The use of computed tomography for in vivo estimation of reticulo-rumen and omasum contents in Alpine goats.

Precise in vivo measurement of reticulo-rumen content (volume and mass) is required for the study of digestive processes. Rumen-cannulated animals have been classically used for this purpose, and less invasive alternatives are currently investigated to meet the replacement, reduction, and refinement (3Rs) ethical considerations in animal science. The objective was to compare in vivo reticulo-rumen and omasum volumes assessed by computed tomography (CT) scan with postmortem measurement of their respective digesta masses in dairy goats.

Estimation of dairy goat body composition: A direct calibration and comparison of eight methods.

The objective was to compare eight methods for estimation of dairy goat body composition, by calibrating against chemical composition (water, lipid, protein, mineral and energy) measured post-mortem. The methods tested on 20 Alpine goats were body condition score (BCS), 3-dimension imaging (3D) automatic assessment of BCS or whole body scan, ultrasound, computer tomography (CT), adipose cell diameter, deuterium oxide dilution space (DOS) and bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS). Regressions were tested between predictive variates derived from the methods and empty body (EB) composition.

Genetic determinism of boar taint and relationship with growth traits, meat quality and lesions.

Breeding entire males is an alternative to surgical castration to improve their welfare. However, entire males may have a major quality defect called boar taint. Boar taint is partly due to the presence of androstenone in fat.

Effect of feed restriction on the performance and behaviour of pigs immunologically castrated with Improvac®.

For centuries, entire male pigs have been castrated to reduce the risk of boar taint. However, physical castration of pig is increasingly being questioned with regard to animal welfare considerations. Immunization against gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) provides an alternative to physical castration.

Comparison of the lipid content and fatty acid composition of intermuscular and subcutaneous adipose tissues in pig carcasses.

Lipid contents and compositions were measured in 35 pigs from seven genotype-sex groups with large variations in body composition. The animals were slaughtered at 115kg live weight, and the left side was separated into four primal cuts: belly, ham, loin, and shoulder. Samples of adipose tissues were taken from flare fat and from subcutaneous and intermuscular adipose tissues in each of the four cuts.