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Simple Summary: Chronic pain in pets concerns pet owners and veterinarians alike. Acute pain that is not appropriately addressed can evolve into chronic (long-lasting) maladaptive pain. Despite advances in veterinary medicine, there remains a gap between pain management knowledge and its execution. Veterinary clinicians can and should embrace the foundational principles of clinical bioethics, translated from human medicine, for the benefit of their patients. Pet pain is not simply a physiologic issue. By reframing companion animal pain as a bioethical issue, as described in this paper, veterinarians affirm their commitment to closing the gap between what is known and what is done for their painful patients. Animals do not speak a language humans understand, making it easy to believe that they do not experience pain the way humans do. Despite data affirming that companion animals can and do experience pain much as do humans, there remains a gap between companion animal acute pain management knowledge and its execution. Companion animal pain is not simply a physiological issue. Veterinary clinicians can and should embrace the foundational principles of clinical bioethics—respect for autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice—translated from human medicine for the benefit of their patients. By reframing companion animal pain as a bioethical issue, as described in this paper, veterinarians affirm their commitment to closing the gap between what is known and what is done for painful companion animals. This takes pet pain beyond physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pig diarrhoea is one of the most frequent health problem in modern production, which can be associated with high mortality, decreased growth rates and an increase in treatment costs. The solution for an enteric disease requires a diagnosis which is based on diagnostic criteria, that must be respected to be reliable. The veterinary practitioner has the responsibility of making a final diagnosis, and based on this to make decisions concerning the management of swine health problems. The veterinary diagnostic laboratory can be an important support providing technical assistance in performing laboratory testing and consultancy activity. The aim of this paper is to focus on the diagnostic approach of enteric disorders in pigs, from sampling to the aetiological diagnosis, taking into consideration the diagnostic criteria for the various diseases and the methods considered to be the best choice for diagnosis. The diagnosis of enteric disorders in pigs is extremely challenging, at any age. Outbreaks of enteric disease in pigs are frequently multifactorial and multiple microorganisms can co-exist and interact. Furthermore, several pathogens, such as Clostridium perfrigens type A, Rotavirus and Lawsonia intracellularis, may be present in the gut in the absence of clinical signs. Thus, diagnosis must be based on a differential approach in order to develop a tailored control strategy, considering that treatment and control programs for enteric diseases are pathogen-specific. Correct sampling for laboratory analyses is fundamental for the diagnostic work-up of enteric disease in pigs. For example, histology is the diagnostic gold standard for several enteric disorders, and sampling must ensure the collection of representative and optimal intestinal samples. The aim of this paper is to focus on the diagnostic approach, from sampling to the aetiological diagnosis, of enteric disorders in pigs due to different pathogens during the different phases of production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Puppy raisers volunteer their time to take care of, and train, selected puppies until they are mature enough to undertake advanced training to become assistance dogs. Emerging evidence suggests a central role for puppy raisers in bringing out the best in assistant dog puppies. However, most puppy raisers are not professional dog trainers and, to optimise outcomes, they may require various kinds of support from the host organisation that places the puppy in their home, as well as from their personal networks and local communities. From a behaviour change perspective, coordinated efforts at different levels would be expected to better enable puppy raisers to improve training outcomes for the puppies. The aim of this paper is to discuss the potential application of a well-established behaviour change framework to the practice of puppy raising. After discussing relevant findings, we suggest a holistic approach to supporting puppy raisers and propose a behaviour model to help volunteers improve their puppy raising practice. Puppy raising (PR) programs recruit volunteer community members (raisers) to raise assistance dog (AD) candidates from puppyhood until the dogs are ready for advanced training. Once qualified, ADs assist human handlers with a disability to live more independently. Unfortunately, about 50% of all puppies do not meet the behavioural standards required for further training after completing a PR program. This increases costs and lengthens the time taken for a handler to obtain an AD. Research has identified several factors that influence raisers' experiences. It has also shown that raisers' socialisation and training practices affect perceived puppy behaviour. Drawing on the argument that puppy raiser practices are central to improving overall puppy raising program outcomes, this paper interprets recent findings within the framework provided by the behaviour change wheel—an established behaviour change framework—to suggest a coordinated approach to supporting puppy raisers. The recommendations will allow future research to employ more objective measures and more rigorous experimental designs as the field attempts to corroborate existing findings and develop evidence-based models of practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Identifying bird species is crucial in various bird monitoring tasks. In this study, we implemented a bird species recognition method based on visual features by convolutional neural networks. This paper proposed an attention-guided data enhancement method and a decoupled knowledge distillation model compression method. Using the two methods, we created a novel and efficient lightweight fine-grained bird classification model. The model not only achieved high accuracy in bird classification but was also user-friendly for edge devices such as mobile. Our work may be useful for bird species recognition and bird biodiversity monitoring. Classifying birds accurately is essential for ecological monitoring. In recent years, bird image classification has become an emerging method for bird recognition. However, the bird image classification task needs to face the challenges of high intraclass variance and low inter-class variance among birds, as well as low model efficiency. In this paper, we propose a fine-grained bird classification method based on attention and decoupled knowledge distillation. First of all, we propose an attention-guided data augmentation method. Specifically, the method obtains images of the object's key part regions through attention. It enables the model to learn and distinguish fine features. At the same time, based on the localization–recognition method, the bird category is predicted using the object image with finer features, which reduces the influence of background noise. In addition, we propose a model compression method of decoupled knowledge distillation. We distill the target and nontarget class knowledge separately to eliminate the influence of the target class prediction results on the transfer of the nontarget class knowledge. This approach achieves efficient model compression. With 67% fewer parameters and only 1.2 G of computation, the model proposed in this paper still has a 87.6% success rate, while improving the model inference speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This paper presents six different cases of dogs treated repeatedly with deslorelin, a drug responsible for a six- or twelve-month block of the reproductive system which is registered for use in adult male dogs and ferrets, male cats and prepuberal bitches. Efficacy and safety as well as return to fertility of such non-surgical neutering methods are well known following a single use but little if any data is available on prolonged use. The dogs presented in this paper were treated for 2 to 9 consecutive years for ensuring failure to reproduce (one case) as well as for conditions which are not found on the drug leaflet (benign prostatic hypertrophy and perineal gland disease (one case each) and control of reproductive behavior in male dogs and urinary incontinence in spayed adult bitches (two cases each). All animals were in good health during treatment and presented no short-term side effects. Flare-up reactions (an increase in reproductive behavior for 1–3 weeks after treatment) were observed in 1/4 intact males and were not observed in the spayed incontinent bitches. Deslorelin was effective in all treated dogs. Fertility was immediately regained in one male dog who sired a litter when his owner forgot to come back for re-treatment at the right time. Deslorelin implants can be considered as a safe alternative to surgical castration in specific pathologies mediated by reproductive hormones in situations in which surgical castration is not an option such as animals suffering from cardiovascular conditions or other systemic diseases making anesthesia unsafe. Deslorelin is currently registered for the induction of temporary infertility in male dogs, male cats, male ferrets, and also prepubertal female dogs, but research has shown its usefulness for other conditions requiring chronic treatment. This paper presents six cases of dogs chronically treated with deslorelin for indications such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, control of fertility, abnormal reproductive behavior and urinary incontinence. All animals were in good health during treatment. Treatment duration was 2–9 years. No short-term side effects were observed except for flare-up reactions, which were observed only in 1/4 intact males. Two dogs developed a neoplasia: a spayed bitch treated for urinary incontinence developed a pituitary carcinoma, and an intact male dog implanted for control of fertility developed a bladder carcinoma. While the pituitary carcinoma seems unlikely to be related to deslorelin, the bladder carcinoma could be due to the neutered condition of the dog (which was treated for 9 years) as urinary tract neoplasia is more common in dogs following gonadectomy. Chronic treatment with deslorelin is regarded as safe when an animal is being treated for life. The possibility that a pause in the treatment might be helpful for the animal should be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This paper provides a methodology for analyzing the trajectory of the Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon): its clustering and mining habitats, trajectory-data supplementation, the analysis of behavioral patterns, and finally, potential habitat mining. It was found that the characteristics of the Crested Ibis habitat in nature reserves include proximity to water sources and cultivated land close to woodlands. Additionally, there is a certain aggregation and sharing of night roosting sites, which are easily disturbed by human activities, and there is a strong correlation between the spatial proximity of the Crested Ibis night. Although human behavior threatens the survival of the Crested Ibis, they still depend on human behavior, mainly for food and water. Moreover, farmers are encouraged to store water in paddy fields in winter and to avoid using harmful substances such as pesticides. Luoshan County provides a protected area for the Crested Ibis; it was analyzed and found to be appropriately located, with an excellent overall habitat-rating. The Chinese Government has also set up corresponding ecological and environmental protection zones, and it is essential to provide solutions for the reintroduction of the Crested Ibis. The Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon) is an endangered animal with an extremely high ecological, humanistic, and scientific value. However, this species still faces survival challenges, due to rapidly shrinking foraging grounds, the serious interference of human behavior, and increased habitat requirements. Geographical environment is a significant factor affecting Crested Ibis behavior-pattern analysis and habitat protection. The spatial and temporal trajectory contains habitat location and period information, a vital record of the Crested Ibis' habits, and the basis of all research. Nevertheless, there are only a handful of studies on the missing trajectory data and fusing multiple sources of environmental data-research methods. We studied the spatial and temporal habitat use of the tracked Crested lbis by fusing multiple data-sources in China. This paper adopts the LSTM (long short-term memory) model to supplement the missing trajectory data and perform cluster mining; and a random forest model is used to predict the habitat of the Crested Ibis with high fitting accuracy (R2 = 84.9%). The results show that the Crested Ibis distribution-pattern is characterized by high altitude and proximity to woodland and rivers. Additionally, the habitat dependence on the village implicates human agricultural activities in positively impacting its reproduction. This paper provides a complete method for analyzing Crested Ibis' spatial and temporal trajectory by fusing multi-source data, which is crucial for protecting the survival and reproduction of the Crested Ibis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Numerous electrotherapeutic methods are commonly used in complementary and alternative veterinary medicine, as well as in conventional veterinary medicine. In these methods, electrical currents are commonly used to affect nerves, muscles, bones, or other tissues. In a systematic literature review, we collected information from published articles on electrotherapies used in horses, dogs, and cats. After screening 5385 articles of potential interest, we identified 41 articles that contributed to answering the overriding question: What is the scientific evidence for electrotherapy in horses, dogs, and cats? For most of the therapies, the number of studies was low with small numbers of animals. Many of the studies were of insufficient scientific quality and the electrotherapy was applied in many different clinical conditions and therapeutic settings. This made it difficult to reach robust conclusions, except for one: no current electrotherapies have sufficiently strong scientific evidence to support clinical effects in the treatment of horses, dogs, or cats with conditions affecting muscles, joints, nerves, or bones. Based on limited promising results, we have listed some electrotherapies that could be evaluated in more detail in high-quality studies. Electrotherapy modalities are currently used in the treatment of animals, but the evidence base supporting their use has not yet been systematically reviewed. Cochrane guidelines, as adapted by the Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services, were followed for this systematic review. A literature search regarding all currently known electrotherapy modalities applied to horses, dogs, and cats was conducted for the years 1980–2020 using three databases: CABI, PubMed, and Web of Science Core Collection. Of the 5385 references found, 41 articles were included in the review: 13 papers on pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMFT), 7 on neural electrical muscle stimulation (NEMS), 5 on transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), 4 on static magnets, 3 on interference, 2 each on percutaneous electrical neural stimulation (PENS), bioelectricity, and diathermy, and 1 each on micro-pulsed stimulation, capacitive coupled electrical stimulation, and microwave therapy. The literature per modality was limited in quantity (mean 3.7 papers). Half of the articles were assessed to have a high risk of bias (20 high, 7 moderate, and 14 low). The existing literature used a spectrum of indications and treatment parameters, which makes comparisons and drawing conclusions to support the use of these modalities in clinical practice challenging. The current scientific evidence is not sufficient to support the clinical effects of electrotherapies for any clinical indication in horses, dogs or cats. The selected suggestive results warrant further high-quality research on PEMFT, NEMS, TENS, and PENS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This paper addresses the various sources of Se in the aquatic environment as well as the positive and negative effects on fish. It emphasizes that optimal dietary Se levels are necessary for healthy biological processes in fish, such as growth, reproduction, and immunity. Since organic Se appears to be the most ideal for fish due to its low toxicity, environmental safety, and efficient fish culture, it explores the potential sources and forms of Se. Extreme doses could be toxic to fish, and higher levels could cause retarded growth, survival issues, abnormalities, and poor performance. However, adverse effects depend on the acceptance of the fish species. Additionally, there are a number of biological techniques that may be used to remove excess Se from the aquatic environment, with phytoremediation being the most effective. The production of Se-rich feeds and their benefits for fish immune systems, disease prevention, and growth development are discussed in this article. These factors contribute to the profitability of fish farmers and their confidence in the feed industry. In order to monitor and study Se's effects on fish and their aquatic environment, the report highlights the significance of the feed industry and how it connects farmers with research institutions. Dietary selenium (Se) is an essential component that supports fish growth and the immune system. This review attempts to provide insight into the biological impacts of dietary Se, including immunological responses, infection defense, and fish species growth, and it also identifies the routes via which it enters the aquatic environment. Dietary Se is important in fish feed due to its additive, antioxidant, and enzyme properties, which aid in various biological processes. However, excessive intake of it may harm aquatic ecosystems and potentially disrupt the food chain. This review explores the diverse natures of dietary Se, their impact on fish species, and the biological methods for eliminating excesses in aquatic environments. Soil has a potential role in the distribution of Se through erosion from agricultural, industrial, and mine sites. The research on dietary Se's effects on fish immune system and growth can provide knowledge regarding fish health, fish farming strategies, and the health of aquatic ecosystems, promoting the feed industry and sustainable aquaculture. This review provides data and references from various research studies on managing Se levels in aquatic ecosystems, promoting fish conservation, and utilizing Se in farmed fish diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Excessive intake of certain minerals can modify the requirement of others. For example, Mo and S are the main antagonists of Cu, in which high dietary levels of these minerals increase Cu requirements in ruminants. Thus, if Cu levels in the body are low, higher amounts of Mo may become a toxic element for animals. In this paper, we investigated the effects of organic and inorganic sources of Cu and S and their interaction with Mo on the performance, carcass traits, and blood concentration of these minerals, and we also investigated the serum ceruloplasmin activity in lambs. We found that molybdenum and inorganic and organic sources of Cu and S did not improve performance, nor did they have an impact on carcass traits. However, a clear negative effect of Mo and S was detected on Cu bioavailability and metabolism, either due to serum Cu concentrations or through ceruloplasmin activity. However, it was not possible to identify a pattern in the variables studied. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of molybdenum (Mo) and organic and inorganic sources of copper (Cu) and sulfur (S) on the performance, carcass traits, and blood concentration of these minerals in lambs. Forty male non-castrated crossbred Dorper x Santa Inês lambs (20 ± 1.2 kg of body weight and 90 ± 2 d of age) were randomly allocated into one of the ten following treatments: (T0) control, basal diet; (T1) Mo; (T2) inorganic Cu and inorganic S; (T3) inorganic Cu and organic S; (T4) organic Cu and inorganic S; (T5) organic Cu and organic S; (T6) Mo plus inorganic Cu and inorganic S; (T7) Mo plus inorganic Cu and organic S; (T8) Mo plus organic Cu and inorganic S; and (T9) Mo plus organic Cu and organic S. Regardless of the source, Mo, Cu, and S were added at levels of 10 mg, 10 mg, and 2000mg/kg DM, respectively. The mineral supplements (Mo, Cu, and S) were added into the total mixed ration (TMR) by mixing them apart with the mineral and vitamin premix and then put into the TMR. The animals were kept in individual pens and received a total mixed ration for 84 days. Body weight and blood sampling was performed every 28 days. All animals were slaughtered after 84 days, and carcass traits were evaluated. Although organic sources of Cu and S added to Mo supplementation had increased the ADG throughout the study, this effect did not reflect in the heavier final BW outcomes for this treatment. In addition, no effect of these treatments was observed on the carcass traits. The serum Cu concentration was higher for the T0 group compared to the other groups; otherwise, Mo reduced the serum Cu concentration compared to the other groups. Considering the interaction among the minerals and their sources at 84 d of study, organic sources of Cu and S treatment and Mo associated with inorganic sources of Cu plus organic S treatment had an increased serum Cu concentration compared to other groups. Regardless of time, organic sources of Cu and S increased serum S concentration. At 84 days after enrollment, serum Mo concentration was lower for the control group compared to the other groups. Further, Mo supplementation increased its blood concentration compared to the control group throughout the study. The control group had the highest ceruloplasmin activity compared to the other groups; otherwise, at 84 d of the study, either Mo or inorganic S supplementation reduced ceruloplasmin activity. Serum ceruloplasmin activity was higher when Cu supplementation, regardless of source, was associated with organic S. However, at d 84 of the study, inorganic Cu associated to organic S supplements increased serum ceruloplasmin activity. In this current study, it was not possible to identify a pattern in the variables studied, however, further studies are needed to confirm that organic sources of Cu and S interacted alone without a defined pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: A qualitative study was conducted using an online survey platform with participants asked to provide their views on one of three scenarios, that differed in the amount of information, describing a farmer administering a proven antibiotic to a sick cow. While many respondents appeared to be supportive of the farmer's decision to treat the sick cow, some were concerned when they were presented with information describing the potential link between antibiotic use and the spread of antibiotic resistance. Participants also expressed a strong desire for farmers to accept responsibility for caring for the cow, but, when doing so, to employ practices that reduce the outflow of antibiotics from the farm. This paper describes the views of 779 U.S. residents on questions related to therapeutic antibiotic use in dairy cattle. An online survey was conducted with qualitative (open-ended) questions. Respondents were offered one of three scenarios with varying degrees of information describing a farmer with a sick cow that would benefit from antibiotic therapy. The text replies to the open-ended questions were analyzed by grouping responses with similar comments and identifying patterns or themes. Content analysis showed that many of the participants in this study provided farmers with the social license to treat sick cows with antibiotics; however, some participants commented on the social license not necessarily extending to antibiotic use for growth promotion or prophylactic use. Our findings are not generalizable, but may provide some insight that should be considered when developing policies and practices regarding the use of antibiotics on dairy farms that may promote improved alignment with societal values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This paper considers examples of how humans negatively affect the welfare of wild animals, how such impacts might be reduced and what additional research is needed, including examples from biodiversity conservation, wildlife management, wildlife tourism and wildlife trade. Further, it discusses the relationship between wild animal welfare and biodiversity conservation, including consideration of various ethical viewpoints. Human activities negatively impact the welfare of wild vertebrates in many different contexts globally, and countless individual animals are affected. Growing concern for wild animal welfare, especially in relation to conservation, is evident. While research on wild animal welfare lags behind that focused on captive animals, minimising human-induced harm to wild animals is a key principle. This study examines examples of negative anthropogenic impacts on wild animal welfare, how these may be mitigated and what further research is required, including examples from wildlife management, biodiversity conservation, wildlife tourism and wildlife trade. Further, it discusses the relationship between animal welfare and biodiversity conservation, and synergies that may be achieved between these. Ultimately, it is discussed how the welfare of wild animals may be balanced with other priorities to ensure that welfare is afforded due consideration in interactions between people and wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The increase in litter sizes in pigs obtained through selection has introduced challenges to breeders such as birth weight variability, piglet nursing, and piglet survival. Differences in birth weights can affect the later growth of piglets. We analysed the most important effects on the growth of piglets born in hyperprolific herds using a random regression coefficient model, which provides a smoother estimation of parameters compared to traditional fixed effects models and accounts for heterogeneous variances between measurements. Birth weight was the most influential factor on the final weight at 85 days of age. Litter size and parity also showed significant effect on the final weight. The results obtained using a random regression coefficient model could be encouraging for further application in pig growth analysis due to the ability of the model to describe individual growth patterns of piglets of variable birth weights and estimate the future growth of such piglets. In addition, the practical contribution of the paper is deeper insight into growth patterns of piglets from highly prolific sows under farm conditions, focusing on the need to control the variability of birth weight of large litters. Management of hyperprolific sows is challenging when it comes to controlling birth weight variability and piglet survival in large litters. The growth of low birth weight piglets can be compromised and have a negative impact on production efficiency. The objective of the study was to apply a random regression coefficient model to estimate the main effects of the growth of piglets of highly prolific sows. The dataset contained growth data for 360 piglets from 25 Pen Ar Lan Naima sows. In addition to routine procedures after farrowing, piglets were weighed five times: on day 1 after farrowing, on day 14 of life, at weaning on day 28, on day 30 of nursery period, and at the end of the nursery period when piglets were 83 days old. Data were treated as longitudinal, with body weight as the dependent variable. Fitting age as a quadratic regression within piglets in the random part of the model helped to determine the significant effect of birth weight, litter size, and parity on the growth of the piglets. Since the piglets from large litters often have non-uniform birth weights and this can affect further growth, the use of a random regression coefficient model is practical for analysing the growth of such piglets due to the ability to describe the individual growth pattern of every individual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: China has the largest production yield of Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum in the world. Most of the clam seeds for aquaculture are mainly derived from artificial breeding in southern China, likely resulting in the loss of genetic variation and inbreeding depression. In this paper, we investigate the genetic diversity and differentiation of R. philippinarum populations. The present results not only provide the scientific basis for the phylogenetic relationship of clam resources, but also lay the foundation for natural population conservation and genetic improvement of R. philippinarum. China has the largest production yield of Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum in the world. Most of the clam seeds for aquaculture are mainly derived from artificial breeding in southern China, likely resulting in the loss of genetic variation and inbreeding depression. To understand the genetic and haplotype diversity of R. philippinarum, 14 clam populations sampled from different regions of China were analyzed by three molecular markers, including COI, 16SrRNA and ITS. Based on the results of the COI and ITS genes, the 14 populations showed a moderate to high level of genetic diversity, with an average haplotype diversity of 0.9242 and nucleotide diversity of 0.05248. AMOVA showed that there was significant genetic differentiation among all populations (mean FST of the total population was 0.4534). Pairwise FST analysis showed that genetic differentiation reached significant levels between Laizhou and other populations. Two Laizhou populations showed great divergence from other populations, forming an independent branch in the phylogenetic tree. The shared haplotypes Hap_2 and Hap_4 of COI appeared most frequently in most clam populations. In contrast, 16SrRNA analysis of the clam populations revealed the dominated haplotype Hap_2, accounting for 70% of the total number of individuals. The haplotype diversity of the Laizhou population (Laizhou shell-wide (KK) and Laizhou dock (LZMT)) was relatively higher than other populations, showing multiple unique haplotypes (e.g., Hap_40, Hap_41 and Hap_42). These findings of genetic and haplotype diversity of clam populations provide guiding information for genetic resource conservation and genetic improvement of the commercially important R. philippinarum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The behavior and pose of ducks during the breeding process are directly related to their welfare and health status. The real-time and accurate monitoring of their different behaviors and poses is significant. In this study, we proposed a duck pose estimation method using computer vision techniques, achieving accurate detection of eight keypoints, including the head, beak, chest, left leg, right leg, left foot, right foot, and tail, under six behaviors: standing, drinking, preening, spreading wings, walking, and resting, and forming correct body expressions. Furthermore, the model's generalization capability was tested with different lighting intensity levels. Ducks of various ages, breeds, and farming methods were used to validate the model's comprehensive pose estimation capability. The model's comprehensive detection capability was compared with mainstream pose estimation methods, proving its superiority. The results of this study are considered instrumental in smart poultry farming. In breeding ducks, obtaining the pose information is vital for perceiving their physiological health, ensuring welfare in breeding, and monitoring environmental comfort. This paper proposes a pose estimation method by combining HRNet and CBAM to achieve automatic and accurate detection of duck's multi-poses. Through comparison, HRNet-32 is identified as the optimal option for duck pose estimation. Based on this, multiple CBAM modules are densely embedded into the HRNet-32 network to obtain the pose estimation model based on HRNet-32-CBAM, realizing accurate detection and correlation of eight keypoints across six different behaviors. Furthermore, the model's generalization ability is tested under different illumination conditions, and the model's comprehensive detection abilities are evaluated on Cherry Valley ducklings of 12 and 24 days of age. Moreover, this model is compared with mainstream pose estimation methods to reveal its advantages and disadvantages, and its real-time performance is tested using images of 256 × 256, 512 × 512, and 728 × 728 pixel sizes. The experimental results indicate that for the duck pose estimation dataset, the proposed method achieves an average precision (AP) of 0.943, which has a strong generalization ability and can achieve real-time estimation of the duck's multi-poses under different ages, breeds, and farming modes. This study can provide a technical reference and a basis for the intelligent farming of poultry animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This paper describes pathological findings in small ruminants with ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a contagious respiratory tumor caused by the jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus. Infection with JSRV leads to the formation of lung tumors, progressive respiratory failure and, ultimately, the death or culling of the affected animals. OPA has traditionally been divided into two forms: classical and atypical. However, in this study, we examined 27 animals with OPA, and found that most of the observed tumors displayed a mix of characteristics from both the classical and the atypical form, and were classified as mixed. Grossly, the lesions were found mostly in the cranial lobes of the lungs, appearing as firm, flat-to-slightly-raised masses that varied in size and color. Histologically, the cases were categorized based on the predominant architectural patterns, with the mixed pattern being the most common. The objective of this study was to provide a detailed description of the gross and microscopic spectrum of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma in small ruminants from Spain, focusing on the mixed form. It is important to note that the mixed form of OPA is less frequently reported, and can be mistaken for other concurrent lung diseases. Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) is a contagious respiratory tumor of small ruminants, manifesting in chronic weight loss and respiratory failure. Infection with the betaretrovirus jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) is the cause of OPA. Here, we describe the gross and microscopic features of twenty-six sheep and one goat with naturally occurring JSRV-associated OPA. All the animals included in this study had pulmonary lesions morphologically consistent with OPA, but the majority of the observed lesions demonstrated features of both the classical and the atypical form of OPA, and were, therefore, classified grossly as mixed. The gross lesions were located mainly in the cranial pulmonary lobes, were multifocal to coalescing, variable in number and size, flat to slightly raised, firm, and white to grey. Histologically, the cases were classified according to the predominant architectural patterns as lepidic, papillary, acinar, or mixed; the mixed histological pattern was the most prevalent. The aim of this study was to describe the gross and microscopic spectrum of OPA in naturally infected small ruminants from Spain. The mixed form of OPA is less commonly reported, and can be confused with other concurrent pulmonary pathologies (such as BALT hyperplasia in SRLV-associated pneumonia or lungworm granulomas). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Amphibians are the most threatened vertebrate class on Earth, and assisted reproductive technologies are essential tools to complement other conservation efforts. We established initial assisted reproductive technologies for Alytes obstetricans, a terrestrial breeding anuran whose males carry the egg strings twined around their hind limbs until hatching. Non-lethal gamete collection by injection of hormones was performed and allowed the collection of hormonally-induced sperm and eggs. However, poor response to hormonal stimulation of spermiation was obtained (range 17 to 50% of treated males). These gametes were combined and fertilization took place and completed embryo development in 10% of eggs. In addition, two methods for captive-rearing of embryos were tested: keeping the eggs together (mimicking natural arrangement) or splitting the eggs (to reduce fungal propagation) on moist paper. When eggs were separated, all clutches exhibited embryo survival (ranging from 27 to 61%) while only 8% of clutches presented embryo survival when eggs were kept together. This method for captive-rearing of eggs could be implemented in captive breeding programs for different species of Alytes. Although successful, sperm collection and artificial fertilization should be optimized to contribute to the management of wild and captive populations of this and related species. The genus Alytes consists of six primitive terrestrial-breeding species (five of them endangered or present in restricted distributions) with unique male parental care. Alytes obstetricans was used as a model for the development of assisted reproductive technologies for gamete collection, artificial fertilization and captive-rearing of embryos. Sperm collection was achieved with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), but only 17 to 50% of males responded to the hormone. In addition, an effect of captivity on sperm quality was observed. A combination of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) and hCG was tested for induction of ovulation, and 100% of females responded to the treatment. Recently collected sperm was used in artificial fertilization, and 10% of eggs showed complete embryo development. To design a method for captive-rearing of embryos, natural clutches (n = 13) were removed from males and divided into two sub-clutches. One was kept with all eggs together and in the other, the egg string was cut and eggs were split individually. All sub-clutches with eggs kept separated presented embryo survival (ranging from 27 to 61%) that hatched normally, while only one sub-clutch with embryos maintained together had some embryo survival (36%). These results may contribute to the management of this and related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The concept of altitude training became popular among human athletes following the 1968 Olympic Games, at which African runners were particularly successful. Culminating from these observations was the concept that during exercise training, local tissue hypoxia is an important adaptive stress for muscle that ultimately leads to superior physiological adaptations and enhanced endurance performance. The application of the concept of hypoxic training to the Thoroughbred horse is new, and now, with purpose-built hypoxic chambers, there has been a growing interest in its use in equine training programs. This paper provides a comprehensive discussion on the physiological impacts of hypoxic training, its benefits to endurance performance, and a rationale for utilizing it to improve performance in the equine athlete. All exercise-induced training adaptations are governed by genetics. Exercise prescriptions can be tailored to elicit the desired physiological adaptations. Although the application of hypoxic stimuli on its own is not ideal to promote favorable molecular responses, exercise training under hypoxic conditions provides an optimal environment for maximizing physiological adaptations to enhance endurance performance. The combination of exercise training and hypoxia increases the activity of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway compared to training under normoxic conditions. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) is known as a master regulator of the expression of genes since over 100 genes are responsive to HIF-1α. For instance, HIF-1-inducible genes include those critical to erythropoiesis, angiogenesis, glucose metabolism, mitochondrial biogenesis, and glucose transport, all of which are intergral in physiological adaptations for endurance performance. Further, hypoxic training could conceivably have a role in equine rehabilitation when high-impact training is contraindicated but a quality training stimulus is desired. This is achievable through purpose-built equine motorized treadmills inside commercial hypoxic chambers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Owls are widely distributed globally, and Megascops choliba, the tropical screech owl, is one of the most common species. There are reports of parasitic and bacterial infections in several species of raptors. However, information about infectious diseases in owls still needs to be made available, especially for this species, as most articles focus on its biology. This paper reports a case of airsacculitis caused by enterobacteria and the presence of eggs of the Diplotriaenoidea superfamily in M. choliba, which, as far as we know, has not been reported in the Brazilian and international literature so far. The clinical picture is described, including the therapy used, complementary exams, necropsy results, and histopathological findings. This study aims to report the clinical signs, therapeutic strategy, necropsy results, and histopathological findings of airsacculitis caused by enterobacteria and the occurrence of eggs from the superfamily Diplotriaenoidea in the feces of Megascops choliba in the Amazon biome. A tropical screech owl nestling was rescued and admitted for hand-rearing. The animal was kept hospitalized for five months. It was fed a diet based on Zophobas morio larvae and thawed chicken breast meat with vitamin and mineral supplements. On the 37th day of hacking training for release, the owl showed weakness, lack of appetite, regurgitation, cachexia, dyspnea, ruffled feathers, dry droppings in the vent and pericloaca, and diarrhea. The parasitological examination showed eggs of the Diplotriaenoidea superfamily in the feces. The therapy employed included oxytetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, mebendazole, Potenay, sodium chloride 0.9%, and Mercepton. However, five days after starting the treatment, the bird died. Upon necropsy, prominence of the keel, pieces of undigested food in the oral cavity and proventriculus, intestinal gas, and thickened and turbid air sacs were found. The microbiological analysis of air sacs identified Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter aerogenes. Histopathological examination showed heterophilic bacterial airsacculitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Wittgensteinian ethicists argue that we should not rely on a set of principles if we want to know how to treat non-human animals. Instead, we should look at how we witness and encounter animals in our lives. We admire wild animals, we feed our pets, and we cure them as patients. For Wittgensteinian animal ethicists, moral reflection should start from these ways of thinking about animals. However, our understanding of animals can change depending on context and circumstance. Not everyone thinks about animals in the same way. It is, therefore, important that Wittgensteinian animal ethicists are informed about the ways that people think about animals. We argue that this information should come from data gathered by social sciences such as sociology, psychology or anthropology. Wittgensteinian approaches to animal ethics highlight the significance of practical concepts like 'pet', 'patient', or 'companion' in shaping our understanding of how we should treat non-human animals. For Wittgensteinian animal ethicists, moral principles alone cannot ground moral judgments about our treatment of animals. Instead, moral reflection must begin with acknowledging the practical relations that tie us to animals. Morality emerges within practical contexts. Context-dependent conceptualisations form our moral outlook. In this paper, we argue that Wittgensteinians should, for methodological reasons, pay more attention to empirical data from the social sciences such as sociology, psychology or anthropology. Such data can ground Wittgensteinians' moral inquiry and thereby render their topical views more dialectically robust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Dolphins are among the most popular animals in zoos and aquariums around the world. Recently, however, a paper suggested that environments for dolphins in zoos and aquariums might be "impoverished", leading to possible problems for their brain and cognitive functioning. This review directly examines that hypothesis in light of the existing scientific literature relevant to dolphin welfare in zoos and aquariums. The results of this analysis—based on the documented standards of modern professional zoological organizations, the results of a multi-national study on dolphin welfare, and the behavior of dolphins in modern zoos and aquariums—show that this claim is clearly false. However, as "not impoverished" would be a ridiculously low bar to set as an animal welfare standard, additional strategies are suggested for providing cognitive challenges in zoos and aquariums to optimize dolphins' cognitive well-being. Numerous studies have demonstrated the negative effects of impoverished environments versus the positive effects of enriched environments on animals' cognitive and neural functioning. Recently, a hypothesis was raised suggesting that conditions for dolphins in zoological facilities may be inherently impoverished, and thus lead to neural and cognitive deficits. This review directly examines that hypothesis in light of the existing scientific literature relevant to dolphin welfare in zoological facilities. Specifically, it examines how dolphins are housed in modern zoological facilities, where the characteristics of such housing fall on the continuum of impoverished-to-enriched environments, and the extent to which dolphins show behavioral evidence characteristic of living in impoverished environments. The results of this analysis show that contrary to the original hypothesis, modern zoological facilities do not inherently, or even typically, house dolphins in impoverished conditions. However, it also notes that there is variation in animal welfare across different zoological facilities, and that "not impoverished" would be a particularly low bar to set as an animal welfare standard. To optimize cognitive well-being, strategies for providing additional cognitive challenges for dolphins in zoological facilities are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The indirect calorimetry method has been widely used for a long time in the study of energy metabolism in animals, and it remains an important tool for investigating energy metabolism and feed values. However, to ensure the quality of research data, it is necessary to standardize the calibration procedure. This paper presents a detailed procedure for calibrating and calculating indirect calorimetry data. Indirect calorimetry (IC) is a widely used method to study animal energy metabolism by measuring gas exchange. The accuracy of IC depends on detecting variations in signals reflecting the metabolic response, which can be challenging due to measurement noise and external factors. This study proposes a methodology to validate IC systems, including an easy-to-use spreadsheet for data computing, to verify accuracy and detect whole-system leaks. We conducted a recovery test using a simulation of CO2 dynamics in MS Excel and injecting a known CO2 concentration into four respirometry chambers. The thought flow rate of CO2 was observed and compared to the expected rate from the simulation. Data filtering and computing, including a detailed calculation of signals calibration, Bartholomew transformation, and noise reduction, was developed to obtain the gas exchange and heat production parameters using an open-circuit IC system. The results from the recovery test in our system show that the proposed methodology is accurate and precise. The proposed methodology and recovery test can be used to standardize the validation of IC systems together with adequate data computing, providing accurate measurements of animal energy metabolism in different environmental conditions and energy utilization from feeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Developing new, ecologically healthy feed has always been the focus of sustainable animal husbandry development and has been a research hotspot in academic circles. Currently, the bio-feed industry is developing rapidly and efficiently. The resources of feed raw materials are constantly being enriched and expanded, strain screening research is gradually deepening, production technologies such as enzyme preparations and bacterial preparations are continuously being optimized and upgraded, and the number of professional livestock personnel is constantly increasing. The development of bio-feed has broad application prospects. However, there are increasing problems facing biological feed. Therefore, this paper summarizes the classification, function, application, and existing issues of biological feed in livestock and poultry production to provide a reference for subsequent related research and applications. Biological feed is a feed product developed through bioengineering technologies such as fermentation engineering, enzyme engineering, protein engineering, and genetic engineering. It possesses functional characteristics of high nutritional value and good palatability that can improve feed utilization, replace antibiotics, enhance the health level of livestock and poultry, improve the quality of livestock products, and promote a better breeding environment. A comprehensive review is provided on the types of biological feed, their mechanism of action, fermenting strains, fermenting raw material resources, and their current status in animal production to facilitate in-depth research and development of applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Artificial intelligence technology increases the level of awareness in sheep farming. The aggressive behavior of sheep is related to mortality, feed provisioning, and flock density, and can impact sheep welfare and business benefits in precision animal husbandry. Currently, animal behavior is mainly observed manually, leading to increased labor costs. Contact sensor methods not only increase breeding costs but also induce stress reactions in sheep. The non-contact computer vision method avoids the above problems. Therefore, we propose a deep learning model that combines machine vision and time series analysis. This model aims to meet the requirement of timely and accurate detection of aggressive behavior in large-scale sheep farming. In order to solve the problems of low efficiency and subjectivity of manual observation in the process of group-sheep-aggression detection, we propose a video streaming-based model for detecting aggressive behavior in group sheep. In the experiment, we collected videos of the sheep's daily routine and videos of the aggressive behavior of sheep in the sheep pen. Using the open-source software LabelImg, we labeled the data with bounding boxes. Firstly, the YOLOv5 detects all sheep in each frame of the video and outputs the coordinates information. Secondly, we sort the sheep's coordinates using a sheep tracking heuristic proposed in this paper. Finally, the sorted data are fed into an LSTM framework to predict the occurrence of aggression. To optimize the model's parameters, we analyze the confidence, batch size and skipping frame. The best-performing model from our experiments has 93.38% Precision and 91.86% Recall. Additionally, we compare our video streaming-based model with image-based models for detecting aggression in group sheep. In sheep aggression, the video stream detection model can solve the false detection phenomenon caused by head impact feature occlusion of aggressive sheep in the image detection model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In March 2020, a group of wild Asian elephants suddenly roamed north from China's Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve and subsequently arrived in Kunming City, Yunnan Province, which has aroused widespread concern in the society. Based on this event, this study attempted to identify the possible migration routes of Asian elephants according to the existing land conditions and the movement habits of Asian elephants if wild Asian elephants in China migrated again. It was found that the areas with a high probability of migration by Asian elephants were mainly concentrated in the gently undulating shrubs, bamboo forests, and grasslands. Moreover, dense forests with steep slopes and high altitudes, cultivated land, and construction land are less likely to be passed by Asian elephants. Our findings can not only provide valuable insights into suggestions and solutions for the current conservation of wild Asian elephant species but also be beneficial in biological protection and biological reserve planning. Humans overlap with Asian elephants, resulting in frequent costly human–elephant conflicts, which disturb and even threaten local residents. In this study, we treat provincial and national nature reserves where Asian elephants still exist and other alternative habitats suitable for Asian elephants in southern Yunnan, China, as ecological patches. By using this approach, we can treat the terrain and surface state factors that hinder the migration of Asian elephants as a form of ecological resistance surface. We can then use a circuit theory model and remote sensing data to construct an ecological network, which allows us to identify ecological corridors and ecological pinch points. Herein, the possible migration routes of wild Asian elephants were identified. The main results are as follows: (1) In the study area, dense forests with steep slopes and high altitudes, cultivated land, and building land have greater migration resistance, while the gently undulating shrubs, bamboo forests, and grasslands far away from the city have less migration resistance. (2) There are three ecological corridor groups in the study area, mainly composed of shrub and grassland. The ecological corridors identified in this paper are the most likely migration routes of wild Asian elephants in China, and areas with higher simulated current densities reflect a higher probability of Asian elephants passing through. (3) According to the analysis, the ecological pinch points in the study area are 602 km2 in total, and woodland and grassland account for 89.2% of the total ecological pinch area. The areas where the pinch points are located have a high probability of Asian elephants passing through and a narrow space. Our findings can provide suggestions and solutions for the current conservation of wild Asian elephant species, alleviate human–elephant conflicts, promote the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, and provide reference for biological protection and biological reserve planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pain is an unpleasant emotional state that produces behavioural changes to minimize future tissue damage and promote recovery and survival. These behavioural changes have been demonstrated in crustaceans, insects, and, to a lesser extent, spiders. Other arthropod groups have received little attention with respect to pain. The examination of situations in which individuals might attempt to cause pain in order to manipulate others might offer new opportunities for research into pain in arthropods. For example, defensive venom, traumatic mating, and fighting might inflict pain. This might benefit the animal causing the pain and result in a cost to the animal in pain. Pain in response to tissue damage functions to change behaviour so that further damage is minimised whereas healing and survival are promoted. This paper focuses on the behavioural criteria that match the function to ask if pain is likely in the main taxa of arthropods. There is evidence consistent with the idea of pain in crustaceans, insects and, to a lesser extent, spiders. There is little evidence of pain in millipedes, centipedes, scorpions, and horseshoe crabs but there have been few investigations of these groups. Alternative approaches in the study of pain are explored and it is suggested that studies on traumatic mating, agonistic interactions, and defensive venoms might provide clues about pain. The evolution of high cognitive ability, sensory systems, and flexible decision-making is discussed as well as how these might influence the evolution of pain-like states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: It has been widely demonstrated that blood vessels are sources of multipotent progenitor cells, including mesenchymal stem cells. These stem cellular populations persist throughout adulthood and can be isolated from both microvascular and large vessels. Increasing evidence suggests that vascular stem cells, together with other cell populations residing in blood vessels, such as endothelial cells, are involved in physiological and pathological vascular remodeling. In the present paper, we described, for the first time, a new improved method to isolate a pure population of vascular wall cells showing a preserved mesenchymal tri-lineage differentiative potential from thoracic aorta of Göttingen Minipigs, preserving and also collecting endothelial cells. Considering the increasing interest in the use of Göttingen Minipigs as an animal model for cardiovascular diseases, the results obtained in the present research open the way to plan in vitro vascular remodeling experiments by using in co-culture system vascular mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial cells. Two main classes of perivascular multipotent populations have been described: the microvascular pericytes and the vascular wall mesenchymal stem cells (VW-MSCs). VW-MSCs are isolated from large vessels in many species and they participate in vascular remodeling together with other cellular components such as endothelial cells. Considering that the Göttingen Minipigs are widely used in Europe as a translational model in the field of cardiovascular diseases, the aim of the present research was to isolate VW-MSCs from the adult aorta of Göttingen Minipigs while preserving and also collecting endothelial cells. The results obtained in the present research demonstrated that this new protocol allows us to obtain a pure population of VW-MSCs and endothelial cells. VW-MSCs from Göttingen Minipigs responded fully to the MSC minima international criteria, being positive to CD105, CD90, and CD44 and negative to CD45 and CD34. Moreover, VW-MSCs presented a differentiative potential towards osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic lineages. Overall, the present protocol, preserving the viability and phenotypic features of the two isolated populations, opens future possibilities of using minipig VW-MSCs and endothelial cells in in vitro vascular remodeling studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: According to European regulations, the severity of the suffering of animals during animal experiments should be assessed. Regulatory documents and guidelines provide recommendations on how to approach this severity assessment; however, they are often not specific enough, resulting in inconsistencies between different institutes performing the same procedures. To overcome this, two Belgian academic institutions with a focus on biomedical research, collaborated to develop and align the severity classification for all procedures performed. This was performed based on the available literature and guidelines, as well as the professional judgment of the designated veterinarians, animal welfare bodies and animal ethics committees. Throughout the manuscript, we motivate which criteria were used to classify procedures or groups of procedures within a specific category. Our collaborative classification includes many procedures and disease models in a variety of animal species for which a severity classification was not reported so far, or the terms that assign them to a different severity were too vague. We believe this extensive list of procedures and the approach described in this paper could be of great value to other research institutions. According to the EU Directive 2010/63, all animal procedures must be classified as non-recovery, mild, moderate or severe. Several examples are included in the Directive to help in severity classification. Since the implementation of the Directive, different publications and guidelines have been disseminated on the topic. However, due to the large variety of disease models and animal procedures carried out in many different animal species, guidance on the severity classification of specific procedures or models is often lacking or not specific enough. The latter is especially the case in disease models where the level of pain, suffering, distress and lasting harm depends on the duration of the study (for progressive disease models) or the dosage given (for infectious or chemically induced disease models). This, in turn, may lead to inconsistencies in severity classification between countries, within countries and even within institutions. To overcome this, two Belgian academic institutions with a focus on biomedical research collaborated to develop a severity classification for all the procedures performed. This work started with listing all in-house procedures and assigning them to 16 (sub)categories. First, we determined which parameters, such as clinical signs, dosage or duration, were crucial for severity classification within a specific (sub)category. Next, a severity classification was assigned to the different procedures, which was based on professional judgment by the designated veterinarians, members of the animal welfare body (AWB) and institutional animal ethics committee (AEC), integrating the available literature and guidelines. During the classification process, the use of vague terminology, such as 'minor impact', was avoided as much as possible. Instead, well-defined cut-offs between severity levels were used. Furthermore, we sought to define common denominators to group procedures and to be able to classify new procedures more easily. Although the primary aim is to address prospective severity, this can also be used to assess actual severity. In summary, we developed a severity classification for all procedures performed in two academic, biomedical institutions. These include many procedures and disease models in a variety of animal species for which a severity classification was not reported so far, or the terms that assign them to a different severity were too vague. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: There is an increased global effort to develop and identify the opportunities and challenges of extended dairy cow-calf suckling systems due to societal concerns about removing calves from cows soon after birth. Implementing a pasture-based system where the dams have half-day contact with their calves and are milked once a day could potentially serve as a viable choice for developing alternative practices in the dairy industry. However, most research on extended suckling systems has been conducted on indoor dairy farms. This paper describes an investigation into the productivity of cows and calves in a pasture-based extended suckling system featuring part-time cow-calf contact and once-a-day milking. Although suckled cows produced less saleable milk than commercially managed cows, their reduced milk yield did not persist after weaning. Dam-reared calves grew faster than commercially reared calves from weeks 3 to 9. The system offers a promising foundation for future large-scale and longitudinal research on the benefits, challenges, and scalability of pastoral cow-calf dairy systems. This approach would be in line with public expectations of enhanced animal welfare in the dairy industry by addressing the concern of removing calves from cows soon after birth. This study investigated cow-calf productivity in a 10-week, pasture-based, extended suckling system featuring part-time cow-calf contact and once-a-day milking. A total of 30 dairy cows and their calves were assigned to two treatments: (1) cow and calf managed in an extended suckling system; or (2) cow and calf separated at birth and managed as usual. Cow-calf pairs grazed together during the day and spent the night separated by fence-line contact. The dams were reunited with the calves after once-a-day milking every morning. The commercial treatment pairs were separated after birth, and cows were milked twice a day and managed within the farm herd. Commercial calves were reared and managed as per commercial Australian practices. Cow-calf dams yielded 9 L/cow/day less saleable milk (p < 0.001), and their milk had lower fat (p = 0.04) but a higher protein percentage (p < 0.001) than commercial cows during pre-weaning. However, milk yield and composition were comparable post-weaning. Dam-suckled calves gained weight faster and were therefore weaned 2 weeks earlier than commercial calves, which were offered 8 L/day milk. This study has demonstrated a novel system of extended cow-calf suckling that could be practical to implement in pasture-based dairies. The long-term effects and scalability of the extended suckling system described here require further validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: When conditions make it necessary to end a horse's life, it must be accomplished in a humane manner. Intravenous administration of an overdose of a concentrated barbiturate anesthetic agent has been the most common method for providing a humane ending in horses. However, due to emerging public safety, barbiturate supply constraints, and environmental reasons, alternative methods for providing humane endings for horses and other large animals are required today. A gunshot correctly delivered to the brain has been shown to be an effective option. It is critical the gun be aimed correctly for the gunshot to destroy specific structures in the brain ensuring instantaneous, permanent unconsciousness and death. Despite the availability of aiming guidelines, studies examining bullet trajectories in animals euthanized by gunshot have identified issues related to incorrect aiming leading to unreliable disruption of the brain structures to ensure a quick and humane death. The availability of a training model and establishment of training guidelines for practitioners to gain proficiency with gunshot euthanasia prior to performing the procedure on animals in the field would correct this welfare issue. This paper describes the development of a 3D-printed, anatomically accurate, economically scalable, and portable model for training in successful humane gunshot euthanasia. Challenges and issues related to the use of pentobarbital euthanasia and disposal of animal remains within the US have recently been reviewed. Environmental and public health challenges increasingly necessitate consideration of alternative methods such as gunshots, an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) "acceptable with conditions" method, for the humane euthanasia of horses. A recent study reported a correctly aimed gunshot provides a humane option for euthanizing horses. However, although aiming guidelines exist, studies examining bullet trajectories in animals euthanized by gunshot have reported that inadequate disruption of the brain is a serious welfare issue. Here, we report the development and production of a portable, reusable, equine gunshot euthanasia training model. Using 3D printing, an anatomically accurate model of an equine head has been developed, with external aiming landmarks and equipped with integrated laser sensors and LED eyes. The laser sensors are embedded in two specific anatomical tracts (pons and medulla) with aiming paths associated with the aiming landmarks to train correct aiming angle. The LED eyes are linked to the laser sensors to provide instant feedback on aiming accuracy. When a beam from a commercially available blue training gun laser travels along the correct aiming path and strikes the sensor inside the head, the lights in the model's eyes go out and there is an audible signal, providing immediate feedback on the accuracy of the shot. The model facilitates the training of veterinary personnel and first responders in successful gunshot euthanasia, providing instantaneous feedback on the likelihood of a shot causing immediate, humane death in a live animal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Advanced imaging diagnostic techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging with anatomical sections, were used to evaluate the head of the crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata). These techniques were very helpful to delineate the main formations that compose the central nervous system (CNS), as well as its associated structures. To the authors' knowledge, the present study is the first to describe this area using anatomical sections and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in crested porcupines. This paper aimed to describe an atlas of the crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) head by applying advanced imaging techniques such as MRI. Furthermore, by combining the images acquired through these techniques with anatomical sections, we obtained an adequate description of the structures that form the CNS and associated structures of this species. This anatomical information could serve as a valuable diagnostic tool for the clinical evaluation of different pathological processes in porcupines, such as abscesses, skull malformations, fractures, and neoplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Over the last decade, the total goat population in Vietnam increased more than two-fold, from 1.29 million to 2.65 million heads. In spite of a transformation from extensive grazing to cut-and-carry intensive systems, more than three-fourths of goats in Vietnam are raised by small-scale producers. The demands for goat meat and milk are significantly increasing, leading to pressure for imports. Goat marketing primarily takes place through informal channels and is dominated by small-scale producers and traders. The formal goat market is poorly developed. The marketing research and statistical data on the goat value chain are scarce. This situation has led to an inconsistency in livestock supply and quality and, as a result, unstable pricing. Information and documentation regarding both horizontal and vertical linkages in the supply chain remain limited. Despite receiving strong support from the government and experiencing high demand, goat production and marketing systems have yet to achieve their full potential. This review overviews the current status of goat production and supply chains in Vietnam. It also identifies the main challenges and opportunities of, and provides suggestions through which improve, the nation's goat production and marketing. The current situation of goat production and supply chains in Vietnam, along with its difficulties and possibilities, is presented in this review paper. The data and reports of government agencies, scientific journals, and websites were analysed in order to determine the prevailing situation in goat production and marketing. Goats are mainly raised on small-scale farms (73.4% of the total goat population). Goat production is transforming from extensive grazing to cut-and-carry intensive systems. Goat meat and milk supplies have not fully met domestic demand. However, the scale of the domestic market is difficult to ascertain, due to the lack of market research and statistics. Goat marketing is mostly informal and overwhelmingly conducted by small-scale producers and traders, although there are numerous governmental agencies at both the national and local levels regulating formal marketing. The major challenges facing the goat industry are feed shortage; supply inconsistency; limited market infrastructure and research; a lack of sustainable breeding programmes, price incentives, and processing facilities; and competition from foreign suppliers. However, there are opportunities to expand and develop the industry, such as consumers' health consciousness, increasing demand, high-value adding, and strong government support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: (1) This study focuses on the ethical challenges veterinarians face when euthanizing animals, the act of ending an animal's life to relieve its suffering. Unlike other healthcare professionals, veterinarians are often required to perform euthanasia as part of their work. How veterinarians determine what constitutes a "good" killing, in a normative sense, needs to be explored. (2) 17 interviews with veterinarians were conducted and analyzed in detail. (3) The study found that veterinarians have different perspectives on what they consider ethically acceptable regarding euthanasia. They distinguish between farm animals and companion animals. Economic and emotional factors also influence their decisions. Ethical boundary work describes how veterinarians define what they consider normatively legitimate in these areas of veterinary medicine. (4) In conclusion, this study shows that veterinarians face difficult decisions and use ethical boundary work to meet these challenges. They must balance sometimes conflicting interests and adapt to multiple situations. By understanding the complexity of ethical boundary work, we can better understand the moral aspects of veterinary practice. This knowledge can improve veterinary care and help veterinarians make ethical decisions that benefit both animals and society. (1) Veterinarians are regularly required to euthanize their "objects of care" as part of their work, which distinguishes them from other healthcare professionals. This paper examines how veterinarians navigate the ethical tensions inherent in euthanasia, particularly the collision between the routine practice of killing animals within their profession and the broader social and moral implications. (2) Using the sociological concept of ethical boundary work as a theoretical framework, this research observes how veterinarians draw boundaries by positioning their euthanasia practices on the ethical "good" spectrum. A grounded theory study of 17 qualitative interviews with veterinarians was conducted. (3) The findings highlight differences in ethical boundary work within veterinary medicine, particularly in the distinction between farm animals and companion animals. Economic and emotional reasoning play differing roles in explanation and justification. Ethical boundary work is a tool for distinguishing normative frameworks in different areas of veterinary medicine. (4) In conclusion, veterinarians grapple with the realities of an imperfect world and often rely on boundary work to assert diverse interests and navigate multiple contexts. By exploring the complexities of ethical boundary work, this study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the moral landscape within veterinary practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Histology and stereology were used to estimate the sexual maturity phase for the European Plaice, as well as a description of the oogenesis cycle and size at first maturity. This study provides a method to accurately determine a key parameter for fisheries management that may be used for other species. The following paper gives a detailed description of the oogenesis cycle for the European Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), from oogonia to post-ovulatory follicle, including ovarian follicle and zona pellucida sizes. Noteworthy particularities were the difficulty in identifying cortical alveoli due to their very small size. Quantitative histology (stereology) on histological slides was used to determine a first size at maturity for females from the English Channel, which was found to be smaller compared to the literature (19 cm). Stereology also determined a first spawning event starting in January, with a peak in February and ongoing until March. Moreover, the use of stereology showed misclassifications for individuals categorized into a maturity phase using a macroscopic visual method. Misclassifications were found with individuals that had spawned (D) but were put under the immature (A) phase, and individuals in development (B) classified under D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: With the rapid technological advances, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) has witnessed significant growth in the agricultural industry, specifically in the poultry sector. The use of AI in estimating poultry weight can significantly impact production economics and overall efficiency in the poultry sector. Therefore, this paper presents an innovative AI approach based on the fuzzy logic (FL) method for estimating poultry weight. The FL models were created using expert knowledge and key input variables such as indoor temperature, humidity, and feed consumption. This study's findings demonstrate that FL-based methods exhibit great promise for achieving accurate and efficient poultry weight estimation. Integrating the FL technique in the poultry industry can bring numerous benefits, including improved decision-making processes, enhanced efficiency, and reduced costs. Traditional manual weighing systems for birds on poultry farms are time-consuming and may compromise animal welfare. Although automatic weighing systems have been introduced as an alternative, they face limitations in accurately estimating the weight of heavy birds. Therefore, exploring alternative methods that offer improved efficiency and precision is necessary. One promising solution lies in the application of AI, which has the potential to revolutionize various aspects of poultry production and management, making it an indispensable tool for the modern poultry industry. This study aimed to develop an AI approach based on the FL model as a viable solution for estimating poultry weight. By incorporating expert knowledge and considering key input variables such as indoor temperature, indoor humidity, and feed consumption, FL-based models were developed with different configurations using Mamdani inferences and evaluated across eight different rearing periods in Samsun, Türkiye. This study's results demonstrated the effectiveness of FL-based models in estimating poultry weight. The models achieved varying average absolute error values across different age groups of broilers, ranging from 0.02% to 5.81%. These findings suggest that FL-based methods hold promise for accurate and efficient poultry weight estimation. This study opens up avenues for further research in the field, encouraging the exploration of FL-based approaches for improved poultry weight estimation in poultry farming operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Antibiotics are present in the environment and can be bioaccumulated by organisms and transferred through the food chain, which poses a problem when considering fish meat consumption. The study focused on lambari, a fish with potential in aquaculture because of its ease of rearing in small-scale operations. The objective of the study was to measure the bioaccumulation and clearance of the antibiotic sulfadiazine (SDZ) in lambaris. The tests were divided into two phases: exposure and depletion. During exposure, the fish were fed medicated feed for seven days, and during depletion they were transferred to clean tanks and fed uncontaminated feed for another seven days. SDZ concentrations increased in the fish over the days, with the greatest accumulation occurring on day seven. After the depletion phase, SDZ concentrations decreased. The results showed that there was little bioaccumulation of SDZ in the fish, but that the compound was more present in the water. The results also indicated that the concentrations of SDZ were below the established maximum limit. This study contributes to the understanding of the dynamics of SDZ in an aquatic species native to Brazil. Antibiotics are present in the environment, primarily due to their release through wastewater treatment plants, agricultural practices, and improper disposal of unused medications. In the environment, these drugs can be bioaccumulated by organisms and transferred along the food chain. This is a problem when considering the consumption of fish meat. In the United States, legislation stipulates that the maximum residue limit for sulfadiazine (SDZ) should not exceed 100 μg kg−1. Lambari fishes have potential economic importance in aquaculture, as they are relatively easy to breed and can be raised in small-scale operations. Finally, studying the biology and ecology of lambari could provide valuable information about freshwater ecosystems and their inhabitants. The current work aimed to measure the bioaccumulation and depletion of the antibiotic SDZ 14C in lambari (Astyanax bimaculatus). For this purpose, the tests were divided into two stages; seven days of exposure and seven days of depletion, where one fish was randomly selected and sampled every day. In the exposure phase, the fish were fed the medicated feed three times a day at a concentration of 2.5 mg·g−1. The control fish were fed uncontaminated feed. For the depletion phase, the remaining lambari were transferred to clean tanks and fed uncontaminated feed three times a day. The fish samples were burned in the Oxidizer and the reading of radioactivity was performed in a liquid scintillation spectrometer. It is worth noting that on day 7 and day 14, the water in the aquariums was filtered through filter paper to collect the metabolic excrement. SDZ concentrations increased over the days and accumulation occurred in the fish, with day seven presenting the maximum accumulation value of 91.7 ng·g−1 due to feeding uptake. After the depletion phase on day 13, the value found was 0.83 ng·g−1. The bioconcentration factor calculated was 20 L·kg−1. After the bioaccumulation period, the concentrations of SDZ in the water and excreta were 4.5 µg·L−1 and 363.5 ng·g−1, respectively. In the depletion period, the concentrations in the water and excreta were 0.01 µg·L−1 and 5.96 ng·g−1, respectively. These results imply that there was little SDZ bioaccumulation in the fish, but that it was distributed in larger amounts in the water. This is due to the physicochemical properties of the molecule with the low Log P value. Regarding the maximum residue limit, the value was below the established value. This study contributes to understanding SDZ dynamics in an aquatic species native to Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Accurate farming is essential for optimal pasture management and productivity improvement. Recently, automatic sheep face detection has become a promising solution for accurate farming. In this study, we explore a novel sheep face detection scheme based on lightweight convolutional neural network. The results have shown that our proposed detection method has the characteristics of real-time and robust detection, which provides a potential solution for accurate sheep face detection on actual sheep farms. The accurate breeding of individual sheep has shown outstanding effectiveness in food quality tracing, prevention of fake insurance claims, etc., for which sheep identification is the key to guaranteeing its high performance. As a promising solution, sheep identification based on sheep face detection has shown potential effectiveness in recent studies. Unfortunately, the performance of sheep face detection has still been a challenge due to diverse background illumination, sheep face angles and scales, etc. In this paper, an effective and lightweight sheep face detection method based on an improved RetinaFace algorithm is proposed. In order to achieve an accurate and real-time detection of sheep faces on actual sheep farms, the original RetinaFace algorithm is improved in two main aspects. Firstly, to accelerate the speed of multi-scale sheep face feature extraction, an improved MobileNetV3-large with a switchable atrous convolution is optimally used as the backbone network of the proposed algorithm. Secondly, the channel and spatial attention modules are added into the original detector module to highlight important facial features of the sheep. This helps obtain more discriminative sheep face features to mitigate against the challenges of diverse face angles and scale in sheep. The experimental results on our collected real-world scenarios have shown that the proposed method outperforms others with an F1score of 95.25%, an average precision of 96.00%, a model size of 13.20 M, an average processing time of 26.83 ms, and a parameter of 3.20 M. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The authors present results on animal resources in the economy of medieval Moldova as they are reflected by analyses of animal skeletal remains recovered from archaeological sites situated in northeastern Romania and the Republic of Moldova. This paper aims to statistically evaluate the data of previous studies, and to analyse the case of the urban settlement from Târgu Neamț in the context of medieval Moldova. The results indicate the great importance of animal breeding and the low interest in hunting and fishing. This study aims to contribute to the knowledge of the medieval Moldovan economy by evaluating animal resources (e.g., animal husbandry, hunting, fishing) based on the skeletal remains found in archaeologic sites from northeastern Romania and the Republic of Moldova. Animal remains, especially those from the urban settlement of the 14th–16th centuries from Târgu Neamţ (NE Romania), were described in terms of their frequencies (i.e., number of identified specimens and minimum number of individuals), morphometry, and livestock management (i.e., animal selection by age and sex). The results were compared with those obtained from other settlements—rural, urban, and fortress—from medieval Moldova. Correspondence analysis of the identified animals and settlements on the basis of the frequency values reveals associations between the two variables (animal species and settlement). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Dogs that bite or show aggression towards humans are a worldwide problem. Whilst many dog–human relationships are valuable and bring much happiness, when the relationship breaks down and results in an aggressive encounter, the consequences are, at best, unpleasant for all those involved. It is commonly believed that the early experiences of dogs may contribute to their behaviour as adults. We reviewed and synthesised the scientific evidence surrounding this belief in order to establish what it tells us about the importance of early life experiences with regard to minimising the possibility of dogs developing aggressive responses to humans as adult animals. We found evidence in support of the potential importance of the following risk factors: the source of the animal, the age at which it was rehomed, the reason for the acquisition, the experience level of the owner, the animal's socialisation experiences, the consistent husbandry and management practices, the training, the sex ratio of the litter and the history of dogs that display aggression in the pedigree. Human-directed aggression by domestic dogs is a major worldwide public health problem. The causes of aggression are complex, and research in this area often has to balance ecological validity with pragmatic controls; accordingly, it often does not meet the thresholds for quality typically used in reviews applying a classical "evidence-based" approach. Here, we propose a method of literature assessment that makes the "best use" of available evidence to identify and synthesise evidence relating to the most likely risk factors reported in the scientific literature. We used a systematic review process to initially identify relevant literature relating to potential early life experience (i.e., in the first six months of life) risk factors in the dog for human-directed aggression in the adult animal. Fourteen papers met our initial screening process and were subsequently analysed in detail, with data extracted and effect sizes calculated where possible. This highlighted the potential importance of the source of the animal, the age at which it was rehomed, the reason for the acquisition, the experience level of the owner, the animal's socialisation experiences, the consistent husbandry and management practices, the training, the sex ratio of the litter and the history of dogs that display aggression in the pedigree as risk factors. Taken together, it seems that early experiences which limit the ability to develop effective coping strategies and routines may be particularly important. We provide guidance for the future standardised reporting of risk related to human-directed aggression by dogs to allow greater synthesis of the literature in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: African swine fever, as an acute, contact-transmitted infection, has a very high mortality and infectivity, and there are no effective drugs that can treat the disease. Therefore, it is necessary to take biosecurity measures in time at the beginning of the disease outbreak. In this article, media coverage is introduced into the African swine fever model, and the results indicate that real-time media coverage of the African swine fever epidemic is beneficial for breeders to scientifically prevent the spread of the epidemic in a timely manner. Through the evaluation of specific prevention and control measures, we suggest that timely disinfection and sterilization measures taken by breeding personnel after receiving relevant reports of the swine fever epidemic can effectively control the spread of the disease. African swine fever is a highly contagious virus that causes pig disease. Its onset process is short, but the mortality rate is as high as 100%. There are still no effective drugs that have been developed to treat African swine fever, and prevention and control measures are currently the best means to avoid infection in pig herds. In this paper, two fractional order mathematical models with media coverage are constructed to describe the transmission of African swine fever. The first model is a basic model with media coverage, and no control measures are considered. For this model, the reproduction number is obtained by using the next generation matrix method. Then, the sufficient conditions for the existence and stability of two equilibriums are obtained. Based on the first model, the second model is established incorporating two control measures. By using Pontryagin's maximal principle, the optimal control solution is derived. After that, some numerical simulations are performed for the two models to verify the theoretical results. Both the qualitative analysis and numerical results indicate that timely media coverage combined with disinfection control measures is crucial to preventing the spread of disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Knowledge about species has been surveyed many times in research in the past. To our knowledge, species selection has never been properly justified and there is no consensus on which species should be used as a baseline for knowledge about species in the public. Based on database analysis and two expert panel studies, a list of 50 bird species (occurring in Germany) is provided at the end of this paper. The list can be used by educational institutions, for example, but also for research to make studies about knowledge about species more comparable in the future. The loss of Earth's biodiversity is accompanied by a loss of public knowledge about species. Many scientists are convinced that knowledge about species is an important prerequisite to interest and investment in species conservation. In the past, knowledge about species has mostly been assessed using birds, but there is no consensus on which birds could serve as a baseline for knowledge about species in the general public. The aim of this study is to provide a list of the 'golden 50′ bird species in Germany that can be used by educational institutions, as well as studies about species knowledge to make them more comparable. The list can also serve as a basis for the selection of so-called flagship species, which are used for the protection of habitats and other species due to their high likeability. To achieve this, three consecutive steps were conducted: an analysis of bird-related databases to determine which species might be common and known and two expert panel studies. The data analysis included several factors: species characteristics, Citizen Science data, public value and importance, and scientific studies. In both the first and second rounds, experts were asked for their opinion on which species should be known by the general public in Germany. The first expert panel, which consisted of only a small group of experts (n = 6), was mainly used to reduce the number of species for the second panel. In the second expert panel, 197 ornithologically qualified experts from all over Germany were asked for their assessment. The correlations between the expert assessments and the different variables were all significant (except for the species trait "colourfulness"), which validates the selection process used here and consequently the species list that has been compiled. The selection process can also be applied to other biogeographical regions or taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Repeat breeder cow (RBC) syndrome encompasses cows failing three or more times to become pregnant, but with the special characteristic that their estrous cycles have a normal duration. Farmers and technicians commonly feel incapable of addressing this reproductive issue, and after numerous unsuccessful attempts to conceive, it is often necessary to cull cows. Important economic losses are linked to RBC syndrome due to diagnosis, therapy, or reduced milk production, among others. This review compiles information about recent knowledge on the pathogenesis of RBC syndrome, describes treatments that could be efficient, analyzes the risk factors involved, and slightly evaluates their economic impact on farms. While it is difficult to resolve certain cases due to the multicausal nature of this syndrome, remedial therapy and management strategies are listed. Cows can have difficulties becoming pregnant, and in certain cases, these reproductive failures do not have an evident cause. Furthermore, when these failures are repeated three or more times with estrous cycles of normal duration and in the absence of evident clinical signs, it is considered repeat breeder cow (RBC) syndrome. A substantive incidence of RBC syndrome has been reported all over the world, which severely affects the farm economy. This paper reviews those studies particularly focused on RBC syndrome from 2000 to 2023 but also includes consolidated information until this date. Hormonal imbalances, undetectable oviductal or uterine defects, or poor oocyte or embryo quality have been reported as causes of RBC syndrome, while subclinical endometritis has been considered a relevant causal agent. However, it is unresolved why this condition is recurrent in certain animals, despite the implementation of corrective management actions or treatments. Recent studies evaluate the putative role of certain genes, factors, hormones, or proteins in the pathogenesis of RBC syndrome. Numerous risk factors contribute to the appearance of this syndrome, and some of them could be mitigated to partially prevent this infertility, while others cannot be changed. Due to the complexity of this syndrome, it is important to increase knowledge about the mechanisms involved, develop new diagnostic tools to differentiate causal agents, and implement new treatments to restore fertility. There is consensus about the huge repercussions of this syndrome on farm profitability, but further studies are now needed to describe its economic impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in widescale changes to how UK puppy buyers purchased their puppies. Many of these changes threatened canine welfare by increasing the likelihood of buyers purchasing a puppy from a low-welfare source, e.g., collecting a puppy away from its place of birth or without seeing their mother, both of which are currently illegal in the UK. However, whether these puppy-purchasing changes were limited only to the 2020 'peak pandemic' phase and had returned to their pre-pandemic baseline afterwards or had persisted into the later phases of the pandemic in 2021 was not known. This study explored how and why puppies were purchased in 2021 and then compared this to the same date-periods in 2020 and 2019. Valid responses were analysed from the owners of 1148 "2019 puppies", 4369 "2020 Pandemic Puppies", and 2080 "2021 puppies". Although some of the peak pandemic changes had returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2021, some worrying trends still persisted, including 2021 puppies being less likely to be viewed in-person pre-purchase or to be collected from inside their breeders' property, compared to 2019 puppies. Furthermore, concerning year-on-year increases were documented between 2019 and 2021 in the number of puppies being sold with a passport indicating importation to the UK, often under the minimum legal age for import. The issues identified in this paper require further monitoring and intervention to protect canine welfare in the future. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in acquisitions of puppies in the UK, dubbed the "Pandemic Puppy" phenomenon. In addition to an increased demand for puppies, widespread changes to both why and how puppies were purchased during this period compared to pre-pandemic 2019 purchases were documented, many of which threatened canine welfare (e.g., puppies being collected away from their place of birth, without seeing their mother). This study aimed to explore which changes to the pre-purchase and purchase motivations and behaviours of UK owners who purchased a puppy aged <16 weeks in the 2020 phase of the COVID-19 pandemic had persisted into 2021 or had returned to pre-pandemic 2019 levels. An online survey was conducted during February to April 2022 from which 2080 valid responses were analysed ("2021 puppies") and compared with previously collected data from comparable cohorts in 2019 (n = 1148, "2019 puppies") and 2020 (n = 4369, "Pandemic Puppies"). While the majority of the peak pandemic changes documented in 2020 had returned to their 2019 pre-pandemic baseline, others persisted into 2021. Multinomial logistic regression models revealed that the shifts during 2020 towards owners viewing their puppy pre-purchase over video calls or via video recordings/photos rather than in-person and towards collecting their puppy from outside of their breeders' property rather than inside had persisted into 2021 and had not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Year-on-year significant rises in the number of puppies sold with a passport were documented between 2019 and 2021, with over 1 in 10 2021 puppies having been sold with a passport, the figure more than doubling since 2019. An increasing number of these puppies sold with a passport were under the minimum legal age for import at sale. Going forward, these concerning changes require further monitoring and human behaviour change interventions to tackle, including increased buyer awareness but also legislative approaches to prevent the greatest harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In this study, we propose a grouped attention module that combines channel attention and spatial attention simultaneously and applies it to a feature pyramid network for instance segmentation of group-raised pigs. First, we discuss the performance impact of adding different attention modules and setting different numbers of attention groups on the pig instance segmentation. Then, we visualize the spatial attention information and analyze the segmentation results under different scenes, ages, and time periods. Additionally, we explore the robustness and transferability of the model using third-party datasets. The aim is to provide insights into the intelligent management of pigs. In the pig farming environment, complex factors such as pig adhesion, occlusion, and changes in body posture pose significant challenges for segmenting multiple target pigs. To address these challenges, this study collected video data using a horizontal angle of view and a non-fixed lens. Specifically, a total of 45 pigs aged 20–105 days in 8 pens were selected as research subjects, resulting in 1917 labeled images. These images were divided into 959 for training, 192 for validation, and 766 for testing. The grouped attention module was employed in the feature pyramid network to fuse the feature maps from deep and shallow layers. The grouped attention module consists of a channel attention branch and a spatial attention branch. The channel attention branch effectively models dependencies between channels to enhance feature mapping between related channels and improve semantic feature representation. The spatial attention branch establishes pixel-level dependencies by applying the response values of all pixels in a single-channel feature map to the target pixel. It further guides the original feature map to filter spatial location information and generate context-related outputs. The grouped attention, along with data augmentation strategies, was incorporated into the Mask R-CNN and Cascade Mask R-CNN task networks to explore their impact on pig segmentation. The experiments showed that introducing data augmentation strategies improved the segmentation performance of the model to a certain extent. Taking Mask-RCNN as an example, under the same experimental conditions, the introduction of data augmentation strategies resulted in improvements of 1.5%, 0.7%, 0.4%, and 0.5% in metrics AP50, AP75, APL, and AP, respectively. Furthermore, our grouped attention module achieved the best performance. For example, compared to the existing attention module CBAM, taking Mask R-CNN as an example, in terms of the metric AP50, AP75, APL, and AP, the grouped attention outperformed 1.0%, 0.3%, 1.1%, and 1.2%, respectively. We further studied the impact of the number of groups in the grouped attention on the final segmentation results. Additionally, visualizations of predictions on third-party data collected using a top-down data acquisition method, which was not involved in the model training, demonstrated that the proposed model in this paper still achieved good segmentation results, proving the transferability and robustness of the grouped attention. Through comprehensive analysis, we found that grouped attention is beneficial for achieving high-precision segmentation of individual pigs in different scenes, ages, and time periods. The research results can provide references for subsequent applications such as pig identification and behavior analysis in mobile settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In addition to proteins and carbohydrates, colostrum contains antibodies. Quails can benefit from the consumption of colostrum as a source of probiotics and as a reduction in antibiotic usage, which helps improve their performance and reduce their environmental impact. In the current study, we found that the continuous use of bovine colostrum (BC) in the diet of laying Japanese quails during the late laying period improved egg production performance, egg traits, carcass characteristics, blood biochemistry, and antioxidant status. The present paper aims to evaluate the effect of different levels of bovine colostrum and probiotic dietary supplementation on egg production performance, egg traits, carcass characteristics, blood biochemistry and antioxidant status of laying Japanese quails. For the trial, 240 laying quails, aged between 24 weeks and 30 weeks, were involved in a 3 × 2 factorial experimental design, with 3 levels of bovine fresh colostrum (0, 2, and 4 percent of the total ratio) and 2 levels of probiotics (0 and 0.01 percent of the total ratio) administration. The colostrum supplementation improved the egg production performance, egg traits, carcass characteristics, blood biochemistry, and antioxidant status (p < 0.01). Probiotics used without colostrum did not affect the investigated traits of laying Japanese quails (p > 0.05), but a synergistic effect was observed when combined with colostrum. The overall results recommended that using 4% of bovine colostrum in laying Japanese quails, with the addition of 0.01% of probiotic feed additive results in positive effects on egg production performance, egg traits, carcass characteristics, blood biochemistry, and antioxidant status of laying Japanese quails in the late laying period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Seascapes were the last environments to be discovered and mastered in the history of humankind. The adaptation to such environments therefore required the development of techniques considered as part of a set of distinctive innovations encapsulated in the concept of "modern behaviour". This paper highlights the repeated catch and exploitation of toxic fish (e.g., Diodontidae, also known as porcupinefish in the Philippines), starting in the terminal Pleistocene ca. 13,000 years ago. The Bubog and Bilat archaeological sites yielded both cranial bones and dermal spines demonstrating that no preparation of the fish occurred immediately after the catch but rather that the fish were brought back to the camps. If not used for poison, these fishes would at least document the advanced knowledge to separate the toxic principle from the edible parts, which also implies a multi-stage cognitive process. Such knowledge was certainly one of the first steps toward the use of poison, meaning separating the edible parts from the toxic ones and keeping the latter for further use. Representatives of the Diodontidae family (porcupinefish) are known to have been fished by prehistoric Indo-Pacific populations; however, the antiquity of the use of this family is thus far unknown. We report here on the presence of Diodontidae in the archaeological sites of Bubog I, II, and Bilat in Mindoro, Philippines, dating back to c. 13,000 BP (Before Present). This evidence demonstrates the early exploitation by islanders of poisonous fish. Every part of porcupinefish can be toxic, but the toxicity is mostly concentrated in some organs, while other parts are edible. The continuous presence of Diodontidae remains throughout the stratigraphic record of these Philippines shell middens suggests that porcupinefish were prepared by human inhabitants of the sites to render them safe for consumption, indicating an advanced cultural knowledge of the preparation needed to separate the toxic principle from the edible parts. This constitutes one of the rare examples of poison processing by humans, aside from the contentious wooden stick poison applicator from Border Cave (South Africa). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In recent years, there has been a significant increase in research on precision livestock farming. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the current state of research on precision livestock farming. Using the visualization tool CiteSpace, this study creates knowledge maps to display data on research countries, institutions, author collaborations, and keyword networks. Through these analyses, this study objectively reveals the dynamics, development process, and evolutionary trends of precision livestock farming research while identifying the frontiers and hotspots in the field. Precision livestock farming (PLF) utilises information technology to continuously monitor and manage livestock in real-time, which can improve individual animal health, welfare, productivity and the environmental impact of animal husbandry, contributing to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of livestock farming. PLF has emerged as a pivotal area of multidisciplinary interest. In order to clarify the knowledge evolution and hotspot replacement of PLF research, based on the relevant data from the Web of Science database from 1973 to 2023, this study analyzed the main characteristics, research cores and hot topics of PLF research via CiteSpace. The results point to a significant increase in studies on PLF, with countries having advanced livestock farming systems in Europe and America publishing frequently and collaborating closely across borders. Universities in various countries have been leading the research, with Daniel Berckmans serving as the academic leader. Research primarily focuses on animal science, veterinary science, computer science, agricultural engineering, and environmental science. Current research hotspots center around precision dairy and cattle technology, intelligent systems, and animal behavior, with deep learning, accelerometer, automatic milking systems, lameness, estrus detection, and electronic identification being the main research directions, and deep learning and machine learning represent the forefront of current research. Research hot topics mainly include social science in PLF, the environmental impact of PLF, information technology in PLF, and animal welfare in PLF. Future research in PLF should prioritize inter-institutional and inter-scholar communication and cooperation, integration of multidisciplinary and multimethod research approaches, and utilization of deep learning and machine learning. Furthermore, social science issues should be given due attention in PLF, and the integration of intelligent technologies in animal management should be strengthened, with a focus on animal welfare and the environmental impact of animal husbandry, to promote its sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Crofton weed toxicity, caused by Ageratina adenophora, has been recognized as a cause of fatal lung disease in horses for over a century. Despite its impact on horse health in many areas of the world, the toxic syndrome is poorly understood and understudied. This paper looks at the prior research on weed biology, the potential toxicology mechanisms, and the pathology in horses and other species, as well as the future directions to improve our understanding of this fatal toxic weed affecting horses. Crofton weed (Ageratina adenophora) is a global and highly invasive weed, with ingestion causing severe respiratory disease in horses, leading to irreversible and untreatable pulmonary fibrosis and oedema. While reports of equine pneumotoxicity remain common in Australia and New Zealand, equine pneumotoxicity may be underdiagnosed in other countries where Crofton weed is endemic but poorly differentiated. The pathogenesis of Crofton weed toxicity following ingestion has been well described in a number of different animal models, including rodents, rabbits, and goats. However, induced toxicity is organ-selective across different animal species, and these vastly differ from the pathogenesis described in horses, both clinically and after experimental exposure. Sources of variation may include species-specific susceptibility to different toxins present in the plant, different mechanistic processes of toxicity, and species differences in toxin biotransformation and bioactivation across different organs. Considering disease severity and Crofton weed's invasiveness globally, assessing published toxicological and exposure data is necessary to advance research, identify specific toxins for horses, and possible prophylactic and therapeutic strategies. This review presents an overview of the available literature on equine toxicity, parallels between toxicity in horses and other animal species, and important aspects to be included in the future research agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The domestic donkey is an endangered equid species. There are 199 donkeys in the Special Nature Reserve "Zasavica", out of the estimated 1000 that are assumed to exist in Serbia. The aim of this study was to assess the exposure of donkeys in the Special Nature Reserve "Zasavica" to some of the most significant viral pathogens and establish the seroprevalence of equine infectious anemia, African horse sickness, equine herpesvirus type 1 infection, equine influenza and equine viral arteritis. In tested blood samples, antibodies against equine herpesvirus type 1 and equine influenza virus (subtype H3N8) were found, while all samples tested negative for African horse sickness virus, equine infectious anemia virus and equine arteritis virus. To our knowledge, this study represents the first results of detection of these pathogens in the population of domestic donkeys in Serbia. The paper presents the findings of specific antibodies in the blood sera of donkeys against the following viruses: equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), African horse sickness virus (AHSV), equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1), equine influenza virus subtype H3N8 (EIV) and equine arteritis virus (EAV). The analyses were conducted during the year 2022. From a total of 199 donkeys bred in "Zasavica", blood was sampled from 53 animals (2 male donkeys and 51 female donkeys), aged 3 to 10 years. Specific antibodies against EIAV were not detected in any of the tested animals using the agar-gel immunodiffusion (AGID) assay. No specific antibodies against AHSV, tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), or antibodies against EAV, tested by the virus neutralization test (VNT) and ELISA were detected in any of these animals. A positive serological result for EHV-1 was determined by the VNT in all animals, with antibody titer values ranging from 1:2 to 1:128, while a very low antibody titer value for EIV (subtype H3N8) of 1:16 was determined in 18 donkeys using the hemagglutination inhibition test (HI test). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Dutch legislators have recently introduced domestication as a requirement for animals that can be safely kept by humans and it seems likely that other countries may follow this approach. The dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) was considered to be insufficiently domesticated and will no longer be able to be kept in the Netherlands as livestock from 2024 onwards. In a previous scientific publication, we showed that the domestication stage of the dromedary is actually very advanced and that its evaluation by the Dutch advisory committee must be considered as a mistake. Here, we further elaborate on this topic by using the three criteria that were used by the Dutch legislators to assess the degree of domestication even though it should be noted that these criteria have neither been peer-reviewed, nor published in international scientific journals. To validate the criteria, we also assessed the domestication stage of the house cat (Felis silvestris catus) as this species is obviously included in the positive list. The results confirm that the domestication stage of the dromedary is very advanced. However, application of the same criteria would lead to the exclusion of the house cat. This shows that "being in an advanced stage of domestication" is not a suitable requirement for animals to be kept by humans. Instead, scientific evidence-based, peer-reviewed methodologies should be applied for legislation as to keeping livestock or pets. Being in an advanced stage of domestication is a newly proposed requirement to decide which animals can be safely kept by humans. Dutch legislators were the first to apply it and other European countries may be tempted to adopt a similar approach. Unexpectedly, the Dutch assessors considered the dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) as being insufficiently domesticated and this species will therefore no longer be able to be kept as a production animal from 2024 onwards. In a recent publication on this topic, we showed that the domestication of the dromedary is actually very advanced. In this paper, we apply the same criteria that were used by the Dutch assessors to determine the degree of domestication, taking into account the most recent scientific developments in this area, even though it should be noted that these criteria have neither been peer-reviewed, nor published in an international scientific journal. For the sake of comparison, and in order to validate the procedure, we also applied these criteria to the house cat. The results confirm that the dromedary is highly domesticated, but also that the house cat (Felis silvestris catus) is at most semi-domesticated. Obviously, we agree with the decision of the Dutch legislators to place the house cat on the positive list, but our analysis demonstrates that this was decided on false grounds. Our analysis makes it clear that the requirement of being in an advanced stage of domestication is not suitable. Instead of maintaining this requirement, we recommend implementing evidence-based, peer-reviewed methods to decide which animals can be kept by humans, and to include species specific-guidelines in the legislation on how this can be achieved safely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The re-identification of animals can distinguish different individuals and is regarded as the premise of modern animal protection and management. The re-identification of wild animals can be inferred and judged by the difference in their coat colors and facial features. Due to the limitation of long-distance feature extraction, CNN (Convolutional Neural Network) is not conducive to mining the relationships among local features. Therefore, this paper proposes a transformer network structure with a cross-attention block (CAB) and local awareness (CATLA transformer) for the re-identification of wild animals. We replace the self-attention module of the LA transformer with CAB to better capture the global information of the animal body and the differences in facial features, or local fur colors and textures. According to the distribution of animal body parts of the animal standing posture, we redesigned the layer structure of the local aware network to fuse the local and global features. The wildlife re-identification recognition methods based on the camera trap were used to identify different individuals of the same species using the fur, stripes, facial features and other features of the animal body surfaces in the images, which is an important way to count the individual number of a species. Re-identification of wild animals can provide solid technical support for the in-depth study of the number of individuals and living conditions of rare wild animals, as well as provide accurate and timely data support for population ecology and conservation biology research. However, due to the difficulty of recording the shy wild animals and distinguishing the similar fur of different individuals, only a few papers have focused on the re-identification recognition of wild animals. In order to fill this gap, we improved the locally aware transformer (LA transformer) network structure for the re-identification recognition of wild terrestrial animals. First of all, at the stage of feature extraction, we replaced the self-attention module of the LA transformer with a cross-attention block (CAB) in order to calculate the inner-patch attention and cross-patch attention, so that we could efficiently capture the global information of the animal body's surface and local feature differences of fur, colors, textures, or faces. Then, the locally aware network of the LA transformer was used to fuse the local and global features. Finally, the classification layer of the network realized wildlife individual recognition. In order to evaluate the performance of the model, we tested it on a dataset of Amur tiger torsos and the face datasets of six different species, including lions, golden monkeys, meerkats, red pandas, tigers, and chimpanzees. The experimental results showed that our wildlife re-identification model has good generalization ability and is superior to the existing methods in mAP (mean average precision), and obtained comparable results in the metrics Rank 1 and Rank 5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]