Tremor tales: A cohort study of general and neurological signs in pigs with atypical porcine pestivirus-induced congenital tremor.

Congenital tremor (CT) caused by atypical porcine pestivirus (APPV) is a widespread disease in the swine industry. It is characterized by tremors in newborn piglets, but tremor description and association to other clinical signs are not well documented. This study's objectives were to characterize general and neurological clinical signs of APPV-induced CT and describe the progression and associations between the different signs.

Fracture morphology and ossification process of the keel bone in modern laying hens based on radiographic imaging.

Keel bone fractures (KBF) are one of the most important welfare problems in commercial laying hens. Despite extensive research on the matter, its etiology remains unclear. Studying fracture characteristics in radiographic images can aid in the understanding of the disorder.

A new histopathology scoring protocol reveals myopathy features in PSE-like pork.

Pale, Soft, and Exudative (PSE)-like pork defects are associated with fiber destruction and pale discoloration and have become a severe economic burden for the European meat sector. However, robust detection of PSE-like pork and its diverse features is challenging and makes studies into defect causation difficult. Implementation of histological examination may improve our knowledge about less-known features linked to PSE-like defects.

Live black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae in feed for laying hens: effects on hen gut microbiota and behavior.

This study examined the effects of including live black soldier fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens) larvae in the diet of laying hens on gut microbiota, and the association between microbiota and fearfulness. A total of 40 Bovans White laying hens were individually housed and fed 1 of 4 dietary treatments that provided 0, 10, 20%, or ad libitum daily dietary portions of live BSF larvae for 12 wk. Cecum microbiota was collected at the end of the experiment and sequenced.

Mortality risk on farm and during transport: a comparison of 2 broiler hybrids with different growth rates.

Mortality in broilers is often associated with poor health and welfare and has a complex and multifactorial etiology. Recent studies under experimental conditions indicated that genetic selection for fast growth is an important risk factor for mortality in broiler chickens. However, the knowledge on broiler mortality in general, and in slower growing broilers in particular, under commercial conditions is still limited.

A walk through the broiler breeder life: how do footpad dermatitis and gait scores develop from rearing to slaughter?

The two most common animal-based indicators used to evaluate leg health in broiler chickens are footpad dermatitis (FPD) and gait scoring, but these indicators are less explored in broiler breeders. This study is the first to investigate FPD and gait scoring in broiler breeders during their lifespan from rearing to end of life. In total, eight flocks were monitored (four Ross and four Hubbard) at five different timepoints, in rearing (5 and 15 weeks of age), during the production period (25 and 45 weeks of age) and at the end of the production period (approximately 60 weeks of age).

Health effects of feed dilution and roughage in Ross 308 broiler breeder cockerels.

To ensure reproductivity and prevent obesity, broiler breeder's growth rate is controlled by quantitative feed restriction. However, feed restriction is associated with chronic hunger, frustration, and abnormal behaviors, thus representing a welfare problem. Feed diluted with insoluble fiber is an alternative, allowing larger amounts of feed and more gut filling, increasing satiety without increasing the caloric intake.

Effect of light sources with and without UVA on selected behavior and health indicators in commercial broiler breeder flocks.

As new light sources are being developed for poultry houses, systematic investigations on how these influence behavior and health in commercial broiler breeders are needed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 2 light sources (Evolys with UVA (LED) and Biolux 965 (CFL)) on the behavior and health of 2 broiler breeder hybrids during the production period. Eight commercial breeder flocks (Ross 308 n = 4, Hubbard JA757 n = 4) with Evolys (Ross n = 2, Hubbard n = 2) or Biolux (Ross n = 2, Hubbard n = 2) were visited at 25 and 50 wk of age to record behavior and health.

Causes of carcass condemnation in Norwegian aviary housed layers.

Background: Meat inspection data is commonly used to monitor health and welfare in commercial broiler production; however, less used in layers. Slaughterhouse records can provide insight into animal and herd health and identify important health and welfare challenges. To gain knowledge of health issues in commercial aviary housed laying hens, the aim of this repeated cross-sectional study was to describe the occurrence and causes of carcass condemnation, including dead-on-arrivals (DOA), in commercial aviary housed layers in Norway, and to explore seasonal patterns and correlation between DOA and number of carcass condemnations.

The Aviary Transect-a practical welfare assessment tool to improve the management of cage-free laying hens.

The Aviary Transect (AT) is a method for assessing welfare in cage-free laying hen flocks, and comprises standardized walks along each aisle screening the flock for selected welfare indicators: feather loss (FL) on head, back, breast, and tail, wounds on head, back, tail, and feet, dirty plumage, enlarged crop, sickness, and birds found dead. The method is quick (20 min for a flock of 7,500 hens), has good interobserver agreement and shows positive correlations with individual bird sampling methods. However, it is less clear whether AT can be used to detect differences in flock health and welfare related to housing and management.

Comparison of carcass condemnation causes in two broiler hybrids differing in growth rates.

Experimental studies concluded that genetic factors enabling fast growth rate might negatively affect broiler health and welfare. Recently, the proportion of slower-growing broilers has been increasing. However, studies of health in broilers with different growth rates in commercial systems are still scarce.

Flock Factors Correlated with Elevated Mortality in Non-Beak Trimmed Aviary-Housed Layers.

The use of non-cage housing systems for layers is increasing in Europe and elsewhere. Knowledge of factors that may affect mortality in these systems is important to be able to improve animal welfare, reduce mortality and enhance sustainability. The aim of this study was to investigate factors that may contribute to increased mortality in non-beak trimmed aviary-housed laying hens in Norway.

Description of Light Environment in Broiler Breeder Houses with Different Light Sources-And How It Differs from Natural Forest Light.

Light is a key factor in poultry production; however, there is still a lack of knowledge as to describing the light quality, how to measure the light environment as perceived by birds, and how artificial light compares with the light in the natural forest habitats of their wild ancestors. The aim of this study was to describe the light environment in broiler breeder houses with three different light sources, using two different methods of light assessment. We also aimed to compare an artificial light environment with the light in a range of relevant natural forest habitats.

End of lay postmortem findings in aviary housed laying hens.

Good health and low mortality are constitutive elements of good animal welfare. In laying hens, mortality and pathological findings are usually reported as cumulative proportions from onset of lay to culling. However, knowledge of pathological lesions and causes of death specifically toward the end of the production period are scarce.

Keel bone fractures in broiler breeders: is palpation a reliable diagnostic method?

The aim of this study was to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of palpation relative to necropsy for detection of keel bone fractures (KBF) in broiler breeders. In addition, the study investigated observer reliability of palpation. Four commercial breeder flocks (Ross 308  = 2, Ranger Gold  = 1, Hubbard JA 757,  = 1) were included in the study.

Effect of perch access on perching, health and production outcomes in commercial broiler breeder flocks.

There is a need for more knowledge about perch use in broiler breeders and the potential effects of perches on health and production outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of perches by commercial broiler breeders, effect of perch access on keel bone fractures (KBF), footpad dermatitis (FPD) and number of floor eggs. Two commercial breeder flocks (Ross 308) reared at the same facility were observed during the production period.

Beyond standard PSE testing: An exploratory study of bioimpedance as a marker for ham defects.

During post-mortem conversion from muscle to meat, diverse quality anomalies can emerge. Recent pork defects are often accompanied by deteriorating fibre structure. Here we investigate how bioimpedance response, an indicator of structural disintegration, can help in detecting quality defects.

Microbiological Safety and Shelf-Life of Low-Salt Meat Products-A Review.

Salt is widely employed in different foods, especially in meat products, due to its very diverse and extended functionality. However, the high intake of sodium chloride in human diet has been under consideration for the last years, because it is related to serious health problems. The meat-processing industry and research institutions are evaluating different strategies to overcome the elevated salt concentrations in products without a quality reduction.

Commercial layer hybrids kept under organic conditions: a comparison of range use, welfare, and egg production in two layer strains.

Outdoor range areas provide laying hens with improved opportunities to perform natural behaviors and increase the available space per bird, however, birds are also exposed to potentially stressful factors including weather and predators. Ability to cope with challenging environments varies between different strains and must be considered to ensure good welfare. The aim of this study was to determine how suitable 2 hybrids, the Dekalb White (DW) and the Bovans Brown (BB), are for organic production with special emphasis on ranging behavior.

Environmental enrichment in commercial flocks of aviary housed laying hens: relationship with plumage condition and fearfulness.

Management strategies can have positive effects on laying hen welfare, including prevention of damaging behavior, aggression, and fear, particularly by using environmental enrichment (EE). However, few studies have investigated the effects of the provision of EE in commercial aviary flocks. This knowledge gap is particularly significant considering the increasing numbers of non-beak trimmed hens worldwide kept in aviaries.

Rapid detection of Campylobacter spp. in chickens before slaughter.

Campylobacter continues to be the number one cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in Europe. Poultry, and especially broiler chickens, is considered an important reservoir for Campylobacter spp. Poultry producers prioritize to identify and reduce the number of Campylobacter contaminated chicken flocks by tightening biosecurity and mitigation actions at slaughter.

Developing a novel welfare assessment tool for loose-housed laying hens - the Aviary Transect method.

This study compared welfare assessment results in aviary flocks using 3 approaches: 1) A novel Aviary Transect method, 2) AssureWel, and 3) the Norwegian farm advisors' NorWel method. The Aviary Transect time requirement, interobserver reliability, and within- and across-house sensitivity to detect welfare indicators were also evaluated. The study was conducted on 6 randomly chosen commercial white-strain layer flocks of similar age and flock size, kept in multitiered aviaries.

Screening bioactive food compounds in honey bees suggests curcumin blocks alcohol-induced damage to longevity and DNA methylation.

Various bioactive food compounds may confer health and longevity benefits, possibly through altering or preserving the epigenome. While bioactive food compounds are widely being marketed for human consumption as 'improving health and longevity' by counteracting harmful effects of poor nutrition and lifestyle, claimed effects are often not adequately documented. Using the honey bee (Apis mellifera) as a model species, we here employed a multi-step screening approach to investigate seven compounds for effects on lifespan and DNA methylation using ELISA and whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS).

Molecular detection and genotype characterization of Streptococcus dysgalactiae from sheep flocks with outbreaks of infectious arthritis.

Outbreaks of infectious arthritis in young lambs are a growing concern for the Norwegian sheep industry. In other countries, Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies dysgalactiae (SDSD) is a frequent cause of such outbreaks. The objectives of this study were to investigate the causes of outbreaks of infections arthritis in Norwegian sheep flocks, and describe the sources, colonization patterns and genetic diversity of SDSD in affected and healthy sheep flocks.