Influence of Dietary Zinc and Vitamin C Supplementation on Some Blood Biochemical Parameters and Egg Production in Free-Range Laying Hens

The study aimed to follow out the effect of antistress dietary supplements Zinteral 35 and vitamin C on the levels of some blood biochemical parameters (corticosterone, total cholesterol, glucose, total protein and creatinine) and egg production in laying hens during cold (7o C), thermoneutral (19o C) and hot (31o C) periods. The fowls were divided in three groups (26 females and 3 males in each group). They were reared in a free-range management system with elements of organic production. The experimental treatments were as followed: first (control) group without dietary supplement, second group with 100 mg Zinteral 35 per kg diet containing 35 mg/kg zinc oxide, third group with the same amount of Zinteral 35 together with 250 mg vitamin C per kg diet.During the three periods with different ambient temperature, the hens supplemented either with zinc alone (second group) or co-administered zinc + vitamin C (third group) had significantly lower levels of plasma corticosterone (P < 0.001), serum cholesterol (P < 0.05) and glucose (P < 0.05) than those from the first (control) group. The differences between the third and the first groups were bigger versus those between the second and the first groups.For the entire period (March 1 and June 21), egg production was higher by 2.22 % and 4.60 % in the second and third groups respectively in comparison to the first group. The combination of 100 mg Zinteral 35 and 250 mg vitamin C per 1 kg diet exhibited a synergistic effect in reducing cold and heat stress in laying hens and increased their egg production

Влияние на силимарин и охратоксин А върху хуморалния естествен имунитет при пилета бройлери

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of Ochratoxin A (OTA) and Silymarin on serum lysozyme concentrations, complement and betalysin activity in broiler chickens. In this experiment 144 one-day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks were used. All chicks were divided in four groups of 36 birds each: Group 1: Basal diet (BD) with no supplementation of Ochratoxin A (OTA) and Silymarin; Group 2: BD with 1.0% Silymarin; Group 3: BD with 3.0 mg/kg OTA; Group 4: BD with 3.0 mg/kg OTA plus 1.0% Silymarin. It was found that lysozyme concentration in the 2nd group there is a significant difference to groups 3 and 4. The immunosuppressive effect of Ochratoxin A is underlined but no protective effect of Silymarin in the group 4 was found. The alternative pathway of complement activation (APCA) is affected in the group 4. Betalysine there is a significant decreasing in the group 3 but slightly increasing of Betalysine in 4th group. Based on these results it can be concluded that OTA there is an immunosuppressive effect on the studied traits and there is a positive effect of Silymarin only on serum betalysineЦелта на това изследване е да се проучи влиянието на Охратоксин А (ОТА) и Силимарин върху концентрациите на серумния лизоцим, активността на комплемента и бетализина при пилета бройлери. За този експеримент бяха използвани 144 еднодневни мъжки пилета бройлери от хибрида Ross 308. Пилетата бяха разпределени в четири групи по 36 пилета: Първа група (1): Основна диета (ОД) без добавяне на ОТА и Силимарин; Втора група (2): ОД с добавяне на 1.0% Силимарин; Трета група (3): ОД с добавяне на 3.0 mg/kg OTA; Четвърта група (4): ОД с добавяне на 3.0 mg/kg OTA и 1.0% Силимарин. Беше намерено, че лизоцимната концентрация при втора група е достоверно по-висока от тази при групи 3 и 4. Имуносупресивният ефект на Охратоксин A е подчертан, но не се установява протекция от Силимарина при 4-та група. Активността на алтернативния път за активиране на комплемента е понижена при 4-та група. Активността на бетализина е достоверно по-ниска при 3-та група, но е достоверно увеличена при 4-та група. Въз основа на получените резултати може да се заключи, че ОТА има подчертан имуносупресивен ефект върху изследваните показатели при пилетата, но Силимарина има известен положителен ефект само върху активността на бетализина

Effect of a Dietary Herbal Mixture Supplement on the Growth Performance, Egg Production and Health Status in Chickens

The experiment was carried out with dual-purpose fowls developed for rural backyard farming – indigenous Katunitsa chicken (line “AN”), in a free range management system from hatching to 52 weeks of age. The purpose of the investigation was to establish the influence of a blend of herbs as a dietary supplement on some serum biochemical parameters (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total cholesterol, gamma-glutamyl transferase, triglycerides and creatinine), growth performance, egg production, egg fatty acid composition, and health status. The composition of this blend of herbs included: 0.05% garlic powder (Allium sativum), 0.3% cinnamon powder (Cinnamomum verum) and 0.03% of each of the following dried herbs: yarrow (Achillea millefolium), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), thyme (Thymus serpyllum), basil (Ocimum basilicum) and oregano (Origanum vulgare).The birds were divided into two groups – control (n=60) without supplemental mixture to the diet and experimental (n=700) with supplemental mixture to the diet from the first day of age to the end of the experiment.The results showed that the herbal mixture supplement decreased significantly the blood serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels – at 7 (P 0.05).Over the entire investigation period the chickens from the experimental group had a better feed conversion ratio (with 3.37%) and a higher egg laying capacity (with 1.79%).At the end of experiment (52 weeks of age), hens from the control group exhibited generalised fatty degeneration of liver parenchyma, while these in experimental group, the major part of hepatocytes had no fat droplets in their cytoplasm.The death rate from 0 to 7, from 8 to 21 and from 22 to 52 weeks of age was 18.33%, 0% and 8.57% in the control group and 1.00%, 0.26% and 2.62% in the experimental group, respectively.Therefore in conclusion, it can be affirmed that the use of this blend of herbs had a beneficial effect in the treated fowls and improved their egg productivity, vitality and health condition

The Evidence for a Causal Link Between Disease and Damaging Behavior in Pigs

Damaging behaviors (DB) such as tail and ear biting are prevalent in pig production and reduce welfare and performance. Anecdotal reports suggest that health challenges increase the risk of tail-biting. The prevalence of tail damage and health problems show high correlations across batches within and between farms. There are many common risk factors for tail-biting and health problems, notably respiratory, enteric and locomotory diseases. These include suboptimal thermal climate, hygiene, stocking density and feed quality. The prevalence of tail damage and health problems also show high correlations across batches within and between farms. However, limited evidence supports two likely causal mechanisms for a direct link between DB and health problems. The first is that generalized poor health (e.g., enzootic pneumonia) on farm poses an increased risk of pigs performing DB. Recent studies indicate a possible causal link between an experimental inflammation and an increase in DB, and suggest a link between cytokines and tail-biting. The negative effects of poor health on the ingestion and processing of nutrients means that immune-stimulated pigs may develop specific nutrient deficiencies, increasing DB. The second causal mechanism involves tail-biting causing poor health. Indirectly, pathogens enter the body via the tail lesion and once infected, systemic spread of infection may occur. This occurs mainly via the venous route targeting the lungs, and to a lesser extent via cerebrospinal fluid and the lymphatic system. In carcasses with tail lesions, there is an increase in lung lesions, abscessation, arthritis and osteomyelitis. There is also evidence for the direct spread of pathogens between biters and victims. In summary, the literature supports the association between poor health and DB, particularly tail-biting. However, there is insufficient evidence to confirm causality in either direction. Nevertheless, the limited evidence is compelling enough to suggest that improvements to management and housing to enhance pig health will reduce DB. In the same way, improvements to housing and management designed to address DB, are likely to result in benefits to pig health. While most of the available literature relates to tail-biting, we suggest that similar mechanisms are responsible for links between health and other DB.Peer reviewe

The Relationships between Damaging Behaviours and Health in Laying Hens

Since the ban in January 2012 of conventional cages for egg production in the European Union (Council Directive 1999/74/EC), alternative systems such as floor, aviary, free-range, and organic systems have become increasingly common, reaching 50% of housing for hens in 2019. Despite the many advantages associated with non-cage systems, the shift to a housing system where laying hens are kept in larger groups and more complex environments has given rise to new challenges related to management, health, and welfare. This review examines the close relationships between damaging behaviours and health in modern husbandry systems for laying hens. These new housing conditions increase social interactions between animals. In cases of suboptimal rearing and/or housing and management conditions, damaging behaviour or infectious diseases are likely to spread to the whole flock. Additionally, health issues, and therefore stimulation of the immune system, may lead to the development of damaging behaviours, which in turn may result in impaired body conditions, leading to health and welfare issues. This raises the need to monitor both behaviour and health of laying hens in order to intervene as quickly as possible to preserve both the welfare and health of the animals

The Relationships between Damaging Behaviours and Health in Laying Hens

Since the ban in January 2012 of conventional cages for egg production in the European Union (Council Directive 1999/74/EC), alternative systems such as floor, aviary, free-range, and organic systems have become increasingly common, reaching 50% of housing for hens in 2019. Despite the many advantages associated with non-cage systems, the shift to a housing system where laying hens are kept in larger groups and more complex environments has given rise to new challenges related to management, health, and welfare. This review examines the close relationships between damaging behaviours and health in modern husbandry systems for laying hens. These new housing conditions increase social interactions between animals. In cases of suboptimal rearing and/or housing and management conditions, damaging behaviour or infectious diseases are likely to spread to the whole flock. Additionally, health issues, and therefore stimulation of the immune system, may lead to the development of damaging behaviours, which in turn may result in impaired body conditions, leading to health and welfare issues. This raises the need to monitor both behaviour and health of laying hens in order to intervene as quickly as possible to preserve both the welfare and health of the animals

PERCEPTION OF APPLIED ECOLOGY BY SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Applied ecology is a science that manages ecosystems including conservation, harvesting and animal and plant control. Environmental attitudes of secondary school students include their psychological tendency towards the environment. The study concentrates on secondary school students in the Košice Region, in Slovakia. Using Google Forms a questionnaire was delivered to 1,012 secondary school students from the mentioned region. From the participants 59.3% were female and 40.7% were male students. The most numerous age category was 17-year-old secondary school students. 76.6% were students at a secondary school with a general certificate of secondary education (GCSE), 22.1% at a grammar school and 1.3% at a secondary school without a GCSE. Based on the results of the questionnaire most students are interested in the quality of the environment on average and there is no student absolutely not interested in the quality of the environment regardless of the school type. No students, regardless of the school type, consider there is absolutely no impact of all anthropogenic activities on the quality of the environment. As to the assessment of environmental quality in the place of permanent residence and the knowledge of drinking water quality there is no conformity depending on the type of school. The most students save water on average regardless of the school type. There are no students definitely not saving energy in their households, but there is no compliance on saving energy in the households depending on the type of school. There are no students definitely not separating waste in their households and only a few students that rather not separate waste but most students definitely separate waste regardless of the school type

IS IT POSSIBLE TO CHANGE VETERINARY STUDENTS\u27 VIEWS TOWARD THE ENVIRONMENT AND ANIMALS BY TEACHING THEM ABOUT ECOLOGY AND ANIMAL WELFARE?

Animal welfare, ecology and environmental education are becoming more significant as part of veterinary curriculum. The general public\u27s understanding of ecology animal welfare is growing. There is an increasing demand not just for professional abilities and knowledge but also for veterinarians\u27 understanding how organisms interact with each other and their environments and their emotional sensitivity to their patients. This trend was adopted by the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, which included ecology and animal welfare in its curriculum for students of all study programmes. This article will go through the content of courses, their stages, study schedules, and teaching techniques. Using a survey, it will be determined how veterinary students\u27 perspectives changed after the relevant topics were passed