Anna Chmielowiec-Korzeniowska

Effect of Thermal Stress on Reproductive Performance Parameters of Sows with Defined Genotype at the RYR1 locus

Effect of Thermal Stress on Reproductive Performance Parameters of Sows with Defined Genotype at the RYR1 locus The objective of the present research was to determine the influence of ambient air temperature in the farrowing section of a pig facility on chemical composition, colostrum and milk somatic cell counts (SCC), and rearing efficiency of piglets from Polish Landrace (PL) sows with identified genotype at the RYR1 locus. Subjects were 60 PL sows in the second and third reproductive cycle. Polymorphism at the RYR1 locus was analysed using the PCR-RFLP method. The proportion of RYR1 C/C and RYR1 C/T genotypes in each group was 1:1. Three groups of experimental temperatures were established: I - 22°C, II - 25°C, III - 28°C. The present study demonstrated that sows kept in periodic high ambient temperature (25°C, 28°C) showed a relatively long period of farrowing, more aggressive behaviour and overlying. Variability was also found between the groups with respect to litter size and litter weight, chemical composition and SCC of colostrum and milk. The results indicate that elevated ambient temperature during the perinatal period may adversely affect the utility value of sows. Wpływ stresu termicznego na wskaźniki reprodukcyjne loch o ustalonym genotypie w locus RYR1 Celem przeprowadzonych badań i analiz było określenie oddziaływania temperatury powietrza w sektorze porodowym chlewni na skład chemiczny, liczbę komórek somatycznych siary i mleka oraz wyniki odchowu prosiąt loch rasy polskiej białej zwisłouchej o zidentyfikowanym genotypie w locus RYR1. Materiał zwierzęcy stanowiło 60 loch rasy polskiej białej zwisłouchej (pbz) w drugim i trzecim cyklu reprodukcyjnym. Analizę polimorfizmu w locus RYR1 wykonano metodą PCR-RFLP. Liczebność genotypów RYR1 C/C i RYR1 C/T w każdej grupie wynosiła 1:1. W zakresie temperatur doświadczalnych przyjęto trzy grupy: I - 22°C, II - 25°C, III - 28°C. W przeprowadzonych badaniach wykazano, iż lochy utrzymywane w okresowo wyższej temperaturze otoczenia (25°C, 28°C) wykazywały relatywnie dłuższy czas porodu, większą liczbę zachowań agresywnych i przygnieceń prosiąt. Stwierdzono również zmienność cech pomiędzy grupami w odniesieniu do liczebności i masy miotu, składu chemicznego i LKS siary oraz mleka. Uzyskane wyniki wskazują, iż podwyższona temperatura otoczenia w okresie okołoporodowym może mieć niekorzystny wpływ na wartość użytkową loch.

Silver (Ag) in tissues and eggshells, biochemical parameters and oxidative stress in chickens

Abstract This study aimed to assess levels of silver nanoparticle residues in eggshells and tissues as well as the levels of selected biochemical parameters and oxidative stress indices in chickens hatched from nanosilver disinfected eggs. The samples included 40 Greenleg Partridge chicks allocated into two groups. The experimental group (group D) consisted of chickens hatched from eggs disinfected with a nanosilver preparation prior to incubation, while the control group (group C) included chickens whose eggs were exposed to UV radiation for disinfection. The eggshells and kidney sections obtained from group D chickens showed a significantly higher silver level compared to group C. For the biochemical parameters, only the uric acid content was higher in group D compared to group C. Analysis of the antioxidative stress biomarkers (superoxide dismutase and catalase), showed a significant increase in group D in relation to group C. Graphical Abstract

Evaluation of microbial contamination of feces and soil on a laying-hen farm depending on sampling site and season

The objective of the present study was to evaluate soil collected from a laying-hen farm and bird manure according to the season of the year and sampling site. Soil samples were taken at the poultry facility wall and at the distances of 15 m and 45 m from the building. Bird feces samples were collected inside the poultry house at the entrance and at 1/4 and 1/2 length of the building. Soil and bird feces samples were evaluated by bacteriological qualitative and quantitative analyses. The largest bacterial load was determined in the samples taken at the poultry facility wall in December/January. Soil microbial contamination degree was low. The highest bacterial count in bird manure was found in the samples collected at 1/2 length of the hen house at the end of December/January. The qualitative study of bird feces showed the presence of E. coli bacteria all through the research period and Enterobacter spp. in the samples taken from July until September. Microbial contamination of soil environment and bird feces is most likely to be affected by winter period as at that time the highest microbial population can be determined. This fact may be linked to the prevailing climatic and microclimatic conditions.

Effect of pig farm on microbial contamination of soil.

Abstract The objective of the study was to assess microbial contamination of soil collected in a swine farm and manure from animals housed there depending on the season of the year and the sampling site. The study was conducted from October to September. The soil samples were taken immediately at the pig house wall (GI), and at the distance of 15 m (GII) and 45 m (GIII) from the house wall. Besides, manure samples were collected inside the pig housing facility: at the entrance to the pig house (KI) and at 1/4 (KII) and 1/2 length of the animal facility (KIII). The soil and manure samples underwent qualitative and quantitative bacteriological evaluation. The study was conducted according to the procedure laid out in the Polish Standards. There was also assessed air temperature and relative moisture, air motion and cooling as well as sample moisture in the sampling site. The greatest number of all studied bacteria was determined in soil collected 15 m from the piggery (GII) in December/January. The highest coli titre (0.0001) was also established in the samples (GII) at that time. The qualitative analysis of soil showed solely the presence of E. coli bacteria which were recovered in the GII soils taken from November to May. The largest bacterial load in swine manure was determined in the samples collected at 1/2 length of the pig house (KII) at the end of December and January. The growth of all the analysed microbes was favoured by sample moisture, while air relative moisture prompted development of psychrophilic and proteolytic bacteria. E. coli were isolated in manure samples throughout the entire research period, whereas Enterobacter spp. were detected in the KI and KII samples from June to August and in KII samples from June to September. The winter period was shown to affect significantly microbial contamination of swine farm environment as at that time the highest bacterial load was determined in soil and manure. This is most likely to be associated with the climatic and microclimatic conditions observed in those days.