Saving human lives is of paramount importance in avalanche rescue missions. Avalanche military dogs represent an invaluable resource in these operations. However, their performance can be influenced by several environmental, social and transport challenges. If too severe, these are likely to activate a range of responses to stress, which might put at risk the dogs' welfare. The aim of this study was to assess the physiological and behavioural responses of a group of military dogs to a Simulated Avalanche Search and Rescue mission (SASR). Seventeen avalanche dogs from the Italian Military Force Guardia di Finanza (SAGF dogs) were monitored during a simulated search for a buried operator in an artificial avalanche area (SASR). Heart rate (HR), body temperature (RBT) and blood samples were collected at rest the day before the trial (T0), immediately after helicopter transport at the onset of the SASR (T1), after the discovery of the buried operator (T2) and 2h later (T3). Heart rate (HR), rectal body temperature (RBT), cortisol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured. During the search mission the behaviour of each SAGF dog was measured by focal animal sampling and qualitatively assessed by its handler and two observers. Inter-rater agreement was evaluated. Snow and environmental variables were also measured. All dogs successfully completed their search for the buried, simulated victim within 10min. The SASR was shown to exert significant increases on RBT, NEFA and cortisol (P<0.001), CK and HR (P<0.01), AST and LDH (P<0.05). These indicate the activation of a response to stress probably induced by the addition of factors such as helicopter transport, disembarking, and the search and rescue exercise. However, changes were moderate and limited over time, progressively decreasing with complete recovery at T3 except for sera cortisol that showed a slightly slower decline. More time walking within the search was related to lower RBT, conversely to walking. Standing still with head up and exploring with head-up were inversely related with HR. Agreement between handler and observers' opinions on a dog's search mission ability was found only for motivation, signalling behaviour, signs of stress and possessive reward playing. More time signalling was related to shorter search time. In conclusion, despite extreme environmental and training conditions only temporary physiological and behavioural changes were recorded in the avalanche dogs. Their excellent performance in successful simulated SASR may be attributable to extensive training and good dog-handler relationships. Simulated SASR did not seem to impair SAGF dogs' performance or welfare.
Buffalo farming in Italy is traditionally oriented towards mozzarella cheese production and over the last decade it has been rapidly increased. As a result, intensive techniques and mechanisation of farm activities have been introduced. Those sudden changes in rearing techniques have aroused a general concern about buffaloes welfare and its possible consequences on products quality.Human-animal interactions are recognized to have an impact on productivity, behaviour and welfare, particularly in dairy farms, where the milking process involves a close interaction with a human handler. Focusing on the first month of lactation, this preliminary study aimed at evidencing buffalo behavioural responses to machine milking. Relationship between behaviour and oxytocin administrations, often performed to allow milk let down, has been also investigated. The experiment included 8 multiparous and 6 primiparous buffaloes, calving in the same period. Starting from the first entrance in the milking parlour, the animals were followed two days/ week during the morning milking for the first 5 weeks of lactation. Behaviour observation was performed following a “focal animal sampling” (continuous recording) technique. Proportional frequencies of the following behaviours were calculated: kicking, stepping, defecating, urinating, vocalizing, pulling the teat cup off the teats. The exogenous oxytocin administration at milking was recorded. Pearson Chi-Square test was used to verify the presence of differences between primiparous and multiparous cows’ behaviour at milking. Cochran’s Q test was used to assess the variability of behaviour over time and a binomial regression was performed in order to verify the correlations between animal behaviours and the need to administer oxytocin. Considering lactation number, every behavioural pattern in primiparous cows, except for stepping, resulted to be more frequently performed (36.67% vs 24.36% for kicking; 5% vs 2.56% for defecating; 11.67% vs 5.13% for pulling the teat cup off the teats).The behaviour of urinating (48.33% vs 11.54%) proved to have a significantly higher mean frequency of occurrence compared to the multiparous one (P<0.001). The frequency of oxytocin administration showed a high variability over time (P<0.001), soon decreasing, while the selected behaviours proved to be more stable in time, except for kicking and urinating (P<0.05). Some correlations between animal behaviour at milking and oxytocin administration were found; particularly kicking, stepping and urinating appeared to be significantly related to the requirement of exogenous molecule (P<0.001). The occurrence of behaviours considered as indicators of acute stress and their correlation with oxytocin administration are a clear proof of the machine milking impact on buffaloes welfare and productivity
SUMMARYPlasma from 24 captive, clinically normal, Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus) was analysed in order to provide haematological and chemistry reference values for use in clinical pathology. The values found were broadly similar to those reported by previous authors in other species of vultures and raptors. No sex or subspecies differences were observed for any of the parameters studied. Aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase, were higher during spring than during winter. In addition, cholesterol values decreased with age whereas creatinine values increased.The Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) is an endangered, sexually monomorpbic species represented in its distribution area by two geographical variations, namely N. p. percnopterus and AT. p. ginginianus (Cramp & Simmons, 1977). Since no haematological data or blood chemistry values are available for this species, a study was carried out to provide baseline values for use in clinical pathology and in the veterinary management of the species in captivity.The vultures tested were kept for conservation purposes in outdoor enclosures, in three different localities in Italy. Healthy birds were selected on the basis of a clinical and bacteriological examination. Blood samples were collected from the radial vein of 24 individuals (17 N. p. percnopterus and 7 N. p. ginginianus) using heparinized syringes. Since the sexes are monomorphic and body weight over-
The aim of this study was to provide the picture of the dynamics of some blood parameters in the native Zerasca sheep breed during the peripartum period. Blood samples were collected from peripheral blood of 14 ewes at different times: from 21 d before lambing to 42 d after. Physiological and immunological parameters were evaluated: aspartate-aminotransferase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, non-esterified fatty acids, total protein, total antioxidant capacity, free radicals, serum bactericidal activity and serum lysozyme. One-way repeated measures ANOVA test was performed. Results showed a significant influence of the peripartum and the deviation from the normal range on many parameters.
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