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In Africa, humans and large carnivores compete over access to resources, including prey. Disturbance by humans to kills made by carnivores, often for purposes of obtaining all or portions of the carcass, constitutes a form of human-wildlife conflict. However the occurrence of this practice, known as human kleptoparasitism, and its impact on carnivores has received little scientific attention. We obtained expert opinions from African lion researchers and stakeholders via a standardized questionnaire to characterize the geographic extent and frequency of human kleptoparasitism as it occurs in modern times. Our survey found modern human kleptoparasitism on kills made by lions, and possibly other large carnivores in Africa, to be geographically more widespread than previously reported. Meat lost to humans requires carnivores to hunt and kill additional prey thereby causing stress, increasing their energetic costs and risks of natural injury, and exposing them to risk of direct injury or death from human usurpers. Because of their conspicuous behaviors and tendency towards killing large-bodied prey, lions are particularly susceptible to humans detecting their kills. While human kleptoparasitism was geographically widespread, socio-economic factors influenced the frequency of occurrence. Prey type (wild game or domestic livestock) influenced human attitudes towards meat theft; ownership allows for legal recovery of livestock carcasses, while possessing wild game meat is mostly illegal and may incur penalties. Meat theft was associated with other illegal activities (i.e., illegal mining) and most prevalent among people of low income, including underpaid game scouts. Despite quantifiable costs to carnivores of human disturbance to their kills, the majority of experts surveyed reported a lack of knowledge on this practice. We propose that human disturbance at kills, especially loss of prey through human kleptoparasitism, constitutes an important anthropogenic threat that may seriously impact energy budgets of individual lions and other scavengers when meat and carcasses are removed from the ecosystem, and that the costs incurred by carnivores warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the role of scavengers in ecosystems, with a focus on the scavenger community in the Kluane region of the Yukon in Canada. The study challenges the common perception of scavengers, revealing that they include not only expected species like ravens and magpies but also unexpected ones like Canada jays, lynx, and chipmunks. The research emphasizes the complex impacts of prey species on food webs and highlights the need for further study of scavengers. The article also discusses the global presence of scavengers and their importance in nutrient recycling. It concludes by highlighting the positive contributions of scavengers, such as vultures, in waste removal and disease prevention. The decline in vulture populations in India, linked to the use of diclofenac, has led to an increase in stray dog populations and an increase in dog bites and exposure to rabies in humans. In Spain, vultures have saved farmers an estimated $50 million by consuming livestock carcasses. Scavengers also play a crucial role in reducing disease risk by removing animal remains infected with brucellosis. Pumas contribute significantly to scavenger communities in North and South America, while brushtail possums in the Australian Alps are unexpected scavengers of kangaroo carcasses. However, scavengers face threats from climate change and habitat loss, and further research is needed to fully understand their role in ecosystems and disease transmission. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the coexistence and potential tolerance between wolves and golden jackals in India. While wolves are known to have a low tolerance for other Canidae species, such as golden jackals, the study found unexpected cases of high tolerance between the two species in a human-dominated landscape in Maharashtra, India. The researchers observed instances of wolves and jackals feeding simultaneously on a carcass, as well as an adult wolf female integrated into a group of jackals. These observations suggest a high degree of tolerance between wolves and jackals in certain contexts, particularly when there is abundant food availability. The article highlights the need for further research to understand the extent of this tolerance in other areas with different ecological conditions. [Extracted from the article]

Patterns of variation in the size of vulture foraging groups, and their ecological causes and consequences, remain little explored despite strong links with the carrion recycling service that this key functional group provides. We documented the group size-frequency pattern of Andean condors Vultur gryphus gathered to feed on 42 equine carcasses experimentally placed in Bolivia, between 2012 and 2019, along an elevation range of 1,300–4,500 m asl. Based on the location (altitude and latitude) of the foraging groups, we examined the relationship between their size and species' population parameters (size and trend), habitat conditions, and livestock carcass availability and predictability. Condors utilized a high frequency (93%) of carcasses forming groups that ranged from 1 to 80 individuals (mean = 25, median = 18) and shaped a "lazy-J curve" typical pattern of size-frequency distribution whereby few groups (5, 12%) were large (> 55 individuals) and most (21, 50%) were relatively small (<19 individuals). Group size related to altitude in that most larger groups formed at lower sites (below c. 3,000 m asl), likely following an altitudinal gradient whereby larger groups are more likely to form around larger carcasses (i.e. cattle), which are more likely to occur at lower elevations. Regardless of population size, group size could be an adaptive response of condors via local enhancement for improving individual scavenging efficiency. Many information gaps on this topic still exist, thus we provide a set of questions to address them, especially amidst the unrestricted impacts of human activities that condition vulture survival globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Livestock predation fuels conflicts between humans and wildlife, leading to the killing of wild animals such as Andean bears, jaguars, and pumas. Despite wild predators being blamed, domestic dogs also harm livestock and spread diseases among animals and people, affecting nature, local livelihoods, food, and our well-being, the very goals the United Nations aims to safeguard by 2030. In Ecuador, where families depend on livestock, retaliatory hunting jeopardizes the survival of wildlife. However, the role of dogs in these conflicts remains unclear. This study analyzed DNA found on bite wounds, revealing traces of dog saliva on animals presumed to be attacked by wild predators. This discovery challenges misconceptions about these animals in Ecuador and emphasizes the need to manage dog populations more effectively. To address this issue, we propose incorporating DNA tests in livestock predation cases to assess the involvement of dogs accurately. By understanding the true causes, strategies can be devised to mitigate these conflicts, preserving the vital role of these important animals in our ecosystem. Livestock predation induces global human–wildlife conflict, triggering the retaliatory killing of large carnivores. Although domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) contribute to livestock depredation, blame primarily falls on wild predators. Dogs can also transmit pathogens between wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. Therefore, the presence of free-ranging dogs can have negative consequences for biodiversity conservation, smallholder economy, food supply, and public health, four of the United Nations' Sustainable Developed Goals (SDGs) for 2030. In Ecuador, where livestock sustains rural households, retaliatory poaching threatens Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus), jaguar (Panthera onca), and puma (Puma concolor) populations. However, the role of dogs in these incidents remains underexplored. The present study evaluates the possibility of reliable molecular identification of predatory species from DNA traces in bite wounds. Our results revealed the presence of dog saliva on four out of six livestock carcasses presumably attacked by wild predators. These findings highlight the importance of rectifying misinformation about large carnivores in Ecuador and the need to control dog populations. We recommend that local administrations incorporate DNA analysis into livestock predation events to examine how common the problem is, and to use the analysis to develop conflict mitigation strategies which are essential for the conservation of large carnivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision-making in livestock business activities is the main responsibility of farmers. The success of the beef cattle farmer's business to achieve the highest profit is the main goal. How to take the right decision to achieve these goals and know the various risks in uncertainty, is an important input. This research was conducted on beef cattle breeders in Lolong Guba District, Buru Regency, Maluku Province, Indonesia aiming to determine the impact of various changes in the determinants of cattle breeders' profits and the risks posed by these changes to make decisions for farmer managers. The data collected is primary data recorded in nominal values. Data were analyzed by multiple linear regression model, followed by simulation analysis, and ended with risk analysis. The results of the study met the established hypothesis and were tested statistically significantly. The elasticity of value-added livestock is the largest compared to total sales. The biggest impact of increasing profit is through the increase in the value-added of livestock and the number of sales, although neither is the best choice. Farmer managers' options for dealing with risks and uncertainties in the future are to increase the cost of feeding, add value to livestock, and sell cattle. Mitigation is needed for options, namely farmer managers increasing livestock grazing time, providing supplementary food, monitoring livestock health, and avoiding livestock from environmental disturbances and accidents. Farmer managers need to be equipped with technical knowledge of body weight and carcass estimation of livestock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anbar Journal of Agricultural Sciences is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Monitoring compliance with environmental laws is essential to overcoming possible implementation shortfalls jeopardizing their effectiveness. Besides improving our ecological understanding of wildlife, remote tracking technologies also allow us to take advantage of such ecological knowledge to use wildlife as sentinels of compliance with law.We illustrate this sentinel potential of wildlife using GPS tracking of large scavengers with complementary functional traits (i.e. 21 griffon vultures and 13 wolves) to assess compliance with EU sanitary regulations allowing livestock carcass disposal in the field.Wildlife sentinels allowed the systematic evaluation of 489 livestock carcasses left in the field, which revealed an important mismatch between on‐paper and in‐reality implementation of these regulations. While <45% of the carcasses were placed in authorized areas, compliance with all the criteria required by the regulations on livestock carcass disposal (e.g. from carcass characteristics such as species, age or production system to its location far away from water, buildings or roads) ranged from 0% to 4.2%, with no major differences between regions with uneven implementation.Major gaps in compliance pointed towards insufficient and over‐bureaucratized designation of scavenger feeding zones, where livestock carcass disposal is authorized. The indiscriminate nature of distance criteria from carcasses to watercourses, buildings and infrastructure further affected compliance.Synthesis and applications. GPS‐tagged scavengers allow the on‐ground monitoring of carcasses, the addressing of potential risks for wildlife, livestock and human health, the quantitative assessment of compliance with the law and would improve estimates of carcass availability, substantially contributing to more effective legislation enforcement. Our results show the huge potential of GPS‐tagged wildlife as sentinels for monitoring compliance to enhance the environmental rule of law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of Carica papaya essential oil (CPEO) on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. 200 1-day Cobb 500 chicks of mixed sex were used for the seven weeks trials. In a completely randomized design 100 birds were randomly distributed into 4 groups consisting of 10 birds. Each treatment group has 5 replicates, birds in group 1 (G1) was fed basal diet with no Carica papaya essential oil, G2, G3 and G4 were fed basal diet with 100 mg, 200 mg and 300 mg/kg respectively. Clean water was supplied ad libitum. Results on overall growth performance revealed that average daily weight gain, average daily feed intake were higher (P<0.05) in G2, G3 and G4 relative to G1. Mortality and feed conversion ratio were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by dietary supplementation of CPEO. Higher mortality was observed in G1 while none was recorded in other treatments (P<0.05). Dressed weight, eviscerated weight and dressing percentage were higher (P<0.05) in G2, G3 and G4 than in other treatment group. Weight of legs, heart, spleen, gizzard, thigh, breast, back, drum stick and neck were significantly (P<0.05) different among the groups except for the weights of the head, spleen and livers (P<0.05). It was concluded that CPEO can be supplemented up to 300 mg/kg in the diets of broilers without negatively affecting their general performance and health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Harran University Journal of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine / Harran Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Harran University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Despite the fact that the selective pressure of antibiotics on wild birds is supposed to be very weak, they are considered potential vectors of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Obligate scavengers such as vultures can present high proportions of resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESC) and multi-drug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, partially due to feeding stations that are provisioned with livestock carcasses from intensive farming. Here we investigated whether griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) from two populations located in the French Alps, which feed on livestock carcasses from extensive farms, may carry such resistant bacteria. Phenotypic and genotypic characterization showed an 11.8% proportion of ESC-resistant bacteria, including five extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing and one AmpC-producing E. coli. The five ESBL-positive E. coli were clonal and all came from the same vulture population, proving their spread between animals. The ESBL phenotype was due to a blaCTX-M-15 gene located on the chromosome. Both ESBL- and AmpC-positive E. coli belonged to minor STs (ST212 and ST3274, respectively); interestingly, ST212 has already been identified in wild birds around the world, including vultures. These results suggest that actions are needed to mitigate the spread of MDR bacteria through wild birds, particularly in commensal species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Changes in human-induced resource availability can alter the behaviour of free-living species and affect their foraging strategies. The future European Landfill Waste Directive and Circular Economy Action Plan will reduce the number of predictable anthropogenic food subsidies (PAFS), above all, by closing landfills to preclude negative effects on human health. Obligate avian scavengers, the most threatened group of birds worldwide, are the most likely group of species that will be forced to change their behaviour and use of space in response to landfill site closures. Here, we examine the possible consequences of these management decisions on the foraging patterns of Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus) in an expanding population in the Iberian Peninsula. Methods: We tracked 16 individuals in 2018–2021, including breeders and non-breeders, and, using a combination of spatial-use and spatial-network modelling, assessed landscape connectivity between key resources based on movement patterns. We then carried out simulations of future scenarios based on the loss of PAFS to predict likely changes in the movement patterns of both non-breeders and breeders. Results: Our results show that foraging strategies in non-breeders and breeders differ significantly: non-breeders performed more dispersal movements than breeding birds across a spatial-use network. Non-breeding and breeding networks were found to be vulnerable to the removal of central foraging areas containing landfill sites, a highly predictable resource, while perturbation analysis showed dissimilar foraging responses to the gradual reduction of other predictable resources. Under a context of the non-availability of landfills for breeders and non-breeders, vultures will increase their use of extensive livestock as a trophic resource. Conclusions: Future environmental policies should thus extend the areas used by scavengers in which livestock carcasses are allowed to remain in the wild, a strategy that will also mitigate the lack of food caused by any reduction in available waste if landfills close. In general, our results emphasize the capabilities of a spatial network approaches to address questions on movement ecology. They can be used to infer the behavioural response of animal species and, also demonstrate the importance of applying such approaches to endangered species conservation within a context of changing humanized scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) is considered one of the most widespread and devastating zoonotic diseases in low-income countries, with a cosmopolitan distribution. The aim of this 10-year retrospective survey (from 2011 to 2020) was to determine the frequency of bovine, ovine, and goat tuberculosis in different local slaughterhouses across Constantine Province, Algeria. The control of livestock carcasses was systematically performed by veterinarian inspectors, after each stage of the slaughter process. The routine abattoir inspection included the detection of visible abnormalities on different organs and lymph nodes. The overall prevalence of tuberculosis recorded in slaughtered animals was 0.83%, with the following distribution among species: 2.73% in cattle, 0.001% in sheep, and 0.0% in goats. During the study period, there was a strong correlation (R = 0.82) (p < 0.01) between tuberculosis occurrence and the number of slaughtered cattle. Fluctuations in monthly TB prevalence ranged from 2% to 24.8% between 2018 and 2020, although there were no statistically significant correlations between infection and the age or gender of the animals, except for the year 2020 when a significantly higher (p = 0.017) percentage of TB cases were recorded in female cattle compared to male cattle. The average monthly weight of the confiscated livers and lungs ranged significantly (p ≤ 0.05) from 150 kg to 350 kg. The study results provide baseline data regarding livestock tuberculosis monitoring in the area of Constantine, Algeria, indicating that the disease incidence is not highly alarming, yet remains a serious public and animal health issue in the screened region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on the exposure of wild birds to pharmaceuticals from wastewater and urban refuse is scarce despite the enormous amount of drugs consumed and discarded by human populations. We tested for the presence of a battery of antibiotics, NSAIDs, and analgesics in the blood of white stork (Ciconia ciconia) nestlings in the vicinity of urban waste dumps and contaminated rivers in Madrid, central Spain. We also carried out a literature review on the occurrence and concentration of the tested compounds in other wild bird species to further evaluate possible shared exposure routes with white storks. The presence of two pharmaceutical drugs (the analgesic acetaminophen and the antibiotic marbofloxacin) out of fourteen analysed in the blood of nestlings was confirmed in 15% of individuals (n = 20) and in 30% of the nests (n = 10). The apparently low occurrence and concentration (acetaminophen: 9.45 ng mL−1; marbofloxacin: 7.21 ng mL−1) in nestlings from different nests suggests the uptake through food acquired in rubbish dumps rather than through contaminated flowing water provided by parents to offspring. As with other synthetic materials, different administration forms (tablets, capsules, and gels) of acetaminophen discarded in household waste could be accidentally ingested when parent storks forage on rubbish to provide meat scraps to their nestlings. The presence of the fluoroquinolone marbofloxacin, exclusively used in veterinary medicine, suggests exposure via consumption of meat residues of treated animals for human consumption found in rubbish dumps, as documented previously at higher concentrations in vultures consuming entire carcasses of large livestock. Control measures and ecopharmacovigilance frameworks are needed to minimize the release of pharmaceutical compounds from the human population into the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of partial feed substitution with OFI meal on the growth performances and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. One hundred and fifty 1-day-old broiler chicks (Arbor acres) were allocated into 5 groups with 3 replicates of 10 birds per group. The experimental groups received the diets substituted with 0 (control), 10% (B), 20% (C), 30% (D) and 40% (E) prickly pear seeds (PPS) meal of OFI during a 6-week duration divided into 4 dietary periods (starter diet, 0-12 days; grower diet, 13-33 days; finisher diet, 34-39 days; withdrawal diet, 40-45 days). At the end of the experiment, 5 birds from each sub-group were randomly selected and slaughtered, and the yield of the carcass segments was calculated. The growth performance of the broiler chickens seemed significantly affected (P < 0.001) by the PPS substitution level. The daily weight gain of the birds was exponential in the experimental groups. The results obtained indicate clearly that weight gain in the chickens fed treatments containing 10% PPS was significantly greater than in the chickens fed different treatments (20%, 30% and 40% PPS). Minimum feed intakes were observed in the birds with the diet substituted with 40% PPS. Feeding the birds with the substituted 10% PPS resulted in a significant increase (P < 0.001) in the weight of carcass and intestinal part at 45 days of age, when compared with the control group and the treated group. The results obtained under the conditions of this experiment showed that the partial dietary substitution of 10% PPS from Algeria can improve the growth performance and carcass yield in broiler chickens. Therefore, it is important to valorize the PPS by-product which would decrease the import invoice of animal feed, especially in broiler chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of ESPOCH Congresses: The Ecuadorian Journal of S.T.E.A.M. is the property of Knowledge E DMCC and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Scavenging is a key ecological process controlling energy flow in ecosystems and providing valuable ecosystem services worldwide. As long‐lived species, the demographic dynamics of vultures can be disrupted by spatiotemporal fluctuations in food availability, with dramatic impacts on their population viability and the ecosystem services provided. In Europe, the outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in 2001 prompted a restrictive sanitary regulation banning the presence of livestock carcasses in the wild on a continental scale. In long‐lived vertebrate species, the buffering hypothesis predicts that the demographic traits with the largest contribution to population growth rate should be less temporally variable. The BSE outbreak provides a unique opportunity to test for the impact of demographic buffering in a keystone scavenger suffering abrupt but transient food shortages. We studied the 42‐year dynamics (1979–2020) of one of the world's largest breeding colonies of Eurasian griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus). We fitted an inverse Bayesian state‐space model with density‐dependent demographic rates to the time series of stage‐structured abundances to investigate shifts in vital rates and population dynamics before, during, and after the implementation of a restrictive sanitary regulation. Prior to the BSE outbreak the dynamics was mainly driven by adult survival: 83% of temporal variance in abundance was explained by variability in this rate. Moreover, during this period the regulation of population size operated through density‐dependent fecundity and subadult survival. However, after the onset of the European ban, a 1‐month delay in average laying date, a drop in fecundity, and a reduction in the number of fledglings induced a transient increase in the impact of fledgling and subadult recruitment on dynamics. Although adult survival rate remained constantly high, as predicted by the buffering hypothesis, its relative impact on the temporal variance in abundance dropped to 71% during the sanitary regulation and to 54% after the ban was lifted. A significant increase in the relative impact of environmental stochasticity on dynamics was modeled after the BSE outbreak. These results provide empirical evidence on how abrupt environmental deterioration may induce dramatic demographic and dynamic changes in the populations of keystone scavengers, with far‐reaching impacts on ecosystem functioning worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anthrax is a zoonotic infection caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. Humans acquire cutaneous infection through contact with infected animals or animal products. On May 6, 2018, three cows suddenly died on a farm in Kiruhura District. Shortly afterwards, a sub-county chief in Kiruhura District received reports of humans with suspected cutaneous anthrax in the same district. The patients had reportedly participated in the butchery and consumption of meat from the dead cows. We investigated to determine the magnitude of the outbreak, identify exposures associated with illness, and suggest evidence-based control measures. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among persons whose households received any of the cow meat. We defined a suspected human cutaneous anthrax case as new skin lesions (e.g., papule, vesicle, or eschar) in a resident of Kiruhura District from 1 to 26 May 2018. A confirmed case was a suspected case with a lesion testing positive for B. anthracis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We identified cases through medical record review at Engari Health Centre and active case finding in the community. Results: Of the 95 persons in the cohort, 22 were case-patients (2 confirmed and 20 suspected, 0 fatal cases) and 73 were non-case household members. The epidemic curve indicated multiple point-source exposures starting on May 6, when the dead cows were butchered. Among households receiving cow meat, participating in slaughtering (RR = 5.3, 95% CI 3.2–8.3), skinning (RR = 4.7, 95% CI = 3.1–7.0), cleaning waste (RR = 4.5, 95% CI = 3.1–6.6), and carrying meat (RR = 3.9, 95% CI = 2.2–7.1) increased the risk of infection. Conclusions: This cutaneous anthrax outbreak was caused by handling infected animal carcasses. We suggested to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries to strengthen surveillance for possible veterinary anthrax and ensure that communities do not consume carcasses of livestock that died suddenly. We also suggested that the Ministry of Health equip health facilities with first-line antibiotics for community members during outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the complex and dynamic interrelationships of the underlying factors contributing to conflicts associated with wolf presence and persistence in human‐dominated landscapes, it is often difficult to clearly identify the ultimate causes of these conflicts. In this study, a system dynamics modeling approach was adopted to simulate human–wolf conflicts in an area with the greatest number of recently fatal wolf attacks on humans in Iran. Data used to build the model were obtained from questionnaire surveys and satellite tracking of wolves. We simulated changes in ecological and social factors that may influence conflicts under different assumptions. Our findings indicate that, in this context, the proximity of wolves to human settlements is one of the determining factors leading to increased wolf attacks on humans and livestock. When the distance between wolf territories and human settlements increases, the likelihood of both wolf incidents and retaliatory killings are expected to decrease. Effective communication of information regarding wolves across local communities is expected to result in a positive shift in attitudes toward the species, as well as a decrease in fear, which in turn will affect the rate of conflicts. Improper disposal of carcasses of domestic animals by the locals, dumping of waste in open dumpsites close to villages, and leaving children unattended on agricultural fields are expected to increase the recurrence of conflicts. We strongly urge Hamadan provincial office of environment and nongovernmental organizations to initiate communication programs to raise awareness on the human–wolf conflict and its mitigation. This includes how to properly handle livestock carcasses at safe distances from human settlements. Furthermore, design and construction of sanitary landfills in the vicinity of each village, as well as providing education on how to properly use these sites could help reduce risky conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unravelling how biodiversity is maintained despite species competition for shared resources has been a central question in community ecology, and is gaining relevance amidst the current biodiversity crisis. Yet, we have still a poor understanding of the mechanisms that regulate species coexistence and shape the structure of assemblages in highly competitive environments such as carrion pulsed resources. Here, we study how large vertebrates coexist in scavenger assemblages by adapting their diel activity at large ungulate carcasses in NW Spain. We used camera traps to record vertebrate scavengers consuming 34 carcasses of livestock and hunted wild ungulates, which allowed us to assess also differences regarding carcass origin. To evaluate temporal resource partition among species, we estimated the overlap of diel activity patterns and the mean times of each scavenger at carcasses. We recorded 16 species of scavengers, 7 mammals and 9 birds, and found similar richness at both types of carcasses. Birds and mammals showed contrasting diel activity patterns, with birds using carcasses during daytime (mean= 11:38 h) and mammals mostly at night (23:09 h). The unimodal activity patterns of scavengers showed asynchronous peaks among species. Subordinate species modified their activity patterns at carcasses used by apex species to reduce temporal overlap. Also, diel activity patterns of vultures closely followed those of corvids, suggesting facilitation processes in which corvids would enhance carcass detection by vultures. Two mammal species (12.5%) increased nocturnality at carcasses of hunted ungulates, which could be a response to human disturbance. Our results suggest that both temporal segregation and coupling mediate the coexistence of large vertebrates at carcasses. These mechanisms might lead to richer scavenger assemblages and thereby more efficient ones in driving critical ecosystem functions related to carrion consumption, such as energy and nutrient recycling and biodiversity maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predation by jaguars (Panthera onca) on livestock can foster human intolerance and drive human–jaguar conflicts. Understanding distributional patterns that characterize depredation can help guide strategies to ameliorate these interactions, which is important because human conflicts are the main threat to the endangered jaguar in Mexico. We used clusters of satellite telemetry locations to evaluate spatial patterns of jaguars and jaguar predation/scavenging sites of livestock and wild ungulates in the Sierra del Abra-Tanchipa Biosphere Reserve (RBSAT) and surrounding agrolandscape of northeastern Mexico, where livestock composed 66% of the biomass of jaguar diets. Distribution of livestock sites was significantly associated with jaguar core areas (i.e., 50% autocorrelated KDEs) during the dry season, while wild ungulate sites were distributed similarly with respect to core areas of jaguars across both dry and wet seasons. It is unknown whether these results reflect increased chance encounters between jaguars and livestock during the dry season due to the presence of limited permanent water sources concentrating livestock (and natural prey), or due to jaguars actively seeking livestock or livestock carcasses during the dry season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to an abundance and diversity of vultures, Nepal is one of the most important countries for vulture conservation. Within Nepal, the Pokhara Valley is especially significant. We examine the distribution of vultures within the Pokhara Valley by conducting counts at 11 potential feeding or roosting sites using point count method. We further surveyed people of the valley regarding their perception of vulture ecology and conservation, knowledge of diclofenac use within the valley, and burial of livestock carcasses. We detected eight species of vultures, four of which are currently threatened with extinction. White‐rumped vulture Gyps bengalensis, Egyptian vulture Nephron percnopterus, and Himalayan vulture G. himalayensis were the most abundant. Almost all respondents (98%) had sighted the vultures in the wild. Formally educated respondents reported seeing vultures' slightly more than nonformally educated respondents. Fifty‐eight percent respondents suspected habitat loss was the major threat for the vulture population decline in Pokhara Valley, and 97% respondents were not aware of any diclofenac use. The knowledge of vultures in people with different age groups suggests a more awareness programs are needed for local people, especially those who carry out animal husbandry and provide livestock to the vulture restaurant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rabbit produces healthy meat, generating low methane emissions, and without competing for grain and other food resources for humans, hence adequately responding to the principles of the bioeconomy. For these properties to have a positive impact on society, it is necessary to promote the production and consumption of rabbit meat. Therefore, we evaluate the quality of carcass and meat of New Zealand breed rabbits was assessed in 12 males reared under commercial conditions and slaughtered at two months of age under standard conditions. The average weight of animals at slaughter was 2.6 kg, and their carcass had a yield, length and compactness index of 52.6%, 32.6 cm and 41.29 g/cm, respectively. The carcass measurements offered average percentages of 38.2%, 27.4%, 18.7% and 14.8% for the legs, loin, thorax, and shoulders, respectively. The pH of the meat was at normal values and the pressure and cooking losses and tenderness showed mean values of 12.8%, 26.6% and 3.1 Kg/cm2, respectively. The chromatic variables showed mean values of L * = 46.9, a * = 0.54 and b * = 8.14. These results are in line with those reported for industrial breeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthrax is a worldwide zoonotic disease. Anthrax has long been a public health and socio-economic issue in Mongolia. Presently, there is no spatial information on carcass burial sites as a potential hazard of future anthrax outbreaks and possible risk factors associated with anthrax occurrences in Mongolia. Here, we analyze retrospective data (1986–2015) on the disposal sites of livestock carcasses to describe historical spatio-temporal patterns of livestock anthrax in Khuvsgul Province, which showed the highest anthrax incidence rate in Mongolia. From the results of spatial mean and standard deviational ellipse analyses, we found that the anthrax spatial distribution in livestock did not change over the study period, indicating a localized source of exposure. The multi-distance spatial cluster analysis showed that carcass sites distributed in the study area are clustered. Using kernel density estimation analysis on carcass sites, we identified two anthrax hotspots in low-lying areas around the south and north regions. Notably, this study disclosed a new hotspot in the northern part that emerged in the last decade of the 30-year study period. The highest proportion of cases was recorded in cattle, whose prevalence per area was highest in six districts (i.e., Murun, Chandmani-Undur, Khatgal, Ikh-Uul, Tosontsengel, and Tsagaan-Uul), suggesting that vaccination should prioritize cattle in these districts. Furthermore, size of outbreaks was influenced by the annual summer mean air temperature of Khuvsgul Province, probably by affecting the permafrost freeze-thawing activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A research was conducted to evaluate the growth performance and carcass characteristics of crossbred village chickens (Gallus gallus) fed diets supplemented with dry leaves of Borreria latifolia (BL) as a potential growth promoter in chicken diets. In this study, one hundred eighty sexed nine-week-old village chicken with mean live body weight of 1525.4 ± 0.95 g for males and 1254.1 ± 0.45 g for females were divided into five treatments (each treatment 18 birds) for each sex. The dietary treatments were involved: T1 (control) – basal diet without supplementation, T2 – basal diet with 1% of BL, T3 – basal diet with 1.5% of BL, T4 – basal diet with 2% of BL, T5 – basal diet with 2.5% of BL. The results of this study showed that no significant (P > 0.05) effects of the dietary treatments on final body live weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. In addition, an insignificant (p > 0.05) effects of BL on the weights of carcass, breast, thigh, wing, neck and loin, heart, liver, spleen and crop were found. The dietary supplementation had no significant interaction between herb and sex. A significant (p < 0.05) difference between males and females was detected in final body weight, weight gain, feed intake, carcass weight, breast and thigh weight, wing weight, neck and loin weight. There was a significant (p < 0.05) difference between males and females in liver weight whereas the weights of heart, spleen and crop did not affected by the bird’s sex. It can be concluded that feeding Borreria latifolia as a natural supplementation did not affect the growth performance and carcass characteristics in village chicken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Singeing is a common post slaughtering process of livestock and this has been associated with the introduction of high level of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) in the meats. There is dearth of information on alternative singeing technology for safe meat. Therefore, this study is aimed at proffering an alternative method for singeing livestock carcass as a post-slaughtering process to reduce accumulation of PAH in meat. An experimental study, involving the use of a singeing device (singeing torch) sourced locally was conducted. Singeing was carried out on a sacrificed goat using conventional methods and the Singeing Torch (ST). Five grams of meat samples singed with kerosene, tyres and the ST were collected from two abattoirs and observed for physical qualities. The physicochemical properties such as pH and PAH were determined using standard procedures. Results were compared with International Agency for Research in Cancer guidelines. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at 5% level of significance. Bright appearances with red coloration for ST singed meat while black patches and dull appearances were observed on meat singed with kerosene and tyres respectively. ST singed meat showed a better olfactory quality, a more neutral PH value and PAH of 7.3 and 3.30 (n/ng), while kerosene and tyre singed meat showed 6.8 pH value, 4.20 (n/ng) and 6.61 (n/ng) respectively with mean of 0.194±0.56, 0.248±0.94 and 0.389±1.21 respectively. The principal PAH compounds in ST meat identified were 1-Methylnaphthalene, 2-Methylnaphthalene, Acenaphthene, Pyrene and Benz(a)anthracene. This study indicates that meat singed with ST had lower PAH contents and better physical quality. The use of device and method that generates no chemical contaminants such as the ST should be encouraged for the singeing process of livestock carcasses as a strategy for the control of chemical contaminants of meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anthrax is a zoonotic disease that can be transmitted to humans from infected animals. During May–June 2017, three persons with probable cutaneous anthrax were reported in Arua District, Uganda; one died. All had recently handled carcasses of livestock that died suddenly and a skin lesion from a deceased person tested positive by PCR for Bacillus anthracis. During July, a bull in the same community died suddenly and the blood sample tested positive by PCR for Bacillus anthracis. The aim of this investigation was to establish the scope of the problem, identify exposures associated with illness, and recommend evidence-based control measures. Methods: A probable case was defined as acute onset of a papulo-vesicular skin lesion subsequently forming an eschar in a resident of Arua District during January 2015–August 2017. A confirmed case was a probable case with a skin sample testing positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for B. anthracis. Cases were identified by medical record review and active community search. In a case-control study, exposures between case-patients and frequency- and village-matched asymptomatic controls were compared. Key animal health staff were interviewed to learn about livestock deaths. Results: There were 68 case-patients (67 probable, 1 confirmed), and 2 deaths identified. Cases occurred throughout the three-year period, peaking during dry seasons. All cases occurred following sudden livestock deaths in the villages. Case-patients came from two neighboring sub-counties: Rigbo (attack rate (AR) = 21.9/10,000 population) and Rhino Camp (AR = 1.9/10,000). Males (AR = 24.9/10,000) were more affected than females (AR = 0.7/10,000). Persons aged 30–39 years (AR = 40.1/10,000 population) were most affected. Among all cases and 136 controls, skinning (ORM-H = 5.0, 95%CI: 2.3–11), butchering (ORM-H = 22, 95%CI: 5.5–89), and carrying the carcass of livestock that died suddenly (ORM-H = 6.9, 95%CI: 3.0–16) were associated with illness. Conclusions: Exposure to carcasses of animals that died suddenly was a likely risk factor for cutaneous anthrax in Arua District during 2015–2017. The recommendations are investigation of anthrax burden in livestock, prevention of animal infections through vaccinations, safe disposal of the carcasses, public education on risk factors for infection and prompt treatment of illness following exposure to animals that died suddenly. Author summary: We are honored to submit an original research article entitled "Cutaneous anthrax associated with handling carcasses of animals that died suddenly of unknown cause: Arua District, Uganda, January 2015–August 2017". Anthrax is a vaccine-preventable disease that can be transmitted to humans from infected animals. Our paper is based on 68 cutaneous anthrax case-patients and cases occurred throughout the three-year period, peaking during dry seasons in Arua District of Uganda. All cases occurred following sudden livestock deaths in the villages. Our findings are based on outbreak investigation which gives a better representation of the actual situation. Our article looks at the scope of the anthrax outbreak, exposures associated with illness, and evidence-based control measures. In this manuscript, we show that exposure to carcasses of animals that died suddenly was a risk factor for cutaneous anthrax in Arua District during 2015–2017. We believe the content and objectives of our work provide knowledge on epidemiology of cutaneous anthrax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crossbreeding is an important tool to improve sheep meat production. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the characteristics of the carcass and meat of Pampinta lambs and their cross with Hampshire Down. For the study, 23 whole male lambs were used, 11 of the Pampinta breed and 12 Pampinta crosses with Hampshire Down. The lambs were checked healthily and weighed weekly. At the mother's foot they grazed on triticale (Triticosecale aestivum; L.) greens with vetch (Vicia sativa). They were weaned with an average weight of 20.2 (4.22) kg live weight (LW) and a WC of 2.5 on average (scale from 1 to 5). They entered a pen in a single group for 84 days. On the day of slaughter, the PV Pampinta 37.25 (1.76) kg was recorded; Hampshire Down 37.25 (1.81) kg, hot carcass weight; shaping and fattening; the fat (pelvic-renal) for the category of more than 13 kg of carcass; hot runner pH; LC and LP; AG and AT and compactness indices calculated from morphometric measurements and weight. After 12 h of maturation, PCE and pH were measured and EGD was determined in longissimus thorasis muscle; thickness of the subcutaneous tissue at the GR point; AOB; FC with the Warner-Brätzler shear; CRA and PPC. The animals were classified according to the letters S, E, U, R, O and P; according to great muscular development up to a marked muscular deficiency, and 5 degrees were stipulated for the completion, from the lack of fat coverage to the excessive presence. There was no effect of breed (P = 0.05) on all carcass characteristics. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for data analysis. These results reflect differences in the conformation of the carcass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus is a large-sized scavenger exploiting carcasses of livestock and wild ungulates and thus having a paramount importance in the natural ecosystems. In this study, we report on an adult Griffon Vulture detected with lead levels in the bones over the threshold. After two years of tracking, the bird died. The corpse's clinical examination and radiography detected the presence of two embedded lead pellets from a healed gunshot wound in its right wing. Quantitative laboratory analysis of lead in bone and liver samples evidencing subclinical/chronic lead intoxication of the Griffon Vulture could potentially be a result of the long-term exposure to the lead originating from the pellets in its wing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grasses used in the production of bovine livestock in the tropics contain high levels of β-carotene, which produces carcasses that contain yellow-pigmented fat, reducing their economic value. The yellow pigment is due to the low activity of the enzyme β-carotene 15,15'-monooxygenase (BCMO1) in the small intestine and liver. A biotechnological use of this enzyme could split β-carotene in two molecules of retinal, eliminating the source of coloring and optimizing the commercial value of the meat obtained from grazing cattle. The aim of this study was to obtain a recombinant BCMO1 enzyme with a similar activity to native enzymes, from bacteria modified with the gene that codifies the β-carotene 15,15'-monooxygenase in Gallus gallus (gBCMO1). The enzyme was overexpressed in an Escherichia coli XL1-Blue transformed with that gene and purified by Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC); measuring the in vitro activity of the process by Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography (IMAC); and detecting the final product by High Polarity Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). A protein of approximately 63 kDa was obtained, which showed an enzyme activity of 2993 (± 108.2) pmol mg-1 of protein h-1 (n=3). The isolated protein can be evaluated in vitro as an additive, in order to reduce the yellow pigmentation of the livestock carcasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated local communities' fear of wolves in a scenario of wolf attacks on people and livestock in Western Iran. In particular, we investigated the interaction between experiences of wolf attacks (both on people and livestock) and three factors: behavioral action (management action, e.g., livestock carcass management), religious (e.g., the belief that wolves can be a curse if harmed by humans), and cultural norms (e.g., village elders have taught their children not to kill or harm wolves). We surveyed 400 randomly chosen households throughout the villages located in Hamadan province, Iran. Participants (mean age = 48.5 years) reported experiences of wolf attacks on people and on livestock in 40% and 60% of interviews, respectively. The majority of the respondents were afraid of seeing a wolf in the wild (66.5%). The majority of interviewees abandoned their livestock carcasses near agricultural lands, rangelands, and rural areas. Our results suggest that cultural factors play an active role in allaying fear of wolves, and this influence occurs regardless of having or not having experiences of wolf attacks. However, experiences of wolf–livestock attacks did not have a meaningful role in decreasing or increasing the effect of culture, religion, and behavior on fear. Efforts to reduce human fear of wolves should consider minimizing risky encounters for people, particularly focusing on unsupervised children (<12 years old). Training programs on how to properly handle livestock carcasses (e.g., appropriate methods of disposal and not abandoning livestock carcasses close to human settlements) may reduce the frequency of wolf attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lack of consistency across the globe in how countries establish tissue ractopamine residue limits and which residue limits are applied to various tissues, particularly for edible noncarcass tissues. Therefore, some U.S. beef slaughter organizations have recommended a 48-h voluntary removal of ractopamine before slaughter to meet residue requirements of specific export countries and maintain international trade. Our objective was to assess the impact of voluntary removal of ractopamine hydrochloride (Optaflexx; Elanco, Greenfield, IN) up to 8 d before slaughter on growth performance and carcass characteristics. Crossbred beef steers (60 pens of 10 animals/pen) with an initial shrunk body weight (BW) of 611.8 ± 10 kg SEM were fed one of six treatments over 42 d. Treatments included a control that did not receive ractopamine, on-label use of ractopamine (0-d withdrawal), and 2, 4, 6, or 8 d of voluntary removal of ractopamine from feed before slaughter. The start of ractopamine feeding (30.1 mg/kg of diet dry matter for 32 d) was staggered, so that blocks could be slaughtered on the same day. Dry matter intake was decreased by 0.5 kg/d when ractopamine was fed with a 0-d withdrawal (P = 0.04) compared with the control, but was not altered (P = 0.56) as the duration of ractopamine removal increased from 0 to 8 d. Final BW, total BW gain, and average daily BW gain were increased by feeding ractopamine with a 0-d withdrawal (P = 0.09) compared with the control, but these variables decreased in a linear manner (P = 0.10) as the duration of removal increased from 0 to 8 d. Gain efficiency was improved by 15% (P < 0.01) by feeding ractopamine with a 0-d withdrawal compared with the control, and gain efficiency decreased linearly (P = 0.06) as the duration of ractopamine removal increased. Approximately 2/3 of the increase in gain efficiency remained after 8 d of removal. Hot carcass weight was increased by 6 kg (P = 0.02) by feeding ractopamine with a 0-d withdrawal compared to the control. Measured carcass characteristics were not altered by ractopamine feeding or by removal before slaughter (P ≥ 0.24). The consequences of voluntary removal of ractopamine up to 8 d before slaughter were a linear decrease in live BW gain (0.64 kg/d), poorer gain efficiency, and numerically lighter carcass weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burial is applied to dispose of livestock carcasses due to its convenience and cost efficiency despite concerns about groundwater contamination by leachate from burial pits. In particular, the burial method has caused debates about groundwater contamination sources around on-farm livestock burial sites because of pre- and coexisting contamination from livestock production and agriculture. To assess the causes of groundwater contamination around poultry burial pits that were constructed after an outbreak of avian influenza in 2010–11 in Korea, hydrochemical data of groundwater samples from monitoring wells (MWs, n = 14) and household wells (HWs, n = 30) were monitored to differentiate contamination sources. Hydrochemical data indicated that groundwater from MWs is characterized by higher enrichments of inorganic constituents including electrical conductivity (EC), NH4, Ca, Mg, K, SO4, HCO3, Fe(Total), and Mn(Total), but lower concentrations of DO than groundwater from HWs. The combined use of the principal component analysis (PCA) and K-means cluster analysis (KCA) indicated that groundwater in seven MWs was affected by leachate. The parameters such as NH4, Ca, Mg, K, SO4, HCO3, Fe(Total), and Mn(Total) are expected to be useful to identify the impact of leachate on groundwater in agricultural areas. This study suggests that (1) regional hydrochemical characteristics should be assessed to distinguish the effect of livestock burial leachate from other contamination sources and (2) the combined use of PCA and KCA is effective to identify the weakened impact of leachate leakage among overlapping multiple sources and processes of groundwater contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mechanized thermo-chemical treatment system was developed to treat the undecomposed carcass and remediate livestock burial sites. Animal carcasses were thus processed via crushing, mixing, and treatment with quicklime treatment, heat treatment (200–500 °C), and mixing with sawdust. The machinery was applied to two sites where 16,000 chickens and 418 pigs had previously been buried in fiber-reinforced plastic storage bins. No dioxins were detected in the gas discharged during processing, and the concentration of total volatile organic compound, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene were 430.3, 139.0, 18.3, 21.4, and 10.4 μg/m3, respectively, which were below the air pollutant emission standards issued by the Korean Ministry of Environment. Korean standards stipulating the use of treated carcasses as compost (C, N, and P content, heavy metal concentration, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella) were met, but the germination index value was less than 70, not satisfying the criteria. Plant height, leaf length, leaf width, and dry weight of lettuce grown in soil amended with treated carcass product were significantly lower than those grown in low nutrient soil due to the poor germination index of the treated carcass. These results indicate that a composting process is required before the use of the treated carcass as a fertilizer. The addition of zeolite retarded the elution of ammonia from the carcasses and its efficiency was about 87.9%. It is expected that the mechanized thermo-chemical treatment process developed in this study could replace other technologies for the remediation of livestock burial sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protected areas are central to the conservation of biodiversity across the globe. However, their performance, especially in relation to highly mobile species, is largely dependent on the socio-ecological characteristics of the landscape that surrounds them. Here, we assess the patterns of avian scavenger distribution, including both obligate (i.e., vultures) and facultative (corvids and other raptors) scavenger species, inside and outside of protected areas. We contrast the situation between an African area, which has protected areas surrounded by mostly subsistence stockbreeding (KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa) and a European area, which has protected areas surrounded by commercial farming (Ebro Valley, Spain). We found large differences between the two areas. In the South African area, the richness and abundance of vultures, but not of facultative scavengers, were higher inside than outside of protected areas; as a result, the richness and abundance of vultures were negatively related to the distance to the nearest protected area in South Africa. In contrast, the richness and abundance of vultures in the Spanish area were similar inside and outside of protected areas. We obtained similar results when focusing solely on presence and abundance of Gyps vultures. The contrasting effects of protected areas in the distribution of avian scavengers, especially vultures, in the studied areas may be due to differences in agro-systems and socio-economical models that lead to differential availability of ungulate carcasses. We suggest that carrion shortage in the subsistence farming systems in the South African area, whereby domestic livestock carcasses are generally used by householders and thus rarely become available to vultures, should be considered alongside poisoning prevention to help conserve African vulture populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The All Heifer, No Cow (AHNC) beef production system is an alternative to conventional cow/calf production that involves insemination of nulliparous heifers with sexed semen to produce female calves that are early weaned at 3 mo of age. Dams are finished on a high-concentrate diet and harvested before reaching 30 mo of age. Objectives of this research were to document reproductive, feedyard, calf, and carcass performance of an AHNC herd; evaluate effects of carcass maturity on carcass quality; and determine if performance of initial cohorts (i.e. cohorts 1 and 2) differed from sustaining cohorts (i.e. cohorts 3–5). A total of 272 heifers were enrolled in the AHNC system via five annual cohorts. The system was initiated with 51 yearling, Angus-based heifers, and a replicate set (n = 56) was started 12 mo after. Heifers in cohorts 3 (n = 53), 4 (n = 56), and 5 (n = 56) were primarily offspring of prior cohorts (i.e. cohort 3 heifers born to cohort 1 females), but some were purchased to maintain inventory. Angus replacement heifers were purchased in cohorts 3 (n = 26), 4 (n = 26), and 5 (n = 28). Mean (±standard deviation) pregnancy rate at 30 d after fixed-time artificial insemination (AI) with sexed semen was 50.8% ± 9.4%, and 140-d pregnancy rate was 93.0% ± 1.5%. With AHNC, 61.0% ± 6.5% of females replaced themselves with a heifer. During finishing, average daily gain (ADG) was 1.9 ± 0.4 kg • d−1 and dry matter intake (DMI) was 14.9 ± 1.9 kg • d−1. Hot carcass weight (HCW) was 367 ± 35 kg. The USDA grading system classified 20.5% of all carcasses (n = 220) as C maturity (A00 = 100, B00 = 200, etc.), 62.4% ± 29.1% of carcasses as USDA Choice. USDA yield grade (YG) was 2.6 ± 0.7. Based on cohorts 1 and 2, there were no differences (P = 0.96) in Warner–Bratzler shear force values between A and B maturity vs. C maturity carcasses. Across all cohorts, there were no differences in USDA YG, marbling score (MA), and lean maturity between A and B maturity vs. C maturity carcasses; there were differences in age (P < 0.001), bone maturity (P < 0.001), and overall maturity (P <0.001). A comparison of initial vs. sustaining cohorts showed that initial cohorts had lower (P < 0.001) DMI, heavier (P < 0.001) HCW, and more advanced (P < 0.05) bone maturity. However, there were no differences for 30- and 140-d pregnancy rates, ADG, USDA YG, and MA between initial and sustaining cohorts. The AHNC beef production system can effectively produce female calves and quality carcasses for harvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Bacteria from abattoir wastes are often linked to livestock carcasses previously exposed to continuous antimicrobial use and misuse; thereby creating opportunity for community spread of multidrug resistant (MDR) strains such as Pseudomonas spp. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibiogram of Pseudomonas isolates and bacteriological quality of an abattoir effluent in lieu of its potential public health impact. Methodology: Water samples were collected weekly for six weeks from discharge point (DP) of the abattoir effluent, effluent receiving canal confluence point (CP), and 500 m upstream (US) and 500 m downstream (DS) from points where CP made contact with the Ikpoba River, Benin City, Nigeria. Bacteria spp. were isolated, enumerated (heterotrophic bacterial plate, coliform, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas counts) and identified using standard microbiological techniques. Identity of Pseudomonas isolates was confirmed by PCR while antibiogram of selected isolates was evaluated and interpreted according to the disk diffusion method of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Results: Heterotrophic bacteria plate counts (HPC) varied from 1.1×103 ± 0.28 CFU/ml to 1.95×106 ± 0.48 CFU/ml; total coliform counts ranged between 0.0 and 1.2×106 ± 0.28 CFU/ml while mean E. coli count varied from 0.0 to 4.9×105 ± 0.49 CFU/ml, and Pseudomonas counts were between 0.0 to 1.4×103 CFU/ml. The selected strains of Pseudomonas spp (n=50) showed resistance to oxacillin (100%), vancomycin (52%), tetracycline (50%), gentamycin (26%) and ceftriaxone (20%), while they were sensitive to ceftazidime (82%), ofloxacin (80%) and amikacin (74%). MDR phenotype was observed in 9 (18%) of the test isolates. Conclusion: The study revealed that untreated abattoir effluent was a considerable source of MDR Pseudomonas spp. among other bacteriological pollutants (e.g. HPC, coliform and E. coli) that could compromise the quality of the receiving river in lieu of public health concerns of riverside communities that depend on this vital water resource for their subsistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis (Bcbva) is an untypical anthrax-causing pathogen responsible for high wildlife mortality in Taï National Park (TNP), Côte d'Ivoire. However, nothing is known about its effect on the rural population living in the region bordering TNP. Contact to bushmeat is a known risk factor for exposure to a variety of zoonotic pathogens, but no human infections with Bcbva were noted so far. Therefore, we performed a retrospective seroprevalence analysis with sera from 1,386 study volunteers. We used assays which detect antibodies against the protective antigen PA, which is synthesized by both Bcbva and classic B. anthracis, and against the recently described antigen pXO2-60, a 35-kDa protein only produced by Bcbva. We found a high seroprevalence (22.37%) of antibodies against PA, and approximately half of those sera (10.46%) were also positive for the Bcbva-specific antigen pXO2-60. All sera negative for PA were also negative for antibodies against pXO2-60, confirming specificity and suitability of the PA/pXO2-60 combined serological assay. The fact that a large fraction of sera was positive for PA but negative for pXO2-60 can most likely be explained by lower immunogenicity of pXO2-60, but exposure to classic B. anthracis cannot be excluded. As only Bcbva has been detected in the TNP area so far, exposure to Bcbva can be suspected from the presence of antibodies against PA alone. In a questionnaire, most study participants reported contact to bushmeat and livestock carcasses. Unfortunately, risk factor analysis indicated that neither animal contacts, sex, age, nor country of origin were significant predictors of Bcbva seroprevalence. Nevertheless, our study added to an assessment of the distribution of Bcbva and its impact on the human population, and our data can serve to raise awareness of anthrax in the affected regions. Author summary: Anthrax is a zoonotic disease transmitted from animals to humans and normally caused by B. anthracis mainly in savanna regions. However, untypical bacteria named Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis (Bcbva) were detected in a variety of wild animals in the rain forest region of the Taï National Park (TNP) in Côte d'Ivoire. No anthrax infections in humans living in the region around TNP were reported until now. Therefore, we assessed exposure to the pathogen by analysis of sera from human volunteers for the presence of antibodies against the protective antigen (PA), which is produced by B. anthracis and Bcbva, and against the Bcbva-specific protein pXO2-60. We found antibodies against PA in more than 20% of sera from humans living in the TNP region, and around 10% possessed also antibodies against pXO2-60, confirming exposure to Bcbva. As only Bcbva, but not classic B. anthracis was found in TNP, we assume that the majority of humans had contact with Bcbva and that pXO2-60 is less immunogenic than PA. Although most people reported animal contacts, there was no statistically significant correlation with the presence of antibodies against Bcbva. Nevertheless, our study confirmed that Bcbva represents a danger for humans living in the affected area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several advantages would arise from the automated detection of pathologies of pig carcasses, including avoidance of the inherent risks of subjectivity and variability between human observers. Here, we develop a novel automated classification of two porcine offal pathologies at abattoir: a focal, localized pathology of the liver and a diffuse pathology of the heart, as cases in point. We develop a pattern recognition system based on machine learning to identify those organs that exhibit signs of the pathology of interest. Specifically, deep neural networks are trained to produce probability heat maps, highlighting regions on the surface of an organ potentially affected by a given condition. A final classification stage then decides whether a given organ is affected by the condition in question based on statistics computed from the heat map. We compare outcomes of automated classification with classification by expert pathologists. Results show the classification of liver and heart pathologies in agreement with an expert at levels comparable to, or exceeding, interexpert agreement. A system using methods such as those presented here has potential to overcome the limitations of human-based abattoir inspection, especially if this is based on visual-only inspection, and ultimately to provide a new gold standard for pathology. Note to Practitioners—The motivation for this article reflects the current requirement for visual-only inspection of livestock carcasses at slaughter houses and the need to provide a gold standard for recognition of carcass pathologies. Visual-only inspection is motivated by the need to reduce cross contamination between carcasses by manual palpation, but this leads to substantial variability in detection accuracy both within and between inspectors. This has significant public health implications. Here we present a system that comprises hardware to capture images of pig offal and software to analyze those images and identify cases of liver milk spots and hearts affected by pericarditis. It can classify high proportions of offal with accuracy comparable to that of veterinarians with extensive experience in pig pathology, thus demonstrating the potential to overcome the limitations of human-based abattoir inspection (especially if it is visual-only) and ultimately to provide a new gold standard. Our work is the first to address the automation of pig offal inspection, thus shedding light on the challenges associated with both appropriate image capture and successful image analysis, such as the need to cope with wide variations in the appearance of both normal and diseased organs, as well as different types of lesions and their impact on how much effort is required from experts in order to produce data needed to train the system. Future directions of work should include extending the system to identify more pathologies and implementing a real-time system to cope with production line speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the carcass and meat characteristics of male Kacang goat fattened by complete silage made from natural grass, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench and Pennisetum purpureum. Materials and Methods: This study examined 12 young male Kacang goats aged 10-12 months with an initial body weight of 10-12 kg. The livestock was divided into three groups randomly to receive feed treatments. The three treatments of this study included T1: Complete silage made from natural grass; T2: Complete silage made from S. bicolor (L.) Moench, and T3: Complete silage made from P. purpureum. Data were analyzed according to the analysis of variance procedure. Results: The carcass percentage of livestock T2 and T3 treatment was relatively similar but higher (p<0.05) than the T1 group. The non-carcass percentage of T2 and T3 was relatively the same but lower than T1. The water content of T1 treatment was higher (p<0.05) than T3, but relatively the same as T2 treatment. The collagen content of T2 and T3 was relatively the same but lower (p<0.05) than T1; likewise, the cholesterol of T2 and T3 treatments was relatively similar but higher than T1 treatment. The variables of slaughter and carcass weight, and non-carcass weight, meat protein content, acidity, cooking losses, water holding capacity, and tenderness were not significantly different between groups of animals. Conclusion: The use of S. bicolor (L.) Moench and P. purpureum as a basic forage in making complete silage has been shown to increase carcass percentage, the content (%) of fat, collagen, and cholesterol. Otherwise, the treatments have no effect on the content of pH, tenderness (kg/cm2), cooking loss (%), and water holding capacity (%) of male Kacang goat fattened. Therefore, S. bicolor (L.) Moench and P. purpureum plants have great potential to be developed by farmers/ranchers as feed for goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyme leaf powder (TLP) and tomato fruit powder (TFP) were used in this experiment to demonstrate their effect on the carcass and meat characteristic. A total number of 120 birds quail (Coturnix coturnix) males that lasted for 60 days. The birds were 55 days old randomly distributed in 4 treatments each containing 6 replicates and each containing 5 birds were feeding free and program lighting was used as continuously. The experiment was divided in 4 treatment; first treatment feed with basal diet (without use any additive), the second treatment: use 0.5% TLP and the third treatment: use 0.5% T'FP, forth treatment: 0.5% TLP + 0.5% TFP. The results of the experiment showed no significant differences (P<0.05) between the treatments when using thyme leaf powder and tomato fruit powder on the carcass characteristics such as live body weight (LBW), carcass weight (CW), dressing percentage (DP), breast weight percentage (BWP), thighs weight percentage (TWP). In meat characteristics, breast showed that significant differences (P<0.05) between the treatments on the water holding capacity (WHC), the edit treatment (TLP 0.5%, TFP 0.5%, TLP 0.5%+ TFP 0.5%) was better than control treatment. In thighs thawing loose was less than when use TLP 0.5% compared with control which is the grater in thawing loose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: The supplementation in diet of chicken improves the amino acid balance and consequently increases protein synthesis and decreases fat synthesis. And the positive effects on meat quality. Essential elements are very necessary for the physiological functions of the human body and should be available through dietary intake, which supports regulation of cellular function, growth and maintenance of the body. The study provides original analytical data on the levels of zinc and methionine (ZeMet) in chicken meat (female) which are commonly consumed in Iraq. A total of three hundred and sixty (n = 360) of broiler chicks were weighed and classified in 3 groups, 0% ZnMet (Control T1), 0.5 gm/kg ZnMet (T2), 1 gm/kg ZnMet (T3).Carcass cuts (Breast, Whole Thigh, Wings, Back and Neck), Physical dissection(Lean, bone and skin), chemical analysis (moisture, protein, fat and ash), Cooking Loss, Drip Loss, TBA, PV and sensory evaluation (tenderness, juiciness, flavor, overall acceptance, acceptability, texture and general appearance) were steady. There were no significant differences between treatment in Carcass cuts (Breast, Back and Neck), Physical dissection (Lean, bone and skin), chemical analysis (moisture, protein, fat and ash), Cooking Loss, Drip Loss, TBA, PV. While there were a significant difference (P ≥ 0.05) in Whole Thigh, Wings and sensory evaluation. The supplementation zinc and methionine (ZeMet) in diet of chicken improves the sensory evaluation of meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was conducted in the Poultry Field of the Department animal Production at the Ministry of science and technology. 360 day-old chicks (Ross-308) were weighed and distributed randomly to 18 cages by six treatments, each treatment included three replicated for each repeater 20 birds. Medicinal plants were added to the diets with concentration as follows: (T1 control), Turmeric 0.2% (T4), Turmeric 0.4% (T3), cubeb 0.2% (T4), cubeb 0.4% (T5), Turmeric 0.2% + cubeb 0.2% (T6). Chicks were fed on a diet from 1-35 days of age. Results showed that the experimental diets significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased the performance traits at which includes live body weight, weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion comparing with the control treatment that recorded the lowest performance means. There were no significant variations between the experimental and the control treatment concerning dressing percent and carcass cuts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gastrointestinal anthrax is a rare but serious disease. In August 2017, Isingiro District, Uganda reported a cluster of >40 persons with acute-onset gastroenteritis. Symptoms included bloody diarrhoea. We investigated to identify the etiology and exposures, and to inform control measures. Methods: We defined a suspected case as acute-onset of diarrhoea or vomiting during 15–31 August 2017 in a resident (aged≥2 years) of Kabingo sub-county, Isingiro District; a confirmed case was a suspected case with a clinical sample positive for Bacillus anthracis by culture or PCR. We conducted descriptive epidemiology to generate hypotheses. In a case-control study, we compared exposures between case-patients and neighbourhood-matched controls. We used conditional logistic regression to compute matched odds ratios (MOR) for associations of illness with exposures. Results: We identified 61 cases (58 suspected and 3 confirmed; no deaths). In the case-control study, 82% of 50 case-patients and 12% of 100 controls ate beef purchased exclusively from butchery X during the week before illness onset (MOR = 46, 95%CI = 4.7–446); 8.0% of case-patients and 3.0% of controls ate beef purchased from butchery X and elsewhere (MOR = 19, 95%CI = 1.0–328), compared with 6.0% of case-patients and 30% of controls who did not eat beef. B. anthracis was identified in two vomitus and one stool sample. Butchery X slaughtered a sick cow and sold the beef during case-patients' incubation period. Conclusion: This gastrointestinal anthrax outbreak occurred due to eating beef from butchery X. We recommended health education, safe disposal of the carcasses of livestock or game animals, and anthrax vaccination for livestock. Author summary: Gastrointestinal anthrax is one of the forms of anthrax caused by Bacillus anthracis. It is a serious but rarely diagnosed form owing to its presentation being similar to gastroenteritis illness due to other organisms. In this investigation, we ascertained that this was a gastrointestinal anthrax outbreak that was caused by consumption of beef of suspicious origin. Trace back identified the source of this beef as being from one specific butcher. All the case-patients were treated and recovered. The outbreak was controlled at the source through treatment and we provided public education of the masses about the dangers of eating meat of animals that have died of unknown causes. We additionally recommended inspection of meat before sale at butcheries to ensure that it is suitable for human consumption as well as vaccination of the animals in the region. In the long term, anthrax control requires a One-Health approach that is multisectoral, involving ministries of agriculture, animal industries and ministries of health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volcanic eruptions produce health changes in animals that may be associated with emitted gases and deposited ashes. We evaluated whether the Puyehue–Cordón Caulle volcanic eruption in 2011 produced health changes in the threatened Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) living in the area most affected by the eruption, northwestern Patagonia. We studied clinical and biochemical parameters of condors examined before and after the eruption. We also examined concentrations of different metals and metalloids in the blood of individuals sampled after the eruption. The most common clinical abnormality associated with the eruptive process was irritating pharyngitis. In condors sampled after the eruption, blood concentrations of albumin, calcium, carotenoids, and total proteins decreased to levels under the reference values reported for this species. We found different chemical elements in the blood of these condors after the eruption, such as arsenic and cadmium, with the potential to produce health impacts. Thus, the health of Andean Condors was affected in different ways by the eruption; remaining in the affected area appears to have been costly. However, in comparison to other animal species, the health impacts were not as strong and were mainly related to food shortages due to the decrease in availability of livestock carcasses linked to the eruption. This suggests that condors dealt relatively well with this massive event. Future research is needed to evaluate if the health changes we found reduce the survival of this species, and if the cost of inhabiting volcanic areas has any ecological or evolutionary influence on the condor's life history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]