Development of prevention and treatment strategies for parasites in poultry

Parasitic infections are likely to be more important in organic and other free-range hens than in birds kept indoors. Several workpackages of QLIF aim at improving prevention and therapy of helminth (Ascaridia galli and Heterakis gallinarum) and arthropod (Dermanyssus gallinae) parasites of laying hens. This paper is a summary of the work undertaken in the first 3 years of QLIF

Internationale Projekte rund ums Schaf

Vor kurzem hat das grosse Forschungsprojekt «LowInput-Breeds» zur europäischen «LowInput»- und Biotierhaltung begonnen. Mit diesem Artikel möchten wir zeigen, welche Arbeiten mit Schafen in diesem Projekt geplant sind und wie Forschungsgruppen aus der Schweiz im internationalen Umfeld arbeiten. Die 21 beteiligten Partner aus Europa und Übersee haben sich zum Ziel gesetzt, mit Hilfe von Management- und Zuchtstrategien die Tiergesundheit und die Lebensmittelqualität bei den wichtigsten Nutztierarten zu verbessern. Das Projekt hat ein Gesamtbudget von 9 Millionen Euro. Es läuft bis 2014 und wird vom 7. Forschungsrahmenprogramm der Europäischen Kommission mitfinanziert

Feeding sainfoin to goats – influence on milk and cheese quality and yield

Although the administration of sainfoin is associated with anthelmintic effects, information on the consequences of feeding this legume on product quality is scarce. In the present study we looked at milk quality and yield of goats fed either sainfoin or a non-tanniferous control forage. Twelve lactating goats of the alpine breed were used for the study. They received grass/clover hay for a period of 15 days (grass clover feeding period, GCFP). Then the feed was switched to sainfoin hay (approx. 90 % of daily intake) for another 15 days (sainfoin feeding period, SFP). Both feeds were supplemented with concentrates in order to guarantee isoproteic and isoenergetic feeding throughout the trial. Milk yield and quality (fat, protein, energy and urea) were determined for every goat at day 10 of the respective feeding periods. Furthermore, the milk of the animals from day 4 to 15 of the respective feeding periods (i.e. hay/grass, sainfoin) was transformed to cheese. There was no difference in milk yield between GCFP and SFP (1.54 and 1.37 kg for GCFP and SFP respectively, p=0.17). Sainfoin feeding was associated with a significantly higher (P<0.001) milk protein concentration when compared to grass/clover feeding. Also, compared to GCFP, milk fat content was significantly lower in SFP (p<0.05). Cheese yield was numerically higher for SP when compared to GCP. A sensory panel evaluated the taste of the cheese produced from ‘sainfoin milk’ to be significantly different from cheese produced from ‘grass/clover milk’ (p<0.05). However, both types of cheese were judged to be equally tasty. We conclude that sainfoin feeding to goats has no negative influence on milk yield and has a positive effect on milk protein content

Projets Internationaux Dans Le Secteur ovin

Il y a peu, le grand projet «LowInputBreeds» a été lancé en Europe. Il concerne la garde «Low Input» et la garde biologique d’animaux. Le présent article veut montrer quels travaux concernent les moutons dans ce projet et comment les groupes de recherche suisses travaillent dans le contexte international. Les 21 partenaires d’Europe et d’Outre-mer collaborant à ce projet se sont donnés pour but d’améliorer la santé et le bienêtre des principales espèces d’animaux de rente à l’aide de stratégies de gestion et d’élevage. Le projet est doté d’un budget total de 9 millions d’euros et court jusqu’en 2014. Il est cofinancé par le 7ème programme-cadre de recherche de la Commission européenne

Tanniferous forage plants with anthelmintic properties: the example of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia)

Introduction: Sainfoin is a high-quality condensed tannin containing forage plant. The knowledge about anthelmintic effects against sheep nematodes and about the influence of plant preservation (e.g. ensiling) on the anthelmintic activity is limited. Method: 36 parasite naïve lambs (6 groups of 6 animals each) were infected with H. contortus (7,000 L3) and C. curticei (15,000 L3). From day 28 until day 44 p.i., groups A1, B1 and C1 received fresh, dried or ensiled sainfoin. Groups A2, B2 and C2 served as respective tannin-free controls. Individual faecal egg counts on a dry matter basis (FECDM) were performed every 3-4 days. On day 44, all animals were slaughtered and adult worm populations were determined. Results: The consumption of sainfoin was associated with a reduction of adult H. contortus (35% (P<0.1), 47% (P<0.05) and 49% (P<0.1) for fresh, dried and ensiled sainfoin, respectively) but had little effect on adult C. curticei. Compared to the controls, H. contortus specific FECDM was reduced by 62% (P<0.05), 58% (P<0.01) and 48% (P<0.1) for fresh, dried and ensiled sainfoin. FECDM specific to C. curticei were decreased by sainfoin hay and silage (hay 81% , silage 74%, both tests P<0.001) but were unchanged when fresh sainfoin was administered. Conclusion: For H. contortus the FECDM decrease seemed to be due to a nematocidal effect towards adult H. contortus. In contrast for C. curticei, the reduction in FECDM appeared to be a result of a reduced per capita fecundity. The use of conserved tanniferous fodder offers promising perspectives as a complementary control approach against nematodes in sheep

Effect of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) silage and hay against gastrointestinal nematodes in lambs

The objective of the study was to examine the effect of dried and ensiled sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) against two species of gastrointestinal nematodes (Haemonchus contortus, Cooperia curticei) in lambs. Twenty-four days post experimental infection, 24 lambs were allocated to 4 equal groups. Group A and B received sainfoin silage and control silage respectively for 16 days. Groups C and D were fed on sainfoin hay or control hay for the same period. Feeds were administered ad libitum and mean refusals and live weight were regularly recorded. Individual faecal egg counts (FEC) were performed twice weekly. After the feeding period all lambs were slaughtered for post mortem investigation. The consumption of sainfoin hay was associated with a significant reduction of the adult H. contortus burden by 47 % (P < 0.05) whereas no significant difference was seen when feeding sainfoin silage (49 %, P = 0.112). The C. curticei worm burden was not significantly reduced by either sainfoin hay or silage. At slaughter FEC were significantly reduced by sainfoin hay by 64 % (P < 0.001) compared to the control feed. After feeding sainfoin silage FEC decreased by 48 % (P = 0.056). There was a tendency of better live weight gain in sainfoin hay fed animals compared to the control fed ones (P=0.07). These results demonstrate a nematocidal effect of a tanniferous forage legume against gastrointestinal nema¬¬todes, which was more pronounced against H. contortus. The antiparasitic effects were largely preserved when feeding sainfoin silage, suggesting this conservation procedure to be a valuable alternative to hay

Individual administration of three tanniferous forage plants to lambs artificially infected with Haemonchus contortus and Cooperia curticei

We investigated direct anthelmintic effects associated with the feeding of fresh tanniferous forages against established populations of Haemonchus contortus and Cooperia curticei in lambs. Twenty-four parasite naive lambs were inoculated with a single dose of infective larvae of these two parasites 27 days prior to the start of the feeding experiment. Lambs were individually fed with either chicory (Cichorium intybus), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) or a ryegrass/ lucerne mixture (control) for 17 days. Animals where then united to one flock and subjected to control feeding for another 11 days to test the sustainability of potentially lowered egg excretion generated by tanniferous forage feeding. When compared to the control, administration of all tanniferous forages was associated with significant reductions of total daily faecal egg output specific to H. contortus (chicory: 89%; birdsfoot trefoil: 63%; sainfoin: 63%; all tests P < 0.05) and a tendency of reduced H. contortus worm burden (chicory: 15%; birdsfoot trefoil: 49% and sainfoin: 35% reduction). Irrespective of the condensed tannin (CT) containing fodder, no anthelmintic effects were found against C. curticei. Cessation of CT-feeding followed by non-CT control feeding did not result in a re-emergence of faecal egg counts based on faecal dry matter (FECDM) in any group, suggesting that egg output reductions are sustainable. The moderate to high concentrations of CTs in birdsfoot trefoil (15.2 g CTs kg-1 dry matter (DM)) and sainfoin (26.1 g CTs kg-1 DM) were compatible with the hypothesis that the antiparasitic effect of these forages is caused by their content of CTs. For chicory (3 g CTs kg-1 DM), however, other secondary metabolites need to be considered. Overall, birdsfoot trefoil and in particular sainfoin seem promising candidates in contributing to an integrated control strategy against H. contortus not only by mitigating parasite related health disturbances of the host but also by a sustained reduction of pasture contamination. # 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Run management for organic layers

Layer runs are often bare and loaded with nutrients and with infectious stages of helminths. Various management strategies are recommended in order to better distribute the hens in the run, thereby preventing local accumulation of droppings and related problems. However, little is known about the impact of those strategies. A series of on farm experiments has been performed in order to test the effects of flock size and of artificial structures on the dispersal of the hens in the run. Further studies evaluated the effects of mowing and run size as well as rotational use of runs on turf quality, nutrient load in the soil and on the infection of the hens with internal parasites. As a summary, introducing structures or applying a rotational management scheme improves run use and facilitates mowing, thus improving turf quality in the run in front of the henhouse. However, the expected reduction of helminth infections and nutrient accumulation has not been observed

Kontrolle von Magen-Darm-Strongyliden bei Schafen

In der Schaf- und Ziegenhaltung stellt der Befall mit Magen-Darm-Strongyliden (MDS) einen wesentlichen Problemfaktor für die Tiergesundheit dar. Klinische und subklinische Erkrankungen können von erheblicher wirtschaftlicher Relevanz sein. Eine zunehmende Resistenzentwicklung gegen seit langem eingesetzte Anthelminthika hat derzeit einen intensivierten Einsatz dieser Wirkstoffe zur Folge und verschärft das Problem somit zusätzlich

Investigating Causes of Jitter in Container Networking

Clustered container infrastructures are increasingly popular for deploying applications. The networking in these clusters is provided by specialized container networking solutions that often lead to complex network configurations on the nodes hosting the containers. Thereby, they can have a significant impact on the performance of the applications hosted in the cluster. While the throughput that can be achieved by the container networking solutions is regularly studied, the latency and subsequently jitter introduced by them is often underreported. This thesis investigates the latency and jitter introduced by the packet processing in the Linux kernel using different container networking solutions. This requires very detailed data about the processing of packets, which existing tracing tools for Linux fail to provide. Therefore, a custom tracing application is developed using eBPF that focuses on the flow of packets through the kernel. The application is evaluated and then used to compare the latency and jitter behavior of commonly used container networking solutions. The results show that the choice of transport protocols for real-time applications has a significant impact on the latency introduced by the kernel irrespective of the container networking. Also, some container networking solutions fall short of providing their proclaimed benefits in their default configurations. This highlights the need for performance evaluation in environments representative of the production setting and the need for tuning the configuration of container networking solutions and system resources to match the requirements of real-time use cases. The data also show that there is a need for more lightweight tracing technologies for packet processing