Effects of fish meal replacement by red earthworm (lumbricus rubellus) meal on broilers performance and health

The research was performed to determine the nutritive value of raw earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus) and dried earthworm powder, or earthworm meal (EM). In addition, the effects of a diet in which fish meal was substituted with EM or fresh earthworms on the health and productive performance of broilers were monitored. The experiment, which lasted 42 days, was conducted on one hundred Hybro G broilers divided into four equal groups. The control group was fed a standard feed, whereas, the first and the second one were given diets in which 50% or 100% of fish meal had been substituted with EM. The third experimental group received no fish meal but was given fresh earthworms ad libitum. The results of chemical analyses showed that earthworm meal contained 41.42% proteins (in dry matter) and satisfactory amounts of amino acids. Microbiological examination and tests for heavy metals suggest that earthworm meal and fresh earthworms did not contain heavy metals and harmful bacteria. Therefore, these feeds may be considered suitable for chickens. In the experiment as a whole no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) was observed in the productive performance between the experimental groups of broiler chickens. These results suggest that dehydrated earthworm meal can be an adequate substitute for fish meal in the broilers feed

Cortisol concentration, pain and sedation scale in free roaming dogs treated with carprofen after ovariohysterectomy

Background and Aim: One of the topic issues in animal welfare activities is the free roaming dog welfare especially in developing countries such as Serbia. The way of controlling population of free roaming dogs is their reproduction with the method of Catch-Neuter-Release. This complex process consists of capturing free roaming dogs in public areas, sterilizing, and returning them to the public area from which they were temporarily removed. Ovariohysterectomy present the period with a high intensity of stress reaction since many veterinarians in Serbia do not use analgesia for this group of dogs. The aim of this study was to compare the serum cortisol concentration before and after ovariohysterectomy and the level of post-operative pain and sedation in a group of free roaming female dogs treated with carprofen after surgical intervention and in a group with no treatment. Materials and Methods: The study was performed on a total of 20 female dogs under the program for free roaming dog control. Free-roaming dogs were captured in public areas by the communal animal hygiene service and were transported between 30 and 45 min to the clinic of a veterinary practice. Treatment began at 10:00 h on the next day and the bitches were kept in cages until they were returned to public locations from which they were temporarily removed to be sterilized. The G2 group received before closing the incision line carprofen in one dosage of 4 mg/kg given by subcutaneous injection into the scruff. Rescue protocol with carprofen was provided for G1 after 24 h following ovariohysterectomy same dosage as G2. Blood (2 ml) was collected from the cephalic vein of each dog in disposable plastic syringes, containing heparin (1:1000) 4 times: Before ovariohysterectomy, 30, 120 min and 24 h following ovariohysterectomy. Cortisol concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The multifactorial pain and sedation scale were used for the assessment of pain and sedation. Results: In both groups, the lowest values of serum cortisol concentration were obtained before ovariohysterectomy. Cortisol levels in both groups were significantly higher (p < 0.01) 30 and 120 min after ovariohysterectomy and showed a decreasing trend toward the end of the observation period (24 h). The results obtained 15 and 30 min after the surgical intervention have revealed a statistically significant difference between the groups (p < 0.05) showing that female dogs treated with carprofen had a lower value on the pain scale and a higher value on the sedation scale compared to the group with no treatment. Conclusion: Carprofen provides both a restful consequence of sedation and a rapid return to a more normal physiological and behavioral state in dogs after ovariohysterectomy

Elektrolizirana oksi dirajoča voda-biocid nove generacije

The contemporary cattle farming and food processing industry are fields where more and more attention is drawn to the reliability of controlling in the process of the food production. Ensuring safe food influences the health of people, too. Inappropriate sanitary procedures increase the possibility for microorganisms to develop resistance to disinfectives. Disinfectants are expected to have a wide range of activities on microorganisms, to be instantly effective in low concentrations in the presence of inpurities, not to effect the surfaces they are desinfecting, not to leave any residues and to be non-toxic. The market has a new thing to offer, namely a new generation of biocide from the group of electrolyzed oxidised water (NEOW) which combines a whole range of properties of the ideal biocid due to the activity it has on microorganisms. It has a unique way of working; namely by depriving electrones from prokaryotic cells it causes their destruction and stays harmless to the environment. The advantages that are composed in the NEOW drove us to the decision to test its effects during the food processing in a poultry slaghterhouse. The way of applying the biocide solution was by cold dispersing at 50 per cent concentration and applying it on the surface in the quantity of 10 ml/m2. The success of disinfection was evaluated by swabbing the surfaces of the equipment in the working area and by monitoring the test microorganisms that were exposed to the cold dispersion of the biocid solution. The results show a reliable decrease in the microorganisms after being treated by the cold NEOW dispersion, since no microorganisms were detected after 30 minutes (>l3 CFU/cm2). It was found out that the number of microorganisms can decrease by more than 6,0 log10 CFU/cm2. According to the characteristics of the NEOW and the findings of the experiment, we think that a research should be made also on the field of the cattle farming as well as studying the possibilities of using it in cases of outbreaks of infectious diseases