Cow preference and usage of free stalls compared with an open pack area

Free-stall housing systems are designed to provide a comfortable and hygienic lying area, but some aspects of stall design may restrict usage by cows. The aim of this study was to compare free-stall housing with a comparable lying area (open pack) without stall partitions. We predicted that cows would spend more time lying down and standing in the bedded area when provided access to an open pack than when in free stalls. We also predicted that cows would spend less time standing outside of the lying area and less time perching with the front 2 hooves in the lying area when using the open pack. Groups (n = 8) of 12 cows each were provided access to either the open pack or stalls. After a 7-d adaptation period, each group was tested sequentially in the 2 treatments for 3 d each. This no-choice phase was followed by an 8-d choice phase during which cows had simultaneous access to both treatments. During the no-choice phase, cows spent more time lying down (13.03 ± 0.24 vs. 12.48 ± 0.24 h/d) and standing with all 4 hooves in the bedded area (0.96 ± 0.12 vs. 0.41 ± 0.12 h/d) of the open pack than in the stalls. During the choice phase, cows spent more time lying down (7.20 ± 0.29 vs. 5.86 ± 0.29 h/d) and standing with all 4 hooves in the bedded area (0.58 ± 0.07 vs. 0.12 ± 0.07 h/d) of the open pack than in the stalls. In both the no-choice (1.66 ± 0.24 vs. 0.55 ± 0.24 h/d) and choice (0.55 ± 0.07 vs. 0.29 ± 0.07 h/d) phases, cows spent more time standing with just 2 hooves in the stalls than in the open pack. In conclusion, cows spent more time lying and standing with all 4 hooves in the bedded open pack than in the stalls. Additionally, cows spent more time standing in the alley and standing with just the front 2 hooves on the bedding in the stalls than in the bedded open pack; increased standing time on wet concrete is a known risk factor for lameness

Cow preference and usage of free stalls compared with an open pack area

Free-stall housing systems are designed to provide a comfortable and hygienic lying area, but some aspects of stall design may restrict usage by cows. The aim of this study was to compare free-stall housing with a comparable lying area (open pack) without stall partitions. We predicted that cows would spend more time lying down and standing in the bedded area when provided access to an open pack than when in free stalls. We also predicted that cows would spend less time standing outside of the lying area and less time perching with the front 2 hooves in the lying area when using the open pack. Groups (n = 8) of 12 cows each were provided access to either the open pack or stalls. After a 7-d adaptation period, each group was tested sequentially in the 2 treatments for 3 d each. This no-choice phase was followed by an 8-d choice phase during which cows had simultaneous access to both treatments. During the no-choice phase, cows spent more time lying down (13.03 ± 0.24 vs. 12.48 ± 0.24 h/d) and standing with all 4 hooves in the bedded area (0.96 ± 0.12 vs. 0.41 ± 0.12 h/d) of the open pack than in the stalls. During the choice phase, cows spent more time lying down (7.20 ± 0.29 vs. 5.86 ± 0.29 h/d) and standing with all 4 hooves in the bedded area (0.58 ± 0.07 vs. 0.12 ± 0.07 h/d) of the open pack than in the stalls. In both the no-choice (1.66 ± 0.24 vs. 0.55 ± 0.24 h/d) and choice (0.55 ± 0.07 vs. 0.29 ± 0.07 h/d) phases, cows spent more time standing with just 2 hooves in the stalls than in the open pack. In conclusion, cows spent more time lying and standing with all 4 hooves in the bedded open pack than in the stalls. Additionally, cows spent more time standing in the alley and standing with just the front 2 hooves on the bedding in the stalls than in the bedded open pack; increased standing time on wet concrete is a known risk factor for lameness

Mechanisms Predisposing Penile Fracture And Long-term Outcomes On Erectile And Voiding Functions

Purpose. To determine the mechanisms predisposing penile fracture as well as the rate of long-term penile deformity and erectile and voiding functions. Methods. All fractures were repaired on an emergency basis via subcoronal incision and absorbable suture with simultaneous repair of eventual urethral lesion. Patients' status before fracture and voiding and erectile functions at long term were assessed by periodic follow-up and phone call. Detailed history included cause, symptoms, and single-question self-report of erectile and voiding functions. Results. Among the 44 suspicious cases, 42 (95.4%) were confirmed, mean age was 34.5 years (range: 18-60), mean follow-up 59.3 months (range 9-155). Half presented the classical triad of audible crack, detumescence, and pain. Heterosexual intercourse was the most common cause (28 patients, 66.7%), followed by penile manipulation (6 patients, 14.3%), and homosexual intercourse (4 patients, 9.5%). "Woman on top" was the most common heterosexual position (n = 14, 50%), followed by "doggy style" (n = 8, 28.6%). Four patients (9.5%) maintained the cause unclear. Six (14.3%) patients had urethral injury and two (4.8%) had erectile dysfunction, treated by penile prosthesis and PDE-5i. No patient showed urethral fistula, voiding deterioration, penile nodule/curve or pain. Conclusions. "Woman on top" was the potentially riskiest sexual position (50%). Immediate surgical treatment warrants long-term very low morbidity. © 2014 Leonardo O. Reis et al.Kamdar, C., Mooppan, U.M.M., Kim, H., Gulmi, F.A., Penile fracture: Preoperative evaluation and surgical technique for optimal patient outcome (2008) BJU International, 102 (11), pp. 1640-1644. , 2-s2.0-56649083856 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2008.07902.xKramer, A.C., Penile fracture seems more likely during sex under stressful situations (2011) Journal of Sexual Medicine, 8 (12), pp. 3414-3417. , 2-s2.0-82955237445 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02461.xSawh, S.L., O'Leary, M.P., Ferreira, M.D., Berry, A.M., Maharaj, D., Fractured penis: A review (2008) International Journal of Impotence Research, 20 (4), pp. 366-369. , 2-s2.0-48249147767 10.1038/ijir.2008.12Amit, A., Arun, K., Bharat, B., Navin, R., Sameer, T., Shankar, D.U., Penile fracture and associated urethral injury: Experience at a tertiary care hospital (2013) Canadian Urological Association Journal, 7, pp. E168-E170Moslemi, M.K., Evaluation of epidemiology, concomitant urethral disruption and seasonal variation of penile fracture: A report of 86 cases (2013) Canadian Urological Association Journal, 7, pp. E572-E575Hatzichristodoulou, G., Dorstewitz, A., Gschwend, J.E., Herkommer, K., Zantl, N., Surgical management of penile fracture and long-term outcome on erectile function and voiding (2013) The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 10, pp. 1424-1430Nomura, J.T., Sierzenski, P.R., Ultrasound diagnosis of penile fracture (2010) Journal of Emergency Medicine, 38 (3), pp. 362-365. , 2-s2.0-77949914168 10.1016/j.jemermed.2008.03.010Ash, A., Miller, J., Preston, D., Point-of-care ultrasound used to exclude penile fracture (2012) Critical Ultrasound Journal, 417Beysel, M., Tekin, A., Gürdal, M., Yücebaş, E., Dengör, F., Evaluation and treatment of penile fractures: Accuracy of clinical diagnosis and the value of corpus cavernosography (2002) Urology, 60 (3), pp. 492-496. , 2-s2.0-0036753673 10.1016/S0090-4295(02)01813-7Gamal, W.M., Osman, M.M., Hammady, A., Aldahshoury, M.Z., Hussein, M.M., Saleem, M., Penile fracture:;ong-term results of surgical and conservative management (2011) Journal of Trauma, 71 (2), pp. 491-493. , 2-s2.0-80051783736 10.1097/TA.0b013e318209311

The stall-design paradox: Neck rails increase lameness but improve udder and stall hygiene

Housing conditions for dairy cows are thought to af-fect lameness, but almost no experimental work has addressed this link. The aim was to assess the effect of one feature of free-stall design, the position of the neck rail, testing the prediction that cows will be more likely to become lame if using pens with the neck rail positioned such that it prevents standing fully inside the stall. Cows (n = 32) were housed in 8 pens. Treat-ments were tested using a crossover design; treatments were allocated alternately to pens at the beginning of the experiment and switched halfway through the 10-wk experiment. Cows spent 27 ± 3 min/d standing with all 4 feet in stalls with less restrictive neck rails. In contrast, cows averaged just 1 ± 3 min/d when the neck rail was positioned restrictively. Cows spent less time standing with only the front 2 feet in the stall with less restrictive neck rails (33 vs. 49 ± 6 min/d). Gait scores improved when cows were kept in the less restrictive stalls and worsened when cows were kept in pens with the restrictive neck rail (median score 2.5 vs. 3.5 after 5 wk on treatment). Of 13 new cases of lame-ness, 11 occurred in pens with the restrictive neck-rail position. Similarly, of the 16 new cases of sole lesions, 15 occurred during the period when cows were housed in pens with a restrictive neck rail. Stalls with the neck rail positioned less restrictively had higher contamina-tion scores than stalls with the restrictive neck rails (3.7 vs. 0.4 ± 0.2), and cows using those stalls had dirtier udders and longer teat-cleaning times (8.3 vs. 7.0 ± 0.2 min for 12 cows). This study provides the first experimental evidence that aspects of stall design can reduce the risk of lameness and hoof disease. The results illustrated that changes in design that resulted in improvements in cow comfort and hoof health came at the expense of cow and stall cleanliness

Diabetic autonomic neuropathy: evidence for apoptosis in situ in the rat

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75065/1/j.1365-2982.2004.00524.x.pd

Effect of floor type on the performance, physiological and behavioural responses of finishing beef steers

peer-reviewedBackground:The study objective was to investigate the effect of bare concrete slats (Control), two types of mats [(Easyfix mats (mat 1) and Irish Custom Extruder mats (mat 2)] fitted on top of concrete slats, and wood-chip to simulate deep bedding (wood-chip placed on top of a plastic membrane overlying the concrete slats) on performance, physiological and behavioral responses of finishing beef steers. One-hundred and forty-four finishing steers (503 kg; standard deviation 51.8 kg) were randomly assigned according to their breed (124 Continental cross and 20 Holstein–Friesian) and body weight to one of four treatments for 148 days. All steers were subjected to the same weighing, blood sampling (jugular venipuncture), dirt and hoof scoring pre study (day 0) and on days 23, 45, 65, 86, 107, 128 and 148 of the study. Cameras were fitted over each pen for 72 h recording over five periods and subsequent 10 min sampling scans were analysed. Results: Live weight gain and carcass characteristics were similar among treatments. The number of lesions on the hooves of the animals was greater (P < 0.05) on mats 1 and 2 and wood-chip treatments compared with the animals on the slats. Dirt scores were similar for the mat and slat treatments while the wood-chip treatment had greater dirt scores. Animals housed on either slats or wood-chip had similar lying times. The percent of animals lying was greater for animals housed on mat 1 and mat 2 compared with those housed on concrete slats and wood chips. Physiological variables showed no significant difference among treatments. Conclusions: In this exploratory study, the performance or welfare of steers was not adversely affected by slats, differing mat types or wood-chip as underfoot material

Adaptation of Ritchie's Method for Parasites Diagnosing with Minimization of Chemical Products

Latin America, Africa, and Asia present wide dissemination and high prevalence rates of waterborne parasitic diseases, which is a strong indicative of the fragility of public sanitation systems. In this context, parasitological analyses represent extremely relevant instruments. Several parasite diagnosis methods exist, among which Ritchie’s method (1948) stands out. This method uses formaldehyde and ether, two reagents of toxicological importance that can cause damages to environmental and occupational health. The present study aimed to compare Ritchie’s method modified by Régis Anécimo, without use of solvents, with the traditional Ritchie’s method, routinely used for helminth and protozoa diagnosing in Brazil. Some changes were introduced in the modified method, such as controlled increase of water temperature used after stool dilution and substitution of formaldehyde and ether by a neutral detergent before material centrifugation for observation of parasites. In examined samples by both methods, multiple infections were commonly observed; the modified method presented a similar sensitivity to identify the parasites. The development of analytic diagnosis methods that minimize the use of chemical products like ether and formaldehyde represents an important tool to prevent occupational diseases among exposed professionals, as well as to preserve environmental quality through the use of clean techniques