Volume 1, Issue 1

Background: Probiotics are increasingly used as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in poultry production.

Methods: A total of 480 one-day-old Ross 308 broilers were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g/kg of a Bacillus subtilis probiotic) with six replicate pens each for 42 days.

Results: Supplementation at 1.0 g/kg improved body weight gain by 6.8% and the feed conversion ratio by 5.1% compared with the control (P < 0.05). Villus height and villus-to-crypt ratio in the jejunum increased linearly with the dose.

Conclusions: Dietary B. subtilis at 1.0 g/kg is an effective strategy to support growth and intestinal integrity in broilers.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of subclinical mastitis (SCM) and identify herd- and cow-level risk factors in smallholder dairy farms.

Methods: A cross-sectional study sampled 612 lactating cows from 94 herds. Quarters were screened with the California mastitis test and positive samples were cultured.

Results: Cow-level SCM prevalence was 38.4% (95% CI 34.6–42.3). Parity ≥ 4, late lactation and the absence of post-milking teat dipping were associated with higher odds of SCM. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent isolate.

Conclusions: Simple hygiene interventions could substantially reduce SCM in smallholder systems.

Objective: To compare recovery quality and cardiorespiratory variables between alfaxalone- and propofol-based induction protocols in cats undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy.

Methods: Sixty healthy cats were randomly assigned to receive either protocol; assessors were blinded to treatment.

Results: Recovery scores and times to extubation did not differ between groups. Post-induction apnoea was less frequent with alfaxalone (7% vs 27%).

Conclusions: Both protocols are suitable; alfaxalone may be preferred where respiratory depression is a concern.

We adapted a hands-on welfare protocol for working donkeys and mules and tested its inter-observer reliability in 120 animals. Agreement was substantial for body condition score (κ = 0.71) and lesion scoring (κ = 0.66). The protocol can be completed in under ten minutes per animal and is suitable for routine field surveillance.