Browsing by Author "Teixeira, D. L."

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    Effect of Feeding Lucerne and a Mixed Diet of Oats and Berseem Clover as a Source of Fresh Forage on Ruminal Characteristics and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Dairy Cows during the Winter Period
    (2022) Enriquez-Hidalgo, D.; Barrera, K.; Rivero, M. J.; Merino, V. M.; Teixeira, D. L.; Vargas-Bello-Perez, E.
    The inclusion of fresh forages into dairy cows' diets during the winter can represent economic and nutritional benefits but can affect cows' metabolic function. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of using fresh berseem clover/oat (MIX), fresh lucerne (LEG) and hay/silage (CON) as forage basis for total mixed ration during the winter period on dairy cows' rumen characteristics and N metabolism. Three non-lactating rumen-cannulated cows were allocated to each diet for a 14-day period in a 3 x 3 Latin Square design. Sample collection occurred on the last 3 days of each period. Rumen fluid samples were analysed for pH, volatile fatty acids and N-ammonium contents. In situ forage nutrients degradability were evaluated by ruminal incubation. Serum, urine and faecal samples were collected and analysed for N content. Cows had similar feed intakes. No major changes were observed in rumen characteristics, but LEG led to greater ruminal N-ammonium and ammonium ureic N contents. Fresh pasture diets reduced the daily urine ureic N. The fresh forages improved the ruminal kinetics of dry matter and crude protein. The forage nutrients' effective degradability was greater for the fresh pasture diets than for CON. Overall, inclusion of fresh forages had minor effects on ruminal parameters, but the use of the MIX diet represents a suitable option in terms of N use efficiency.
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    Pig carcass tail lesions: the influence of record keeping through an advisory service and the relationship with farm performance parameters
    (CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS, 2017) van Staaveren, N.; Teixeira, D. L.; Hanlon, A.; Boyle, L. A.
    Tail lesions are important pig welfare indicators that could be recorded during meat inspection as they are more visible on the carcass than on the live animal. Tail biting is associated with reduced performance in the bitten pig, but it is not clear whether problems with tail biting are reflected in general farm performance figures. Farm advisory services aim to improve farm productivity which could be associated with improvements in pig welfare. Record keeping forms an integral part of such advisory services. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of record keeping in the Teagasc eProfit Monitor (ePM herds) on the prevalence of tail lesion severity scores in Irish slaughter pigs. In addition, we investigated associations between the prevalence of tail lesion scores and production parameters at farm level in ePM herds. Pigs were observed after scalding/dehairing and tail lesion score (0 to 4), sex and farm identification were recorded. Tail lesion scores were collapsed into none/mild lesions (score <= 1), moderate lesions (score 2) and severe lesions (score >= 3). The effect of record keeping (ePM herd) on the different tail lesion outcomes was analysed at batch level using the events/trials structure in generalized linear mixed models (PROC GLIMMIX). Spearmans rank correlations were calculated between average tail lesion score of a batch and production parameters. A total of 13 133 pigs were assessed from 73 batches coming from 61 farms. In all, 23 farms were identified as ePM herds. The average prevalence of moderate tail lesions was 26.8% and of severe tail lesions was 3.4% in a batch. Batches coming from ePM herds had a lower prevalence of moderate tail lesions than non-ePM herds (P <0.001). Average tail lesion score was negatively associated with age (P <0.05) and weight (P <0.05) at sale/transfer of weaners, and tended to be positively associated with the number of finishing days (P =0.06). In addition, the prevalence of severe tail lesions was negatively associated with average daily gain in weaners (P <0.05) and tended to do so with average daily gain in finishers (P =0.08). This study provides the first indication that record keeping through an advisory service may help to lower the risk of tail biting, which is associated with improved farm performance.