A5065612152- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Animal Nutrition and Physiology
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Microbial infections and disease research
- Meat and Animal Product Quality
- Veterinary Pharmacology and Anesthesia
- Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Reproductive Physiology in Livestock
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Viral Infections and Immunology Research
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Pesticide Residue Analysis and Safety
- Musculoskeletal synovial abnormalities and treatments
- Veterinary medicine and infectious diseases
- Veterinary Equine Medical Research
- Rabbits: Nutrition, Reproduction, Health
- Cardiac Imaging and Diagnostics
- Nasal Surgery and Airway Studies
- Livestock and Poultry Management
- Livestock Farming and Management
- Coccidia and coccidiosis research
University of Turin
2021-2025
Ospedale SS. Annunziata
2023
University of Padua
2013-2020
Newcastle University
2014
Many piglets are exposed to potentially painful husbandry procedures within the first week of life, including tail docking and castration, without provision either anesthesia or analgesia. The assessment methods used evaluate pain experienced by often affected low specificity practical limitations, prompting investigation alternative methodologies. changes in facial expression following a event has been successfully applied several species. objective this pilot study was utility Grimace...
In order to evaluate at the slaughterhouse external carcass lesions on heavy pigs (170 kg) as potential welfare indicators, and prevalence of ham defects determining exclusion from Protected Designation Origin (PDO) markets, 732 pig batches northern Italy were monitored during a 12-month period, then processed analysing effect slaughter season, overnight lairage, production type. On line, skin scratches separately scored in posterior region (defined area including hind legs tail) anterior...
Pain alleviation associated with castration of piglets is an important welfare issue. The present study compares the effect different approaches and products suitable for farmer use, aim to alleviate pain due in piglets. A randomized within-litter design, 28 replicate litters, compared 7 treatments: handling (H) restraint piglet manipulation scrotum, without relief (C), 2 treatments (T2, T6) concentrations tetracaine (2 6%) applied topically 10 min before immediately post-surgery, 3 i.m....
In livestock, the importance of hygiene management is gaining within context biosecurity. The aim this study was to monitor implementation biosecurity and procedures in 20 swine herds over a 12-month period, as driven by tailor-made plans, including training on-farm. measure adenosine triphosphate (ATP) environmental contents used an output biomarker. presence livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Escherichia coli...
Poor health and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases are among the main sources of economic losses in pig industry worldwide, they also serve as indicators compromised animal welfare. However, there is limited information on long-lasting biomarkers poor common infections experienced by piglets early life. Hair cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA(S)), their ratio have been proposed components mammalian stress response due activation hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis...
Oesophago-gastric ulcers (OGU) are a production and welfare problem in pigs. Stomach condition was scored for 22 551 pigs 228 batches over 7-month period at an abattoir Italy processing heavy ham production. Mild or severe ulceration observed 20.7% of pigs, which 13% had scar tissue. Variation between high (0% to 36% prevalence ulcers) showed significant effect farm origin (P<0.001). Overnight lairage increased the mild (P<0.001), but not scarred ulcers. Scarred hottest summer months....
A semi-quantitative risk assessment was developed to classify pig farms in terms of the probability introduction African swine fever virus (ASFV). Following on-farm data collection via a specific checklist, we applied modified failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) calculate priority codes (RPC's), indicating increasing levels ranging from 1 5. The importance biosecurity measures attributed by experts. To consider geographic factors, classified based on local density farmed pigs, estimated...
Given that surgical castration is a painful practice performed on millions of pigs every year, need to identify novel reliable pain assessment tools exists in order test anaesthetic and analgesic protocols may reduce related pain. Two treatments were considered: handling (H) (C). Physiological (cortisol, lactate, glycaemia, rectal eye temperature) behavioural variables (latency move after treatment alterations posture walking) analysed. Cortisol showed the greatest level C piglets within 20...
The aim of this study was to analyze the feasibility and reliability using hair as a matrix determine dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) sexual steroid concentrations cortisol/DHEA ratio in fattening pigs. results could be also used plan future research identify threshold values order set up strategies control allostatic load increase resilience pigs before slaughter. conducted on 107 commercial crossbred rearing samples were taken by shaving at age 36 weeks, hormones measured solid-phase...
Limited data are available regarding animal-based biomarkers over time as outcomes of biosecurity in pig farms. The aim this study was to gain an insight into the implementation a convenience sample 15 swine herds, and describe potential interest; inputs from systematic evaluation were used develop tailor-made protocols monitored 12-month period. farms' then described, explored output parameters. A significative improvement observed at end (p = 0.047), particular professional zone 0.012)....
A prospective study was performed to evaluate the rhinomanometric values and changes in olfactory threshold that occur women throughout menstrual cycle. The subjects were 60 healthy volunteer premenopausal 18 40 years of age. We olfactometric measurements during follicular, periovular, luteal phases Rhinomanometry showed a higher (not statistically significant) airflow periovular phase than follicular phases. Olfactometry sensitivity (p < .05) .001) phase. conclude transnasal pressure...
The analysis of antimicrobial use (AMU) data in livestock allows for the identification risk factors AMU, thereby favoring application responsible AMU policies on-farm. Herewith, 36 finishing pig farms northern Italy from 2015–2017 was expressed as defined daily doses Italian pigs (DDDita) per population correction unit (DDDita/100kg). A retrospective then conducted to determine effects several husbandry practices on AMU. Overall, ranged between 12 DDDita/100kg 2015 and 8 2017, showing no...
Tail biting is an economical and behavioral problem in the pork production system worldwide systematic tail docking has been applied for decades to decrease risk of its onset. However, legal market-driven requirements are leading pig producers rear undocked animals. The aim this work was monitor tail, pluck (lungs, pleurae, liver), stomach, carcass, thigh lesions slaughtering pigs belonging either docked or batches. A total 525 batches were evaluated at slaughter: 442 83 presence only...
Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) has been isolated from many animals, frequently as the cause of fatal myocarditis, but pigs are most susceptible domestic specie. The was in swine farms since 1958 Panama and Europe cases sudden death young pigs, main origin outbreaks assumed to be local rodent populations. There is no treatment for disease.The clinical case describes an outbreak encephalomyocarditis a farrowing (farm A) weaning B) site, with mortality that reached 24.2% suckling piglets...
During oestrus, fattening female pigs are more prone to lameness, fractures and wounds due mounting agonistic behaviours of penmates. This study assessed the effect sexual maturity on behaviour welfare heavy slaughtered at 36 weeks age (180±10 kg) for dry-cured ham production. An immunocastrated control group was used comparison. In all, 56 15-week-old pigs, individually identifiable by back tattoos were equally distributed among four pens. All animals from two pens subject a three-dose...