Comparacion de jaulas de maternidad con plataforma frente a jaulas convencionales en una prueba de campo

La utilización de una jaula de mayores dimensiones y con plataforma (Pl) se ha comparado con las jaulas utilizadas (Es) en dos explotaciones comerciales, utilizando 56 conejas en cada grupo durante 6 ciclos productivos. Los resultados indican pocas diferencias productivas entre los dos tipos de jaulas, pero algunas de ellas relevantes. La mortalidad de gazapos en el nido fue mayor en Pl que en Es (11% vs. 9,1%), así como la pérdida total de camadas (5,6% vs. 2,6%), el peso del gazapo al destete fue menor (1005g vs. 1032g) y el índice de conversión en lactación aumentó (2,9 vs. 2,5). Un mayor número de conejas se mostraron agresivas en Pl que en Es (2,2% vs. 0,4%) cuando eran manipuladas y más jaulas estaban sucias y necesitaron limpieza durante cada ciclo (13% vs. 0,9%)

Effect of feeding diets containing barley, wheat and corn distillers dried grains with solubles on carcass traits and meat quality in growing rabbits

The effect of dietary inclusion of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) on carcass and meat quality of longissimus muscle was studied in 100 growing rabbits from 28 to 59 days old. Diets with no DDGS (C), barley (Db20), wheat (Dw20) and corn (Dc20) DDGS at 20% and corn (Dc40) DDGS at 40% were formulated. No effects on most of the carcass traits, texture and water holding capacity were found. Barley and corn DDGS led to a higher dissectible fat percentage. Meat redness was higher with Dw20 and pH was higher with Dw20 and Db20 than with Dc20. Protein and saturated fatty acids concentration declined as corn DOGS level increased. Dc40 led to the lowest saturated/unsaturated fatty add ratio, atherogenic index and thrombogenic index. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of these DDGS at 20% did not affect most of the carcass and meat quality traits in rabbits

Effect of different housing systems (single and group penning) on the health and welfare of commercial female rabbits

In recent decades, concern about rabbit welfare and sustainability has increased. The housing system is a very important factor for animal welfare. However, information about how different available housing types for female rabbits affect their health status is scarce, but this is an important factor for their welfare. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate the health status of female rabbits in five common housing systems: three different single-housing systems with distinct available surfaces and heights; a single-housing system with a platform; a collective system. Female rabbits in the collective and platform cages had greater cortisol concentrations in hair than those in the single-housing system with no platform. Haptoglobin concentrations and kit mortality rates during lactation were greater for the collective-cage female rabbits. The collective group had more culled females and more lesions than in the other groups. The main reasons for culling in all the groups were reproduction problems and presence of abscesses, and the collective group of females was the most affected. In conclusion, it appears that keeping females together in collective systems negatively affects their health status and welfare, while single-housing systems imply lower kit mortality rates during lactation and cortisol concentrations, and fewer lesions in female rabbits

Spanish multicenter study: hyperammonemia not associated with inborn errors of metabolism in children

Introduction: The hyperammonemic encephalopathy induced by causes different from inborn errors of metabolism is a relatively uncommon but severe complication.Objectives: To study the characteristics of a secondary hyperammonemia episode to discern the triggering causes to get to the diagnosis, and the development in the therapeutic intervention.Methods: A multicenter retrospective study of children with hyperammonemia unrelated to inborn errors of metabolism, conducted in Spanish hospitals.Results: Nineteen patients were selected; hyperammonemia developed in infants under one year old in 47% of them, being diagnosed mostly with two or more symptoms. The most common clinical finding was an altered consciousness level similar to that of intoxication symptoms, followed by seizures. These clinical symptoms were present in 14 patients, with one of them or both. Twelve of the 19 patients were in treatment with more than two antiepileptic drugs routinely. All children were treated with protein restriction (n: 10), scavengers (n: 10) and/or carglumic acid (n: 12) for the treatment of hyperammonemia.Conclusions: This study suggests that secondary hyperammonemia could be underdiagnosed because it is only detected when severe symptoms appear. Risk seems to be higher in those patients receiving antiepileptic drugs or those critically ill with a restricted diet or incremented metabolism. The response to specific treatment is adequate but should be established earlier to avoid neurological sequelae of this entity