OBJECTIVE To evaluate 2 methods of surveying free-roaming cats (Felis catus) and identify factors potentially associated with the presence of such cats in a mixed-urban environment. ANIMALS Free-roaming cats on and near The Ohio State University campus. PROCEDURES The university campus and surrounding areas were divided into zones classified by land-use category; 100 zones were selected for surveillance of free-roaming cats by the line-transect method (with visual observation). Twenty-three of the 100 zones were selected for surveillance by the trail-camera method (motion-triggered still photography). Food resources in the study site were mapped, and the presence of other animal species was recorded with trail cameras. Potential associations between the number of cat sightings and variables of interest were assessed by statistical methods, RESULTS There were 6 cat sightings in 5 zones and 92 cat sightings in 9 zones with the line-transect and trail-camera methods, respectively. Cats were most frequently detected off campus and in urban land-use zones. The number of cat sightings with trail cameras was significantly correlated with the density of food resources but not wildlife sightings in the area and was significantly greater at night than during the day. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The number of sightings with the trail-camera method was substantially higher than that obtained with the line-transect method; however, identification of individual cats was generally not possible, and population size could not be estimated with these methods. Communities considering population control for free-roaming cats should consider the use of trail cameras to identify areas with high free-roaming cat activity and observation at night to gather baseline data. Easily accessible food waste may attract free-roaming cats.

Objective: The objective of the study was to ascertain the feasibility of fortifying composite poul¬try feed from food and agricultural waste material with the probiotic organism Lactobacillus fer¬mentum and determine the efficiency of formulated probiotic-fortified feed via animal feeding tests. Materials and Methods: Probiotic-fortified feed (G3) was formulated using proximate analy¬sis values of waste materials. Alternative diets were G1Feed Mill of Nigeria starter mash and G2Ground corn. For growth comparison test, 30 1-day-old Agricol broiler chicks were ran¬domized into three groups of 10 chicks each with each group being placed on a separate diet (G1, G2, and G3). Probiotics antimicrobial efficacy feeding assay consisted of the treatment diets T1Feed Mill of Nigeria starter mash and T2probiotic-fortified feed. Twenty 1-day-old unvac¬cinated chicks were placed into two groups of 10 chicks each and fed 0.5 ml of 9.0 × 108 CFU/ml Escherichia coli 0157:H7 on day 1 after which they were placed on treatment diets. Data collected were analyzed and interpreted using the SPSS Statistical tool version 25. Results: Chicks fed G1 and G3 diets performed similarly (p < 0.05) in terms of measured param¬eters (weight, height, and wingspan) and had better performance compared to chicks on G2. In the E. coli treatment group, chicks placed on treatment diets T1 and T2 showed similar levels of E. coli cell reduction every week. Performance based on measured parameters was also similar (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Feasibility of fortifying composite animal feed with the probiotic organism L. fermen¬tum was ascertained and the efficiency of the feed via animal feeding tests was proven. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2019; 6(4.000): 544-548]