Airborne dust and bioaerosols in Canadian conventional and alternative houses for laying hens.

Awareness about laying hen welfare has led to the phase-out of conventional battery cages in favor of the adoption of alternative housing systems for egg production in many countries. However, the greater freedom of movement for animals and the presence of manure and litter (sawdust, straw, feathers, etc.) on the floor in some alternative housing systems may be suitable conditions for dusts, bacteria, and fungi to be aerosolized, raising concerns about indoor air quality and respiratory health of workers.

Failure of a mass trapping method against the striped cucumber beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in organic cucurbit fields.

The striped cucumber beetle (SCB) Acalymma vittatum (F.) is one of the most important pests in North American cucurbit crops. While conventional chemical control methods are usually effective in controlling SCB populations, few alternative control methods are available for organic cucurbit crops.

Investigation of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Genes as Requirements for Visual Startle Response Hyperactivity in Larval Zebrafish Exposed to Structurally Similar Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals widely detected in humans and the environment. Exposure to perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) or perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) was previously shown to cause dark-phase hyperactivity in larval zebrafish.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to elucidate the mechanism by which PFOS or PFHxS exposure caused hyperactivity in larval zebrafish.

Ability of unsterilized recycled manure solids bedding to support growth of and .

Although recycled manure solids (RMS) bedding is used on dairy farms, it could allow bacterial growth when contaminated by feces and thus increase the incidence of clinical mastitis in cows. The objective of this study was to describe bacterial growth in three different types of RMS bedding, as well as in sand, when samples were experimentally inoculated with and . Two 3-day trials were conducted, during which treatments included inoculating bedding samples with and , as well as no inoculation.

Treatment of cow manure from exercise pens: A laboratory-scale study of the effect of air injection on conventional and alternative biofilters.

Woodchips in stand-off pads for wintering cows have been applied in countries like Ireland and New Zealand. Their primary role is to protect soils by effectively filtering nutrients during wet conditions, while ensuring a healthy and comfortable environment for the cows. The stand-off pad concept has the potential to be adopted in Canada to provide year-long outdoor access to tie-stall dairy cows.

Enhancement of oriented cement-bonded boards' properties through CO curing.

This study investigates the effects of CO curing on oriented cement-bonded boards. The boards comprised 35% and 45% (by mass) of strand-type particles of Eucalyptus spp. (8 × 2 × 0.

Date Palm Waste Compost Application Increases Soil Microbial Community Diversity in a Cropping Barley ( L.) Field.

Application of date palm waste compost is quite beneficial in improving soil properties and crop growth. However, the effect of its application on soil microbial communities is less understood. High-throughput sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) were used to evaluate the effect of compost application on the soil microbial composition in a barley field during the tillering, booting and ripening stages.

Survey of Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) Natural Populations in Quebec Cranberry Bogs and Identification Using rDNA ITS-2 Sequence Analysis.

The province of Quebec, Canada is the most important organic cranberry growing region worldwide. However, insect pest management methods are limited, and growers face significant yield loss each year, mostly caused by lepidopteran pests. Egg parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) are effective biocontrol agents of lepidopteran pests in many forests and agricultural systems.

Corrigendum: Association Between Recycled Manure Solids Bedding and Subclinical Mastitis Incidence: A Canadian Cohort Study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.

Optimization of a Mass Trapping Method against the Striped Cucumber Beetle in Organic Cucurbit Fields.

The striped cucumber beetle (SCB) (F.) (Coleptera: Chrysomelidae) is a prime problem in North American cucurbit crops. While certain chemical pesticides efficiently control SCB in conventional cucurbit fields, alternative solutions are required due to the ever-evolving regulations on pesticides.

Association Between Recycled Manure Solids Bedding and Subclinical Mastitis Incidence: A Canadian Cohort Study.

Recycled manure solids (RMS) are increasingly used as bedding for dairy cows. However, potential impact of RMS bedding on animal health is not well described. The objective of this study was to evaluate subclinical mastitis incidence in cows housed on RMS bedding.

Apple Pomace and Performance, Intestinal Morphology and Microbiota of Weaned Piglets-A Weaning Strategy for Gut Health?

Apple pomace (AP) is known to be rich in biomolecules beneficial for health and it may advantageously be used to overcome the critical step of piglets' weaning. The study aimed to determine the effect of two levels of incorporation of AP on the performance, intestinal morphology, and microbiota of weaned piglets and investigate this feed ingredient as a weaning strategy. An experiment was performed with 42 piglets from weaning (28 days old) over a five-week period, including three iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous diets (0%, 2%, and 4% dried AP diets) with seven pen-repetitions per diet (two pigs per pen).

Assessing Environmental Control Strategies in Cage-Free Egg Production Systems: Effect on Spatial Occupancy and Natural Behaviors.

Animal welfare concerns have been a challenging issue for producers and international marketing. In laying hen production, cage-free systems (CFS) have been identified as an alternative to ensure the laying hens' well-being. Nevertheless, in CFS, important environmental issues have been reported, decreasing indoor air quality.

Production of composted recycled manure solids from a Canadian dairy farm: Impact on microbial air quality in experimental conditions.

Recycled manure solids (RMS) produced in dairy farms from fresh manure need to be sanitized before using them as bedding material. However, the impact on air quality of composting RMS remains unknown. Four RMS composting methods were tested during a 10-day aging of piles in experimental chambers: static windrow (SW), turned windrow (TW), SW following drum composting for 24 h (DC24) or SW following drum composting for 72 h (DC72).

Impact of liquid hog manure applications on antibiotic resistance genes concentration in soil and drainage water in field crops.

Agricultural practices such as manure applications could contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) within the environment. Our objective was to assess the impact of certain fertilization methods (mineral or manure) and tillage practices (reduced or conventional) on the presence of ARGs and bacteria in soil and drainage water under wheat and grain corn crops. Targeted ARGs (T), , and in liquid hog manure, soil, and water samples were quantified by qPCR.

Design and Validation with Influenza A Virus of an Aerosol Transmission Chamber for Ferrets.

: The importance of aerosols in the spread of viruses like influenza is still a subject of debate. Indeed, most viruses can also be transmitted through direct contact and droplets. Therefore, the importance of the airborne route in a clinical context is difficult to determine.

Production of recycled manure solids for bedding in Canadian dairy farms: I. Solid-liquid separation.

Canadian dairy producers have an increasing interest in recycled manure solids (RMS) as bedding material because of reduced availability of traditional bedding resources. Information regarding methods to obtain RMS and composition of RMS is very limited. Hence, a 2-part investigation was developed to compare the performances of 3 mechanical solid-liquid manure separators (part I) and 4 composting methods (part II; companion paper in this issue) for the production of high quality RMS.

Production of recycled manure solids for use as bedding in Canadian dairy farms: II. Composting methods.

Recent technological advances in the dairy industry have enabled Canadian farms with liquid manure systems to use mechanical solid-liquid separation paired with composting of the separated solids for on-farm production of low-cost bedding material. However, because several approaches are available, it is difficult for farmers to select the appropriate one to achieve high quality recycled manure solids (RMS). Whereas 3 solid-liquid manure separators were compared in part I of the series (companion paper in this issue), the present study (part II) aims to assess the performance of 4 composting methods (static or turned windrow and drum composter for 24 or 72 h) under laboratory conditions.

Irrigation Water Sources and Time Intervals as Variables on the Presence of Campylobacter spp. and Listeria monocytogenes on Romaine Lettuce Grown in Muck Soil.

Irrigation water has been identified as a possible source of vegetable contamination by foodborne pathogens. Risk management for pathogens such as Campylobacter spp. and Listeria monocytogenes in fields can be influenced by the source of the irrigation water and the time interval between last irrigation and harvest.

Soil biochar amendment as a climate change mitigation tool: Key parameters and mechanisms involved.

Biochar, a solid porous material obtained from the carbonization of biomass under low or no oxygen conditions, has been proposed as a climate change mitigation tool because it is expected to sequester carbon (C) for centuries and to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from soils. This review aimed to identify key biochar properties and production parameters that have an effect on these specific applications of the biochar. Moreover, mechanisms involved in interactions between biochar and soils were highlighted.

Fractionation and analysis of veterinary antibiotics and their related degradation products in agricultural soils and drainage waters following swine manure amendment.

The fate of antimicrobial active compound residues in the environment, and especially antibiotics used in swine husbandry are of particular interest for their potential toxicity and contribution to antibiotic resistance. The presence of relatively high concentrations of bioactive compounds has been reported in agricultural areas but few information is available on their degradation products. Veterinary antibiotics reach terrestrial environments through many routes, including application of swine manure to soils.

Persistence of Indicator and Pathogenic Microorganisms in Broccoli following Manure Spreading and Irrigation with Fecally Contaminated Water: Field Experiment.

In 2011 and 2012, trials consisting of experimental plots were carried out to evaluate the presence of pathogenic (Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella) and prevalence of indicator (Escherichia coli) microorganisms in broccoli fertilized with liquid hog manure or mineral fertilizers and irrigated zero, one, or two times with E. coli-contaminated water. In 2011, results showed that E.

Comparison of the gaseous and particulate matter emissions from the combustion of agricultural and forest biomasses.

The aim of this study was to compare gaseous and particulate matter (PM) emissions from the combustion of agricultural (switchgrass, fast-growing willow and the dried solid fraction of pig manure) and forest (wood mixture of Black Spruce and Jack Pine) biomasses in a small-scale unit (17.58kW). Concentrations of CO2, CO, CH4, NO2, NH3, N2O, SO2, HCl, and H2O were measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and converted into emission rates.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Three Cage Layer Housing Systems.

Agriculture accounts for 10 to 12% of the World's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Manure management alone is responsible for 13% of GHG emissions from the agricultural sector. During the last decade, Québec's egg production systems have shifted from deep-pit housing systems to manure belt housing systems.