Animal Welfare Investigation of Akkaraman Sheep Farms in Different Provinces of Türkiye.

In this study, it was aimed to reveal the animal welfare levels in Akkaraman sheep breed in Türkiye. In this direction, welfare assessment was carried out at the farm level with the Animal Needs Index (ANI 35L/2000) method in a total of 71 Akkaraman sheep flock applications on animals were carried out on a total of 1525 sheep. According to the ANI score scale, the average score of all farms was determined as 39.52. In the study, welfare scores were found as 38.32, 41.47, and 38.78 in Çankiri, Çorum and Kirsehir provinces, respectively (p = 0.034); it was found as 39.70, 40.14, and 38.69 in small (≤100), medium (100-200) and large (>200) farms (p = 0.535), respectively. While the Famacha and Fecal scores of sheep were found to be low score in sheep raised in Çankiri than in sheep raised in other two cities, the differences were found to be statistically significant in both parameters (p = 0.007 and 0.021). As a result, it has been observed that having opportunity for animals to go out to yard and pasture has a positive effect on animal welfare.

Anaemia in South American camelids - an overview of clinical and laboratory diagnostics.

South American camelids (SACs) play an increasing role in veterinary care in Europe. Many alpacas or llamas presented to veterinarians suffer from anaemia, regularly with a packed cell volume (PCV) below 0.10 l/l, which is a life-threatening condition for the animals. This review article presents clinical and laboratory diagnostic tools for the diagnosis of anaemia in SACs. Clinical identification of anaemic animals can be performed by assessing the FAMACHA© score and the Body Condition Score (BCS), since anaemia in alpacas and llamas correlates with pale mucous membranes and a lowered BCS. Haematological examination of a blood sample can provide a more differentiated diagnosis of anaemia in SACs. A common finding is regenerative anaemia with an increased number of reticulocytes that is often caused by blood loss due to Haemonchus contortus. Changes in a blood smear from an alpaca or llama with regenerative anaemia may include normoblasts (nucleated red blood cells), anisocytosis, poikilocytosis, polychromasia, Howell-Jolly bodies or basophilic stippling. Furthermore, non-regenerative anaemia, often caused by trace element deficiency or cachexia, can also occur.

Correlation of Faecal Egg Counts with Clinical Parameters and Agreement between Different Raters Assessing FAMACHA©, BCS and Dag Score in Austrian Dairy Sheep.

Gastrointestinal nematodes, most notably trichostrongylids, are known to cause significant losses in sheep production. Previous studies have shown that monitoring parameters (e.g., FAMACHA©, BCS, dag score) change with increasing egg excretion. These parameters are well known and frequently used for targeted selective treatment. Based on the willingness to participate in this study (based on a previous questionnaire distribution among sheep farmers in Austria) we investigated the associations between faecal egg counts and the FAMACHA©, BCS, and dag scores of 1195 dairy ewes. Faecal samples were analysed using the Mini-FLOTAC technique I and larval culture. Three raters assessed the FAMACHA©, BCS, and dag scores in sheep to calculate the inter-rater agreement and intraclass correlation coefficient. The responses to the questionnaire of 23 farms were used for the evaluation, of which 16 farms were visited. Trichostrongylid eggs were detected in 95% of the faecal samples. The BCS was negatively correlated with the eggs per gram of faeces (EpG) (r = -0.156; p < 0.001) and the FAMACHA© score was slightly positively correlated with EpG (r = 0.196; p < 0.001). A small proportion of sheep (25%) shed the majority of eggs (47% to 84%). A moderate to good agreement for the parameters was found between the raters. In conclusion, the clinical parameters showed only weak correlations with faecal egg counts, and we confirmed that a minority of the flock is responsible for the majority of the pasture contamination with trichostrongylid eggs. Clinical raters should be trained before a study to increase the agreement between them.

Validation of targeted selective treatment (TST) methodology for gastrointestinal parasites of adult sheep in different physiological states.

We aimed to validate a targeted selective treatment (TST) methodology for treating parasitic gastrointestinal infections in ewes in different physiological states using parasitological and hematological parameters. Forty ewes were monitored from December 2021 to June 2022 and evaluated during various physiological stages in their life cycle. Before starting the experiment, a fecal egg count (FEC) reduction test was performed to evaluate the efficacy of the anthelmintic (AH) treatment. Weekly assessments were performed based on the Famacha© (F) system and body condition score (BCS), and ewes were subjected to AH treatment when necessary, with their physiological states recorded. Ewes were treated when they presented F ≥ 3, BCS ≤ 2.0 (when F = 2), or submandibular edema. Parasitological, i.e., FEC, and hematological, i.e., hematocrit (Ht), parameters were evaluated monthly to determine the efficiency of the TST methodology. Comparisons between the mean Ht and FEC values in ewes subjected to AH treatment and untreated ewes were performed using analysis of variance, followed by Tukey's test. Spearman's correlation was performed to determine the correlation between the variables, i.e., F scores, BCS, Ht, and FEC. All tests were performed at a significance level of 5 %. During the experimental period, 1138 evaluations were performed. The main reason for AH treatment was F ≥ 3. Ewes in early pregnancy, lactation and late pregnancy received comparatively more AH treatments than the other physiological states. Ewes in late pregnancy and lactation exhibited lower mean Ht values (23.5 % and 22.9 %) and higher mean FEC values (3269 and 1426) compared with those in early pregnancy (30.2 % and 727 EPG). In addition, a statistically significant difference was observed in the Ht and FEC values of ewes that presented submandibular edema (P < 0.001) compared with those that did not exhibit submandibular edema. The genus Haemonchus sp. showed a 96.4 % prevalence in coprocultures. A positive correlation existed between F scores and FEC (r = 0.3819) and a negative correlation between F scores and Ht (r = -0.4728). Ewes that needed AH treatment had lower mean Ht values than ewes that did not need the treatment (19.2 % × 29.3 %; P < 0.001) and higher mean FEC values (8747 × 1163; P < 0.001), confirming that these ewes needed AH treatment. The TST methodology based on F scores, BCS, and submandibular edema could effectively identify individuals in the herd needing AH treatment, identifying 13 % additional cases requiring treatment than using only the F score criterion.

Using the community-based breeding program (CBBP) model as a collaborative platform to develop the African Goat Improvement Network-Image collection protocol (AGIN-ICP) with mobile technology for data collection and management of livestock phenotypes.

Introduction: The African Goat Improvement Network Image Collection Protocol (AGIN-ICP) is an accessible, easy to use, low-cost procedure to collect phenotypic data via digital images. The AGIN-ICP collects images to extract several phenotype measures including health status indicators (anemia status, age, and weight), body measurements, shapes, and coat color and pattern, from digital images taken with standard digital cameras or mobile devices. This strategy is to quickly survey, record, assess, analyze, and store these data for use in a wide variety of production and sampling conditions. Methods: The work was accomplished as part of the multinational African Goat Improvement Network (AGIN) collaborative and is presented here as a case study in the AGIN collaboration model and working directly with community-based breeding programs (CBBP). It was iteratively developed and tested over 3 years, in 12 countries with over 12,000 images taken. Results and discussion: The AGIN-ICP development is described, and field implementation and the quality of the resulting images for use in image analysis and phenotypic data extraction are iteratively assessed. Digital body measures were validated using the PreciseEdge Image Segmentation Algorithm (PE-ISA) and software showing strong manual to digital body measure Pearson correlation coefficients of height, length, and girth measures (0.931, 0.943, 0.893) respectively. It is critical to note that while none of the very detailed tasks in the AGIN-ICP described here is difficult, every single one of them is even easier to accidentally omit, and the impact of such a mistake could render a sample image, a sampling day's images, or even an entire sampling trip's images difficult or unusable for extracting digital phenotypes. Coupled with tissue sampling and genomic testing, it may be useful in the effort to identify and conserve important animal genetic resources and in CBBP genetic improvement programs by providing reliably measured phenotypes with modest cost. Potential users include farmers, animal husbandry officials, veterinarians, regional government or other public health officials, researchers, and others. Based on these results, a final AGIN-ICP is presented, optimizing the costs, ease, and speed of field implementation of the collection method without compromising the quality of the image data collection.

Finisher lamb growth and rumen fermentation responses to the plane of nutrition and naturally occurring coccidiosis.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the interaction of plane of nutrition and naturally occurring coccidiosis on finisher lamb growth performance, FAMACHA score, and rumen volatile fatty acid profile. The study included 30 Suffolk, Dorset or Suffolk x Dorset lambs and were divided into 2 groups based on their initial body weight and assigned to 2 feeding groups differing in dietary energy intake to create lambs representing divergent growth curves due to differing nutritional management. Lambs with naturally occurring coccidiosis and healthy lambs were present in both feeding groups making a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments, (a) high plane of nutrition (HPN) lambs with no clinical coccidiosis diagnosis (HPNH), (b) HPN lambs with clinical coccidiosis (HPNC), (c) low plane of nutrition (LPN) lambs with no clinical coccidiosis diagnosis (LPNH), (d) LPN lambs with clinical coccidiosis (LPNC). Body weight and FAMACHA scores were recorded once every 2 weeks. On d 65 of feeding, lambs were slaughtered, and rumen fluid samples were collected and analyzed for volatile fatty acid concentrations. All response variables were analyzed statistically using a linear mixed effects model with fixed effects for plane of nutrition, health status, and a random effect for initial body weight nested within the pen. The total and average weight gain were not associated with planes of nutrition, health status, or the interaction. Health status had an impact on FAMACHA© score (P = 0.047) and concentration of isobutyrate (P = 0.037) and tended to affect total VFA (P = 0.085) and acetate (P = 0.071) concentrations. The interaction between the plane of nutrition and the health status tended to affect butyrate concentration (P = 0.058). These data support the conclusion that coccidiosis infection impacted on rumen fermentation in a manner independent of the plane of nutrition; however, the translation of these rumen level impacts did not translate to the production responses.

Breeding options for nematode resistance in Lacaune dairy sheep.

Due to progressing anthelmintic resistance of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN), supportive measures are needed to control these parasites. In sheep, it has been shown that selection towards an increased nematode resistance is feasible and that faecal egg count (FEC) is the generally acknowledged trait for selection. However, a selection based on FEC would come with certain costs, therefore auxiliary, cheaper resistance traits would be most welcome. FAMACHA©, a colour classification of the eyelid, usually used to determine the manifestation of an infection with Haemonchus contortus, could serve as such. Therefore, we collected FAMACHA©, packed cell volume (PVC) and FEC phenotypes of approx. 1150 naturally infected Lacaune ewes on 15 commercial farms in Switzerland. The Haemonchus-proportion was determined on farm level. Phenotypic correlations of FEC and FAMACHA© as well as FAMACHA© and PCV were 0.25 (SE 0.03) and -0.35 (SE 0.08), respectively, and correspond well with the results of other studies. A multi-trait animal model was applied to estimate genetic parameters with FEC, FAMACHA©, PVC and milk yield as dependent variables. The heritabilities of FEC, FAMACHA©, PCV and milk yield were estimated to be moderate with values of 0.33 (SE 0.08), 0.30 (SE 0.08), 0.36 (SE 0.08) and 0.34 (SE 0.08), respectively. The genetic correlations between FEC and FAMACHA© and between FEC and PCV were estimated to be close to zero with values of 0.03 (SE 0.22) and 0.01 (SE 0.21), respectively. The average Haemonchus-proportion compared to other GIN was found to be 43%. The FAMACHA© classification of the Lacaune ewes seems to indicate a rather high worm challenge, with 38, 14 and 2% of observations classified to scores 3, 4 and 5, respectively. However, the worm challenge according to FEC was moderate. It has been suggested that the genetic correlation between FAMACHA© and FEC is more pronounced when FEC was high. It could therefore be that the lack of genetic correlation was due to an insufficient worm challenge, even though the Lacaune were grazing at least 70 days before phenotyping. The genetic correlation between FEC and milk yield was estimated to be 0.07 (SE 0.22, slightly unfavourable). We conclude that if FEC is used as trait, the Lacaune could be selected for lower susceptibility towards nematode infection. The use of FAMACHA© as an auxiliary trait for FEC is not feasible, due to an inexistent genetic correlation between these two traits.

Relationship between faecal egg count and health status in Nguni goats reared on semi-arid rangelands.

Gastrointestinal parasitism is a major constraint to goat productivity, particularly in resource-limited production systems. The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between faecal egg count and the health status of different classes of Nguni goats. Body condition score (BCS), packed cell volume (PCV), FAMACHA score, and faecal egg count (FEC) were measured in 120 goats of different classes (weaners, does and bucks) across seasons. The identified gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) were Strongyloides (30 %), Haemonchus contortus (28 %), Trichostrongylus sp. (23 %), Oesophagostomum sp. (17 %) and Ostertagia (2 %), which showed higher prevalence at the hot-wet season compared to other seasons. An interaction (P<0.05) between class and season on BCS was observed. Lower PCV were observed in weaners (24.6 ± 0.79) in the post-rainy season, whereas does 27.4 ± 0.86 and bucks (29.3±1.03) had the highest PCV in the same season. Higher FAMACHA scores were observed in the hot seasons for all goat classes, while lower in the cool-dry season. Linear relationships between FAMACHA scores and FEC were observed in all seasons. The rate of change in FAMACHA score was higher in the post-rainy season (P<0.01) than in other seasons as FEC increased in weaners and does. Bucks had a higher rate of change in FAMACHA in the hot-wet season (P<0.0001) as FEC increased. The rate of BCS decline was higher in the post-rainy season in weaners and does (P<0.01) and bucks (P<0.05) than in other seasons. The decline in PCV was faster during the wet than in the dry seasons. It can be concluded that class and season affected BCS, FAMACHA, and PCV. A linear relationship between FEC and FAMACHA score suggests that FAMACHA could be a good indicator of GIN burden.

Mobile app for targeted selective treatment of haemonchosis in sheep.

Livestock is an important part of many countries gross domestic product, and sanitary control impacts herd management costs. To contribute to incorporating new technologies into this economic chain, this work presents a mobile application for decision assistance to treatment against parasitic infection by Haemonchus contortus in small ruminants. Based on the Android system, the proposed software is a semi-automated computer-aided procedure to assist Famacha© pre-trained farmers in applying anthelmintic treatment. It mimics the two-class decision procedure performed by the veterinarian with the help of the Famacha© card. The embedded cell phone camera was employed to acquire an image from the ocular conjunctival mucosa, classifying the animal as healthy or anemic. Two machine-learning strategies were assessed, resulting in an accuracy of 83 % for a neural network and 87 % for a support vector machine (SVM). The SVM classifier was embedded into the app and made available for evaluation. This work is particularly interesting to small property owners from regions with difficult access or restrictions on obtaining continuous post-training technical guidance to use the Famacha© method effectively.

Practical guide to the diagnostics of ruminant gastrointestinal nematodes, liver fluke and lungworm infection: interpretation and usability of results.

The diagnostics of ruminant parasites remains one of the cornerstones for parasite control best practices. Field veterinarians have several techniques at their disposal (fecal egg count, coproculture, FAMACHA®, plasma pepsinogen, ELISA-Ostertagia, ELISA-Fasciola, Baermann and ELISA-Lungworm) for the identification and/or quantification of gastrointestinal nematodes, lungworms and liver fluke infecting small ruminants and cattle. Each of these diagnostic tools has its own strengths and weaknesses and is more appropriate for a specific production operation and/or age of the animal (young and adults). This review focuses on the usability and interpretation of the results of these diagnostic tools. The most advanced technical information on sampling, storage, advantages and limitations of each tool for different types of production operations and animal categories is provided.