Damaging behaviors (DB) such as tail and ear biting are prevalent in pig production and reduce welfare and performance. Anecdotal reports suggest that health challenges increase the risk of tail-biting. The prevalence of tail damage and health problems show high correlations across batches within and between farms. There are many common risk factors for tail-biting and health problems, notably respiratory, enteric and locomotory diseases. These include suboptimal thermal climate, hygiene, stocking density and feed quality. The prevalence of tail damage and health problems also show high correlations across batches within and between farms. However, limited evidence supports two likely causal mechanisms for a direct link between DB and health problems. The first is that generalized poor health (e.g., enzootic pneumonia) on farm poses an increased risk of pigs performing DB. Recent studies indicate a possible causal link between an experimental inflammation and an increase in DB, and suggest a link between cytokines and tail-biting. The negative effects of poor health on the ingestion and processing of nutrients means that immune-stimulated pigs may develop specific nutrient deficiencies, increasing DB. The second causal mechanism involves tail-biting causing poor health. Indirectly, pathogens enter the body via the tail lesion and once infected, systemic spread of infection may occur. This occurs mainly via the venous route targeting the lungs, and to a lesser extent via cerebrospinal fluid and the lymphatic system. In carcasses with tail lesions, there is an increase in lung lesions, abscessation, arthritis and osteomyelitis. There is also evidence for the direct spread of pathogens between biters and victims. In summary, the literature supports the association between poor health and DB, particularly tail-biting. However, there is insufficient evidence to confirm causality in either direction. Nevertheless, the limited evidence is compelling enough to suggest that improvements to management and housing to enhance pig health will reduce DB. In the same way, improvements to housing and management designed to address DB, are likely to result in benefits to pig health. While most of the available literature relates to tail-biting, we suggest that similar mechanisms are responsible for links between health and other DB.

The experiment was carried out with dual-purpose fowls developed for rural backyard farming -indigenous Katunitsa chicken (line "AN"), in a free range management system from hatching to 52 weeks of age. The purpose of the investigation was to establish the influence of a blend of herbs as a dietary supplement on some serum biochemical parameters (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total cholesterol, gamma-glutamyl transferase, triglycerides and creatinine), growth performance, egg production, egg fatty acid composition, and health status. The composition of this blend of herbs included: 0.05% garlic powder (Allium sativum), 0.3% cinnamon powder (Cinnamomum verum) and 0.03% of each of the following dried herbs: yarrow (Achillea millefolium), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), thyme (Thymus serpyllum), basil (Ocimum basilicum) and oregano (Origanum vulgare). The birds were divided into two groups -control (n=60) without supplemental mixture to the diet and experimental (n=700) with supplemental mixture to the diet from the first day of age to the end of the experiment. The results showed that the herbal mixture supplement decreased significantly the blood serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels -at 7 (P<0.001) and at 52 weeks (P<0.05) of age. The content of phospholipids, triglycerides and linoleic acid in the egg yolk was higher in the experimental group compared to the control group (Р<0.05). There was no significant difference in the egg yolk cholesterol levels between both groups (P>0.05). Over the entire investigation period the chickens from the experimental group had a better feed conversion ratio (with 3.37%) and a higher egg laying capacity (with 1.79%). At the end of experiment (52 weeks of age), hens from the control group exhibited generalised fatty degeneration of liver parenchyma, while these in experimental group, the major part of hepatocytes had no fat droplets in their cytoplasm. The death rate from 0 to 7, from 8 to 21 and from 22 to 52 weeks of age was 18.33%, 0% and 8.57% in the control group and 1.00%, 0.26% and 2.62% in the experimental group, respectively. Therefore in conclusion, it can be affirmed that the use of this blend of herbs had a beneficial effect in the treated fowls and improved their egg productivity, vitality and health condition.Keywords: blood biochemical parameters, chickens, dried herbs, egg production, garlic, growth performance, mortality РезюмеПроучването е проведено с кокошки от общоползувателно направление, предназначени за свободно отглеждане във фамилни ферми -Катунска кокошка, (линия "AN") от излюпване на пилетата до 52-седмична възраст. Целта е да се установи влиянието на билкова смес използувана като добавка в комбинирания фураж върху някои серумни биохимични показатели (аланин аминотрансфераза, аспартат аминотрансфераза, общ холестерол, гамаглутамилтрансфераза, триглицериди и креатинин), растежа, носливостта, мастнокиселинния състав на яйчния жълтък и здравния статус. Съставът на билкова смес е: 0,05% чесън на прах, 0.3% канела (Cin...

The results obtained in this study demonstrated that experimentally induced alimentary muscular dystrophy (MD) in Cobb 500 broiler chickens resulted in increased plasma concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), deviations in activities of erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes Cu,Zn-SOD (decrease), and CAT (increase) as well as reduction in plasma concentrations of trace elements Cu, Zn, and Se in affected birds. These data evidenced the presence of oxidative stress in birds with MD, reared both under conditions of ecological comfort and ecological stress. The increased MDA and САТ levels and the reduced Cu,Zn-SOD, Cu, Zn, and Se concentrations in healthy chickens reared under unfavorable microclimatic conditions such as higher air temperature and humidity, higher ammonia concentrations, and lower light intensity were indicative about an induced ecological stress. After the 10-day oral treatment with a selenium-containing preparation, the levels of MDA, Cu,Zn-SOD, CAT, Cu, Zn, and Se attained their normal values in chickens with MD, reared under ecologically comfortable conditions. According to our results, ecological stress was shown to exert independently a significant adverse effect upon the levels of the studied parameters and possibly to be a cause for their slower and not complete normalization despite the selenium therapy in experimental broiler chickens.

Since the ban in January 2012 of conventional cages for egg production in the European Union (Council Directive 1999/74/EC), alternative systems such as floor, aviary, free-range, and organic systems have become increasingly common, reaching 50% of housing for hens in 2019. Despite the many advantages associated with non-cage systems, the shift to a housing system where laying hens are kept in larger groups and more complex environments has given rise to new challenges related to management, health, and welfare. This review examines the close relationships between damaging behaviours and health in modern husbandry systems for laying hens. These new housing conditions increase social interactions between animals. In cases of suboptimal rearing and/or housing and management conditions, damaging behaviour or infectious diseases are likely to spread to the whole flock. Additionally, health issues, and therefore stimulation of the immune system, may lead to the development of damaging behaviours, which in turn may result in impaired body conditions, leading to health and welfare issues. This raises the need to monitor both behaviour and health of laying hens in order to intervene as quickly as possible to preserve both the welfare and health of the animals.

The purpose of this study was to follow out the influence of the prebiotic Salgard and of an herb mixture (rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano and cinnamon) on the growth performance and blood biochemical parameters of Pekin ducklings in an organic production system. In this study, 72 one-day-old Pekin ducklings reared up to the age of 63 days were used. They were divided into 3 groups of 24 birds each and sexed (12 ♂and 12 ♀) as followed: group I (control) fed a standard feed; group II-fed the same feed supplemented with the prebiotic Salgard at a concentration of 0.15 %, and group III-fed the same feed supplemented with 0.15 % of a herb mixture in an equal proportion (0.03% of each herb-rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano and cinnamon) from the first day of age to the end of the experiment. The individual live weight of the birds and the feed conversion ratio were controlled throughout the experiment at 1, 28 and 63 days of age. By the end of the study, blood serum ASAT, ALAT, GGT, triglycerides (TG), total and HDL cholesterol, and creatinine were assayed. The addition of Salgard to the feed of Pekin ducklings increased live weight with 4.94 % in males and with 4.67 % in females. The addition of the herbal mixture of rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano, cinnamon to the feed had a positive effect on the live weight. It is increased with 3.75 % in males and insignificantly in females. A significant reduction in the blood serum concentrations of triglycerides (Р<0.01) and total cholesterol (Р<0.01) was established, which could be related with the anti stress effect of the herbal mixture on Pekin ducklings.