In-Farm Research - a Swiss Perspective

Conclusions The examination of the question, “why animals on farms” demonstrates the potential of “in-farm research” to gaining in-depth knowledge of the farm. The scientist’s observations and co-working on the farm are a method of choices that allows an accurate evaluation of the current situation of the farm, its atmosphere and the inner perspective of the farmers. It also lets the scientist contrast impressions from a personal point of view and to challenge statements made by the farmers. In addition, farmers were grateful for the “non-economic” assessments of the farm. As a consequence of this work, the reasons farmers give for keeping cows has become more conscious, and their decisions may strengthen their motives while also helping with public relations. Interestingly enough, looking at the farm as an individual organism, and trying to understand its intrinsic values the research methodology increasingly resembles that of social science, e.g. participative research. The researcher has to be trained in “objectivity” and precision in observational skills, and professional experience in agriculture is mandatory. Curricula in agri-science should include training programs to develop them. In-farm research cannot, and will not, be an alternative to other scientific endeavors. Rather, it is a complementary approach, especially for developing sustainable farming practices

Warum Demeter-Betriebe Tiere halten

Die Pflicht zur Tierhaltung ist eine Besonderheit der biodynamischen Landwirtschaft (Demeter), doch werden angesichts der Lage der Landwirtschaft die persönlichen Motive der Landwirte zunehmend gewichtiger als funktionale Aspekte. Die Untersuchung ergänzt methodisch das In-Farm Research um Elemente der qualitativen Sozialforschung. Ergebnis: Die Haltung von Tieren, z.B. von Kühen, stärkt u.a. die Identität eines Betriebes

Impact of preimplantational oral low-dose estradiol-17β exposure on the endometrium: The role of miRNA

Porcine conceptuses synthesize estrogens between Day 11 and 12 as signal for maternal recognition of pregnancy. A preimplantational estrogen exposure to pregnant gilts has been associated with embryonic losses and changes in endometrial mRNA expression. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a key role in the mRNA regulation by modulating the expression. Effects of estrogens on endometrial miRNAs have not been investigated in this context so far. Thus, we studied the endometrial expression profile of miRNAs in the pig at gestational Day 10 after daily estradiol-17β (E2) application starting at fertilization using either 0, 0.05 (ADI-acceptable daily intake), 10 (NOEL-no-observed-effect level) and 1,000 (high dose) µg E2/kg body weight/day, respectively. In endometrial homogenates, E2 (p < 0.001) and total estrogen concentrations (p < 0.001) were significantly increased, namely 28- and 160-fold, respectively, in the high dose group as compared to the control. Additionally, total estrogens were sixfold elevated in the NOEL group. Interestingly, high-throughput sequencing of small non-coding RNA libraries did not indicate any differentially expressed miRNAs between the treatment groups and the control group. The expression of 12 potential E2 target miRNAs investigated by RT-qPCR were equally unaffected. Thus, preimplantational E2 exposure resulted in significantly higher endometrial estrogen concentrations, but did not perturb the expression profile of endometrial miRNAs