The objective of the study was to establish an operational somatic cell count (SCC) threshold to predict the presence of intramammary infection (IMI) in composite milk samples and compare findings with those in quarter milk samples. South African dairy producers now preferred composite milk samples for herd udder health analysis because of increasing cow numbers, convenience of sampling and lower cost. A retrospective study was conducted on 345 461 composite and 89 638 quarter milk samples from South African herds. Variance estimates for the proportion of quarter samples testing positive were adjusted to account for the lack of their independence within individual cows. The IMI at SCC thresholds of 150 000 cells/mL and 200 000 cells/mL differed only by 3.26% in composite milk samples. Youden's index indicated the optimum SCC thresholds for composite and quarter milk samples as 150 000 cells/mL and 200 000 cells/mL, respectively. At 150 000 cells/mL, sensitivity (95% confidence intervals [CI]) in composite milk samples was 65.3% (64.0%, 66.6%) and specificity was 66.8% (65.7%, 67.9%); and in quarter milk samples, sensitivity at 200 000 cells/ mL was 70.8% (69.5%, 72.0%) and specificity was 63.6% (62.4%, 64.8%). The likelihood of infection for udders and quarters, respectively, was 1.034 and 1.327 at an SCC threshold of 150 000 cells/mL and 0.864 cells/mL and 1.177 cells/mL at 200 000 cells/mL. The area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristics graph was 0.7084 and 0.7277 for composite and quarter samples, respectively, indicating that the SCC test could be considered as a good indicator of IMI in both sample types. (Résumé d'auteur)

Meat sheep production in most countries relies on grazing and profitability (gross margin per ewe and per year) is low. Profitability is in part based on the level of numeric productivity (number of lambs produced per ewe and per year). Numeric productivity depends on fecundity and survival rates of ewes and lambs. These survival rates are extremely variable from one farm to another. These variations are detrimental to sustainability of the farms. We will study the mortality rates of ewes and lambs and other health related traits, taken as indicator in meat sheep farms in different locations-plain or semi-mountain areas (34 farms) in relation to gross margin taken as an indicator of economical sustainability as well as other markers of sustainability. We constructed a method for evaluating sustainability based on the above mentioned parameters in the field of production, animal health, and economics. It was based on two step procedure: first, selection of farm parameters using clustering methods, second ranking farms on sustainability using principal component analysis with an orientation obtained by the incorporation in the analysis of two virtual farms (high and low sustainability) constructed on a choice of sustainability for each parameter. This choice of sustainability is flexible and dependant on the views of stakeholders and may modify the ranking of farms. The scale of sustainability we proposed was tested in relation to the management of the farm (organic or conventional) and location (plain or semi-mountain areas): the semi-mountain farms were more sustainable than plain farms and organic farms were often, but not always, more sustainable than conventional farms. The method can be easily applied to any animal production.

In Burkina Faso, rural livestock farmers in arid and semi-arid areas rely heavily on woody plant resources such as Acacia nilotica and Acacia raddiana to satisfy the needs of small ruminant rearing. The assessment of the availability and the use of these two species are therefore essential to better manage them sustainably for their preservation. The survey carried out in the area showed that the questioned farmers exploited the leaves and pods of the two Acacia for the needs of the ruminants. 100% of the farmers exploit A. raddiana only for the feeding of small ruminants. However, A. nilotica was exploited for animal feed and health. The most commonly reported treatments are Foot and Mouth Disease (98.7%) followed by diarrhea (73.7%) and foot wounds (51.2%). In order to compare the results of the survey, a botanical inventory was carried out in the area and the results showed that A. raddiana is more available compared to A. nilotica. Also, other local species such as Faidherbia albida, Acacia senegal, Balanites aegyptiaca and Acacia siberiana are also exploited for the needs of small ruminant rearing in the study area. The most important constraints were excessive cutting, drought and overexploitation that negatively impact their survival. Data on these constraints provide the basis for a campaign to raise awareness among herders' communities to preserve these plants to sustainably improve the productivity of small ruminants and consequently farmer’s income.

To investigate effects of storage conditions on the canine urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPC) and on SDS-agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) of urinary proteins. SAMPLE Urine specimens from 20 proteinuric (UPC > 0.5) and 20 nonproteinuric (UPC ≤ 0.2) dogs. UPC and SDS-AGE were performed on urine specimens stored at room temperature (20°C) and 4°C for up to 5 days and at -20° and -80°C for up to 360 days; some specimens were subjected to 3 freeze-thaw cycles. Results were compared with those obtained for fresh urine specimens. UPC was not affected by storage at room temperature or by freezing. A decrease in UPC was observed for specimens from nonproteinuric dogs after 5 days at 4°C (10%) and from both groups after 90 days at -20° and -80°C (≤ 20% and ≤ 15%, respectively). The SDS-AGE profiles revealed no visual changes regardless of duration of storage for specimens stored at room temperature, 4°C, and -80°C, except for 1 profile after 360 days at -80°C. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles did not affect SDS-AGE profiles. Appearance or strengthening of high-molecular-weight bands that could alter interpretation was evident in SDS-AGE profiles after storage at -20°C for ≥ 15 days (31/40 dogs). Storage of urine at -20° or -80°C for up to 1 year influenced the UPC without affecting clinical interpretation. Storage of urine specimens at -20°C impaired visual analysis of SDS-AGE. When SDS-AGE cannot be performed on fresh or recently refrigerated urine specimens, storage at -80°C is recommended.

International audience

Meat sheep production in most countries relies on grazing and profitability (gross margin per ewe and per year) is low. Profitability is in part based on the level of numeric productivity (number of lambs produced per ewe and per year). Numeric productivity depends on fecundity and survival rates of ewes and lambs. These survival rates are extremely variable from one farm to another. These variations are detrimental to sustainability of the farms. We will study the mortality rates of ewes and lambs and other health related traits, taken as indicator in meat sheep farms in different locations-plain or semi-mountain areas (34 farms) in relation to gross margin taken as an indicator of economical sustainability as well as other markers of sustainability. We constructed a method for evaluating sustainability based on the above mentioned parameters in the field of production, animal health, and economics. It was based on two step procedure: first, selection of farm parameters using clustering methods, second ranking farms on sustainability using principal component analysis with an orientation obtained by the incorporation in the analysis of two virtual farms (high and low sustainability) constructed on a choice of sustainability for each parameter. This choice of sustainability is flexible and dependant on the views of stakeholders and may modify the ranking of farms. The scale of sustainability we proposed was tested in relation to the management of the farm (organic or conventional) and location (plain or semi-mountain areas): the semi-mountain farms were more sustainable than plain farms and organic farms were often, but not always, more sustainable than conventional farms. The method can be easily applied to any animal production.