Assessing the impact of a test and vaccinate or remove badger intervention project on bovine tuberculosis levels in cattle herds.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a chronic, zoonotic infection of domestic and wild animals caused mainly by Mycobacterium bovis. The Test and Vaccinate or Remove (TVR) project was a 5-year intervention (2014-2018) applied to Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) in a 100 km2 area of County Down, Northern Ireland. This observational study used routine bTB surveillance data of cattle to determine if the TVR intervention had any effect in reducing the infection at a herd level. The study design included the TVR treatment area (Banbridge) compared to the three adjacent 100 km2 areas (Dromore, Ballynahinch, and Castlewellan) which did not receive any badger intervention. Results showed that there were statistically lower bTB herd incidence rate ratios in the Banbridge TVR area compared to two of the other three comparison areas, but with bTB herd history and number of bTB infected cattle being the main explanatory variables along with Year. This finding is consistent with other study results conducted as part of the TVR project that suggested that the main transmission route for bTB in the area was cattle-to-cattle spread. This potentially makes any wildlife intervention in the TVR area of less relevance to bTB levels in cattle. It must also be noted that the scientific power of the TVR study (76%) was below the recommended 80%, meaning that results must be interpreted with caution. Even though statistical significance was achieved in two cattle-related risk factors, other potential risk factors may have also demonstrated significance in a larger study.

Thermal aerial culling for the control of vertebrate pest populations.

Helicopter-based shooting is an effective management tool for large vertebrate pest animals. However, animals in low-density populations and/or dense habitat can be difficult to locate visually. Thermal-imaging technology can increase detections in these conditions. We used thermal-imaging equipment with a specific helicopter crew configuration to assist in aerial culling for feral pigs (Sus scrofa) and fallow deer (Dama dama) in South Australia in 2021. Seventy-two percent of pigs and 53% of deer were first detected in dense canopy/tall forest habitat. Median time from the first impact shot to incapacitation was < 12 s. The culling rate (animals hour-1) doubled compared to visual shoots over the same populations and the wounding rate was zero resulting in a incapacitation efficiency of 100%. The crew configuration gave the shooter a wide field of view and the thermal operator behind the shooter provided essential support to find new and escaping animals, and to confirm species identification and successful removal. The crew configuration allowed for successful target acquisition and tracking, with reduced target escape. The approach can increase the efficiency of aerial culling, has the potential to increase the success of programs where eradication is a viable option, and can improve animal welfare outcomes by reducing wounding rates and the escape of target animals.

Condenações de carcaça suínas devido a doenças respiratórias revisão bibliográfica / Pork carcass condemnation due to respiratory diseases bibliographic review / Condena de canales de cerdo por enfermedades respiratorias revisión bibliográfica

As doenças respiratórias são um problema significativo na produção suína e podem levar à condenação de carcaças no abate. Entre os agentes causadores dessas doenças destacam-se o Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae e a Pasteurella multocida. O Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae é um patógeno altamente contagioso, que ocasiona hemorragia, pleuropneumonia purulenta e fibrosa. A Pleuropneumonia é amplamente distribuída e gera graves prejuízos para a suinocultura. O Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae ocasionador da pneumonia por micoplasma, doença respiratória crônica. As infecções originadas podem regular negativamente o sistema imunológico do hospedeiro e aumentar a infecção e assim a replicação de outros patógenos. A Pasteurella multocida é o agente causador de uma ampla gama de infecções levando a alto impacto econômico. Patógeno comensal e oportunista da boca, nasofaringe e trato respiratório superior. A identificação precoce e o manejo adequado desses agentes causadores de doenças respiratórias são fundamentais para minimizar a incidência de carcaças suínas. A adoção de medidas preventivas, como a vacinação e práticas de manejo adequadas, pode ajudar a prevenir a propagação dessas doenças e garantir a produção de carne suína segura e de alta qualidade para o consumo humano.(AU)

Respiratory diseases are a significant problem in pork production and can lead to condemnation of carcasses at slaughter. Among the causative agents of these diseases are Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Pasteurella multocida. Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is a highly contagious pathogen that causes hemorrhage, purulent and fibrous pleuropneumonia. Pleuropneumonia is widely distributed and causes serious damage to pig farming. Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae causes mycoplasma pneumonia, a chronic respiratory disease. Originating infections can down-regulate the host's immune system and increase infection and thus replication of other pathogens. Pasteurella multocida is the causative agent of a wide range of infections leading to high economic impact. Commensal and opportunistic pathogen of the mouth, nasopharynx and upper respiratory tract. Early identification and proper management of these agents that cause respiratory diseases are essential to minimize the incidence of swine carcasses. Adopting preventive measures, such as vaccination and proper management practices, can help prevent the spread of these diseases and ensure the production of safe, high-quality pork for human consumption.(AU)

Las enfermedades respiratorias son un problema importante en la producción porcina y pueden provocar el decomiso de las canales en el matadero. Entre los agentes causantes de estas enfermedades se encuentran Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae y Pasteurella multocida. Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae es un patógeno altamente contagioso que causa hemorragia, pleuroneumonía purulenta y fibrosa. La pleuroneumonía está ampliamente distribuida y causa graves daños a la cría de cerdos. Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae causa neumonía por micoplasma, una enfermedad respiratoria crónica. Las infecciones que se originan pueden regular a la baja el sistema inmunitario del huésped y aumentar la infección y, por lo tanto, la replicación de otros patógenos. Pasteurella multocida es el agente causal de una amplia gama de infecciones que tienen un alto impacto económico. Patógeno comensal y oportunista de la boca, nasofaringe y tracto respiratorio superior. La identificación temprana y el manejo adecuado de estos agentes causantes de enfermedades respiratorias son fundamentales para minimizar la incidencia de las canales porcinas. La adopción de medidas preventivas, como la vacunación y prácticas de manejo adecuadas, puede ayudar a prevenir la propagación de estas enfermedades y garantizar la producción de carne de cerdo segura y de alta calidad para el consumo humano.(AU)

Zoonoses and Animal Culling: The Need for One Health Policy.

One Health (OH) as a biomedical and social movement calls to reorient public health approaches toward more holistic, nonanthropocentric approaches that do not exclude the interests of animals and ecosystems. OH thus urges reexamination, from both scientific and moral perspectives, of the practice of culling pet, farm, or wild animals in the face of a zoonosis. Pandemics such as Covid and monkeypox highlight the need for more rigorous analysis of the justifications traditionally provided to back these culling practices. Such analyses should then ground reasonable OH policies and legislation that consider the rights of humans, animals, and the environment. Bill S.861, "Advancing Emergency Preparedness through One Health Act of 2021," which was introduced in the U.S. Congress, is a step in the right direction.

Wrestling with bird flu, Europe considers once-taboo vaccines.

To lessen the toll of culling, some countries launch vaccine trials despite trade implications and public health risks.

Public attitudes toward different management scenarios for "surplus" dairy calves.

As awareness grows, some traditional management practices used by the dairy industry will be questioned by members of the public. Therefore, to maintain its social license to operate, the industry needs to account for public perspectives when developing future directions. Our aims were to assess attitudes of members of the public toward the management of surplus calves not needed for milk production on dairy farms, and to assess how specific calf management practices might influence these attitudes. A mixed-methods questionnaire was developed and distributed online in the United States and in Canada. After reading an introductory paragraph stating that surplus calves are generally used for meat production, participants were randomly allocated into groups and read 1 of 4 scenarios that described different surplus calf management practices in more detail. The scenarios followed a 2 × 2 factorial design, and the factors that differed were the calf's age at slaughter (≤2 wk vs. ≥12 mo), and whether the calf was separated from the cow at birth or sometime later. Data representative of key census demographics from 998 participants were analyzed. Quantitative data analysis included descriptive statistics, nonparametric tests, generalized partial credit models, and linear regression models. For qualitative data, we used reliability thematic analysis. Overall, participants were slightly positive in their attitudes toward the introductory paragraph, and participants in the groups in which the calf was slaughtered after 12 mo of age often specifically linked their acceptance of the practice to the fact that the calves' lives had a purpose (i.e., contributing meaningfully to the beef supply). In contrast, only 3% of the participants regarded a slaughter age of <1 mo as appropriate. Participants in the groups in which calves were slaughtered within 2 wk after birth had more negative attitudes, and these attitudes declined even further when the calf was separated from the cow soon after birth. Besides the 2 main factors (age at slaughter and cow-calf separation), information on pasture access, the healthiness of the meat from the calves, and the exact age of slaughter were also considered important by participants to make a more informed decision about their view on surplus calf management. Overall, our results indicate that failure by the dairy industry to provide assurances that excess dairy calves have a reasonable length of life and that this life has purpose (i.e., contributes to the beef supply chain) places the industry at odds with public values. Also, as awareness grows, the practice of early cow-calf separation will be increasingly questioned by the public; failure to begin discussions on this topic will increase the risk that future decisions about this topic will be made in the absence of the farmer.

Levantamento de dados de condenações pulmonares por aspiração de sangue em abate de suínos sob o Serviço de Inspeção Estadual da Bahia entre os anos de 2018 a 2020 / Data Survey on pulmonary condemnatios for blood aspiration in swine slaughter under the Bahia State, Brazil Inspection Service from 2018 to 2020

O presente estudo tem como objetivo descrever os dados das condenações de pulmões por aspiração de sangue em abate de suínos do estado da Bahia, no período de janeiro de 2018 a outubro de 2020, em abatedouros sob fiscalização do Serviço de Inspeção Estadual (SIE). A coleta retrospectiva foi facilitada pela Agência de Defesa Agropecuária da Bahia (ADAB), através da Guia de Trânsito Animal (GTA), e foram coletados dados de 255.834 suínos abatidos em matadouros frigoríficos, localizados em oito municípios. Nos anos de 2018 e 2019, a aspiração de sangue foi a lesão mais encontrada. Em 2018, foram 15,45% (1131/7322) das alterações macroscópicas e 36,48% (1131/3100) das condenações pulmonares, e em 2019, foram 14,75% (1053/7138) e 36,20% (1053/2909), respectivamente. A congestão foi a lesão mais encontrada em 2020, mas não houve diferença considerável com a aspiração de sangue, que foi destaque das condenações pulmonares, com 38,07% (712/1870). Estes dados revelam a frequência de condenação por aspiração de sangue no estado da Bahia e sugerem implementação de treinamentos de manejo não violento para os funcionários dos abatedouros frigoríficos, visto que esse tipo de lesão indica estresse e uma tecnopatia associada à falha na insensibilização e sangria, em razão do animal agonizar enquanto tenta respirar após a incisão no pescoço.

This study aims to analyze data on lung condemnations for blood aspiration in pig slaughter in the state of Bahia, Brazil from january 2018 to october 2020, in slaughterhouses under supervision of the State Inspection Service (SIE). The retrospective collection was facilitated by the Agricultural Defense Agency of Bahia (ADAB), through the Animal Transit Guide (GTA), and data were collected from 255,834 pigs slaughtered in slaughter houses located in eight municipalities. In 2018 and 2019, blood aspiration was the most common lesion. In 2018, it was 15,45% (1131/7322) of macroscopic changes and 36,48% (1131/3100) of lung condemnations, and in 2019, it was 14,75% (1053/7138) and 36,20% (1053/2909), respectively. Congestion was the most common lesion found in 2020, but there was no considerable difference with blood aspiration, which was highlighted in pulmonary condemnations, with 38,07% (712/1870). These data reveal the frequency of condemnations for blood aspiration in the state of Bahia, Brazil and suggest the implementation of training in non-violent management for employees of slaughterhouses, as this type of injury indicates stress and a technopathy as sociated with failure in stunning and bleeding, because the animal agonizes while trying to breathe after the neck incision

Lessons from Animal Culling during Human Pandemics: Is Vaccination a Viable Option for Animals?

Animal reservoirs for respiratory and coronavirus have been major health concerns. Zoonosis due to coronavirus involves bats, civet cat, camels, pangolins and now the minks. In the same vein, influenza pandemics occur when a new strain of the influenza virus is transmitted to humans from another animal species. Species thought to be of particular importance in the emergence of new human influenza strains are swine and poultry and these hosts are often culled during epidemics or pandemics. It is often too easy for humans to forget that millions of animals can die or be slaughtered in human pandemics, including the recent cull of minks in Europe and chickens in Asia. To co-exist with nature in a sustainable way, we must respect our animals by ensuring their welfare and immunizing them against pathogens where possible. Zoonotic diseases are here to stay and will continue to cause major epidemics and pandemics. The other side of the coin is that reverse zoonosis can also have devastating effects on animal populations if pandemics are not effectively prevented and controlled. Unfortunately, none of the COVID-19 vaccines in production are set aside to save the minks. We advocate that animals be immunized to save human lives.

Mind the gap: Comparing expert and public opinions on managing overabundant koalas.

Management decisions that do not adequately align with the values and opinions of the public-at-large can lead to controversy and conflict. In conservation and natural resource management, knowledge of the public's values and opinions are often assumed or based on the personal perceptions of experts, rather than on empirical evidence. Mismatches can occur, and in Australia, an ongoing debate about how to best manage overabundant koalas has divided experts and members of the public for decades. On several occasions, experts have recommended culling of overabundant koalas, and yet culls are rarely conducted by managers. Anecdotally this is due to perceived public opposition to the culling of koalas, but there is little empirical evidence to evaluate this assessment. Using a nationwide survey, we investigated the social acceptability of different options for koala management in a population of experts and the general public, and how underlying environmental values and basic beliefs about human-wildlife relationships can explain differences of opinion. We found significant differences in the acceptability of management options between experts and the general public, although the polarity of acceptability was mostly the same. However, the lethal management options of culling and indigenous hunting elicited opposing opinions. Consistent with previous research, beliefs about human-wildlife relationships and belief profiles were found to be useful in explaining differences in acceptability of lethal control among the public, but not among experts. Biospheric values and increased experience and knowledge could play a greater role in the formation of experts' acceptability judgements. Due consideration of evidence-based knowledge of people's opinions can avoid reactive decision-making based on the opinions of a vocal minority. Where differences of opinion exist between experts and the general public, reconciling these divergent views should lead to better conservation outcomes with reduced conflict over potentially controversial management actions.

Field assessment of the risk of feral cat baits to nontarget species in eastern Australia.

Feral cats (Felis catus) pose a significant threat to wildlife, agriculture, and human health through predation, disease transmission, and competition with native animals. Controlling feral cats and their impacts, however, is challenging. New and emerging 1080-based feral cat baits have shown promising results in western and central Australia; however, the safety of these new baits for nontarget species in eastern Australia, where many native animals are more sensitive to compound 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) than their western conspecifics, has not been assessed. We investigated the uptake of 499 toxic Eradicat® baits by nontarget animals across five different eastern Australian environs and the uptake of nontoxic Eradicat and Hisstory® baits at an additional two sites. Using field-based observations of species eating or removing baits, we determined that 13 nontarget species (eight mammals, four birds, and one reptile) were at high risk of individual mortality, with individuals of 11 of those 13 species (seven mammals, four birds) observed consuming enough toxic Eradicat in a single visit to ingest a lethal dose of 1080. Feral cats (the target species) consumed only 3.1% of monitored baits, which was only 52% of the 31 baits they encountered. We recommend undertaking targeted population monitoring of species identified at high risk of individual mortality, to determine whether Eradicat baits present a population-level risk to these species. Our findings suggest that the small-sized Eradicat baits present a greater risk to nontarget species in eastern Australia than the larger traditional 1080-based meat baits used for the control of wild dogs and foxes. Our study highlights the importance of performing risk assessments for different bait types, even when the same toxin is used, and of performing site-specific nontarget risk assessments of new baits such as Eradicat to assist developing guidelines for their safe and effective use in different environs. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:224-244. © 2021 State of Queensland. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management © 2021 SETAC.

Bovine fetal wastages in Southeast Nigeria: prevalence, causes and public health implications.

Slaughter of pregnant animals for meat is unethical, counterproductive and enhances zoonotic disease spread. This study determined the prevalence and reasons for slaughtering pregnant cows (SPCs) for meat. Pregnancy status of cows slaughtered was determined by evisceration and longitudinal incision of the uterus for presence of fetus. Closed-ended questionnaire was used to elicit information on causes of SPCs and disposal of eviscerated fetuses. Of the 851 cows slaughtered, 17.4% (148/851) were pregnant. Of the 148 pregnant cows, 87 (58.8) were slaughtered during dry season while 43.2% (64/148) of the recovered fetuses were in their third trimester. Reasons adduced for SPCs by the participants in the questionnaire were: ignorance of the animals' pregnancy status, 69.7% (n=119), high demand for beef, 61.3% (n=148), buyers preference for large-sized animals, 47.9 (n=148), economic hardship, 52.1% (n=148) and disease conditions, 42.9% (n=148). Fetuses or uterine contents were sold for human consumption, 17.6% (n=119), preparation of dog food, 27.7 (n=119) or disposed by open refuse dump method, 54.6% (n=119). The 17.4% SPCs prevalence is unacceptably high. This warrants ante-mortem pregnancy diagnosis in the slaughterhouses and strict implementation of the Animal Welfare Act (Meat Edict of 1968) to conserve livestock production and limit animal cruelty and spread of zoonoses.

Obtención y evaluación de concentrado proteico hidrolizado de residuos animales como alternativa de alimentación en Piaractus brachypomus (Cuvier 1818) / Obtaining and evaluating hydrolyzed protein concentrate from animal waste as a feeding alternative in Piaractus brachypomus (Cuvier 1818)

RESUMEN En la industria acuícola, se vienen desarrollando acciones encaminadas a buscar fuentes proteicas alternativas palatables y de alto valor biológico para reemplazar las fuentes convencionales. Debido al potencial nutricional de los subproductos animales, se han adoptado tecnologías para su uso, como las técnicas de bioconversión por hidrólisis enzimática. En consecuencia, el objetivo de este estudio fue obtener y evaluar un concentrado de proteína hidrolizada de residuos animales (CPHRA) como alternativa en dietas para Piaractus brachypomus. Las vísceras de los subproductos avícolas se evaluaron utilizando ácido fórmico y vísceras de trucha al 20% para promover la hidrólisis enzimática a un pH más bajo (pH 3,66). El producto resultante se utilizó en la formulación de dietas para determinar coeficiente de digestibilidad aparente (CDA) de energía y nutrientes, utilizando una dieta control () y tres dietas con inclusión de 10%, 20% y 30% de CPHRA (T1, T2 y T3). Se alimentaron por triplicado ciento veinte juveniles de híbridos de cachama blanca con un peso promedio de 145 ± 3,0 g. La CPHRA presentó alto contenido proteico y se evidenciaron diferencias significativas (p < 0,05) para los CDA de materia seca, proteína bruta, grasa bruta, energía bruta y absorción de cenizas, calcio y fósforo. Los CDA de nutrientes y energía estaban por encima del 80%. En consecuencia, el concentrado de proteína hidrolizada de los desechos de aves de corral tiene un gran potencial como alternativa proteica y energética de alto valor nutricional en la alimentación de los peces.

ABSTRACT The aquaculture industry aims to find new strategies to replace fishmeal in formulated diet-sources with high attraction and palatability and high biological value to replace conventional sources. Due to the nutritional potential of animal by-products, technologies have been adopted for their use, such as bioconversion techniques by enzymatic hydrolysis. Consequently, the objective of this study was obtaining and evaluating a hydrolyzed protein concentrate of animal waste (CPHRA, by its Spanish acronym) in diets for Piaractus brachypomus. Viscera from poultry by-products was evaluated by using formic acid and a 20% trout viscera to promote the catalyst at lower pH (3,66). The resulting product was used in feed formulation to determine the Apparent Digestibility Coefficient (ADC) of energy and nutrients, using a control diet (T0) and three diets with 10%, 20%, and 30% CPHRA (T1, T2 y T3). One hundred and twenty juveniles of hybrids of cachama blanca with an average weight of 145 ± 3,0 g were fed in triplicate groups. The CPHRA presented high protein content and significant differences (p < 0,05) were evidenced for the ADCs of dry matter, crude protein, crude fat, crude energy, and ash absorption, calcium and phosphorus. The ADCs for nutrients and energy were above 80%. Accordingly, the hydrolyzed protein concentrate from poultry waste has great potential as a protein and energy alternative of high nutritional value in fish feeding.

Pre-selection against a lethal recessive allele in breeding schemes with optimum-contribution selection or truncation selection.

BACKGROUND: We tested the hypothesis that breeding schemes with a pre-selection step, in which carriers of a lethal recessive allele (LRA) were culled, and with optimum-contribution selection (OCS) reduce the frequency of a LRA, control rate of inbreeding, and realise as much genetic gain as breeding schemes without a pre-selection step. METHODS: We used stochastic simulation to estimate true genetic gain realised at a 0.01 rate of true inbreeding (ΔFtrue) by breeding schemes that combined one of four pre-selection strategies with one of three selection strategies. The four pre-selection strategies were: (1) no carriers culled, (2) male carriers culled, (3) female carriers culled, and (4) all carriers culled. Carrier-status was known prior to selection. The three selection strategies were: (1) OCS in which [Formula: see text] was predicted and controlled using pedigree relationships (POCS), (2) OCS in which [Formula: see text] was predicted and controlled using genomic relationships (GOCS), and (3) truncation selection of parents. All combinations of pre-selection strategies and selection strategies were tested for three starting frequencies of the LRA (0.05, 0.10, and 0.15) and two linkage statuses with the locus that has the LRA being on a chromosome with or without loci affecting the breeding goal trait. The breeding schemes were simulated for 10 discrete generations (t = 1, …, 10). In all breeding schemes, ΔFtrue was calibrated to be 0.01 per generation in generations t = 4, …, 10. Each breeding scheme was replicated 100 times. RESULTS: We found no significant difference in true genetic gain from generations t = 4, …, 10 between breeding schemes with or without pre-selection within selection strategy. POCS and GOCS schemes realised similar true genetic gains from generations t = 4, …, 10. POCS and GOCS schemes realised 12% more true genetic gain from generations t = 4, …, 10 than truncation selection schemes. CONCLUSIONS: We advocate for OCS schemes with pre-selection against the LRA that cause animal suffering and high costs. At LRA frequencies of 0.10 or lower, OCS schemes in which male carriers are culled reduce the frequency of LRA, control rate of inbreeding, and realise no significant reduction in true genetic gain compared to OCS schemes without pre-selection against LRA.

An abattoir-based study on the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis from culled adult dairy cows in Wuhan, China.

Abattoir surveillance is an integral component of a bovine tuberculosis (bTB) eradication programme. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of bTB among culled adult dairy cows in Wuhan, China and to further assess two diagnostic procedures as an adjunct to the confirmation of M. bovis in animals with TB-like lesions. The study was conducted in an abattoir located in Wuhan, China over a period of 41 days from June to July 2019. A total of 171 culled adult dairy cows were sampled and inspected, and blood samples collected from 134 of these. The viscera and lymph nodes of the carcasses were visually inspected and palpated for TB-like lesions. A total of 28.1 % (48/171) of the carcasses had gross TB-like lesions. 89.6 % (43/48) of the animals with TB-like lesions were positive to a PCR procedure for bTB. The sensitivity and specificity for post-mortem examination for TB-like lesions using a Bayesian latent class analysis model was estimated to be 60.8 % and 86.6 %, respectively. A seroprevalence of 20.9 % (28/134) was recorded for antibody response to M. bovis antigens MPB70 and MPB83 based on an ELISA procedure. There was a low-moderate agreement between the ELISA and PCR results in the detection of bTB (Kappa = 0.46, 95 % CI: 0.24-0.67). The study confirms a high prevalence of bTB among culled adult dairy cows in the abattoir and highlights the need to implement surveillance for bTB based on post-mortem examination and ELISA and PCR methods in association with backward tracing of infected dairy herds.