The increasing public concern for animal welfare has pushed the poultry sector to progressively replace conventional battery cages (CC) for laying hens with alternative systems such as enriched cages (EC) and aviaries (AV). The aim of this study was to compare laying performance, egg location, and egg quality associated with these three housing types. The experiment was conducted in twelve pilot-scale chambers fitted out with one of the three treatments. Each chamber housed 30 Lohmann LSL-Lite laying hens from 23 to 32 weeks of age. The available area was 492, 780, and 1120 cm²/hen for CC, EC, and AV, respectively. The EC and AV chambers were equipped with nest boxes, perches, and a pecking/scratching area (PSA). In the AV chambers, hens had free access to a space arranged in three levels with a wood shaving litter on the ground level as a PSA. Hen-day production was recorded and egg quality assessment included egg cleanliness, weight and proportion of each component (albumen, yolk, and shell) but also pH, Haugh unit, and meat spots for albumen; color intensity and blood spots for yolk; thickness and resistance for shell. The laying rate and egg weight were similar for CC and EC (around 96.5% and 59.5 g; P > 0.05). For AV, these parameters were significantly lower (77.2% and 58.6 g; P < 0.001) but the differences compared to the cage systems progressively reduced across time. Nearby 70% of the eggs were laid in the nests with EC while almost all of the eggs were laid on the litter at ground level with AV. The rate of clean eggs was around 77% for both cage systems compared to 14% for AV. Most of egg quality traits were identical for the three systems (P > 0.05) but there was a lower yolk proportion for eggs laid in AV (25.2% versus 25.7% for cages systems; P < 0.001) and higher shell resistance for eggs laid in CC (40.7 N versus 39.3 N for alternative systems; P < 0.001). Lower laying performance observed with AV could be explained by higher animal activity and competition for facilities, but these factors were not measured in this study. The reduction of the difference in egg productivity over time compared to cage systems suggest the need for a period of training/adaptation for pullets/hens kept in such an environment. An enriched cage system seems a balanced solution that combines both laying productivity and improved animal welfare. Further research should be performed to improve acceptance and appropriate use of resources by birds in an aviary system.

Results: Sapien 3 patients had a higher prevalence of peripheral arterial disease and ilio-femoral axis calcifications on CT scan. Device implantation success rate was higher in the Sapien 3.The prevalence of moderate to severe paravalvular leak was lower in Sapien 3 patients (0% vs 9.2%, p = 0.01), as well as, the incidence of life-threatening and major bleeding events (1,5% vs 13,1%, p = 0.02). There was no difference regarding the 30-days rate of MACCE between patients, including death (3% vs. 5%), stroke (3% vs. 2.6%) and major vascular complications (6% vs. 8%).

Estimer le surcoût après la survenue d'un infarctus du myocarde (IM). Une cohorte de patients ayant eu un IM en France entre 2007 et 2011 a été extraite de la base EGB (échantillon représentatif de 1 % des sujets couverts par l'assurance maladie générale (≈600 000 patients). Le coût des consommations de soins a été estimé avant et après cet évènement. La valorisation a été faite selon la perspective de l'assurance maladie et seuls les coûts directs sont considérés. Seuls les sujets encore vivants un an après l'évènement ont été retenus pour la valorisation. Au total, 1920 sujets ont été identifiés avec un IM : les deux tiers étaient des hommes, l'âge moyen était de 67,2 ans, 20,6 % avaient un diabète, 37,6 % une hypercholestérolémie et 82,4 % une hypertension. Sur les 1920 sujets inclus, 346 sont décédés dans l'année ayant suivi la survenue de l'IM et 3 ont été perdus de vue. Les résultats suivants portent donc sur 1571 sujets. Le coût annuel des consommations de soins a triplé après la survenue de l'IM : de 3940 € il est passé à 11 914 €. Les coûts liés aux hospitalisations sont passés de 1616 € avant l'IM à 6470 € après cet évènement : – hospitalisations pour motif cardiovasculaire : 514 € à 4174 € ; – hospitalisations pour autre motif : 1023 € à 2296 €. Le coût ambulatoire a augmenté de 2323 € avant l'IM à 5443 € après cet évènement : – les coûts des transports ont augmenté de 127 € à 573 € ; – les coûts des actes et consultations de médecins ont augmenté de 589 € à 1676 € (le nombre de consultations est passé de 7,6 à 10,9 pour les médecins généralistes et de 5,4 à 10,0 pour les spécialistes ; – les coûts liés aux examens de laboratoire ont augmenté de 139 € à 408 € ; – les coûts liés aux médicaments achetés en officine sont passés de 1105 € à 2283 € ; – les coûts liés aux actes de professionnels paramédicaux sont passés de 889 € à 1236 € ; – les coûts d'achat de dispositifs sont passés de 317 € à 426 €. Le coût lié à l'hospitalisation relative à l'IM était de 5876 € et est exclu des chiffres précédents. L'impact économique après un infarctus du myocarde est important puisque le coût annuel a triplé après cet évènement.

Décrire les caractéristiques et les traitements des patients atteints d’un infarctus du myocarde (IM) et estimer l’incidence des événements cardiovasculaires suivant l’IM, à partir de la base EGB. Une cohorte de patients ayant eu un IM en France entre 2007 et 2011 a été extraite de la base EGB (échantillon représentatif de 1 % des sujets couverts par l’Assurance maladie générale (≈ 600 000 patients). L’incidence des événements suivant l’IM a été analysée avec la méthode de Kaplan-Meier. Au total, 1920 sujets ont été identifiés avec un IM : les deux tiers étaient des hommes, l’âge moyen était de 67,2 ans, 20,6 % avaient un diabète, 37,6 % une hypercholestérolémie et 82,4 % une hypertension. Comparativement aux 6 mois précédant l’IM, les proportions de sujets traitées ont augmenté au cours des 6 mois suivant l’IM : pour les statines (91,1 %/30,7 %), l’association d’aspirine à un autre antiplaquettaire (82,1 %/7,1 %), les antiarythmiques de classe III (8,4 %/2,4 %), les anticoagulants oraux (10,1 %/5,1 %), les diurétiques non thiazidiques (32,9 %/19,1 %), les inhibiteurs de l’enzyme de conversion (71 %/18,6 %), les bêtabloquants (86,0 %/26,5 %) et les dérivés nitrés (46,4 %/9,9 %). Les incidences cumulées à 1, 2 et 3 ans après l’IM étaient : – pour les décès (toutes causes et morts hospitalières comprises) : 17,8 % (IC95 % = [16,0 % ; 19,5 %]), 21,6 % (IC95 % [20,7 % ; 23,5 %]) ; 27,0 % (IC95 % = [25,8 % ; 29,1 %]) ; – pour une récidive d’IM : 3,1 % (CI95 % = [2,3 % ; 3,8 %]), 4,1 % (CI95 % = [3,2 % ; 5,0 %]), 4,7 % (CI95 % = [3,7 % ; 5,7 %]) ; – pour un accident vasculaire cérébral (AVC) : 1,9 % (CI95 % = [1,3 % ; 2,5 %]), 3,1 % (IC95 % = [2,3 % ; 3,9 %]), 4,1 % (CI95 % = [3,1 % ; 5,0 %]) ; – pour un évènement composite (décès/IM/AVC) : 20,7 % (IC95 % = [18,9 % ; 22,5 %]), 26,0 % (IC95 % = 24,0 % ; 28,0 %]) ; 32,1 % (IC95 % = [29 % ; 34 %]). Malgré des proportions élevées de sujets traités par les médicaments recommandés à visée cardiovasculaire, la mortalité toutes causes et les taux d’événements cardiovasculaires sont élevés suite à un IM. Ces résultats soulignent la nécessité d’améliorer les stratégies de prévention secondaire.

Estimer les coûts médicaux de l’infarctus du myocarde (IdM) entre l’année précédant l’IdM et l’année suivant cet évènement. Une cohorte historique de patients ayant eu un IdM en France entre 2007 et 2011 a été extraite de l’échantillon généraliste des bénéficiaires (échantillon au 1/97e, représentatif des sujets couverts par l’Assurance maladie). Au total 1920 sujets ont été identifiés avec un IdM, 2 tiers étaient des hommes, l’âge moyen était de 67 ans, 20,6 % avaient un diabète, 37,6 % une hypercholestérolémie et 82,4 % une hypertension. Le coût annuel du point de vue sociétal était de 4548 € avant l’infarctus et de 12 679 € après. Le coût lié aux hospitalisations est passé de 1616 € avant l’IdM à € 6470 après. Le coût des soins de ville est passé de 2932 € avant l’IdM à 6208 € après. Cette augmentation a touché toutes les catégories de soins de ville : les coûts des transports ont été multipliés par 4, les coûts liés aux honoraires médicaux et aux tests de laboratoire ont triplé, le coût des médicaments a doublé et le coût des auxiliaires médicaux a augmenté, dans une moindre mesure. Le coût lié à l’hospitalisation pour l’IdM était de 5876 € et a été exclu des coûts précédents. Le coût sociétal des consommations de soins a été multiplié par 3 sur l’année suivant un IdM, comparativement à l’année précédant cet évènement. To estimate the costs of healthcare resource consumption in the year preceding and the year following a myocardial infarction (MI). A historical cohort of patients experiencing an MI in France between 2007 and 2011 was extracted from the échantillon généraliste de bénéficiaires, a 1/97th sample of all beneficiaries of public health insurance in France. A total of 1920 patients experiencing an MI were identified. Two-thirds were men and the mean age was 67 years; 20.6% had diabetes, 37.6% hypercholesterolaemia and 82.4% hypertension. From a societal perspective, the annual costs of medical consumption related to hospitalisations increased from € 4548 before the MI to € 6470 in the following year. Costs of community care rose from € 2932 to € 6208. This increase concerned all components of community healthcare: costs associated with medical transportation increased fourfold, those associated with consultations and laboratory tests tripled, medication costs doubled and costs of paramedical services also increased, but to a lesser extent. It should be noted that the cost of hospitalisation for the index MI (€ 5876) is not included in the above costs. From a society perspective, the cost of healthcare resource consumption increased threefold in the year following an MI.

OBJECTIVE:To estimate the costs of healthcare resource consumption in the year preceding and the year following a myocardial infarction (MI).PATIENTS AND METHODS:A historical cohort of patients experiencing an MI in France between 2007 and 2011 was extracted from the échantillon généraliste de bénéficiaires, a 1/97th sample of all beneficiaries of public health insurance in France.RESULTS:A total of 1920 patients experiencing an MI were identified. Two-thirds were men and the mean age was 67 years; 20.6% had diabetes, 37.6% hypercholesterolaemia and 82.4% hypertension. From a societal perspective, the annual costs of medical consumption related to hospitalisations increased from € 4548 before the MI to € 6470 in the following year. Costs of community care rose from € 2932 to € 6208. This increase concerned all components of community healthcare: costs associated with medical transportation increased fourfold, those associated with consultations and laboratory tests tripled, medication costs doubled and costs of paramedical services also increased, but to a lesser extent. It should be noted that the cost of hospitalisation for the index MI (€ 5876) is not included in the above costs.CONCLUSION:From a society perspective, the cost of healthcare resource consumption increased threefold in the year following an MI.

BACKGROUND:Mortality and complications of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in France have declined over the last twenty years, but still remain high. Practice guidelines recommend secondary prevention measures to reduce these. Insurance claims databases can be used to assess the management of post MI and other cardiovascular outcomes in everyday practice.METHODS:A cohort study was performed in a 1/97 representative sample of the French nationwide claims and hospitalisation database (EGB database). All adults with a documented hospitalisation for MI between 2007 and 2011 were included, and followed for three years. Data was extracted on demographics, the index admission, reimbursed medication, comorbidities, post-MI events and death.RESULTS:During the study period, 1977 individuals hospitalised for an MI were identified, with a mean (±SD) age of 63.8 (±14.3) years, 65.8% were men, 82.4% had hypertension and 37.6% hypercholesterolaemia. The mean duration of hospitalisation was seven days and 8.3% of patients died during hospitalisation. After discharge, the majority of patients received secondary prevention with statins (92.2%), anti-platelet drugs (95.6%), beta-blockers (86.0%) and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (71.4%). After three years of follow-up post-discharge, cumulative mortality was 20.5% [18.4%;22.5%] and the cumulative incidence of reinfarction and stroke/TIA were 4.7% [95% CI: 3.7%;5.7%] and 4.1% [3.1%;5.0%], respectively.CONCLUSIONS:Despite high use of secondary prevention at discharge, mortality and incidence of serious cardiovascular events following MI remain high. This underscores the need to improve secondary prevention.

According to EU legislation, group-housed gestating sows must have a minimum of 2.25 m2 floor area per sow with at least 1.3 m2 of continuous solid floor of which a maximum of 15% is reserved for drainage openings. The aim of the experiment was to quantify the impact of different drainage openings on ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions. Three successive batches of 10 gestating sows were used. Each batch was divided into two groups kept separately in two identical rooms with similar volume and surface. The solid part of the floor presented 15% drainage openings in the first room and 2.5% in the second room. The gas emissions (ammonia (NH3), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapour (H2O)) were measured three times during 6 consecutive days. Gaseous emissions were significantly lower with 15% drainage openings with reductions of 19% for NH3 (12.77 v. 15.83 g/day per sow), 15% for CH4 (10.15 v. 11.91 g/day per sow), 10% for N2O (0.47 v. 0.52 g/day per sow), 9% for CO2 (2.41 v. 2.66 kg/day per sow) and 13% for H2O (3.25 v. 3.75 kg/day per sow). This trial showed the advantage, in an environmental point of view, to use 15% drainage openings on the solid part of partly slatted floors in pens for group-housed gestating sows.

Concerns over the negative environmental impact from livestock farming across Europe continue to make their mark resulting in new legislation and large research programs. However, despite a huge amount of published material and many available techniques, doubts over the success of national and European initiatives remain. Uptake of the more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly farming methods (such as dietary control, building design and good manure management) is already widespread but unlikely to be enough in itself to ensure that current environmental targets are fully met. Some of the abatement options available for intensive pig and poultry farming are brought together under the European IPPC/IED directive where they are listed as Best Available Techniques (BAT). This list is far from complete and other methods including many treatment options are currently excluded. However, the efficacies of many of the current BAT-listed options are modest, difficult to regulate and in some cases they may even be counterproductive with respect to other objectives ie pollution swapping. Evaluation of the existing and new BAT technologies is a key to a successful abatement of pollution from the sector and this in turn relies heavily on good measurement strategies. Consideration of the global effect of proposed techniques in the context of the whole farm will be essential for the development of a valid strategy.

Few data is available concerning the latest generation Edwards SAPIEN 3- S3 in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). To evaluate periprocedural and 30-day clinical outcomes of TAVI using the Edwards SAPIEN 3 prosthesis) via transiliofemoral approach. Between September 2014 and March 2015, consecutive high-risk or non-operable patients with severe aortic stenosis had TAVI using Edwards SAPIEN 3 prosthesis in Institut Mutualiste Montsouris. Valve Academic Research Consortium endpoints were used. Of 142 patients who underwent TAVI using Edwards SAPIEN prosthesis, 66 were treated with SAPIEN 3 via transfemoral access (mean age 84±7.1 years; 70% female). About 65% and 48% of patients had, respectively, severe peripheral artery diseases and calcified iliofemorale arteries. Multi-detector computed tomography estimated an aortic annular diameter of 25,07±2mm. Mean logistic EuroSCORE was 15,8±10,8. The device success rate was 98.5%. No failure of valve deployment had occurred and no patient had more than mild paravalvular aortic regurgitation. Mean transaortic gradient decreased from 46, 0±12,33mmHg to 8,2±3,37mmHg (p<0,001), at 30 days follow up, there were no myocardial infarction. The major bleedings rate was 1.5%, and 6% of patients required transfusion. The major vascular complications were 6%, mortality and stroke were of 3%, and the rate for a new pacemaker was 10,6. In our study, TAVI with Edwards SAPIEN 3 was associated with a high rate of device success and low rate of paravalvular aortic regurgitations and major bleedings.

This study aims to measure under barn conditions the emissions of NH3, N2O, CH4 and CO2 associated with gestating sows (trial I) and fattening pigs (trial 2) fed either a control diet (CTD) based on cereals or a high-fibre diet (HFD) based on sugar beet pulp (SBP). Three successive batches of 10 Belgian Landrace gestating sows were used for trial 1. Two successive batches of 24 Pietrain x Belgian Landrace fattening pigs were used for trial 2. Animals were kept on slatted floor. The gas emissions were measured by infrared photoacoustic detection and expressed per day and per livestock unit, equals to 500 kg body weight. Similar trends were observed for both animal types. With HFD, the NH3 emissions were reduced (27.2 vs. 36.5 g for the gestating sows, P < 0.001; 23.2 vs. 45.0 g for the fattening pigs, P < 0.001) but the CH4 emissions were increased (41.5 vs. 21.0 g for gestating sows, P < 0.001; 37.9 vs. 27.2 g for fattening pigs, P < 0.001). The fibre content of the diet had not significant impact on N2O emissions (around 1.4 g for gestating sows and 2.1 g for fattening pigs, P > 0.05), and on CO2 emissions (around 6.0 kg for gestating sows and 9.1 kg for fattening pigs, P > 0.05). Most of manure parameters did not statistically differ regarding the treatment. Reproductive performance and body condition of the sows were not affected by the diet. However, growth performance and carcass traits of the HFD-fed fattening pigs were deteriorated compared to CTD. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Paravalvular aortic regurgitation (PAR) after TAVR has been associated with increased mortality. The Sapien 3 device (Edwards Life-sciences) is different than the prior devices released by the same manufacturer in that it has a skirt designed to prevent paravalvular leak, improved coaxial alignment, and more accurate positioning. To evaluate paravalvular aortic regurgitations after 30-day after TAVI using the Edwards SAPIEN 3 prosthesis. Prospective monocentric study including 66 high-risk or non-operable patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVI using Edwards SAPIEN 3 prosthesis via transfemoral access, between September 2014 and March 2015. Mean age of patient was 84±7,1 years (70% female). The MDCT estimated an aortic annular diameter 25,07±2mm. Mean logistic EuroSCORE was 15,8±10,8. In our study, the device success rate was 98.5%. The pros-thesis has been deployed correctly in all cases and no failure of valve or embolization had occurred. Post TAVR, mean transaortic gradient decreased from 46,0±12,33mmHg to 8,2±3,37mmHg (p<0.001). No patient had moderate or severe PAR. At 30 days follow up, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed that the PAR was absent or trivial in 66% of patients and mild in the remainder. Possible reasons for this low PAR rate include: 1) the outer polyethylene terephthalate sealing cuff, which enhances paravalvular sealing; 2) more accurate positioning; and 3) improved sizing with adjunctive MDCT. In our study, TAVI with Edwards SAPIEN 3 demonstrated lower paravalvular aortic leak rates than earlier generation devices in patients at high risk for surgery.

Egg production systems have evolved in recent years and a better understanding of those systems is a key factor in the identification of the environmental hot spots associated with those production systems. The whole farm nitrogen (N) cycle was identified as a major contributor to the environmental impact. The objective of the current study was to quantify N flow for the entire production cycle (barn, manure storage and land application) of a conventional laying hen farm (manure belt cage system with natural drying) and an aviary system (free-range with bedding) using a mass balance approach. The manure was considered stored on the farm and land applied following a nutrient management plan. For conventional cage system, for every 100 g of N consumed, there were 7 g fixed by the hen, 30 g transferred in the eggs and 58 g excreted in the manure and 4 g in gas emissions. A total of 7 g of N were lost during manure storage. After storage, 51 g of N were land applied. After land application, 17 g of N were lost in gas emissions. The remaining 34 g of N were available in the soil for plant growth. In aviary system, for every 100 g of N consumed, there were 3 g fixed by the hen, 24 g transferred in the eggs and 41 g excreted in the manure and 31 g in gas emissions. A total of 5 g of N were lost during manure storage. After storage, 36 g of N were land applied. After land application, 12 g of N were lost in gas emissions. The remaining 24 g of N were available in the soil for plant growth. The main N lost difference of the both system are at the building stage where the N loses of aviary system is seven times higher and the ammonia emissions are 13 times higher.

Concerns over the negative environmental impact from livestock farming across Europe continue to make their mark resulting in new legislation and large research programs. However, despite a huge amount of published material and many available techniques, doubts over the success of national and European initiatives remain. Uptake of the more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly farming methods (such as dietary control, building design and good manure management) is already widespread but unlikely to be enough in itself to ensure that current environmental targets are fully met. Some of the abatement options available for intensive pig and poultry farming are brought together under the European IPPC/IED directive where they are listed as Best Available Techniques (BAT). This list is far from complete and other methods including many treatment options are currently excluded. However, the efficacies of many of the current BAT-listed options are modest, difficult to regulate and in some cases they may even be counterproductive with respect to other objectives ie pollution swapping. Evaluation of the existing and new BAT technologies is a key to a successful abatement of pollution from the sector and this in turn relies heavily on good measurement strategies. Consideration of the global effect of proposed techniques in the context of the whole farm will be essential for the development of a valid strategy.

To describe the characteristics and treatment of patients having a myocardial infarction (MI) and estimate the incidence of cardiovascular events following the index MI, in the French Health Insurance database. A cohort of patients who had an MI in France between 2007 and 2011 was extracted from a claims database: the Echantillon Généraliste de Bénéficiaires (a 1% representative sample of subjects covered by the general health insurance (≈600,000 patients). The incidence of cardiovascular events following the index MI was estimated using the Kaplan Meier method. A cox survival model aims to identify factors related to the composite outcome (death/MI/stroke). 1,920 subjects were identified with an index MI: 2/3 were males, mean age=67.2 y, 20.6% had diabetes, 37.6% hypercholesterolemia and 82.4% hypertension. Compared to the 6 months preceding the index MI, rates of use of medications increased in the 6 months following MI for statins (91.1%/30.7%), Aspirin+other antiplatelet agent (82.1%/7.1%), class III antiarrhythmics (8.4%/2.4%), oral anticoagulants (10.1%/5.1%), non thiazide diuretics (32.9%/19.1%), ACE-inhibitors (71%/18.6%), beta-blockers (86.0%/26.5%), and nitrates (46.4%/9.9%). Cumulative incidences at 1, 2 and 3 years after the index MI were: For deaths (all cause and including in-hospital death): 17.8% (CI95%=16.0%;19.5%), 21.6% (CI95%=20.7%;23.5%), 27.0% (CI95%=25.8%;29.1%); For MI (recurrence): 3.1% (CI95%=2.3%;3.8%), 4.1% (CI95%=3.2%;5.0%%), 4.7% (CI95%=3.7%;5.7%); For stroke (or transit ischemic attack): 1.9% (CI95%=1.3%;2.5%), 3.1% (CI95%=2.3%;3.9%%), 4.1% (CI95%=3.1%;5.0%); For the composite outcome (death/MI/stroke) : 20.7% (CI95%=18.9%;22.5%), 26.0% (CI95%=24.0%;28.0%), 32.1% (CI95%=29.8%;34.3%). A cox multivariate survival model identified the following independent correlates of the composite outcome: age (ref <60y) (60-70y: HR=2.071 CI=[1.051;2.820], 70-80y: HR=3.463 CI=[2.640;4.541], >80y: HR=7.124 CI=[5.946;9.235]), diabetes (HR=1.229,CI=[1.028;1.469]) percutaneous coronary intervention (HR=0.579,CI=[0.457;0.689]), and coronary artery bypass grafting (HR=0.558,CI=[0.359;0.869] Despite high rates of prescription of medical therapy, all-cause mortality and CV event rates remained high following MI. This underscores the need to improve secondary prevention.

The Algerian agricultural sector faces the challeng e to meet the food needs of its population despite low agricultural capacity, resul ting in increasing pressure on natural resources. This paper aims to inventory the greenho use gas (GHG) emissions related to livestock sector in the rural area of Chemini (prov ince of Bejaia), taking into account the emissions due to enteric fermentation, in the form of methane, and manure management, in the form of methane and nitrous oxide. Emissions intensity, expressed in CO 2 equivalents (CO 2 -eq) per kg of edible protein, was included in the study. Ruminants contribute to 94% of livestock GHG emissions and to 53% of protein production, with a large share due to cattle. The main part of emissio ns is related to enteric fermentation. High-producing cattle present the lowest emission i ntensity of the ruminant category with 24 kg CO 2 -eq per kg protein. Chickens produce 2.7% of livest ock related emissions but provide 47% of animal protein. It res ults in low emission intensities whereas important difference is noticed between bac kyard and industrialized systems (around 21 versus 1 kg CO 2 -eq per kg protein, respectively). Improvement of a nimal performance should contribute to mitigate the envir onmental impact of livestock production in Algeria.

Description of the subject. Dietary fiber is largely used in pig production but some contradictions appear in the literature regarding the effects on performance and health. Objectives. This paper aims to contribute to the clarification of the effects of a diet rich in sugar beet pulp on animal behavior, growth performance, carcass quality and gut health of fattening pigs. Method. Two successive batches of 24 fattening pigs were each divided into two groups fed ad libitum either a standard diet based on cereals (STD, 19% NSP [non-starch-polysaccharides]) or a fibrous diet based on 23% sugar beet pulp (HFD, 31% NSP). Results. Pigs activity rate and feeder occupancy duration were increased by 57% and 165% for group fed HFD, respectively (P < 0.05). The fecal bacteria counts showed increases with HFD for Lactobacillus (10.21 vs 9.84 log(10) of cfu.g(-1) of feces dry matter, P < 0.05) and Bifidobacterium (9.49 vs 8.88, P < 0.01) but decreases for Enterobacteriaceae (4.85 vs 5.97, P < 0.001). Reductions of the average daily gain (788 vs 876 g per day, P < 0.001) and the dressing percentage (75.7 vs 78.9%, P < 0.001) were observed with HFD. Gastric lesion score was decreased with HFD (0.82 vs 1.55, P < 0.05). For pigs fed HFD, the proportion of surface area occupied by goblet cells was increased in the jejunum (10.06 vs 7.99%, P < 0.01) and the number of CD3 lymphocytes was increased in the colon (1.24 vs 0.90. mm(-2), P < 0.05). Conclusions. HFD contributes to strengthen the gut health of fattening pigs, but it impairs growth performance and carcass traits.