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Abstract Background Retention of veterinary practitioners has arisen as a significant problem in recent years in Ireland. No prior Irish peer-reviewed publications have addressed this problem. An online questionnaire was available through social media and via email to Irish vets from January to November 2019. The aim of this survey was to ascertain the factors contributing to the problem of vet retention in Ireland. Results A total of 370 eligible responses were received. The median age of respondents was 31 and the gender balance was 250 females (68%) to 118 males (32%). The majority of respondents worked in clinical practice 322 (89%), with 138 (42.8%) in mixed practice, 115 (35.7%) in small animal practice, 49 (15.2%) solely with farm animals and 20 (6.2%) in equine practice. Fifty-four percent of respondents described themselves as likely to be leaving their current job within two years and 32.8% as being likely to leave the profession. In total, 44 variables were assessed by univariate analysis and 27 variables were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with the likelihood of a respondent leaving their current job within 2 years (LCJ2), as a proxy measure of the problem of retention. All variables significant on univariate analysis at P < 0.2 were included in a multivariable logistic regression model. Factors associated with LCJ2 included satisfaction with work-life balance (Odds Ratio (OR) 0.33); satisfaction with working hours (OR 0.2); number of years qualified (OR 0.91); position as a practice owner/partner/director (OR 0.15); and log10salary (OR 0.03). Four variables were retained in a separate multivariable linear regression model as significant (P < 0.05) predictors of log10salary. Log10salary increased with years qualified. Males had an increased salary compared to females irrespective of years qualified. Part-time employees, vets on maternity leave or postgraduate vets had a lower log10salary. Compared to veterinary employees, self-employed or locum vets had a higher log10salary. Conclusions Veterinary employers should consider salary, working hours and the facilitation of a good work-life balance in order to successfully retain veterinary employees. The significant difference in salaries currently offered to male and female vets, and the high percentage of respondents considering leaving the profession, are important findings and warrant further investigation.

O trabalho teve como objetivo obter uma estimativa da energia empregada na construção de uma estrutura utilizada para armazenamento de fardos de feno, em um sistema de produção animal. Para tanto utilizaram-se os coeficientes energéticos levantados pela Fundação Centro Tecnológico de Minas Gerais (CETEC). O valor obtido foi de 587,09 MJ.m-2, o qual foi amplamente diferente daqueles observados na literatura. Da energia total empregada na construção da instalação os itens fechamentos, estrutura de cobertura, piso e fundações representaram 50,35, 27,71, 18,72 e 3,22%, respectivamente. Considerando o sistema de produção de feno de alfafa e "coast-cross" como um todo, a instalação contribuiu com somente 0,14 e 0,16% da composição do custo energético anual destas culturas, respectivamente.The study objective was to estimate the energy involved in the construction of the structure to store hay bales in a animal production system. Data on energy coefficients published by Fundação Centro Tecnológico de Minas Gerais was used. The value of 587.09 MJ.m-2 was obtained, which is thoroughly different from those observed in the literature. In the total spent energy in the construction of the installation, the items walls, roof structure, floor and foundations represented 50.35, 27.71, 18.72 and 3.22%, respectively. Considering the whole alfalfa and coast-cross hay production system, the installation contributed with only 0.14 and 0.16% of the annual energy cost composition of these crops, respectively.

Soybean meal (SBM) was treated with aqueous solutions of ethanol or propanol at room temperature or at 80 C to study treatment effects on SBM-N solubility and utilization by sheep. Soybean meal was soaked in an excess of 70% (v/v) ethanol at 80 C (ET-80), 70% ethanol at 23 C (ET-23) or 70% propanol at 80 C (PR-80). Nontreated SBM and nontreated SBM heated at 80 C without alcohol treatment (NT-80) served as controls. Nitrogen solubility in McDougall's buffer was lowest (P less than .05) for PR-80 and ET-80 (2.2 and 4.7% of total N, respectively), intermediate (P less than .05) for ET-23 (9.0%), greater (P less than .05) for nontreated SBM (36.2%) and highest for NT-80 (40.2%). In an situ study using three ruminally cannulated cows and two bags per treatment per animal per removal time, more (P less than .05) N remained in in situ bags after 3, 6, 9 and 12 h incubation for ET-23, ET-80 and PR-80 than for nontreated SBM and NT-80. A lamb metabolism trial, using 15 lambs in each of two periods, compared nontreated SBM, ET-23, ET-80, PR-80 and urea as N supplements. Nitrogen retention was higher (P less than .02) for lambs fed SBM treatments compared with urea. When the same N supplements were fed to wethers in a 5 X 5 Latin square experiment and duodenal N flow was measured, non-ammonia non-bacterial N flow was higher (P less than .07) for wethers fed SBM treatments than for wethers fed urea.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

There are many well documented similarities in the anatomy and physiology of mammalian species. There are also numerous examples in which the equilibrium distribution of foreign chemicals in the body appears to follow principles of thermodynamic partitioning with relatively minor interspecies variations to be expected. Information on metabolic pathways and their kinetic characteristics can be obtained from a variety of in vitro systems. It may be possible to use such information in pharmacokinetic models that incorporate existing knowledge and judgment to predict pharmacokinetics in intact animals including man.

This review addresses the question of whether Thoroughbred horse racing is sustainable in the context of current social values. A recently acknowledged framework, known as ‘Social License to Operate’ (SLO), provides us with a lens through which to view and assess racehorse welfare. In multiple surveys of the general public, the horse owning public, and university students, the primary topics of concern regarding Thoroughbred racing show considerable concordance: concern about catastrophic injuries—particularly as related to track surfaces, concern over the racing of two-year-olds, whip use by jockeys, drug/medication policies, and aftercare opportunities for retired Thoroughbred racehorses. Legitimacy of an industry, consent from industry stakeholders, and trust between the community players, are all essential to have and maintain SLO. In the current era of 24/7 global media access, and the proliferation of social media providing an interactive platform for all interested parties, a dramatic change has occurred in commentary related to racehorse welfare concerns. The situation at Santa Anita (California, USA) from late December 2018 through mid-November 2019 demonstrated just how tenuous the SLO for horse racing is. This article will provide a brief review of what ‘Social License to Operate’ is, along with a brief literature review of five of the areas of primary concern voiced by stakeholders.

ABSTRACT The objective of the present study was to investigate the different plasma metabolites between anestrus and estrus postpartum dairy cows and to provide a theoretical basis for prevention of anestrus in dairy farm cows. In the experiment, one hundred and sixty-seven Holstein dairy cows were selected with similar age and parity. According to the concentration of β-hydroxybutyric acid, non-esterified fatty acids and glucose in plasma during 14 to 21 days in milk, all dairy cows were determined as having a status of energy balance. According to the results of clinical symptom, rectal and B ultrasound examination at 60 to 90 days postpartum, these cows were divided into twenty estrus and twenty-four anestrus group, other dairy cows were removed. 1H nuclear magnetic resonance technology was utilized to detect the plasma metabolites changes and screen different plasma metabolites between anestrus and estrus cows. Ten different metabolites including alanine, glutamic acid, asparagine, creatine, choline, phosphocholine, glycerophosphocholine, low-density lipoprotein, and very-low-density lipoprotein were significantly decreased in anestrous cows compared with estrous cows. Metabolic pathway analyses indicated that differential metabolites were primarily involved in amino acid and glycerophospholipid metabolism. These metabolites and their enrichment pathways indicate that reduced steroid hormone synthesis precursors result in lower levels of estradiol and progesterone and cause anestrus in negative energy balance. These data provide a better understanding of the changes that may affect estrus of postpartum dairy cows at NEB status and lay the ground for further research.

Antibacterial effects of extracorporeal shockwaves (ESWs) have been demonstrated in vitro against bacteria under static and dynamic growth conditions. This study assessed the effects of ESWs on the cell wall integrity of bacteria.Standardized suspensions of Staphylococcus aureus were exposed to various shockwave impulses (2000-12,000) of different energy flux densities (EFD, 0.38-0.96 mJ/mm(2)). Bacterial suspensions of equal concentration that had been permeabilized (to >99%) with isopropanol were used as positive controls. The bacteria of all groups were stained with Sytox Green nucleic acid stain. The fluorescence of the shockwave-treated, permeabilized, and untreated suspensions was measured and compared for bacterial survival, quantified by colony-forming units after plating.Although ESWs showed a significant energy-dependent antibacterial effect that reduced CFUs in the treated suspensions by between 56% and 99%, only maximum energies (4000 impulses at 0.96 mJ/mm(2) and 12,000 impulses at 0.59 mJ/mm(2)) were followed by a significant increase in fluorescence compared with the untreated control (p0.05).This is the first study to assess bacterial cell wall permeability after ESW treatment. It was found that the permeabilization of bacterial cells after ESW treatment was far less than expected due to the corresponding antibacterial effect. Other mechanisms, such as intracellular effects, might be involved in bacterial killing after ESWs and still must be elucidated.

AbstractInterventions to improve productivity in pastoral livestock systems of northern Kenya focus on the management of the rangeland resources and grazing areas with few initiatives on changes related to the livestock assets. However, changing climatic conditions with high frequencies of droughts have increased the vulnerability of pastoral communities and necessitate prompt interventions in animal management practices. In 2018, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation in collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute commenced a programme to build the resilience of pastoral holdings using their animal assets rather than depending on humanitarian emergency responses. Interventions necessitated changes in management practices related to sheep and goat production. Core innovation groups (CIG) each comprising 30 pastoral households in select communities were established to model new practices for wider adoption using participatory processes in Isiolo, Marsabit and Turkana Counties. CIG members went through a 3-year phased training programme on animal management practices for more efficient, resilient and productive animals. The adoption of new practices in CIG flocks was monitored by extension personnel. Data were analysed using logistic regression techniques to assess household-level adoption of livestock breed improvement, feeding and disease control interventions. The 3 years of the programme (2018–2021) were relatively satisfactory in terms of pasture availability; hence, communities pursued strategies to enhance their flocks. All CIG adopted more than one of the introduced technologies concurrently. Prevention of diseases was the most readily adopted, followed by crossbreeding using indigenous breeds of sheep and goats from other arid areas of Kenya. Turkana County had the lowest probability of adopting any of the technologies as previous devastating droughts have resulted in an increased emphasis on animals for survival rather than productivity. The study shows that pastoral communities are open to technological interventions for animal productivity. Adoption of the technologies was enhanced by the experiential capacity development activities adapted to the education level of the different communities.