Search Results (309)

Caring for the lives and welfare of animals is central to veterinary and animal sanctuary work, yet the meaning remains a subject of complex debates. Different stakeholders negotiate what constitutes appropriate care, leading to conflicting demands and expectations from internal and external sources. This article is based on two qualitative studies: Study I explores the multifaceted aspects of death work in farm animal medicine, emphasising the practical, emotional and ethical challenges involved. Study II examines human–animal interaction in sanctuaries, which reveal tensions between instrumental and relational care in animal-centred work. Relational care represents a subjectifying approach with individual attention to animals, while instrumental care is a more objectifying perspective based on species representation. These demands can often be contradictory, complicating day-to-day decision making under pressure. To analyse these complexities, this study employs Clarke’s situational analysis (social worlds/arenas mapping), providing a means of comparing care work across different fields. This approach highlights how actor constellations, institutional settings, and structural constraints influence the negotiation of care. Addressing these issues provides a more nuanced understanding of the professional challenges of animal-centred care and the necessary skills to navigate its inherent contradictions. Full article

Background: Aquaculture increasingly seeks sustainable alternatives to fishmeal, a key protein source in fish diets. Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) meal is a promising substitute, but its effects on fish growth, immunity, and gut health need further investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of varying BSFL inclusion levels on juvenile hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂), a widely farmed species in tropical aquaculture. Methods: Juvenile hybrid grouper were fed diets with four levels of BSFL substitution (0%, 10%, 30%, and 50%) over 56 days. Key metrics such as growth performance, immune function, antioxidant capacity, and gut transcriptome were analyzed. Results: Replacing fish meal with BSFL meal had no significant effect on the survival rate of hybrid grouper (p > 0.05) but significantly affected growth performance, immune function, and antioxidant capacity (p < 0.05). BSFL10 and BSFL30 groups showed good growth and elevated immune enzyme activity, with significantly higher HIS levels (p < 0.05); the Wf of the BSFL10 group was comparable to the control. However, excessive replacement (BSFL50) led to reduced growth (Wf significantly lower, p < 0.05) and increased oxidative stress, as indicated by higher CAT activity (p < 0.05). Transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulation of immune- and metabolism-related genes with increasing BSFL levels, with immune pathways notably activated in the BSFL50 group. Conclusions: BSFL meal is a promising alternative to fishmeal in juvenile hybrid grouper diets, with moderate inclusion (10–30%) being most beneficial. Excessive BSFL substitution (50%) may impair fish health, highlighting the need for careful formulation in aquaculture diets. Full article

Background/Objectives: How to best assist people living with dementia (PLWD) and their care partners to maximize quality of life and quality of living, through appropriate and effective non-pharmaceutical approaches, remains a focus of dementia societies and organizations worldwide. This scoping review explored the types, opportunities, benefits and challenges of outdoor-based care and support programs for community-dwelling PLWD and their care partners. Methods: The methodological framework proposed by Arksey & O’Malley (2005) and modified by Levac et al. (2010) was followed. Four research databases were searched from January 2000 to November 2024; 2817 articles were retrieved and 20 met inclusion criteria and underwent data extraction. Results: Program types included the following: nature-based, care farm, green care farm, and farm-based dementia care programs, representing more than half of the included articles; health walks; and outdoor horticulture/garden/gardening programs. The number of PLWD participants ranged from 4 to 136. The total number of care partner participants was 151 and the total number of service provider participants was 87. The essence of, and connections with, nature and the outdoors had notable relevance and value for PLWD. Reported benefits, assessed quantitatively and qualitatively, were numerous and those in the social domain were reported most often. Identified challenges and barriers were related to risks and safety and program development, and implementation and delivery. Conclusions: The noteworthy potential of outdoor-based care and support programs to promote and enhance the quality of life and quality of living of community-dwelling PLWD and their care partners was elucidated. As most PLWD prefer to, and do, continue to reside in their homes, including those with advancing symptoms, the findings have significant relevance and implications for real-world practice and policy. Future research addressing current gaps will strengthen this growing field of dementia research. Full article

How to best support people living with dementia and their care partners living in the community to maximize their quality of life and quality of living through appropriate and effective non-pharmaceutical approaches remains a focus of dementia societies and organizations worldwide. This paper examines the views of a range of stakeholders about the potential of green care farms in Canada, a country new to the concept of the green care farm approach to dementia support and care. Data were collected in Southern Ontario, Canada, between June and August 2022 via an online questionnaire (n = 12) and 1-1 interviews (n = 6). Questionnaire data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, specifically counts and frequencies. All interviews were audio-recorded and fully transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. We report thematic findings relating to the understanding of care farms for people living with dementia, perceived benefits of care farming, perceived enablers and barriers to implementing such an approach, and the hopes, motivations, and expectations of different stakeholders. The potential of green care farming for people living with dementia and their care partners in the Canadian context was evident. There are implications for care policy and practice relating to the promotion of (social) health and wellbeing for people living with dementia. Full article

This study presents a mobile-based sperm analysis system featuring a user-friendly, droplet-loaded microfluidic chip that enables non-specialist users to perform the rapid and accurate quantitative evaluation of boar semen directly on the farm. The iSperm system integrates a tablet, optical module, heater, and real-time image analysis app to deliver automated measurements of sperm concentration, motility, and progressive motility in under one minute. Precision and user variability tests demonstrated high concordance with CASA and the hemocytometer, with minimal differences between trained and untrained users. A method comparison using 77 farm-collected samples confirmed agreement through Passing–Bablok regression and Bland–Altman analysis. ROC curve analyses further validated diagnostic accuracy for all parameters, with AUC values exceeding 0.95. The iSperm platform offers a reliable, user-friendly, and field-deployable solution for on-site semen quality assessment, improving decision-making in swine artificial insemination. Full article

Organic farming can help mitigate the negative impacts of agriculture on biodiversity, but its effects remain controversial and poorly understood for many taxa, especially from a genetic perspective, where major knowledge gaps persist. This study investigates how the organic and conventional management of banana groves influences population dynamics (i.e., total abundance and abundance by sex and developmental stage) and mitochondrial genetic diversity (cytochrome b gene) of the earwig Euborellia annulipes, a natural biological control agent. The results revealed higher overall abundance, particularly of females, in organic groves. This could be due to females’ more sedentary behaviour linked to parental care, increasing their vulnerability to local disturbances such as pesticide application. In contrast, males, being more mobile, did not respond to the farming system. Genetic analyses revealed similar haplotypic diversity across systems but higher nucleotide diversity in conventional orchards. This may suggest either pesticide-induced mutations associated with detoxification and resistance or increased gene flow driven by greater mobility in response to disturbance. Although the high genetic diversity observed raises questions about the introduced status of E. annulipes, its origin remains unresolved. These findings highlight the relevance of integrating ecological and genetic data when assessing the impacts of agricultural practices on beneficial arthropods. Full article

Countries worldwide have implemented regulations on the green coverage ratio of new buildings to address the urban heat island effect. For example, Taipei City mandates that the green coverage rate of new buildings must be between 40% and 70%, while Singapore requires a green coverage rate of 100% or higher. Consequently, building greening is now a regulatory requirement rather than a preference. This study focuses on developing an indoor light-emitting-diode (LED) hydroponic inverted planting system to utilize ceiling space for expanding green areas in buildings. The light source of this system is suitable for both plant growth and daily lighting, thereby reducing electricity costs. The watertight planting unit does not require replenishment of the nutrient solution during a planting cycle for small plants, which can reduce water consumption and prevent indoor humidity. The modular structure allows various combinations, enabling interior designers to create interior ceiling scapes. Additionally, it is possible to grow aromatic plants and edible vegetables, facilitating the creation of indoor farms. Consequently, this system is suitable for high-rise residential buildings, office buildings, underground shopping malls, and indoor areas with limited or no natural light. It is also applicable to hospitals, clinics, wards, and care centers, where indoor plants alleviate psychological stress and enhance mental and physical health. Full article

Animal health strategies in rural Colombia face significant challenges due to a gap between institutional technical approaches and the sociocultural contexts of local communities. This study examines the social representations of animal health and welfare among small- and medium-scale livestock producers in rural Huila. Through a qualitative methodology, semi-structured interviews were applied and focus groups were conducted in different municipalities with the objective of contrasting and enriching the findings obtained in the interviews. In total, the perceptions, knowledge, and practices of 263 small and medium livestock producers from 23 municipalities in Huila were explored with respect to animal vaccination campaigns and healthcare in rural settings. Findings indicate that health management is shaped not only by technical protocols but also by cultural values, collective imaginaries, and symbolic relationships with animals. Representations of animal welfare are diverse—ranging from emotional and economic to preventive and communal perspectives—and often diverge from scientific–technological frameworks. These differences influence the level of community adherence to national animal health programs. The study highlights the limitations of top–down approaches and underscores the need to incorporate local knowledge and practices into policy design. It concludes that promoting sustainable livestock farming requires acknowledging these varied representations, fostering intercultural dialogue, and adopting a territorial approach to integrated health. Recognising the sociocultural dimensions of animal care is essential for developing effective, inclusive, and context-sensitive animal health strategies. Full article

The recent spread of foreign animal diseases (FADs) such as foot-and-mouth disease and African swine fever emphasizes the need to conduct comprehensive surveillance to detect a potential disease introduction as soon as possible. The United States is currently free of many important FADs of swine, and many preparedness initiatives have raised awareness amongst the commercial, intensive swine industry. However, the awareness and engagement of small-scale swine farmers regarding disease surveillance and passive reporting is not well known. This scoping review was conducted to identify and characterize sources of evidence on the practices and attitudes of small-scale swine farmers and owners in the United States regarding pig health and disease management, surveillance, and veterinary care use, and secondarily to characterize information seeking and communication behaviors. Sources of evidence were found through keyword searches of online databases, citation matching, and Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education project reports. Eligibility criteria included being conducted on or with US small-scale (defined in this review as less than 1000 pigs) or non-intensive swine farms and containing information pertinent to the objectives of the review. Seventeen sources were included in the final review. Regular disease monitoring and surveillance practices were not commonly reported, and multiple sources reported little to no incidence of disease occurrence in small-scale swine farms. Reported veterinary use and access was variable, and multiple sources reported that the choice to use veterinary care was affected by its perceived cost, value, and accessibility. Future research and outreach should aim to discern key factors affecting farmer’s decisions to use a veterinarian, improve their awareness and prioritization of swine diseases, and develop small-scale appropriate disease surveillance protocols. Ultimately, this will help small-scale swine farmers to protect the health of their pigs and improve FAD surveillance in the US. Full article

In the last decade, the demand for healthier and safer food has increased alongside greater consumer awareness of food consumption, particularly in developed countries. This trend has pushed the food industry to implement a wide range of food quality control measures and surveillance systems for detecting contaminants. While high-end laboratory techniques remain the gold standard detection techniques, there is a growing need for simpler, more robust diagnostic tools that can be applied in the early stages of the food production chain to promptly identify deviations that may compromise food safety or quality. A complementary approach using both techniques can result in an enhancement of the overall contaminant-detection effectiveness and a better balance between food safety decision-making and the preservation of production value. This need is particularly relevant in farming and in the dairy industry. Developing milk process analytics requires careful consideration of both the nature of the processed sample and the conditions under which it is collected. Moreover, newly introduced techniques require the development of sound methodologies for data collection, analysis, and statistical process control. For this reason, this paper presents a detailed analysis of our previous milk data-collection campaigns involving technological prototypes, aiming to identify and suggest ways to preventively minimize issues related to experimental data collection, interpretation, errors, and mishandling. This analysis resulted in a set of practical observations and recommendations reported in the paper. Full article

With increasing wind energy infrastructure developments, better understanding of its impacts on tourism is needed. This study examines international visitors’ attitudes toward wind farms in Iceland and investigates how locational factors affect their compatibility with tourism. Based on a survey answered by 1005 departing visitors, this study reveals that 92% are concerned about climate change. However, a lower proportion, 76%, support the use of wind energy in Iceland. Central European visitors are the most likely to be negatively affected by wind energy development, while Asian visitors showed the greatest interest in visiting a wind farm in Iceland. Among visitors from the leading countries of origin, French tourists were the most negative toward wind energy development in Iceland. Wind farms were perceived as most suitable in industrial, offshore, and agricultural areas, whereas their suitability was considered lowest in national parks and other protected natural areas and cultural heritage areas. Positive attitudes toward the use of wind energy positively affected the perceived suitability of wind farms in all of the discussed areas, while a lower perceived compatibility of wind farms with the tourist experience had a negative effect. The study highlights the importance of careful spatial planning and participatory approaches to improve compatibility between tourism and harnessing wind energy. Full article

The environmental impact of livestock by-products presents significant challenges, particularly in regions with intensive farming and high pollution levels, such as the Po Valley. This study evaluated the effectiveness of biochar and wood vinegar in reducing gaseous emissions during the laboratory-scale storage of livestock slurry, digestate, and liquid fractions. Various types and applications of biochar, both with and without wood vinegar, were tested across three independent incubation periods of varying durations. The results showed that ammonia (NH₃) emissions were lower from slurry compared to raw digestate and the liquid fraction, while methane (CH₄) emissions exhibited the opposite trend. Pyrolysis biochar effectively reduced NH₃ emissions by 47% on average when applied as a 5 cm surface layer. However, its effectiveness was inconsistent when mixed into the material or when produced via gasification. Biochar activated with wood vinegar significantly reduced NH₃ emissions from both slurry and digestate by 61%, but it also led to increased emissions of CH₄ and CO₂. Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions were detected only after at least one month of incubation and were higher when biochar was used as a cover alone or when activated with wood vinegar. Overall, applying biochar as a cover and activating it with wood vinegar proved effective in reducing NH₃ emissions during the storage of livestock by-products. However, the effectiveness varied significantly depending on the type of biochar and its method of application, particularly with respect to CH₄ emissions, highlighting the need for careful consideration when using wood vinegar-activated biochar. Full article

Background/Objectives: White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) (WTD) play a central role at the human–livestock–wildlife interface, given their contribution to the spread of diseases that can affect livestock. These include a variety of bacterial, viral, and prion diseases with significant economic impact. Given the implications for WTD as potential reservoirs for a variety of diseases, methods for prevention and disease control in WTD are an important consideration. Methods: Using commercial livestock vaccines against bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in killed and modified live formulations, we test the ability of WTD to develop humoral and cellular immune responses following vaccination. Results: We demonstrate that, similar to cattle, WTD develop humoral immune responses to both killed and modified live formulations. Conclusions: As the farmed deer industry and the use of livestock vaccines in non-approved species grow, this type of information will help inform and develop improved husbandry and veterinary care practices. Additionally, while we were unable to detect cell-mediated immune responses to the vaccine, we established PrimeFlow as a method to detect IFN-γ responses in specific T cell populations, adding another level of resolution to our ability to understand WTD immune responses. Full article

The aim of this study is to evaluate the environmental impact of solar energy by analyzing its emissions, resource consumption, and waste generation throughout its life cycle. As one of the most widely adopted energy sources, solar power offers substantial benefits in reducing greenhouse gas emissions; however, its broader environmental footprint requires careful examination. The production, operation, and disposal of solar panels contribute to pollution, water consumption, and hazardous waste accumulation, with an estimated 250,000 tons of solar waste reported in 2016 alone. Furthermore, solar power generation requires significant water resources, averaging 650 gallons per megawatt-hour of electricity. A key focus of this study is the emissions associated with solar technology, particularly during panel manufacturing and operation. Using HOMER Pro software, this research quantifies the emissions from Trina Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels (345 Wp), revealing an annual output of 49,259 kg of carbon dioxide, 214 kg of sulfur dioxide, and 104 kg of nitrogen dioxide. This Study obtained using HOMER Pro primarily account for operational emissions and do not include full lifecycle impacts such as raw material extraction, transportation, and disposal. These findings highlight the trade-offs between solar energy’s environmental advantages and its indirect ecological costs. While solar systems contribute to energy security and long-term economic savings, their environmental implications must be factored into energy planning and sustainability strategies. This study underscores the importance of developing greener manufacturing processes, improving recycling strategies, and optimizing solar farm operations to reduce emissions and resource depletion. By providing a comprehensive assessment of solar energy’s environmental impact, this research contributes valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders seeking to balance the benefits of solar power with sustainable environmental management. Full article

China has strong traditions of respect for animals, but momentous changes in recent history have changed society dramatically, and it cannot be assumed that animal welfare is always good. Farm animal production is being intensified rapidly, which can reduce resources offered to animals, in particular space for comfortable living. However, amongst workers in the animal industries, there is little optimism about their ability or need to improve animal welfare. Nevertheless, there is growing attention to animal welfare science in China, which is focused on remote sensing and technological approaches. The Chinese government currently has relatively little involvement in supporting good animal welfare standards, although legislation is in place. Attitudes are influenced by many factors, including the law, age, experience, occupation, and gender. The relatively strong involvement of women in caring for farm animals is encouraging as they tend to have more empathetic attitudes toward animals. It is concluded that attitudes are changing rapidly, but so are animal production systems, which make the development and improvement of animal welfare on farms especially important. Full article