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Testing of four bird flu vaccines starts in the US

Written by c001os on . Posted in Nutrinfo, Poultry.

The US government has begun testing vaccines against avian influenza for poultry after a record-breaking outbreak forced the slaughter of more than 58 million chickens, turkeys and other poultry. The trials carried out by the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service are a first step towards the possible use of vaccines. The USDA is testing 2 vaccines developed by its Agricultural Research Service, 1 each from Zoetis and another from Merck Animal Health. Zoetis previously supplied its vaccine to a USDA stockpile in 2016, following the massive outbreak in the US a year earlier, but it was never used. Initial data from the animal study with a single dose of the vaccine are expected to be available in May, with researchers hoping to have 2-dose vaccine challenge studies with results in June. If the trials are successful and USDA elects to continue development, it would take at least 18-24 months for a vaccine that matches the current virus to be commercially available.

DNA helps understand pig muscle development

Written by c001os on . Posted in Nutrinfo, Pig.

Analysis of pig DNA has offered insights into important correlations with muscle growth. This can provide tools to help predict piglet growth and support pig breeding programmes. Researchers from the Roslin Institute and the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health sought to find and examine regions of DNA that regulate muscle development in piglets. The team used a technique to study DNA in frozen tissue, which is advantageous because it can help limit the numbers of animals used for research. They applied this technique to samples from muscle in piglets at various stages of development, to pinpoint regions of DNA that control activity in genes linked to muscle growth, and to study activity in these genes. Variations in regions of DNA were observed between small and large piglets. These variations suggest a difference in how DNA is regulated – which in turn governs muscle growth – between large and small piglets. Researchers hope to explore their data further to identify variations in the genetic code of pigs that are linked to growth, and better understand how these differences regulate the activity of key genes involved in muscle development, to inform pig breeding programmes.

Hemp products high in THC can contaminate milk

Written by c001os on . Posted in Cattle, Nutrinfo.

Cows fed hemp silage high in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) produced contaminated milk and showed signs of intoxication in a study that has garnered attention for making cows “get high” on hemp. But the study also showed that other forms of hemp silage did not have the same effect, suggesting concentrations of cannabinoids like THC will be critical to determining which hemp products should be approved for use in animal feed. In the study, led by researchers at the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, lactating dairy cows initially received a diet in which corn silage was partially replaced by a hemp silage made from the whole hemp plant. The initial silage was intentionally selected to contain lower concentrations of THC in order to provide the cows with an “adaptation” period, according to the researchers.

After this adaptation period, the researchers switched the cows to a diet containing hemp silage comprised exclusively of the leaves, flowers and seeds of the hemp plant. This silage intentionally contained a higher concentration of of THC, the cannabinoid known to be responsible for most of the intoxicating effects associated with cannabis, with the researchers estimating that the cows ingested up to 86 times more THC than would be required to trigger negative health effects in humans. Cows developed symptoms including increased salivation and nasal secretion after they began eating the high-THC diet. The study also observed that feed intake, and therefore milk production, decreased significantly two days after the high-THC silage was administered. These symptoms abated after the high-THC diet was removed, according to the researchers, and did not occur during the initial adaptation period. Researchers also observed that the milk from the cows in the study contained detectable levels of multiple cannabinoids, including THC, during the adaptation period where the cows received the low-THC hemp, and when they were fed the high-THC hemp. The amount of THC that accumulated in the milk exceeded the acute reference dose at which negative health effects may occur in humans. However, the researchers noted that the acute reference dose is a hypothetical limit and that the study did not test whether the milk had any actual effect on humans. The results of the study indicate that “livestock farmers should only feed components of commercial hemp plants that are approved as feed or components of feed,” said the spokesperson for the German Federal Institute for Risk Management.

Can pig behaviour be used to predict the development of stomach ulcers?

Written by c001os on . Posted in Nutrinfo, Pig.

Research carried out by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute in Northern Ireland and Queen’s University, Belfast has found that stomach ulcers may cause changes in the way pigs rest, or may be the result of such changes. Therefore, changes in behaviour may allow an ulcer to be detected before more serious damage occurs. Also, pigs with stomach ulcers have been shown to be less prone to harmful behaviours such as tail biting. Stomach ulcers are an important pathological condition in pig farming. Research in several European countries suggests that approximately 20% of slaughtered pigs have mild ulcers, whilst another 10% have severe ulcers. The researchers from the two institutions identified pigs with and without stomach ulcers at slaughter, and then compared their behaviour using video recordings taken in the two weeks prior to slaughter.

The most obvious difference was the side they chose to rest on. Pigs with stomach ulcers (even mild ones) were much less likely to lie on their right side than those without ulcers (on average 12% of the time, as compared to 25% of the time for those without ulcers). The research team also observed that pigs with stomach ulcers showed less harmful social behaviour than those without ulcers; tail biting occurred only a third as often as in pigs without ulcers, and ear biting half as often. Both ulcers and harmful social behaviour are increased by stress, and it is conceivable that some pigs respond to stress by adapting their behaviour, while others that do not act upon it may suffer more physical consequences.

Fungi-based postbiotic may improve layers’ performance

Written by c001os on . Posted in Nutrinfo, Poultry.

Aspergillus oryzae (AO) is a multi-cellular filamentous fungus, largely used to ferment rice and soybeans in East Asia. Its genome contains dormant metabolic pathways that are activated when the organism is under certain stressors.

This results in the production of unique metabolites that can improve animal health and gut health. While many strains of Aspergillus produce toxins, AO has lost the capacity to produce toxins through genetic mutations, making it a safe organism to work with. Feeding a postbiotic derived from it can improve layer performance and egg quality, as well as reduce mortality. “Feeding postbiotics will help satisfy the global industry’s growing consumption of eggs and egg products,” Dr César Ocasio, BioZyme Business Development and Innovation Manager, said at the 2023 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE).

According to Ocasio, the AO-derived postbiotic called AO-Biotics EQE is the first that has been developed specifically for layers and has been shown to increase the number of saleable eggs and egg mass, while allowing producers to keep their layers in production for longer periods of time. In BioZyme’s studies, layers from 15 to 43 weeks of age fed 50 grams of postbiotic per ton showed a 39% fewer incidence of shell-less eggs and 26% fewer mortalities, compared to layers fed a control diet. Improvements were also observed in egg mass, shell thickness and feed conversion ratio.

Chinese pork production at eight-year high

Written by c001os on . Posted in Nutrinfo, Pig.

China’s pork production in 2022 rose 4.6% from 2021, to the highest level since 2014, according to official data released in mid-January that contradicted expectations of lower growth, reported Reuters. Pork output from the world’s top meat producer reached 55.41 million tons, the highest since 56.71 million tons eight years ago. Output was boosted by a high fourth-quarter production of 13.91 million tons, according to Reuters calculations based on data from the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics. This was 0.87% higher than the same quarter a year earlier, despite labour shortages in slaughterhouses due to the COVID outbreaks. Farmers have raised heavier hogs in the hope of benefiting from an expected recovery in demand and prices, which could have boosted output. However, demand remained subdued as the resurgence of the COVID-19 epidemic in China caused many to stay at home, causing prices to fall.

“Feed production has been weak throughout 2022 and we have also seen this reflected in the lower yearly soybean import number. It is difficult to reconcile this higher meat production number with the declines seen in feed production and soybean imports,” said Darin Friedrichs, co-founder of Shanghai-based agriculture consultancy Sitonia Consulting. The data shows that China’s pork production has increased every quarter year-on-year for the last two years despite weak demand. China’s beef output rose 3% last year to 7.18 million tons, the data also showed, while poultry output rose 2.6% to 24.43 million tons and lamb and mutton increased 2% to 5.25 million tons.

Not a smooth road ahead for insect use in feed

Written by c001os on . Posted in Nutrinfo, Poultry.

Livestock feed containing insect products is currently relatively expensive compared to conventional feed, as insects are currently mainly processed in pet food and fish feed. In these two markets a higher margin can be achieved and consumers are willing to pay higher prices than livestock farmers can afford. Christiaan Buitink, ForFarmers poultry product manager and nutritionist, said legislation is still a problem:

“Insects are now equal to pigs, chickens and cows by law. As a result, you are only allowed to feed them certain raw materials that are also suitable for these other animals. Many residual streams that could be suitable as insect food do not qualify as such.”

Dr Pattanapong Tiwasing, researcher at Scotland’s Rural College, is calling on the UK’s Food Standards Agency to urgently introduce a new “UK-specific transitional measure” to allow the insect sector to survive in the country. Pattanapong, who comes from Thailand, where eating insects as a snack is commonplace, said:

“The introduction of new and evolving EU regulations to edible insect products has muddled the waters, leading to confusing procedures for those looking to trade and export edible insects. This has been particularly impactful following Brexit because it means there are currently no regulations for the edible insect (for human consumption) industry, and it is therefore illegal to sell insects for human consumption in the UK. Policymakers need to take urgent action in order for the insect industry to survive in Europe and the UK,” said the researcher.

FEFAC: Among the current crises, let’s not forget climate change!

Written by c001os on . Posted in Cattle, Nutrinfo, Pig, Poultry.

Last year has brought more unexpected turmoil in the feed industry. But even with the effects of COVID-19 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the importance of combating climate change has not diminished. If anything, these crises have only highlighted the need for more sustainable feed production practices, said Asbjørn Børsting, president of the European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation (FEFAC).

The events of the past year have highlighted the need for the EU feed industry to continue and expand its environmental efforts, according to a progress report published by FEFAC on its progress this year towards the associations’ 2030 sustainability goals. Shortages and rising prices highlight the need to integrate resilience into sustainability goals. While sustainability goals could potentially fall by the wayside in the face of crisis, it’s important to note that climate change has contributed to some of the difficulties the feed industry faces, said Børsting.

The progress report highlights the publication of a handbook on circular feed in June 2022 as an area where current conditions could accelerate progress towards sustainability. The use of circular feeds not only contributes to sustainability goals by reducing waste and carbon emissions, but also increases the EU’s feed autonomy by creating a more resilient, localized supply chain, Børsting said. Hopefully, he said, legislative measures will improve the industry’s ability to implement circular feed concepts.

Automatic reports on mastitis from a digital development

Written by c001os on . Posted in Cattle, Nutrinfo.

Dairy farmers are now receiving somatic cell count and clinical mastitis results after each milking through the Mastitis Pattern Analysis Tool (MPAT). The MPAT analyses individual herd data to determine whether the predominant infection patterns is environmental or infectious during the lactation or dry period, as well as the seasonality of infection and heifer infection.

This will allow farmers and veterinarians to work together to identify the pattern of mastitis in their herd and to take the most effective targeted control measures. The stakes are high, as mastitis causes greater economic losses than any other disease affecting dairy cattle production. Speaking about the tool, which was developed at the University of Nottingham with the help of a research team from the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) and with significant government funding, Jake Thompson, from LLM Farm Vets, part of the VetPartners group, said:

“The great thing about this tool is that both the farmer and myself are sent a report automatically after each milk recording. It allows us to have a targeted conversation about udder health as soon as we have their latest data available. If the mastitis pattern shows there is more of a problem in early lactation from infections picked up from the environment during the dry period, we will then look more closely at how the dry cows are being managed. On other farms, the main current problem may be completely different.”

Audio monitoring can provide broiler health insights

Written by c001os on . Posted in Nutrinfo, Poultry.

Audio analytics, sensors and other new tools assess bird behaviour and vocalizations to provide early warning of potential problems related to broiler health and welfare, explained Tom Darbonne, CEO at AudioT Inc. at the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, Georgia, about AudioT’s technology.

The use of sounds to monitor the health and welfare of broilers is nothing new, it’s just that in the old days, farmers had to sit in the barn and listen. Audio-based assessments help automate this process. “It’s not an entire solution, but it’s a part of the solution,” added Darbonne. “The two technologies that track behaviour really well are visual and auditory.” The system uses a combination of acoustic signal processing techniques and machine learning to track and analyse sounds heard in poultry houses.

When an unusual event (e.g. coughs) or an anomaly (e.g. dry auger or fan motor failure) occurs, farmers are alerted. Darbonne said that in addition to assessing behaviour, welfare and health, the audio technology can also detect potential environmental issues, including feed shortages, disruption to sleep cycles, instances when water pressure in the lines are too low, when ventilator fans are about to fail and other unseen or otherwise undetectable issues.