The Ag Guide

• IACUC Composition: 5 members
• Scientist with experience in Ag research or teaching **ARPAS**
• Animal, dairy, or poultry scientist
• Vet
• Person with non-scientific concerns
• Non-affiliated

Animal welfare for GE animals in research regulated by regs/gl of USDA and NIH

Animal cloning current technique: Somatic cell nuclear transfer

Livestock Industry Clone Registry: Database of animal clones

Vet care statements similar to those in AWA and Guide

• Major surgery definition:
• “substantial” impairment used in definition, like in Guide but not in AWA

US National Organic Standards: Must not withhold tx from animals to maintain organic status

Humane Methods of Slaughter Act: enforced by FSIS

Animal well-being components: Behavioral Patterns, Pathological and Immunological Traits, Physiological and biochemical characteristics, Reproductive and productive performance

Absence of feed up to 48 hours should not seriously endanger health of normal juveniles/adults

Air, temperature, water vapor pressure, air velocity most important – ventilation 1ry means to control

Temp Humidity Index (basis for LWSI):

• Potential for heat stress: 70-74
• Alert: 74-79
• Danger: 79-84
• Emergency: >84

• Air speed: <0.25 m/s
• Ammonia: <10 ppm to 25 ppm (25-50 for birds)
• Hydrogen Sulfide <10ppm to 50 ppm
• CO: <150 ppm (50 ppm per OSHA, 8 hr TWA)
• CO2: <5,000 ppm (per OSHA, 8 hr TWA)
• Methane: <50,000 ppm
• Dust: 5 mg/m3 (<5 um); 15 mg/m3 total dust

• Use enhanced ABSL-3 instead of ABSL-3 Ag when
• room is 2ry barrier

• Enrichment types:
• Social, occupational, physical, sensory, nutritional

Humans can serve as conspecific subs; Mirrors or inanimate objects with animal skin for sheep/goats

All ag animals are social except the adult boar

• Nest box most important enrichment for laying hens;
• Novel objects can increase fear in broilers

Hearing: Cattle most sensitive at 8,000 Hz.

Vision: Grazing animals are dichromats (partially color blind); Chickens and turkeys are tetrachromatic

Livestock have to be unloaded, fed, watered after 28 hours on a vehicle without food or water

• Cattle ramps:
• 4” step height, 12” tread width; 2-50 m flight zone

• Castration before 2-3 months or 230 Kg Dehorning:
• Not reg in US

70 lux min light intensity during light periods

Newborn dairy cattle: Lower critical temp of 50

Keep on unpaved dirt in SW and concrete in North

Underventilation in winter is one of the most serious threats to environment of animal

Colostrum: 2-3L within 4-5 hours then another 2-3L within 24 hours

Supernumerary teat removal: Restraint and anesthesia after 3 months

AVMA opposes tail docking

Black walnut, fresh cedar, cocoa husks, pressure-treated wood causes illness

Highly susceptible to ionophores

May be fed directly on floor

Foals should stand and nurse within 2 hours; Placental retention >3 hours = med emergency

• Castration can be performed at a few weeks to
• many years – anesthesia essential at any age

Birds detect and avoid ammonia <25 ppm

Larger group size for egg laying hens = less space needed for each bird

Multitier systems: <2m high, 0.5-1m between, <45 angle of descent

Ducks need to be shown locations of feeders, drinkers, shelters

Duck pellet size: 0.4 cm diameter if <2 weeks of age, 0.48 cm if >2 weeks; 0.8 cm length

Ducklings drink 20% more water than needed for normal growth

100% of egg laying chickens will use perches at night

Beak trimming at 10 days of age, remove <50%, lower beak should be longer

Toe trimming at 1 day of age – not recommended for egg layers

• Induced molting: Feed withdrawal, changing protein, Ca, Zn, casein, reduced photoperiod
• Also use diets high in corn gluten, wheat middlings, corn, combo of wheat and corn

Rendered unconscious at 30% CO2; 60-70% should be used for poults and chicks

Burdizzo may be used on large birds if unconscious

• For slaughter, do not suspend more than 90 sec;
• knife 2x head length for kosher/halal slaughter

Artificial shelter and fencing may not be necessary; Goats w/outdoor access: 0.5 m2 per goat

220 lux recommended; Window area of 0.5 m2 per goat can provide adequate light/ventilation

Minimum group size of 3

Transfer of Johne’s, CAE, OPP in colostrum a concern; H.contortus – diagnostic test FAMACHA

• Tail docking wool breed sheep: Rubber rings, cautery, sx removal, sx removal after emasculator
• <2 weeks of age
• Mat increase incidence of rectal and vaginal prolapses

• Castration: Rubber rings, crushing spermatic cord with emasculator, sx removal of testes
• 24 hrs– 7 days of age

• Disbudding/Dehorning:Cautery, sx, freezing, acid paste; Not recommended for sheep
• <1 mo of age