Changes in Selected Biochemical Indices Resulting from Various Pre-sampling Handling Techniques in Broilers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Since it is not yet clear whether it is possible to satisfactorily avoid sampling-induced stress interference in poultry, more studies on the pattern of physiological response and detailed quantification of stress connected with the first few minutes of capture and pre-sampling handling in poultry are required. This study focused on detection of changes in the corticosterone level and concentrations of other selected biochemical parameters in broilers handled in two different manners during blood sampling (involving catching, carrying, restraint, and blood collection itself) that lasted for various time periods within the interval 30-180 seconds.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Stress effects of pre-sampling handling were studied in a group (n = 144) of unsexed ROSS 308 broiler chickens aged 42 d. Handling (catching, carrying, restraint, and blood sampling itself) was carried out in a gentle (caught, held and carried carefully in an upright position) or rough (caught by the leg, held and carried with lack of care in inverted position) manner and lasted for 30 s, 60 s, 90 s, 120 s, 150 s, and 180 s. Plasma corticosterone, albumin, glucose, cholesterol, lactate, triglycerides and total protein were measured in order to assess the stress-induced changes to these biochemical indices following handling in the first few minutes of capture.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Pre-sampling handling in a rough manner resulted in considerably higher plasma concentrations of all biochemical indices monitored when compared with gentle handling. Concentrations of plasma corticosterone after 150 and 180 s of handling were considerably higher (P < 0.01) than concentrations after 30-120 s of handling regardless of handling technique. Concentrations of plasma lactate were also increased by prolonged handling duration. Handling for 90-180 seconds resulted in a highly significant elevation of lactate concentration in comparison with 30 s handling regardless of handling technique. Similarly to corticosterone concentrations, a strong positive correlation was found between plasma lactate and duration of pre-sampling handling. Other biochemical indices monitored did not show any correlation pattern in connection with duration of pre-sampling handling.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results indicate that the pre-sampling procedure may be a considerably stressful procedure for broilers, particularly when carried out with lack of care and exceeding 120 seconds.</p

Influence of Housing System and Number of Transported Animals on Transport-induced Mortality in Slaughter Pigs

The study monitored the effect of the housing system and the number of animals transported together on transport-induced mortality of slaughter pigs in the Czech Republic in the period from 2004 to 2008. Concerning the type of housing during the fattening, the lowest mortality rate during the subsequent transport to slaughter houses was detected among pigs fattened on solid floor (0.047%) and on deep bedding (0.084%). The highest mortality during transport was detected among pigs fattened on fully or partially slatted floor (0.139%), a significant difference (p p < 0.01) compared to the load sizes of up to 40 animals

Influence of Pre-Sampling Handling Duration on Selected Biochemical Indices in the Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

The effects of varying periods of pre-sampling handling (1.5 min, 3 min, 4.5 min, 6 min) on selected biochemical indices were monitored in a group of 8–9-month-old common pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) kept at a pheasantry in Jinačovice, Czech Republic. The duration of pheasant handling (capture, restraint, and blood sampling) was positively correlated with plasma corticosterone (p p p p < 0.05) in the blood plasma. A significant increase in corticosterone plasma concentrations and a decrease in glucose plasma concentrations were already found in blood samples taken after 3 min of capture in comparison to blood samples of pheasants taken within 1.5 min

Musica viva in schola XXVII.

Title in English: Musica viva in schola XXVII. The proceeding from the jubilee 30th international music-educational conference Musica viva in schola continues the tradition of publishing MVIS conference papers from previous years. The contributions respond to current issues in music education and the arts and culture, including modern approaches in education and research projects. In addition to the above, the current year also focuses on musical traditions in music education. Authors include academics and researchers, as well as music didactics, practitioners, and representatives of national and international music education societies

Construction technology study of the apartment building Bochorákova

Bakalářská práce obsahuje vybrané části stavebně technologické studie pro objekt bytového domu na Bochořákově ulici v Brně. Ze zpracovávané dokumentace se bude jednat především o technologickou studii realizace hlavních technologických etap pro zadaný objekt, časový a finanční plán stavby, základní koncepci staveništního provozu, technologický předpis pro provádění zděných konstrukcí a technickou zprávu ke stavebně technologické studii.Bachelor thesis contains selected parts of technological studies for the construction of apartment blocks on Bochořákova street in Brno. The processed documents will be discussed primarily a technological study of technological realization of the main stages for the specified object, time and financial plan construction, the basic concept of the building operation, technological code for masonry structures and the technical report for the construction of technological study.