Fish Welfare in Urban Aquaponics: Effects of Fertilizer for Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) on Some Physiological Stress Indicators in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.)

The combination of hydroponics and aquaculture, or aquaponics, normally requires adding fertilizer to recirculated water to ensure optimal plant growth, but the effect of that fertilizer on fish welfare has not been studied in detail, especially for small urban and coupled aquaponic systems. In this study, a commercial fertilizer was placed in two small aquaponic systems (less than 250 liters each) to test its effect on the stress levels of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) compared to controls without any fertilizer. Fish production parameters were not significantly different between treatments, nor were physiological indicators of fish stress (plasma cortisol, glucose, and triglycerides). On the other hand, lettuce growth (leaf and root weight and length) was up to three times higher in the treatment that received fertilizer. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Influence of temperament on performance and carcass quality of commercial Brahman steers in a Colombian tropical grazing system

Temperament is defined as individual behavioral responses to potentially fear-eliciting or challenging situations related to human presence and handling. A total of 190 steers of commercial Zebu Brahman (Bos indicus) were used in this study, selected when they were between 10 and 11 months of age, fattened for 24 months (720 days) and slaughtered between 34 and 35 months of age. Using a temperament index (based on two tests: chute and exit score), animals were classified as calm, restless, or nervous. In general, calm animals had a longer carcass, a higher slaughter and fasting weight, and a normal pH24 (<5.7). However, carcass yield was significantly higher in nervous than in restless animals, but did not differ from that of calm steers. It is important to note that these results were obtained under experimental conditions, therefore, effects could have a greater impact on carcass quality under commercial conditions. © 2022 The Author

Effects of alternative bedding substrates on lamb welfare, productive performance, and meat quality during the finishing phase of fattening

The study analyzed the effect of using sawdust, cellulose, straw, and rice husk bedding on the welfare, performance and meat quality of lambs during the finishing phase of fattening. Ninety-six lambs (fed ad libitum with concentrate) were assigned to pens containing 1 of 4 bedding materials in groups of 12 for 14 days. Live weight and feed consumption were recorded to estimate daily gain and conversion index, and carcass and meat quality variables were measured. Stereotypies, exploratory interactions with bedding material, and agonistic and affiliative interactions between animals were recorded by continuous sampling techniques using video recording. The substrates affected behavior and stress response variables. There were more stereotypies and agonistic interactions at the beginning of the experiment in all treatments (P ≤ 0.05). The lambs fattened on cellulose bedding interacted more with the substrate throughout the finishing stage (P ≤ 0.05), where there were also more affiliative interactions (P ≤ 0.05). Stress levels were lower in lambs on straw, followed by cellulose. No significant differences in production or carcass and meat quality traits were observed between treatments. The results suggest that all substrates evaluated could be efficiently incorporated into the system as bedding material without affecting productivity or product quality

Sustentabilidad económica del cultivo de maíz (Zea mays L.) en Acambay, México

Objetivo: evaluar la sustentabilidad económica del cultivo de maíz criollo (Zea mays L.) en Acambay, Estado de México. Diseño/metodología/aproximación: El área de estudio fue el municipio de Acambay, del estado de México. Se aplicó un cuestionario a 50 productores de maíz de los ejidos y comunidades agrarias de la Soledad, Pueblo Nuevo, Loma Linda, Dateje, San Pedro de los Metales, Dongú y Tixmadeje. El cuestionario se basó en el método de Indicadores de Sustentabilidad de Explotaciones Agropecuarias (IDEA). La selección de cada productor encuestado se realizó mediante el muestreo tipo bola de nieve, escogiendo el primer encuestado al azar. Resultados: El valor obtenido para el indicador “viabilidad económica” (C1) fue 1 de 20 puntos, indicando que la ganancia derivada del cultivo de maíz representa un salario mínimo. El indicador “tasa de especialización económica” (C2) obtuvo 0 puntos ya que solo se cultiva maíz, por lo tanto, representa una fuente de ingreso para los productores. En el indicador “autonomía financiera” (C3) el valor promedio obtenido fue 12 explicando que no existe una dependencia marcada en la compra de insumos externos para cultivar maíz. El indicador “sensibilidad a las ayudas del primer pilar de la política agrícola común” (C4) obtuvo 0 en promedio ya que la mayoría de los productores no reciben apoyos gubernamentales para cultivar maíz.&nbsp; Limitaciones del estudio/implicaciones: los resultados presentados son avances de un análisis con más encuestados, por lo tanto, se sugiere tomar con cautela los resultados. Los indicadores “transmisión del capital” (C5) y “eficiencia de los procesos productivos” (C6) no se evaluaron adecuadamente ya que durante la aplicación de las encuestas los productores se negaron a proporcionar información detallada para evaluar estos indicadores. Hallazgos/conclusiones: la sustentabilidad económica calculada para los productores encuestados fue de 13% lo cual es muy baja, esto se debe principalmente a que éstos no siempre cuentan con el acceso a apoyos aplicables a la producción de maíz, otro factor que contribuye a la baja sustentabilidad es que el grano de maíz y los subproductos no se venden debido a bajos precios del mercado, por lo tanto, prefieren sembrar para autoconsumo, o para que los terrenos de cultivo heredados no estén ociosos

Effect of postweaning nadling strategies on welfare and productive traits in lambs

Postweaning management strategies that include an element of social enrichment may reduce weaning stress and improve welfare and productive performance. We analyzed the effect of postweaning handling strategies on welfare and production traits in lambs. After weaning, 36 lambs were assigned to 3 experimental groups with 12 lambs each (control [C], fattening with gentle human female contact [H], and fattening with 2 adult ewes [E]). The average daily gain (ADG) was estimated. Blood samples were taken, and infrared thermography was used to estimate stress variables. There were significant differences among treatments (in favor of alternative strategies) regarding production and stress variables (cortisol, glucose, and creatine kinase). The results suggest that the lambs handled gently during the fattening were less reactive and better able to modulate their physiological stress. The E group adapted better to acute stress than the C group but was less efficient in modulating chronic stress. Both treatments showed higher slaughter live weights and better ADGs compared with the control. The use of social enrichment at weaning, especially to establish a positive human–nonhuman animal bond, alleviates lamb weaning stress and improves welfare and performance

The importance of social behaviour for goat welfare in livestock farming

The domestic goat is a sociable, inquisitive, and intelligent species, which has been used for its meat, milk, skin, and fur since it was first domesticated ca. 10,000 years ago. Although it exhibits a wide range of behaviours, the domesticated goat has been the subject of relatively few behavioural studies. In domestic goats, the opportunity to express certain social behaviours can be limited by captivity and management systems, especially in modern production systems, where goats are reared intensively under high stocking densities, sexual segregation, early separation of kids from their mothers, frequent regrouping, and manipulation during critical periods, including gestation and weaning. To better understand the requirements of this species and to identify possible tools for the detection of early modifications in natural behaviours that might indicate poor welfare and the establishment of positive human–animal interactions, this review provides a detailed description of goat social behaviour. Practical recommendations arising from observations of goat social behaviour are provided in the conclusions