Serum cortisol and haematological,biochemical and antioxidant enzyme variables in horse blood sampled in a slaughterhouse lairage,immediately before stunning and during exsanguination

The aim of the study was to determine changes of serum cortisol and biochemical, haematological and antioxidant enzyme variables in the blood of horses sampled during the pre-slaughter period (in the lairage and in the stunning box) and during exsanguination. A total of 24 Slovenian warm-blooded horses were observed. Blood samples for determination of serum cortisol and biochemical, haematological (red blood cell count, haematocrit, haemaglobin concentration) and antioxidant enzyme (whole blood superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) variables were collected by venipuncture of the left jugular vein in the lairage pen, 60 min before stunning (lairage) and immediately before stunning (stunning box). At exsanguination, blood samples were collected from the wound at the time of jugular vein sticking. During blood collection in the lairage pen and in the stunning box, horses were gently restrained with a halter. They were stunned using a penetrating captive bolt pistol impelled by air and were bled by jugular vein sticking. Horses were physically active in the lairage pen and in the race before entering the stunning box. After stunning, the horses showed paddling movements with their legs. In horses, the plasma lactate and glucose concentrations, the serum potassium concentration, the activities of the serum muscle enzymes aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase, and values of most of the other biochemical (Table 1) and haematological variables (Table 2), were significantly (P < 0.05) higher at exsanguination, than in blood sampled while they were in the lairage and in the stunning box. The serum concentrations of cortisol and chloride and the activities of alanine aminotransferase and antioxidant enzymes were not significantly different between the pre-slaughter period and exsanguination. All selected blood variables were not significantly different between the lairge and the stunning box sampling time, indicating no physiological stress responses of the investigated horses to stressors, such as novelty of the pre-slaughter environment and handling, present in the slaughterhouse between the lairage and the stunning box. However, the significantly higher values, at exsanguination, for the plasma lactate and glucose concentrations, serum muscle enzyme activities and haematological variables, than during the pre-slaughter period, might partially be attributed to stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, caused by stunning and bleeding.     

Pre-slaughter factors linked to variation in responses to carbon dioxide gas stunning in pig abattoirs

The stunning process is an important component of slaughter with implications for animal welfare due to the potential distress and pain in the case of a sub-effective or lengthy stun. This study examined the factors correlated with variation in responses to carbon dioxide (CO₂) stunning of pigs in five Australian commercial abattoirs. A total of 1 769 pigs (199–492 focal pigs per abattoir) were individually followed from lairage to post-stunning. A standardised observation protocol was used based on a literature review of the pre-slaughter factors that may influence the reaction to CO₂ stunning, such as animal background, lairage conditions, handling, stunning system and conditions. Pigs lost posture 22.5 ± 0.2 s after commencement of descent of the gondola into the CO₂ chamber. Latency to loss of posture was associated with farm of origin and time of day, which could be linked to various factors. Pigs that crawled or attempted to escape while in the gondola within the CO₂ chamber took longer to lose posture. Crawl and escape attempts differed between abattoirs (0.6–46.2% of the pigs observed) as well as mounting other pigs (1.0–24.3%). Greater amounts of forceful contacts during handling in the race were related to more mounting in the gondola, but to less pigs crawling or attempting to escape. Mounting in the gondola was more frequent for pigs from lairage pens of mixed sexes, followed by pens of entire males and finally pens of females. Males were also twice as likely to show crawl and escape attempts than females. Gasping in the gondola was relatively frequent (63.1–81.8%) and was associated with higher activity in the lairage pen and higher skin injuries. Convulsions (60.1–69.6%) were generally observed after loss of posture. The type of CO₂ system (group-wise vs single-file loading) had no significant effect on behaviour in the gondola. Nevertheless, pigs slaughtered in abattoirs with group-wise loading systems and automatic gates had lower cortisol concentrations post-stunning, which may be linked to minimal handling by stockpeople, other factors related to the systems, or differences in timing of when blood samples were taken. In conclusion, substantial variation in the reaction of pigs to CO₂ stunning was observed between and within abattoirs using a uniform protocol for data collection. This variation in outcomes between abattoirs and stunning systems and the relationships between handling and behavioural outcomes indicates that improvements can be made to reduce aversive responses to CO₂ stunning. In particular, avoiding mixing pigs of different sexes in lairage and aversive handling in the race may reduce aversive response to CO₂ stunning.     

Bruises in culled cows: when,where and how are they inflicted?

In Chile, cow carcasses present the highest bruise prevalence compared with other cattle categories; however, the causes of the bruises are frequently unknown. In this study, 52 cull cows were transported to the slaughterhouse in three batches under identical transport conditions. A combination of direct observation and video analyses was used to determine moment, pre-slaughter stage and cause of potential bruising events during the period from loading on the farm until stunning at the slaughterhouse. After slaughter, number of bruises, location on the carcass and characteristics of the bruises were assessed. Seventy-eight bruises were observed on 37 carcasses. Fifty-two bruises were linked back to their causal event. Results showed that 46% of these bruises were a result of interactions between animal and facility, and most of them were inflicted in the stunning box, 27% of the bruises originated from animal–animal interactions and were mostly inflicted during lairage, another 27% was a result of human–animal interactions and were mostly inflicted during loading and unloading of animals. The percentages of potential bruising events resulting in a bruise were 43%, 9% and less than 1% for animal–facility, human–animal and animal–animal interactions, respectively. Most bruises on the back site were inflicted when the animal was in the stunning box (91.2%), whereas bruises on the pin site were mostly (75%) inflicted during loading at the farm. One may conclude that in relative short journeys (⩽4 h) directly from farm to the slaughterhouse and long lairage times (>12 h), most bruises are the result of circumstances at the slaughterhouse. A substantial amount of these bruises could be avoided by proper animal handling and adequate stunning facilities.     

Penetrating Captive Bolt Stunning and Exsanguination of Cattle in Abattoirs

Abattoirs commonly use penetrating captive bolt pistols to stun cattle. Humane slaughter requires that an animal immediately becomes unconscious and does not regain consciousness. In this review we consider the concepts of concussion, unconsciousness, and return to consciousness. We conclude that an animal effectively stunned with a penetrating captive bolt pistol, as indicated by the presence of certain signs and the absence of others, has little possibility of brain function returning. Appropriate monitoring at all stages between stunning and sticking would ensure immediate detection and restunning on those few occasions when brain function was returning. When a captive bolt irreversibly stuns animals, sticking has no role in terms of animal welfare; its only function is to relieve the carcass of blood. With effective initial stunning and subsequent monitoring, specifying a stun-to-stick interval appears unnecessary. Abattoir surveys have indicated that it is possible to approximate, or even actually obtain, 100% successful stunning from a single shot. Furthermore, low prevalence of recovery follows. Thus, penetrating captive bolt stunning can form part of a process for the humane slaughter of cattle. This article outlines an approach to implementing standard operating procedures for checking the effectiveness of captive bolt stunning.     

Penetrating Captive Bolt Stunning and Exsanguination of Cattle in Abattoirs

Abattoirs commonly use penetrating captive bolt pistols to stun cattle. Humane slaughter requires that an animal immediately becomes unconscious and does not regain consciousness. In this review we consider the concepts of concussion, unconsciousness, and return to consciousness. We conclude that an animal effectively stunned with a penetrating captive bolt pistol, as indicated by the presence of certain signs and the absence of others, has little possibility of brain function returning. Appropriate monitoring at all stages between stunning and sticking would ensure immediate detection and restunning on those few occasions when brain function was returning. When a captive bolt irreversibly stuns animals, sticking has no role in terms of animal welfare; its only function is to relieve the carcass of blood. With effective initial stunning and subsequent monitoring, specifying a stun-to-stick interval appears unnecessary. Abattoir surveys have indicated that it is possible to approximate, or even actually obtain, 100% successful stunning from a single shot. Furthermore, low prevalence of recovery follows. Thus, penetrating captive bolt stunning can form part of a process for the humane slaughter of cattle. This article outlines an approach to implementing standard operating procedures for checking the effectiveness of captive bolt stunning.     

Stunning fish with CO2 or electricity: contradictory results on behavioural and physiological stress responses

Studies that address fish welfare before slaughter have concluded that many of the traditional systems used to stun fish including CO₂ narcosis are unacceptable as they cause avoidable stress before death. One system recommended as a better alternative is electrical stunning, however, the welfare aspects of this method are not yet fully understood. To assess welfare in aquaculture both behavioural and physiological measurements have been used, but few studies have examined the relationship between these variables. In an on-site study aversive behaviours and several physiological stress indicators, including plasma levels of cortisol and ions as well as blood physiological variables, were compared in Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) stunned with CO₂ or electricity. Exposure to water saturated with CO₂ triggered aversive struggling and escape responses for several minutes before immobilization, whereas in fish exposed to an electric current immobilization was close to instant. On average, it took 5 min for the fish to recover from electrical stunning, whereas fish stunned with CO₂ did not recover. Despite this, the electrically stunned fish had more than double the plasma levels of cortisol compared with fish stunned with CO₂. This result is surprising considering that the behavioural reactions were much more pronounced following CO₂ exposure. These contradictory results are discussed with regard to animal welfare and stress physiological responses. The present results emphasise the importance of using an integrative and interdisciplinary approach and to include both behavioural and physiological stress indicators in order to make accurate welfare assessments of fish in aquaculture.     

Validation of indicators used to assess unconsciousness in veal calves at slaughter

European legislation states that after stunning regular checks should be performed to guarantee animals are unconscious between the end of the stunning process and death. When animals are killed without prior stunning these checks should be performed before the animal is released from restraint. The validity of certain indicators used to assess unconsciousness under different stunning and slaughter conditions is under debate. The aim of this study was to validate the absence of threat-, withdrawal-, corneal- and eyelid reflex as indicators to assess unconsciousness in calves subjected to different stunning and slaughter methods. Calves (201±22 kg) were randomly assigned to one of the following four treatments: (1) Captive bolt stunning followed by neck cut in an inverted position (n=25); (2) Non-stunned slaughter in an upright position (n=7); (3) Non-stunned slaughter in an inverted position (180° rotation) (n=25); (4) Non-stunned slaughter in an upright position followed by captive bolt stunning 40 s after the neck cut (n=25). Each calf was equipped with non-invasive electroencephalogram (EEG) electrodes before the slaughter procedure. All reflexes were verified once before the slaughter procedure. At the beginning of the procedure (T=0 s) calves were stunned (treatment 1) or neck cut in an upright position (treatment 2, 4) or inverted position (treatment 3). Calves of treatment 4 were captive bolt stunned 34±8 s after the neck cut. Reflexes were assessed every 20 s from T=15 s for all treatments until all reflex tests resulted in a negative response three times in a row and a flat line EEG was observed. In addition, reflexes were assessed 5 s after captive bolt stunning in calves of treatments 1 and 4. Visual assessment of changes in the amplitude and frequency of EEG traces was used to determine loss of consciousness. Timing of loss of consciousness was related to timing of loss of reflexes. After captive bolt stunning, absence of threat-, withdrawal-, corneal- and eyelid reflex indicated unconsciousness as determined by EEG recordings. After non-stunned slaughter, both threat- and withdrawal reflex were on average lost before calves were unconscious based on EEG recordings. The eyelid- and corneal reflex were on average lost after calves had lost consciousness based on EEG recordings and appeared to be distinctly conservative indicators of unconsciousness in non-stunned slaughtered calves since they were observed until 76±50 and 85±45 s (mean±SD), respectively, after EEG-based loss of consciousness.     

Heat Stability of Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase and its Isoenzymes in Young and Adult Cattle and Sheep

The heat stability of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) has been investigated in serum from young and adult cattle and sheep. The thermoresistance of the isoenzymes was determined by electrophoresis of serum samples preincubated at different temperatures. Marked differences were found in the percentage distribution of isoenzymes in serum from the two species as well as in the heat stability. LDH in serum from sheep was inactivated at a lower temperature than that in serum from cattle, and inactivation occurred at a lower temperature in young than in adult animals. The enzyme was in both species less tolerant to elevated temperatures than what is reported for human serum. Procedures worked out for a so-called relative heat stability test of LDH in human clinical diagnosis may therefore give misleading results if they were applied uncritically to sera from these animals. The LDH isoenzyme pattern of some main organs in calves and sheep indicates that a serum heat stability test may be useful in the diagnosis of skeletal muscle injuries in sheep. In cattle the tissue isoenzyme distribution is assumed to be too uniform to give information about specific organ lesions either by serum electrophoresis or by a heating technique. In contrast to what has been reported in man, serum levels of α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBD) in cattle and sheep, as earlier reported in swine, are found to be far better correlated to total LDH than to the most thermostable isoenzyme, LDH1.     

Pigs' aggressive temperament affects pre-slaughter mixing aggression, stress and meat quality

Pre-slaughter stress has a negative impact on animal welfare and on meat quality. Aggressive behaviour when pigs are mixed together for transportation to, or on arrival at, the abattoir is an important factor in pre-slaughter stress. Aggressiveness of pigs varies between individuals in the population, and this study investigated its effects on stress and meat quality at slaughter. We mixed pigs at a young age to identify individuals of high (H) or low (L) aggressive temperament using the previously validated approach of lesion scoring. To contrast extremes of social stress single-sex groups of eight pigs were mixed according to their aggressiveness in HH, HL or LL combinations or left unmixed (U) prior to transport and slaughter (n = 271). Each treatment was replicated in at least two groups in each of four slaughter batches. Mixing per se had little effect, but mixed groups composed of aggressive pigs (HH) had more carcass skin lesions and higher levels of plasma cortisol at slaughter and had loin muscle samples with higher pH at 24 h, and lower redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) compared to the other treatments. Females had higher levels of plasma cortisol at slaughter, a more rapid decline in pH post-slaughter and greater lean content of meat. Lactate and creatine kinase (CK) levels and meat pH were affected by the interaction of sex and treatment. Genetic factors, dam and sire line composition, and halothane locus (ryanodine receptor 1, RYR1) genotype, also affected a number of production and meat quality parameters as expected. Additionally, 'commercially normal' levels of social stress were studied in four further slaughter batches with no manipulation of group composition (n = 313). In these pigs, the proportion of unfamiliar pigs and group size of lairage groups explained limited variation in lesion scores at slaughter, but earlier aggressiveness did not. High numbers of skin lesions on the carcass were associated with high levels of cortisol and lactate and low glucose at slaughter, but not with meat quality measures. When stress and meat quality measures were compared for all pigs, high lactate was associated with low early pH and high drip loss, while high cortisol and CK were associated with high pH at 24 h and changes in meat colour. In conclusion, mixing pigs of above average aggressiveness resulted in greater aggression and stress, and changes in meat quality parameters, consistent with the effects of pre-slaughter stress on muscle chemistry.     

Molecular and serological surveillance of Getah virus in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China, 2017–2020

The Getah virus (GETV), a mosquito-borne RNA virus, is widely distributed in Oceania and Asia. GETV is not the only pathogenic to horses, pigs, cattle, foxes and boars, but it can also cause fever in humans. Since its first reported case in Chinese mainland in 2017, the number of GETV-affected provinces has increased to seventeen till now. Therefore, we performed an epidemiologic investigation of GETV in the Xinjiang region, located in northwestern China, during the period of 2017–2020. ELISA was used to analyze 3299 serum samples collected from thoroughbred horse, local horse, sheep, goat, cattle, and pigs, with thoroughbred horse (74.8%), local horse (67.3%), goat (11.7%), sheep (10.0%), cattle (25.1%) and pigs (51.1%) being positive for anti-GETV antibodies. Interestingly, the neutralizing antibody titer in horses was much higher than in other species. Four samples from horses and pigs were positive for GETV according to RT-PCR. Furthermore, from the serum of a local horse, we isolated GETV which was designated as strain XJ-2019-07, and determined its complete genome sequence. From the phylogenetic relationships, it belongs to the Group III lineage. This is the first evidence of GETV associated to domestic animals in Xinjiang. Overall, GETV is prevalent in Xinjiang and probably has been for several years. Since no vaccine against GETV is available in China, detection and monitoring strategies should be improved in horses and pigs, especially imported and farmed, in order to prevent economic losses.     

Animal husbandry: the period 1973-1995

In the last decade the intensification of the pig and poultry industries has continued with increases in production unit size and in efficiency. This has come about as a response to rising costs, competition and reasonable end-product prices. The dairy industry has also expanded output through increasing milk yield per cow, encouraged by favourable market support. However, efficiency of feed conversion to milk production is still not directly selected for in dairy cattle. Developments in beef cattle have been away from intensive systems of production in an effort to reduce capital expenditure and increases in sheep productivity have been largely through increased stocking rates, greater fertilizer use and better grazing systems. In the next decade there are many feasible technological advances awaiting application. The use of computer simulation is likely to assist in predicting quantitative and qualitative body compositional responses to nutrition and in increasing the efficiency of grass utilization, while microprocessor technology will be developed into artificial aids to the stockman. Studies of reproductive physiology will continue to help increase output, especially with pigs and sheep. The building of sophisticated housing is likely to be justified for pigs, poultry, dairy cattle and calves, but not for suckler beef and sheep. There is likely to be greater use of centralized breeding schemes for dairy cattle, beef cattle and sheep. The future application of technology will be limited by a number of socio-economic factors. For example, the use of milk quotas to control surplus production will act as a powerful economic constraint to increased milk production and the growing public concern over animal welfare, pollution and health aspects of animal produce will exert increasing pressure on certain systems of production.     

The possible role of cell cycle stage in mammalian cloning

Progress in mammalian cloning started from cloning embryos (of mice, rats, rabbits, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle and rhesus monkeys) and culminated in obtaining clones of sheep, cattle, pigs and mice from adult somatic cells. Knowing the relationship between the cell cycles of the recipient and the donor of cell nucleus in embryonic cloning by nuclear transfer one can adjust the phases of the cell cycle properly. Metaphase II recipients accept G1 (in most species) or G2 donors (in the mouse). Interphase recipients can harbour nuclei in all stages of cell cycle. Relatively little is known about somatic cloning. Two attitudes are applied: either the donor is in the G0 phase or the recipient is in a prolonged MII phase.     

Effect of animal mixing as a stressor on biomarkers of autophagy and oxidative stress during pig muscle maturation

The objective of this work was to study the postmortem evolution of potential biomarkers of autophagy (Beclin 1, LC3-II/LC3-I ratio) and oxidative stress (total antioxidant activity, TAA; superoxide dismutase activity, SOD and catalase activity, CAT) in the Longissimus dorsi muscle of entire male ((Large White×Landrace)×Duroc) pigs subjected to different management treatments that may promote stress, such as mixing unfamiliar animals at the farm and/or during transport and lairage before slaughter. During the rearing period at the farm, five animals were never mixed after the initial formation of the experimental groups (unmixed group at the farm, UF), whereas 10 animals were subjected to a common routine of being mixed with unfamiliar animals (mixed group at the farm, MF). Furthermore, two different treatments were used during the transport and lairage before slaughter: 10 pigs were not mixed (unmixed group during transport and lairage, UTL), whereas five pigs were mixed with unfamiliar animals on the lorry and during lairage (mixed group during transport and lairage, MTL). These mixing treatments were then combined into three pre-slaughter treatments – namely, UF-UTL, MF-UTL and MF-MTL. The results show that MF-UTL and MF-MTL increased significantly the muscle antioxidant defense (TAA, SOD and CAT) at short postmortem times (4 and 8 h; P<0.001), followed by an earlier depletion of the antioxidant activity at 24 h postmortem (P<0.05). We also found that mixing unfamiliar animals, both at the farm and during transport and lairage, triggers postmortem muscle autophagy, which showed an earlier activation (higher expression of Beclin 1 and LC3-II/LC3-I ratio at 4 h postmortem followed by a decreasing pattern of this ratio along first 24 h postmortem) in the muscle tissues of animals from the MF-UTL and MF-MTL groups, as an adaptive strategy of the muscle cells for counteracting induced stress. From these results, we propose that monitoring the evolution of the main biomarkers of autophagy (Beclin 1, LC3-II/LC3-I ratio) and muscle antioxidant defense (TAA, SOD, CAT) in the muscle tissue within the first 24 h postmortem may help the detection of animal stress and its potential effect on the postmortem muscle metabolism.     

Molecular and serological surveillance of Getah virus in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China, 2017–2020

The Getah virus (GETV), a mosquito-borne RNA virus, is widely distributed in Oceania and Asia. GETV is not the only pathogenic to horses, pigs, cattle, foxes and boars, but it can also cause fever in humans. Since its first reported case in Chinese mainland in 2017, the number of GETV-affected provinces has increased to seventeen till now. Therefore, we performed an epidemiologic investigation of GETV in the Xinjiang region, located in northwestern China, during the period of 2017-2020. ELISA was used to analyze 3299 serum samples collected from thoroughbred horse, local horse, sheep, goat, cattle, and pigs, with thoroughbred horse (74.8%), local horse (67.3%), goat (11.7%), sheep (10.0%), cattle (25.1%) and pigs (51.1%) being positive for anti-GETV antibodies. Interestingly, the neutralizing antibody titer in horses was much higher than in other species. Four samples from horses and pigs were positive for GETV according to RT-PCR. Furthermore, from the serum of a local horse, we isolated GETV which was designated as strain XJ-2019-07, and determined its complete genome sequence. From the phylogenetic relationships, it belongs to the Group III lineage. This is the first evidence of GETV associated to domestic animals in Xinjiang. Overall, GETV is prevalent in Xinjiang and probably has been for several years. Since no vaccine against GETV is available in China, detection and monitoring strategies should be improved in horses and pigs, especially imported and farmed, in order to prevent economic losses.     

Pestivirus Infections in Norway. Serological Investigations in Cattle,Sheep and Pigs

Serum samples from 1133 dairy cows (187 herds), 3712 ewes (103 flocks) and 1317 adult pigs (877 herds), were tested for neutralizing antibodies against the NADL strain of bovine virus diarrhoea virus. The prevalence rate of seropositive animals was 18.5% in cattle, 4.5% in sheep and 2.2% in pigs, such seroreactors being found in 28 % of the cattle herds and 18 % of the sheep flocks. In all three species the rate showed considerable herd and geographical variation. In cattle the seroreactor rate was similar in herds with normal reproduction and in 62 herds with problems of repeat breeding. Of 31 pig sera containing antibodies against the NADL strain, 27 were also positive in a neutralization test for antibodies against swine fever virus (Baker strain). However, all sera showed a higher titre of antibodies against the bovine strain than against the swine fever virus. It was concluded that the immune response of the pigs had been induced by ruminant pestivirus, and not by swine fever virus.     

Control of nematode parasites by grazing management—II. Decontamination of sheep and cattle pastures by varying periods of grazing with the alternate host

Commencing in December 1970, paddocks of a uniform series of sheep pastures were grazed for 6, 12 or 24 weeks by either yearling steers is or yearling ewes. Cattle pastures were treated similarly. All ewes and steers were pre-dosed with anthelmintic.At the conclusion of alternate grazing the effectiveness of the grazing treatments was evaluated by grazing each paddock for 1 month with either ten worm-free lambs (sheep pastures) or three wormfree calves (cattle pastures). The test animals were then slaughtered for total worm counts. The grazing of sheep pastures with cattle for 6, 12 or 24 weeks from December onwards resulted in reductions in numbers of Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis in test lambs. In comparison with continuous grazing by sheep, Nematodirus spp was only reduced after 24 weeks grazing by cattle. Cattle pastures grazed by sheep for 6 weeks showed no reduction in numbers of Ostertagia ostertagi or Cooperia oncophora in test calves. However after 12 weeks with sheep, numbers of O. ostertagi though not C. oncophora were reduced and after 24 weeks of alternate grazing both these species were reduced.Calves following the 6 week sheep treatments acquired both Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis and the calves from the 12 week sheep treatment paddock also carried H. contortus. For sheep the only evidence of cross-transmission was the occurrence of small numbers of Cooperia oncophora in test lambs from the 24 week cattle grazing treatment.The results provide evidence that sequential stocking with cattle and sheep in conjunction with anthelmintic treatment is an effective management strategy for preparing parasitologically safer pastures, but further information is required to determine the optimum timing of sequential stocking in farming situations.     

Effect of rearing system and mixing at loading on transport and lairage behaviour and meat quality: comparison of outdoor and conventionally raised pigs

The effect of raising pigs outdoors or conventionally in a barren environment was investigated with respect to behaviour during a 3 to 4 h journey and a 2 h lairage, blood chemistry at slaughter and meat quality characteristics. Pigs were either kept in farm pen groups or were mixed at loading and kept in the groups, so formed, until slaughter. Non-mixed outdoor pigs settled more quickly during transport and lay down to a greater extent at the end of the journey and lairage period compared with conventionally raised pigs. Mixing led to fewer pigs sitting and lying during transport for conventionally raised pigs, where nearly 80% were still standing at the end of the journey. Mixing had no effect on pig posture in the lairage. Outdoor pigs were less aggressive than conventionally raised pigs especially during lairage and had a lower frequency of unacceptable skin damage in the rear and shoulder area. Aggressive interactions were almost exclusively confined to mixed groups and occurred mainly between pigs from different farm pens, i.e. between unfamiliar animals. Mixing at loading led therefore to higher levels of unacceptable skin damage. Cortisol concentrations in slaughter blood were not affected by rearing system or mixing, but mixed, conventionally raised pigs had higher plasma creatine kinase (CK) activities than non-mixed ones (1132 v. 761 U/l, respectively, P < 0.05). Outdoor pigs had similar CK activities, irrespective of mixing (682 and 771 U/l for mixed and non-mixed, respectively). Muscle pH early post mortem was highest in outdoor pigs and muscle temperature lower, but no pig showed pH values below 6.0. Ultimate pH values were both higher (Semimembranosus (S)) and lower (Semispinalis capitis (SC)) than in conventionally raised pigs, and outdoor pigs tended to have a lower frequency of higher than normal pH values. Internal reflectance (MQM) values in Biceps femoris (BF) were highest in outdoor pigs but the incidence of pale, soft and exudative (PSE) meat was low, varying between 0% and 1% for experimental groups. In general, the effects of rearing system and mixing on meat quality measurements taken early post mortem or the day after slaughter were slight, but the trends seen support the CK results, and show that conventionally raised pigs may have found mixing pre-slaughter to be more physically stressful than outdoor pigs did.     

Immunocytochemical Localization of Aromatase in The Ovary of Superovulated Cattle,Pigs and Sheep

The localization of aromatase, an enzyme converting androgens to estrogen, in the ovaries of superovulated cattle, pigs and sheep was studied immunocytochemically in the preovulatory and postovulatory period using anti-human placental aromatase cytochrome P-450 antiserum. Immunostaining for aromatase was detected in the granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles of all species studied. Theca interna cells were stained in preovulatory follicles in the pig but not in cattle and sheep. Interstitial gland cells, cumulus cells and oocytes were unstained in all species. In cattle and pig the corpora lutea were unstained whereas they displayed staining in the sheep. Preantral and small antral follicles were unstained during both the preovulatory and postovulatory period in all species. It is concluded that granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles are the main residence for aromatase activity in superovulated cattle, pig and sheep, whereas the activity of theca interna and corpora lutea is species specific.     

Immunisation of cattle with recombinant acetylcholinesterase from Dictyocaulus viviparus and with adult worm ES products

Dictyocaulus viviparus causes a serious lung disease of cattle. For over 30 years, a radiation-attenuated larval vaccine has been used with success; however, this vaccine has several disadvantages. A more stable vaccine against D. viviparus, capable of stimulating prolonged protective immunity, would be beneficial. Recent research has been directed at adult worm ES components that may be involved in parasite survival in the host. One component is the secreted enzyme, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), a target for circulating antibody in infected calves. Here, we describe a study where protection was investigated in calves immunised with either native adult ES products or a recombinant parasite AChE. These antigens were administered twice with Freund's incomplete adjuvant. Subsequently, all calves were challenged with 700 L3 and their worm burdens and immune responses compared with those in calves that received an anthelmintic-abbreviated infection and challenge control calves. Significant levels of protection were not obtained in the immunised groups but significant immunity was achieved in the calves that received the anthelmintic abbreviated infection. Antibody responses amongst the groups were different, with significantly higher IgG1 responses in the immune, infected group and in adult ES recipients. Significantly higher IgG2 responses were found in the latter group. Following challenge, the groups that received the abbreviated infection and the fusion protein produced specific antibody that bound the native enzyme. No differences were observed between groups in peripheral blood mononuclear cell responsiveness to either antigen. However, adult ES products appeared to have a mitogenic effect on these cells, whilst the fusion protein exhibited an inhibitory effect. These results suggest that in this form, AChE is not a potential vaccine candidate and that adult ES products, in contrast to previous experiments in guinea pigs, do not contain protective components.     

Physiological and electroencephalogram responses in goats subjected to pre-and during slaughter stress

A comprehensive stress assessment is vital in understanding the impact of the pre-slaughter procedure on animal welfare. The transportation and handling process was commonly reported to cause stress in animals. This research utilises electroencephalography (EEG) as an alternative stress indicator to non-painful acute stress measurement. EEG has been proved to be instantaneous and sensitive with specific results. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the stress level of goats subjected to two different transportation duration and the effect of lairage based on their EEG activities and blood parameters changes. Eighteen adult male goats were divided into two transportation stress groups based on the transport duration: the two-hour (TS2) and six-hour (TS6) groups. Then, each group was then again divided into three smaller groups according to the lairage duration, which was three-hour (L3), six-hour (L6), and overnight (L12) groups. Blood was sampled before transport, after transport, and during slaughter while EEG was recorded before transport, after transport, after lairage, and during slaughter. Results revealed that there was a significant decrease in beta wave activity compared to baseline in TS2 goats (P < 0.05) after transportation, whereas no significant difference was detected in the TS6 goats. At the same time, goats from the TS2 group showed increase in creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) compared to that in TS6 goats. Together with the observed cortisol concentration, these findings showed that the TS6 goats were fully adapted to the transportation stress while the TS2 goats were still under stress. As for the lairage duration, it was observed that the TS2L3 goats showed lower EEG activities than the values obtained after two-hour transportation, while lower EEG activities were found from the TS6L6 goats after six-hour transportation. Therefore, it can be concluded that three-hour lairage was adequate to lower the impact of two hours transportation stress, whereas six-hour lairage was required to reduce the impact of six hours transportation stress. Finally, it was also found that the TS6L3, TS6L6, and TS6L12 groups took a long time to die after slaughter than the TS2L3, TS2L6, and TS2L12 goats based on the time their EEG activity reached isoelectric.