Housing assessment in farms in the Northwest of Spain: main facility weaknesses and strengths.

The aim of this research communication was to examine and report the current situation of dairy farms in the province of Lugo (Galicia, Spain) regarding facility problems. We assessed the facilities of 168 free-stall dairy farms, housing in total 9228 Holstein cows in milk. Housing factors related to the resting area, circulation area, feeding area, ventilation area and milking area, as well as animal-handling features, were evaluated. Distance measurements were performed using a laser metre or a roll metric tape. A survey was conducted to gather information about cleaning and preventive protocols. Our results showed that most farms do not comply with the objective for cubicle measurements, width of the crossovers, type of flooring and presence of a quarantine pen, which may have a negative impact on the health and productivity of the animals. Therefore, to maximise the profits of the farm, the recommendations given in this study may be useful as a guide when building a new farm or remodelling the existing ones.

Benchmarking welfare indicators in 73 free-stall dairy farms in north-western Spain.

The aim of this study was to describe the status of body condition score (BCS), hock injuries prevalence, locomotion and body hygiene score as animal welfare measures in 73 free-stall dairy cattle farms in Lugo (Spain). A benchmarking process was established across farms: (1) the animal-based indicators were ordered from low to high values; (2) The farms were classified into three categories based on the number of indicators within less than the 25th percentile, 25th to 75th percentile and above the 75th percentile. The median prevalence of unsuitable BCS, hock injuries and clinical lameness was (median (range)) 51.7 per cent (13.3 to 89.5 per cent), 40.0 per cent (7.0per cent to 100 per cent) and 9.0 per cent (0per cent to 60.0 per cent) respectively. The dirtiness of the cow's coat had a high prevalence (73.0 per cent (37.5per cent to 100 per cent)). Most farms did not display consistently good or poor animal-based indicators and each farm had its own set of strong and weak points. Moreover, facilities design and management practices were described to understand source of the observations made of the cows. The incidence of overstocking was 31.5 per cent for stalls and 26.0 per cent for headlocks. The front lunge space was reduced (<90 cm) on most dairies (90.4 per cent). Signs of poor natural ventilation (cobwebs or humidity on the roof) and ammonia odour were observed on 32.8 per cent and 85.0 per cent of the barns totally closed or with a side openingless than 50 per cent of the wall height. The milking parlour was designed with two or more turns more than 90° (9.3 per cent), and failed to allow cows to see the parlour before entering (45.2 per cent). On 52.0 per cent of dairies, more than 15 per cent of the cows had to be forcefully moved into the milking parlour. In conclusion, there was a big variation in the animal welfare levels within and across farms and they could benefit from others by changing management practices related to facilities and herds.

Cancer gástrico en el hospital general Honorio Delgado de Arequipa / Gastric cancer in the regional hospital Honorio Delgado in Arequipa

Presentamos el estudio de 120 casos de Cáncer Gástrico, en 2683 gastroscopías realizadas en el Servicio de Gastroenterología del Hospital Honorio Delgado de Arequipa de Diciembre de 1060 a Diciembre de 1989, con una incidencia del 4.5 por ciento. El 85.7 por ciento de los pacientesestuvo comprendido entre los 40 y 70 años, con edades extremas de 24 y 94 años, y el 5 por ciento de pacientes menores de 40 años. Hubo franco predominio del sexo masculino (61.5 por ceinto), mestizos (76.5 por ceinto) y agricultores (38 por ciento). En 56 por ciento se detecto la ingesta excesiva de condimentos picantes y de alcohol en 65 por ciento. En relación a condiciones socio-económicas el 45.5 por ciento fueron malas o regulares. El tiempo de enfermedad, antes de la primera consulta hospitalaria fue de 47 por ciento hasta 6 meses y del 51.1 por ciento más de 6 meses, no constando el dato en el 0.5 por ciento de casos. En el 95 por ciento de casos el inicio del proceso fue insidioso, siendo los síntomas iniciales más frecuentes dolor abdominal, naúseas y vómitos y astenia. La mayoría de pacientes (49 por ciento) llego en estado general malo o muy malo, con 88 por ciento de anémicos, 72 por ciento en hipoproteinemia y con un 80.3 por ciento de hipo o aclorhidria. Los estudios radiológicos fueron positivos fueron positivos para neoplasia gástrica en el 80 por ciento de los casos y la endoscopia en el 100 por ciento. El adenocarcinoma fue el tipo histológico más frecuente (97 por ciento) siendo sólo en 3 por ciento de casos de linfosarcomas y sarcomas gástricos. El estudio de los factores HPNS demostraron lo avanzado de los casos estudiados. Tratamiento quirúrgico se intentó en el 72 por ciento de los casos, con un índice de motalidad de 26 por ciento