Infrared thermography as a non-invasive method for evaluating stress in lactating dairy cows during isolation challenges

The overall objective of the current data report was to evaluate and test the feasibility of using infrared thermography (IRT) as a non-invasive method for measuring stress signs in lactating dairy cows during short negative challenges, such as visual isolation from herd-mates. The study was carried out at the Experimental Farm of the Research and Development Institute for Bovine Romania, on 20 Holstein-Friesian lactating multiparous dairy cows, between August and September 2022. Cows were housed in two identical tied stanchion barns (170/85 cm), and were isolated individually from the herd for 240 min post-morning milking. Our results shown significant (p ≤ 0.05) rises for both orbital and nasal IRT temperatures following the isolation challenge, suggesting that such approaches could represent adequate tools for assessing social stress in cattle. Overall, current results are in accordance with previous studies which validated both eye and nasal regions as IRT thermal windows for studying the effects of painful and negative contexts on stress response in farmed ruminants, while considering the stress-induced hyperthermia as an integral part of the physiological response to negative stimuli, as well as the current limitations that this tool faces

Nigella Sativa and Oriental Spices with Protective Role in Iron Intoxication: in vivo Experiments on Rabbits

Homeostasis of hematological parameters is essential for assuring a general health status for any living organism. Iron is one of the essential mineral, involved in many vital processes - mainly in blood cells production, but in the same way it can become toxic in very high concentration. Hemoglobin and red blood cells are directed related with the iron ion, due to the high quantity (70%) of total iron from organism being part of the blood (hemoglobin) and muscle (myoglobin) cells. Ferrous ion is part of hemoglobin structure, and red blood cells. But, the administration of high doses of iron can negatively affect the general health status, because the iron alters the enzymatic system in the vital organs. The aim of our experimental study was to verify the hypothesis that in rabbit’s organism, after intraperitoneal administration of 15g Fe2+/body weight as ferrous-gluconate hydro solution, a special diet based on a complex, fresh, organic vegetables (roots and leaves) protects the organism by iron intoxication and help the hematological homeostasis. The research experiment was conducted during 43 days in summer time, on German Lop Eared breed young rabbits, which were protected with a diet that consisted of administration of Nigella sativa, some oriental spices (Allium ampeloprasum, Allium tuberosum, Coriandrum sativum, Eruca sativa, Cucumis sativus, Raphanus sativus, Trigonella foenum-graecum) and other vegetables (Trifolium, Petroselinum crispum, Dacus carrota subsp.sativus and Cucumis sativus). At the final of experiment we collected blood samples for hematological test and we evaluated the erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and red cell distribution width. The results were analytical evaluated and only for hemoglobin we obtained significant increase value in experimental rabbits compared to control group of rabbits

BovineTalk: machine learning for vocalization analysis of dairy cattle under the negative affective state of isolation

There is a critical need to develop and validate non-invasive animal-based indicators of affective states in livestock species, in order to integrate them into on-farm assessment protocols, potentially via the use of precision livestock farming (PLF) tools. One such promising approach is the use of vocal indicators. The acoustic structure of vocalizations and their functions were extensively studied in important livestock species, such as pigs, horses, poultry, and goats, yet cattle remain understudied in this context to date. Cows were shown to produce two types of vocalizations: low-frequency calls (LF), produced with the mouth closed, or partially closed, for close distance contacts, and open mouth emitted high-frequency calls (HF), produced for long-distance communication, with the latter considered to be largely associated with negative affective states. Moreover, cattle vocalizations were shown to contain information on individuality across a wide range of contexts, both negative and positive. Nowadays, dairy cows are facing a series of negative challenges and stressors in a typical production cycle, making vocalizations during negative affective states of special interest for research. One contribution of this study is providing the largest to date pre-processed (clean from noises) dataset of lactating adult multiparous dairy cows during negative affective states induced by visual isolation challenges. Here, we present two computational frameworks—deep learning based and explainable machine learning based, to classify high and low-frequency cattle calls and individual cow voice recognition. Our models in these two frameworks reached 87.2 and 89.4% accuracy for LF and HF classification, with 68.9 and 72.5% accuracy rates for the cow individual identification, respectively

Effects of Using Dorper, Hampshire Down, Bluefaced Leicester and German Blackheaded Rams as Terminal Sires in Extensive Low-Input Production Systems

The current study was conducted to evaluate Dorper, Hampshire Down, Bluefaced Leicester and German Blackheaded breeds as terminal sires in an extensive low-input production system under European temperate conditions, when crossed with native Turcana breed as a maternal genotype. The project breeding herd consisted of 300 multiparous purebred Turcana ewes, managed under extensive low-input production system. Six breeding herds were set-up, with randomly selected ewes (50/group) being exposed to Dorper, Hampshire Down, Bluefaced Leicester, German Blackheaded and Turcana (control group) rams. Lambs birth weight was influenced (p≤0.01) for the F1 Hampshire Down x Turcana and F1 German Blackheaded x Turcana crossbreds, compared to their counterparts. Lamb survival from birth to weaning was the lowest (88.4±3.30%) for the Dorper sired lambs, and the highest (94.0±1.84%) in the Bluefaced Leicester sired lambs (p≤0.01). Hampshire Down and German Blackheaded sired lambs had similar survival rates as the purebreds Turcana lambs (p>0.05). Body weight of lambs at the age of 8 months was significantly higher (p≤0.001) in Dorper (41.3±0.51), Bluefaced Leicester (41.2±0.34) and German Blackheaded (42.4±0.58) sired genotypes, while the Hampshire Down half-breeds (39.3±0.65) had intermediate body weights (p≤0.01) compared to the controls (34.6±0.49) and the better performing genotypes

Comparative Study on Production Efficiency in Native Romanian Carpatina and Banat White Goats

Objective of the current study was to evaluate the milk yield, health, reproductive rate and fitness indicators in two Romanian indigenous goat breeds, selected for milk (Banat White) and unimproved (Carpatina), managed under extensive rearing conditions. Milk yield in Carpatina goats was on average 323.6±1.68 kg/lactation, compared to that of Banat’s White does of 561.4±1.43 kg, differences for milk production under identical rearing conditions being significant (p≤0.001). Prolificacy in the two breeds was significantly influenced by the genotype (p≤0.001), with average litter size of 148.0±0.49% in Carpatina, and 184.8±0.51% in Banat’s White does. Growth rates in the un-weaned kids were on average of 119.8±0.86 g/day in Carpatina and of 134.3±0.76 g/day in Banat’s White breeds (p≤0.05). Adult does annual voluntary culling rate was on average 16.4±1.46 % in Carpatina and of 20.6±1.88% in Banat’s White breed (p≤0.05). Clinical mastitis incidence was significantly lower (p≤0.05) in Carpatina goats (2.88±1.65%) compared to that of Banat White (4.65±2.28%). Significant differences (p≤0.05) for lameness were found between Carpatina and Banat White populations, with occurrence rates of 3.85±1.89% and 5.81±2.54%, respectively. Abortion and pneumonia incidence were not affected (p>0.05) by selection pressure among the two breeds

Comparative study on fitness traits and reproductive efficiency in Turcana and Tsigai ewes

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Preliminary Results Regarding Organic Sheep Meat Consumption in Romania

With a national flock of  10.07 million sheep, Romania currently occupies the 3rd place in the EU (after the UK and Spain) in terms of the sheep numbers. However, only 0.85% (85.419 heads) are being reared in organic production systems. The development of sheep breeding in organic systems is very heavily influenced by the economic factors, but also by the consumer demand for organic products. An empirical study on consumer behavior towards sheep meat produced in organic system was developed in 2016. The aim of the study was to assess the possibility of developing sheep breeding sector in the organic system, in the terms of the consumer’s behavior towards  sheep meat obtained in organic system in order to develop strategies that will lead to sustainable development of the sector. The finding shown that 85% of consumers consider that sheep meat produced in organic farming system is more expensive compared to that produced in the conventional systems. However, 74% of respondents believe that higher prices are justified. The availability of the respondents to pay an additional price for organic sheep product is high, hovering around 77%. Current research highlights the potential production and marketing of sheep from Romania in organic system, which could have a positive impact on overall farm income and on animal welfare