bone mineralization on leg health

Safety testing of veterinary vaccines using magnetic resonance imaging in pigs

Safety testing of veterinary vaccines requires the use of a large number of animals to investigate possible local and systemic reactions. This includes, among others, the pathological examination of the injection site in frequent intervals. This examination requires a selected killing of animals in frequent intervals. To reduce the number of animals needed for this kind of safety testing, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to detect and quantify possible local reactions after vaccination in vivo. Sixty-four pigs were divided into four experimental groups (n = 16);two groups consisting of 12-week-old pigs and two of 6-month-old pigs at vaccination day. The pigs were vaccinated with four licensed products (each group receiving one vaccine) and examined up to 6 times using MRI during a period of 5 weeks. The MR images were evaluated semi-automatically, comparing the volumes of altered signal intensities on the vaccination side (VS) with the volumes of the signal intensities on the control side (CS). A paired t-test was used to identify significant differences (p < 0.05) between VS and CS. The results show that MRI allows a 3D-quantification of the extent of local reactions in vivo by scanning the same live animals at several time points after vaccination. MRI is a suitable alternative method for non-invasive safety testing of injectable medicines and can therefore be applied to reduce animal numbers used for safety testing purposes

Assessment of Local Reaction to Vaccines in Live Piglets with Magnetic Resonance Imaging Compared to Histopathology

The safety of veterinary vaccines is assessed in clinical trials in Europe. The assessment of the local tissue reaction to vaccination by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could reduce the number of animals needed because repeated examinations can be performed in the same animal over time. The present study compared the evaluation of local tissue reactions to vaccination using MRI in live pigs with histopathology of porcine tissue, the current gold standard in regulatory safety testing. Eight piglets each were administered one of two commercial vaccines into marked injection sites. All animals were sedated and scanned repeatedly by MRI using a contrast agent up to day 29 after vaccination. On day 29, the animals were euthanized and underwent a pathological examination. The MRI results were compared with the pathomorphological findings at the injection site by regression analysis. The MR images and the pathological examinations yielded matching results concerning the sizes of the affected tissue volumes or areas. The use of MRI for regulatory safety testing can reduce the number of animals needed to 8 per examination group. The volume of a local reaction and its progression over time can be evaluated and documented. If persistent lesions develop a final pathomorphological examination is needed to identify the kind and local distribution of the reaction

Circadian Lying Behaviour Assessed in a Commercial Mixed Horned Dairy Goat Herd

In general, the lying behaviour of dairy goats follows a circadian progression. As lying times might have an effect on the health, performance and welfare of dairy goats, housing conditions and management practices should follow circadian behavioural patterns. In the present study, a mixed horned herd of Bunte Deutsche Edelziege was used. Goats were housed in a commercial dairy goat farm in south Germany. During two lactation periods, 20 goats in each period were fitted with an accelerometer to detect lying behaviour. To analyse the accelerometer data, a mixed linear model was used. The highest frequencies of lying bouts (FLBs) occurred in the afternoon, and the lowest ones occurred during milking. Generally, the least square means ± SE of the FLB counts per goat ranged between 1.72 ± 0.07 (20:00–21:59 P.M.) and 2.87 ± 0.07 (12:00–13:59 P.M.). The longest lying bouts (LBD) occurred at night, and lying bouts remained relatively short in the afternoon between milking times. The maximum LBD was 52.20 ± 0.01 min/bout (at night, 02:00–03:59 A.M.), and the shortest duration was 14.31 ± 0.01 min/bout (during morning milking, 08:00–09:59 A.M.). The interactions of time and month had a significant impact on FLB and LBD (p p < 0.05). Further research is necessary to analyse the lying behaviour of dairy goats in more detail to improve management practices

Evaluation of Foot and Claw Lesions and Claw Horn Growth in Piglets from Birth to End of Nursery

The objective of this study is to evaluate foot lesions and claw horn growth of piglets from the day of birth until the end of the suckling period and describe the prevalence and extent in three different genetic lines. Therefore, bruising, dorsal horn lesions, claw horn growth, and weight gain were evaluated five times during growth, starting with the day of birth (day 0 of life) and ending with the end of nursery (day 68 ± 2 of life). Totally, 74 piglets of three genetic lines (German Landrace × Large White; Piétrain × Piétrain-Duroc; pure German Landrace) were examined. Bruising and dorsal horn lesions reached maximum levels at day 7 (±1) of life (with up to 91% of piglets having bruising marks and up to 94.1% of piglets having dorsal horn lesions). Differences among genetic lines were detected, with German Landrace × Large White crossbreds showing the highest percentage of bruising, but Piétrain × Piétrain-Duroc crossbreds showed the highest score for dorsal horn lesions at day 0. Until weaning (day 28 ± 1), front feet were more affected by bruising than hind feet (70.3% of the front feet and 64% of the hind feet showed bruising), but at the end of nursery (day 68 ± 2), hind feet showed a higher percentage of affected feet than front feet (65.5% vs. 41.3%). Several factors affect bruising scores in piglets, including body weight, age at examination, litter size, sex, parity, breed, and claw horn length. Additionally, significant differences for claw horn length were detected among the genetic lines from birth to end of nursery

Detection of Local Tissue Reactions after Anti-GnRF Injection in Male Pigs Assessed Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

This study aimed at evaluating the local tissue reaction of an anti-GnRF product, which is used for the so called “immunocastration” in male pigs. A total of 34 pigs were injected two times (including a booster injection) with an anti-GnRF product. Injection was performed using the prescribed safety vaccinator. Injection sites were evaluated three times post injection using magnetic resonance imaging. Two examinations were performed after the first injection and one after the booster. The local tissue reaction was evaluated three-dimensionally by semi-automatic analyses, by linear measurements of injection depth and length, and by scoring the kind of tissue affected. Results showed a long-lasting reaction in affected muscle tissue. Therefore, needle length should be discussed, and an evaluation of the injection site after slaughter should be performed include behavioural scorings post injection to evaluate the impact on animal well-being and carcass quality

Lying Behaviour in Dairy Goats: Effects of a New Automated Feeding System Assessed by Accelerometer Technology

The aim of this study was to evaluate lying behaviour in dairy goats before and after installation of an optimized automatic concentrated feeding system (AFS). A mixed-horned herd of Bunte Deutsche Edelziege was used. As many agonistic interactions between goats happen at the feeding place, a new automated feeding system was installed to better fulfil the needs of horned goats. Lying behaviour is an indicator to ascertain animal welfare of ruminants. In order to measure lying behaviour accelerometer technology was used and verified by video analyses. The results show an agreement of 99.62–99.93% per lying time by comparing accelerometers to video data. Over all goats, a mean ± SD lying time (LT) of 11.78 ± 1.47 h/d, a mean ± SD lying bout duration (LBD) of 0.51 ± 0.10 h/bout and a mean ± SD frequency of lying bouts (FLB) of 24.35 ± 5.57 were found. Lying behaviour follows a seasonal progression with significant lowest LBD and highest FLB in summer. With the old AFS significant differences in LBD and FLB were detected between horned and hornless goats, but with the new AFS results were adjusted. Findings suggest that changes in feeding management do not affect the general seasonal progression of lying behaviour but can affect the behavioural differences between horned and hornless dairy goats

Genome-wide QTL mapping of nine body composition and bone mineral density traits in pigs

Background: Since the pig is one of the most important livestock animals worldwide, mapping loci that are associated with economically important traits and/or traits that influence animal welfare is extremely relevant for efficient future pig breeding. Therefore, the purpose of this study was a genome-wide mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with nine body composition and bone mineral traits: absolute (Fat, Lean) and percentage (FatPC, LeanPC) fat and lean mass, live weight (Weight), soft tissue X-ray attenuation coefficient (R), absolute (BMC) and percentage (BMCPC) bone mineral content and bone mineral density (BMD). Methods: Data on the nine traits investigated were obtained by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for 551 pigs that were between 160 and 200 days old. In addition, all pigs were genotyped using Illumina's PorcineSNP60 Genotyping BeadChip. Based on these data, a genome-wide combined linkage and linkage disequilibrium analysis was conducted. Thus, we used 44 611 sliding windows that each consisted of 20 adjacent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). For the middle of each sliding window a variance component analysis was carried out using ASReml. The underlying mixed linear model included random QTL and polygenic effects, with fixed effects of sex, housing, season and age. Results: Using a Bonferroni-corrected genome-wide significance threshold of P < 0.001, significant peaks were identified for all traits except BMCPC. Overall, we identified 72 QTL on 16 chromosomes, of which 24 were significantly associated with one trait only and the remaining with more than one trait. For example, a QTL on chromosome 2 included the highest peak across the genome for four traits (Fat, FatPC, LeanPC and R). The nearby gene, ZNF608, is known to be associated with body mass index in humans and involved in starvation in Drosophila, which makes it an extremely good candidate gene for this QTL. Conclusions: Our QTL mapping approach identified 72 QTL, some of which confirmed results of previous studies in pigs. However, we also detected significant associations that have not been published before and were able to identify a number of new and promising candidate genes, such as ZNF608

“Sex” and body region effects on bone mineralization in male pigs

Abstract. Lameness in pigs is one of the major reasons for culling and early losses in pigs. This can be linked to osteoporosis due to pathologic alterations in bone mineral density (BMD) or bone mineral content (BMC) and may also be linked to the sex. Dealing with the ban on piglet castration without anaesthesia in Germany 2021, we have three male “sex” types: entire boars (EB), immunocastrated boars (IB), and surgically castrated boars (SB). The hypothesis of the present study is that BMC or BMD varies between different male sex types. If sex has an effect on bone mineralization (BMC or BMD) and if this affects leg health, it could result in more lameness and problems during fattening in the negatively affected sex type. The present study evaluated bone mineralization (in terms of BMD and BMC) and body composition traits using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) three times during growth at 30, 50, and 90 kg live body weight. Nine body regions were analysed for bone mineral traits and compared for different male sex types and the fattening season. Significant differences were found regarding BMD (and BMC) among EB, IB, and SB for whole-body BMD (BMC). Additionally significant differences were found in the front and lower hind limbs, where SB showed a significantly higher BMD compared to EB, with IB in between. Additionally regional differences were detected among the groups. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of these differences in bone mineralization on leg health