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The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the bedding type on the welfare quality of broiler chicken kept in intensive breeding systems. The study was performed in two commercial farms (A and B) with different bedding (chopped straw in farm A, sunflower seed hulls in farm B). Except this, the birds were kept in the same conditions in both of the farms. The indicators included in the welfare assessment protocol evaluated relevant aspects of the farm management, housing conditions and the birds’ health (plumage cleanliness, locomotion, and lesions of the feet, hocks, and breast). All the indicators within the protocol were assessed by specific methods. The data were processed statistically with the SPSS software. The prevalence of footpad dermatitis and hock burns, and also the number of chicken with locomotion problems and dirty and wet plumage was higher in farm A than in farm B. Although the results of the study indicated major welfare problems in both investigated farms, yet in farm B the welfare of broiler chicken was better than in farm A, probably due to the type of bedding used.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between the hygiene of the barns and of the raw milk in tie stall dairy barns. Ten dairy farms with tie stalls from Transylvaniawere included in the study. The barn hygiene was evaluated based on the cows’ body hygiene. 820 dairy cows were assessed. The hygiene of the raw milk was investigated by the determination of the total bacteria count, in 359 individually milked samples. The data were analysed using the SPSS statistical software. The highest percentage of the 3 and 4 hygiene scores was recorded in the udder area, followed by the upper leg and flank and the lower leg. The total bacterial counts varied greatly in the milk from the investigated farms, from 100 CFU/ml to 307 x 103 CFU/ml. Four of the ten assessed barns were considered dirty and in five barns the total bacterial count exceeded the admitted limit. The barn hygiene correlated significantly with the hygiene of the raw milk (r = 0.82, P = 0.004). The results of the study attested that the hygiene quality of raw milk depends largely on the cleanliness of the barn where the animals are housed.

The aim of this paper was the study of the relationship between the air ammonia concentration and the bedding hygiene in dairy cow barns with different housing systems. The study was conducted in 16 dairy farms (8 with tied stalls and 8 with loose housing) inTransylvania, in the cold season. In each farm, the airborne ammonia concentration was measured in the morning and the hygiene of the bedding was assessed. Air temperature, relative humidity and air flow velocity in the barns were determined simultaneously. The data were analyzed using theSPSSstatistical software. The airborne ammonia concentration and the bedding hygiene score had significantly (P > 0.05) higher values in the barns with tie stalls. The ammonia concentration correlated positively with the bedding hygiene score in all the investigated farms. Keeping the bedding clean and dry in the dairy cows’ barns is an important factor in reducing the airborne ammonia concentration.

The aim of this study was to assess the hygienic quality of raw cow milk based on the total bacterial count (TBC), in farms from Transylvania. There were collected and analysed 288 milk samples from 12 farms (24 samples/farm). The total bacterial counts varied greatly in the milk from the investigated farms, from 55 CFU/ml to 693 x 103 CFU/ml. Significant differences were demonstrated among the majority of the farms (P

Ensuring a good air quality in pig farms is important for the health of animals and human workers. The aim of this study was the assessment of the microbiological quality of the air inside the pig houses and outside of these. The study was accomplished in two pig-fattening farms in Cluj County. The microbiological air quality was assessed in the cold and warm season, by determination of the total counts of mesophilic bacteria, staphylococci, streptococci, gram-negative bacteria and fungi. The bacterial and fungal counts varied in the air of the investigated farms. In relation to the season the mean counts of bacteria and fungi were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the cold season. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were found between the values of the parameters determined from the indoor air and those obtained outside, from a distance of 5 m from the pig houses. The numbers of the bacteria and fungi in the outdoor air lowered as the distance from the farms increased, the differences being significant at 25 and 50 m (P < 0.05). The results of the study show a high bacterial contamination of the indoor and outdoor air of the pig farms.

This study aimed to assess the welfare of farmed rabbits in two facilities using different housing situations: indoor and outdoor cages. The welfare parameters assessed were extrapolated from the actual scientific knowledge and based on the five freedoms. The calculated prevalence of several welfare problems recorded by direct animal assessment was higher in the rabbits kept in indoor cages than outdoors, including very thin body condition (5.1% indoors, 0% outdoors), pododermatitis (15.4% indoors, 7.5% outdoors), coughing/sneezing (21.8% indoors, 5.7% outdoors) and fear or aggression during the human arm contact test (33.3% and 7.7% indoors vs. 28.3% and 3.8% outdoors, respectively). Yet, some of the problems may be related to poor resource management on the farms, such as the absence of bedding (16.7% indoors, 0% outdoors) or dirty cage floor (80% indoors, 17% outdoors). One of the welfare problems recorded in both of the farms was the individual housing of all adult rabbits, without possibility for social contact. According to our results, the welfare of the rabbits housed in outdoor cages during the winter was better, as the prevalence of the welfare problems was lower in these than in the rabbits housed in indoor cages in the same season.

The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of lameness and determine locomotion score distribution in dairy cows housed in free-stalls. The study was realized in 24 selected free-stall farms in Transylvania. Lameness was assessed based on the locomotion score devised by Sprecher et al. The percentage of cows with different locomotion scores was established. The lameness prevalence was calculated as the proportion of cows with locomotion score 3 or more. The results were statistically processed using the SPSS software. Of the 2519 cows assessed, normal locomotion was found in 27.04% in winter (24.69% in summer), slight lameness in 40.69% (45.30% in summer), moderate lameness in 27.87% (25.96% in summer), lameness in 3.33% (2.82% in summer) and severe lameness in 1.07% (1.23% in summer). The prevalence of lameness in the investigated barns varied between 5% and 49.35% with a mean prevalence of 31.04% in winter (28.54% in summer). Although the value obtained in the warm season is lower, the difference between the two seasons was insignificant (P > 0.05). The obtained results show that in both seasons more than 70% of the assessed cows presented locomotion problems, the severity of lameness varying among the investigated farms.

The welfare assessment of horses includes the evaluation of their ability to cope with the challenges of theirenvironment and of work given to them. The aim of this study was to evaluate the welfare of 12 clinically healthyhorses from a riding school, using physiological indicators. Double determinations were made (in winter and inspring of 2011) by a set of two tests each time, before and after physical effort. The clinical parameters (heart andrespiratory rate) were in the normal range at 20 minutes after effort, decreasing towards the resting values. Slightlyhigher values were recorded in the spring comparing with the winter, but the differences were not statisticallysignificant (P>0.05). Even if were in the normal range, the results of the haematology tests and the blood sugarvalues showed clearly the response of the horses’ organisms to exercise. The serum cortisol concentrations presentedan effort dependent elevation and higher values of the basic level were observed in the spring than in winter. Theother stress-response indicator recorded, the neutrophyle-lymphocyte ratio, showed dynamics correlated with that ofthe cortisol level. The physiological indicators tested in this study proved their real value in the riding horses’welfare assessment.

The aim of this study was to assess the welfare of the laying hens in two different housing systems (conventionalbatteries and furnished colony cages), evaluating the housing conditions and management practices and someanimal-linked parameters (feather condition, diseases, production and mortality).Between 2009 and 2011 a large laying hen farm was assessed, before and after the modification of the housingsystem from conventional batteries to furnished colony cages. The housing conditions were significantly better afterthe housing system was changed. The mean score of the feather condition was slightly higher in the furnished cages,comparing with the conventional batteries, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Thefrequency of the lice infestation and the mortality of the birds were higher in the conventional housing than in theimproved one. The egg production was not influenced by the housing system. Even if factors altering the layinghens’ welfare were identified in both housing systems, yet, based on the obtained results we can state that the welfareof the laying hens kept in furnished colony cages is better than that of the birds housed in conventional battery cages.

The aim of this study was the assessment of the airborne microorganisms in tie-stall dairy cattle barns, through determination of the total number of bacteria (mesophilic bacteria, staphylococci, streptococci and gram-negative bacteria) and fungi. We investigated 8 dairy cattle barns with tie-stalls in Brasov County during the winter of 2009. The mean numbers of bacteria and fungi in the morning and in the evening were: 1.02 °— 105 - 1.26 °— 105 CFU/m3 for mesophilic bacteria, 5.34 °— 104 - 5.91 °— 104 CFU/m3 for staphylococci, 2.93 °— 104 - 3.60 °— 104 CFU/m3 for streptococci, 2.17 °— 103 - 3.48 °— 103 CFU/m3 for gram-negative bacteria and 1.54 °— 104 - 2.75 °— 104 CFU/m3 for fungi. In the investigated cattle houses staphylococci represented 52.35 – 46.90%, streptococci were 28.73 – 28.57%, and the gram-negative bacteria were 2.13 – 2.76% within the overall number of mesophilic bacteria. The numbers of bacteria and fungi were slightly elevated in the evening comparative to the morning, but the differences were statistically insignificant (p>0.05). The great numbers of bacteria and fungi in the air of dairy cattle tie-stall barns indicate an elevated risk of disease for animals and human workers.

The aim of this paper was to assess the microbiologic quality of air in broiler houses. The number of bacteria (mesophile, staphylococci, streptococci and gram-negatives) and fungi was determined in 6 broiler houses with chicken of different ages (1-6 weeks old) through specific methods. The results were statistically processed by using the SPSS software, version 17. The number of bacteria and fungi varied in the 6 broiler houses, ranging from 2.25 x 105 to 2.17 x 106 for the total number of mesophilic bacteria, between 3.5 x 104 – 1.27 x 106 for staphylococci, 7.4 x 104 – 5.01 x 105 for streptococci, 3.5 x 103 – 1.53 x 104 for gram-negatives and from 1.67 x 104 to 8.13 x 104 for fungi, respectively. The number of bacteria and fungi were significantly lower for the younger chicken (p < 0.05). The proportions of groups with hygienic significance within the total mesophilic bacteria number were: 15.7% - 68.6% staphylococci, 6.7% - 45.6% streptococci and 0.2% - 4.5% gram-negatives. The comparative appraisal of the microbiologic quality in the broiler houses showed better air quality in the youngest chicken’s house (one week of age). The obtained results indicate the necessity for increased ventilation and for air disinfection during the chicken’s fattening period.

The aim of this paper was to assess the quality of water consumed by animals in rural households and farms. The water quality was determined based on indicator parameters (pH, ammonia, sulphates, iron, chlorides, organic substances, overall hardness, total number of germs, number of Coliform bacteria) and chemical parameters (nitrites, nitrates), by collecting and analyzing 40 water samples (from 20 households and 20 farms). The results were compared to the provisions of the Laws 458/2002 and 311/2004. Three water samples (15%) from rural households had nitrates exceeding the threshold levels. Within the indicator parameters, the following ones showed alterations: ammonia (20% from samples), sulphates (40% from samples), chlorides (35% from samples), overall hardness (60% from samples), organic substances (20% from samples), total number of germs (all of the samples) and the number of Coliform bacteria (90% from samples), respectively. The water used in farms had no alterations of the chemical parameters. Within the indicator parameters, the following showed divergences from the legal provisions: overall hardness (85%), the total number of germs (50% from samples) and the number of Coliform bacteria (35% from samples). The obtained results indicate a better quality of water consumed by animals in farms in comparison with water consumed by them in rural households.

In this work, vitreous oxidic structures from the xAg2O(100-x)[45ZnO55B2O3] system were prepared, with a high content of silver oxide 0≤x≤7 mol%. The start substances were mixed in appropriate proportions and melted at 1230 C, then undercooled at room temperature. The samples were obtained in the form of disks with a width between 2 and 5 mm by pressure between two stainless steel plates. The capacity of interaction with bacterial culture was investigated in agar environment through the method of dilution for gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus spp. in order to use them for medical purposes. The most intense effect was registered in the case of Staphylococcus aureus, and the samples which do not contain silver, turned out efficient against both investigated strains.

In this work the ability of the system xAg2O  (100-x) [45ZnO55B2O3] oxide glasses to inhibit the growth of bacteria Eschierchia coli, Pseudomonas and Salmonella was investigated. Using the diffusimetric method there were measured the diameters of inhibition, in order to classify the sensitivity of gram negative bacteria to oxide compounds containing silver, for their use as filters. Vitreous samples were processed as powders with grain between 45 and 75 m and less than 45 m for a large of contact area with the microorgansms and to make possible the study of biological effect of grain addiction. Action of the investigated oxide system against the gram negative bacteria is strictly related to the presence of silver oxide in glass composition.

The structure in the aquatic ecosystem of the whole can not be neglected in the first place because of the seasons, months, factors and processes that happens, with primary or secondary importance in relation to the problems studied (water quality, phytoplankton evolution, fish production).

Study physico- chemical parameters is an integral part in the study of any ecosystem, especially at the level of aquatic. Indicators of water quality is mirrored in the final fish production obtained, thei acting and interacting simultaneously.

Glass samples from vitreous system 1.5Ag2O98.5%[0.47B2O3(0.53-x)CaOxP2O5] with 0  x  0.08 have been obtained by undercooled method. The magnetic species existing in glass powders have been highlighting by mean of electronic paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The resonance linewidth analysis reveal the interactions between magnetic ions.