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Cattle are among the animals with diurnal activity, which is due to the specific animal–environment relationship and the natural role wild cattle play in the ecosystem. As humans began domesticating, breeding these animals, they became an integral part of this relationship. This review article addresses the most important current issues: 1) a characterisation of contemporary knowledge on the biological determinants of the vision abilities of dairy cattle, 2) a discussion of the relationship between these abilities and animal health and performance, and 3) a characterisation of the light–animal relationship under husbandry conditions. The intricate link between the anatomical and physiological aspects of visual function in cattle and their circadian rhythms was emphasised. This connection directly influences cattle growth and development, as well as the health and performance of dairy cows during the long/short day photoperiods. The article also considers the possibility of managing dairy cows' photoperiod and light quality to enhance their performance and overall well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The poultry meat industry is a significant agri-food sector worldwide. Preslaughter operations are crucial as they impact animal welfare, meat quality, and food safety. Despite their importance, few studies focus on broiler preslaughter processes in hot environments. Effective planning, handling, and monitoring are essential to improve conditions and reduce stress, ensuring better meat quality and animal welfare. Poultry production faces significant challenges, including high feed prices, diseases, and thermal stress, which impact broiler welfare and productivity. Despite advances in cooling technologies and ventilation, preslaughter operations still lead to considerable losses. This review highlights the need for the improved management of thermal environments and animal logistics. Preslaughter operations typically involve fasting broilers for 8–12 h to reduce gastrointestinal contents and contamination. Following fasting, broilers are caught, crated, and transported. Stress levels vary based on distance and conditions, with manual catching often causing stress and injuries. Catching should occur during cooler periods to minimise these issues, and transport conditions must be carefully managed. Lairage, the waiting period after transport, should be kept short (1–2 h) in climate-controlled environments to avoid stress and deterioration. Proper handling and efficient unloading are essential to prevent injuries and reduce economic losses. Stunning methods, such as electronarcosis and a controlled atmosphere, aim to minimise suffering before slaughter, though practices vary culturally and religiously. Logistics and real-time monitoring technology are crucial for enhancing animal welfare during transportation. Effective planning and the optimisation of transport processes is vital for reducing stress and losses, especially with regard to rising global temperatures and production demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Removing impurities that occur in landfill gas, from sulphur and silicon compounds, is crucial for the energetic use of biogas in a cogeneration unit for energy purposes. The aim of this study was to analyse the shaped activated carbon, examining its structure and elemental composition as part of the biogas purification. The qualitative study of the purified landfill gas performed in this study showed a significant overshoot of hydrogen sulphide at 304.1 ppm with respect to the gas engine manufacturer's requirements, while the calculated hydrogen sulphide reduction efficiency was 24.58%. Examination of the surface of the spent carbon and its pores with a scanning microscope revealed a high level of clotting by sulphur compounds, which prevents proper reduction of this compound and reduces the efficiency of the treatment plant. Replacement of the activated carbon bed with a new one showed a hydrogen sulphide value of 7.5 ppm in the purified gas and a calculated reduction efficiency of 97.9%. The results of the study confirmed that continuous monitoring of the quality of the purified gas is necessary to control the adsorption properties of the activated carbon and can be used for the operation of gas engines in cogeneration units. The landfill gas treatment method described in this paper constitutes an environmentally sustainable project within the meaning of the EU regulation on the establishment of a framework to promote and facilitate this type of investment in terms of its financing and operation. The topic of the work fits into three key areas of broad research and implementation activities. The first, technological, is the transition to a low-carbon, sustainable and resource-efficient closed-loop economy; the second, environmental, pollution prevention and control. The third area is economics and finance in terms of making financial products available designed to reduce climate change and reporting on these activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve energy and environmental security in urban environments and in accordance with the requirements of the EU, the task of sustainable developing agriculture in urban agglomerations and monitoring it using satellite images becomes relevant. The aim of the work is the development of methods and means for determining stable islands of thermal energy to substantiate the optimal locations for plant growing practices in the metropolis. The research was conducted in Kyiv, the largest metropolis of Ukraine. Data from the Landsat 8 and 9 satellites were used because of the free data and they have better spatial resolution and an available archive of observation results. It was established that the temperature map of the city of Kyiv shows differences in temperature between different parts of the city, probably due to the presence of different sources of heat radiation. It is obvious that the standard deviation of the temperature in the plots depends on many factors, in particular, the season and the type of land use. It is necessary to find alternative solutions for the development of crop production in this area, taking into account the characteristics of thermal emissions. Based on software products from free satellite monitoring providers, EO Browser, a specialized software solution (web application) has been created for monitoring agricultural plantations in an urban environment. A collection of LANDSAT 8 satellite images was used. Areas with stable heat emissions were found, which are due to the operation of a modern shopping and entertainment center, and non-traditional crops for landscaping adapted to its design are proposed. As a result of research, strong heat emissions were recorded for some objects, for them the temperature exceeds the surrounding area by 4 °C, while the minimum standard deviation in January is 0.5 °C, the maximum in July is 2.8 °C, in April and October—1.7 °C and 1.2 °C, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the minor studied stress factors in cattle breeding is noise. Noise is any unwanted chronic or intermittent sound and the amount and type of noise sources are related to the cattle production system. The aim of the review was to highlight the literature regarding noise as a robust environmental stressor and the following impact on the behavioural, physiological and performance reactions of cattle. In addition, it was shown how often this problem is discussed in the scientific literature. Review was conducted with a search strategy of peer-reviewed articles written in English before June 2022. The systematic searches were performed using the Web of Science and Scopus databases with the integration of Boolean operators to string together words or phrases. It is recommended to create an environment around cows in which the acoustic stimuli affecting the animals are under their control. Therefore, if the sound source cannot be eliminated, animals should be able to choose places with a lower sound intensity appropriate for the perceptual abilities of cattle. On the other hand, attention is paid to the positive aspects of some groups of sound signals i.e. positive nature of music for cows and people during milking. The scientific publications analysed by the methodology drew attention to the repeatability of the discussed results. Further research on this subject should be considered because developing farms use modern solutions in barns which can negatively affect the acoustic comfort of cows, and their impact has yet to be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we performed a systematic review to assess the effect of thermal stress on the behavior of lactating cows housed in compost barns. Peer-reviewed articles written in English that evaluated the effect of heat stress on the behavior of lactating cows raised in compost barns were used in this systematic review. The resulting articles (38) underwent a four-step PRISMA appraisal process and resulted in six articles that fitted our inclusion criteria. Our review highlighted that the temperature and humidity index prevailed among the studies to evaluate thermal comfort. Regarding the behavior, heat stress promoted decreases in feed events and the time that cows spent lying down. In contrast, there was an increase in events of visiting the water trough, the number of steps, agonistic behavior, and dyspnea. In conclusion, heat stress affected the behavior of lactating cows raised in compost barns; however, some care is needed in extrapolating our findings since this is a recent research area and further studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this work is to develop a model for balancing the processes of the generation and consumption of electricity, taking into account the random nature of these processes. The subject of the study is hybrid power systems that use traditional and renewable energy sources and have the properties of a local network. Such systems are sensitive to variable generation modes, and the presence of rapid changes in power requires short time intervals. The presence of wind and solar power plants makes it difficult to ensure a balance of power, which increases the need for intermediate energy storage. The research method is a mathematical modeling of random processes of energy consumption and generation, which allows for the analysis of the current power balancing and the obtaining of the integrated characteristics of the state of energy storage and reuse. The unique goal of the study is to take into account the power gradients and the state of charge of the batteries. The results of the study allow for the comparison of the different configurations of the power system in terms of balance, storage needs, and energy loss. It has been shown that the increase in battery capacity and speed limitations are nonlinearly related to the possibilities of energy conservation and the probability of the incomplete use of the capabilities of the energy storage system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Studies on the effect of thermal stress on lactating cows have increased considerably in recent years. Feedlot systems for dairy cows have become popular around the world. This article aims to develop a scientometric analysis to evaluate studies on thermal stress in lactating cows housed in a free-stall, tie-stall, and compost-bedded pack barn system. A total of 604 studies from the Web of Science database was considered for this study. The data obtained from the Web of Science was exported to Citespace software. The most used keywords by the researchers were "heat stress", "dairy cow" and "cattle". The most relevant countries, authors, institutions, and networks of co-occurrences for our research were highlighted. This article provides a comprehensive review of thermal stress in lactating cows housed in confinement in the last 22 years and contributes to future research in this area. Due to climate change, heat stress is a growing problem for the dairy industry. Based on this, annual economic losses in the dairy sector are verified mainly on a large scale. Despite several publications on thermal stress in lactating dairy cows in confinement systems, there need to be published reviews addressing this issue systematically. Our objective was to scientometrically analyze the effects of heat stress in dairy cows managed in a confinement system. Based on PRISMA guidelines, research articles were identified, screened, and summarized based on inclusion criteria for heat stress in a confinement system. Data was obtained from the Web of Science. A total of 604 scientific articles published between 2000 and April 2022 were considered. Data was then analyzed using Microsoft Excel and CiteSpace. The results pointed to a significant increase in studies on heat stress in lactating cows housed in confinement systems. The main research areas were Agriculture, Dairy Animal Science and Veterinary Sciences. The USA showed the highest concentration of studies (31.12%), followed by China (14.90%). Emerging themes included heat stress and behavior. The most influential journals were the Journal of Dairy Science and the Journal of Animal Science. The top authors were L. H. Baumgard and R. J. Collier. The leading institutions were the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, followed by the State University System of Florida and the University of Florida. The study maps the significant research domains on heat stress of lactating cows in confinement systems, discusses implications and explanations and highlights emerging trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The silvopasture system is an integrated system which has been widespread in tropical and sub-tropical climates. However, there is a lack of detailed studies regarding agroecological silvopasture systems. This study assessed whether the different levels of shading in an agroecological silvopastoral system influences the microclimate and botanical composition of polyphytic pasture. We used eight paddocks composed of a silvopastoral system in a subtropical climate, with different tree species arranged in simple lines with polyphytic pasture. In each paddock, we established three levels of visual shading (under the canopy, intermediate and full sun). The following microclimatic variables were recorded monthly during the daytime: illuminance, air temperature, air relative humidity, wind speed, and surface soil temperature. The samples of forages were separated into grasses, legumes and spontaneous, then fractionated into leaves, stems, and senescent material. We observed lower values of illuminance and surface soil temperature under the canopy, with differences between full sun and under the canopy at noon. Regarding the forage, the percentage of legumes was higher in full sun, and spontaneous species and leaves had high proportions under the canopy. Based on the results, the agroecological silvopastoral system changed the microclimatic characteristics and altered the plant composition of polyphytic pasture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the thermal environment, behaviour, hygiene, and lameness in dairy cows with different numbers of lactations housed in a compost-bedded pack barn system in a humid subtropical climate during autumn and winter. Between April and July 2016, behavioural and microclimatic environment assessments were conducted in a compost barn system, and hygiene and lameness assessments were performed. Crossbred cows in lactation (n = 10) were divided into two groups according to the number of lactations: primiparous and multiparous. Air temperature, relative humidity, and air ventilation speed were measured at 09:00, 12:00, and 15:00. The cows' hygiene and lameness were evaluated using subjective scores ranging from 1 to 4 and 1 to 5, respectively. The daytime behaviour assessment was performed as sampling 0/1, using the focal method. Primiparous cows showed a greater probability of walking (P<0.05) than multiparous cows between 09:20 and 11:20, and at 15:20, and increased the water intake at 14:00. Regarding the eating behaviour and the effect of time of day within each group (P<0.05), the cows ate more in the morning's early hours. The cows' hygiene scores were 1 or 2, and most cows presented scores of 1 or 2 for lameness. Our research has shown that microclimatic variables may influence the walking behaviour and water intake of primiparous cows during the hottest periods of the day, even during cold weather, in a humid subtropical climate. The dairy cows showed low hygiene and lameness scores, which indicates that the compost bar positively influenced cleanliness and locomotion comfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stress in livestock is a function of macro- and microclimatic factors, their duration and intensity, the environments where they occur and the biological characteristics of the animal. Due to intense metabolic processes, high-producing dairy cows are highly vulnerable to the effects of heat stress. Disturbances in their thermoregulatory capability are reflected by behavioural, physiological and production changes. Expression of thermoregulatory behaviour such as reduction of activity and feed intake, searching for a cooler places or disturbances in reproductive behaviours may be very important indicators of animal welfare. Especially maintain of standing or lying position in dairy cattle may be a valuable marker of the negative environmental impact. Highly mechanized farms with large numbers of animals have the informatic system can detect alterations automatically, while small family farms cannot afford these type of equipments. Therefore, observing and analysing behavioural changes to achieve a greater understanding of heat stress issue may be a key factor for developing the effective strategies to minimize the effects of heat stress in cattle. The aim of this review is to present the state of knowledge, over the last years, regarding behavioural changes in dairy cows (Bos Taurus) exposed to heat stress conditions and discuss some herd management strategies provided mitigation of the overheat consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The climate changes observed in recent years as an increase in the average air temperature influence the microclimatic conditions in dairy barns not only in summer but also in winter. The heat emitted by cows, the orientation of buildings to the cardinal points and farm layout have substantial effect and are additional factors influencing the microclimate in the barns with curtain sidewalls. The aim of the present studies was to determine the effect of atmospheric air temperature and relative humidity on the selected parameters of the indoor microclimate in two neighboring freestall barns in winter. The air temperature and relative humidity sensors were positioned in the barns (A, B) and outdoors. The obtained results were compared with each other. The indoor air temperature recorded in two barns was higher than the outdoor temperature by an average of 2.4°C and 2.8°C, respectively. The greatest difference between the average indoor and the outdoor air temperature was 4.9°C. Daily analysis indicated that in warm days, the patterns of the air temperature and relative humidity changes were similar in both barns. In turn, during cold days, when the outdoor air temperature was below 0°C, there was a difference in temperature between both barns, which could result from the position of the buildings towards cardinal points and the heat emitted by cattle influencing the air temperature in the barn. The points where the temperature difference was the highest were located in the leeward part of the building, which was additionally sunlit during the midday hours. Thus, it is recommended to estimate the airflow velocity and sun exposure in different zones of the barn. This would also help to establish the guidelines for the design of new barns in the context of architectural and spatial solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the influence of a silvopastoral system on the thermal environment, behaviour and thermoregulation of dairy heifers in a subtropical climate. The experiment was conducted on a dairy farm in Southwest Paraná, Brazil, during the summer of 2014. Crossbred Holstein × Jersey dairy heifers (n = 10) were used in a split-plot design. The fixed effects in this study include time of day (9:00–10:00, 13:00–14:00, and 17:00–18:00 h) under silvopastoral or open pastures conditions, which were the main-plot and split-plot factors, respectively. To assess the environmental conditions in both systems, air temperature, relative humidity and wind speed were recorded. In addition, the temperature-humidity index was calculated based on the microcli-mate measurements. Respiratory rate and hair coat surface temperature of heifers were measured in both groups during time of day (30 days). Diurnal behaviour using focal observations with 0/1 sampling was observed. Data were analysed using Bayesian inference with a mixed effects model. The air temperature was higher (P<0.05) in open pasture conditions than the silvopasture system. Temperature-humidity index values for the silvopasture system were lower than open pasture during the hottest hours of the day. Regarding thermoregulation responses, there was an interaction between time of day and pasture environment (P<0.05). Heifers showed lower respiratory rates and hair coat surface temperature values (P<0.05) when access to shade was provided, mainly during the hottest periods in the afternoon. In addition, there was also an interaction between rumination and water intake (P<0.05), which indicates a higher rumination frequency for animals in the silvopasture system during the hottest period, as well as a higher water intake frequency for heifers in open pasture during midday. These findings imply that the arrangement of trees in a silvopasture system provides better thermal comfort conditions for dairy heifers raised in a subtropical climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A trend of global warming has been observed over the last few years and it has often been discussed whether there is an effect on livestock. Numerous studies have been published about heat stress in cattle and its influence on the physiology and productivity of animals. Preventing the negative effects of heat stress on cattle is essential to ensure animal welfare, health and productivity. Monitoring and analysis of physiological parameters lead to a better understanding of the adaptation processes. This can help to determine the risk of climate change and its effects on performance characteristics, e.g. milk yield and reproduction. This, in turn, makes it possible to develop effective measures to mitigate the impact of heat load on animals. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the current literature. Studies especially about the physiological and productive changes due to heat stress in cattle have been summarised in this review. The direction of future research into the aspect of heat stress in cattle is also indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Automation of the measurement of the physiological and behavioural parameters of livestock has become an important goal for both scientists and farmers. Accurate data and knowledge about farmed animals, especially in cattle breeding, are needed. Proper early diagnosis of a cow's health status in real time allows for preventing the development of infection, oestrus detection and leads to reduced environmental stress. Thus, it contributes to more effective herd management. Among the physiological parameters, body temperature and its fluctuations are key indicators of health and well-being in animals. Currently, along with the development of technical solutions and their implementation, increasingly more attention is being paid to the continuously measurement of body core and peripheral temperature in animals. Recently there has been an increased number of publications devoted to this subject. However, there is a need to systematise this knowledge as these studies have had different purposes, have been performed in various environmental conditions, and the measurements were taken using different methods and equipment. As such, the results obtained by the different authors often may not be comparable. For this reason, this paper has two main purposes: to present the most widely used continuous methods of peripheral and body core temperature measurement, and to show its references values which characterise the individual locations of the cattle body in thermoneutral ambient. An analysis of the professional publications regarding measurements of peripheral and deep body temperature led to the conclusion that these methods have high research and diagnostic potential. However, it is necessary to standardised research to enable better and more comparable results, including among others; different cattle groups, animal age, health and environmental conditions. Highlights • Peripheral and deep body temperature measurements have high research potential. • Ambient conditions are the most important in affecting an animal's thermoregulation. • Individual areas of the body are characterised by different temperatures. • Nowadays technologically advanced devices enable to capture temperature changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study analyses the efficiency of a Solar Water Heating (SWH) system, potential financial savings and investment profitability. The analysis pertaining to the amount of energy generated by the collectors had been performed for the multi-family building within the span of two years. The efficiency of the system was determined by comparing the amount of energy from solar radiation incident on the surface of the collectors to the amount of energy generated by the collectors and fed to the existing Domestic Hot Water (DHW) system. The amount of energy generated by the collectors was approx. 70 GJ per year, at the efficiency of the SWH system equalling 36%. The best time for the operation of the system was the period from April to September, during which the share of generated for DHW amounted to 78%. It is reflected in the decreased consumption of gas by 6% throughout the year. Furthermore, based on the data about the efficiency and energy yield of the set of collectors, as well as data on insolation, the analysis was performed to determine the installation and operation costs and the depreciation period of the investigated SWH system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Dairy cows are exposed to heat stress, the risk of which is increasing due to climate change. This could result in significant changes in the cows’ lying time behaviour. The presented study shows the relationship between heat stress determined with the use of the Temperature Humidity Index (THI) and the daily lying time of 40 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. Based on the calculated value of THI, two periods were specified, a neutral period (with a maximum daily THI value below 68) and warm period (with minimal daily THI value above 73). The obtained results were processed using analysis of the Spearman’s correlation coefficient with significance at P<0.05. The results showed a decrease in daily total lying time between the neutral and warm periods from 11.3 to 9.4 h/d. During the warm period, the correlation between cows’ lying time and increased THI shows that the relationship is significant inversely proportional, but in the neutral period that correlation was not significant. A decrease in the percentage of the lying cows and average lying time per hour was also noticeable between the daytime and night-time in warm periods, which was 2 times less than in the neutral period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented study determining the relationship between the Temperature Humidity Index (THI) value during the summer months (June–August) and daily behaviour of 40 Holstein–Friesian dairy cows, including the length of standing, laying bouts and locomotor activity. Behaviour observations were conducted on a preferences test concerning their choice to time and place of rest with respect to time duration of THI: neutral (maximum 3 h with THI = 68), warm (time of THI > 68 occurrence lasted less than 12 h) and hot (time of THI > 68 occurrence lasted longer than 12 h). Obtained results was processed using analysis of the Spearman’s correlation coefficient with significant atp < .05. The results showed a decrease in daily total lying time between the neutral and hot periods from 9.9 to 7.8 h/d. Along with the increase in THI by 1 unit between the warm and hot periods, there was observed a decrease in total lying time by 38 min/d in the cubicles. With an increase in the THI was also observed an increase by 15 min/d in the lying cows in the manure alleys during the night-time. During the warm and hot periods, the cows’ activity showed a negative correlation with the increasing THI. Cows changed their behaviour during the summer depending on the prevailing environmental conditions. The behavioural studies on cows, without taking into account the variability of microclimate conditions, can lead to their inaccuracy and the misrepresentation of their results. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The main aim of the presented investigation was to determine the effect of the air thermal conditions variability on cow's milking performance in summer in a moderate climate. The analyses covered the summer months of 2012-2013 (June-September) and shorter, several-day periods characterized by the times of elevated or high air temperatures and by the declines and increases in milking performance. The research was conducted in a free stall barn for Holstein-Friesian cows. The study showed that the thermoneutral temperature for high yielding cows decreases gradually with the registered increasingly warmer summer periods. The decreases in milk yield already commence at an air temperature equal to 20°C and also depend on the dairy cattle sensitivity. July and August, with a high number of hot days, caused that in September the cows responded faster to a worsening of thermal conditions and the decline in milking performance happened almost simultaneously with the air temperature change, at milking yield recovery after the period of 3-4 d (r=-0.84, P<0.04). The percent duration in the individual temperature ranges which caused a decrease of milk yield was also determined. In June, and at the beginning of July, this was 90% of the time with temperatures above 20°C, and simultaneously 45% above 25°C occurred to milking performance decrease (r=-0.89, P<0.02). In September, this was only 30% of the time with temperatures above 20°C (r=-0.91, P<0.01). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the light of climate changes related to global warming forecasted by scientists, preventive measures against negative impact of solar radiation on dairy cattle welfare become vital. Apart from sprinklers and fans, different forms of shading, like native trees, extension of eaves or shade screens are increasingly often mentioned. The aim of the present studies was to determine the effect of barn type and orientation on the penetration of solar radiation into sidewall stalls during summer. A non-stationary analysis was performed for 3 types of curtain-sided freestall barns most commonly used in Poland, in which a model analysis of insolation was performed taking into account geographical location of Poland, azimuth and sun angles. The obtained results allowed us to identify optimal orientation of barns and to suggest the simplest technical measures to protect sidewall stalls from solar heat gain deleterious to cows. The model analysis of stall shading demonstrated that extension of barn eaves to 1 m on the southern side reduced the insolation of stalls over even up to 90% of their area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thesis presents the analysis of development of selected parameters of microclimate in a standalone cellar plunged into soil. The scope of studies included measurement of air internal and external temperature and relative humidity of internal and external air. The thesis also concerns the analysis of heat exchange of cellar compartments with the surrounding soil. The studies were carried out from July 11, 2012 to July 10, 2013. The analysis of the obtained results of studies proved that the internal air temperature in the examined cellar was mainly formed by the external air temperature as well as by the surrounding soil. For 42% of storage period, the thermal conditions in the cellar plunged into soil were unfavorable which disqualifies the cellar's purpose for storage of vegetables, e.g. potatoes. Too high temperature was observed in the initial and final period. Favorable storage conditions were experienced only in the period from December 14, 2012 to April 11, 2013. To adjust this kind facility for storage of vegetables, thermal insulation of compartments and installation of cooling units is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cattle show a high sensitivity to changeability of microclimate conditions and heat stress that causes changes in the welfare and behaviour of cows. The presented study aimed at determining the relationship between the temperature humidity index (THI) value during the summer period and daily behaviour of dairy cows, including eligibility of lying boxes. All these aspects were measured under real production conditions. The investigated area, where microclimate conditions measurements were conducted, was a free-stall barn with single and double boxes, with manure and feeding alleys, housing 40 Holstein-Friesian cows. Observations were made on the behaviour of the cows based on a preference test concerning their choice of the best areas with respect to three ranges of THI values: neutral (N), warm (W) and hot (H). During the warm and hot period the research demonstrated a positive correlation between the level of THI and the share of standing cows (in period W - P<0.03 and H - P<0.008), and an inversely proportional one between the level of THI with participation of lying down cows (periods: W - P<0.06; H - P<0.004) and the length of their laying bouts in double boxes. The double boxes area was predominantly occupied, whereas single boxes area was the least often used. The occupation of manure alley areas was positively correlated with the level of THI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of free-stall barn orientation relative to cardinal points on the insolation area and on the surface temperature of selected stalls in the summer period. The results of the experimental research were subjected to model analysis of the distribution of area of insolation into a barn. The studies showed that the surface of insolated stalls is heated to a temperature of 40°C, and in extreme cases up to 58°C. Taking into account the body temperature of cows (38-39°C), it can be concluded that the heat transfer from animals' body to the environment, and thus the possibility of their cooling, were difficult. This is confirmed by observations of the behaviour of cows obtained from the video monitoring. Large differences were found in thermal conditions in the southern and northern stall areas, which in the midday hours were up to 10°C. The impact of clouds occurring during observations, included in the studies, contributed to the reduction of temperature of the stalls surface. During hot weather, short, ten-minute appearance of clouds, caused a decrease of the temperature of stalls surface by approx. 2.5°C. On this basis, it can be concluded that the use of shadings in building environment in the noon hours could limit the heating up of stalls and thus contribute to improving the living conditions of cows in barn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aimed at determining the most significant parameters affecting the microclimate of milking parlours, such as temperature, relative humidity and air movement in a parallel milking parlour in real operating conditions. The research was conducted in the summer period, when the risk of heat stress in cattle is higher. To check welfare of cows during milking, days with air temperature >25°C and days with temperature equal or lower than 25°C were analysed. Observation and analysis were performed for air flow in milking parlour, range of supplied air stream and how air movement affects cattle. It was observed that the irregular distribution of air movement led to the development of diverse air velocity in different zones of the milking parlour (0.2-9.0 m∙s-1). As a consequence, the conditions inside the barn were not homogenous for all the cattle. A significant effect of the cows and external air temperature (which depends indirectly on orientation of the milking parlour relative to cardinal directions) on temperature increase (approx 6°C) was concluded, with relative air humidity at the level of 85-90%, during the milking, which led to systematic decrease of microclimatic comfort for cattle. Based on the conducted research, it was concluded that the design of ventilation systems in parallel milking parlours should be preceded by increased research not only on ventilation system efficiency but also on the distribution of flow ventilated air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presented are results of a study on the influence of air temperature and humidity on milk production by 174 Holstein-Friesian cows kept in a free stall barn. Occurrence of heat stress in three technological groups of cows with help of temperature-humidity index (THI) was specified. The result of heat stress was a decrease in milk yield. There was a strong correlation found (P=0.05) between minimum THI, temperature and milk yield. Delay of decrease in milk production as related to maximum temperature (TMAX) in most cases was 2 days (P=0.05). Significant differences were shown between THI average hourly values (from 1 to 6 units) in particular areas of the barn when the average daily THI >68. Duration of total air temperature exceed 21°C in each technological group was investigated. It was concluded that the number of hours above the critical temperature for the cows in group 1 was 90 and 42-44 for the remaining groups, which resulted in the largest decrease in milk yield in group 1. The obtained results indicate the need to evaluate the microclimate parameters in several specific places related to the existence in the barn technological groups. Predicting the risk of heat stress should take into account the zoning in the barns related to variations of temperature and humidity conditions. This will enable the selection of appropriate functional, utility and technical solutions to maintain optimum welfare of cows in free stall barn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents results of research on ammonia concentrations and emissions from a free stall barn to the atmosphere in the course of one year, with particular attention to the summer and winter periods. The rate of ammonia emissions was influenced by the amounts of ventilated air, which were the highest in summer period and lowest in winter. The obtained results were lower than the values provided by other authors, which points out the need for conducting further detailed studies on ammonia emissions from various types of free stall barns and cattle breeding systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of research on indoor ammonia (NH3) concentrations in the air in a free-stall barn. The differences in measurement results mainly depended on the season and weather conditions. The study also showed a significant correlation (P<0.01) between the NH3 concentration and temperature, relative humidity and air movement velocity inside the barn. The lowest NH3 concentration was recorded in the summer (0.0 ppm) in the presence of high air temperatures, low humidity and increased exchange of ventilated air. In winter during severe frosts, highest ammonia concentration (8.0 ppm) was noted, caused by limited ventilation. The highest daily ammonia concentration was usually recorded during the night. This was due to increased relative air humidity and low air velocities. It was concluded that the average level of ammonia of 2.73 ppm during the entire year was significantly below values defined as harmful for animals and people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the influence of temperature, relative air humidity, air movement velocity and solar radiation on forecasting the risk of heat stress in dairy cows in a free-stall barn during hot weather seasons. THI and adjusted THI indexes were calculated for the periods in which the air temperature exceeded 28°C in the barn, and when it reached 25°C. Based on the THI values obtained during the heat, which ranged from 63 to 83, the occurrence of heat stress in cattle was stated. Heat stress also caused a decrease in milk yield, from about 22 kg to about 18 kg in the technological group. The calculated THIadj values (83 to 90), taking into account the solar radiation and air movement velocity, indicated also the occurrence of health-threatening conditions for cattle. On the fourth day of heat the maximum daily value of THI in the first measurement point was 83 with THIadj of 90, while in the second point THI was 82 and THIadj was 87. This indicated the occurrence of significant differences in microclimatic conditions in the occupied zone of the same technological group. The influence of investigated microclimate factors on the formation of THIadj in the researched zone of the barn was stated. No proper method of its determination was also stated. The analysis of the impact of air movement velocity on THIadj value (P<0.05) and the solar radiation (P<0.05) demonstrated the importance of these parameters in forecasting heat stress in cows in the barn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluated were changes of temperature and relative air humidity inside a free-stall barn affecting the welfare of cows of three technological groups during a hot summer. The effects of selected microclimate parameters of the barn have been assessed based on the THI (temperature-humidity index) in relation to milk production. The research revealed that the animals suffered from thermal stress which resulted in decreased milk production in particular groups. The paper presents information about percentage values of this decrease and time needed to regain the original state. It also points out the need to determine THI not only for the entire barn but also for its various zones occupied by particular technological groups of cows with different levels of milk production. The authors highlight that the THI index is quite a useful tool for predicting thermal stress in particular sections of the barn. Yet, it is necessary to improve the methodology of THI calculation in order to include more microclimate elements, mainly air movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) amplification chip made of DP951 (from DuPont) ceramics consists of a microchamber, internal and external metallization. The external metallization is used for attachment of SMD (surface mount device) electronics elements. The internal metal layer improves thermal conditions inside the chamber. The temperature distribution in the chamber is verified by numerical simulation. Heating is realized by an external SMD resistor. The temperature measurements are made by attached Pt100 component. The temperature control is realized by a microcontroller based electronic system. Settings and visualization of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) process parameters are actualized by dedicated PC (personal computer) software. The system is successfully tested. The DNA amplification inside the low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) chip is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water reuse is now becoming a global necessity. However, one of the drawbacks in releasing wastewater into the environment is some persistent pollutants that are not completely removed in wastewater treatment plant. Residual bacteria and antibiotics in the inflowing wastewater can contribute to the antibiotic resistance spread in the aquatic environment. This study determined the effectiveness of activated sludge process for fecal coliform bacteria elimination, and also the Escherichia coli resistance to antimicrobial agents as erythromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim, and metronidazole in treated wastewater. The research was carried out using the membrane filtration technique, and the susceptibility of isolates to antimicrobial agents was tested by the disc diffusion method. The concentrations of fecal coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli differed significantly depending on the seasonal period in which it was carried out. Despite up to 99% reduction in the number of sanitary indicators in biologically treated wastewater, 89% of E. coli isolates resistant to the tested antibiotics was found, while 100% of the isolates were susceptible to metronidazole. Most of the isolates showed resistance to trimethoprim, and the fewest isolates were resistant to ofloxacin, indicating that some strains may react differently to antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the conducted research was to assess the effectiveness of the nitrification process, at different concentrations of ammonium nitrogen, in biologically treated wastewater in one of the largest municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants in Poland. The studies also attempted to acclimate nitrifying bacteria to the limited concentration of ammonium nitrogen and determined the efficiency of nitrification under the influence of acclimated activated sludge in the biological wastewater treatment system. The obtained results indicate that the concentration of ammonium nitrogen above 60.00 mg·dm−3 inhibits nitrification, even after increasing the biomass of nitrifiers. The increase in the efficiency of the nitrification process in the tested system can be obtained by using the activated sludge inoculated with nitrifiers. For this purpose, nitrifiers should be preacclimated, at least for a period of time, allowing them to colonize the activated sludge. The acclimated activated sludge allows reducing the amount of ammonium nitrogen in treated sewage by approx. 35.0%. The process of stable nitrification in the biological treatment system was observed nine days after introducing the acclimated activated sludge into the aeration chamber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The silvopastoral system has the potential to alleviate the negative impacts of heat stress on livestock. Through a preliminary study, we assessed the thermal environment experienced by hair coat lambs, as well as the impacts on their bio-thermal and behavioural responses, when either kept in either the silvopastoral system, or exposed to full sun. Twelve hair coat lambs (Dorper × Santa Ines) were randomly assigned to a silvopastoral system or full sun exposure during the summer (from January to February 2017). Parameters, including air temperature, black globe temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and ground surface temperature, were measured daily for both thermal environments. From 14:00 to 16:00, lambs kept in silvopastoral areas experienced lower levels of air temperature, radiant heat load, and ground surface temperature. Consequently, they had a lower hair coat surface and lower body rectal temperatures. Lambs exposed to a shaded environment spent more time grazing and walking, and less time standing at rest. In conclusion, lambs kept in a silvopastoral system experienced lower levels of radiant heat load and ground surface temperature. In addition, the animals showed a reduced requirement for evaporative cooling and expressed behaviours that indicated a comfortable thermal environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The thermal distribution inside a compost-bedded pack barn and the behavioural aspects plays an important role in terms of welfare and sustainability for dairy cows. Through a spatial variability assessment of thermal conditions in a compost barn, we found different regions with comfortable or stressful conditions based on air and bed temperature, as well as wind speed. Regarding the behaviour of cows with different number of lactations, we observed a higher probability of water intake in primiparous cows and increased walking behaviour in multiparous cows during the hottest periods. We suggest that special attention must be given to environmental control in a compost barn, mainly during hot seasons, to avoid different hot spots inside the facility. Additionally, with unbalanced environmental resources, the hierarchy of multiparous over primiparous cows might predominate the alleviation of the herd's thermal stress. The spatial variability and behavioural aspects of compost-bedded pack barns remain unknown in subtropical regions. In this study, we investigated whether spatial variability occurs in the thermal environment of a compost barn and how the behaviour of dairy cows with different numbers of lactations differs in this system. The spatial sampling design comprised a grid of 108 locations inside the facility. At each location, we measured air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and bed temperature at 9:00, 12:00, and 15:00. We performed 24-h behavioural observations. Regarding spatial variability, the north face showed high air temperature values, and the distribution of relative humidity varied from the north to the south face. Kriging maps revealed a high bedding temperature trend, indicating heterogeneous ventilation management. Primiparous cows visited the water trough during the hottest hours of the day, whereas multiparous cows displayed a higher probability of walking during these periods. In conclusion, we observed a heterogeneous management of ventilation through the spatial distribution of the thermal environment inside the compost-bedded pack barn, with multiparous cows exhibiting dominance over primiparous cows seeking environmental resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The LTCC (low temperature cofired ceramics) technology still finds new applications. In this paper LTCC chamber for measurements of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) concentration is described. The ceramic chip with electrodes is shown. The platinum paste is used for three buried electrodes construction. The results of electrochemical DNA concentration measurements inside ceramic structure are shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Heat stress triggers behavioural and physiological response and thus negatively affects productivity in livestock. Among farm species, pigs are especially susceptible to exposure to high air temperatures. The evaporative pad cooling system, high pressure fogging, sprinkling as well as elevating of air velocity and floor cooling are the methods most often used in pig facilities to alleviate the effects of heat stress. This article mainly discusses issues linked with the effectiveness of the various cooling methods on improving the indices of animal welfare. An increase in the frequency of hot periods, which has been observed over the past decades, determines the novel approach to livestock facilities improvement. The effects of heat stress are revealed in disorders in physiological processes, impaired immunity, changes in behaviour and decreases in animal production, thus implementation of cooling technologies is a key factor for alleviating these negative consequences. In pig facilities, various cooling methods have been implemented. Air temperature may be decreased by using adiabatic cooling technology such as a high-pressure fogging system or evaporative pads. In modern-type buildings large-surface evaporative pads may support a tunnel ventilation system. Currently a lot of attention has also been paid to developing energy- and water-saving cooling methods, using for example an earth-air or earth-to-water heat exchanger. The pigs' skin surface may be cooled by using sprinkling nozzles, high-velocity air stream or conductive cooling pads. The effectiveness of these technologies is discussed in this article, taking into consideration the indicators of animal welfare such as respiratory rate, skin surface and body core temperature, performance parameters and behavioural changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The legislation regarding pig housing systems states that environmental enrichment needs to be provided for group-housed pigs. Moreover, the materials used for improving animal housing are categorised as optimal, suboptimal, and of marginal interest. Straw has been considered as the optimal solution for pig housing, however there are some limitations in using it in a large amount. Therefore, other materials, objects, and toys have been used as enrichment in pig maintenance. Understanding how various enrichments influence animal welfare seems to be an important key to elaborating the best methods of improvement. This review presents new literature references regarding environmental enrichment for suckling piglets, weaning piglets, and fattening pigs. Good husbandry conditions on farms is of key importance for assuring animal welfare. One of the most important legal documents regulating the rules of maintaining pigs is the Directive 2008/120/EC, which states that group-housed pigs should have access to litter or other materials that provide exploration and occupation. Released in 2016, the Commission Recommendation (EU) 2016/336 on the application of the Council Directive 2008/120/EC characterizes the various categories of materials that may be used to improve animal welfare. According to the document, straw is considered as an optimal material for pig housing, however, materials categorized as suboptimal (e.g., wood bark) and materials of marginal interest (e.g., plastic toys) are often used in practice and scientific research. As such, the aim of this paper is to review and systematize the current state of knowledge on the topic of the impact of environmental enrichment on pig welfare. This article raises mainly issues, such as the effectiveness of the use of various enrichment on the reduction of undesirable behavior—tail biting; aggression; and stereotypies at the pre-weaning, post-weaning, and fattening stage of pig production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Heat loss to the ground during heating season amounts to 5% of transmission losses. [•] In a greenhouse heat accumulated in summer is been given back in autumn. [•] Ground heat buffering has little impact on daily temperature fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poultry production faces significant challenges, including high feed prices, diseases, and thermal stress, which impact broiler welfare and productivity. Despite advances in cooling technologies and ventilation, preslaughter operations still lead to considerable losses. This review highlights the need for the improved management of thermal environments and animal logistics. Preslaughter operations typically involve fasting broilers for 8-12 h to reduce gastrointestinal contents and contamination. Following fasting, broilers are caught, crated, and transported. Stress levels vary based on distance and conditions, with manual catching often causing stress and injuries. Catching should occur during cooler periods to minimise these issues, and transport conditions must be carefully managed. Lairage, the waiting period after transport, should be kept short (1-2 h) in climate-controlled environments to avoid stress and deterioration. Proper handling and efficient unloading are essential to prevent injuries and reduce economic losses. Stunning methods, such as electronarcosis and a controlled atmosphere, aim to minimise suffering before slaughter, though practices vary culturally and religiously. Logistics and real-time monitoring technology are crucial for enhancing animal welfare during transportation. Effective planning and the optimisation of transport processes is vital for reducing stress and losses, especially with regard to rising global temperatures and production demands.

Due to climate change, heat stress is a growing problem for the dairy industry. Based on this, annual economic losses in the dairy sector are verified mainly on a large scale. Despite several publications on thermal stress in lactating dairy cows in confinement systems, there need to be published reviews addressing this issue systematically. Our objective was to scientometrically analyze the effects of heat stress in dairy cows managed in a confinement system. Based on PRISMA guidelines, research articles were identified, screened, and summarized based on inclusion criteria for heat stress in a confinement system. Data was obtained from the Web of Science. A total of 604 scientific articles published between 2000 and April 2022 were considered. Data was then analyzed using Microsoft Excel and CiteSpace. The results pointed to a significant increase in studies on heat stress in lactating cows housed in confinement systems. The main research areas were Agriculture, Dairy Animal Science and Veterinary Sciences. The USA showed the highest concentration of studies (31.12%), followed by China (14.90%). Emerging themes included heat stress and behavior. The most influential journals were the Journal of Dairy Science and the Journal of Animal Science. The top authors were L. H. Baumgard and R. J. Collier. The leading institutions were the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, followed by the State University System of Florida and the University of Florida. The study maps the significant research domains on heat stress of lactating cows in confinement systems, discusses implications and explanations and highlights emerging trends.

The spatial variability and behavioural aspects of compost-bedded pack barns remain unknown in subtropical regions. In this study, we investigated whether spatial variability occurs in the thermal environment of a compost barn and how the behaviour of dairy cows with different numbers of lactations differs in this system. The spatial sampling design comprised a grid of 108 locations inside the facility. At each location, we measured air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and bed temperature at 9:00, 12:00, and 15:00. We performed 24-h behavioural observations. Regarding spatial variability, the north face showed high air temperature values, and the distribution of relative humidity varied from the north to the south face. Kriging maps revealed a high bedding temperature trend, indicating heterogeneous ventilation management. Primiparous cows visited the water trough during the hottest hours of the day, whereas multiparous cows displayed a higher probability of walking during these periods. In conclusion, we observed a heterogeneous management of ventilation through the spatial distribution of the thermal environment inside the compost-bedded pack barn, with multiparous cows exhibiting dominance over primiparous cows seeking environmental resources.

Good husbandry conditions on farms is of key importance for assuring animal welfare. One of the most important legal documents regulating the rules of maintaining pigs is the Directive 2008/120/EC, which states that group-housed pigs should have access to litter or other materials that provide exploration and occupation. Released in 2016, the Commission Recommendation (EU) 2016/336 on the application of the Council Directive 2008/120/EC characterizes the various categories of materials that may be used to improve animal welfare. According to the document, straw is considered as an optimal material for pig housing, however, materials categorized as suboptimal (e.g., wood bark) and materials of marginal interest (e.g., plastic toys) are often used in practice and scientific research. As such, the aim of this paper is to review and systematize the current state of knowledge on the topic of the impact of environmental enrichment on pig welfare. This article raises mainly issues, such as the effectiveness of the use of various enrichment on the reduction of undesirable behavior-tail biting; aggression; and stereotypies at the pre-weaning, post-weaning, and fattening stage of pig production.