Are combi parks just as useful as regular parks for fatteners for part-time group housing of rabbit does?

[EN] Group housing of lactating rabbit does is desirable from a welfare standpoint, but agonistic behaviour can cause severe skin injuries, which are undesired for animal welfare. Park layout, creating hiding places and escape possibilities, may help redirect attention away from fighting, which could in turn help prevent skin damage. An experiment was performed to test whether more damaging behaviour would occur in a combi park (with nest box panels) after mixing, compared to a regular park for fatteners, as nest box panels would obstruct does when escaping aggressive interactions. In addition, the position of the PVC pipe underneath the platform differed between parks (longitudinal or transversal), resulting in different escape routes. Twenty-two parks were used, in which 5 does per park were grouped at 23 d of lactation until weaning at 36 d of lactation. Skin injuries were scored at 4 d after grouping and on the day before weaning. The presence of nest box panels in a combi park and the position of the PVC pipe underneath the platform did not affect the level of skin damage. Moderate to severe injuries were observed, mostly at the hind quarters, ears and head. Five to 6% of the does were severely injured (wounds). There was a positive relationship between the average skin injury per park at 4 d after grouping and at weaning. On average, average injury score per park increased from grouping to weaning, but there are differences between individual parks. From this experiment it can be concluded that group housing of lactating rabbit does involves animals getting injured. In fact, 5 to 6% of the does were severely injured (wounds). Social dynamics of group housed does are insufficiently understood and might be important to reduce damaging behaviour in group housing.This study was financed by the PPS “Duurzame konijnenhouderij” (TKI-AF-15234) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs. We thank Mr and Mrs Slegh, at whose farm the experiment was conducted. Without their help this experiment would not have been possible.Rommers, J.; De Greef, KH. (2018). Are combi parks just as useful as regular parks for fatteners for part-time group housing of rabbit does?. World Rabbit Science. 26(4):299-305. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2018.9587SWORD299305264Andrist C.A., Bigler L.M., Würbel H., Roth B.A. 2012. Effects of group stability on aggression, stress and injuries in breeding rabbits. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 142: 182-188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2012.10.017Andrist C.A., Borne van den H.P., Bigler L.M., Buchwalder T., Roth B.A. 2013. Epidemiologic survey in Swiss grouphoused breeding rabbits. Extend of lesions and potential risk factors. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 108: 218-224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2012.07.015Buijs S., Vangeyte J., Tuyttens F.A.M. 2016. Effects of communal rearing and group size on breeding rabbits'post-grouping behaviour and its relation to anogenital distance. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 182: 53-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2016.06.005Greef de K.H., Rommers J.M., Lavrijsen S. 2016. Market and society driven innovations in the Dutch Rabbit production system. In Proc.: 11th World Rabbit Congress, Qingdao (China) June 15-18, 953-956.Hoy S., Verga M. 2006. Welfare indicators. In: Recent Advances in Rabbit Sciences, L. Maertens and P. Coudert (eds). Melle: ILVO, pp 71-74.Kalle, G. 1994. Kaninchen in Gruppenhaltung. DGS, 25, 16-20.Maertens L., Buijs S. 2016. Impact of housing system (cage vs. part-time housing) and floor type on rabbit doe welfare. In: Proceedings of 11th World Rabbit Congress, Qingdao (China), 707-710.Matics Zs., Sendrö Zs., Radnai I., Farkas T.P., Kasza R. et al. 2017. ANIWA- Experimental results at Kapsvár Univeristy. In: Proc. 20th International Symposium on Housing and Diseases of Rabbits, Fur providing animals and Pet animals. Celle, 17-18 March 2017, 27-36.Rommers, J.M., de Jong, I.C. 2005. De haalbaarheid van groepshuisvesting voor voedsters in de praktijk. ASG rapport ASG 05/102047. Wageningen UR Livestock Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands.Rommers, J.M., de Jong, I.C. 2010. Haltung von Häsinnen: Gruppen- und Einzelnhaltung kombiniert. DGS Magazin, 22, 55-58.Rommers J., Gunnink H., Klop A., de Jong I. 2011. Dynamics in aggressive behaviour of rabbit does in a group housing system: a descriptive study. In Proc.: 17th International Symposium on Housing and Diseases of Rabbits, Furproviding Animals and Pet animals, 11-12 May, Celle, 75-85.Rommers J.M., Reuvekamp B.F.J., Gunnink H., de Jong I.C. 2013. Effect of different hiding places on aggression among does in a group-housing system: a pilot. In Proc.: of 18th International Symposium on Housing and Diseases of Rabbits, Furproviding Animals and Pet animals, 22-23 May, Celle, 59-68.Rommers J.M., Reuvekamp B.J.F., Gunnink H., de Jong, I.C. 2014. Effect of hiding places, straw and territory on aggression in group-housed rabbit does. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.,157: 117- 126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2014.05.011Rommers, J.M., de Jong, I.C., Reuvekamp, B., de Greef, K.H. 2014b. Onderzoek naar groepshuisvesting van voedsters in parken binnen de PPS duurzame konijnenhouderij. Rapport 749, Wageningen UR Livestock Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands.Rommers J., de Greef K. 2017. Towards part-time group housing of lactating rabbit does? In Proc.: 20th International Symposium on Housing and Diseases of Rabbits, Fur providing animals and Pet animals. Celle, 17-18 March 2017, 3-13.Rommers J., de Greef K. 2018. Zijn combi-parken even geschikt als parken voor parttime groepshuisvesting van voedsters? KonijnenWijzer, in press.Szendrő, Z., McNitt, J., Matics, Z., Mikó, A., Gerencsér, Z. 2016. Alternative and enriched housing systems for breeding does: a review. World Rabbit Sci., 24, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2016.3801Vastrade F.M. 1987. Spacing behaviour of free-ranging domestic rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus L. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 18: 185-195. https://d oi.org/10.1016/0168-1591(87)90192-4Zomeño C., Birolo M., Zuffellatro A., Xiccato G., Trocino A. 2017. Aggressiveness in group-housed rabbit does: Influence of group size and pen characteristics. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 194: 79-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2017.05.01

A clear definition of nocturnal leg cramps is essential for comparability of research

In 2012, our randomised trial demonstrated that stretching before sleep reduces the frequency and severity of nocturnal leg cramps in older adults.1 These episodic cramp attacks are characteristic: painful, sustained, involuntary muscle contractions of the calf muscles, hamstrings or feet. The sharp and intense pain may last from seconds to several minutes, accompanied by firm and tender muscles, and in some cases, with plantar flexion of feet and toes.2–5 In his letter, Garrison argues that prophylactic stretching is unlikely to prevent nocturnal leg cramps

Breeding for improved welfare in pigs: a conceptual framework and its use in practice

Welfare of animals can be defined as the kind of feelings the environmental conditions bring about in the animals. These feelings depend on the needs of the animals and their degree of satisfaction. Needs of animals, and so their welfare, are partly genetically determined. Therefore, welfare can be changed by breeding. The aim of this study was to investigate how welfare of pigs under modern intensive farm conditions can be improved by genetic selection, with emphasis on the precise definition of the breeding goal and determination of the animal characteristics on which selection can be based in practice. The existing thermoregulation model was used to develop a conceptual framework that describes welfare of growing pigs and production sows with respect to each of their needs as a curvilinear function of the respective environmental conditions. The framework assumes that welfare in terms of feelings is reflected by the physiological and behavioural mechanisms the pig has to activate in order to cope with the various environmental conditions it encounters. Based on those physiological and behavioural responses to changing conditions, five welfare zones can be distinguished for each need. Breeding goals for welfare were defined in terms of the transition points between these welfare zones, such that future pigs would better cope with unfavourable or unfamiliar farming conditions, therewith quickening the domestication process, to some extent. However, as long as genetic parameters for these transition points are not available, more common welfare-related characteristics like temperament, stress resistance and robustness can be included in the breeding goal, as an alternative. For selection among potential breeding candidates, transition points between welfare zones can be determined in sib tests, thereby also collecting the data for estimating genetic parameters. As a cheaper alternative, breeding candidates could be tested under hard conditions and selected on their coping success. In addition, various behavioural tests and operant conditioning tests ( to test a pig's motivation to change its actual environment) can be carried out. Under common conditions on the farm, problems associated with coping (like incidences of diseases, injuries, and stereotypies) and/or other relevant traits ( e. g. saliva cortisol levels, longevity and even production traits) should be recorded routinely and used as selection index information. Selection for improved welfare should lead to more tolerant pigs that are better able to cope with possible unfavourable farm conditions by a more efficient use of the adaptation mechanisms they already possess. It should, however, not result in lowering husbandry standards. More research is needed to assess genetic correlations among various welfare aspects and with production traits to prevent undesired side effects in future populations of pigs

Short- and long-term effects of a physical activity counselling programme in COPD:A randomized controlled trial

SummaryBackgroundWe were interested in the effects of a physical activity (PA) counselling programme in three groups of COPD patients from general practice (primary care), outpatient clinic (secondary care) and pulmonary rehabilitation (PR).MethodsIn this randomized controlled trial 155 COPD patients, 102 males, median (IQR) age 62 (54–69) y, FEV1predicted 60 (40–75) % were assigned to a 12-weeks' physical activity counselling programme or usual care. Physical activity (pedometer (Yamax SW200) and metabolic equivalents), exercise capacity (6-min walking distance) and quality of life (Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire and Clinical COPD Questionnaire) were assessed at baseline, after three and 15 months.ResultsA significant difference between the counselling and usual care group in daily steps (803 steps, p = 0.001) and daily physical activity (2214 steps + equivalents, p = 0.001)) from 0 to 3 months was found in the total group, as well as in the outpatient (1816 steps, 2616 steps + equivalents, both p = 0.007) and PR (758 steps, 2151 steps + equivalents, both p = 0.03) subgroups. From 0 to 15 months no differences were found in physical activity. However, when patients with baseline physical activity>10,000 steps per day (n = 8), who are already sufficiently active, were excluded, a significant long-term effect of the counselling programme on daily physical activity existed in the total group (p = 0.02). Differences in exercise capacity and quality of life were found only from 0 to 3 months, in the outpatient subgroup.ConclusionOur PA counselling programme effectively enhances PA level in COPD patients after three months. Sedentary patients at baseline still benefit after 15 months.ClinicalTrials.gov: registration number NCT00614796

The consistency between planned and actually given nursing care in long-terminstitutional care

Continuous information exchange between healthcare professionals is facilitated by individualized care plans. Compliance with the planned care as documented in care plans is important to provide person-centered care which contributes to the continuity of care and quality of care outcomes. Using the Nursing Interventions Classification, this study examined the consistency between documented and actually provided interventions by type of nursing staff with 150 residents in long-term institutional care. The consistency was especially high for basic (93%) and complex (79%) physiological care. To a lesser extent for interventions in the behavioral domain (66%). Except for the safety domain, the probability that documented interventions were provided was high for all domains (≥ 91%, p > 0.05). NAs generally provided the interventions as documented. Findings suggest that HCAs worked beyond there scope of practice. The results may have implications for the deployment of nursing staff and are of importance to managers

Implementation and evaluation of a physical activity counselling programme in primary care among cancer survivors:SoDA study protocol

INTRODUCTION: Physical activity (PA) favourably affects various health outcomes in cancer survivors, but little is known about how to implement a PA programme in primary care. We therefore aim to implement and evaluate such a programme for cancer survivors in general practice. METHODS AND ANALYSES: The Stimulation of Daily Activity study is an implementation study with a single-arm longitudinal design in 15 Dutch general practices. Patients aged ≥18 years who finished cancer treatment more than 6 months ago will be eligible for inclusion. The intervention will comprise six coaching sessions with the practice nurse in 9 months, seeking to increase PA in daily activities and using an activity tracker for goal setting and feedback. The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance framework will be used to evaluate implementation in terms of the health outcomes, extent of implementation and barriers and facilitators to implementation, using a mixed methods approach. Descriptive analyses and linear mixed model analyses will be performed on the quantitative data, while qualitative data from focus groups and interviews will be analysed by thematic analyses. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The Medical Research Ethics Committee of the University Medical Centre Groningen, the Netherlands, concluded that this study was not subject to the Dutch Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act (registration number: 201900586). The study results will be made available to patients and general practitioners via (inter)national publications and conferences, newsletters, public summaries and via (social) media

Hepatic lipase gene expression is transiently induced by gonadotropic hormones in rat ovaries

Hepatic lipase (HL) gene expression was studied in rat ovaries. A transcript lacking exons 1 and 2 could be detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the ovaries of mature cyclic females and of immature rats treated with pregnant mare serum followed by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to induce superovulation. By competitive RT-PCR the HL transcript was quantified. Low levels of HL mRNA were detected in ovaries of mature cyclic females and of immature rats. During superovulation HL mRNA was several fold higher than in mature cyclic rats and transiently increased to a maximum at 2 days after hCG treatment. Pulse-labelling of ovarian cells and ovarian slices with [35S]methionine followed by immunoprecipitation with polyclonal anti-HL IgGs showed de novo synthesis of a 47 kDa HL-related protein. Expression of the protein was transiently induced by gonadotropins with a peak at 2 days after hCG treatment. Induction of liver-type lipase activity occurred only after HL mRNA and synthesis of the HL-related protein had returned to pre-stimulatory levels. We conclude that in rat ovaries the HL gene is expressed into a variant mRNA and a 47 kDa protein. The expression of the HL gene in ovaries is inducible and precedes the expression of the mature, enzymatically active liver-type lipase