Thermal stress is a health and welfare concern in the poultry industry. Poultry have specific thermoregulation strategies for heat stress (i.e., vasodilatation) or cold stress (i.e., vasoconstriction). Infrared thermal (IRT) analysis is a non-invasive temperature assessment technology with significant benefits compared to conventional temperature measurements, which are invasive and time-consuming. However, a wide range of IRT methodologies and equipment are used for temperature assessment in poultry. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of IRT applications in poultry undergoing thermal stress. The bibliographic search yielded 17 records for qualitative synthesis and 10 for quantitative analysis. The results showed IRT is more commonly studied during heat stress than cold stress, and more research is being conducted on laying hens than other poultry species. Also, four body areas (parts of the head, body, face, and leg) were identified as common areas of interest for body surface temperature measurement. There is a clear thermoregulation response to thermal stress in poultry, with marked differences between featherless and feather-covered areas. IRT in poultry undergoing thermal stress has a good diagnostic value and represents an important welfare assessment tool for future research, particularly when combined with other welfare assessment methods.

Los minerales traza son nutrientes esenciales para el mantenimiento de la vida, el crecimiento y la reproducción. Las deficiencias de minerales en rumiantes afectan las funciones fisiológicas y metabólicas que con frecuencia causan enfermedades. El diseño y uso de los bolos intrarruminales de liberación controlada (BILC) es una alternativa para corregir la falta de los microelementos en el organismo. El propósito de esta revisión es evidenciar la información disponible sobre los diferentes tipos de BILC de minerales traza, así como de los métodos de fabricación que incluye: técnicas de extrusión en caliente, granulación por fusión y fusión directa. Además, se describen los efectos de BILC relacionados en la salud, en los parámetros productivos y reproductivos en rumiantes.

This study aimed to examine the physiological, biochemical, and behavioral responses of primiparous and multiparous goats during peripartum, as well as their relationship with the discomfort caused by parturition. Eleven primiparous and 10 multiparous dairy goats maintained under intensive conditions were used in this study. Goat behavior was monitored immediately before and during expulsion phase. The behavior of the mother and kid was recorded during the first 2 h postpartum. In the three stages of parturition, the intensity of maternal vocalizations, changes in facial Grimace scale, and blood samples to determine the cortisol, estradiol, and protein concentrations were determined. The weight of the kids and litter size were also considered. Primiparous goats took longer to expel the kid than did multiparous goats (P = 0.04). A negative correlation was found between cortisol concentration and maternal motivation score at 12 and 8 days prepartum (P ? 0.06), as well as at 24 and 48 h postpartum (P ? 0.05). Cortisol concentrations at 4 h postpartum were negatively correlated with the latency of the first lick to the kid (P = 0.01). The latency to suckle was shorter in twin births than in single births kids (P = 0.02). Single birth kids weighed more than twin births kids (P = 0.004). The duration of the first grooming of the kid was shorter in the heavier than in the lighter kids (P = 0.028). The intensity of the vocalizations emitted by the mother in the pre-birth period was greater in the births of heavy offsprings than in those of light offsprings (P = 0.032). The expulsion phase was affected only in primiparous goats. Regardless of parity, cortisol and estradiol concentrations were elevated during parturition; the facial Grimace score and the intensity of vocalizations were greater in the expulsive and postpartum phases.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of intraruminal boluses with sulfamethazine (SM) and selenium (Se) on goat kids naturally infected with Eimeria. Twenty goat kids were selected with an average body weight (BW) of 13.7 kg. They were grouped as follows (n = 5 animals per group). BC: dosed with boluses without drugs; BSM: dosed with boluses containing 4 g of SM; BSe: dosed with boluses containing 90 mg of Se; BSMSe: dosed with boluses with 4 g of SM + 90 mg of Se. All animals showed the presence of the boluses at 10 d after dosing by radiography. DMI/BW at the beginning of the experiment was low: 0.76% in BC and 0.86% in the dosed groups. At the end of the experiment there was an increase: 1.36% in BC and 1.54% in the dosed groups (P > 0.05). BSMSe had the lowest percentage of Eimeria spp (P < 0.05). There were differences between the Eimeria species found before and after the treatments. It was observed that BSM and BSMSe decreased the number of oocysts from 7 to 28 d (P < 0.05). BSMSe had the highest content of blood SM and Se (P < 0.05). The histological alterations were loss of the epithelium and villous atrophy.