Effect of an automatic feeding system on growth performance and feeding behaviour of pigs reared outdoors

Nine Mora Romagnola and 10 Large White x Mora Romagnola growing pigs were reared outdoors. In both groups ad libitum feed was provided. Conventional pigs received it twice a day, distributed in two long troughs. Inside the corral of the second group, an automatic station was set up for: feed distribution, pigs weighing, and control by an analog camera. Thus the self-feeders received feed ad libitum individually by the automatic system, divided into small quantities at meal times. During the experiment the analog camera was used over 24 hours each day, to collect pictures of pigs in order to investigate their behaviours. For each picture the day and hour, the number of visible pigs and their behaviours were recorded and a statistical analysis of data, which was expressed as hourly frequencies of behavioural elements, was performed. Moreover to highlight "active" and "passive" behaviours between the groups, two categories "Move" and "Rest" were created grouping some behavioural elements. With regard to performance, conventional pigs reached a higher total weight gain (56.1±2.42 kg vs 46.7±2.42 kg; P=0.0117). But the feed conversion index (FCI) of both groups was similar. The self-feeders had consumed less feed than conventional animals. The feeding system seems to influence behaviours. The percentage of time spent in Eating activity differs (P<0.0001) between the self-fed (median 24.6%) and conventional pigs (median 10.9%). The resulting more regular eating trend of self-feeders influenced the daily activities distribution. The behavioural category Rest (median: self-feeders 55.0% vs 71.4% conventional pigs) was dominant, with conventional pigs becoming more restless, particularly at meal times. This type of feeding competition and aggressive behaviour did not happen in the self-feeders due to the feed distribution system. The self-feeder results showed that pigs eat at the automatic station both day and night. The animals perform on average 3 visits per hour at night and 10 during the day, with an average duration of some minutes (from 3 to 5 approximately)

Effects of Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seed supplementation on rabbits meat quality, oxidative stability and sensory traits

Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seed (SHS) dietary supplementation is effective in improving the nutritional quality of rabbit meat for consumers and could contribute to the novel concept of &ldquo;functional food&rdquo; in human nutrition. A trial has been conducted in order to verify the effects of three levels (0, 10, or 15%) of SHS inclusion in a rabbit diet on the meat quality, oxidative stability and sensory traits. The dietary treatment did not induce any differences in the ultimate pH, chemical composition, drip losses of the longissimus dorsi muscle or the initial and ultimate pH of the biceps femoris muscle, but the SHS supplementation increased cooking losses of the rabbit meat. The inclusion of SHS also reduced oxidative stability during meat storage. No adverse effects were observed on the meat quality or customer acceptability. The inclusion of SHS in rabbit diets, which is effective in improving the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids content of meat, increased the lipid oxidation in the hind leg meat. An improvement in tissue oxidative stability could be obtained by feeding rabbits with higher levels of antioxidants

Energy use for climate control of animal houses: The state of the art in europe

Animal rearing is done into houses where heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting are adopted to control the indoor climate, however there are not reference values for the energy performance of such enclosures. In this paper, a first analysis on the energy use for climate control of animal houses that can be found in the technical and scientific literature is done for broilers, hens and pig houses, deriving reference energy use values that may be used for the benchmarking of the performance of these buildings

Hazelnut Skin in Ewes’ Diet: Effects on Colostrum Immunoglobulin G and Passive Transfer of Immunity to the Lambs

SIMPLE SUMMARY: A ewe’s diet in the last period of gestation can modify the immunoglobulin G composition of the colostrum and consequently the health status of lambs. This study aims to determine the role of hazelnut skin on the immunological colostrum quality and the passive immunity transfer in newborns. The results show that hazelnut skin supplementation in the diet positively affects the immunoglobulin G composition of the colostrum. The experimental trial underlines that the use of by-products in livestock feeding provides a paramount opportunity to create a circular economy system with health benefit on farmed animals. ABSTRACT: Passive immunity transfer has a pivotal role in newborn lambs, where the colostrum represents the primary source of immunoglobulins. This study hypothesized that the high content in polyphenolic compounds, mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids, and vitamin E of hazelnut skin affects blood and colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration and related gamma-glutamyl-transferase (GGT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in sheep and their lambs. In the last 45 days of pregnancy, ewes were divided into a control (CTR) and a hazelnut skin supplemented group (HZN). Blood and colostrum were collected from ewes and lambs before the first suckling, at 24 and 48 h after birth, then IgG concentration, GGT and LDH activity levels were measured. IgG concentration in the colostrum and in lamb’s serum were significantly greater in HZN than CTR. No significant difference was detected for ewe’s blood. A significant positive correlation was found between IgG and GGT in lambs’ serum and colostrum, between IgG and LDH, as well as between GGT and LDH in lambs’ serum and colostrum. Our results suggest that hazelnut skin supplementation influences IgG colostrum concentration, with improved immune passive transfer to the suckling lambs. The transfer of maternal derived immune factors is confirmed by the GGT and LDH enzyme activity levels

Effect of the granulometric characteristics of monensin sodium on controlling experimental coccidiosis in broiler chickens

The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of monensin sodium grain size on controlling coccidiosis in broiler chickens. Three hundred and fifty Cobb 700 chicks were infected experimentally with 8 × 10(4) sporulated oocysts of Eimeria spp. The birds were fed with diets supplemented with powdered (n = 150) or granulated (n = 150) monensin, with particle sizes of &#8804;100 µm and 450-650 µm, respectively. The remaining chicks (n = 50) were used as an unmedicated control group. The birds’ weights and number of oocysts per gram of litter in each group were recorded weekly. A total of 96 birds were randomly selected and culled during the trial. Their intestinal oocyst counts and lesion scores were determined. No significant differences in body weights were found between the groups at the end of the study. The percentages of infected animals, oocyst counts and lesion scores were significantly higher in the control group than in the other two groups; the two treated groups did not show any appreciable differences to each other. Enteritis was observed in 14 birds, all in the group supplemented with granulated monensin. These results suggest that powdered and granulated monensin have comparable efficacy in controlling coccidiosis in broiler chickens. However, treatments with monensin sodium of high grain size may be subject to contraindications relating to enteritis.O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar a eficácia da monensina sódica com diferentes granulometrias no controle da coccidiose em frangos de corte. Trezentos e cinquenta pintos Cobb 700 foram infectados experimentalmente, utilizando-se 8 × 10(4) oocistos esporulados de Eimeria spp. As aves foram alimentadas com dietas suplementadas com monensina em pó (n = 150) ou granulada (n = 150), com partículas de dimensão &#8804;100 µm e de 450-650 µm respetivamente. As aves restantes (n = 50) foram utilizadas como grupo controle não sujeito a tratamento. O peso das aves e o número de oocistos por grama de material de cama de cada grupo foram avaliados semanalmente. Um total de 96 aves foi selecionado aleatoriamente e submetidos à eutanásia durante o período experimental. Nestas aves foram analisados o número de oocistos intestinais e o respectivo escore das lesões. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas relativas ao peso dos animais dos diferentes grupos no final do período experimental. A proporção de animais infectados, a quantidade de oocistos e o escore das lesões foram significativamente superiores no grupo de controle, quando comparado com os dois grupos tratados, não encontrando diferenças significativas entre estes últimos. Foi observada enterite em 14 aves, pertencentes ao grupo suplementado com monensina granulada. Estes resultados indicam que a eficácia da monensina em pó e granulada é semelhante no controle de coccidiose em frangos de corte. No entanto, o tratamento com monensina sódica de elevada granulometria pode ser objeto de contraindicações associadas à enterite