Mussel shells as a combined occupational- and Ca source in floor kept laying hens

In order to improve the occupation rate in laying hens held in a single tier floor system, mussel shells (particle size 10-20 mm) were supplied in the litter on every day basis. However, this procedure did not result in any affect on birds’ feather cover, novel object reactions, nor other welfare parameters or production performance. In the present study, it was not possible to partly replace calcium supplementation in the diet with the access to crushed mussel shells. This reduced calcium supplementation in the feed resulted in significantly higher rates of keel bone deviations, lower shell breaking strength and lower dry matter content of feces and litter

Plumage colour and feather pecking in laying hens, a chicken perspective?

International audience1. This study investigated whether feather damage due to feather pecking and bird behaviour were influenced by plumage colour in Oakham Blue laying hens (black, white, grey colour variants). The reflectance properties of feathers and spectral composition of light environments experienced by the hens were also examined. 2. 979 birds were inspected and scored for feather damage. 10.5 hours of video recordings were examined to record feather pecking and bird behaviour. Feathers and light environments were measured using a USB-2000 spectrometer and DH-2000-CAL-DTH lamp. 3. Oakham Blue birds with white plumage had less feather damage due to feather pecking than black or grey birds. There was more severe feather pecking in the mornings than in the afternoon and white birds severe feather pecked more than black or grey birds, although there were no other behavioural differences between plumage colours. White feathers reflected at a higher intensity than black or grey feathers. However, black and grey feather spectra were relatively flat and the contribution of UV wavelengths to plumage reflection was proportionally greater than that for white feathers. Light intensity inside a poultry house was 100 x (UW/cm2/nm) less than on the range and there was low or no UV reflectance. 4. Under the dim, artificial lights inside a poultry house, Oakham Blue hens with black and grey feathers may be less visible to conspecifics than white birds because their plumage reflects at a lower intensity. Furthermore, the lack of available UV light inside versus outside and the higher contribution of UV reflectance to black and grey plumage, may make black and grey birds appear more different inside the house than white birds. It is possible that this novel/unusual appearance may make black or grey Oakham Blue hens more susceptible to feather pecking

Integument, mortality, and skeletal strength in extended production cycles for laying hens - effects of genotype and dietary zinc source

1. This study on long-life layers, covering the period 20-100 weeks of age, investigated longitudinal effects on mortality, layer integument, and skeletal properties in Bovans White (BoW) and Lohmann Selected Leghorn Classic (LSL), with or without supplementation with dietary organic zinc (Zn). 2. Two experiments, using 1440 layers in furnished small group cages (FC) and 1836 layers in a traditional floor housing system (Floor), were run in parallel. Each replicate consisted of five adjacent cages containing eight hens in each FC, or a pen with 102 layers in the Floor group. 3. Mortality was recorded daily. Integument and keel bone condition were scored at 35, 55, 85, and 100 weeks of age on 20% of the layers. Tibial strength was recorded from 933 layers at 100 weeks. Statistical analyses were performed on replicate means, with four to five and nine replicates per combination of hybrid and diet in Floor and FC groups, respectively. 4. Cumulative mortality was 9.6% and 16.3% in FC and Floor, respectively, and increased in the latter part of the production cycle, particularly in the Floor group. 5. In FC, LSL had inferior feather cover, less keel bone deviation, and shorter claws than BoW. In Floor, LSL had superior feather cover, less severe vent wounds, more bumble foot, and cleaner plumage than BoW. In both production systems, claws grew longer and keel bone deviation became more severe with age. 6. In FC, layers fed organic Zn had lower body weight and less keel bone deviation at 100 weeks of age. 7. In conclusion, keel bone integrity, claw length, and mortality rate are potential threats to welfare in long-life layers. Feather pecking is a problem that needs addressing at an early stage in the production period. On the whole, organic Zn did not improve welfare conditions in long-life layers

SPECIATION FEATURES OF GOLD IN ORES AND MINERALS OF THE NATALKINSKOE DEPOSIT (NORTH-EAST RUSSIA)

The distribution and speciation features of gold in ores and minerals of the Natalkinskoe gold deposit (North-East Russia) are studied using light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX), X-ray electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), "phase" chemical analysis with atomic absorption spectrometry (PCA-AAS) and atomic absorption spectrometry with analytical data selections for single crystals (AAS-ADSSC). The vein and streaky-vein ores are high-grade ores, whereas veinlet-disseminated ores are less rich and disseminated ores are poor in gold. Up to 85 % of the gold in the ores is in a free native state, associated with quartz and sulfide minerals. LM, SEM-EDX and EPMA reveal that the predominant gold grains are 0.01 to 2.00 mm in size and at a fineness of 720 to 900 ‰. The finely dispersed and submicron elemental gold particles (Au0) amounted to 20 % and are mainly enclosed into arsenopyrite and pyrite. According to PCA-AAS data, the highest Au concentrations (up to 1383 ppm) are recorded in arsenopyrite; lower contents are typical of pyrite (up to 158.2 ppm). In these sulfides, two non-mineral species of "invisible" Au are the structurally bound and surface-bound species recognized by AAS-ADSSC. The structural Au is included in the mineral structure. The surface-bounded Au prevails and is confined to nano-sized, non-autonomous phases (NAPs) on the sulfide surface. In common with "invisible" Au, the micro-sized particles of native gold are often observed on the surface and within the surface layers of sulfide crystals. This is consistent with the model of post-growth transformations of nano-sized NAPs, resulting in the formation of nano and micro-sized Au0 particles. It is expected that the major part of gold contained in arsenopyrite and pyrite as finely dispersed and submicron particles, as well as the surface-bound gold in NAPs, can be won with modified current schemes of gold concentration, which enhances the value of the gold ore mining

The Definition, Current Knowledge and Implementation of Welfare for Farm Animals--A Personal View

Being humane to farm animals (welfare) must include (1) having a sound knowledge of their normal and anomalous behavior responses in a farm context and heeding this in a practical way and (2) adopting handling procedures which elicit minimal distress in the species concerned. Building up an ethogram of predictable responses and recording the patterns of behavior during key events, mating, birth, and care of the young are essential. There are still gaps in the recorded ethograms offarm animals. Objective measurements of distress, including an index of its seriousness, are also a priority. The results from animal preference tests can provide some answers on which to base practical husbandry in the areas of housing design, optimal temperatures, the need for companions, factors which elicit aggression, acceptable feeds, and species\u27 sensory capacities. Handling preference tests could also be undertaken. Overcoming inertia is a problem for both the owners and the animals if changes are to be made within established systems of production. Gross cruelty can be countered by legislation, but the motivation for ongoing good welfare of farmed animals must come from within the workers/owners on the site. Trying to force it by legislation may be counter-productive. A five-point program for promoting practical animal welfare is outlined

ФОРМЫ НАХОЖДЕНИЯ ЗОЛОТА В РУДАХ И МИНЕРАЛАХ НАТАЛКИНСКОГО МЕСТОРОЖДЕНИЯ (СЕВЕРО-ВОСТОК РОССИИ)

The distribution and speciation features of gold in ores and minerals of the Natalkinskoe gold deposit (North-East Russia) are studied using light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX), X-ray electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), "phase" chemical analysis with atomic absorption spectrometry (PCA-AAS) and atomic absorption spectrometry with analytical data selections for single crystals (AAS-ADSSC). The vein and streaky-vein ores are high-grade ores, whereas veinlet-disseminated ores are less rich and disseminated ores are poor in gold. Up to 85 % of the gold in the ores is in a free native state, associated with quartz and sulfide minerals. LM, SEM-EDX and EPMA reveal that the predominant gold grains are 0.01 to 2.00 mm in size and at a fineness of 720 to 900 ‰. The finely dispersed and submicron elemental gold particles (Au0) amounted to 20 % and are mainly enclosed into arsenopyrite and pyrite. According to PCA-AAS data, the highest Au concentrations (up to 1383 ppm) are recorded in arsenopyrite; lower contents are typical of pyrite (up to 158.2 ppm). In these sulfides, two non-mineral species of "invisible" Au are the structurally bound and surface-bound species recognized by AAS-ADSSC. The structural Au is included in the mineral structure. The surface-bounded Au prevails and is confined to nano-sized, non-autonomous phases (NAPs) on the sulfide surface. In common with "invisible" Au, the micro-sized particles of native gold are often observed on the surface and within the surface layers of sulfide crystals. This is consistent with the model of post-growth transformations of nano-sized NAPs, resulting in the formation of nano and micro-sized Au0 particles. It is expected that the major part of gold contained in arsenopyrite and pyrite as finely dispersed and submicron particles, as well as the surface-bound gold in NAPs, can be won with modified current schemes of gold concentration, which enhances the value of the gold ore mining.С помощью оптической микроскопии (ОМ), сканирующей электронной микроскопии с энергодисперсионной спектрометрией (СЭМ-ЭДС), рентгеноспектрального микроанализа (РСМА), фазового химического анализа на основе атомно-абсорбционной спектрометрии (ФХА-ААС) и метода статистических выборок аналитических данных для монокристаллов с применением ААС (СВАДМ-ААС) проведено изучение особенностей распределения и форм нахождения (ФН) Au в рудах и минералах Наталкинского золоторудного месторождения (северо-восток России). К наиболее «богатым» здесь относят жильные и прожилково-жильные руды, к менее «богатым» – прожилково-вкрапленные, к «бедным» – вкрапленные. До 80–85 % Au в руде находится в свободном самородном состоянии в ассоциации с кварцем и сульфидными минералами. По данным ОМ, СЭМ-ЭДС и РСМА преобладают золотины размером 0.01–2.00 мм и пробностью 720–900 ‰. До 15–20 % приходится на долю тонкодисперсных и субмикронных частиц элементного золота (Au0), большая часть которых заключена в арсенопирите и пирите. По данным ФХА-ААС самые высокие концентрации Au отмечены в арсенопирите (до 1383 г/т), менее высокие – в пирите (до 158.2 г/т). С помощью метода СВАДМ-ААС в этих сульфидах установлены две неминеральные ФН «невидимого» Au – структурная и поверхностно-связанная. Первая входит в структуру минералов, вторая, преобладающая, приурочена к наноразмерным неавтономным фазам (НФ) на их поверхности. Наряду с «невидимым» Au часто на поверхности и в поверхностном слое сульфидов развиты микровключения самородного Au, что согласуется с моделью постростовых преобразований наноразмерных НФ, приводящих к возникновению нано- и микрочастиц Au0. Предполагается, что большую часть золота, находящегося в сульфидах в виде тонкодисперсных и субмикронных частиц, а также поверхностно-связанного золота в НФ можно извлечь при доработке уже имеющихся схем обогащения, что повышает ценность добываемого сырья и значительно увеличивает перспективы месторождения

Causes of mortality in laying hens in different housing systems in 2001 to 2004

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The husbandry systems for laying hens were changed in Sweden during the years 2001 – 2004, and an increase in the number of submissions for necropsy from laying hen farms was noted. Hence, this study was initiated to compare causes of mortality in different housing systems for commercial laying hens during this change.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Based on results from routine necropsies of 914 laying hens performed at the National Veterinary Institute (SVA) in Uppsala, Sweden between 2001 and 2004, a retrospective study on the occurrence of diseases and cannibalism, i.e., pecking leading to mortality, in different housing systems was carried out. Using the number of disease outbreaks in caged flocks as the baseline, the expected number of flocks with a certain category of disease in the other housing systems was estimated having regard to the total number of birds in the population. Whether the actual number of flocks significantly exceeded the expected number was determined using a Poisson distribution for the variance of the baseline number, a continuity correction and the exact value for the Poisson distribution function in Excel 2000.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Common causes of mortality in necropsied laying hens included colibacillosis, erysipelas, coccidiosis, red mite infestation, lymphoid leukosis and cannibalism. Less common diagnoses were Newcastle Disease, pasteurellosis and botulism. Considering the size of the populations in the different housing systems, a larger proportion of laying hens than expected was submitted for necropsy from litter-based systems and free range production compared to hens in cages (<it>P </it>< 0.001). The study showed a significantly higher occurrence of bacterial and parasitic diseases and cannibalism in laying hens kept in litter-based housing systems and free-range systems than in hens kept in cages (<it>P </it>< 0.001). The occurrence of viral diseases was significantly higher in indoor litter-based housing systems than in cages (<it>P </it>< 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results of the present study indicated that during 2001–2004 laying hens housed in litter-based housing systems, with or without access to outdoor areas, were at higher risk of infectious diseases and cannibalistic behaviour compared to laying hens in cages. Future research should focus on finding suitable prophylactic measures, including efficient biosecurity routines, to reduce the risk of infectious diseases and cannibalism in litter-based housing systems for laying hens.</p