ABSTRACT: Genetic enhancement of feed efficiency can improve the economic sustainability and environmental responsibility of dairy farming. Although genetic selection holds promise for improving feed efficiency across the lifespan of dairy cows, comprehensive data spanning whole lactations or even a productive lifetime are currently limited. To address this, we used production data and data from a camera-based feed intake and BW recording system, along with records of production, feed intake, and weight on Holstein cows from a research herd. We aimed to estimate variance components for a multivariate, multiparity model of production, feed intake, and BW data to calculate genetic residual feed intake (gRFI) for each of the Nordic breeds (Holstein, Jersey, and Red Dairy Cattle). Our approach included investigating a new definition of energy balance (EBbody) calculated from changes in body reserves, serving as an energy sink in gRFI. The data in our analysis consisted of 4,751 Holstein cows (7,851 lactations), 2,068 Jersey cows (3,486 lactations), and 3,235 Red Dairy Cattle cows (5,419 lactations). We used Gibbs sampling to estimate posterior means and SD for all model parameters. Our findings revealed moderate lactation-wise heritability of gRFI (0.15–0.38) across all breeds and parities. Moreover, gRFI genetic correlations varied (−0.2 to 0.4) between early- and mid- to late-lactation stages across all breeds, and for lactation-wise gRFI, there were moderately high genetic correlations (0.39–0.59) between primi- and multiparous lactations across the 3 breeds. Those results suggest the importance of recording phenotypes in most time periods within and across lactations. Our analysis indicated that improving gRFI with one genetic SD unit corresponded to a 2% to 3% gain in net return profit per cow-year, with no or minimal impact on production and body reserve management. We demonstrated the feasibility of incorporating EBbody into gRFI. Comparing gRFI calculated with EBbody or changes in BW as an energy sink trait for body reserve management were highly genetically correlated (>0.95). This result shows that the choice of the energy sink trait for body reserve management in gRFI will yield limited reranking among cows and sires when based on BW records only. However, EBbody offers an opportunity to incorporate BCS information without increasing the number of genetic parameters to be estimated, but it relies on parameters estimated in experimental settings. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the feasibility of developing a model for gRFI over most of the productive lifetime of dairy cattle, offering significant economic benefits without compromising productivity or body reserve management. Moving forward, comprehensive recording schemes covering whole lactations and productive lifetimes are advantageous for accurate selection indices of gRFI.
Hernán Rigoberto Benavidez–Rosales, Luis Rodrigo Balarezo–Urresta, Edison Marcelo Ibarra–Rosero
et al.
Para evaluar los efectos de los sistemas silvopastoriles con la inclusión de Alnus acuminata H.B.K (Aliso) y Acacia melanoxylon R.Br. (Acacia), en asociación con el estrato herbáceo, en el estado nutricional y el desempeño reproductivo del ganado bovino en silvopastoreo en la región andina de Ecuador se realizó esta investigación. Los agroecosistemas 1 y 2 incluyeron Aliso y Acacia, respectivamente, y el agroecosistema 3, solo incluyó pastos. Mediante un análisis de varianza multifactorial con interacción se determinó el efecto del agroecosistema y el año en la condición corporal al parto y en los indicadores reproductivos. Existió déficit energético en el segundo año en los agroecosistemas 1 y 3, y en los tres años en el agroecosistema 2. Hubo exceso de proteína cruda en los tres agroecosistemas en los tres años. El intervalo parto primera inseminación fue inferior (P<0,05) en las vacas del agroecosistema 1 y en los años 2 y 3. La condición corporal al parto y los servicios por gestación fueron mayores (P<0,05) en el agroecosistema 1 y el primer año, respectivamente. Los intervalos parto–concepción y parto–parto fueron inferiores en el agroecosistema 1 y en los años dos y tres. Se concluye que en los agroecosistemas 1 y 2, el Aliso y la Acacia favorecieron el balance de nutrientes. En el agroecosistema 1 fue mayor la condición corporal al parto y se redujo el intervalo parto primera inseminación; la interacción entre el agroecosistema y año benefició el intervalo parto–concepción y el intervalos parto–parto, los que fueron mejores en el agroecosistema 1, en el tercer año.
George Papadopoulos, Maria-Zoi Papantonatou, Havva Uyar
et al.
This review paper delved into the economic and environmental benefits of Digital Agricultural Technological Solutions (DATSs) in livestock farming systems. Synthesising data from 52 peer-reviewed papers it presents the outcomes of a systematic literature review on livestock farming DATSs, conducted with the use of the PRISMA methodology. The analysis highlighted the contribution of DATSs across three main livestock farming DATSs categories: Automated Milking Systems (AMS), Feed and Live Weight Measurement technologies, and Health Monitoring Systems. The results showed that AMS has the potential to boost cow productivity by up to 15 % while also reducing energy consumption by 35 %. Feed and Live Weight Measurement technologies contribute notably to sustainability and cost savings, with feed waste reductions of 75 % and feeding savings of 33 %. Health Monitoring Systems are especially effective in improving herd health and productivity through early detection of clinical issues, which directly enhances animal welfare and farm efficiency. Environmentally, AMS and health monitoring tools play a vital role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with AMS lowering global warming potential by up to 5.83 %. Overall, the findings of this review highlight the potentials of livestock DATSs towards economic viability and environmental sustainability, suggesting that the wider adoption could offer substantial benefits for the livestock farming sector. Up to now, DATSs have shown great potential in dairy cattle by improving milk yield, quality, and animal health, with advancements such as AMS increasing productivity and health monitoring systems enhancing early disease detection. In contrast, their application in sheep, goats, and pigs is still in its early stages, mainly limited to basic health monitoring and feeding technologies, despite the economic importance of these species, especially in the Mediterranean area, where most of the studies are conducted.
ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to identify metabolites associated with metritis and use them for identification of cellular mechanisms affected during transition into lactation. Holstein cows (n = 104) had blood collected in the prepartum period (d −14 ± 6 relative to calving), at calving (d 0), and at the day of metritis diagnosis (d 7 ± 2 after calving). Cows with reddish or brownish, watery, and fetid discharge were diagnosed with metritis (n = 52). Cows with metritis were paired with herdmates without metritis (n = 52) based on days in milk. The metabolome of plasma samples was evaluated using untargeted gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Univariate analyses included t-tests and fold change analyses. Metabolites with false discovery rate adjusted P ≤ 0.10 on t-tests were used for partial least squares discriminant analysis coupled with permutational analysis using 2,000 permutations. Metabolites with false discovery rate adjusted P ≤ 0.10 on t-tests were also used for enriched pathway analyses and identification of cellular processes. Cows that developed metritis had affected cellular processes associated with lower amino acid metabolism in the prepartum period, greater lipolysis, cell death, and oxidative stress at calving and at metritis diagnosis, and greater leukocyte activation at calving, but lower immune cell activation at metritis diagnosis. In summary, cows that developed metritis had plasma metabolomic changes associated with greater lipolysis, oxidative stress, and a dysregulated immune response which may predispose cows to metritis development.
Corina Guendulain, Pablo Tamiozzo, Marina Caffaratti
et al.
La hepatozoonosis canina es una enfermedad parasitaria adquirida por la ingestión de garrapatas infectadas con protozoarios del género Hepatozoon (H); H. canis y H. americanum son las dos especies que pueden infectar al perro, siendo la primera, la única reportada en nuestro país hasta el momento. La signología clínica y los aspectos hematológicos en esta infección dependen de la especie implicada y de factores tales como el estado inmunitario del animal y de la carga parasitaria. El objetivo del estudio fue confirmar la presencia y determinar la especie de Hepatozoon mediante PCR en sangre de perros diagnosticados a través de la visualización microscópica de gamontes de Hepatozoon spp. y describir la presentación clínica y los resultados hematológicos. Se realizó la técnica de PCR a 64 muestras de sangre de perros atendidos en el Hospital Escuela de la FAV en las que se habían detectado gamontes de Hepatozoon spp. en neutrófilos y monocitos a la observación microscópica del frotis. El 96,9% de las muestras de sangre resultó positiva a la presencia de Hepatozoon y la especie encontrada en todos los casos fue H. canis. Los signos clínicos y los resultados hematológicos característicos fueron aumento de temperatura, mucosas pálidas, adenomegalia, secreción ocular, anemia normocítica normocrómica y valores de leucocitos dentro del rango de referencia. La importancia de este estudio radica en que no se ha comunicado en nuestra provincia la especie causante de la hepatozoonosis canina.
General. Including nature conservation, geographical distribution, Biology (General)
EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP), Claude Lambré, José Manuel Barat Baviera
et al.
Abstract The food enzyme containing triacylglycerol lipase (triacylglycerol acylhydrolase; EC 3.1.1.3) is prepared from the pregastric tissues of calves, young goats and lambs by Caglificio Clerici SpA. The food enzyme is intended to be used in the production of cheese. As no concerns arose from the animal source of the food enzyme, from its manufacture and based on the history of safe use and consumption, the Panel considered that toxicological data were not required and no exposure assessment was necessary. A search for the similarity of the amino acid sequence of the food enzyme to known allergens was made and no match was found. The Panel considered that a risk of allergic reactions upon dietary exposure cannot be excluded, but the likelihood is low. Based on the data provided, the Panel concluded that this food enzyme does not give rise to safety concerns under the intended conditions of use.
Nutrition. Foods and food supply, Chemical technology
ABSTRACT: In lower- and middle-income countries, uncontrolled use of antibiotics is causing antimicrobial resistance, affecting both animal welfare and public health. Meanwhile, studies on antibiotic use in these countries are limited. A crucial step to limit the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is to examine the use of these drugs and identify its determinants. The aim of our study, the first of its kind in Lebanon, was to assess dairy farmers' knowledge and awareness of antimicrobial use (AMU) and AMR. For this, 18 farmers from different regions, educational backgrounds, experience levels, and herd sizes were interviewed. Results showed that owners of larger farms were more aware of AMU and AMR, and trying to implement preventive actions, whereas nonsystematic antimicrobial use was prevalent among the smaller farms. Mastitis and laminitis were the most treated diseases, and antibiotics used were oxytetracycline, penicillin, streptomycin, and florfenicol. Overall, antibiotic use was found as a preventive measure and a treatment of nonbacterial diseases. Irregular uses were linked to easy access of farmers to antibiotics, interrupted relations with veterinary authorities, and lack of self-assessment and inspection. Lebanese dairy farmers and owners reported feeling disadvantaged in their local trade field, facing illegal competition and unauthorized farms and industries, and lacking support from the government. Training and awareness programs must be implemented, and policies and regulations must be set, to reduce antibiotic use and hinder the spread of AMR in Lebanon.
A.E. van Breukelen, M.A. Aldridge, R.F. Veerkamp
et al.
ABSTRACT: Animal breeding techniques offer potential to reduce enteric emissions of ruminants to lower the environmental impact of dairy farming. The aim of this study was to estimate the heritability and repeatability of methane (CH4) concentrations, using the largest data set from long-term repeatedly recorded CH4 on cows to date, and to evaluate (1) the accuracy of breeding values for different CH4 traits, including using visits or weekly means, and (2) recording strategies (with varying numbers of records and recorded daughters per sire). The data comprised of long-term recording of CH4 and carbon dioxide (CO2), from 1,746 Holstein Friesian cows, on 14 commercial dairy farms throughout the Netherlands. Emissions were recorded in 10- to 35-s intervals, between 64 and 436 d, depending on farms. From each robot visit, CH4 and CO2 concentrations were summarized into various traits, averaged per visit and per week: mean, median, mean log, and mean CH4/CO2 ratio. Genetic parameters were estimated with animal repeatability models, using a restricted maximum likelihood procedure, and a relationship matrix based on genotypes and pedigree. The heritability was equal for mean and median CH4 per visit (0.13) but lower for logCH4 and CH4/CO2 (0.07 and 0.01, respectively). Phenotypic and genetic correlations were high (≥0.78) between the CH4 traits, apart from the genetic correlations with the CH4/CO2 trait, which were negative. To achieve a minimum reliability of 50% for the estimated breeding value of a bull, 25 records on mean CH4, measured on 10 different daughters, were sufficient. Although the heritability and repeatability were higher for weekly (0.32 and 0.68, respectively) than for visit mean CH4 (0.13 and 0.30, respectively), the reliabilities of estimated breeding values from visit or weekly means were equal; thus, we found no advantage in averaging records to weekly means for genetic evaluations.
Position data from real-time indoor positioning systems are increasingly used for studying individual cow behavior and social behavior in dairy herds. However, missing data challenges achieving reliable continuous activity monitoring and behavior studies. This study investigates the pattern of missing data and alternative interpolation methods in ultra-wideband based real-time indoor positioning systems in a free-stall barn. We collected 3 months of position data from a Swedish farm with around 200 cows. Data sampled for 6 days from 69 cows were used in subsequent analyzes to determine the location and duration of missing data. Data from 20 cows with the most reliable tags were selected to compare the effects of four different interpolation methods (previous, linear interpolation, cubic spline data interpolation and modified Akima interpolation). By comparing the observed data with the interpolations of the simulated missing data, the mean error distance varied from around 55 cm, using the previously last observed position, to around 17 cm for modified Akima. Modified Akima interpolation has the lowest error distance for all investigated activities (rest, walking, standing, feeding). Larger error distances were found in areas where the cows walk and turn, such as the corner between feeding and cubicles. Modified Akima interpolation is expected to be useful in the subsequent analyses of data gathered using real-time indoor positioning systems.
Konstantina Stamperna, Themistoklis Giannoulis, Eleni Dovolou
et al.
Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is a chaperon that stabilizes unfolded or partially folded proteins, preventing inappropriate inter- and intramolecular interactions. Here, we examined the developmental competence of in vitro matured oocytes exposed to heat stress with or without HSP70. Bovine oocytes were matured for 24 h at 39 °C without (group C39) or with HSP70 (group H39) and at 41 °C for the first 6 h, followed by 16 h at 39 °C with (group H41) or without HSP70 (group C41). After insemination, zygotes were cultured for 9 days at 39 °C. Cleavage and embryo yield were assessed 48 h post insemination and on days 7, 8, 9, respectively. Gene expression was assessed by RT-PCR in oocytes, cumulus cells and blastocysts. In C41, blastocysts formation rate was lower than in C39 and on day 9 it was lower than in H41. In oocytes, HSP70 enhanced the expression of three HSP genes regardless of incubation temperature. HSP70 at 39 °C led to tight coordination of gene expression in oocytes and blastocysts, but not in cumulus cells. Our results imply that HSP70, by preventing apoptosis, supporting signal transduction, and increasing antioxidant protection of the embryo, protects heat stressed maturing bovine oocyte and restores its developmental competence.
James Hawkins, Gabriel Yesuf, Mink Zijlstra
et al.
Abstract We use an attributional life cycle assessment (LCA) and simulation modelling to assess the effect of improved feeding practices and increased yields of feed crops on milk productivity and GHG emissions from the dairy sector of Tanzania’s southern highlands region. We calculated direct non-CO2 emissions from dairy production and the CO2 emissions resulting from the demand for croplands and grasslands using a land footprint indicator. Baseline GHG emissions intensities ranged between 19.8 and 27.8 and 5.8–5.9 kg CO2eq kg−1 fat and protein corrected milk for the Traditional (local cattle) and Modern (improved cattle) sectors. Land use change contributed 45.8–65.8% of the total carbon footprint of dairy. Better feeding increased milk yields by up to 60.1% and reduced emissions intensities by up to 52.4 and 38.0% for the Traditional and Modern sectors, respectively. Avoided land use change was the predominant cause of reductions in GHG emissions under all the scenarios. Reducing yield gaps of concentrate feed crops lowered emissions further by 11.4–34.9% despite increasing N2O and CO2 emissions from soils management and input use. This study demonstrates that feed intensification has potential to increase LUC emissions from dairy production, but that fertilizer-dependent yield gains can offset this increase in emissions through avoided emissions from land use change.
Summary A serological study of 376 cattle from 198 herds and a concurrent survey of farmers were undertaken in 53 villages in Khinjan, Doshi and Puli Khumri districts of Baghlan province, Afghanistan to determine the seroprevalence of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and to identify risk factors for seropositive herds. A total of 419 cases of FMD were reported by the farmers in the year preceding the survey. The animal‐level population seroprevalence was estimated at 42.0% (95% CI, 37.0–47.2). The seroprevalence increased with age in the sampled cattle (<2 years ‐ 30.4%, 2–6 years ‐ 40.3% and >6 years ‐ 52.2%). Herds were more likely to be seropositive if the farmers: had purchased cattle in the year prior to the survey (OR = 2.6; 95% CI, 1.37–4.97); purchased ruminants from unknown (potentially risky) sources (OR = 2.13; 95% CI, 1.13–4.03); and sold milk to the market (OR = 1.99; 95% CI, 1.09–3.63). Herds that had been vaccinated had a lower odds of being seropositive (OR = 0.33; 95% CI, 0.68–0.66). This was the first epidemiological study of FMD in Baghlan province and the findings provide valuable direction for disease control on FMD in this and other provinces in Afghanistan.
El crecimiento de las plantas en regiones áridas y semiáridas es un constante desafío para la producción primarla debido a la limitación de los recursos de agua y la presencia de sales tanto en el suelo como en el agua de riego. El crecimiento de las plantas bajo condiciones de campo debe integrar el estrés asociado con la disponibilidad de agua y la presencia de sales solubles de manera simultánea, especialmente cuando el agua de irrigación contiene una carga significativa de sales. En la región semiárida central de Argentina uno de los desafíos más importantes es la producción primaria y más aún bajo condiciones de riego dadas las pobres cualidades del agua subterránea en la mayor parte de las áreas. En tal sentido los parques y jardines localizados en las ciudades que se encuentran en esta región constituyen un verdadero problema al momento de optar por las especies tanto ornamentales como céspedes que puedan prosperar en la región. Tanto en el diseño como en la construcción de los parques y jardines de la ciudad de Santa Rosa, uno de los problemas más acuciantes es la elección de la o las especies que conformarán el césped. Muchas otras especies se han ensayado con escaso éxito y en los últimos años se ha comenzado a trabajar con una especie de Cynodon seleccionada específicamente para céspedes, el «bermudagrass», «tifton» o «bermuda híbrida» Cynodon dactyton (L) Pers. La hipótesis a probar en este trabajo es que la especie bermuda híbrida ofrece para los parques y jardines de la zona de Santa Rosa, una alternativa decorativa ya que bajo riego podría cubrir rápidamente un área y formar un denso césped perdurable en el tiempo y poco afectado por la calidad del agua de riego. Se cuenta con quintas parquizadas y sembradas con la especie en cuestión, con diferente tiempo de establecimiento que van de 1 a 5 años. Dichas quintas cuentan con riego por aspersión para satisfacer las demandas hídricas del cultivo. Para el presente trabajo se extrajeron 50 muestras al azar en los distintos predios. Las muestras extraídas fueron separadas en tres compartimentos: Hojas, Rizomas + estolones y Raíces cuyo espesor y peso fue registrado manteniendo la individualidad de las muestras. También se extrajeron muestras de suelo en los distintos predios. Sobre las mismas se realizaron análisis de pH, conductividad eléctrica y materia orgánica. También se analizó el pH, conductividad y salinidad del agua de riego. Los resultados obtenidos indican que el desarrollo del césped de Bermudagrass en la zona de quintas de Santa Rosa-Toay sigue un típico modelo de crecimiento sigmoideo alcanzando ya desde el primer año altos valores de cobertura y fitomasa aérea, especialmente de rizomas y estolones. Tanto la proporción de fitomasa aérea de los distintos compartimentos como la proporción del espesor de los mismos, que se mantiene relativamente constante con pequeñas oscilaciones, indicaría que se produce un desarrollo homogéneo de cada uno de ellos desde el momento de su establecimiento. Conjuntamente con el incremento en la cantidad de materia seca se observa un importante incremento en el espesor total del césped. La presencia en la zona de céspedes con distinto tiempo de permanencia desde su establecimiento, muestra claramente que la especie Bermudagrass se halla adaptada a condiciones ambientales similares a las que puede encontrar en esta región. Esta especie es tolerante a altos tenores de salinidad tanto en los suelos como en el agua de riego y, prueba de ello sería el desarrollo de densos tapices en la zona de Santa Rosa - Toay en parques donde el agua es de muy mala calidad por su alto tenor en sales totales.
Nuno Carolino, Andreia Vitorino, Inês Carolino
et al.
The Mertolenga beef cattle, currently with 27,000 breeding females in Portugal, is the largest Portuguese native breed, despite some variation in the breeding stock over the last years. The purpose of this study was to estimate parameters related to the population structure and genetic diversity and to investigate the major factors affecting genetic erosion in the breed, based on the pedigree herdbook information collected since the 1950s, including records on 221,567 animals from 425 herds. The mean generation intervals were 6.4 years for sires and 7.1 years for dams, respectively. The rate of inbreeding per year was 0.183% ± 0.020% and the correspondent effective population size was 38.83. In the reference population (35,017 calves born between 2015 and 2019), the average inbreeding and relatedness were 8.82% ± 10% and 2.05% ± 1.26%, respectively. The mean relationship among animals from the same and from different herds was 29.25% ± 9.36% and 1.87% ± 1.53%, respectively. The estimates for the effective number of founders, ancestors, founding herds and herds supplying sires were 87.9, 59.4, 21.4 and 73.5, respectively. Although the situation of the Mertolenga breed is not alarming, these results indicate the need to adopt measures to maintain the genetic variability of the population.
Prerna Vohra, Roy R. Chaudhuri, Matthew Mayho
et al.
Abstract Background Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica is an animal and zoonotic pathogen of global importance. Cattle are a significant reservoir of human non-typhoidal salmonellosis and can suffer enteric and systemic disease owing to the ability of Salmonella to survive within the bovine lymphatic system and intestines. Contamination of food can occur due to the incorporation of contaminated peripheral lymph nodes or by direct contamination of carcasses with gut contents. It is essential to understand the mechanisms used by Salmonella to enter and persist within the bovine lymphatic system and how they differ from those required for intestinal colonization to minimize zoonotic infections. Results Transposon-directed insertion site sequencing (TraDIS) was applied to pools of mutants recovered from mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) draining the distal ileum of calves after oral inoculation with a library of 8550 random S. Typhimurium mini-Tn5Km2 mutants in pools of 475 mutants per calf. A total of 8315 mutants representing 2852 different genes were detected in MLNs and their in vivo fitness was calculated. Using the same improved algorithm for analysis of transposon-flanking sequences, the identity and phenotype of mutants recovered from the distal ileal mucosa of the same calves was also defined, enabling comparison with previously published data and of mutant phenotypes across the tissues. Phenotypes observed for the majority of mutants were highly significantly correlated in the two tissues. However, 32 genes were identified in which transposon insertions consistently resulted in differential fitness in the ileal wall and MLNs, suggesting niche-specific roles for these genes in pathogenesis. Defined null mutations affecting ptsN and spvC were confirmed to result in tissue-specific phenotypes in calves, thus validating the TraDIS dataset. Conclusions This validation of the role of thousands of Salmonella genes and identification of genes with niche-specific roles in a key target species will inform the design of control strategies for bovine salmonellosis and zoonotic infections, for which efficacious and cross-protective vaccines are currently lacking.
Toomas Kramarenko, Kadrin Meremäe, Jelena Sõgel
et al.
Escherichia coli O157:H7 human infections are mostly associated with consumption of raw or undercooked beef and raw milk. Ruminants, especially cattle are the main reservoir of the pathogen. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the occurrence of E. coli O157:H7 in cattle dairy farm and beef production level in Estonia. It was found that E. coli O157:H7 is present at both the dairy farm and slaughterhouse level. The occurrence of the pathogen at Estonian dairy farm level was 1.2% from 1312 cattle's sampled. At slaughterhouse level 744 hide swabs were taken from which 30 (4.0%) were positive to E. coli O157:H7. Both stx1 and stx2 genes were determined from isolates and often the combination of both genes was found to be present. Minimal inhibitory concentration was determined for 30 E. coli O157:H7 isolates which revealed 26.7% of multiresistant isolates. In 2009–2010 in a total of 188 beef samples were analysed, which all were negative for O157:H7.
Marcos Eielson Pinheiro de Sá, Cláudia Valéria G.C. de Sá, Rafael R. Nicolino
et al.
This report describes the network of live cattle exports from Brazil using Microsoft Office Excel® files, Terraview®, Maporama®, Pajek® and Google Maps® softwares. The database contains estimates obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA) and underwent descriptive, spatial and flow network. The network of live cattle exports from Brazil was determined using data from 27,517 Animal Transit Certificates (ATC) and 579 Veterinary Certificate for International Trade. International departure points, municipalities and states of origin, destination countries, purpose of export and compliance with sanitary requirements for exports, cattle movement and the main transportation corridors were showed through flow network. The states that exported live cattle were Pará, Rio Grande do Sul, Tocantins, São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Maranhão. Vila do Conde Port, located in Barcarena municipality in the state of Pará, was the main international departure point of animals, which were intended mostly for immediate slaughter in the importing country. The internal cattle transportation corridors of the main counties and farms that provide animals for exports in 2009 were mapped.
Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics, Science (General)
The purpose of this study was the determination of antiseptic resistance genes (qacA/B and qacC) from staphylococcal mastitis in cattle in various regions of Turkey. In total, 283 isolates (Burdur: 36, Hatay: 47 and Van: 200) were studied, and the antiseptic resistance genes were detected using simplex PCR. The distribution of the qacA/B and qacC genes, mediating resistance against quaternary ammonium compounds, was found to vary among the different isolates. The qacA/B genes were found in three of the Burdur isolates, six of the Hatay isolates and seven of the Van isolates. The qacC gene was found in two of the Burdur isolates, none of the Hatay isolates and two of the Van isolates. The presence of these genes and transmission among Staphylococcus spp. strains may pose risks in the control of mastitis, as well as to public health.