From birth and throughout their lives, dogs experience a variety of potentially stressful stimuli. Early neurologic stimulation (ENS) is believed to improve the ability of animals to handle stress, however its effects on dogs have not yet been fully explored. This study aimed to evaluate the effects and potential welfare implications of providing ENS to puppies in commercial breeding kennels. Seventy-six puppies, comprising two cohorts in one kennel were studied. Puppies were assigned to one of three treatment groups: ENS, held, or control, and then were marked for identification, and handled daily Monday through Saturday for 21 days, beginning on day three post-partum. ENS puppies received five “Bio Sensor” exercises (Battaglia, 2009). Puppies in the held treatment group were held for 30 seconds, which was the same length of time that was required to apply the Bio Sensor exercises to ENS treated puppies. Control puppies received identification marks daily and health assessments weekly, but otherwise were handled as normal for the breeder’s management plan. To evaluate treatment effects on physical health, all puppies received physical health assessments weekly, and additionally before and after transport to a distributor. To evaluate effects of treatment on behavioral responses to stressors, puppies were assessed shortly before and after transport (a known stressor), using three stranger approach tests and a 3-minute isolation test. Puppies were found to be generally healthy and clean throughout the study. A three-way interaction was observed between treatment, sex, and week of life, which affected puppies’ weights over the first eight weeks of life at the breeder’s kennel prior to the application of stressors (<i>p</i> = 0.006). Female ENS puppies were found to weigh more than their held and control counterparts, while for male puppies, held and control puppies weighed more than ENS puppies. A two-way interaction was observed between treatment and isolation on behavior for a single step of the multi-step stranger approach test performed at the breeder’s kennel (<i>p</i> = 0.025). While more puppies showed affiliative behavioral responses to the experimenter reaching for them after isolation than before, the change was greater in ENS and held treatment groups than controls. Treatment also directly affected the time puppies spent performing fearful behavior during the isolation test (<i>p</i> = 0.041). Handled puppies spent more time performing fearful behaviors than control puppies. No other significant effects of treatment were observed for the behavioral or physical health parameters measured. However, the finding that ENS and held-groups tended to show greater increases in the number of puppies displaying affiliative behavior than controls (though it was only significant for one step) suggests that handling treatments primed puppies to view people as a form of social support during stress. The additional finding that ENS and held group puppies spent more time performing fearful behaviors (e.g., escape attempts, low postures) during isolation than control puppies, further supports this theory. While these results do not support the purported effects of ENS, they indicate that early handling may still benefit puppies by providing them positive interactions with humans. These interactions potentially prime developing puppies to view humans as safe sources of social support, perhaps increasing their likelihood of forming secure attachments with people later in life. Further, findings from this study suggest that simply holding puppies daily for short periods may be sufficient to produce beneficial effects. Future studies should incorporate measures of recovery in response to stress testing puppies receiving ENS treatment and should consider evaluating ENS in conjunction with attachment theory to provide more information on the potential welfare effects of early handling of puppies in commercial breeding and other kennel types.

Heat stress (HS) is one of the consequential important problems facing the swine industry. The negative effects of HS include reduced growth performance, reproductive efficiency, and carcass quality as well as increased morbidity and mortality. Although, the swine industry has developed several abatement strategies (i.e., fans, cooling pads, sprinklers, etc.), these approaches may be ineffective in the future as global temperatures continue to rise and the frequency of more severe heat waves increases in regions where animal agriculture is prevalent. These extreme heat events put pigs (especially those approaching market weight) at risk for acute hyperthermia that can lead to death unless body temperature is rapidly returned to euthermia and thermoregulatory function is restored.Therefore, evaluating mitigation strategies to promote recovery from acute hyperthermia is of utmost importance for improving pigs’ health and well-being and ensuring profitability and food security. In four experiments, the existence of microclimates in grow-finish barns during late summer was ascertained and a rapid cooling technique using cold water dousing and feed removal to promote recovery from acute hyperthermia in pigs was evaluated. In the first study, it was determined that microclimates exist in grow-finish barns and that pigs raised in pens that were not located directly below air inlets and ventilation fans had greater body temperature and reduced feed efficiency despite similarities in the in-barn ambient temperature and relative humidity. These data exemplifythe importance of adequate ventilation systems in swine barns and the impact of microclimates on pigs’ health and productivity during warm summer months. In the second study, grow-finish pigs that did not have feed access were exposed to acute HS and then rapidly or gradually cooled. Following the acute HS and recovery phase, all pigs were maintained under thermoneutral conditions and then euthanized over three days to determine the temporal effects of the cooling treatment on body temperature and intestinal integrity. The results showed that rapid cooling following acute hyperthermia in pigswas effective in returning body temperature to euthermia more rapidly compared to gradual cooling and rapid cooling prevented further intestinal damage. Based on these results, it was hypothesized that feed removal may have played a role in the effectiveness of rapid cooling. Therefore, a third experiment was conducted in which grow-finish pigs with or without access to feed were exposed to an acute HS challenge and then rapidly cooled. This study concluded that feed access was a determinant factor in the cooling outcome, as the gastrointestinal temperature returned to euthermia during the rapid cooling period more rapidly when feed was removed. Finally, a fourth study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feed removal in the absence of rapid cooling on the systemic inflammatory response and short-term growth performance of grow-finish pigs. However, it was determined that feed removal alone did not reduce the inflammatory response as expected. Overall, these studies demonstrate the risk forgrow-finish pigs during summer heat events and the potential use of rapid cooling in combination with feed removal for promoting recovery from acute hyperthermia in pigs.

<p>Gastrointestinal health in the young pig is a constant challenge for the swine industry. Weaning introduces many stressors such as a new solid diet, being separated from their mother, new pen mates, transportation, and an entirely new environment. Therefore, this dissertation primarily focuses on research aiding the pig immediately post-weaning. In chapter 2, a developmental bacillus direct fed microbial (DFM) was added to nursery pig diets to evaluate its effects on pig growth and health in two 35-d experiments, both randomized complete block designs based on initial BW and sex. Experiment 1 used 376 weaned pigs (17.8 d of age; 5.99±0.18 kg initial BW) allotted to one of four diets. 1) Negative Control (NC; no antibiotics with pharmacological Zn or Cu), 2) NC+DFM 0.275x109 CFU, 3) NC+DFM 0.55x109 CFU, 4) NC+DFM 1.1x109 CFU. Experiment 2 used 420 weaned pigs (20.1 d of age; 6.11±0.34 kg initial BW) allotted to one of four diets: 1) Negative Control (NC; no antibiotics with pharmacological Zn or Cu), 2) NC+DFM 0.55x109 CFU, 3) NC+DFM 1.1x109 CFU, 4) NC+BioPlus 2B 1.1x109 CFU. Experiment 1; during week 1 there were no treatment effects. During week 3 ADFI (P=0.053) quadratically increased while G:F (P=0.028) quadratically decreased as DFM increased in the diet. During d21-35 of experiment 2, ADG (P=0.092) quadratically increased and G:F (P=0.014) quadratically decreased as DFM increased.  Overall, for Experiment 1, ADFI numerically increased (4.3%) with no increase in ADG, resulting in a quadratic decrease in G:F (P=0.010) as the DFM increased in the diet.  For Experiment 2, during week 1, DFM fed pigs tended to have linearly decreased ADFI (P=0.092) and linearly increase G:F (P=0.072). Pigs fed the Bioplus2B bacillus had greater ADFI (P=0.018) than the same dose of the experimental bacillus. During week 2 pigs fed the experimental bacillus at 1.1x109 CFU tended to have improved G:F (P=0.084) than the similar DFM concentration from, the Bioplus 2B. During week 4 ADG tended to linearly (P=0.057) improve with increasing DFM in the diet and the average of all DFMs tended to have improved ADG (P=0.075) over the NC. During week 5 ADFI linearly increased (P=0.029) as DFM increased in the diet and all DFM treatments had greater ADFI (P=0.009) than the NC.  During d 21-35 of experiment 2, DFM fed pigs had linearly increased ADG (P=0.04) and ADFI (0.090). All pigs fed DFM had improved ADG (P=0.068) and ADFI (P=0.032) compared to NC fed pigs. Summarizing these two studies, the DFM product had its greatest effect improving gain feed intake and efficiency during late nursery when simplest diets are fed.</p> <p>In chapter 3, Dacitic tuff breccia (DTB) and poultry by-products (PBP) were added to nursery pig diets to evaluate their effects on growth performance and jejunal characteristics in a 35 d experiment. PBP were added as a replacement for fishmeal and was expected to provide an increased immune challenge to the newly weaned pigs. DTB was added as a functional trace element source and was hypothesized to ameliorate some of the negative impacts of PBP on the gut. A randomized complete block design based on BW and sex was used. Newly weaned pigs (N=564, 20.1±1.2 d of age, 6.18±1.13 kg initial BW). allotted to four diets (15 replicates/treatment; 9 or 10 pigs/pen): 1) Control (C; no DTB or PBP), 2) C+DTB (0.5% inclusion), 3) C+PBP (4% chicken by-product meal + 2% feather meal – replacing fishmeal, corn, and synthetic amino acids in the C), 4) C+DTB+PBP. Phase 1-3 were each 7-d and Phase 4 was from d 21-35. One barrow/pen was harvested 11d post-weaning. Jejunal tissue and mucosa were collected for histological measures and gene expression. In week 2, pigs fed DTB tended to increase ADG (323 vs. 303 g/d; P=0.068) and ADFI (376 vs. 356 g/d; P=0.055) compared to pigs not fed DTB and pigs fed PBP tended to have increased ADG (P=0.093). In week 3 pigs fed PBP had reduced ADG (460 vs 483 g/d; P=0.011) and G:F (0.689 vs. 0.723; P<0.001), and there tended to be an interaction for G:F (P=0.083) with DTB improving G:F when fed in combination with PBP but reducing G:F in the control diet.  In week 4, feeding PBP decreased ADG (384 vs 415 g/d; P<0.01) and ADFI (629 vs 666 g/d; P<0.01) compared to pigs fed no PBP.  For Phase 4 (d21-35) pigs fed PBP had decreased ADG (479 vs 497 g/d; P=0.041) and tended to have reduced ADFI (P=0.092) compared to pigs fed no PBP. Overall (d 0-35), there were no significant differences among treatments in pig growth performance.   Pigs fed PBP had increased jejunal expression of interferon-alpha (P=0.041) and interleukin-10 (P=0.037) and tended to have increased expression of claudin-1 (P=0.076).  Pigs fed DTB tended to have decreased jejunal expression of interferon-gamma (P=0.079).  Jejunal gene expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and nuclear factor kappa-beta did not differ among treatments. In conclusion, DTB improved nursery pig growth performance early and pigs fed PBP had decreased ADG and feed efficiency late in the nursery period. Feeding PBP had minimal effects on jejunum architecture but increased the gut immune response.</p> <p>Chapter 4 focuses on weaning age in addition to dietary treatments. Changes in weaning age and diet complexity can impact pig growth post-weaning. 432 weanling gilts and barrows (Topigs Duroc Ⅹ (US York X Landrace)) from the same farrowing group were utilized for a 30 or 35 d growth trial to compare early (EW) versus late weaning (LW) and high or low levels of specialty proteins in nursery diets. 216 pigs were EW (18 or 19 d, avg. age=18.4 days, avg. BW=5.96 kg) and 216 pigs were LW 5 days later (24, 25 or 26 d, avg. age=24.6 d, avg. BW=7.50 kg). At weaning pigs were blocked by weaning age, BW, sex and litter, and randomly allotted to 48 pens with 9 pigs/pen. Pigs at each weaning age were fed a High Complexity (HC) or a Low Complexity (LC) diet. The trial was conducted as a 2X2 factorial design: 1) EW+HC; 2) EW+LC; 3) LW+HC; 4) LW+LC. Pigs and feeders were weighed on d 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 for EW, and on d 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 30 for LW.  LW pigs had improved ADG and ADFI from d 0-7, 7-14, 14-21, and the final week of the nursery (P<0.05). G:F decreased for LW pigs from d 21-28 (P<0.01) compared to EW pigs, however for the overall nursery trial LW pigs had increased G:F (P=0.01). LW pigs had increased overall nursery ADG vs EW pigs (452.5 g/d vs 400 g/d; P<0.01). End of nursery BW was greater for LW vs EW pigs (21.70 kg vs 20.74 kg; P=0.001).  There was a weight block by weaning age interaction, EW heavy pigs had lower ADG compared to LW heavy pigs, however when comparing light weight pigs, the EW light pigs had improved ADG compared to LW light weight pigs (P=0.017). EW pigs were lighter at market (approximately d146 of age) compared to LW pigs (120.78 vs 124.16 kg; P=0.014). An interaction between weaning age, nursery diet, and sex (P<0.07) was observed for market weight, EW barrows fed LC diets were lighter at market (120.77 kg) than EW barrows fed HC diets (126.54 kg).  Whereas for LW barrows fed LC had higher market weights (130.04 kg) than LW barrows fed HC diets (127.59 kg). A similar, but non-significant pattern was observed for gilts. Weaning age and feeding pigs the correct diet for their age in the nursery can have a lifelong effect on the pig. </p> <p>In conclusion, feeding a DFM containing bacillus licheniformis did not impact nursery pig growth performance early in the nursery period. From d21-35 ADG and ADFI was improved in both experiments 1 and experiment 2. While the growth results were sporadically improved throughout the nursery period, the DFM’s greatest effect was it ability to improve ADFI. The improvement in the late nursery phase may be due to the need for the DFM to establish itself in the GIT. DTB tended to improve ADG and ADFI in week 2 of the nursery period, however there were no differences for growth overall. PBP reduced ADG in week 3 of the nursery period, as well as reduced ADG and ADFI in week 4 of the nursery. While there were differences in individual weeks of the trial there were no overall differences in growth performance. However, when looking at gene expression in the jejunum at d11 post-weaning, there was an increase in IFN-α and IL-10 in pigs fed PBP. In pigs fed DTB there was a decrease in IFN-γ jejunal gene expression as well. Feeding a high complexity and low complexity diet had no impact on the nursery pigs growth performance, in hindsight the low complexity diet was perhaps not low enough in specialty proteins. When comparing weaning age, pigs weaned later had increased ADG and ADFI from d0-21 post-weaning. For the overall nursery performance, LW pigs had a higher ADG, and ended the nursery period 0.96 kg heavier than the EW pigs. Comparing pigs of similar bodyweight at weaning, EW pigs were 1.5 kg heavier than LW pigs at the end of the nursery period, but the LW pigs were more feed efficient. There was a weight block by weaning interaction in this trial, as the heaviest LW pigs had higher ADG compared to the heaviest EW pigs. However, when looking at the lightest pigs, the EW pigs outperformed the LW pigs. Looking at market weights of each age group, LW pigs were 3.5 kg heavier on average at d146 of age. Although there was not a difference in diet found in the nursery phase, interestingly there were interactions discovered between treatments at market weight. Barrows are more sensitive to nursery diet compared to gilts, as LW barrows fed the low complexity diet performed better than the LW high complexity fed barrows. EW barrows were heavier at market when fed the high complexity diet, compared to EW barrows fed the low complexity diet. This shows that while the diet didn’t appear to have an impact in the nursery, feeding the pig the proper diet for their age has a lifelong impact on the pig.</p>

<p>  </p> <p>There is a clear need for more research detailing how to manage birds in cage-free housing systems. Although management guides for birds in cage-free systems focus on adult hens, previous research has established that the pullet phase is important to success later in life. Past research regarding the effects of stocking density on behavior has focused on caged adult hens, and often deals with confounding factors such as group size, limiting its interpretation. The goal of this project was to investigate the impacts of stocking density on behaviors of pullets in cage-free housing systems. </p> <p>A 2x2 randomized complete block design with two strains (Lohmann LB-Lite (Brown) and Lohmann LSL-Lite (White)) and two stocking densities (619.1 (high stocking density; HSD) and 1,248.9 (low stocking density, LSD) cm2/bird) was utilized. Videos of 6 pens for each strain by stocking density combination (59 birds/pen, n = 1416) were recorded for 2 consecutive days at 12 and 16 weeks of age (WOA). Behaviors of interest were recorded every 10 minutes for 1 hour in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Most behavior data were analyzed using a mixed model, PROC GLIMMIX, in SAS 9.4 with main effects of stocking density (SD), strain, age and time of day (TOD). Behaviors that were infrequent or that could not be transformed to meet normality assumptions were analyzed as binomial data (occurred or did not occur) and odds ratios were calculated using PROC LOGISTIC.</p> <p>Stocking density influenced every behavior examined. The LSD had fewer birds that performed eating and drinking behaviors, but more birds performed inactive, locomotion, exploratory and comfort behaviors compared to the HSD. Additionally, birds in the HSD were more likely to participate in pecking and piling behaviors compared to LSD. These results suggest that LSD may provide welfare benefits to the pullets. However, producers may face economic barriers when attempting to decrease stocking densities. Further research is needed in this area, but these results could help to achieve a stocking density that maximizes the range of behaviors pullets are able to perform within the scope of a producer’s resources. Future directions may consider collecting behavior data across the life cycle in addition to examining the relationships among behavior and welfare parameters such as feather quality, foot condition and keel bone fractures.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Boars in the swine industry are one of the select animals subject to limit feeding. Limit feeding boars occurs once boars are selected to enter the boar stud. Before selection boars are <i>ad libitum</i> fed like a nursery or grow finishing pig. Research involving boar nutrition and the impact it has on growth, development, and semen characteristics are limited compared to the rest of the swine industry. The objective of these studies conducted at Purdue University were to determine how varying nutritional feeding strategies impact semen quality and quantity as well as growth and development of artificial insemination boars.</p><p dir="ltr">Feeding fiber is a commonly used strategy in gestating sow nutrition to mitigate some of the negative side effects of limit feeding animals. A variety of fiber sources are available to the swine industry, however most of the common sources used are wheat bran, alfalfa meal, sugar beet pulp, and soybean hulls. Soyhulls are one of the more easily accessible sources of fiber in Indiana and the Midwest U.S. due to large amounts of soybean production and processing which will continue to grow with bi-energy demands. Boars fed the fiber diet (14.3% soyhulls) had increased bodyweight and body condition changes over the twelve-week period. Additionally, fiber inclusion in the diet had no impact on semen characteristics but semen was impacted by the age and breed of the boar. Salivary cortisol levels were reduced in boars fed fiber as well as some changes in behavior were observed.</p><p dir="ltr">The addition of fiber had impacts on growth and development but no impacts on semen. Since boars are limit-fed for so long from selection after the grow-finish period until they are culled this drew up the question if feeding boars different levels after selection (1.8 kg/d or 2.7 kg/d) impacted trainability, first time semen collection characteristics, growth and development of young boars. No differences were observed for feeding level impacting trainability with 92% of all boars regardless of treatment being successfully trained. Semen volume was increased in boars fed 2.72 kg/d by approximately 50% but no other semen characteristics were impacted. Boars fed 2.72 kg/d also had increased bodyweight and body condition score measures.</p><p dir="ltr">The boars subject to the training study unknowingly arrived at the farm naturally infected with porcine circovirus three (PCV3). Research has been conducted on the ability of viruses (PRRSv, PEDv) to be detected and transmitted through semen. Porcine circovirus three is a relatively new variant of circovirus so the opportunity to evaluate the question of if this virus was able to be detected in seminal plasma and the impacts it has on semen characteristics was presented. Serum and semen samples were collected for polymerase chain reaction analysis of detection of PCV3 conducted at Purdue Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. Porcine circovirus three was able to be detected in the serum of positive boars however no positive detection occurred for seminal plasma samples. Morphological abnormalities such as distal midpiece reflex, distal droplets, and head and tail differed between infected and non-infected boars. Young boars sero-positive for PCV3 had decreased total sperm, total normal sperm motility, and head and tail abnormalities but had decreased distal midpiece reflex abnormalities when compared to PCV3 negative young boars. Young boars were also able to maintain the virus for 98+ days, while some old boars were able to clear the virus withing 14 weeks of becoming positive.</p><p dir="ltr">The next chapter evaluated maintenance energy equation listed in the swine NRC 2012 and if it was still accurate for sexually active boars and if weight management through the use of this equation impacted boar performance. Boars were subject to three treatments (150%, 100%, 80%) of maintenance energy for the first nine-week period and 150% and 80% diets were switched for second nine-week period while 100% stayed the same the entire time in a cross-over design. Semen, bodyweight, and body condition parameters were analyzed throughout the two nine-week periods. Boars fed 80% of maintenance had the largest reduction in semen parameters compared to 150% and 100% maintenance fed boars. Additionally, switching 80% feed intake boars to 150% maintenance feed intake, boars were able to recover some of the negative impacts, however they were not able to fully recover in the second nine-week period. Boars fed 100% and 80% maintenance energy lost weight regardless of age. The loss of body weight of the 100% maintenance fed boars indicates the swine NRC 2012 equation is underestimating the modern AI boar maintenance needs. Old boars were able to handle changes in weight and body condition better than young boars as there was reduced variation in serum metabolites analyzed with old boars compared to young boars.</p><p dir="ltr">The last chapter of this thesis focused on a big data project from commercial sow farms. The objective of this study was to determine if breeding gilts at first signs of estrus or after has an impact on sow performance and economic value to parity three. A regression model was developed from on farm data to determine the difference in total born piglets to parity 3 between gilts bred on their first estrus or after. Gilts bred on their first estrus had six fewer total piglets to parity three compared to gilts who were bred after the first estrus. Also, gilts bred after their first estrus had a larger percentage of sows being profitable compared to gilts bred on first estrus. This model data was compared to actual data for comparison between the two. The model with the limited variables inputted and compared to the actual data was fairly accurate with economic profitability and with more refinement the accuracy can be increased.</p><p dir="ltr">Overall, nutrition of the boar needs to be an area of interest in the swine industry to continue improving efficiency of production. Feeding fiber to boars has minimal impact on semen characteristics but can be used to reduce stress in boars that are limit-fed for weight and body condition management. Limit feeding boars beginning at selection reduces growth and development and had negative impacts on first time semen collection volume. Porcine circovirus 3 was not found in the seminal plasma of naturally infected boars when serum analysis was positive. Boars fed below maintenance levels listed in the swine NRC 2012 have negative impacts on semen, bodyweight, and body condition parameters. Once diets were changed boars were able to recover from the feed restriction but not meet baseline measures prior to feed restriction. Young boars are more sensitive to feeding changes than old boars, this could be due to the young animal still growing while the older animal is closer to mature size. Big data projects can aid producers in making production changes decisions to estimate the economic impact it can have to an individual farm or the entire production system.</p>

O principal objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar as condições microclimáticas da sala de pintos de um incubatório comercial e suas interações com os diferentes tempos de espera, e a influência da etapa pré-porteira sobre o desempenho inicial de frangos de corte. Para isso, realizou-se um experimento dividido em duas fases: incubatório e granja de criação. Na primeira fase foram pesados e selecionados 1440 ovos férteis, todos provenientes de mesma granja matrizeira, divididos em três lotes iguais, referentes às idades de matrizes de 46(A), 54(B) e 64(C) semanas, da linhagem Cobb 500. Todos os ovos foram estocados e incubados sob as mesmas condições. Após o nascimento, seleção e sexagem, o total de 882 pintos foi dividido em 18 tratamentos. Cada tratamento continha em média 50 animais, referentes ao sexo (S), idade da matriz (M) e tempo de espera (E) no incubatório (0h, 14h e 28h). Adotou-se um delineamento inteiramente casualizado (DIC), num esquema fatorial (2x3x3) para S, M e E. As variáveis respostas foram mortalidade (Mo), refugagem (R), peso (P), temperatura cloacal (TC), temperatura superficial média (TSM) e frequência respiratória (FR). Os dados foram submetidos à análise da variância e comparação múltipla de médias por meio do teste de Tukey (p<0,05). Uma caracterização microclimática da sala de pintos foi realizada por meio de perfil térmico de temperatura e umidade relativa. A segunda fase ocorreu em um aviário comercial climatizado, do tipo dark-house, com ventilação em sistema de pressão negativa, localizado no município de Cerquilho, estado de São Paulo. Foram utilizados os 882 pintos provenientes da primeira fase. Ao chegarem do incubatório à granja, os pintos foram imediatamente alojados e separados em 18 boxes, de acordo com os tratamentos. Consumiram ração e água ad libitum, e foram submetidos aos mesmos procedimentos de manejo, dietas nutricionais e condições microclimáticas durante todo o período experimental. Foi realizada uma caracterização microclimática da granja por meio do perfil térmico de temperatura e umidade relativa. As aves foram pesadas ao 7°, 14° e 21° dias. Adotou-se um DIC, num esquema fatorial (2x3x3), para S, M e E. Os dados de P foram submetidos à análise da variância e comparações múltiplas de médias por meio do teste de Tukey (p<0,05). Para as variáveis respostas Mo, R, mortalidade total (MT), ganho médio de peso diário (GPD), conversão alimentar (CA) e índice de eficiência produtiva (IEP), foi realizada uma análise descritiva. As condições microclimáticas, a matriz (M), o sexo (S) e o tempo de espera (E) influenciaram a qualidade de pintos de um dia. Considerando-se P como o parâmetro de avaliação, o tempo de E de 0h foi o melhor. Pintos oriundos da matriz C apresentaram menores perdas de peso. As condições climáticas, a idade das matrizes, o sexo e o tempo de espera, influenciaram no desempenho dos frangos aos 21 dias. Para frangos de corte aos 21 dias, os pintos da matriz B e o tempo de E de 14h, apresentaram os melhores resultados de IEP. / The main objective of this research was to evaluate microclimatic conditions of chicks room from a commercial hatchery and its interactions with different lairage times, and the influence of post-hatching phase under the performance in the starter phase of broiler chickens. Thereunto, an experiment divided in two distinct phases was done: in the hatchery and in the poultry house. In the first phase 1440 fertile eggs were weighted and selected, from the same poultry farm, divided in three equals groups, related to breeders age of 46(A), 54(B) and 64(C) weeks, from Cobb 500 strain. All eggs were stocked and incubated under the same conditions. After birth, chicks were selected and sexed, and the total of 822 one-day-old chickens was divided in 18 treatments. Each treatment had an average of 50 animals, relative to gender (G), breeders age (B) and lairage time (L) in the hatchery (0h, 14h and 28h). A completely randomized design (CRD) was adopted, in a factorial scheme (2x3x3), to G, B and L. answer variables were mortality (Mo), waste (Wa), weight (We), cloacal temperature (CT), mean surface temperature (MST) and respiration rate (RR). Data were submitted to analysis of variance and multiple comparison of means by Tukeys test (p<0,05). A microclimatic characterization of chicks room was done through thermal profile of temperature and relative humidity. The second phase was performed in an acclimatized dark-house poultry house, with ventilation in a negative pressure system, located in the city of Cerquilho, state of São Paulo, Brazil. The same 822 one-day-old chickens from the first phase were studied in this phase. After the transportation from hatchery to the farm, chicks were immediately housed and divided in 18 pens, in accordance to the treatments. Animals consumed diet and water ad libitum, and were submitted to the same handling procedures, nutritional diets and microclimatic conditions through experimental period. A microclimatic characterization of the poultry house was done through temperature and relative humidity thermal profile. Birds were weighted at 7th, 14th and 21st days of life. Was adopted a CRD, in a factorial scheme (2x3x3), to G, B and L. We data were submitted to analysis of variance and multiple comparison of means by Tukeys test (p<0,05). To answer variables Mo, Wa, total mortality (TM), average daily weight gain (DWG), feed: weight gain ratio (FWGR) and productive efficiency index (PEI), a descriptive analysis was done. Microclimatic conditions, breeder (B), gender (G), and lairage time (L) influenced the quality of one-day-old chickens. Considering We as evaluation parameter, lairage time of 0h was considered the better one. Chicks from breeder C presented the lower losses of weight. Climatic conditions, breeders age, gender, and lairage time, influenced performance of broilers at 21 days of age. Considering PEI to broilers at 21 days, one-day-old chickens from breeder B and L time of 14h, presented better results.

<p>Animal behavior observation is a widely used method of detecting when animals are ill or injured, but there are limitations to using behavioral observations. Behavioral observations can be labor-intensive, subjective and unreliable. The development of technologies such as accelerometers, which record acceleration and activity-based data in 3D space, enables faster, more accurate and quantitative methods of detecting changes in animal behavior. Previous research has demonstrated the utility of using accelerometers to detect changes in animals’ health and well-being. However, limited information is available on the use of accelerometers to detect changes in behavior due to heat stress, which is a major poultry welfare concern, or to detect changes in activity levels of turkeys. The overall objective of this study was to determine whether micro-acceleration data loggers (accelerometers) can be used to detect changes in turkeys’ activity levels and to identify changes in turkey behavior that are indicative of changes in turkey well-being. Two trials were conducted. Specific objectives for Trial 1 were to: 1) determine the effects of accelerometers and habituation to accelerometers on turkey gait and welfare, 2) determine age-related changes in gait and welfare, and 3) evaluate the validity of the accelerometers. Thirty-six male commercial turkeys were randomly assigned to one of five groups: accelerometer and habituation period (AH), accelerometer and no habituation (AN), VetRap bandage (no accelerometer) and habituation (VH), bandage (no accelerometer) and no habituation (VN), and nothing on either leg (C). Welfare was assessed prior to video-recording birds as they walked across a Tekscan® pressure pad at 8, 12 and 16 wk to determine effects of treatment on number of steps, cadence, gait time, gait distance, gait velocity, impulse, gait cycle time, maximum force, peak vertical pressure, single support time, contact time, step length, step time, step velocity, stride length, total double support time, and duty factor. Accelerometer validity and reliability were determined by comparing the number of steps detected with the accelerometer to the number of steps determined from video recordings. Several age-related changes in turkey gait were found regardless of habituation, including a slower cadence at 16 wk, shorter gait distance at 8 wk, and slower gait velocity at 16wk. Habituation to the accelerometer and bandage had limited effects on turkey gait: non-habituated turkeys (VN and AN) spent more time standing on two feet (total double support time) compared to C birds, but did not differ from habituated (VH and AH) birds. Accelerometer validity and reliability were affected by both age and treatment. Validity and reliability were lowest for non-habituated birds (AN). Precision and sensitivity of accelerometers decreased with age but were unaffected by treatment. False discovery rate increased, and accuracy and specificity decreased with age. Results demonstrated that micro-data loggers do not adversely affect turkey welfare, but habituation to wearing accelerometers affects accelerometer reliability and validity. Accelerometer validity and turkey gait are also greatly affected by the age of the turkeys. </p> <p> </p> <p>The second experiment used the validated accelerometers to assess changes in walking activity when turkeys were under an immune challenge or mild heat stress. Another objective of Experiment 2 was to identify changes in welfare and behavior associated with mild heat stress and a mild immune challenge. A total of 92 tom turkeys (trial 1: 51 turkeys; trial 2: 41 turkeys) were assigned to 3 different treatments in a crossover design: control (C; no heat stress or immune challenge), heat stress (HS), and immune challenge (IC). HS treatment was induced by slowly heating rooms to a peak temperature before slowly returning the rooms to normal temperatures. IC treatment was induced by a live-virus hemorrhagic enteritis vaccine which was added to the drinking water. Video (walking, sitting, standing, eating, drinking, preening, feather pecking, aggression and heat-stress related behavior) and accelerometer (steps/hr) data were recorded for 5 days at 10, 12, and 14 wk of age in order to gather behavior and walking activity data pre and post treatment, which occurred on day 3 of the 5 day period. Steps/hr decreased with age, treatments HS and IC had lower step counts compared to control groups, and each day proved to have a different step count regardless of whether a treatment was imposed. On the day of the imposed treatments, steps/hr were lower for both HS and IC turkeys. Welfare analysis indicated that tail and wing feather condition was worse at 14 wk compared to 10 and 12 wk. Behaviorally, the amount of time spent sitting increased as birds aged. Treatment also affected behavior: HS and IC turkeys performed less standing and walking compared to C birds on the day of the imposed treatment. Turkeys under a heat stress treatment performed more aggressive interactions and were observed performing heat-stress related behavior, including panting and sitting with their wings spread apart. </p> <p> </p> <p>Results from both trials indicated that accelerometers can be useful tools to assess walking activity of turkeys and that accelerometers have the potential to detect changes in behavior that may be associated with conditions that negatively impact turkey welfare. The process of wearing an accelerometer on the leg did not adversely affect turkey welfare, but habituation is important to ensure that accelerometers are accurately and reliably recording turkeys’ steps. In addition, it was determined that changes in behavior, such as decreased walking and standing, can be indicative of potential welfare issues, such as heat stress and an immune challenge in turkeys. Further research is needed to explore the best step threshold for particular turkey ages in order to get the most accurate data in future analysis of walking activity. Furthermore, sex differences were not a factor in these studies as only male turkeys were used which may differ from females in terms of gait and behavior under heat stress and an immune challenge. It may also be beneficial to further explore turkey gait as there were discrepancies in the literature and this study concerning age related differences in gait (duty factor). Future research should focus on the early detection potential accelerometers can provide to the turkey industry for welfare concerns. As shown by our results, walking activity decreases under both a mild heat stress and immune challenge, so future studies should now determine if this decrease in activity level is detectable before overt visual behavioral signs. If accelerometers can detect signs of stress more objectively, accurately, and quicker than visual inspection, then both farmers and researchers could benefit from utilizing these devices to improve animal welfare in the future.</p>

O principal objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar as condições microclimáticas da sala de pintos de um incubatório comercial e suas interações com os diferentes tempos de espera, e a influência da etapa pré-porteira sobre o desempenho inicial de frangos de corte. Para isso, realizou-se um experimento dividido em duas fases: incubatório e granja de criação. Na primeira fase foram pesados e selecionados 1440 ovos férteis, todos provenientes de mesma granja matrizeira, divididos em três lotes iguais, referentes às idades de matrizes de 46(A), 54(B) e 64(C) semanas, da linhagem Cobb 500. Todos os ovos foram estocados e incubados sob as mesmas condições. Após o nascimento, seleção e sexagem, o total de 882 pintos foi dividido em 18 tratamentos. Cada tratamento continha em média 50 animais, referentes ao sexo (S), idade da matriz (M) e tempo de espera (E) no incubatório (0h, 14h e 28h). Adotou-se um delineamento inteiramente casualizado (DIC), num esquema fatorial (2x3x3) para S, M e E. As variáveis respostas foram mortalidade (Mo), refugagem (R), peso (P), temperatura cloacal (TC), temperatura superficial média (TSM) e frequência respiratória (FR). Os dados foram submetidos à análise da variância e comparação múltipla de médias por meio do teste de Tukey (p<0,05). Uma caracterização microclimática da sala de pintos foi realizada por meio de perfil térmico de temperatura e umidade relativa. A segunda fase ocorreu em um aviário comercial climatizado, do tipo dark-house, com ventilação em sistema de pressão negativa, localizado no município de Cerquilho, estado de São Paulo. Foram utilizados os 882 pintos provenientes da primeira fase. Ao chegarem do incubatório à granja, os pintos foram imediatamente alojados e separados em 18 boxes, de acordo com os tratamentos. Consumiram ração e água ad libitum, e foram submetidos aos mesmos procedimentos de manejo, dietas nutricionais e condições microclimáticas durante todo o período experimental. Foi realizada uma caracterização microclimática da granja por meio do perfil térmico de temperatura e umidade relativa. As aves foram pesadas ao 7°, 14° e 21° dias. Adotou-se um DIC, num esquema fatorial (2x3x3), para S, M e E. Os dados de P foram submetidos à análise da variância e comparações múltiplas de médias por meio do teste de Tukey (p<0,05). Para as variáveis respostas Mo, R, mortalidade total (MT), ganho médio de peso diário (GPD), conversão alimentar (CA) e índice de eficiência produtiva (IEP), foi realizada uma análise descritiva. As condições microclimáticas, a matriz (M), o sexo (S) e o tempo de espera (E) influenciaram a qualidade de pintos de um dia. Considerando-se P como o parâmetro de avaliação, o tempo de E de 0h foi o melhor. Pintos oriundos da matriz C apresentaram menores perdas de peso. As condições climáticas, a idade das matrizes, o sexo e o tempo de espera, influenciaram no desempenho dos frangos aos 21 dias. Para frangos de corte aos 21 dias, os pintos da matriz B e o tempo de E de 14h, apresentaram os melhores resultados de IEP. / The main objective of this research was to evaluate microclimatic conditions of chicks room from a commercial hatchery and its interactions with different lairage times, and the influence of post-hatching phase under the performance in the starter phase of broiler chickens. Thereunto, an experiment divided in two distinct phases was done: in the hatchery and in the poultry house. In the first phase 1440 fertile eggs were weighted and selected, from the same poultry farm, divided in three equals groups, related to breeders age of 46(A), 54(B) and 64(C) weeks, from Cobb 500 strain. All eggs were stocked and incubated under the same conditions. After birth, chicks were selected and sexed, and the total of 822 one-day-old chickens was divided in 18 treatments. Each treatment had an average of 50 animals, relative to gender (G), breeders age (B) and lairage time (L) in the hatchery (0h, 14h and 28h). A completely randomized design (CRD) was adopted, in a factorial scheme (2x3x3), to G, B and L. answer variables were mortality (Mo), waste (Wa), weight (We), cloacal temperature (CT), mean surface temperature (MST) and respiration rate (RR). Data were submitted to analysis of variance and multiple comparison of means by Tukeys test (p<0,05). A microclimatic characterization of chicks room was done through thermal profile of temperature and relative humidity. The second phase was performed in an acclimatized dark-house poultry house, with ventilation in a negative pressure system, located in the city of Cerquilho, state of São Paulo, Brazil. The same 822 one-day-old chickens from the first phase were studied in this phase. After the transportation from hatchery to the farm, chicks were immediately housed and divided in 18 pens, in accordance to the treatments. Animals consumed diet and water ad libitum, and were submitted to the same handling procedures, nutritional diets and microclimatic conditions through experimental period. A microclimatic characterization of the poultry house was done through temperature and relative humidity thermal profile. Birds were weighted at 7th, 14th and 21st days of life. Was adopted a CRD, in a factorial scheme (2x3x3), to G, B and L. We data were submitted to analysis of variance and multiple comparison of means by Tukeys test (p<0,05). To answer variables Mo, Wa, total mortality (TM), average daily weight gain (DWG), feed: weight gain ratio (FWGR) and productive efficiency index (PEI), a descriptive analysis was done. Microclimatic conditions, breeder (B), gender (G), and lairage time (L) influenced the quality of one-day-old chickens. Considering We as evaluation parameter, lairage time of 0h was considered the better one. Chicks from breeder C presented the lower losses of weight. Climatic conditions, breeders age, gender, and lairage time, influenced performance of broilers at 21 days of age. Considering PEI to broilers at 21 days, one-day-old chickens from breeder B and L time of 14h, presented better results.

<p>In recent years conservation of minor livestock breeds has been faced with numerous challenges attributed to decreasing national herd sizes, as well as differences in reproduction and growth. One such minor swine breed, the Large Black pig (LB), is increasingly attractive to small farmers due to their foraging abilities and carcass characteristics. Therefore, the LB pigs have been used in niche pork production systems which market pasture-raised pork products. The LB breed is critically endangered, maintaining a registered breeding population of less than 400 animals, with increasing prevalence of inbreeding and genetic drift. Therefore, the LB breed could benefit from a genetic importation to increase genetic diversity in a national herd with rapidly decreasing animal numbers. A genetic importation would require frozen semen to be brought in from another country for use in breeding U.S. pigs. Frozen-thawed semen (FTS) presents challenges for swine due to the reduced motile sperm cells which negatively impacts fertility. Therefore, the present study evaluated the utilization of FTS in a genetic importation for the LB pig. </p><p>A genetic importation occurred in 2016 where semen from the United Kingdom was used on various farms in the U.S. but resulted in zero piglets born. Therefore, 16 LB sows were donated to Purdue University for research into improving estrous and ovulation synchronization to facilitate FTS utilization. Four breeding replicates were performed where following 14 days of Matrix feeding, OvuGel® was administered at 144 h following last Matrix feeding (LMF) or 96 h in post-weaned sows and two FTS inseminations occurring at: 30 and 36 h, 17 and 23 h, 24 and 30 h, and 24 and 32 h after OvuGel® for replicates 1-4, respectively. Approximately 2.64±0.3 billion motile sperm cells per insemination were utilized in replicates 1-3 with American LB FTS, with replicate 4 utilizing 0.34±0.03 billion motile sperm cells of imported FTS. Follicle diameter (<i>P</i>=0.260), ovulation within 48 h of OvuGel® (<i>P</i>=0.411), and weight prior to breeding (<i>P</i>=0.681) did not influence conception rate, however expression of estrus was determined to significantly influence conception rate (<i>P</i>=0.043). Seventy-five LB piglets were weaned across the first three breeding replicates, with parity 2 sows observed to have larger litter sizes than parity 1 sows (<i>P</i>=0.066).</p> <p>Large Black and Duroc-sired (DS) crossbred pigs from replicates 1 and 2 farrowing were fed corn and soybean meal based finishing diets supplemented with (FIB) or without alfalfa and wheat middlings (CON). Following 6 dietary phases through finishing, 25 LB and 25 DS pigs were slaughtered at similar ages for digestive organ dissection and carcass measurements. Loin muscles were evaluated for fresh pork quality and instrumental color and tenderness. LB pigs had a reduced ADG (<i>P</i><0.0001) and G:F (<i>P</i><0.0001) compared to DS pigs. Pigs fed FIB resulted in reduced ADG (<i>P</i>=0.020) and reduced G:F (<i>P</i>=0.007). At slaughter LB pigs were 26.4 kg lighter than DS pigs (<i>P</i><0.0001), and pigs that were fed FIB had lighter live weights (<i>P</i>=0.002) than pigs fed CON. LB pigs had 28.5±1.3 cm² smaller longissimus muscle area (<i>P</i><0.0001), yielding 2.0 cm more 10^th rib back fat than DS pigs (<i>P</i><0.0001). CON pigs had heavier HCW (<i>P</i><0.0001) than FIB pigs, however FIB pigs had greater percent lean (<i>P</i>=0.015). LB pigs had significantly reduced percent lean than DS pigs (<i>P</i><0.0001). LB pigs had loins with reduced drip loss (<i>P</i>=0.009) and cooked shear force values (<i>P</i><0.0001). Overall, the growth and carcass composition of the pigs was most affected by genotype, and to a lesser extent than the type of diet fed. </p> <p>In conclusion, the genetic importation of LB semen was successful as ½ blood piglets were created for dispersal into the U.S. LB herd. Improvements in FTS utilization in this heritage breed contributed to the successful creation of live-born pigs. Additionally, growth and carcass information was obtained for LB breeders to use in understanding and marketing of this heritage breed of pigs.</p>

<p>(From abstract) </p> <p>In the first study, the urine collection method was effectively applied for evaluation of intestinal permeability using Cr-EDTA, an indigestible oral marker, demonstrating the applicability of the procedure in 1-week-old and 6-week-old neonatal heifer calves (n=15 calves). Calf health observations were recorded during the entire urinary catheterization process and collection period to evaluate any negative health reactions to the procedure, or localized reactions. Proportion of localized reactions were analyzed, and the proportions did not exceed 20% for the calves catheterized at either 1 week or 6 weeks of age. </p> <p>In the second study, the developed catheterization procedure and urine collection method was applied using Cr-EDTA as an oral marker to investigate if L-GLN supplementation would offer improvement to intestinal permeability. In this larger study, 30 Holstein heifer calves [1.5 ± 0.5 days old; 37.1 ± 0.86 kg body weight (<strong>BW</strong>)] were blocked by serum total protein, BW, and age, and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: <strong>GLN</strong> [24% crude protein (<strong>CP</strong>)], 17% fat milk replacer (<strong>MR</strong>) +10 g L-GLN/kg MR powder) or <strong>NS</strong> (24% CP, 17% fat MR). MR was reconstituted to 12.5% solids with warm water and fed 3.8 L/calf/d until weaning. Calves were weaned at 56.4 ± 0.5 days of age, and had <em>ad libitum</em> grain (17% CP, 2% fat) and water access throughout the experimental period.</p> <p>During the preweaning period, calves were individually housed in hutches and health observations, which included respiratory and fecal scores, were assessed daily. Body weight was measured weekly, and grain and MR intake was assessed daily to calculate average daily gain (<strong>ADG</strong>), average daily feed intake [<strong>ADFI</strong>; grain intake (dry matter (<strong>DM)</strong> basis) + MR intake (DM basis)], and feed efficiency (<strong>G:F</strong>; ADG:ADFI). At weaning, calves were weighed, moved to pens (n = 3 pens/treatment, 4-5 calves/pen), provided free access to grain and grass hay, and then weighed 2 weeks post-weaning. Additionally, urinary catheters were placed at 1 and 6 weeks of age, and calves were orally dosed with 1 L Cr-EDTA in their MR. Urine samples were then collected over a 24-hr period for Cr output analysis as an <em>in vivo</em>biomarker of intestinal permeability. </p> <p>Blood was collected on study days 1, 2, 5, 7, 14, 21, 42, 56, and 70 to measure haptoglobin, serum amyloid A, leukocyte data, neutrophil: lymphocyte (<strong>N:L</strong>), glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, insulin, and cortisol. Two study periods were identified for data analysis representing greater (<strong>P1</strong>; weeks 1-3) and reduced (<strong>P2</strong>; weeks 4-8) enteric disease susceptibility. Data were analyzed using PROC GLIMMIX or PROC MIXED in SAS 9.4 with calf as the experimental unit. There was a decrease in total preweaning Cr output (<em>P</em> < 0.05) for GLN calves, and Cr output in 1 week old calves was decreased (<em>P</em> = 0.04) in GLN versus NS calves. The N:L was decreased overall (<em>P</em> = 0.03) and during P2 (<em>P</em> = 0.01) and P2 neutrophil count tended to be reduced (<em>P</em> = 0.07) in GLN versus NS calves. There were no MR treatment differences for ADFI, ADG, body measurements, post-absorptive metabolic biomarkers, disease scores, and therapeutic treatments (<em>P</em> > 0.10). In summary, L-GLN supplementation improved intestinal integrity and biomarkers of physiological stress in pre-weaned Holstein heifer calves managed under production-relevant conditions.  </p>