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Simple Summary: The organic livestock sector has been experiencing a fast growth and, lately, organic farming has become a trending topic. However, the scientific research behind the organic livestock sector is not often clear. A bibliometric review is the first approach to a topic because it helps to provide an overview of the research conducted on the topic itself. It identifies the countries involved in organic livestock production research and the scientific interaction between countries and authors, and it allows to map the keywords of the published papers. These are all key aspects to bear in mind when starting a new research area or writing a research proposal. The bibliometric analysis conducted here includes peer-reviewed documents to guarantee, from a scientific point of view, the quality of the selected studies. In this paper, we present a new technique to analyze the literature from a bibliometric point of view, and the results and conclusions extracted from the investigated topic (i.e., organic livestock production). Due to the increasing interest in organic farming, an overview of this research area is provided through a bibliometric analysis conducted between April and May 2019. A total of 320 documents were published up until 2018 on organic livestock farming, with an annual growth rate of 9.33% and a clear increase since 2005; 268 documents have been published in 111 journals. Germany is the country with the largest number of published papers (56 documents). Authors' top keywords (excluding keywords used for running the search) included: animal welfare (29 times), animal health (22 times), cattle (15 times), grazing (10 times), and sheep (10 times). This could indicate that more research has been done on cattle because of the importance of this species in Germany. Moreover, the prevalence of the terms 'animal welfare' and 'animal health' may indicate that the research on organic livestock production has been focused on these two areas. The bibliometric analysis indicates that: (i) countries focused the organic livestock production research on their main production, and (ii) more research in species other than cattle and sheep is needed. [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: Although Anaplasma (A.) phagocytophilum infection in cats is considered to be less frequent compared with dogs, there is evidence indicating that the risk of the infection in cats might be underestimated. The study aimed to find out if infections in cats are underestimated and to discover which factors increase the risk of infection. Blood samples of 1015 cats across Europe were tested for A. phagocytophilum DNA from 2017 to 2022. The number of samples sent for testing increased over the 6 years. Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA was found in 76 out of 1015 cats (7.5%). Infections were more common in Northern Europe than in Central or Southern Europe. During summer, the number of positive samples was significantly higher compared with winter (p = 0.047). The risk for A. phagocytophilum infection in cats should not be underestimated, especially in Northern Europe. Preventing tick bites is essential for cats' health all over Europe, not just in the Mediterranean regions. Infections with Anaplasma (A.) phagocytophilum in cats seem to be rare. The study aimed to determine whether infections in cats are underestimated and to identify the risk factors for infection. Blood samples of 1015 cats across Europe (2017–2022), sent to IDEXX Laboratories, Germany, were tested for A. phagocytophilum DNA. The influence of the cats' origin on A. phagocytophilum infection was assessed by univariable analysis, while multivariable logistic regression evaluated associations with the cats' sex and age, and the years, and seasonality of the samples' submission. Furthermore, univariable linear regression was used to determine patterns in PCR orders. The number of submitted samples increased significantly during the 6 years (p = 0.042). Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA was detected in 76/1015 of cats (7.5%, 95% CI 6.0–9.3%). Infections were significantly more common in Northern compared to Central (p < 0.001, OR: 8.70) and Southern Europe (p < 0.001, OR: 39.94). A significantly higher likelihood for infections during the summer compared with winter (p = 0.047, OR: 3.13) was found. Bacteremia with A. phagocytophilum in European cats is not uncommon. Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection should be considered an important risk, particularly in Northern Europe. Effective tick prevention is crucial for managing feline health across Europe, not just in the Mediterranean region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The "PraeRi" study, conducted by three German veterinary universities from 2016 to 2020, was aimed at enhancing dairy health and welfare. With 765 visited dairy farms and 101,307 animals examined, the designed study provided an opportunity for improving animal well-being. Researchers applied good epidemiologic practice and concepts proven in large-scale studies, in a study comprising three different regions in Germany with varying farm characteristics. A sample size of 250 farms per region, determined through stratified sampling based on farm size, ensured representative estimates. According to the information provided by the farmers, mastitis was the most frequently occurring disease in their herds (14.2% to 16.3% of the herd—depending on the region). For most disorders, prevalence data were lowest for the region South compared with the two remaining regions. Statistical analyses identified risk factors, with results communicated through individual reports and benchmarking flyers to participating farmers. Challenges arose from managing practical procedures and communication due to the project's vast scale. Harmonizing data management and hypothesis testing across involved parties added complexity. Despite challenges, the PraeRi study considerably contributed to advancing dairy health and welfare practices. From 2016 to 2020, the "PraeRi" study, conducted by three German veterinary universities, was aimed at enhancing animal health and welfare in dairy farms. With 765 dairy farms visited and 101,307 animals examined, this study provided a basis for improving animal health and welfare. The study population comprised three different regions representing a broad variety of characteristics. To ensure representative estimates, a sample size of 250 farms was determined for each region, employing a stratified sampling plan based on farm size. According to the information provided by the farmers, the most commonly occurring disease in their herds was mastitis without general disorder (14.2% to 16.3% of the herd—depending on the region). For most disorders, prevalence data were lowest for the region South compared with the two remaining regions. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for various target variables, and the results were communicated through individual reports and benchmarking flyers to participating farmers. The authors encountered challenges in management and communication due to the project's size in terms of personnel, data, and farms examined. Harmonizing data management and hypothesis testing across all involved parties added complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Mineral deficiencies are very widespread among small ruminant herds throughout the world and play a big role in small ruminant herd health management. This paper describes the occurrence of a primary molybdenosis causing secondary copper deficiency, combined with ovine white liver disease (cobalt deficiency) and white muscle disease (selenium deficiency) in a group of pastured ram lambs in Northern Germany. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first proven report of multiple trace element deficiencies in sheep in Germany for decades. To the author's knowledge this paper describes the first proven report of a combined primary molybdenosis, secondary copper (Cu) deficiency, Ovine White Liver Disease—Cobalt (Co) deficiency, and selenium (Se) deficiency in a small pedigree herd of White Horned Heath sheep in Germany (8 ewes, 2 rams, 3 yearling ewes, 17 lambs) for decades. Clinical signs associated with these mineral deficiencies in a group of pastured ram lambs included emaciation, conjunctivitis, anaemia, growth retardation, discolouration of the wool and photodermatitis. Morbidities and mortalities arose in 4–6-month-old lambs despite intensive veterinary treatment in the summer of 2014 and 2015 (n = 13, 23% died). Se (3/5), Cu (4/7), and Co (3/3) deficiencies in combination with elevated values for Molybdenum (Mo, 2/2) were found. Hamburg is a large industrial city and an input of heavy metals from surrounding industries and coal-fired power stations in combination with a sandy, non-fertilised soil and monoculture grass species might offer a potential explanation for the severity of mineral deficiencies observed in this herd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Despite concerns about animal welfare, and health and environmental issues associated with eating meat, meat consumption continues to increase in many countries around the world. The aim of this pre-registered study was to identify predictors of meat consumption among 399 Germans and 399 Australians. Participants reported current and intended meat consumption, reasons for eating meat, attitudes towards animals, and perceptions of animal farming. In both countries, the more people enjoyed the taste of meat, the more often they ate it, and the more empathy they had towards farmed animals, the less often they ate it. People who thought they would find it easy to reduce meat consumption had greater intentions to do so. Campaigns to reduce meat consumption should focus on increasing empathy towards farmed animals, highlighting tasty plant-based alternatives and outlining ways to make the transition easier. Despite concerns about animal welfare, and health and environmental issues associated with eating meat, meat consumption has continued to increase worldwide, including in Australia. One exception to this is Germany, with 2021 meat consumption levels being the lowest in the last 30 years. This pre-registered study investigated socio-cultural variables associated with meat consumption in Germany (n = 399) and Australia (n = 399) in a cross-sectional online survey. Participants reported levels of current and intended meat consumption, and they completed measures of speciesism, motivations to eat meat, empathy, animal farming perceptions, perceived behavioural control (PBC) over meat eating, and avoidance and dissociation regarding the animal origins of meat. In both Australia and Germany, enjoying the taste of meat positively predicted consumption and empathy towards farmed animals negatively predicted consumption. PBC was a strong positive predictor of intentions to reduce meat consumption in both countries. Empathy and liking the taste of meat were among the best predictors of red meat and poultry consumption, suggesting that interventions to reduce meat consumption may work best by targeting these factors while also increasing people's sense of control over their food choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Rodents threaten the one health approach in livestock farming. In the present observational case study, livestock farmers collaborated with a pest controller in a pilot project in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The objective was to evaluate factors influencing rodent-prevention potential on 24 livestock farms after 1.5 years project duration. Farmers' attitudes were surveyed at the project's start in March 2019. Potential for rodent prevention was assessed by an external expert in 2020. About half of the farms showed good potential for rodent prevention. Willingness to change at the project start played a central role for rodent-prevention potential. The study underscores the necessity of better informing farmers about rodent control and prevention, emphasizing the importance of preventive measures for long-term rodent control. It also highlights the need for improved advisory services for farmers. Rodents in livestock farming constitute a threat to the one health approach. In the present observational case study, livestock farmers worked together with a pest controller within a pilot project. The aim of the study was to assess determinants associated with rodent-prevention potential. The study started in March 2019 on 24 livestock farms in a municipality in North Rhine-Westphalia/Germany. At the beginning of the project a survey on the determinants expected to be related to prevention potential was conducted. To determine the potential for rodent prevention, an expert person, who was not involved in the project before, assessed the on-site conditions of the farms after 1.5 years of project duration in 2020. The potential for rodent prevention was good for about half of the farms. There were significant differences in the willingness to make changes at the project's start between farms with a high and a low potential for rodent prevention after 1.5 years. There is a general need for action to provide farmers with more practical information on rodent control. This is aggravated by the insufficient advisory services offered to farmers. This study confirms the importance of implementing preventive measures in the control of rodents to ensure that anticoagulant rodenticides are handled responsibly to reduce the impact on non-target species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Lameness is a common problem among dairy cows, significantly impacting both their well-being and productivity. It not only hampers the mobility of cows but also exerts notable effects on behavioral aspects, like grooming and feed bunk visits. Typically, dairy cows are equipped with accelerometers primarily for estrus detection. Our goal was to formulate a model for detecting lameness using accelerometer data collected from six farms in Germany. Various statistical models were developed for lameness detection, including variables influenced by lameness, such as rumination, feeding and movement patterns, milk production, days in milk, and weight. The aim was to identify lameness in cows through a comprehensive analysis. We explored multiple models, considering different variables affected by lameness, and ultimately selected the most suitable model. Lameness in dairy cows poses a significant challenge to improving animal well-being and optimizing economic efficiency in the dairy industry. To address this, employing automated animal surveillance for early lameness detection and prevention through activity sensors proves to be a promising strategy. In this study, we analyzed activity (accelerometer) data and additional cow-individual and farm-related data from a longitudinal study involving 4860 Holstein dairy cows on six farms in Germany during 2015–2016. We designed and investigated various statistical models and chose a logistic regression model with mixed effects capable of detecting lameness with a sensitivity of 77%. Our results demonstrate the potential of automated animal surveillance and hold the promise of significantly improving lameness detection approaches in dairy livestock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In meat sheep and sheep bred for other purposes, meat quality is one of the factors evaluated in a breeding programme. In this study, we included 25 sheep breeds from Germany with a sufficient amount of performance and pedigree data. The heritability, genetic and residual correlations were estimated for daily weight gain, meatiness score and ultrasound measurements for the muscle and fat thickness of the sheep breeds. We employed animal models to analyse inbreeding depression by estimating linear slopes of inbreeding coefficients on meat performance traits. For daily weight gain, inbreeding depression was significant for all sheep breeds. When considering single breeds, significant inbreeding depression was only found in two breeds. The meatiness scores did not show significant inbreeding depression across breeds, nor in single breeds, but only in one breed. The ultrasound measurements for muscle and fat thickness were not significant for inbreeding depression either across or within breeds. Purging effects did not prove to be significant either across or within breeds. Our data show that inbreeding depression and purging can be present in traits under strong selection. This study provides estimates on genetic parameters, inbreeding depression and purging for meat performance measures from 25 German sheep breeds. All German meat, merino sheep breeds and breeds of other breeding directions with a sufficient number of pedigree and performance data were included in this study. Phenotypic traits retrieved from the national database OviCap were evaluated: daily weight gain, meatiness score and ultrasound measurements for muscle and fat thickness. We employed animal models to estimate heritability, variance and covariance components for these meat performance traits as well as inbreeding depression and purging. The heritabilities, on average, reached estimates of 0.55, 0.34, 0.53 and 0.61 for daily weight gain, meatiness score and ultrasound measurements for muscle and fat thickness, respectively. We estimated the linear regression slopes for the individual rate of inbreeding, new and ancestral inbreeding, as well as the inbreeding coefficient and its interaction with the inbreeding coefficient of Ballou, employing animal models with non-genetic effects and the additive genetic effect of the animal. Across all breeds, inbreeding was only significant for daily weight gain, whereas for all other traits, estimates were not significant. Within sheep breeds, we found significant inbreeding depression for daily weight gain in German Mutton Merino and German Blackheaded Mutton as well as for the meatiness score in German Whiteheaded Mutton. Significant effects for purging, based on ancestral inbreeding and the interaction effect of the classical inbreeding coefficient with the inbreeding coefficient of Ballou, were not obvious either across or within any sheep breed. A 1% increase in inbreeding significantly decreased the phenotypic trait median of daily weight gain across all sheep breeds by 0.50% and 0.70% of phenotypic and genetic standard deviation, respectively. Purging effects due to ancestral inbreeding were not significant in any breed or across breeds. The results of this study may indicate that inbreeding depression may be more harmful in traits under stronger selection than in traits that exert low selection pressure. The results of this study demonstrate the different effects that result in meat performance traits due to inbreeding. With increasing rates of inbreeding and critical effective population sizes, selection intensity for breeding objectives has to be critically reviewed for each sheep breed. Inbreeding depression and purging should be evaluated in order to prevent a decrease in trait means due to inbreeding and to determine whether detrimental alleles are eliminated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The issue of whether increasing inbreeding may be associated with a decrease in the trait values used to select sheep was investigated in all sheep breeds in Germany to obtain a picture of all populations in this country. We analyzed heritabilities and inbreeding depression for the three traits of wool quality, muscling conformation and exterior, for which all sheep intended for breeding are evaluated and upon which breeding decisions in Germany are based. All sheep breeds with sufficient data were included, resulting in 30 different breeds representing all breeding directions in different ecosystems. Heritabilities were across all breeds of moderate size. We estimated the degree of inbreeding depression by animal models and employing linear regressions of the phenotypic trait on inbreeding coefficients calculated from pedigree data. Linear regression slopes were estimated for the individual rate of inbreeding and new and ancestral inbreeding. Inbreeding depression was significant for all three traits when averaged across all 30 sheep breeds and was associated with a reduction in the mean value of the phenotypic trait by 0.33% standard deviation units. Positive effects through ancestral inbreeding seem to have an impact on the exterior of sheep. The results of this study should help to determine the effects of inbreeding on breeding objective traits in sheep breeds. This study provides comprehensive results on the current status of inbreeding depression for traits upon which sheep are selected for the herdbook in Germany. A total of 30 sheep breeds from the OviCap national database met the inclusion criteria for the present analysis regarding the depth and completeness of pedigrees and the number of animals with phenotypic data. We analyzed heritabilities and inbreeding depression for the three breeding objective traits of wool quality, muscling conformation and exterior. Heritabilities were across all breeds of moderate size, with estimates of 0.18 for wool quality and muscling conformation and of 0.14 for exterior. The models employed to estimate linear regression slopes for individual and ancestral inbreeding rates also account for non-genetic effects and the additive genetic effect of the animal. Inbreeding depression was obvious for all three traits when we averaged the estimates across all 30 sheep breeds. Inbreeding depression was significant for wool quality for only a few breeds, whereas for muscling conformation, 14/30 breeds achieved significant estimates. A 1% increase in inbreeding decreased the mean of all three traits across all sheep breeds by 0.33% of their standard deviation. Positive effects due to ancestral inbreeding were only significant in very few breeds in the different traits. Across all 30 sheep breeds, there were indications that purging effects (a reduction in negative effects of inbreeding depression due to selection for heterozygotes) may play a role for the exterior. The results of this study should help for reviewing breeding programs, particularly for sheep breeds with critical effective population sizes and increasing rates of inbreeding, with regard to the selection policy and selection intensity applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In Germany, animal welfare during preslaughter handling and slaughter is governed by national laws and European regulations. However, animal welfare violations still occur at abattoirs, which is an ethical and economic problem. This article describes how our group of research associates investigated which specific measures and penalties responsible authorities consider appropriate for 40 different animal welfare violations at German abattoirs. Past measures and fines are described for some violations. The aim is to provide insight into the status quo, so that flaws in law enforcement can be identified. An online survey, semi-structured interviews, and a virtual colloquium with official veterinarians were conducted. Additionally, relevant judicial decisions from Germany were collected and summarised. Legal professionals were consulted for assistance. Our findings were compiled into a list of measures and penalties. This project is a first step towards achieving a more consistent and standardised enforcement of the German Animal Welfare Act, and thus towards reducing the occurrence of animal welfare violations at German abattoirs. Protecting animal welfare during preslaughter handling and slaughter is an important ethical concern with growing importance to consumers. However, animal welfare violations in abattoirs remain a serious problem, and the enforcement of relevant laws and regulations is often inadequate. This study investigated and compiled the measures and penalties which official veterinarians (OVs) consider appropriate for different animal welfare violations at German abattoirs, including ranges for fines. Additionally, information regarding which measures were taken in past cases, including past procedural outcomes (e.g., judicial decisions and regulatory animal welfare orders in Germany), were gathered and summarised. The aim is to provide insights into the status quo, so that flaws in law enforcement (e.g., imposing low penalties or not filing a criminal complaint when necessary) can be identified in a future study. To achieve this, the following five steps were utilised: acquiring relevant judicial decisions; conducting an anonymous online survey among German OVs; conducting semi-structured interviews with OVs; conducting a virtual colloquium with OVs; and consulting lawyers. Measures and penalties for violations of 40 relevant and frequent different provisions of the German Ordinance on the Protection of Animals in connection with Slaughter or Killing (TierSchlV), in conjunction with the Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 and the German Animal Welfare Act, were gathered. The findings were compiled into a list of measures and penalties, which contains a separate table for all 40 violations, entailing an overview of the following information: citation(s) of legal/regulatory requirements to protect animals at the time of killing/slaughter; citation(s) of relevant regulatory and criminal penalties; special measures/penalties considered appropriate for the first and repeated offence by OVs; and information on penalties listed in judicial decisions of past similar cases. This initiative is a step towards achieving a reduction of animal welfare violations at German abattoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In order to reliably record pollution from microplastics within animals, indicators for a monitoring program must be found. For this purpose, we collected invertebrates, fish, and sediment cores at 10 sites along the Wadden Sea coast of Lower Saxony, Germany; determined the amount of microplastics; and made recommendations for potential bioindicator species, based on the sampling conditions and results. The species studied included lugworm (Arenicola marina), common periwinkle (Littorina littorea), blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), and European flounder (Platichthys flesus). In total, microplastics were detected in 88% of the specimens and in each sediment core sample. Regarding the polymer composition, eight different types of microplastic were identified. Based on the results, the species blue mussel and European flounder are recommended for microplastic monitoring in biota. Monitoring strategies are becoming increasingly important as microplastic contamination increases. To find potentially suitable organisms and sites for biota monitoring in the German Wadden Sea, we collected invertebrates (n = 1585), fish (n = 310), and sediment cores (n = 12) at 10 sites along the coast of Lower Saxony between 2018 and 2020. For sample processing of biota, the soft tissue was digested and the sediment samples additionally underwent a subsequent density separation step. Microplastic particles were identified using Nile red and fluorescence microscopy, followed by polymer composition analysis of a subset of particles via µRaman spectroscopy. All investigated species, sediment cores, and sites contained microplastics, predominantly in the morphology class of fragments. Microplastics were found in 92% of Arenicola marina, 94% of Littorina littorea, 85% of Mytilus edulis, and 79% of Platichthys flesus, ranging from 0 to 248.1 items/g. Sediment core samples contained MPs ranging from 0 to 8128 part/kg dry weight of sediment. In total, eight polymers were identified, predominantly consisting of polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, and polyethylene terephthalate. Considering the sampling, processing, and results, the species Mytilus edulis and Platichthys flesus are suitable species for future microplastic monitoring in biota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pathogenic nematode Ostertagia leptospicularis, as the sole member of the subfamily Ostertagiinae, occurs in both cervid and bovid host species. The broad host specificity of this parasite draws special attention and requires a more in-depth investigation. This study was carried out to find out whether the differences in the nematode morphology were only due to the host influence, or whether genetic differences should be taken into account. To resolve this issue, the classification of O. leptospicularis was raised and discussed based on its host specificity, as well as morphological and genetic characteristics. A combined morphological–molecular approach was used to compare specimens resembling O. leptospicularis collected from naturally infected hosts of various ruminant species (roe deer, red deer, fallow deer, and cattle). Both morphological and molecular analyses highlighted the distinctiveness of O. leptospicularis collected from cattle in Germany, and therefore should now be considered to be a different strain that those collected form cervids in central Europe. Ostertagia leptospicularis Assadov, 1953 was formally described in roe deer Capreolus capreolus and has been reported in a wide range of ruminants, including other Cervidae, as well as Bovidae. Nematode specimens derived from various host species exhibit morphological similarity; however, some differences can be observed. It is unclear if this is due to the differential reaction of one nematode species in different host species (i.e., host-induced changes) or because of distinct nematode species in these hosts (i.e., species complex). This paper focuses on specimens resembling O. leptospicularis f. leptospicularis and its closely related species (Ostertagia ostertagi f. ostertagi) collected from various hosts. Morphometric and molecular techniques were applied to assess host-induced changes in nematode morphology and to clarify its systematic classification. There was an overall effect of host species on measurements of nematodes resembling O. leptospicularis (both males and females), but the distinctiveness of the specimens from cattle Bos taurus were highlighted. The results obtained may suggest that the specimens of O. leptospicularis from cattle in Germany and cervids in central Europe belong to different strains. Furthermore, nematodes from the cervid strain appear to circulate within particular host species, which can be seen in the stated morphological variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Long-term monitoring of wild boar reproduction in Lower Saxony, Germany, facilitated the description of body weight development in two different habitat types over an 18-year period. Here, not only the sampling year but also habitat and climate factors proved to be of considerable importance for the development of Sus scrofa body weight. Additionally, of particular interest were differences in the timing of puberty achievement among habitats. As one of the most abundant game species in Europe, European wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations prove highly adaptable to cultivated landscapes. The ongoing process of climate change and the high agricultural yields seem to further optimize the living conditions for this species. In long-term reproduction monitoring, we collected data on the body weight of wild boar females. Over an 18-year period, the body weight of wild boar females increased continuously, then stopped and decreased. It was possible to detect differences between the body weights of animals from forest and agricultural areas. For these areas, differences in body weight development also led to a significant distinction in the onset of puberty. We conclude that, even in a highly cultivated landscape, forested areas provide habitat characteristics that may strongly influence reproduction. Second, with dominant agricultural areas in Germany, wild boar reproduction has been favored in recent decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum can cause granulocytic anaplasmosis in domestic animals, wildlife, and humans. The pathogen is transmitted by ticks and is predominantly endemic in Central and Northern Europe. We discuss the percentages of dogs that tested positive for A. phagocytophilum by direct detection of the pathogen (4.9%) and by detecting antibodies (23.3%). We found a statistically significant impact of seasonality and years of testing on PCR results as well as sex, age, years of testing and seasonality on antibody results. The dynamics of infections with A. phagocytophilum in dogs in Germany are consistent with peaks in vector activity. There is a notable increase in canine granulocytic anaplasmosis in Germany over the time of this study, which calls for increased attention and demonstrates its rising importance in clinical practice. Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular bacterium that causes granulocytic anaplasmosis in domestic animals, wildlife, and humans and is primarily transmitted by ticks of the Ixodes persulcatus complex. This retrospective study aims to determine the percentages of dogs that tested positive for A. phagocytophilum in Germany. It included the results of direct (polymerase chain reaction [PCR]) and indirect (immunofluorescence antibody test [IFAT], antibody-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]) detection methods performed in the laboratory LABOKLIN on canine samples provided by German veterinarians from 2008 to 2020. Out of a total of 27,368 dogs tested by PCR, 1332 (4.9%) tested positive, while 24,720 (27.4%) of the 90,376 dogs tested by IFAT/ELISA had positive serology. High rates of positive PCR results were observed in months with known peaks in vector activity, showing that the dynamics of A. phagocytophilum infections in dogs in Germany are consistent with vector activity. In dogs with a positive PCR result, peaks in serology could be observed four weeks after initial testing. Male and senior dogs had higher rates of positive serology. A possible impact of environmental factors such as changes in climate should be investigated further. Overall, the upward trend in positive test results over the years indicates that canine granulocytic anaplasmosis will continue to become increasingly important for veterinary medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Among its role within the commensal bacterial flora, Escherichia coli (E. coli) is known as a cause of intestinal or extraintestinal diseases in pets and their owners. In order to reveal factors associated with the carriage of extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in dogs, rectal swabs from 1000 dogs visiting a pet animal clinic in northern Germany within one year were tested. Additional data were sampled regarding, on the one hand, the dog's health and husbandry conditions and, on the other hand, information about the owner´s medical history. Thus, we were able to define seven factors associated with extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli carriage. The high number of dogs tested and the exceptional data volume concerning the dog and owner itself, as well as those habits and interactions, underline the importance of our study to avoid the carriage and spread of pathogens, especially regarding the One Health aspect. Extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli are an emerging problem in veterinary and human medicine. Our study concentrated on the estimation of the prevalence and factors associated with the carriage of ESBL-producing E. coli in dogs who visited a veterinary clinic in northern Germany in 2017. For this reason, 1000 patients (healthy and sick dogs) were tested, resulting in 1000 samples originating from rectal swabs. Additional data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire that was completed by the dog owner. Factors associated with ESBL carriage were considered for further modeling if p < 0.05 using a two-sided Fisher test. Using a backward elimination procedure, the variables for the final multivariable logistic regression model were identified. In total, 8.9% of the dogs tested were positive for carriage of ESBL-producing E. coli. Seven factors were associated with the colonization of dogs with ESBL-E. coli within the multivariable model, namely husbandry system (p = 0.0019, OR = 3.00; 95% CI: 1.50–6.00), contact with puppies (p = 0.0044, OR = 2.43; 95% CI: 1.32–4.46), feeding of raw meat (p = 0.011, OR = 2.28; 95% CI: 1.21–4.31), food residues (p = 0.0151, OR = 2.31; 95% CI: 1.18–4.53) and food supplements (p = 0.0487, OR = 0.426; 95% CI: 0.18–0.96), and antibiotic treatments of dogs (p = 0.0005, OR = 3.030; 95% CI: 1.62–5.68) or owners (p = 0.041, OR = 2.74; 95% CI: 1.04–7.19) prior to the study. These factors refer to the animals themselves as well as to the owners and their habits or medical treatments. Although the causality and direction of transmission from owners to their dogs cannot be proven, the factor of antibiotic treatment of the owner is clearly associated with the dog's status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Surgical castration of piglets is generally recognized as a painful procedure. Thus, for animal welfare reasons, the German Animal Welfare Act stipulates the use of effective anesthesia during castration. However, whether local anesthesia provides adequate analgesia has been an ongoing debate in Germany. In the present study, we compared the behavior of 178 piglets allocated to various test groups in an observation arena before any of the applied procedures, after administration of the local anesthetic, and 0, 2 and 24 h after surgical castration. The local anesthetic and the injection techniques were evaluated and optimized in three sequential study parts. Overall, the results revealed that when local anesthesia was used, piglets less frequently showed pain-associated behaviors—such as changes in tail position—than piglets of the control group that had been castrated without local anesthesia. Non-castrated piglets showed the fewest pain-associated behaviors in the observation arena. In several test groups, the piglets showed changes in tail position, tail wagging, or hunched-back posture on the day following the procedure. These behaviors differed significantly from those shown before the procedure. The administration of local anesthetics in the present study considerably reduced castration-related pain. However, because local anesthesia has a limited duration of effect, adverse effects due to castration-related pain were still observable one day after castration. Surgical castration of piglets is generally recognized as a painful procedure, but there is currently no gold standard for the assessment of pain behavior in piglets. However, pain assessment is essential for evaluating the effectiveness of local anesthetics. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of four local anesthetics in terms of pain relief during and after surgical castration in three sequential study parts. To do so, we filmed 178 piglets before the applied procedures, after injection of the local anesthetic, and up to 24 h after castration (five observation times in total) in an observation arena and compared their behavior before and after castration and between treatments and control groups. The results showed significant differences in the behavior of the piglets before and after castration and between the sham-castrated control group and the control group castrated without anesthesia. The different local anesthesia treatment groups showed diverging differences to the control groups. The most frequently shown pain-associated behaviors of the piglets were changes in tail position and hunched back posture. We observed a reduction but no complete elimination of the expressed pain-associated behaviors after local anesthesia. Several behavioral changes—such as changes in tail position, hunched back posture or tail wagging—persisted until the day after castration. Owing to the limited duration of the effects of the local anesthetics, local anesthesia did not influence long-term pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The experience of nature is different for everybody. Some studies used perceived biodiversity as an approach to measure the biodiversity of a location. This present study assessed if laypeople could estimate bird species richness at specific places in southwest Germany. We compared their assessment with bird counts of professional ornithologists and data from the citizen science platform Ornitho (Germany). With a survey, laypeople were asked about the bird diversity they perceived at a given place. About 30 people were surveyed per place, summing up a total of 1184 respondents. The results show that laypeople have a generally good assessment of the bird species richness in recreational areas, correlating with the data of professionals. But since the surveys often were done in the afternoon and their assessment coincided with the professional data of morning and total counts, laypeople seem to make their assessment of biodiversity due to other factors than actual birds seen. The counts of professional ornithologists and citizen science data did not correlate; therefore, we suggest carrying out own professional surveys if possible. Studies about biodiversity and well-being used different approaches to assess biodiversity, e.g., scientific counts and censuses or perceived biodiversity estimated by the respondents. Here, we assessed whether laypeople could estimate the breeding bird diversity or species richness at specific places. For comparison, we carried out bird censuses with standard methods of professional ornithologists and used citizen science data from the internet platform Ornitho (Germany). Lay people from the public (1184 respondents) were surveyed between May and July 2022 at 40 different places in southwest Germany between Rottenburg/Tübingen and Stuttgart following the catchment of the river Neckar (30 people surveyed per place). People were asked to estimate the bird species richness/diversity at this current place. Here, we show that the data from the citizen science platform does not correlate with the professional census counts nor with the perceived species richness of laypeople. Laypeople have a generally good assessment of the bird species richness, correlating with the data of professionals (r = 0.325, p = 0.041). On average, the number of species assessed by laypeople lies in between the values of the professional morning and afternoon census. People were most often surveyed in the afternoon; therefore, their assessment must be done on other factors than actual birds present. This result is valuable for future studies on the connection between biodiversity and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Forage contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, moulds and yeasts with abiotic deposits represents a serious risk for the health of horses. Due to associated allergens, horses can develop allergic reactions, which may trigger respiratory diseases and would require drastic interventions in feeding regimens and housing conditions. Therefore, horse owners have started to treat hay with steam to achieve a reduction in inhalable allergens. However, the present study has shown that steaming led to the formation of Maillard reaction products, which decreased the proportions of precaecal digestible crude protein and precaecal digestible amino acids. As a consequence, these losses should be considered in ration calculation for horses that receive steam-treated hay. Steaming hay is increasingly used to treat low-quality forage because it was proven to reduce inhalable allergens such as mould spores, bacteria, and airborne dust particles. Preliminary results have shown a substantial loss of precaecal (pc) digestibility (D) of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA). For this purpose, six different batches of hay from central Germany were divided into four subsamples, and each one was individually steamed. Native hay and four replicates of each steamed subsample were analysed for CP, AA, neutral detergent insoluble crude protein (NDICP), neutral detergent soluble crude protein (NDSCP) as well as pepsin insoluble CP (piCP). Based on the analytical parameters, pcD of CP, protein solubility (PS), piCP (% CP) and precaecal digestible (pcd) CP and pcdAA contents were calculated. Selected Maillard reaction products (MRP), namely furosine and carboxymethyllysine (CML), were also analysed. Steaming did not affect CP content (native = 69, steamed = 67 g/kg dry matter, DM; p > 0.05), but it had an impact on the insoluble part of CP. Thus, NDICP increased by 57% (native = 27, steamed = 42 g/kg DM; p < 0.05) and piCP by 15% overall (native = 40, steamed = 46% of CP; p < 0.05). This could be a consequence of the heat damage and the associated increase in MRP. The content of furosine rose by 67% (native = 17.6, steamed = 29.4 mg/100 g DM; p < 0.05). The content of CML increased by 120% (native = 5.1, steamed = 11.3 mg/100 g DM; p < 0.05). We chose to analyse these two MRPs because they represent the reaction products with the limiting AA lysine. In contrast, the soluble fractions of CP declined, while PS as a percentage of CP decreased by 38% as a result of the treatment, and NDSCP was reduced by as much as 41% (p < 0.05). In line with this, the steaming process decreased the pcD of CP (native = 56%, steamed = 35%; p < 0.05) and pcdCP (native = 37.9, steamed = 22.5 g/kg DM; p < 0.05), respectively. The same effects were shown for selected AA; e.g., sulphuric AA pcd methionine plus pcd cysteine decreased by 45%, pcd threonine decreased by 41%, and the limited AA pcd lysine decreased by more than 50% (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the high temperatures generated during steaming lead to protein damage and consequently to a reduction in the pcD of CP and essential AA. Nevertheless, steaming successfully reduces viable microorganisms and binds dust particles. Therefore, steamed hay is still a proper and sometimes the only possible roughage for horses suffering from respiratory diseases such as equine asthma. Essentially, horse diets based on steamed hay should be balanced accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The reputation of a zoo indicates the level of public consideration of this institution and is determined by the actions, values, and behaviors that it has conveyed over time. The reputation of zoos is a complex construct and highlighting the key factors that can negatively affect it can lead to identifying ways to promote their reputation. To address these critical issues, a zoo must not only promote higher operational and ethical standards and animal welfare but also be certain that the stakeholders perceive the importance of its mission. This will benefit the individual institution and zoological institutions as a whole as a positive reputation will enable zoos to thrive in the future as biodiversity conservation institutions and places of environmental education and entertainment publicly supported. In this work, we report the development and the first trial of the Zoo Ethical Reputation Survey (ZERS), a tool that, through a survey designed with ad hoc items, analyzes public opinion on features that can influence the reputation of a zoo, focusing on ethical aspects. During its first applications, ZERS proved to be a tool able to provide information on the visitors' opinions about several drivers that, according to the literature, influence corporate reputation. Nowadays, most zoos have taken prominent and active positions in endangered species conservation and educating visitors about the value of biodiversity. However, to be effective and trusted in their mission, they must act ethically and have a good reputation. Yet, the drivers that can influence their reputation are still little investigated, and there are still few studies focused on assessing the reputation of these institutions. In the present work, we report the development of a tool, the Zoo Ethical Reputation Survey (ZERS), and its pilot application to assess the opinions of the visitors of two zoos, one in Italy and one in Germany, on drivers that may influence the ethical reputation of zoos. Preliminary results based on the answers of 274 respondents show that visitors' opinions on zoos acting with ethical responsibility are correlated with emotional appeal and familiarity with these institutions. The application of ZERS can help zoos identify weaknesses in their reputation and develop new strategies to improve people's attitudes towards them, bringing many benefits to the individual zoo and zoological institutions in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Today, recommendations for thawing methods for frozen bull semen vary, and clear data to assess their influence on fertility are contradictory. Under present practical conditions, no differences between the three different thawing methods could be detected, so no clear recommendation for semen thawing methods in dairy reproduction can be made based on our data. Study results provide evidence that inadequate reproductive performance of high-producing, lactating dairy cows is a multifactorial consequence of farm and fertility management; accordingly, the livestock industry should focus more on cow health to avoid reproductive disorders and further improve the reproductive performance of dairy cows in the future. Recommendations for thawing methods of frozen bovine semen vary and clear data evaluating their influence on fertility are contradictory. In this respect, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of different thawing methods of frozen bull semen in artificial insemination (AI) of dairy cows on conception rate (CR) under practical conditions and to determine further possible influencing factors on the success of AI in order to provide recommendations for practical use. From 2017 to 2019, 3393 AI were performed in a dairy farm in eastern Germany, distributed randomly into three groups of thawing methods: group A: n = 426 (11 s, 38 °C water bath); group B: n = 348 (35 s, 38 °C water bath); group C: n = 385 (30 s, "in the cow"). We observed no significant difference in CR from the general linear mixed model between the thawing methods (method A/B/C, 28.5%/26.6%/24.7%), but data analysis revealed effects of lactation number, month of insemination and AI method (natural heat vs. OvSynch) on CR. Based on our data, no clear recommendation for semen thawing method in dairy reproduction can be made. Our findings suggest that the main factors of influencing reproductive performance in the field are represented by the cow-side of fertility, e.g., insemination in natural heat, lactation number and season of insemination. Therefore, dairy farmers should focus more on cow conditions to further improve reproductive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Paratuberculosis, or Johne's Disease, occurs worldwide, causing a granulomatous enteritis in ruminants. Control programs, which operate mainly on a voluntary basis, have been established in several regions. In Thuringia, a federal state of Germany, a voluntary control program was firstly established in 2003 and revised in 2008 and 2015. This study aimed at evaluating the results achieved in voluntary Johne's Disease control in Thuringia between 2015 and 2020. By the end of 2020, a total of 67 dairy herds with approximately 33,000 dairy cows and 87 suckler herds keeping approximately 6000 cows of beef breeds were enrolled, representing 35% or 16% of the population, respectively. In affected herds, the program focused on prevalence reduction by hygienic measures to break the infection cycle, annual testing for the detection of animals shedding the infectious agent and culling of these animals. A certification pathway was established based on a testing period of 3 years without positive results, and 58 herds were certified as 'non-suspect' with respect to Johne's Disease. Analyzing the annual calf mortality rate in enrolled dairy farms revealed that herds that had been certified as 'non-suspect' regarding Johne's Disease had a lower calf mortality rate than herds that were not enrolled in the program. The Thuringian Johne's Disease (JD) Control Program provides a voluntary approach to JD control in Thuringia, a federal state of Germany. The program has three objectives: reduce the level of infection when present; reduce the spread of JD to uninfected herds; and facilitate the certification and protection of herds that are non-suspect with respect to JD. The program offers pathways for the management of affected herds and for certification of herds with continuing negative tests. After the control stage (CS), a certification stage of at least 3 consecutive years with continuing negative results in the annual whole-herd test has to be passed until a herd can be certified as 'non-suspect' with respect to JD. This study focused on calf mortality in relation to JD herd status. In a longitudinal study, the association of annual calf mortality rate of a total of 93 dairy herds (13 'non-suspect'; 26 in control stage; 54 not enrolled) over 10 consecutive years with JD herd status was investigated using a generalized mixed linear model with repeated measures. Non-suspect herds had a lower calf mortality rate compared with other farms. We conclude that establishing JD control measures lowers the calf mortality rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In our study, we retrospectively analyzed cardiac examinations in a large number of warmblood horses conducted over a period of almost 20 years. We compared the results of the cardiac auscultation as the character and grade of a heart murmur with the results of the echocardiographic examination. We found that auscultation works very well to identify the valve affected, if following the general clinical guidelines on which kind of murmur is usually caused by specific valvular regurgitations. Auscultation is less specific in determining the grade of the regurgitation based on the loudness of the murmur. Only low-grade murmurs are usually caused by mild regurgitations, while differentiation between moderate and severe regurgitations based on the loudness of the murmur is not reliable. Moreover, we could not find that enlargement of one or more compartments of the heart generally leads to a higher-grade murmur. Heart murmurs are detected frequently when auscultating horses and certain murmurs can usually be linked to specific valvular regurgitations. Limited information exists about the accuracy of these broad rules in warmblood horses and the influence of grade of the regurgitation and dimensional changes on murmur intensity. This study aims to clarify the accuracy of cardiac auscultation in warmblood horses and the influence of the grade of regurgitation and dimensional changes on the loudness of the murmur. In this retrospective study, 822 warmblood horses presented for cardiac examination in a large equine referral center in northern Germany underwent a thorough cardiac auscultation. In total, 653 of these revealed one or more heart murmurs. Most common auscultatory findings were left-sided systolic murmurs (68%) or left-sided diastolic murmurs (15%). On 635 of these horses, an echocardiographic examination was performed, revealing regurgitations of the mitral valve as the most common valvular regurgitation (77%) followed by regurgitations of the aortic valve (23%). Thirty-one percent of horses that underwent echocardiographic examination displayed dimensional changes of one or more compartments of the heart, with the left atrium being most affected (21%), followed by the left ventricle (13%). The main goal of this study was to link certain auscultatory findings with results of the echocardiographic examinations, trying to determine whether auscultation and echocardiography agreed on the valve affected, as well as to find out if loudness of the murmur coincided with grade of regurgitation and presence of dimensional changes. Agreement between auscultation and cardiac ultrasound was substantial (Kappa 0.74) if one or more murmurs and regurgitations were present and almost perfect (Kappa 0.94) if only one murmur and one regurgitation were found. Auscultation was particularly well suited for detection of left-sided systolic and diastolic murmurs, with 87% of left-sided systolic murmurs being caused by a mitral valve regurgitation and 81% of left-sided diastolic murmurs originating from an aortic valve regurgitation. We found a fair agreement between the grade of regurgitation and the respective murmur. Association was particularly good between mild regurgitations and low-grade murmurs, while differentiation between moderate to severe regurgitation based upon the loudness of the murmur was less reliable. Dimensional changes were usually linked to more severe regurgitations and higher-grade murmurs. However, a direct correlation between murmur intensity and the presence or severity of dimensional changes, independent of the grade of valvular regurgitation, could not be established in this cohort of horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Alpacas and llamas are increasingly presented at the veterinary clinic in Germany. Owners often notice too late when their animal is emaciated or anaemic. Emaciation can be detected by checking the so-called body condition score (BCS). An indication of anaemia can be provided directly by the FAMACHA©-score (FS), which has been adopted from small ruminants. There is still little information on both scores for alpacas and llamas, so a retrospective evaluation of data from the veterinary clinic was carried out. More than half of the animals admitted to the clinic were too lean and more than one in ten alpacas or one in five llamas showed clinical signs of anaemia. Both scores were compared with the findings from the animals' blood counts, which showed that poor nutritional status was associated with anaemia and shifts in inflammatory cells. Regular monitoring of BCS and FS is therefore important in alpacas and llamas to detect emaciation and anaemia in time. South American camelids (SAC) are being more and more presented at the veterinary Clinics in Germany. A bad nutritional condition, which can be easily categorized using a body condition score (BCS) of the animals, is often not noticed by the owners. Further anaemia is also often only detected in an advanced stage in SAC. Clinical detection of anaemia can be performed by assessing the FAMACHA©-score (FS), that is adapted from small ruminants. So far, there is only little information available about BCS and FS in SAC. In this study, both clinical scores were assessed in alpacas and llamas presented at the veterinary clinic and compared with the haematological parameters from the animals. The data were extracted retrospectively from the animals' medical records and compared statistically. More than half of the alpacas (60%) and llamas (70%) had a BCS < 3, while 12% of the alpacas and 21% of the llamas had a FS > 2. A decreased BCS was associated with a decrease in haematocrit, haemoglobin, lymphocytes, and eosinophils, as well as an increase in FS and neutrophils. BCS and FS should be assessed regularly in SAC to detect emaciation and anaemia in time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Beak trimming of turkeys is an animal welfare issue. It can result in acute pain, potential chronic pain, and a change in feeding, drinking, and pecking ability and general behavior. It is still permitted by law in Germany when the intervention is necessary to protect turkeys from feather pecking and cannibalism. In the present study, an alternative method using grinding wheels (blunting disks) that were fitted in the feed pans when the turkeys were six weeks old was tested. The disks were expected to blunt the beak tips during feeding and reduce the severity of pecking injuries. Six hundred male turkeys of three breeds (B.U.T. 6, B.U.T. Premium, Auburn) were housed separately in 24 groups. The birds in 12 groups were beak trimmed, those in the other 12 were not, but received the blunting disk. The results showed a noticeable beak abrasion in birds provided with blunting disk. Injuries and plumage conditions were equivalent between the treatments. Summarized, the blunting method may be an alternative to infrared beak treatment, but its effectiveness should be confirmed under commercial conditions. The blunting method could potentially result in improved animal welfare of turkeys by minimizing acute pain, chronic pain, and injurious pecking. Feather pecking and cannibalism are behavioral disorders that cause animal-welfare-relevant and economic problems. To mitigate these problems, the beaks of conventionally reared turkeys are usually already trimmed in the hatcheries. To find an alternative to beak trimming, we conducted this study with male turkeys of three breeds: B.U.T. 6, B.U.T. Premium and, Auburn (200 turkeys per breed). Half of the birds had infrared-trimmed beaks; the other half had intact beaks. For each treatment combination (breed, beak status), 25 turkeys were housed in one section. A screed grinding wheel was installed in each feed pan of the non-beak-trimmed turkeys as of week six to facilitate natural beak abrasion until slaughter. Eight randomly selected turkeys per section were regularly examined to record injuries, plumage condition, and beak dimensions. In addition, 96 beaks from randomly slaughtered birds were examined macroscopically and histologically. The results concerning injuries and plumage condition showed in most cases no differences between the beak-trimmed turkeys and the ones provided with the blunting disks. The histological examinations revealed alterations in only the beak-trimmed birds. We can conclude that the blunting method smoothens the beak during feeding and thus may be a possible alternative to beak trimming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Conflicts with wolves arise because wolves kill farm animals, especially sheep, or approach humans. It is expected that young wolves learn from their parent pack (PP) what their prey is and if it is safe to be near humans. To confirm this, we researched whether the behavior of young migrating wolves (loners), after they leave the pack, resembles PP behavior. Fourteen loners entering the Netherlands between 2015 and 2019 could be identified and genetically linked to their PPs. Loner and PP behavior was similar in 10 out of 14 cases. Like their PPs, some young wolves killed sheep and were near humans, others killed sheep and did not approach humans, while two loners were unproblematic, they did not kill sheep nor were they in proximity to humans. Thus, the PP behavior did predict loner's behavior and conflicts may be similar between young wolves and their PPs. However, conflicts need not arise. To achieve that, new prevention methods are proposed to teach wolves in the PP not to approach sheep and humans. As a result, new generations may not be problematic when leaving the PP. Transmission of experience about prey and habitat supports the survival of next generation of wolves. Thus, the parent pack (PP) can affect whether young migrating wolves (loners) kill farm animals or choose to be in human environments, which generates human–wolf conflicts. Therefore, we researched whether the behavior of loners resembles PP behavior. After being extinct, 22 loners had entered the Netherlands between 2015 and 2019. Among them, 14 could be DNA-identified and linked with their PPs in Germany. Some loners were siblings. We assessed the behavior of each individual and PP through a structured Google search. PP behavior was determined for the loner's rearing period. Similarity between loner and PP behavior was significant (p = 0.022) and applied to 10 of 14 cases: like their PPs, three loners killed sheep and were near humans, five killed sheep and did not approach humans, while two loners were unproblematic, they did not kill sheep, nor were they near humans. Siblings behaved similarly. Thus, sheep killing and proximity to humans may develop during early-life experiences in the PP. However, by negative reinforcement that can be prevented. New methods are suggested to achieve that. As a result, new generations may not be problematic when leaving PPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The progress of animal welfare in wildlife conservation and research calls for more non-invasive sampling techniques. In cetaceans, exhaled breath condensate (blow)—a mixture of cells, mucus and fluids expelled through the force of a whale's exhale—is a unique sampling matrix for hormones, bacteria and genetic material, among others. Especially the detection of steroid hormones, such as cortisol, is being investigated as stress indicators in several species. As the only native cetacean in Germany, harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) are of special conservation concern and research interest. So far, strandings and live captures have been the only method to obtain samples from free-ranging individuals, and novel, non-invasive monitoring methods are desirable for this small cetacean species. Hence, three different blow collection devices were tested on harbor porpoises. All samples were analyzed for cortisol using a commercially available immunosorbent assay. The most suitable protocol for sampling, storage and processing is using a sterile 50 mL centrifuge tube. This pilot study shows that cortisol can be detected in the exhale of harbor porpoises, thus paving the way for future studies and most likely successful non-invasive small cetacean health monitoring through blow. Over the last decades, exhaled breath sampling has been established for laboratory analysis in various cetacean species. Due to their small size, the usability of respiratory vapor for hormone assessments was questionable in harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). This pilot study compared three different blow collection devices for their suitability in the field and during laboratory processing: a sterile petri dish covered by a Nitex membrane, as well as sterile 50 mL centrifuge tubes with or without manganese(II) chloride as a stabilizer. Collected exhales varied between three, five or ten, depending on feasibility. Hormones were extracted through an ether mix, followed by centrifugal evaporation and cortisol analysis using an immunoassay. Although close to the lower end of the assay's dynamic range, the ELISA produced results (n = 110, 0.102–0.937 ng/mL). Hence, a simple 50 mL centrifuge tube was determined as the best suited blow collection device, while three consecutive exhales proved sufficient to yield results. These findings are promising regarding the suitability of exhaled breath as a matrix for future endocrine and immune system-related studies in harbor porpoises. If further advanced, blow sampling can become an important, non-invasive tool for studying and monitoring health, stress levels and diseases in harbor porpoises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In western Europe, national animal welfare legislation since the 1980s in combination with EU legislation has served to ensure minimal requirements for the welfare of farm animals. For many consumers, however, these requirements do not go far enough. Market-driven initiatives where farmers, processors of animal products, and retailers raise the standards via labelling schemes and price premiums may further improve the welfare of farm animals, but such initiatives are only viable solutions if there is sufficient consumer support. To find out to what extent such support exists, we studied the relationship between animal ethics orientations and consumer demand for welfare-enhanced pork in Denmark, Germany, and Sweden. In all three countries, we identified a consumer segment that endorses the ideal behind schemes to enhance farm animal welfare, i.e., that it is ethically justified to eat meat provided the animals enjoy a good level of welfare. Consumers in this segment are highly concerned about animal welfare, and also purchase welfare pork more often than other consumers. More than one fourth of consumers in all three countries belong to this segment; therefore, we believe that market actors can be reassured that there will be persistent consumer demand for welfare-enhanced meat. Background: The relationship between animal ethics orientations and consumer demand for meat with high standards of animal welfare, and the way this relationship plays out in different countries, is not well understood. Using pork as a case study, this comparative study aims to identify the animal ethics orientations that drive purchases of welfare meat in Denmark, Germany, and Sweden. Methods: Cross-sectional questionnaire data from representative samples of approximately 1600 consumers in each country were collected. A segmentation of pork consumers (using latent profile analysis) was carried out. Results: In all three countries, two subgroups were concerned about farm animal welfare: the first subgroup was driven by animal rights values; the second subgroup by animal protection values, where the main principle was that "it is all right to use animals as long as they are treated well". Other consumer groups are less concerned about farm animal welfare and display little or no preference for welfare pork. Conclusions: In all three countries, dual demand for welfare pork exists. The findings of this study can be used, among others, to understand the marketability of enhanced welfare animal products and the potential for market-driven animal welfare improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The husbandry conditions for farm animals are currently being discussed by society and should be improved. In response, some farmers are modernizing their pig housing to offer a higher level of animal welfare than the standard. Moreover, farmers are facing diverse financing and licensing problems when planning new barns. Different studies have already shown that monetary factors and legal requirements often impede farmers from investing in such projects. However, if both of these obstacles for stall construction are excluded, very little is known about the additional factors that influence the behavior of famers seeking to construct pig housing for improving farm animal welfare. Using a model based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, this study investigates the psychological factors underlying farmers' intentions to construct pig housing based on an online survey among 424 German pig farmers. Utilizing partial least squares path modeling, it is shown for the first time that attitude towards behavior, subjective norm, and direct and indirect experience can explain more than 59.4% of pig farmers' decisions to construct pig housing with higher farm animal welfare standards. Direct experience and attitude have the strongest influence, while perceived behavioral control does not significantly influence a farmer's decision. These results, which may also be relevant for other European countries, indicate that in addition to licensing requirements and economic efficiency, the above-mentioned factors also influence the behavior related to barn construction. Farmers, politicians, and stall construction companies should be aware of these results. Improving farm animal welfare requires modifications to the behavior of many stakeholders. Investments in more animal-friendly barns to improve animal welfare have already been made by some farmers. However, more farmers must be persuaded to modernize their barns. The marketing of animal-friendly products is the responsibility of retailers, and consumers have to purchase these products. Currently, little is known about what (and how) underlying psychological factors influence a farmer's intention to construct pig housing to improve farm animal welfare. Pig farmers in Germany were questioned via an online questionnaire in May 2020 (n = 424). Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), partial least squares path modeling was used. The constructs: attitude, subjective norm, direct and indirect experience associated with the construction of pig housing substantially influenced the farmers' behaviors. As expected, the impact of perceived behavioral control on intention was negative but was also very low and only slightly significant. Contrary to expectations, the perceived behavioral control had no significant influence on farmers' behaviors. Pig farmers who have already rebuilt their pigs' housing should be motivated to share their experiences to influence their colleagues' intentions to construct. Our results will encourage policy makers to consider the important role of the different psychological and intrinsic factors influencing pig farmers. Thus, the sustainability of pig farming can be improved by giving politicians a better understanding of farmers' behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: More than 80 million male piglets are castrated every year within the first week of life mostly without pain relief in the EU. Castration is performed to prevent boar taint, to minimize aggressive and sexual behavior associated with intact males and to gain a constant quality of meat. It is an important animal welfare issue to eliminate pain caused by castration. Local anesthesia, meaning the sole injection of a local anesthetic into the testicles and in the surrounding tissue of conscious piglets, prior to castration is a currently discussed method in Germany. Thus, it was the aim of the present study to investigate the effect of four local anesthetics (procaine, lidocaine, bupivacaine and mepivacaine) on pain relief during surgical castration in conscious piglets. To assess pain, defensive behavior of piglets undergoing injection and castration was evaluated. In addition, attention was paid to possible side effects. Considering healing, bleeding and weight gain no negative impacts were observed, but impairments of locomotor activity occurred. The results indicate that lidocaine and mepivacaine are able to achieve significant pain relief during the castration procedure, whereas procaine and bupivacaine only during the severing of the spermatic cord. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of four local anesthetics on pain relief during surgical castration under standardized conditions in conscious piglets. Therefore, 71 male piglets (three to seven days) were distributed into control groups (handling, castration without anesthesia or analgesia) and local anesthetic trial groups (procaine, lidocaine, bupivacaine, mepivacaine). Then, 20 min prior to castration, animals of the treatment groups, except piglets in the handling group, received an injection of a local anesthetic or sodium chloride of 0.5 mL intratesticularly and 0.5 mL subscrotally. During injection and castration, defensive behavior was evaluated. Locomotor activity, as well as postoperative bleeding, wound healing and average daily weight gain were assessed to detect side effects. The injection caused increased defensive movements, significantly in the bupivacaine group. Lidocaine and mepivacaine significantly reduced defensive movements during castration, and procaine and bupivacaine only during severing of the spermatic cord. Impairments of locomotor activity were found in piglets injected with lidocaine, bupivacaine or sodium chloride. Considering healing, bleeding and weight gain, no negative impacts were observed. In conclusion, lidocaine and mepivacaine were able to achieve significant pain relief during the castration procedure, whereas procaine and bupivacaine only during the severing of the spermatic cord. Moreover, the injection of bupivacaine seemed to be painful itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The demand for products with higher farm animal welfare (FAW) standards is increasing within the European Union. In response, representatives from agricultural associations, the slaughtering industry and food retailing started the industry solution Initiative Animal Welfare (IAW) in 2015 with the aim of establishing higher FAW standards on a broad basis in both poultry and pig production in Germany. In contrast to other available animal welfare programs (AWPs), the IAW receives considerable support from farmers and enjoys a large number of participants. This article focuses on the question why the IAW is gaining positive resonance among German livestock farmers. Applying partial least squares path modeling to analyze the determinants of farmers' intention to participate in the IAW, we found that the determinants performance expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, price value, trust and experiences with the IAW have a significant influence on the behavioral intention to participate in the IAW program. It is shown that the farmers' hedonic motivation has the greatest impact on participation. The prospect of improving the image of pig fattening and the economic incentive motivate many farmers to participate. Additionally, many farmers confirmed that they enjoy providing a more superior welfare status to their pigs. The social determinant was also identified as a strong influencing factor. The results suggest that participation in AWPs could be improved by appropriate remuneration and measures promoting farmers' intrinsic motivation to engage in AWPs. Farmers are considered a highly important stakeholder group for the successful implementation of higher farm animal welfare (FAW) standards, but so far little is known about their attitudes and the determinants of their participation in programs that request higher FAW standards. To close this research gap, fattening pig farmers in Germany were questioned via a large-scale online survey in 2018 (n = 239). Based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, a partial least squares path modeling (PLS) was run. Results show that the expected performance as well as the expected costs associated with the Initiative Animal Welfare (IAW) substantially influence fattening pig farmers' behavioral intention to participate in the IAW. Furthermore, the decision is influenced by social determinants and facilitating conditions such as deadweight effects. Farmers' hedonic motivation, fair remuneration and previous experiences with the establishment of higher FAW standards can influence their intention to take part in the IAW. In addition, farmers' trust in the program is a major determinant. There are also moderating variables such as age and work experience that influence farmers' intention to take part in the IAW. Our results have important managerial implications for the IAW and can help to design further tailor-made animal welfare programs (AWPs) that fulfill the requirements of both fattening pig farmers and the broader public not only in Germany but the European Union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The EU-funded Welfare Quality® project generated species-specific assessment protocols to evaluate the welfare of pigs, poultry, and cattle. With the implementation to be used for certification purposes, it is important that the protocols show consistency over time, which describes the extent to which equal results are achieved if the assessment is performed repetitively. The protocols should not be sensitive to slight changes in the on-farm situation but mirror the long-term welfare situation on-farm. The present study aimed at testing this consistency over time of the indicators included in the 'Welfare Quality® animal welfare assessment protocol for sows and piglets'. Thereby, the study focused on the indicators to assess the welfare principle 'appropriate behavior'. As a result, the indicators applied to assess the animals' 'appropriate behavior' did not represent consistency over time. Thus, further investigation is needed before implementation on-farm. Conclusively, the present study contributes to the development of generally accepted and objective assessment protocols for animal welfare and thereby to the improvement of farm animals' welfare overall. The present study's aim was to assess the test−retest reliability (TRR) of the 'Welfare Quality® animal welfare assessment protocol for sows and piglets' focusing on the welfare principle 'appropriate behavior'. TRR was calculated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (RS), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), smallest detectable change (SDC), and limits of agreement (LoA). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used for deeper analysis of the Qualitative Behavior Assessment (QBA). The study was conducted on thirteen farms in Northern Germany, which were visited five times by the same observer. Farm visits 1 (F1; day 0) were compared to farm visits 2 to 5 (F2–F5). The QBA indicated no TRR when applying the statistical parameters introduced above (e.g., 'playful' (F1–F4) RS 0.08 ICC 0.00 SDC 0.50 LoA [−0.62, 0.38]). The PCA detected contradictory TRR. Acceptable TRR could be found for parts of the instantaneous scan sampling (e.g., negative social behavior (F1–F3) RS 0.45 ICC 0.37 SDC 0.02 LoA [−0.03, 0.02]). The human−animal relationship test solely achieved poor TRR, whereas scans for stereotypies showed sufficient TRR (e.g., floor licking (F1–F4) RS 0.63 ICC 0.52 SDC 0.05 LoA [−0.08, 0.04]). Concluding, the principle 'appropriate behavior' does not represent TRR and further investigation is needed before implementation on-farm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The German animal welfare requirements for rabbit housing did not take into account scientific results on the design of the floor. So, a maximum slot width of 11 mm and a degree of perforation of the raised level of 15% was required for growing rabbits. Such a floor was compared with alternative floor types in terms of the frequencies of polluted and injured animals. It could be shown that a floor following the requirements of the German animal protection ordinance led to the highest frequencies of polluted and injured animals compared with the other three floor designs. At the same time, alternatives for an animal-friendly floor, including the elevated platform, were presented under animal welfare aspects. The highest level of cleanliness and the lowest frequency of injured animals was demonstrated on a plastic floor with 5 mm slat width and 13 mm slot width, both on the base and on the elevated level (75% perforation). In Germany, an animal welfare ordinance for the housing of rabbits was issued which did not take into account the current investigations on floor design. The aim of the investigations was to study the effects of floor design on dirtiness and occurrence of lesions on the legs of growing rabbits. A total of 1837 weaned rabbits, kept on four different floor designs, were examined for body lesions and the dirtiness of the soles of the feet at the end of the growing period. Two four-stage scoring systems (0–3) were used to record the dirtiness and the lesions on the feet. A floor according to the provisions of the German animal protection ordinance (10 mm slat width; 50% perforation on floor area; <15% perforation on the elevated platform) led to the most polluted and injured rabbits. The best cleanliness and the lowest injury rate of the growing rabbits was achieved on a plastic floor with 5 mm slat width and 13 mm slot width, both on the ground and elevated platform (75% perforation). The requirements of the German housing regulations on the floor for growing rabbits do not correspond to animal welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Farm animal welfare policies are in transition: whereas agricultural policy is traditionally characterised by strong state steering, market actors are getting involved in this field. This study aims to improve understanding of these dynamics in the field of farm animal welfare. By conducting a comparative case study of public and private farm animal welfare policies in Germany and France, the findings illustrate how retailers are assuming a leading role in the field. By introducing animal welfare labels and purchasing guidelines, retailers react to rising societal concerns for the welfare of farmed animals. Governmental actors, conversely, are exercising restraint and engage in voluntary rather than regulatory policies. Contrary to the traditionally strong role of the state in agricultural policy, the contribution indicates a shift towards market-based governance in the field of farm animal welfare. The intensification of livestock production and the focus on economic gains of agricultural policy have resulted in animal welfare related challenges. In many countries the societal concern for the welfare of farmed animals is increasing. Whereas policymakers on the European Union's level and in EU member states have passed specific farm animal protection laws, the existing policies do not always guarantee the welfare of farmed animals. At the same time, the engagement of market actors in the field is increasing. This article explores the development of public and private policies in two countries with very different levels of regulation. By conducting a comparative analysis of public and private policies in Germany and France, the findings illustrate that, although they have different starting points, retailers in both countries are getting increasingly involved in farm animal welfare. In addition, there is evidence that governmental policies are shifting from regulatory to voluntary approaches in cooperation with the private sector. Given that in both countries these dynamics are a very recent development, it remains to be seen whether governmental actors will (re-)assume the lead in the field, whether they will engage in cooperation with private actors, or whether they will leave the task of agricultural restructuring to the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]