Study on Identification of Selection Indices for a Single Character to Increase Meat Production in a Population of Ropsa Carp

AbstractIn the context of ensuring bio resources for future generations, scientific research of carp culture have shown that it can realize high meat production, if it respects certain conditions of race performance and the growth medium. The genetic improvement objective is to increase meat production, based on maximizing meat production per female of breeding stock. Estimation of genetic progress using the character selection requires the use of selection indices. The study consists in identifications of the selection indices of some morphological traits which can lead to maximizing the meat production in a population of Ropsa carp. In the structure of selection index was measured the characters on live animal: weight (W), body depth (BD) and standard length (SL). The biologic material was represented by 50 individuals of Ropsa carp from 5 families, each family consisting of a mother and two fathers. Individuals were reared intensively in the same environmental conditions, since juvenile stage until the age of three summers. For each selection index was determined line vector of partial regression coefficients and the hierarchy was based on the accuracy of genetic evaluation and genetic progress provided by each variant. After calculating indices for each character considered, it was found that selection to maximize meat production of Ropsa carp population can be done on the basis of selection for live weight character (selection accuracy is 52.22%). This provides a genetic gain of 60.6318 grams for live weight. By transformation of morphological traits of individuals in the population of cyprinids can increase the quantity of meat/individual and contribute to sustainable aquaculture development and traceability

Promoting Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine through the online resource ‘EBVM Learning’: User feedback

‘EBVM Learning’ is a freely available resource created in 2015 by an international team with the support of RCVS Knowledge. The resource comprises a series of online modules teaching the fundamental concepts of evidence-based veterinary medicine (EBVM) (Ask, Acquire, Appraise, Apply & Assess) supported by case studies, exercises, worked examples and quizzes. The aim of the current study (undertaken in 2019) was to review ‘EBVM Learning’ to ensure its ongoing relevance and usefulness to the range of learners engaged in EBVM. Feedback was gathered from stakeholder groups using website statistics and feedback forms, a survey and semi-structured interviews to provide a combination of quantitative and qualitative data.Website statistics revealed an international audience and a steady increase in visitors exceeding 1,000 per month in August 2020. Feedback via the online form (n=35) and survey (n=71) indicated that the resource was well structured, with an appropriate level and amount of content, useful examples and quizzes and the majority of respondents would use it again. Semi-structured interviews of educators (n=5) and veterinarians (n=8) identified three themes: features of the ‘EBVM Learning’ resource (strengths, suggestions for improvement), embedding the resource in education (undergraduate, postgraduate) and promoting EBVM (challenges, motivation for engagement). At a project team workshop the results were used to plan updates to the existing content and to identify new ways to promote learning and engagement. An updated version of ‘EBVM Learning’ was developed.‘EBVM Learning’ is helping to produce the next generation of evidence-based practitioners and enabling to engage in the concepts of EBVM as part of their clinical practice

The Role of Veterinary Education in Fostering Aquaculture Development

AbstractAquaculture is one of the most promising food producing industries, from both socio-economic and food security perspectives. It is developing fast and, unless there is a well thought-out strategy aimed at supporting this trend, errors can be made when dealing with aquatic animal disease outbreaks. Apart from establishing legislation and policies to assist countries/regions in implementing biosecurity measures, the strategy should focus also upon fostering adequate veterinary education, so that the “day-one” graduate to have a reliable level of understanding of/performance in the aquaculture sector. Veterinary schools, particularly those within countries which rely upon aquaculture as one of the national food producing industries, should be encouraged to include aquatic veterinary disciplines within their curriculum. Through special designed veterinary curriculums, there would be available more veterinarians specialised on aquaculture to serve the needs of stakeholders and to help ensuring regional food security

An Integrative Approach to Healthy Social-Ecological System to Support Increased Resilience of Resource Management in Food-Producing Systems

The study addresses health-associated risks and health indicators required for the framing of Social-Ecological System Health (SESH) in aquaculture food-producing systems. The advantages of using a healthy Social-Ecological System (SES) are highlighted, to aid in the development of a new ecological system fostering the sustainability of aquatic ecosystems. The study used statistic modelling of some human infections with Cryptosporidium spp. and Cyclospora spp., used to obtain an estimate of the costs of zoonoses to health systems, and the outcomes of an epidemiological study involving the Eustrongylides spp. in fish. The study indicated that parasitic zoonoses have an important economic impact on health systems, environment and society at large. Holistic approaches to health, addressing all relevant actors are required to mitigate these impacts. To address the risk of eustrongylides and other fish-, and water-borne zoonoses, the development of new social-ecological system health should be constructed. For aquaculture production, such systems must include a biosecurity plan co-developed and negotiated by all relevant stakeholders. While the system’s feasibility is yet to be validated, regular revision of such systems’ functioning and outputs is an important premise to make them operational

An Integrative Approach to Healthy Social-Ecological System to Support Increased Resilience of Resource Management in Food-Producing Systems

The study addresses health-associated risks and health indicators required for the framing of Social-Ecological System Health (SESH) in aquaculture food-producing systems. The advantages of using a healthy Social-Ecological System (SES) are highlighted, to aid in the development of a new ecological system fostering the sustainability of aquatic ecosystems. The study used statistic modelling of some human infections with Cryptosporidium spp. and Cyclospora spp., used to obtain an estimate of the costs of zoonoses to health systems, and the outcomes of an epidemiological study involving the Eustrongylides spp. in fish. The study indicated that parasitic zoonoses have an important economic impact on health systems, environment and society at large. Holistic approaches to health, addressing all relevant actors are required to mitigate these impacts. To address the risk of eustrongylides and other fish-, and water-borne zoonoses, the development of new social-ecological system health should be constructed. For aquaculture production, such systems must include a biosecurity plan co-developed and negotiated by all relevant stakeholders. While the system’s feasibility is yet to be validated, regular revision of such systems’ functioning and outputs is an important premise to make them operational