Publications - Publications

Effect of lameness on feeding behavior of zero grazed Jersey dairy cows

Gündel, S., Looft, C., Foldager, L., Thomsen, P. T. — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 15:59:12 +0200

The dairy industry faces major challenges with high levels of lameness, in parallel to an increased consumer focus on animal welfare. This encourages farmers to consider more robust breeds, such as Jersey cows. As little is known about the behavior of this breed under loose housing conditions, the present study sought to describe the feeding behavior of lame and non-lame Jersey cows in different parities. Such breed-specific information of behavioral changes is needed for breed-specific herd management decisions and may contribute to identifying animals that are susceptible to developing lameness in the future, thus reducing impacts on the welfare and production of cows. Feeding data from 116 Danish Jersey cows were collected using automatic feeders, and lameness status was assessed by technicians every second week. The cows were kept in a loose housing system, with cubicles, a slatted concrete floor, and automatic milking robots. Eating time per visit and per day, the number of visits per day, and intervals between meals were analyzed using generalized linear mixed effects models. The effect of lameness was not significant for any variable. Primiparous Jersey cows had significantly longer eating times per day, shorter meal intervals, and a lower number of visits per day than older Jersey cows. Week in lactation affected the eating time per visit and per day, the number of visits, and between-meal intervals. In conclusion, we found no differences between lame and non-lame Jersey cows but between parities, which disagree with previous research on other breeds, suggesting that Jersey cows not just differ in size and looks but also in their behavioral reaction when lame. Although data from only one herd of a research center were used, this study has demonstrated the need for further research about breed-specific differences and their implications for the health and welfare of the animals.

Correction to

Hammershoj, M., Kristiansen, G. H., Steenfeldt, S. — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 15:59:12 +0100

The authors would like to make the following correction to the published paper [1]. Text Correction There was an error in the original publication. After publishing the results, a mistake in the chick delivery for genotype A, was discovered. This means that fewer chickens than expected were available for genotype A, resulting in only two replicate units for genotype A instead of three replicates that was planned. The results have been corrected by calculating the LS-Means of all data by two replicate units of genotype A, and by three replicate units of genotypes B, C and D, respectively. A correction has been made to Abstract, lines 7–11: Two dual-purpose genotypes with divergent characteristics were evaluated: genotype A represented an experimental crossbreed based on a broiler type male and an egg layer female, and genotype C was a crossbreed of a layer type. These were compared to a rustic genotype B and a control genotype D, which was an egg layer. Eggs were collected six times during the period of 21–54 weeks of hen age, i.e., a total of 990 shell eggs were analyzed. A correction has been made to Section 2.1. Materials, first paragraph, lines 1–7: Eggs were produced from four different genotypes in the study, including two dualpurpose genotypes (A, C), a rustic breed (B) and a commercial egg layer (D). The dualpurpose genotypes with divergent characteristics, and a rustic genotype were selected by the French Poultry and Aquaculture Breeders Technical Center (SYSAAF) in cooperation with two breeding companies. Genotype A represented an experimental cross breed based on a broiler type male and an egg layer female laying brown-shelled eggs, where genotype C was a cross breed of a layer type laying brown-shelled eggs. Genotype B represented a genotype that has not been selected for any specific traits and included to compare with the dual-purpose genotypes orientated more on meat or eggs production. Finally, genotype D was a control egg layer breed laying white-shelled eggs (purchased at a local pullet breeder). However, due to a mistake in the chick delivery for genotype A, fewer chickens than expected were available for genotype A, which resulted in only two replicate units for genotype A instead of three replicates that was planned. For genotype B, C and D, there were three replicate units. A correction has been made to Section 2.1. Materials, fourth paragraph, lines 1–3: Six times, at the hen ages of 21, 25, 30, 38, 46, and 54 week, 15 eggs were collected from each of the 11 outdoor units with mobile houses, representing the four genotypes in two (A) and three replicates (B, C and D), i.e., a total of 990 shell eggs were individually analyzed.

Why‐Oh‐Why? Dark Brooders Reduce Injurious Pecking, Though Are Still Not Widely Used in Commercial Rearing of Layer Pullets

Sirovnik, J., Riber, A. B. — Sun, 01 May 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Dark brooders, i.e., horizontal heating elements for chicks equipped with curtains, mimic some aspects of maternal care, such as the provision of heat and a dark area for chicks to rest. Thus, they can be considered as artificial passive replacements of a mother hen. Despite their advantages in animal welfare and the likely positive outcomes in production and economy, dark brooders are rarely used in commercial layer pullet facilities. The main positive effect on welfare is a reduction of injurious pecking during the rearing and laying periods, which results in improved feather cover and reduced skin injuries and mortality due to cannibalism. Other welfare benefits include improved rest in dark‐brooded chicks and reduced fearfulness at all ages tested (i.e., from 4 to 26 weeks). The impact on production and economy is seen in a reduction of the energy costs in the first weeks of life due to radiant heating, as well as improved total egg production and reduced floor egg laying. The aim of this paper is to review the existing literature on the effects of dark brooders on injurious pecking and other welfare issues in layers, including speculations on the possible explanations for improved welfare. We also discuss the possible reasons for why dark brooders are not applied more commonly in commercial practice, including insufficient information on the economic aspects of using brooders and the lack of commercially available brooder options.

Opinion paper

Kuhla, B., Dewhurst, R. J., Dijkstra, J., et al. — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 15:59:12 +0200

The effect of hides and parity on behavior of periparturient dairy cows at pasture

Jensen, M. B., Webb, L. E., Vaarst, M., Bokkers, E. A.M. — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Under natural conditions, most parturient cows seek visual cover or seclude themselves from the herd when calving becomes imminent. Studies on calving site selection of dairy cows housed indoors show that predominantly older and dominant cows calve in secluded areas. This study aimed to investigate whether cows distance themselves further from herd members under spacious outdoor conditions and whether artificial hides on a pasture motivate cows to seek visual isolation from the herd. One hundred eighty-two Danish Holstein cows were allocated to 1 of 13 groups of 14 cows according to expected calving date. In 2 paddocks (each 75 × 150 m), 5 zones (75 m × 30 m) were defined; zone 0 contained the feeding and shade area, and zone 4 bordered an area with trees. Weekly and according to calving date, a group of 14 cows was moved either to a paddock that had 12 hides distributed evenly throughout zones 1 to 4 (7 groups) or to a paddock without hides (6 groups). The hides were wooden structures (3.3 m long × 1.0 m wide × 1.2 m high) that the cows could hide behind. One hundred seven cows calved within 14 d of having been moved to the paddock, and 82 of these (38 primiparous and 44 multiparous), and their calves, were included in the study. From 3 h before until 3 h after calving, the location, posture, and behavior of cows were recorded continuously from video recordings. In addition, location, posture, and behavior of the calves were recorded for the first 3 h after birth. Continuous variables were analyzed by linear mixed effects models, whereas binary data were analyzed using mixed effects logistic regression. The presence of hides did not affect selection of calving location in the paddock, but more primiparous than multiparous cows calved in zone 4; that is, furthest away from the feeding area. Before calving, primiparous cows were more likely to be positioned in zone 4 and less likely to approach and contact herd members. After calving, primiparous cows and their calves tended to be more likely to be positioned in zone 4. The more cows present in the paddock, the less likely the cows were to isolate (i.e., be further than 30 m away from any other cow) at the time of calving. In addition, the more cows in the paddock when a calf was born, the less time these calves spent in a lying posture. The results show that primiparous cows move further away from herd members at calving than multiparous cows and suggest that primiparous cows prefer to isolate themselves through distance rather than seeking artificial cover. Contrary to expectation, the hides did not make more cows select a calving site away from the feeding area.

Effect of age and dietary crude protein level on nitrogen excretion in dairy heifers

Johansen, M., Madsen, P. A., Brask-Pedersen, D. N., Lund, P. — Sat, 01 Oct 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Comparison of claw horn disruption lesions in four dairy herds using two different trimming techniques

Capion, N., Cannings, E. S., Krogh, M. A. — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Claw disorders are a major problem for health, welfare, and economy in dairy production. This retrospective observational study investigated the association between cow-level prevalence of claw horn disruptive lesions and two different trimming methods - the traditional Danish Method (DAM) and the White Line Atlas Method (WLAM). Trimming records from four herds in Denmark over a 4-year period were analysed. Within each herd, claw trimming was performed with the DAM for the first 2 years, and the WLAM for the next 2 years. The data comprised 3316 claw trimmings of 1027 cows with the WLAM and 3898 claw trimmings of 1080 cows with the DAM. The association between claw trimming method and claw lesions was determined using binominal logistic analysis. There were significant differences between trimming methods for sole haemorrhage (odds ratio = 0.44), sole ulcer (odds ratio = 0.42), and white line separation (odds ratio = 0.64), with a lower prevalence during the period of trimming with the WLAM. No significant difference between trimming methods could be found in the occurrence of white line abscess or double sole. The lower prevalence of claw horn disruption lesions found in this study when cows were trimmed with WLAM justifies and necessitates further experimental studies of claw trimming methods to validate these findings.

Robuste grise med funktionelle ingredienser i foderet - slutrapport

Engelsmann, M. C. N., Nielsen, T. S., Nørgaard, J. V. — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Towards re-identification for long-term tracking of group housed pigs

Wang, M., Larsen, M. L.V., Liu, D., Winters, J. F.M., Rault, J. L., Norton, T. — Sat, 01 Oct 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Automatic monitoring tools can be useful for assessing the health and welfare status of animals. Specifically, a computer-vision-based tracking tool could be helpful to remotely and automatically monitoring the behaviour of individual animals. However, animals housed in partly covered pens present a particular challenge for animal tracking due to the possibility for animals to disappear from and reappear in the field of view (FOV). The aim of this study was to develop a tracking method for weaner pigs housed in partly covered pens, with the particular aim to re-identify individuals when they reappear in the FOV. In this study a one-shot tracker in which the detection and re-identification (re-ID) branches were jointly trained was adopted for tracking pigs. Three associations based on re-ID features and intersection over union (IoU) were used for matching the correct ID, especially re-identifying individuals reappearing in the FOV. Two sets of short videos were selected to test the model, with a first set of two short videos (mean ± SD: 1m50s ± 20) and a second set of three short videos (mean ± SD: 10m08s ± 3m52s). The model reached the performance of 91.41% and 88.33% in MOTA and IDF1 on the first set of videos, and 81.17% in mean tracking percentage per individual on the second set. The test on one long video (from the same pen, length: 85 m) achieved a tracking percentage of 16.78% per individual. The suggested method improved automatic individual behaviour analysis in complex environments where animals can leave the FOV.

Forskellig praksis for nødslagtning

Thomsen, P. T. — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Can unsupervised learning methods applied to milk recording big data provide new insights into dairy cow health?

Franceschini, S., Grelet, C., Leblois, J., et al. — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Among the dairy sector's current concerns, the as-sessment of global animal health status is a complex challenge. Its multidimensionality means that global monitoring tools are rarely considered. Instead, specific disease detection is often studied separately and, due to financial and ethical issues, uses small-scale data sets focusing on few biomarkers. Several studies have already been conducted using milk Fourier transform mid-infrared (FT-MIR) spectroscopy to detect mastitis and lameness or to quantify health-related biomarkers in milk or blood. Those studies are relevant but they focus mainly on one biomarker or disease. To solve this issue and the small-scale data set, in this study, we proposed a holistic approach using big data obtained from milk recording, including milk yield, somatic cell count, and 27 FT-MIR-based predictors related to milk composition and animal health status. Using 740,454 records collected from 114,536 first-parity Holstein cows in southern Belgium, we performed repeated unsupervised learning algorithms based on Ward's agglomerative hierarchical clustering method to find potential interesting patterns. A divide-and-conquer approach was used to overcome the limitation of computational resources in clustering a relatively large data set. Five groups of records were identified. Differences observed in the fourth group suggested a relationship to metabolic disorders. The fifth group seemed to be related to mastitis. In a second step, we performed a partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) to predict the probability of belonging to those specific groups for the entire data set. The obtained global ac-curacy was 0.77 and the balanced accuracy (i.e., the mean between sensitivity and specificity) of discrimi-nating the fourth and fifth groups was 0.88 and 0.96, respectively. Then, a validation of the interpretation of those groups was performed using 204 milk and blood reference records. The predicted probability associated with the metabolic disorders issue had significant cor-relations of 0.54 with blood beta-hydroxybutyrate, 0.44 with blood nonesterified fatty acids, -0.32 with blood glucose, -0.23 with milk glucose-6-phosphate, and 0.38 with milk isocitrate. In contrast, the predicted prob-ability of belonging to the mastitis group had correla-tions of 0.69 with milk lactate dehydrogenase, 0.46 with milk N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, -0.18 with milk free glucose, and 0.16 with milk glucose-6-phosphate. Consequently, these results suggest that the obtained quantitative traits indirectly reflect some of the main health disorders in dairy farming and could be used to monitor dairy cows on a large scale. By using unsuper-vised learning on large-scale milk recording data and then validating the pattern using reference laboratory measures, we propose a new approach to quickly assess dairy cow health status.

Virkning af forskellig mælkefodringsmanagement på kalves velfærd – Endelig afrapportering

Jensen, M. B., Otten, N. — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Prediction of nitrogen excretion from data on dairy cows fed a wide range of diets compiled in an intercontinental database

Bougouin, A., Hristov, A., Dijkstra, J., et al. — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Manure nitrogen (N) from cattle contributes to nitrous oxide and ammonia emissions and nitrate leaching. Measurement of manure N outputs on dairy farms is laborious, expensive, and impractical at large scales; therefore, models are needed to predict N excreted in urine and feces. Building robust prediction models requires extensive data from animals under different management systems worldwide. Thus, the study objectives were (1) to collate an international database of N excretion in feces and urine based on individual lactating dairy cow data from different continents; (2) to determine the suitability of key variables for predicting fecal, urinary, and total manure N excretion; and (3) to develop robust and reliable N excretion prediction models based on individual data from lactating dairy cows consuming various diets. A raw data set was created based on 5,483 individual cow observations, with 5,420 fecal N excretion and 3,621 urine N excretion measurements collected from 162 in vivo experiments conducted by 22 research institutes mostly located in Europe (n = 14) and North America (n = 5). A sequential approach was taken in developing models with increasing complexity by incrementally adding variables that had a significant individual effect on fecal, urinary, or total manure N excretion. Nitrogen excretion was predicted by fitting linear mixed models including experiment as a random effect. Simple models requiring dry matter intake (DMI) or N intake performed better for predicting fecal N excretion than simple models using diet nutrient composition or milk performance parameters. Simple models based on N intake performed better for urinary and total manure N excretion than those based on DMI, but simple models using milk urea N (MUN) and N intake performed even better for urinary N excretion. The full model predicting fecal N excretion had similar performance to simple models based on DMI but included several independent variables (DMI, diet crude protein content, diet neutral detergent fiber content, milk protein), depending on the location, and had root mean square prediction errors as a fraction of the observed mean values of 19.1% for intercontinental, 19.8% for European, and 17.7% for North American data sets. Complex total manure N excretion models based on N intake and MUN led to prediction errors of about 13.0% to 14.0%, which were comparable to models based on N intake alone. Intercepts and slopes of variables in optimal prediction equations developed on intercontinental, European, and North American bases differed from each other, and therefore region-specific models are preferred to predict N excretion. In conclusion, region-specific models that include information on DMI or N intake and MUN are required for good prediction of fecal, urinary, and total manure N excretion. In absence of intake data, region-specific complex equations using easily and routinely measured variables to predict fecal, urinary, or total manure N excretion may be used, but these equations have lower performance than equations based on intake.

Pilot scale production of Hermetia illucens (L.) larvae and frass using former foodstuffs

Gligorescu, A., Macavei, L. I., Larsen, . B. F., et al. — Sat, 01 Oct 2022 15:59:12 +0200

The food and feed sector requires new sustainable sources of protein and innovative solutions for upcycling of food waste (former foodstuffs), which today is downcycled into energy or even wasted. This study aimed at evaluating the use of former foodstuff waste streams as feed substrate for Hermetia illucens (L.) larvae (black soldier fly larvae, BSFL) under long-term and semi-industrial conditions. Different foodstuff-based mixtures and different stocking BSFL densities were used during 20 batches, and quality and safety assessments were performed on the main outputs, namely BSFL production performance, frass impurities, larval and frass nutrient profiles and heavy metal content. About 1400 kg of former foodstuffs (fresh weight) were used to produce 239 kg BSFL and 230 kg frass. The production of BSFL reared on former foodstuffs was highly efficient, with feed conversion rates (FCR) ranging between 2.3 and 5.5 (dry matter basis). The optimization experiment revealed that former foodstuffs-based mixture and high larval density (10 larvae/cm2) lead to highly efficient (FCR: 2.6) and heavy metal-free production of BSFL and frass. The quality of the derived BSFL meal was high in terms of protein and amino acids. Furthermore, the quality of the technical frass was high in terms of N, P, and K levels and minimal packaging material residuals (

Positive Selection and Adaptive Introgression of Haplotypes from Bos indicus Improve the Modern Bos taurus Cattle

Zhang, Q., Schönherz, A. A., Lund, M. S., Guldbrandtsen, B. — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Complex evolutionary processes, such as positive selection and introgression can be characterized by in-depth assessment of sequence variation on a whole-genome scale. Here, we demonstrate the combined effects of positive selection and adaptive introgression on genomes, resulting in observed hotspots of runs of homozygosity (ROH) haplotypes on the modern bovine (Bos taurus) genome. We first confirm that these observed ROH hotspot haplotypes are results of positive selection. The haplotypes under selection, including genes of biological interest, such as PLAG1, KIT, CYP19A1 and TSHB, were known to be associated with productive traits in modern Bos taurus cattle breeds. Among the haplotypes under selection, we demonstrate that the CYP19A1 haplotype under selection was associated with milk yield, a trait under strong recent selection, demonstrating a likely cause of the selective sweep. We further deduce that selection on haplotypes containing KIT variants affecting coat color occurred approximately 250 generations ago. The study on the genealogies and phylogenies of these haplotypes identifies that the introgression events of the RERE and REG3G haplotypes happened from Bos indicus to Bos taurus. With the aid of sequencing data and evolutionary analyses, we here report introgression events in the formation of the current bovine genome.

Hay provision affects 24-h performance of normal and abnormal oral behaviors in individually housed dairy calves

Downey, B. C., Jensen, M. B., Tucker, C. B. — Sun, 01 May 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Dairy calves often perform abnormal repetitive behaviors (ARBs) including tongue rolling and nonnutritive oral manipulation (NNOM) when opportunities to perform feeding behaviors are restricted. Many US dairy farms limit access to milk, a well-studied risk factor for ARBs. However, farms also commonly do not feed forage to young calves, and the motor patterns of oral ARBs resemble those necessary for acquiring and chewing solid feed. Our objective was to assess how access to hay from birth influenced time engaged in normal and abnormal oral behaviors across 24 h. Holstein heifer calves were housed individually on sand bedding and fed ad libitum water and grain (control, n = 11) or given additional access to hay (hay, n = 11) from birth. Calves were fed 5.7 to 8.4 L/d (step-up) of milk replacer via a teat. At the start of step-down weaning (50 ± 1 d), all calves were given access to a total mixed ration. Feed and water intake were measured daily. Oral behaviors (eating, ruminating, sucking milk, drinking water, panting, grooming, tongue flicking, tongue rolling, and NNOM) were recorded by direct observation at wk 2, 4, 6, and 8 using 1–0 sampling at 1-min intervals for 24 h. Grain, hay, and water intake increased over time in the preweaning period. One polydipsic calf regularly consumed >10 L of water/d. During weaning, hay calves tended to consume increasingly more total mixed ration, significantly more water, and less grain than control calves. Access to hay led to more observations spent eating solid feed (7% vs. 5%, mean percentage of intervals) and ruminating (24% vs. 16%) during the preweaning period compared with calves fed only grain, though control calves appeared to ruminate in absence of forage to re-chew. Rumination occurred, to a large extent, overnight. Hay calves also spent less time self-grooming (12% vs. 14%), tongue flicking (14% vs. 18%), and performing NNOM (17% vs. 21%) than control calves. Although NNOM peaked around milk feedings, all 3 behaviors were performed throughout the day. Tongue rolling was rare across treatments, as was panting, which occurred most frequently around 1400 h. There were no behavioral differences during weaning (wk 8). Overall, we found that hay provision affected most oral behaviors that calves perform; it promoted natural feeding behaviors and reduced abnormal ones, suggesting hay should be provided. We also found that calves performed other behaviors, including polydipsia, repetitive grooming, and apparent sham rumination, that may suggest a degree of abnormality in these behaviors that has not been previously identified. These results highlight the importance of considering all oral behaviors to better understand calf welfare.

Renewable adsorbents from the solid residue of sewage sludge hydrothermal liquefaction for wastewater treatment

Saner, A., Carvalho, P. N., Catalano, J., Anastasakis, K. — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Solid residue from hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of nutrient rich feedstock presents a promising source to recover valuable nutrients, such as phosphorus, in the solid form. The present work shows for the first time the potential of utilizing the waste residue remaining after nutrients extraction from HTL of sewage sludge, as renewable adsorbents. A parametric study was undertaken to investigate the influence of chemical activation conditions (temperature, residence time, activation agent loading, washing after activation) on raw and partially demineralized HTL solids. Kinetic and equilibrium adsorption investigation was undertaken for the removal of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. For comparison purposes, a commercial activated charcoal (AC) was used. Demineralization was found to have a significant influence in the adsorption capacity of the resultant adsorbents. Three adsorbents were found to follow the Langmuir adsorption model, while the acid washed demineralized adsorbent had higher adsorption capacity than AC and was found to follow the Freundlich adsorption model. The superior performance of the acid washed demineralized adsorbent was verified from the kinetic study where all adsorbents were found to best fit the pseudo-second order model. Adsorption capacities for MB at equilibrium were 367.1, 332.3, 297.4 and 87.6 mg/g, for acid washed demineralized adsorbent, AC, demineralized adsorbent, and raw adsorbent, respectively. Finally, the most promising adsorbents were assessed for their adsorption capacity to remove pharmaceuticals present in a real wastewater treatment effluent. Results indicated ultimate concentration for all targeted compounds below the detection limits for acid washed demineralized adsorbent, AC and demineralized adsorbent. Future implementation of HTL technology in wastewater treatment facilities, will not only provide an efficient way to valorize sewage sludge into bio-crude and nutrients, but can also enhance technology integration by providing the precursors for renewable adsorbents needed in tertiary treatment of wastewater.

Vurdering af forhold, der kan påvirke minkproduktion: Foder

Møller, S. H. — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Systemer af relevans for vurdering af dyrevelfærden hos store græssere i de kommende naturnationalparker – vidensyntese

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Endnu en negativ effekt af halthed

Thomsen, P. T. — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Pæne ben = sunde klove

Thomsen, P. T. — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Én ulykke kommer sjældent alene!

Thomsen, P. T. — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Varmestress skader den ufødte kalv

Thomsen, P. T. — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Undgå skader på klovene

Thomsen, P. T. — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Amphibian cell lines

Strand, J., Callesen, H., Pertoldi, C., Purup, S. — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Caecal microbiota composition of experimental inbred MHC-B lines infected with IBV differs according to genetics and vaccination

Borey, M., Bed’Hom, B., Bruneau, N., et al. — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 15:59:12 +0100

Interactions between the gut microbiota and the immune system may be involved in vaccine and infection responses. In the present study, we studied the interactions between caecal microbiota composition and parameters describing the immune response in six experimental inbred chicken lines harboring different MHC haplotypes. Animals were challenge-infected with the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), and half of them were previously vaccinated against this pathogen. We explored to what extent the gut microbiota composition and the genetic line could be related to the immune response, evaluated through flow cytometry. To do so, we characterized the caecal bacterial communities with a 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing approach performed one week after the IBV infectious challenge. We observed significant effects of both the vaccination and the genetic line on the microbiota after the challenge infection with IBV, with a lower bacterial richness in vaccinated chickens. We also observed dissimilar caecal community profiles among the different lines, and between the vaccinated and non-vaccinated animals. The effect of vaccination was similar in all the lines, with a reduced abundance of OTU from the Ruminococcacea UCG-014 and Faecalibacterium genera, and an increased abundance of OTU from the Eisenbergiella genus. The main association between the caecal microbiota and the immune phenotypes involved TCR_ϒδ expression on TCR_ϒδ⁺ T cells. This phenotype was negatively associated with OTU from the Escherichia-Shigella genus that were also less abundant in the lines with the highest responses to the vaccine. We proved that the caecal microbiota composition is associated with the IBV vaccine response level in inbred chicken lines, and that the TCR_ϒδ⁺ T cells (judged by TCR_ϒδ expression) may be an important component involved in this interaction, especially with bacteria from the Escherichia-Shigella genus. We hypothesized that bacteria from the Escherichia-Shigella genus increased the systemic level of bacterial lipid antigens, which subsequently mitigated poultry γδ T cells.

Nutritional values of forage-legume-based silages and protein concentrates for growing pigs

Renaudeau, D., Jensen, S. K., Ambye-Jensen, M., et al. — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 15:59:12 +0200

In organic pig production systems, one of the main challenges is to meet the demand for resources rich in protein. Among the resources available, temperate green plants, such as forage legumes, are potential sources of energy and protein. The aim of the study was to determine the nutritional value of silages (S) from the whole plant of lucerne (L) and red clover (R) and protein pastes (PPs) obtained from L and R leaves. In a first trial, 30 pigs were used in a factorial design to determine the total tract digestibility (TTD) of dietary nutrients and energy in five dietary treatments. The control group was fed a control diet (C1). The lucerne silage (LS) and red clover silage (RS) groups were fed a 78%:22% mixture (on a DM basis) of the C1 diet and LS or RS. The lucerne protein paste (LPP) and the red clover protein paste (RPP) groups were fed an 81%:19% mixture (on a DM basis) of the C1 diet and LPP or RPP. In the second trial, five pigs were used in a 5 × 5 Latin square design to evaluate the standardised ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AAs) in the four legume products. The control diet (C2) was formulated with casein as the sole protein source. The LS and RS groups were fed an 85%:15% mixture (on a DM basis) of the C2 diet and LS or RS. The LPP and RPP groups were fed an 80%:20% mixture (on a DM basis) of the C2 diet and LPP or RPP. Regardless of the plant species, silages obtained from L and R leaves contained less AA and more fibre than protein pastes. While the fresh forages contained the same percentage of protein N in total N (63.6%), lucerne lost more protein N during ensiling than red clover (-75.5 vs -33.8%). The calculated TTD coefficient of energy was higher in silages than in protein pastes and lower in R than in L products (72.8, 71.5, 67.7, and 61.3 for LS, RS, LPP and RPP, respectively). The SID of total essential AA was higher in LPP than in RPP (87.2 vs 79.2%) whereas it was lower in LS than in RS (33.2 vs 56.8%). The lower SID values in silages were explained by the protein degradation during the ensiling process and a high proportion of AA linked to the NDF fraction. The results of the present study show that protein pastes obtained from lucerne and red clover are valuable protein sources for pig. In contrast, legume silages have to be considered as an energy source rather than a protein source.

Performance and mineral status of laying hens fed diets with different levels of glyphosate

Sat, 01 Oct 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Concern has been raised about the potential influence of glyphosate on livestock health and performance due to its antimicrobial and mineral-chelating properties. The present study investigated potential effects of feeding diets amended with glyphosate (as a commercial product, Glyphomax HL, or as pure isopropylamine salt, IPA) to laying hens (layers). At the age of 22 weeks, a total of 320 Lohmann LSL-Lite layers started on one of four treatment diets: Control (CON), 20 mg glyphosate/kg as Glyphomax HL (GM₂₀), 20 mg glyphosate/kg as IPA (IPA₂₀) and 200 mg glyphosate/kg as IPA (IPA₂₀₀). The EU-defined maximum residue level (MRL) of glyphosate for several feed crops is 20 mg/kg. The layers were housed in 32 enriched cages for 27 weeks. Glyphosate levels in the diets (mg/kg feed) were analysed to 0.03 for CON, 19.3 for GM₂₀, 18.5 for IPA₂₀ and 191.7 for IPA₂₀₀. Using preselected contrasts, there were no clear effects of diet glyphosate amendment on average egg weight, egg mass, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and rate of lay, while post hoc contrasts suggested that diet glyphosate concentrations above 20 mg/kg may reduce rate of lay by 0.9%-point. Mineral levels of Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn in blood as well as indicators of welfare measured by plumage scoring and by a novel object test were not significantly affected by treatment. Glyphosate levels in blood serum (µg/L) were 0.29 for CON, 22.5 for GM₂₀, 25.0 for IPA₂₀ and 128.9 for IPA₂₀₀. Glyphosate levels in egg yolk and egg white (ng/g) were respectively 0.26 and 0.01 for CON, 20.1 and 0.20 for GM₂₀, 21.4 and 0.25 for IPA₂₀ and 223.3 and 3.09 for IPA₂₀₀. Glyphosate concentrations in blood serum, egg yolk and egg white reflected diet concentrations. The glyphosate degradation product, AMPA, followed the same trend as glyphosate in all analysed compartments. In conclusion, there were no clear adverse effects of glyphosate-amended diets on performance, welfare indicators and mineral status of Lohmann LSL-Lite layers even at a level approximately 10x higher than the MRL for soybeans and other common feed crops (20 mg glyphosate per kg feed). However, post hoc contrasts suggested that diet glyphosate concentrations above 20 mg/kg may reduce rate of lay by 0.9%-point. Moreover, the layers exposed down to 0.03 mg of glyphosate per kg feed produced eggs with residues of this pesticide.

A review of The Ridden Horse pain Ethogram and its potential to improve ridden horse welfare

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Across the globe, the welfare of sport horses is of growing concern, prompting the International Equestrian Federation to state that at all times the welfare of the horse must be paramount. Expressions of discomfort or pain are nevertheless frequently overlooked or misunderstood, and warrant the development of objective welfare assessment methods for the ridden horse which can be applied during training and competitions. The recent “Ridden Horse pain Ethogram” (RHpE) (Dyson et al., 2018, J. Vet. Behav. 23, 47-57) seeks to identify pain in horses based on their behavior while ridden. The ethogram includes 24 behaviors and it has been proposed that the presence of 8 or more of the 24 behaviors is likely to reflect musculoskeletal pain. Behavior-based pain scales hold promise as a means to improve the welfare of the ridden horse. That said, it is important to recognize that, as a pain or lameness diagnostic tool, the RHpE is still in its infancy because, as we point out in this review, there are a number of aspects that require further qualification before it can be applied with confidence. It is therefore proposed here that the work achieved so far by the RHpE can be of value for observers to recognize that these behaviors may indicate pain but as a diagnostic tool, the RHpE requires further development. Our evaluation of the RHpE is that it is impaired by some flaws in the definitions and that an interdisciplinary approach with substantial ethological input will greatly improve its accuracy and utility. In addition, there is a risk in applying an accumulative clinical threshold when all of the items within an ethogram are assigned equal weighting without an evidence-base for such weighting. Apart from pain and lameness, many other aspects of riding can contribute to suboptimal welfare in the ridden horse and result in the same behaviors highlighted in the RHpE. While recognizing that the RHpE may help to rule in or out problems on the differential diagnosis list and that it has not been proposed as a standalone technique, we see a risk in it being adopted without further development. Public acceptance of future use of horses for elite sports likely depends on whether the international and national riding federations can provide credible, objective evidence that horse welfare is truly paramount at all times.

Fluorometric determination of isocitrate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.42; 1; NADP ⁺ dependent) in ruminant milk

Larsen, T., Rupp, R. ., Friggens, N. C., Pires, J. A. A. — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 15:59:12 +0200

The enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.42; 1; NADP+ dependent) located in the mammary cell cytosol mediates the synthesis of the majority of reducing equivalents for the energetically demanding milk fat and cholesterol synthesis in mammary cell cytosol. The present article presents a novel fluorometric method for quantification of the activity of this enzyme (IDH) in ruminant milk without pretreatment of the sample. Further, 493 goat milk samples – harvested before, during and after a nutritional restriction – were analysed for IDH activity i) with addition of extra substrate (isocitrate), and ii) with the intrinsic isocitrate solely. The IDH activity ranged from 0.22 to 15.4 units [nano moles product/(ml * min)] (un-supplemented) and from 0.22 to 45.6 units (isocitrate supplemented). The IDH activity increased considerably in milk during the nutritional restriction period concomitant with the increase in the metabolite isocitrate concentration and somatic cell count and returned to the initial level shortly after restriction period. The present ‘high through-put’ analytical method may be beneficial in future studies to phenotype modifications in mammary energy metabolism and milk fat synthesis, for which IDH activity may be a biomarker.

Effect of reduced dietary protein on productivity and plasma, urine, and milk metabolites in organic sows during winter conditions

Johannsen, J. C., Eskildsen, M., Kongsted, A. G., Theil, P. K. — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Oversupply of protein is a challenge in organic sow production. Currently, organic sow feed is composed in accordance with feeding standards of conventional sows, which do not take the higher daily feed allowance and nutritional contribution from roughage into consideration. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effect of reduced dietary protein in gestational compound feed for organic outdoor sows during winter conditions, using metabolites in plasma, urine, and milk as indicators of sows’ metabolic status.

In total, 20 sows (Topigs Norsvin; TN70) were included in the experiment, lasting from d30 of gestation until weaning at d49 of lactation under outdoor conditions during winter. During gestation, sows were fed one of two isoenergetic diets containing 88 g SID CP pr. kg DM (Control) and 72 g SID CP pr. kg DM (Low protein), corresponding to 16% and 31% below the current recommendation for indoor sows. In lactation, all sows were fed a standard diet containing 125 g SID CP pr. kg DM.

Sow performance traits were not affected by dietary protein level during gestation. An interaction indicated that sows fed the control diet had 23% and 11% higher urinary urea concentrations at d60 and d100 of gestation, respectively, compared with the low protein diet. During lactation, the milk yield of sows fed low protein in gestation increased more than that of control sows (P < 0.05). Concurrently, the litter gain of the low protein sows was improved, and their litters were heavier at d49 compared to control sows (276 kg vs. 238 kg; P < 0.001).

In conclusion, organic outdoor sows benefitted from reduced dietary protein during gestation in winter conditions, as indicated by urinary urea concentration, milk yield, and litter gain.

Investigating the effects of two weaning methods and two genetic hybrids on play behavior in weaner pigs (Sus scrofa)

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 15:59:12 +0200

In conventional pig production, suckling pigs are typically weaned between 3 and 5 weeks of age. This involves separation from the sow, dietary change, and regrouping in a novel environment, which challenge the welfare of pigs. We investigated the effects of two weaning methods [conventional weaning: two litters mixed in a weaner pen of different size and design (MOVE) vs. litter staying in the farrowing pen after removing the sow (STAY)] and two genetic hybrids [DanBred Yorkshire × Landrace (approximately 21 total pigs born/litter; DB) vs. Topigs Norsvin TN70 Yorkshire × Landrace (approximately 16 total pigs born/litter with higher individual birth weight and weaning weight than DB; TN)] on play behavior across weaning. Both genetic hybrids were inseminated with semen of DanBred Duroc boars. Litters were reduced to the number of functional teats at birth. The durations of locomotor-rotational play (LOC) and social play (SOC) of 24 indoor-housed litters [pigs/litter: (average ± SD) 13 ± 2; age at the weaning day: 26 ± 2 days] were video-recorded continuously between 14:00 h and 22:00 h on days −1, 1, and 2 relative to weaning and statistically analyzed with mixed-effects modeling at the individual level. Before weaning, TN pigs performed LOC longer than DB pigs. On day 2 post-weaning, STAY pigs engaged in more SOC than MOVE pigs. Moreover, TN pigs and STAY pigs displayed a steeper increase in LOC from days 1 to 2 than DB pigs and MOVE pigs, respectively. We demonstrated that pigs belonging to the genetic hybrid with higher weight at birth and weaning spent more time playing on the day before weaning. Additionally, weaning pigs in the farrowing pen and, hence, avoiding social mixing and relocation to an unfamiliar environment had a positive effect on social play after weaning. Our study illustrates that weaning stress in pigs may be reduced by using a genetic hybrid featuring higher birth and weaning weight and by keeping litters intact in a familiar environment after weaning. This study also supports the use of play behavior as an animal welfare indicator.

Faglig vurdering af tilstrækkelig og anbefalet datakvalitet til opførelse af 3-NOP i den nationale emissionsopgørelse

Nielsen, O., Lund, P. — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Krav til indvendig højde ved transport af smågrise

Herskin, M. S., Kobek-Kjeldager, C., Kaiser, M. Ø., et al. — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Commercial layer hybrids kept under organic conditions

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Outdoor range areas provide laying hens with improved opportunities to perform natural behaviors and increase the available space per bird, however, birds are also exposed to potentially stressful factors including weather and predators. Ability to cope with challenging environments varies between different strains and must be considered to ensure good welfare. The aim of this study was to determine how suitable two hybrids, the Dekalb White (DW) and the Bovans Brown (BB), are for organic production with special emphasis on ranging behavior. A total of 1200 hens were housed according to organic regulations across 12 flocks of 100 birds. Range and shelter use, effect of weather, vegetation cover, egg production and quality, and mortality were assessed in addition to a range of clinical welfare indicators. Initially a greater proportion of DW hens accessed the range. However, after approximately two months, a greater proportion of BB were using the range and venturing further from the house. DW hens were more likely to use the shelters than BB hens (P

Gut microbiota activity in chickens from two genetic lines and with outdoor-preferring, moderate-preferring, and indoor-preferring ranging profiles

Sztandarski, P., Marchewka, J., Konieczka, P., et al. — Sat, 01 Oct 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Despite the existing research into the gut microbiome of meat chickens, the associations between gut microbiome composition, its activity and chicken outdoor ranging frequency remain unexplored. The aim of this study was to determine the gut microbiota composition, activity and metabolic products in chickens of two different lines and three ranging profiles. Sixty non-beak trimmed birds, either Sasso or Green-legged Partridge were housed with access to outdoor ranges from wk. 5 to 10 of age. Outdoor ranges were video recorded to obtain frequencies of the birds’ range use. The information about relative abundance of selected bacterial groups in the caeca including Lactobacillus spp., E. coli, Bifidobacterium spp., and Clostridium spp. was obtained with the PCR method. Gut microbiota activity was assessed based on the glycolytic activity of bacterial enzymes including, α-glucosidase, β-glucosidase, α-galactosidase, β-galactosidase, and β-glucuronidase as well as based on the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in the caecal digesta. Statistical analysis was conducted by generalized linear mixed models, applying the breed and ranging profile as fixed effects and pen as a random factor. The lowest relative abundance of Bifidobacterium spp. was found in the caecal content of indoor-preferring Sasso birds (0.01±0.001), as compared to all other birds in the experiment (ranging from 0.03±0.01 to 0.11±0.07; P=0.0002). The lowest relative abundance of E. coli was identified for all outdoor-preferring birds and indoor- preferring Sasso birds (0.01±0.001; P=0.0087). Caecal activity of: α-glucosidase, β-glucuronidase and β-galactosidase was higher in Green-legged Partridges, as compared to Sasso (P=0.013; P=0.008; P=0.004). Valeric acid concentrations were higher in moderate Green-legged Partridges than in Sasso of the same ranging profile (2.03±0.16 vs. 1.5±0.17; 0.016). The majority of the current results confirmed an effect of genotype and ranging profile on the various analyzed parameters. In outdoor-preferring birds, the consumption of pasture originating feed sources as a supplement to the indoor accessible cereal-based diet likely caused the positive effects on the birds’ microbial profile.

Role of Short Chain Fatty Acids to Counteract Inflammatory Stress and Mucus Production in Human Intestinal HT29-MTX-E12 Cells

Giromini, C., Baldi, A., Rebucci, R. ., et al. — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), especially butyrate (BUT), are known to promote intestinal health, but their role in the protection of intestinal barrier integrity is poorly characterized. The aim of the study was to set up an in vitro model of human colon epithelium using HT29-MTX-E12 cells to delineate the potential role of SCFAs under stress conditions. Accordingly, the HT29-MTX-E12 cells were differentiated for 42 days and subsequently exposed to dextran sulphate sodium (DSS). Further, the effects of BUT or its mixture with acetate and propionate (SCFAs-MIX) were tested to study proliferation, epithelial integrity and mucus production. The results showed that the concentration of 10% DSS for 24 h decreased the TEER about 50% compared to the control in HT29-MTX-E12 cells. The pre-treatment on HT29-MTX-E12 cells with BUT or SCFAs-MIX at specific concentrations significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the DSS-induced damage on epithelial cell integrity and permeability. Further, the treatment with specific concentrations of BUT and SCFAs-MIX for 24 h significantly promoted ZO-1, MUC2 and MUC5AC mRNA expression (p < 0.005). The present study demonstrated the suitability of HT29-MTX-E12 cells treated with DSS as an in vitro stress model of inflammatory bowel disease, which enabled us to understand the effect of bioactive SCFAs on the intestinal barrier.

Physiology and nutrition of late gestating and transition sows

Theil, P. K., Farmer, C., Feyera, T. — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 15:59:12 +0200

The physiology during late gestation and the transition period to lactation changes dramatically in the sow, especially during the latter period. Understanding the physiological processes and how they change dynamically as the sow approaches farrowing, nest building, giving birth to piglets, and producing colostrum is important because these processes greatly affect sow productivity. Glucose originating from assimilated starch accounts for the majority of dietary energy, and around farrowing, various organs and peripheral tissues compete for plasma glucose, which may become depleted. Indeed, physical activity increases shortly prior to farrowing, leading to glucose use by muscles. Approximately ½ to 1 d later, glucose is also needed for uterine contractions to expel the piglets and for the mammary gland to produce lactose and fat for colostrum. At farrowing, the sow appears to prioritize glucose to the mammary gland above the uterus, whereby insufficient dietary energy may compromise the farrowing process. At this time, energy metabolism in the uterus shifts dramatically from relying mainly on the oxidation of glucogenic energy substrates (primarily glucose) to ketogenic energy supplied from triglycerides. The rapid growth of mammary tissue occurs in the last third of gestation, and it accelerates as the sow approaches farrowing. In the last 1 to 2 wk prepartum, some fat may be produced in the mammary glands and stored to be secreted in either colostrum or transient milk. During the first 6 h after the onset of farrowing, the uptake of glucose and lactate by the mammary glands roughly doubles. Lactate is supplying approximately 15% of the glucogenic carbon taken up by the mammary glands and originates from the strong uterine contractions. Thereafter, the mammary uptake of glucose and lactate declines, which suggests that the amount of colostrum secreted starts to decrease at that time. Optimal nutrition of sows during late gestation and the transition period should focus on mammary development, farrowing performance, and colostrum production. The birth weight of piglets seems to be only slightly responsive to maternal nutrition in gilts; on the other hand, sows will counterbalance insufficient feed or nutrient intake by increasing mobilization of their body reserves. Ensuring sufficient energy to sows around farrowing is crucial and may be achieved via adequate feed supply, at least three daily meals, high dietary fiber content, and extra supplementation of energy.

Shelter use by horses during summer in relation to weather conditions and horsefly (Tabanidae) prevalence

Christensen, J. W., Andersen, A. G., Skovbo, K. N., Skovgård, H. — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 15:59:12 +0200

National legislation requires shelter access for horses kept outside during winter, whereas there are no requirements for shelter access to provide shade and a refuge from biting insects during summer. This study investigated use of artificial shelters by 10 horse groups continuously for eight summer weeks (2019: 5 groups, 2020: 5 groups, n = 42, 3 – 5 horses per group). Shelter use was recorded every 30 min, using wildlife cameras mounted inside the shelters, i.e., 48 recordings per day for 56 days (a total of 2688 recordings per group where each horse inside the shelter was identified and its behaviour noted). Daily weather conditions were recorded, and horsefly (Tabanidae) prevalence was quantified one day per week using H-traps (i.e. eight trap catches per group). The groups represented a variety of compositions (horse breed, age, gender) and shelter types (design, size). Across all groups and shelter types, shelter use increased on warmer days and the daily rhythm of shelter-seeking behaviour changed; on warmer days, shelter-seeking increased significantly during the day, whereas night-time use was unaffected. Further, significantly more horses were inside on days with the highest trap catch of horseflies compared to days with the lowest catch. We conclude that regardless of group composition and shelter type, horses make increased use of artificial shelters on warm summer days. Since all horses had access to natural shade in their pastures and shelter temperatures were generally higher than outdoor temperatures, we suggest that the increased shelter use on warm summer days was related to nuisance from biting insects. This is supported by the higher shelter use on days with a high horsefly catch. We recommend provision of shelter access to horses kept on summer pastures with limited opportunities to seek natural refuge from biting insects.

Vurdering af, om to ræve er sølvræve (vulpes vulpes) eller tilhører en anden art

Møller, S. H. — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Assessment of whether a limit value of 5 mg iodine per kg of complete feed ration (including 12 % water) will fulfil the requirements of ruminants for iodine

Nielsen, M. O., Rasmussen, M. D., Chasse, E. — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Improving fermentation of Saccharina latissima and Alaria esculenta silages with additives for preserving biomass and antioxidants

Yen, Y., Weisbjerg, M. R., Rautenberger, R., Fečkaninová, A., Novoa-Garrido, M. — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 15:59:12 +0100

Rapid deterioration of harvested macroalgal biomass is a challenge for macroalgal industry and can be overcome with the inexpensive ensiling preservation. To improve silage quality, Saccharina latissima and Alaria esculenta biomass was subjected to ensiling conditions following a 2 × 4 factorial design, with 2 prewilting treatments (no-prewilting and prewilted to 300 g DM kg⁻¹ fresh biomass) and 4 additive treatments (no additive, formic acid, single and two species of Lactobacillus inoculant), and ensiled for 3 or 12 months at 15 °C. Acetate was the main fermentation product in these seaweed silages. Prewilting reduced the acetate, mannitol, and NH₃ content in silages. In S. latissima silages without additives, prewilting led to less acidification (pH = 5.7). Also, prewilting caused protein and phlorotannin degradation. When treated with formic acid, the silage pH was below 4 regardless of the biomass’s moisture content. The use of Lactobacillus spp. inoculants was essential for lactate production in seaweed silages, and it significantly lowered silage pH in S. latissima and prewilted A. esculenta compared to silages with no additives. A high level of the phlorotannin content was preserved (> 90%) in the 3-month A. esculenta silages without prewilting. However, major reduction of antioxidant activity was observed in 12-month silages in both seaweed species. In conclusion, ensiling is a viable method for preserving Alaria and Saccharina biomass. Prewilting restricted silage fermentation, and both formic acid and bacterial additives facilitated silage acidification. However, there was no clear benefit of these treatments in preserving the antioxidant activity.

Determination of the Optimal Level of Dietary Zinc for Newly Weaned Pigs

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Piglets have a very low feed intake immediately after weaning. We hypothesise
that the EU-legislated maximum dietary zinc concentration (150 mg zinc/kg diet) will increase the
risk of zinc deficiency after weaning. Zinc deficiency includes symptoms such as impaired growth
and increased risk of diarrhoea. However, a high dietary zinc concentration has an antimicrobial
effect on the bacteria and increases the risk of antimicrobial resistance. The findings of this study
show that the dietary zinc level had a quadratic effect on growth, with a turning point at an
approximately 1400 mg zinc per kg diet. The risk of diarrhoea increased up to 60% for pigs that had
a blood zinc concentration which decreased after weaning. Maintaining the blood zinc
concentration seven days after weaning required up to 1121 mg zinc per kg diet. There was no
evidence for an antimicrobial effect when feeding pigs a diet with up to 1601 mg zinc per kg.

Porcine in vitro fermentation characteristics of canola co-products in neutral and acidic fermentation medium pH

Lee, J. W., Wang, S., Seefeldt, T., et al. — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 15:59:12 +0100

An in vitro study was conducted to determine effects of reducing pH of porcine in vitro fermentation medium on compositions of glucosinolate degradation products and porcine in vitro fermentation characteristics for solvent-extracted canola meal (SECM) and cold-pressed canola cake (CPCC). Two canola co-products were subjected to porcine in vitro fermentation for 72 h. Accumulated gas production during microbial fermentation was recorded and modeled to estimate kinetics of gas production. Glucosinolate degradation products after microbial fermentation were determined and fermentation medium pH after incubation was recorded. Total and individual volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations per unit weight of dry matter (DM) of feedstuffs were determined. On DM basis, SECM and CPCC contained 6.15 and 11.1 µmol/g of glucosinolates, respectively. Goitrin concentration for CPCC was lower (P < 0.05) than that for SECM. Isothiocyanate and indole-3-acetonitrile concentrations for CPCC were lower (P < 0.05) than those for SECM, whereas thiocyanate concentration for CPCC was greater (P < 0.05) than that for SECM. A reduction in fermentation medium pH from 6.2 to 5.2 increased (P < 0.05) goitrin and indole-3-acetonitrile concentrations and decreased (P < 0.05) isothiocyanates concentration for SECM, but did not affect concentration of these 2 glucosinolate degradation products for CPCC. Fermentation medium pH after in vitro fermentation for SECM tended to be greater (P = 0.081) than that for CPCC. Canola co-product type and fermentation medium pH did not interact on gas production parameters. However, a reduction in fermentation medium pH from 6.2 to 5.2 resulted in increased (P < 0.05) lag time and reduced (P < 0.05) fractional rate of degradation and total gas production. Canola co-product type and fermentation medium pH did not interact on total or individual VFA production per gram of DM of feedstuff fermented. However, reducing fermentation medium pH from 6.2 to 5.2 increased (P < 0.05) total VFA and acetate productions, and tended to reduce (P = 0.083) branched-chain VFA production SECM and CPCC. In conclusion, a reduction in fermentation medium pH from 6.2 to 5.2 resulted in increased production of goitrin and indole-3-acetonitriles from SECM-derived glucosinolates, but did not affect production of thiocyanate from SECM-derived glucosinolates. Glucosinolates in CPCC were less affected by the fermentation medium pH used in the current study. It appears that there are other factors other than pH that affect the degradation of canola-derived glucosinolates by microorganisms from hindgut of pigs.

A field trial on the effect of cross-fostering on performance, clinical health and antibiotic usage during the suckling period of pigs

Nielsen, C. L., Krogh, M. A., Sørensen, J. T., Kongsted, H. — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Cross-fostering is a common nursing strategy in pig production, but there is sparse evidence on its effect on antibiotic usage and disease occurrence in piglets. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of two nursing strategies on antibiotic usage, disease occurrence, weight gain and mortality in piglets. A 2×2 randomized factorial experiment was conducted in three Danish commercial pig production herds. The factors were nursing strategy (cross-fostering allowed (CF) vs. cross-fostering not allowed after initial litter equalisation (nonCF)) and weaning age (four vs. five weeks). In CF litters, the herd’s usual cross-fostering strategy was applied. Piglets were followed individually from birth until weaning. Data was collected on antibiotic usage, mortality, weight gain and clinical disease. Only individual antibiotic treatments were allowed. At litter level, the effect of nursing strategy (CF vs. non-CF) on average daily gain, mortality, antibiotic treatment, clinical disease, face wounds and carpal wounds was analysed. In total, 241 litters were used for the data analysis. Approximately 30% of the CF litters were cross-fostered (either given a nurse sow, mingled with non-siblings or both) during the nursing period. The odds for antibiotic treatment during the suckling period were 1.58 times higher for CF litters compared to non-CF litters (P < 0.001). Across experimental groups, 60.8% of antibiotic treatments were administered for leg diseases. In CF litters, 15.7–21.3% of the antibiotic treatments were directed against diarrhoea, whereas in non-CF litters this was the case for less than 1%. In CF litters, the odds for carpal wounds were 1.40 times higher than in non-CF litters (P = 0.005). There was a tendency towards a higher occurrence of face wounds (OR = 1.30, P = 0.095) and clinical disease (OR = 1.25, P = 0.059) at weaning in CF litters compared to non-CF litters. There was no difference in average daily gain and mortality from birth to weaning between CF and non-CF litters. The results show that cross-fostering increases antibiotic usage in piglets during the nursing period and tends to affect the clinical health at weaning negatively.

Gummigulve belaster klovene mindre

Thomsen, P. T. — Sun, 01 May 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Hjælp til svagfødte kalve

Thomsen, P. T. — Sun, 01 May 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Growth performance, bone mineralization, nutrient digestibility, and fecal microbial composition of multi-enzyme-supplemented low-nutrient diets for growing-finishing pigs

Hong, J., Jlali, M., Cozannet, P., et al. — Sun, 01 May 2022 15:59:12 +0200

A study evaluated the effects of adding multi-enzyme mixture to diets deficient in net energy (NE), standardized ileal digestible (SID) amino acids (AA), standardized total tract digestible (STTD) P, and Ca on growth performance, bone mineralization, nutrient digestibility, and fecal microbial composition of grow-finish pigs. A total of 300 pigs (initial body weight [BW] = 29.2 kg) were housed by sex and BW in 45 pens of 7 or 6 pigs and fed 5 diets in a randomized complete block design. Diets were positive control (PC), and negative control 1 (NC1) or negative control 2 (NC2) without or with multi-enzyme mixture. The multi-enzyme mixture supplied at least 1,800, 1,244, 6,600, and 1,000 units of xylanase, β -glucanase, arabinofuranosidase, and phytase per kilogram of diet, respectively. The PC was adequate in all nutrients. The NC1 diet had lower content NE, SID AA, STTD P, and Ca than PC diet by about 7%, 7%, 32%, and 13%, respectively. The NC2 diet had lower NE, SID AA, STTD P, and Ca than PC diet by 7%, 7%, 50%, and 22%, respectively. The diets were fed in four phases based on BW: Phase 1: 29-45 kg, Phase 2: 45-70 kg, Phase 3: 70-90 kg, and Phase 4: 90-120 kg. Nutrient digestibility, bone mineralization, and fecal microbial composition were determined at the end of Phase 1. Pigs fed PC diet had greater (P < 0.05) overall G:F than those fed NC1 diet or NC2 diet. Multi-enzyme mixture increased (P < 0.05) overall G:F, but the G:F of the multi-enzyme mixture-supplemented diets did not reach (P < 0.05) that of PC diet. Multi-enzyme mixture tended to increase (P = 0.08) femur breaking strength. Multi-enzyme mixture increased (P < 0.05) the ATTD of GE for the NC2 diet, but unaffected the ATTD of GE for the NC1 diet. Multi-enzyme mixture decreased (P < 0.05) the relative abundance of the Cyanobacteria and increased (P < 0.05) relative abundance of Butyricicoccus in feces. Thus, the NE, SID AA, STTD P, and Ca could be lowered by about 7%, 7%, 49%, and 22%, respectively, in multi-enzyme mixture-supplemented diets without negative effects on bone mineralization of grow-finish pigs. However, multi-enzyme mixture supplementation may not fully restore G:F of the grow-finish pigs fed diets that have lower NE and SID AA contents than recommended by 7%. Since an increase in content of Butyricicoccus in intestine is associated with improved gut health, addition of the multi-enzyme mixture in diets for pigs can additionally improve their gut health.

Changes in the Metagenome-Encoded CAZymes of the Rumen Microbiome Are Linked to Feed-Induced Reductions in Methane Emission From Holstein Cows

Barrett, K., Lange, L., Børsting, C. F., Olijhoek, D., Lund, P., Meyer, A. S. — Sun, 01 May 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Enteric methane (CH4) emission from cattle is strongly linked to the feeding regime and the rumen microbial community structure. Here, we report that feed-induced CH4-reducing effects correlate with specific alterations in the profile of the microbiome-encoded carbohydrate-active enzymes predicted from the rumen fluid metagenome. Rumen microbiome samples were obtained by mouth-tube sampling from 12 lactating Holstein cows after 3–4 weeks of feeding with three different concentrate-to-forage-ratio diets, i.e., standard, high, and extremely high levels of concentrate (4 cows per group; constant dry matter intake in the three groups). Increased inclusion of concentrate involved increased starch levels in the diet at the expense of fiber. The extreme diet resulted in 48% reduction of the CH4 emission per kg dry matter intake compared to the standard diet. From metagenome sequencing of the rumen fluid samples from each cow, 561 different microbial strains (bins) could be derived from analysis of 260 billion DNA base pairs. In the cows fed, the extreme diet, the relative abundance of the majority of the bins, was significantly altered compared to the other groups. Fibrobacterota and Verrucomicrobiota were less abundant in the Extreme group. Surprisingly, no significant abundance changes were observed among Archaea and Bacteroidota, although abundance changes of individual bins of these phyla were found. For each of the 561 bins, the functions of the metagenome-encoded carbohydrate-active enzymes were predicted by bioinformatics using conserved unique peptide pattern (CUPP) analysis. By linking each of the predicted molecular functions of the enzymes to their substrates, changes were found in the predicted abundance of the different enzyme types. Notably, the decreased CH4 emission of the extreme diet group was concurrent with a profound decrease in the xylan-active enzymes, targeting the xylan backbone β-1,4-linkages, acetyl-, feruloyl-, and methyl-glucuronoyl substitutions in xylan. This work provides a first enzyme-conversion-based characterization of how extreme feeding, i.e., lowered forage, can drive rumen microbiome changes that support decreased CH4 emission via a changed carbohydrate-active enzyme profile. The data, furthermore, provide a metagenome-wide catalog of enzymes, underpinning the microbial conversion of different feed fibers (the enzymes attacking specific carbohydrate linkages) in the rumen of Holstein cows.

Combining pressing and alkaline extraction to increase protein yield from Ulva fenestrata biomass

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 15:59:12 +0200

Many seaweed species have a high production potential and attract interest as future protein sources. A high fiber and ash content, however, demand extraction of the protein to improve its digestibility and protein utilization in food or feed. This study explores three different approaches for protein extraction from Ulva fenestrata in order to maximize the protein extraction yield. Soluble protein was recovered either by mechanical pressing or by homogenization and osmotic shock of the biomass followed by alkaline extraction. The soluble protein was then concentrated by isoelectric precipitation. A combined procedure was carried out by pressing the biomass and following subjecting the residual pulp fraction to homogenization, osmotic shock and alkaline extraction. The three methods were ranked as follows with respect to protein extraction yield (as % of biomass protein); the combined method (23.9 ± 0.3%)> the alkaline extraction (6.8 ± 0.2%)> mechanical pressing (5.0 ± 0.2%). The significant increase when combining the methods was ascribed to a high precipitation yield after alkaline extraction of the pulp, hypothesized to be due to a reduced conductivity of the alkali-soluble protein fraction when derived from pulp rather than whole biomass.

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