Genomic selection

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Genomic selection is a modern tool used in animal breeding, based on information from tens of thousands of markers associated with genes that influence animal production. The advantage of using the study of DNA or genetic markers is that it is possible to know if an animal has genes in its genome that influence the development of a certain characteristic important for the production or health of the animal. Thus, it is possible to obtain: a significant increase in the selection intensity and of the selection precision; significant decrease in the value of the intergenerational interval, doubling the genetic progress that can be achieved with each generation.

Genomic selection can help breeders identify individuals with higher breeding values as early as possible. Genomic selection or molecular marker-assisted selection also helps us to quickly eliminate pathogenic genes or those that negatively influence economically important traits from the population.

Selection assisted by molecular markers also has the advantage of facilitating the very rapid introduction of an important gene or group of genes into the genome of a population, a procedure called gene introgression in the population, achievable in a maximum of 2-3 generations. An example of the use of introgression may be the bringing of the gene responsible for resistance to certain diseases from a natural donor breed to a breed with very good production.

Castration of beef calves

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The purpose of castrating calves is to reduce the production of male hormones so that males become calmer. The implications of castrating calves for meat production are biological, managerial, veterinary and impact the quantity and quality of meat. Thus, sperm production stops in males, there is no risk of fertilization, males can be kept on pasture or in the stable with cows, which greatly reduces housing costs and worker safety is much higher. Also, males are less aggressive, all the energy accumulated through food is used for meat production. Due to the lack of testosterone, the meat is more tender, the animals do not move much and the muscle fiber is not very strong, which is appreciated by consumers.

The most effective method of castration is the non-surgical one by using the elastrator, a special tool that has the role of applying a rubber ring over the upper part of the testicles (~ 0.5 cm), not at the base of the scrotum. By this method, castration is done in the first weeks of life (maximum 3 weeks) to avoid complications. As the animal gets older, there is a risk that the method will not be effective and that complications will occur. If the elastic band is not applied properly, there is a risk of infections. This method has the advantage that there are no open wounds exposed to the septic environment, which require the consumption of antibiotics.

Monitoring microclimate parameters in dairy farms

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The use of precision tools on dairy farms gives the farmer or manager the opportunity to make essential decisions in real time, in accordance with the information received from the animal or shelter. There is a SMART Zoo Tech system for monitoring microclimate parameters for measuring, logging, and monitoring the temperature, humidity, dew point, carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, ammonia (NH3) and dust particles (PM 2.5) 24/7. The information is stored in the database available to the farmer, and the exceedances are sent to the farmer by mobile phone in the form of an alert. It is found that there is a very close correlation between individual cow production and microclimate parameters. On a hot summer day when the average atmospheric temperature was 34oC, in the shelter the temperature varied between 23.45oC at 4:00 am and 31.04oC at 5:00 pm. There were also fluctuations in relative humidity and ammonia levels in the shelter after 4:00 pm. The farmer received phone alerts for every microclimate parameter every hour in the second half of the day. With regard to milk production, it is known that for the dairy cow the optimum temperature range is between 9 and 16oC. During the observed period there was a decrease in milk production, and on the reference day the milk production was 10% lower than two days prior.

Step-by-step plan for chemical disinfection of drinking water pipes

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Safe drinking water is essential for healthy animals. Contaminated water can quickly lead to health problems and thus increase the need for antibiotic treatments. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to the drinking water and pipes. Reduction of the bacteriological load of the water is often achieved by a treatment with a disinfectant such as chlorine or peroxide (= chemical disinfection). When choosing the product and dosage, several factors must be taken into account: the contamination at the source, any additives, vaccines or medication that will be administered via the water, the presence of biofilm or lime scale … Therefore it is highly recommended to discuss with your vet or advisor which treatment is appropriate for your situation., An effective chemical disinfection of your drinking water system can be obtained with the following step-by-step plan (note, only perform in between production rounds!):

1. Open the pipes and drinking nipples.
2. Add the prescribed dilution (depending on the product) to the drinking water system by means of a dosing pump.
3. Measure the water at the end of the pipes with the test strip supplied to check whether there is sufficient product in the entire system.
4. Close the pipes and drinking nipples and let the product take effect. The contact time depends on the product used.
5. Open the pipe and nipple drinkers and flush abundantly with water.
6. Check if the drinking nipples are functioning properly before new animals are allowed into the stable.
7. Check again with a test strip at the end of the line whether all remaining product has been removed.

Management in batches in pigs

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With the development and professionalization of the pig sector, it is necessary to work with homogeneous production groups and for this purpose the reproductive management in batches has some interesting advantages from the point of view of personnel management and work organization, but it also has health and biosecurity advantages.

Sow farms can select from several different options to form their production batches, in a weekly group or choose every 2, 3, 4, or even every 5 weeks.

– Health benefits: one of the main positive points when changing a farm to batch management is the health improvement it brings. This management in groups of piglets separated several weeks in their birth, usually allows us to make a much stricter management when not mixing ages-lots, so the transmission of pathogens between groups of animals of different ages is minimized. Depending on the design of the farm, we will be able to prevent a production batch from coming into contact, at any time, with its “siblings” in the anterior and posterior batch, so the spread of pathogens is further minimized.

– Biosecurity benefits: Concentrating tasks in specific weeks can help us to improve the biosecurity of our farm. As an example, instead of having weekly loads of piglets, we will have a monthly load, which reduces the risk of introduction of pathologies through transport. All this will help us to concentrate more efforts to avoid the external entrance of agents in the precise moments in which we have the risk.

Antibiotics alternatives: Plant extracts, spices and essential oils

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The use of extracts of plants, phytobiotics and essential oils is mainly due to their effect on the intestinal function since among the therapeutic properties that they can have, the following stand out: antiseptic, bactericidal, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, carminative, euphotic.

One of the most interesting functions is the bactericide. Although in practice satisfactory results are obtained, its mechanism of action is still not completely known, although it could be due to the pressure, they exert on the cell membrane of the bacteria, giving rise to imbalances that compromise the osmotic balance and can eventually destroy the bacteria.

One of the characteristics of plant oils and extracts is the synergy with other organic products commonly used in animal feed. On the other hand, research is being carried out on their positive effect on improving digestive secretions and enzyme functioning at the intestinal level and hepatic.

Most of these combinations of phytobiotics and essential oils are marketed for their organoleptic properties in the functional group of ‘flavourings’ defined by Regulation (EC) No 831/2003 for use in animal nutrition as ‘substances whose addition to feed increases flavour or palatability’.

These products are not yet authorised for health or zootechnical purposes as further research is needed into their mechanism of action, optimal use rate, efficacy, repeatability of results and safety. In the case of use at inadequate doses they can present toxicity, although the toxicity is lower than natural extracts and essential oils if they are not purified.

97 Selective Dry Cow by Eurodairy (Farm Innovation)

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97 Farm Innovation – Selective Dry Cow by Eurodairy

97 Farm Innovation
Selective Dry Cow by Eurodairy
in Significant Impact Group(s): Pathogen management \ Managing sick animals
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Adult;
Summary: This sheet describes how the Dutch dairy sector reduced the use of antibiotics in dairy farming. Between 2009 and 2016, usage decreased by 48%.
Selective drying off has made an important contribution to this reduction. Preventive use of antibiotics for drying off dairy cattle is no longer allowed. The protocol uses the somatic cell count per animal up to 6 weeks prior to drying off. If the cell count number is below 50,000 (cows) or 150,000 (heifers) per ml, no antibiotics may be used. If the cell number is higher, only a first choice antibiotic may be used in accordance with the farm health plan. The use of 2nd and 3rd choice antibiotics follows strict regulations, and is only allowed after additional testing.
The sheet also contains a farmers experience with omitting the dry off period.
97 Farm Innovation – Selective Dry Cow by Eurodairy
Where to find the original material: (in English)
https://eurodairy.eu/resources/the-dutch-way-of-reducing-antibiotic-use/;
Country: NL

96 Oregano oil by Nottingham Trent University (Farm Innovation)

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96 Farm Innovation – Oregano oil by Nottingham Trent University96 Farm Innovation – Oregano oil by Nottingham Trent University

96 Farm Innovation
Oregano oil by Nottingham Trent University
in Significant Impact Group(s): Feed / gut health \ Feed additives and supplements – Feed additives and supplements ; Pathogen management
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary: British researchers have shown in a recently published study the beneficial effect of the addition of natural oregano essential oil in the diet of breeding sows and the beneficial results on piglets before and after weaning. “Oregano essential oil is well documented to provide support for animal health and performance due to its active compounds. Carvacrol and thymol are two such compounds and have been shown to have both antimicrobial and antioxidant functions.” support the authors of the study.
The research was carried out in a commercial pig unit in the UK and involved 62 multiparous sows. The conclusion was that the inclusion of oregano essential oil helped maintain the body condition score of suckling sows, increased weight gain during the first week of life of piglets, decreased pre-weaning mortality and significantly decreased the incidence of drug use.
96 Farm Innovation – Oregano oil by Nottingham Trent University
Where to find the original material: (in English)
https://www.revista-ferma.ro/articole/zootehnie/impactul-eubioticelor-pe-baza-de-oregano-asupra-sanatatii-si-performantei-scroafelor;
Country: UK

94 Projecting Social Science into Defra’s Animal Welfare Evidence Base – A Review of current research and evidence base on the issue of farmer behaviour (Research report; Escobar and Buller, 2013)

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94 Research report – Escobar – 2013 – Projecting Social Science into Defra’s Animal Welfare Evidence Base A Review of current research and evidence base on the issue of farmer behaviour

4 Research report
Projecting Social Science into Defra’s Animal Welfare Evidence Base A Review of current research and evidence base on the issue of farmer behaviour by Escobar, M.P. and H. Buller
2013 Final Report to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs : 94p.
in Significant Impact Group(s): Housing and welfare
Species targeted: Dairy; Sheep;
Summary: This report reviews Defra’s social science evidence base on the issue of farmer behaviour,
particularly with regards to animal welfare. The report recommends that the Department would benefit
from understanding and interacting with social science beyond the fields of psychology and behavioural
economics.
Rather than attempting to address the “perfect farmer” by aiming to influence their psychology,
interventions could seek to impact the social interactions and the cultural context within which farmers
take actions and decisions. Four specific farmer practices around animal welfare are reviewed in the
report, presenting suggestions that could help coordinate social science research with farmers’ actions
and decisions around animal welfare. Three main areas for further research are highlighted in this report:
the importance of farmer – vet relationships, the dynamics of auditing and inspection, the role of cultural
ideas about farming and “good” farming practices in farmers’ actions and decisions.
Three main areas for further research emerge from the selected case studies:
1. farmer – vet relationships
2. the dynamics of audit and inspection regimes
3. the complex role of cultural ideas about farming and “good” farming practices in farmers’ actions
and decisions.
Besides these three main areas we also point to five other specific themes to integrate a social science
research agenda:
– a better understanding of society’s interpretations of animal welfare as a social issue;
– an evaluation of the literature and lessons emerging from participatory, collective and dialogue-based experiences of behaviour change;
– a better understanding of the influence of issues of affect, care and empathy within human-animal relations on farmers’ actions and decisions;
– the effect of information demands and information flows on farmers’ practices of record-keeping
and record-usage;
– the lessons to be learnt from other areas where voluntary and non-regulatory approaches have
been implemented in order to generate changes in actions and decisions, such as agri-environment
schemes and climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.
94 Research report – Escobar – 2013 – Projecting Social Science into Defra’s Animal Welfare Evidence Base A Review of current
research and evidence base on the issue of farmer behaviour
Where to find the original material:
https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/projecting-social-science-into-defras-animalwelfare-evidence-base(29b27372-4f93-4c7d-b193-454287d09100).html;
Country: UK

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Step-by-step plan for water sampling

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1. Take a bottle that is as clean as possible and rinse it several times with the water to be analysed. A number of labs also have receptacles available.
2. Wash your hands thoroughly.
3. For a sample directly from a reservoir you take a mixed sample of different subsamples. You should preferably scoop these subsamples about 30 cm below the water surface. After good mixing, the receptacle can be filled.
4. Follow the following procedure for a sample from a tap:
– To know the quality of the starting water (the source), choose a tap as close to the source as possible.
– To check the quality at the drinking points, take a sample from a tap that is as far from the source as possible.
5. Clean the tap well, preferably also with an alcohol tissue.
6. If you want to know the quality of the starting water (the source), let the tap run for some minutes. To detect problems with biofilm formation in the pipes or to check if a disinfectant works effectively, let it run only for a short time.
7. Fill the receptacle for bacteriology first, then the receptacle for chemical parameters.
8. It is important that the samples reach the lab as soon as possible. If this is not possible, make sure that the samples are kept cool (refrigerated) for storage and transportation.