Undetected injury of horses sustained during road transport to slaughter is a welfare concern. This study evaluated digital infrared thermography (DT) for the detection of ante-mortem bruising in horses following transport to a slaughter plant. The sensitivity and specificity of DT for the detection of bruises following transport was evaluated. DT images were obtained from 93 horses (2–3 horses per load; 40 loads) at a Canadian federally approved slaughter plant. From an elevated platform 5 m from the horses, left and right lateral DT images, and one caudal pelvic area image were obtained from each horse. After slaughter the carcasses were examined for bruising (a visually discolored area on the carcass caused by damage to the blood vessels) and findings documented. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were calculated for DT assessment of bruising. The prevalence of bruising on post mortem inspection was 54%. The DT approach to bruise detection at the region of interest level of 93 horses (n = 186 sides) resulted in a sensitivity of 42% and specificity of 79%. As the sensitivity was low, a more sensitive DT camera and allowing for a longer equilibration time for horses after transport may improve this approach to post transport assessment of subclinical injury.

Observational studies describing the impact of transport duration on weaned piglet welfare are limited. Current Canadian transport regulations are heavily informed by studies involving market hogs. Due to physiological differences between weaned piglets and market hogs, additional data on their response to transport are needed for age-specific evidence-based recommendations. A cohort study was conducted to describe and compare mortality, injury, weight change, hematological or biochemical changes in hydration, muscle injury and stress response observed in weaned piglets undergoing short duration (SD, <3h), or long duration (LD, >30 h) commercial summertime transport events. Data collection on 440 of 11,434 transported piglets occurred the morning of the day before transport (T0), at arrival (T1) and approximately three to four days (78-93h) after arrival at the nursery barn (T2). Low mortality occurred over all transport events (0.06%) with no association observed between transport duration and odds of death during transport (P=0.62). The incidence of lameness between T0 and T1 was low (1.84% of the 435 focal piglets scored) with all lameness cases identified as mild in severity. Lesions on ears and skin were more prevalent than other injury types after transport (T1) and may have been related to mixing aggression associated with weaning rather than transport alone. LD piglets weighed 0.39 kg less than SD piglets at T1 (P<0.01), but no difference in group weight was observed at T2 (P=0.17). Hematological and biochemical differences were present between groups at T1. LD piglets had increased hematocrit levels compared to SD piglets (P=0.01) suggesting increased body water losses. SD piglets showed greater levels of muscle injury compared to LD piglets including elevated aspartate aminotransferase (P<0.01) and creatine kinase (P<0.01). However, these parameters were within normal reference ranges for piglets of this age group. Indicators of physiological stress response including cortisol and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios were elevated in SD piglets compared to LD piglets (P=0.02 and P<0.01, respectively). The results of this study demonstrate that both short and long transport durations can result in detectable physiological changes in weaned piglets. The overall impact of these durations on piglet welfare should be further explored by analyzing behavioural time budgets during and after transport.

Background: Coccidiosis is recognized as the parasitic disease with the greatest economic impact on poultry industries worldwide. Sonali chicken are commonly affected by coccidiosis in Bangladesh. Recently, the concerns about possible drug resistance have aroused great caution in the usage of drug in the animal industry. As an alternative herbal extracts are used and Neem leaves (Azadirachta indica) have anti-coccidial property. This study was conducted to evaluate the comparative efficacy of Neem leaves suspension and toltrazuril on coccidial load, blood constituents, growth performance of Sonali chicken infected with Eimeria tenella. Methods: The study was conducted in the laboratory and experimental shed under the department of physiology and pharmacology, HSTU, Dinajpur during, 2nd January to 3rd February, 2019. Eighty (80) Sonali chicken of seven days old were randomly divided into four groups named T0, T1 T2 and T3 and each group contained 20 birds. All groups were supplied E. tenella orally except T0 group and after 3 days T2 group was treated with Neem leaves suspension (5%) for 15 days and T3 groups was treated with toltrazuril (topzuril ®) solution (1 ml/lit) for 2 days. Results: Results showed that protozoal load decreased significantly (P<0.01) in T2 & T3 groups whereas increased significantly (P<0.01) in T0 and T1 group. The total erythrocyte count and hemoglobin in different treatment groups were similar and the differences were non-significant (P>0.05) statistically except total leukocyte count (TLC). The body weight of T0, T1, T2 and T3 group at day 30 were 432.65, 469.81, 548.81, 489.22 gm respectively which is statistically significant (P<0.01) and highest body weight gain was recorded from Neem leaves suspension treated group. Conclusion: Neem leaves suspension have significant effects on protozoal load, body weight and no significant effect on haematological parameters except TLC.

Three years experiment was conducted to establishment the BAU–GPC released BAU Sapota-1 at three selected upazilla of Northern region and BAU–GPC, Mymensingh of Bangladesh during the period from July 2009 to June 2013. Among the locations, Palashbari, Gaibandha exhibited the tallest plant, maximum leaves, maximum branches and higher canopy in all the years (2010, 2011 and 2012), Palashbari, Gaibandha also noticed the minimum time for fruit setting, maximum harvested fruit and fresh fruits as well as the higher fruit yield of BAU Sapota–1 compared to other locations. The overall results suggest that BAU Sapota-1 can be recommended to cultivate in the Palashbari Gaibandha area for obtaining higher yields.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbau.v12i1.21243 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 12(1): 61-65, June 2014