The subject of this research was to determine the effect of the housing system on quality of welfare of dairy cattle in Serbia. Study was realized on six farms, capacity of 30 to 900 cows, with loose and tie housing system. Assessment of the welfare quality parameters was done by using the Welfare Quality ® Assessment Protocol for Cattle, 2009. Results of the research show that the welfare quality of dairy animals is under the significant effect of housing system, and that loose system has the advantage when it comes to comfort around resting, easy of movements and health condition of cows. Share of not lame cows (81%) and cows with no lesion (86%) was significantly higher (p<0.01) in loose system. Indicator values: duration of lying down movements (6.53 sec), lying down movements with collisions (18.7%) and lying outside lying area (28.4%) in tie system were significantly higher (p<0.01) compared to loose system indicating the inadequacy of the housing and lack of comfort. Analysis of indicators associated with cow hygiene (dirty legs and udder) and diseases (dystocia) points to significant gaps in management in both housing systems which represent significant threat to cow welfare quality.

Heat stress in dairy cows is caused by a combination of environmental factors (temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation and air movement). Continual genetic selectin for greater performance results to increased sensitivity to heat stress. It was one of the reasons why lactation curve during summer has decreasing trend compared to spring in which lactation curve maintained within high levels. The trial was conducted in spring (April-May) and summer period (June-July) on total of 40 dairy cows of Holstein-Friesian breed in early lactation period (first 60 days of lactation). Milking capacity in cows and milk chemical ingredients (milk fat and proteins) were statistically significantly higher in the spring period compared to summer, while higher values of lactose were not statistically significant. Total average milk production per cow was significantly higher in spring period (42.74±4.98l) than in summer (39.60±5.09l) at the level of P<0.05. A higher rate of milk fat was recorded in spring in relation to summer period the level of significance being P<0.01. The content of proteins in milk in spring period was 13% higher than in summer. The established difference was highly statistically significant (P<0.001). Obtained values for percentage of lactose varied slightly (4.45±0.54% in spring versus 4.03±0.24% in summer period; P>0.05).

The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics of the metabolic profile and complete blood count in cows in the periparturient period on the basis of the intensity of lipolysis and ketogenesis (concentration of non esterified fatty acid - NEFA and betahydroxybutyrate - BHB). Based on median values of NEFA and BHB cows were divided into 3 groups: cows physiologically burdened with catabolism (NEFA and BHB levels above the median one week after parturition), cows significantly burdened with catabolism (NEFA and BHB levels above the median one week before and after parturition) and cows that are not burdened with catabolism (NEFA and BHB below the median, i.e. the control group). The median value of NEFA was 0.27 mmol/L one week before parturition and 0.61 mmol/L one week after it. The median value of BHB was 0.51 mmol/L one week before parturition and 0.99 mmol/L one week after it. A significant group effect was shown for each week separately, so that cows physiologically burdened with catabolism and/or cows significantly burdened with catabolism compared to the control group have the following features of the metabolic profile and complete blood count: higher concentrations of NEFA and BHB (weeks: -1, 1, 2, 4, 8), lower concentrations of glucose (weeks: 1, 4), lower concentration of cholesterol (week 8), lower concentrations of total protein (weeks: 1, 2), lower concentrations of urea (weeks: 1, 2, 4, 8) and a higher concentration of bilirubin (weeks: - 1, 1, 2, 4, 8), increased levels of AST (weeks: -1, 1) and ALT (weeks: -1, 2), lower value of Ca (week -1), lower hemoglobin concentration (week -1), lower white blood cell count (week 4), a larger number of neutrophils (weeks: -1, 1, 2) and a higher number of lymphocytes (week 4). Using the method of factor analysis and principal components showed that NEFA, BHB and glucose are the major components that affect the metabolic profile and blood count, making 71.8% of the variability of all parameters. Cows with hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, hypoalbuminemia, hyperbilirubinemia, decreased hemoglobin concentration and/or red blood cell count and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio >1 showed significantly higher concentrations of NEFA and BHB compared to cows with parameters within normal ranges. Complete ROC (receiver operating characteristics) analysis showed that NEFA and BHB are important diagnostic indicators that allow the separation of cows with parameters out of the reference values from cows with normal values of parameters in the metabolic profile and blood count (0.5<AUC<0.87). Reliability of identification of cows with parameters that are out of the reference value increases with increasing concentrations of NEFA and BHB, which confirms that intense lipolysis and ketogenesis start a series of compensatory processes in the metabolism in cows. The results confirm that NEFA and BHB significantly affect the value of numerous metabolic and hematological parameters in the periparturient period. [Projekat Ministars...

Features of intensive farming can seriously threaten pig homeostasis, well-being and productivity. Disease tolerance of an organism is the adaptive ability in preserving homeostasis and at the same time limiting the detrimental impact that infection can inflict on its health and performance without affecting pathogen burden per se. While disease resistance (DRs) can be assessed measuring appropriately the pathogen burden within the host, the tolerance cannot be quantified easily. Indeed, it requires the assessment of the changes in performance as well as the changes in pathogen burden. In this paper, special attention is given to criteria required to standardize methodologies for assessing disease tolerance (DT) in respect of infectious diseases in pigs. The concept is applied to different areas of expertise and specific examples are given. The basic physiological mechanisms of DT are reviewed. Disease tolerance pathways, genetics of the tolerance-related traits, stress and disease tolerance, and role of metabolic stress in DT are described. In addition, methodologies based on monitoring of growth and reproductive performance, welfare, emotional affective states, sickness behavior for assessment of disease tolerance, and methodologies based on the relationship between environmental challenges and disease tolerance are considered. Automated Precision Livestock Farming technologies available for monitoring performance, health and welfare-related measures in pig farms, and their limitations regarding DT in pigs are also presented. Since defining standardized methodologies for assessing DT is a serious challenge for biologists, animal scientists and veterinarians, this work should contribute to improvement of health, welfare and production in pigs.

This paper provides an overview of recent developments in rearing conditions, health and welfare issues of dairy cows. The last approximately 30 years has witnessed worldwide increasing scientific research, consumer activity, and political response towards housing condition, health and welfare issues of dairy cattle. All buildings and housing systems for dairy cattle should be designed, constructed, maintained and managed to assist in the achievement of the Five Freedoms: freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain, injury and disease, freedom to express normal behaviour and freedom from fear and distress. Whether dairy cows are housed in cubicles, straw yards or cow sheds, in order to maximize their performance and to ensure satisfactory standards of welfare, the accommodation must provide the most basic behavioral and physiological needs. As an absolute minimum, the housing must provide a comfortable, clean, well drained and dry lying area together with shelter from adverse weather. Also, it must allow the cow to move freely around without risk of injury and certain diseases. If the housing system does not provide for these basic needs, then not only will health, welfare and production of dairy cattle be compromised, but it is likely that failure to comply with the welfare codes and the law relating to animal welfare will occur.