Search

The aim of the study was to demonstrate correlation between selected body condition indices of roe deer Capreolus capreolus (KFI, carcass weight) and the health status of the carcass (i.e. pathological changes found through external and internal examination of the carcass) of deer killed by hunting or road traffic. The study material consisted of 34 carcasses of roe deer found dead due to road collisions or obtained through hunting in accordance with the Principles of Individual and Population Selection of Game Animals in Poland. The results showed a significant correlation between the occurrence of disease signs (especially the presence of parasites) and the mean values of indices describing the individual condition of animals (carcass weight, KFI). This confirms that the preliminary examination of game harvested and animals killed by road collisions plays an important role in inhibiting the spread of epizootic diseases and in assessing the individual condition of animals.

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of the duration of the mating season and the time of day on the parameters of the vocalization pheasants (duration of vocalization, frequency of the sound wave, intervals between vocalizations). In the study, pheasant vocalization recorded in the morning (600–800) and in the afternoon (1600–1800) between April and June 2020 was analyzed. In total, the research material consisted of 258 separate vocalizations. After recognition of the individual songs of each bird, frequency-time indicators were collected from the samples to perform statistical analysis of the recorded sounds. The duration of the first syllable [s], the duration of the second syllable [s], the duration of the pause between the syllables [s], the intervals between successive vocalizations [min], and the peak frequency of the syllables I and II [Hz] were specified for each song. The duration of the syllables and the pauses between the syllables and vocalizations were determined through evaluation of spectrograms. The peak amplitude frequencies of the syllables were determined via time-frequency STFT analysis. Statistically significant differences in the distributions of the values of all variables between the analyzed months were demonstrated. The longest duration of total vocalization and the shortest time between vocalizations were recorded in May. Therefore, this month is characterized by the highest frequency and longest duration of vocalization, which is related to the peak of the reproductive period. The time of day was found to exert a significant effect on all variables except the duration of syllable II. The duration of vocalization was significantly shorter in the morning, which indicates that the cooks are more active at this time of day in the study area. The highest peak amplitude frequencies of both syllables were recorded in April, but they decreased in the subsequent months of observation. The time of day was also shown to have an impact on the peak amplitude frequencies, which had the highest values in the morning.

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between the motor lateralization in dogs and the concentration of cortisol and tyrosine in their plasma during a visit to a veterinary clinic. The research group consisted of 56 dogs. Motor lateralization was tested by of an adhesive tape test. The stress intensity was assessed basing on the levels of cortisol and ft4 in the serum blood. The statistical analysis revealed that in the group of 56 dogs there were 14 left-pawed dogs, 36 right-pawed dogs, and 6 dogs did not show particular paw preference. The average cortisol levels in particular groups were as follows: 7.94 ug/dl, 3.92 ug/dl and 3.7 ug/dl, whereas the level of tyrosine in the subjects that demonstrated left-sided lateralization (mean ± SE) (1.95 ± 0.46 ng/dl) for those with right-side lateralization (1.56 ± 0.23 ng/dl) and ambilateral dogs (1.01 ± 0.22 ng/dl). The statistical calculation of Pearson's χ

We developed an algorithm to classify brown hares into two age classes, juveniles (up to 1 year old) and adults (over 1 year old), based on body weight, which can be determined by both the examination of live animals and postmortem analysis. Considering the strong correlation between lens weight and carcass weight, we assumed that hares could be classified into one of the two age groups based only on carcass weight, using a logistic regression model. Using logistic regression, a model was constructed to assess the age of hares based on their body weight. For comparison with the current age-assessment method based on the dry lens weight, a logistic regression classifying the hares based on the dry lens weight was performed as well. The results of the study facilitated the development of a method to classify hares into age groups based on body weight. The proposed approach is innovative, as it allows for the determination of the age of not only culled (postmortem) but also live hares. The method is easy and does not require laboratory tests; hence, the results can be used immediately following evaluation. This method allows hares to be categorized into two age groups (juveniles and adults). With an accuracy of 97.52% and 95.45% in the case of juvenile and adult hares, respectively, the proposed approach can be widely used both in population management and scientific research.

This study presents the hematological and serum biochemical values of physically captured roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). The study material was blood sampled from roe deer captured with the use of a specialist trap mesh and no anesthesia. Blood samples were collected from 122 roe deer from January to April in 2016, 2017, and 2018 in the Lublin region of Poland. The hematological and biochemical variables were determined with results showing statistically significant differences between the mean values of RBC, HCT, and HB according to sex. Reference intervals should be more specific to the broad physical versus chemical capture categories.

The accumulation of cortisol in hair and claws, which grow slowly, makes it possible to retrospectively assess chronic stress levels. The study involved 47 cats from a shelter for homeless animals. Hair from the lumbosacral region and the dead part of claws from the front paw were collected. The average cortisol levels were 0.85 ng/ml in the cats’ hair and 4.56 ng/ml in the claws. There was no significant relationship between cortisol levels in hair and claws. To date, too little research has been done on the correlation between cortisol levels in the hair and claws of cats. It is insufficient to unequivocally prove the existence of such a relationship.