INaturalist, Aquaculture, Dairy, Pasture, Pigs, Poultry Practices PDF

INaturalist (observations for taxonomy) Citizen science: "public participation and collaboration in scientific research with the aim to increase scientific knowledge" useful for crowdsourcing, data analysis, data collection Ten principles of citizen science 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10...

INaturalist (observations for taxonomy) Citizen science: "public participation and collaboration in scientific research with the aim to increase scientific knowledge" useful for crowdsourcing, data analysis, data collection Ten principles of citizen science 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Make INaturalist account → record both the coordinates of encounter + accuracy → Choose a group of organisms (i.e. butterflies) or better yet a specific organism (i.e. monarch butterfly) provide evidence as well → record the date of encounter → evidence using photo or sound for community to improve or confirm identification of organism Aquaculture practical 1. a. Key components of RAS - Key area for management: barramundi and murray cods. Maximises efficiency of product per litre of water and square meter used (growth of organically certified tomatoes and cucumbers) 2. b. AQUI-S → only anaesthetic for use in food fish in australia, 15-20mgL-1, no withdrawal period, expensive, used at slaughter + transportation of fish, biodegradable + env friendly adequate water: to perform all bodily functions in water → totally dependent on water to breathe, feed and grow, excrete wastes, maintain a salt balance and reproduce Where and when to test: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. a. Key water quality parameters to support fish life Oxygen: Dissolved oxygen → fish must ventilate a volume of water to obtain oxygen. ventilation rate is dependent on oxygen available in water (for respiration) LOW DO levels: responsible for most fish kills → DO requirements: dependent on species, size, feeding rate, activity level and temp - - amount of oxygen decreases at higher water temp, altitudes and salinities. Temperature: fish = ectotherms (cold blooded, body temp dependent on external factors) → for animal behaviour, feeding growth and reproduction - - pH: colorimetric test kits to test pH or pH meter / pH probe. need to be calibrated with uncontaminated standard solutions and electrode free of biofouling - - - Nitrogen & Ammonia: gaseous nitrogen from atmosphere + breakdown of nitrogenous compounds - - - - - - - - - - - - nitrite and nitrate → commercially available colorimetric test Dairy practical 1. 2. Healthy calf: 1. High quality colostrum for passive immunity transfer 2. suitable housing (available shade, good ventilation and clean dry bedding) 3. progression to milk or milk replacer, water and solid feed Heifer calves most weaning: 1. vaccinated, 2. high quality food, 3. 17% → 35% (puberty) → 55% MBW (joining with bulls) 4. selection of animals to lactating herd 5. culling (selling of heifers not meeting criteria) 6. months towards end of gestation: moved closer to main herd for observation 1st lactation (24months -- first calve): 1. first phase = transition period (negative energy balance) → additional management tracking fresh animals (recently calved) which are susceptible to illness 2. 90 days after calving: decision to breed (production, genetics and health), reached MBW 3. 305 days after calving: removed from milking herd → dry period (45-60days) for resting for next calving. non productive are sold 2nd and subsequent lactations: 1. cows that are healthy and productive get successfully pregnant 3-4 months after last calving. potentially more than 3 lactations. Discussion: Factors responsible for increased milk production until lactation 3-4: still maturing → means more energy for milk production at later years, younger cows allocate resources for growth. udder development Replacement rate (how many heifers should calve each year) → no. of cows / lactation number ((greater lactation number = each cow is more efficient, can lactate more per cow) 3. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. Notes: critical for a minimum of 1 minute between first teat stimulation and machine application. optimum time to apply teat cups (60-90 s) after cow teats and uder first touched by milker. Predictability of consistent calm milking routine creates stimulated good milk let-down (oxytoxcin effect). Replace gloves and dip if gloves/cups get dirty. Wash teats if very dirty (washing can increase mastitis travelling up teat through capillary action) then dry 4. Pasture.io → corstorphine dairy Pasture management: Net Photosynthesis (NPh) → balance between respiration and gross photosynthesis  \- in plant biomass viewpoint: NPh = amount of C retained in plant as plant tissue or Gross growth Initial phase of vegetative growth: amount of C fixed by GPH is larger than C respirated by small amount of tissue. Therefore amount of dry matter increases by gross growth. as plants grow bigger → R increases proportionally to a point, in which older tissue commences senesce Balance between gross growth (GG) and senescence is net growth \- NG approaches zero as plants age Cannot measure senescence, but can estimate (by measuring pasture dry matter before and after grazing) How to increase pasture utilisation: 1. maximise tissue growth (GG, how much photosynthetic leaf area present) or 2. minimise S (removing green tissue before senesces and dies) a\. Nutrients and water for maximum growth rate (N, P, and K macronutrients + water) b\. maintaining pasture production at "full capacity" (pasture growth/unit area is directly correlated to total solar radiation absorbed) → hence amount of green leaf area. In practice: maintain "factory" of pasture biomass to work at full potential. Best indicator = consistent "pasture cover" (i.e. pregrazing is 2500 kg DM/ha and target post grazing is 1500 → then pasture cover should be around 2000). once desired pasture cover is achieved: ensure daily/weekly amount of pasture removed by grazing/cutting similar to growth c\. Monitor pre- and post-grazing pasture mass (want to maintain good no. of growing leaves) \- ensure pasture maintained within a range of maximum growth (i.e. never grazed too hard → decreases net accumulation of biomass due to reduction of GG) or (too leniently: decreases net accumulation due to increased tissue loss by senescence) \- graze pastures when they have \~3 (ryegrass) or 4.5 (kikuyu) full leaves (i.e. 2500-3500kg DM/ha of pasture biomass) \- Removal of cows when biomass too low (1500-1800) → overgrazing (reduced intake + reduced regrowth of pasture) Techniques and management strategies 1\. Monitor pasture cover (biomass) frequently (objective methods like rising plate meter or satellite technology from pasture.io) → weekly during fast growing springs and summers. Pre- and post grazing : 2 to 3 times a week → then apply golden rule: harvest (graze) pasture at similar rate to growth) 2\. Winter pasture growth: 10-20 kg DM/ha, Spring and summer \> 80 kg DM/ha 3\. Ensure cows graze to the level of post-grazing residual we want them to graze (no less than 1500 kg DM/ha) - Rotation length(no. days to graze paddock again): summer/spring:12-21d, winter 45-60 days Health management: Smaxtec techonlogy Pigs practical (largewhite, landrace) Body condition scoring FCE = production input/production output How to improve: 1\. Reducing waste: (feed waste, "empty" days, mortality, sow turnover) 2\. improving growth efficiency: (quality and balance of ingredients, feeding management, physiology, genetics etc.) Restraint of piglets: A firm hold of the upper back leg with a supporting hand under the chest when possible minimises the chance of dropping the piglet (hold like this when picking up AND putting down). Being able to securely hold the piglet under one arm allows the other arm to be free to process the piglet. Poultry practical Restraining chicken: 1. Restrain wings by placing one hand on either side of body 2. Remove from cage, legs not caught on solid material. 3. Keep right hand restraining right side of bird, left side against the waist to keep wings down, hold legs with left hand/Slide left hand down to bird's breast bone and under the kneel. Right hand to assist with physical exam. 4. physical exam: eyes, face, wattle, nostrils and beak. ensure clean and free from secretions and weeping. Bird's plumage (feathers) well maintained. 5. check under wings for mites and ticks and around tail feathers. 6. observe legs (straight, not damaged and foot pads clean without bruise) 7. If chicken is in lay: able to fit the width of two fingers between pubic bones. 8. check cloaca is clean, no swelling and heat in abdomen. 9. if struggling: hold onto both legs and hang face down Cloacal temperature: wings down to side, one side against body, other hand hold wing down (left hand) → insert into cloaca egg anatomy shell -- calcium carbonate, porous. bloom/cuticle to close up pores for bacterial infections shell membrane: tough, made of keratin air cell: after egg laid, cooling down. as egg ages, moisture is lost → air cell increase albumen: egg white chalaza: rope like structures: to hold yolk in place. the fresher =more obv the chalaza Viteline membrane: membrane to hold yolk together in centre Egg quality: To sell fresh egg to market: 1. Colour of yolk (darker = better, marigold oil for colour), 2. Height of thick albumen -- closer to yolk (albumen height micrometer/heigh gauge), 3. shell thickness (micrometer) Cobb/Ross meat chicken vs hyline/isa brown egg chickens Lymphoid tissue: for filtering waste products, part of immune system (i.e. spleen, thymus) during narcolepsy: cut down from oesophagus Chickens: proventriculus (true stomach of bird, between gizzard and crop, **has bump like glands for digestion)**, gizzard (to replace chewing, grinds feed to smaller particles for digestion), crop (muscular pouch to store feed) Gizzard (intenstinal tract) → size dependent on fibrous diet. Has tough lining made of koilin Pancreas: secretes digestive enzymes into duodenum (part of small intestine Gallbladder: for bile into duodenum Duodenum → jejunum → ileum between end jejunum, start of ileum: tag of tissue (**meckel's diverticulum**) → vestigial remnant of embryonic yolk sac for nutrient transfer in early development at lower end of ileum: ceca (for water resorption → reverse peristalysis) → expel uric acid in feces. → at the end of ceca: **cecal tonsils (lymphoid tissue)** **Bursa of fabricius** (lymphoid organ, near cloaca → for young birds, shrinks from age) → **B lymphyoctes** Chickens: large liver for great FCE **Broiler** (white, immature): complete beak, not beak trimmed, (pink globulated → base of neck: lymphoid tissue, part of developing hens, shrinks with age, **produces t-lymphocytes**), more **leaner,** air sacs (membranous, clear like cling wrap, for respiration), selected for huge breast muscles, little keel bone Layers: beak trimmed (protect cannibalism/feather pecking during production), mature hen comb and wattle, **MORE PROMINENT** keel bones and pectoral muscles. Larger fat, bigger organs, **reproductive tract** (ovaries with yolk follicles, 7-8) → needs nutrient, stigma (where ova (yolk) will ovulate into oviduct, 9 days), 30 cm long: oviduct,  Oviduct section: top: **infundibulum** (engulf ova about to ovulate, fertilisation occurs here, happen within 15 minutes of ovulation otherwise membranes will stop. funnel shaped) **oviducal gland** (above vagina, stores sperm for up to 10 days). sperm cannot enter as egg is going down. once egg is laid, ovulation occurs within 5 mins. largest section: granular shaped called **magnum** (produces albumen, 5 hours, stimulus = yolk sending down. **plumping**: more egg white). **isthmus** (to put inner/outer membrane around albumen, 1.5 hours). **Uterus** (production of shell, 20 hours) [glands in oviduct:] 1. calcium ion 2. bicarbonate ion meet in lumen of uterus → precipitate into membrane → shell is built up in columns of calcium carbonate (palisades which form shell)). between palisades: pores for gas exchange (important for incubation, but invites contamination). Last part: **cuticle:** waxy that covers shell to cover pores (for colour as well) Entire process takes 25 hours (ovulation → lay)  [Avian digestive tract:] originally scavengers (rip flesh, scratch for seeds, consume large food, leave scene in haste: **SURVIVAL)** **High rate of metabolism:** digest and defecate berries in 15-20 mins (vs 3hours in meat eater), high body temp: 38-44 degrees [Avian respiratory:] 20% of body volume (more than 10% in mammals) → two components: 1. Lungs (gas exchange) 2. air sacs (move gas through lungs during inspiration and expiration). **No muscle diaphragm:** action of respiratory muscles alters volume of body cavity → efficient respiratory system for flight. removes 31% oxygen from air  Avian reproductive: egg contains all components for embryonic development, reproduce through egg, protective casing (shell), reproductive work prior to laying egg **Poultry nutrition:** 1. sorghum and wheat (energy, 60%), 2. protein: meat, blood, bonemeal, plant proteins: soybean and canola meal(20%) 3. amino acids (methionine (feathers), lysine) 4. vitamin mineral premix, 5. calcium, salt and limestone 6. oil or fat (5%) for energy - **Incubation of fertile eggs:** 16 degrees for 10 days without effect on hatchability. incubator: 37.8 degrees, 55% humidity. (preheating 25 degrees for 10 hours to prevent eggs from sweating). setting phase (0-18 days) → in trays at angle, every hour racks move 90 degrees). allows germinal disk/developing embryo to move across yolk for embryonic development + support shell membrane development and yolk sack. (18-21days) → hatching tray. candle eggs to check fertility at 18days (37 degrees, 65% humidity). Beef cattle prac flight zone: animal's safety zone: imaginary zone around animal (point of balance = shoulder) → vary in size from comfort of humans. Individual and herd flight zones. agitated = larger, calm = smaller Using flight zone: animal moves away until vacated from flight zone. Use flight zone to move cows. move in and out of flight zone to move cow using pressure to steer cow continuously work edge of flight zone → pressure and releasing (enter and leaving flight zone) for consistent clear signalling. too much pressure = injury. use least amount of pressure for safety and calm **Body conditioning**: 1- 5 (200 day weights -- time of weaning, and joining/pre-calving)  1 (poor): low musculature and fat. skeletal structure pronounced. 2 (backward): backbone, shoulderbones and hips visible, tail head slightly recessed. ribs faintly visible. 3 (moderate): hip bones faint, ribs not visible. trailhead not recessed, body outline smooth 4 (forward): ribs well covered, hip bones not visible, tail head slightly bumpy. 5(fat): tail head, hip bones = fat. rib bones well covered. overall shape bulging  What Am I Feeling For? 1. Place fingers flat over short ribs and press firmly into ends of short ribs ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2\. Condition score depends on how easy it is to feel individual short ribs with the thumb 3 Press in with thumb to feel fat reserves over short ribs. ACTION: Also feel tail head with fingers and thumb to determine fat reserves Soil: clayey soil: tiny and tightly packed → high water holding capacity (may lead to waterlogging) → **BETTER FOR PASTURE AS IT HOLDS WATER AND NUTRIENTS** sandy: porous: not hold onto water well → low water retention = dry soil (frequent watering) **well structured soils =** many pores and spaces for good drainage and easy plant root growth Sheep: ram tipping breeding soundness evaluation: 8-12 weeks prior to joining No stress → shear at least 6 weeks prior to joining (affects sperm production). deliver not walk long distances Ram effect: when non-cycling ewes are stimulated to ovulate by the sudden introduction of a novel ram Rule: 1% + 1 4 Ts: teeth, toes, tackle and testes Teeth: does he have any? are they sound? how old are they? Toes: can he walk properly? pain in gait? overgrown? cracked (separation of wall and sole)? discoloured (pink colour of interdigital skin)? swellings (foot or toe abscess) Tackle (penis): check hind quarters, penis can be gently averted from pre-piece. swelling and scouring? discharge (infection/trauma)? urethral process intact? Testes: size of 2 aluminium cans. work down to head of epididymis (half of golfball) from top. Differences in size? firm (not too hard or too soft, like half tense biceps)? Condition score: 3.5 **Ewe condition scores.** **Tipping ewe (for signs of lameness, footrot and subsequent treatment/trimming):** 1. stand beside the ewe, placing one hand under its jaw and other on its rump. 2. Shift the ewe's weight slightly to one side by pressing knee gently into its flank. 3. pull the ewe's head towards its side, using knee to tip hindquarters backwards, causing it to sit down 4. once seated, support the ewe by gently holding it upright on its rump **Age = permanent incisors/2** **Pregnancy =** wet and drying Wet ewes: larger, rounded, firm appearance of udder. elastic and warm udder indicating milk when inspecting wet ewes: check for swelling, asymmetry, visible lumps for infection. Palpate to check mastitis (if warm) when inspecting dry ewes: check for symmetry, feel udder for lumps, abscesses or hardened areas which could indicate previous mastitis Footrot: interdigital redness and swelling: separation of hoof wall from soft tissue underneath, foul odour, **lameness, 2**