Udder health, veterinary costs, and antibiotic usage in free stall compared with tie stall dairy housing systems: An optimized matching approach in Switzerland.

Observational studies are important in livestock science. As treatment is not assigned randomly in such studies, selection bias can be a problem. This is often addressed by matching methods.

Influence of Housing and Management on Claw Health in Swiss Dairy Goats.

Due to a rising demand for goat milk and goat milk products worldwide, it is likely that dairy goat production will be intensified in the future, with larger herds per farm. In Switzerland, as in many other countries with intensive farming systems, dairy goats are typically housed on deep litter, with little access to hard abrasive surfaces. Such housing conditions will result in wall horn overgrowth.

The Dignity of Kangal Fish in the Context of the Swiss Animal Protection Act.

Since 2008, the Swiss Animal Protection Act (AniPA) protects not only the welfare but also the dignity of the animal. Weighing of interests plays a crucial role in the implementation of the dignity concept. This article outlines the concept of the dignity of animals and explains the method of weighing of interests in the context of the AniPA.

Self-reported depression symptoms in haemodialysis patients: Bi-factor structures of two common measures and their association with clinical factors.

Objective: To validate the factor structure of two common self-report depression tools in a large sample of haemodialysis (HD) patients and to examine their demographic and clinical correlates, including urine output, history of depression and transplantation.

Methods: Factor structures of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Data was utilised from the screening phase (n = 709) of a placebo-controlled feasibility randomised control trial (RCT) of sertraline in HD patients with mild to moderate Major Depressive Disorder.

Effect of rubber mats and perforation in the lying area on claw and limb lesions of fattening pigs.

Claw and leg lesions are frequently observed in finishing pigs and are likely to compromise their welfare. Providing softer than the usual concrete flooring may reduce both the frequency and severity of these lesions. Therefore, this study evaluated the influence of rubber mats and floor perforation in the lying area on claw and leg health of finishing pigs.