Morris Villarroel | Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (original) (raw)
Papers by Morris Villarroel
Preventive Veterinary Medicine , 2020
Every year thousands of North American horses from the United States of America (USA) or Mexico h... more Every year thousands of North American horses from the United States of America (USA) or Mexico horses are transported to slaughter in Mexico, but little is known about their welfare or pre-slaughter logistics. In this study, we recorded the origin, sex, age and condition of horses (121 journeys, 2,648 animals) upon arrival to an abattoir in northern Mexico, including transport details. Horse welfare was measured indirectly via individual scores for body condition, coat quality, lameness, ocular and nasal discharge, as well as reactivity to a chute restraint test, all performed shortly after unloading. The average journey duration was 9.69 (±7.6) hours for horses from Mexico and 16.77 (±4.51) hours for horses from the USA (77% of all journeys). The prevalence of ocular discharge, nasal discharge, skin wounds, lameness and diarrhoea, were 23%, 12%, 11%, 9%, 1% (respectively) of all the horses observed, with no significant differences between Mexican and American horses (p≥0.05). During the chute test the American horses were calmer than the Mexican ones (P = 0.000), who were more restless and aggressive (P=0.001). Likewise, vocalizations in their three variants during the restraint, neigh/whinny (P=0.018), nicker (P=0.000), and snort (P=0.018), were more common in horses from Mexico. In order to help characterize fitness for transport, a two-step cluster analysis was applied using the welfare indicators, suggesting the existence of four clusters (C) evaluated on arrival at the abattoir (from good to very poor fitness): good (profile C4, n=769, 29.1%), average (profile C1, n=799 horses, 30.2%), poor (profile C3, n=586, 22.1%) and very poor (profile C2, n=493, 18.6%). In fact, the C4 best welfare group had 0% lame, 0% nasal discharge, 16.4% ocular discharge, 7.9% skin wounds. Instead, the C2 poorest welfare group had 45.8% lame, 61.1% nasal discharge, 42.8% ocular discharge, and 19.9% skin wounds. Results show potential for using lameness, nasal discharge, and ocular discharge as iceberg indicators of horse fitness and welfare on abattoir. The study provides detailed scientific data to help establish strategies regarding optimal days of recovery post-transport and fattening for homogenization of weights between animals of different origins, logistic planning, and optimization of logistic resources to minimize the biological cost of long-distance transport.
Grassi 2020, 2020
Saccharomyces cerevisiae biomass generated as a by-product in industrial processes and other biom... more Saccharomyces cerevisiae biomass generated as a by-product in industrial processes and other biomasses grown in industry waste waters like Spirulina platensis and Rubrivivax gelatinous can be used in aquafeed, thus reducing the costs of discard and minimizing environmental damage. In this study, 840 male Nile tilapias (Oreochromis niloticus; 26.8 ± 1.03 g average weight) were distributed among 21 tanks (40 fish/tank, 1.07 kg/m 3). Fish were fed to satiation three times a day throughout the trial (72 days). A completely randomized design experiment with 7 treatments (control group and 6 different diets, 3 replicates per treatment) was conducted to investigate the effects of these three microbial biomasses (added at 0.25 and 0.5% into an isoproteic/isoenergetic tilapia diet) on the growth and visceral indexes of the fish and on the composition and texture of the fillets. Feed conversion ratio was significantly lower in fish fed 0.5% R. gelatinosus than that in the control group, but no difference was detected among the treatments either for the other growth indicators or for the organs' indexes. Including microbial biomass in the diet did not significantly affect either fillet pH or texture parameters. However, the use of microbial biomass increased the protein content and decreased the n-6/n-3 ratio of the fillets compared with that of the control group. So, it was concluded that the dietary intake of low concentrations of S. cerevisiae, S. platensis and R. gelatinosus biomasses did not affect the growth performance of tilapias, increased the nutritional quality and preserved the texture features of the fillets.
Journal of Veterinary Behavior , 2019
Social personality can be key factor in evolution because of intraindividual consistency, heritab... more Social personality can be key factor in evolution because of intraindividual consistency, heritable basis, and linkage with fitness. The aim of this study was to identify the existence of sheep personality profiles based on the use of social strategies and its associations on morphological, cognitive, and reproductive success. Fifty adult ewes, housed indoor, were studied in terms of social and maintenance behavior, stress response, morphological variables, and productive performance. The cognitive abilities of the ewes were also analyzed. A factor analysis was used to summarize the data of 7 social behavioral variables. Agonistic and nonagonistic behaviors were grouped in classes. The factors were extracted using principal components. A hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to identify clusters or profiles. The results demonstrated the existence of 4 personalities profiles (avoider, affiliative, aggressive, and pragmatic), determined by social behavior and the index of success. The study addresses the multidimensionality of personality, showing that sheep personality comprises several social and nonsocial dimensions. The data confirm that the use of social strategies and the index of success are a useful tool to predict individual differences or personalities in a flock.
Aquaculture Research, 2019
Supplementing fish feed with Arthrospira platensis has several beneficial effects, such as improv... more Supplementing fish feed with Arthrospira platensis has several beneficial effects, such
as improved growth, survival and feed conversion, but little is known about how it
affects gut microbiota or flesh quality. In this trial, feed with 3% A. platensis was given
to Oreochromis niloticus (SPR, spirulina supplemented) over a period of 50 days and
their gut microbiota and flesh quality were compared with controls (CTRs, no supplementation).
Average daily growth was higher in SPR fish (p < 0.05). Regarding microbiota,
a total of 5,470,272 readings (individuals) were obtained from 16 gut
samples (n = 8 CTR, n = 8 SPR), with a gamma diversity of 1,563 species but no significant
differences were found between treatments. Among the high inter‐individual
variability found, some individual microbiota were dominated by Proteobacteria
(36.6%) and Fusobacteria (32.9%) and others more by Actinobacteria (37%). Regarding
flesh quality, significant differences were observed in flesh colour post‐mortem (a*, b*
and chroma) (p < 0.05), with higher reflectance in the range of 470–500 and 620–
670 nm in SPR tilapia, which corresponds with the reflectance range of β‐carotene
and phycocyanin. However, rigor mortis was resolved earlier in SPR fish (p < 0.05),
which suggests a shorter shelf life. Adding 3% of A. platensis in O. niloticus diet can
improve growth and flesh colour and does not appear to modify intestinal
microbiota.
Biological Theory, 2019
According to the dual inheritance theory, cultural learning in our species is a biased and highly... more According to the dual inheritance theory, cultural learning in our species is a biased and highly efficient process of transmitting cultural traits. Here we define a model of cultural learning where social learning is integrated as a complementary element that facilitates the discovery of a specific behavior by an apprentice, and not as a mechanism that works in opposition to individual learning. In that context, we propose that the emergence of the ability to approve or disapprove of offspring behavior, orienting their learning (a process we call assessor teaching), transformed primate social learning into a cultural transmission system, like that which characterizes our species. Assessor teaching facilitates the replication and/or reconstruction of behaviors that are difficult to imitate and helps to determine which behaviors should be imitated. We also explore the form in which assessor teaching has conditioned the evolution of our abilities to develop cultures in the hominin line, converting us into individuals equipped with what we call a suadens psychology. Our main point is to defend the hypothesis that suadens psychology determines the stability and dynamics that affect the trajectories of many cultural characters. We compare our proposal with other theories about cultural evolution, specifically with dual inheritance theory and cultural attraction theory.
Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 2018
A multivariable linear model was used to analyse the incidence of carcass quality defects over on... more A multivariable linear model was used to analyse the incidence of carcass quality defects over one year in a commercial database that included 1,856 flocks of Ross broilers (9,188 shipments, 1,975,420 carcasses inspected). The incidence of foot-pad dermatitis (FPD), scratches and wing and back haematomas was scored and analysed in terms of the effects of transport distance, arrival time to the slaughterhouse, waiting time at the slaughterhouse, maximum outside temperature on the day of transport, feed conversion rate, stocking density, bird type (yellow-skinned females or males, white-skinned females or males and roaster females), thinning (birds transported after thinning, birds remaining after thinning, and non-thinned flocks), bed litter type (rice hulls, chopped straw or wood shavings), and ventilation system (dynamic, static or tunnel). The incidence of FPD was significantly (p<0.001) lower at higher maximum temperatures and higher in flocks with a higher feed conversion rate. FPD also increased with stocking density (kg/m 2) and was, on average, 5.0% higher in males than females. Regarding thinning, FPD was 13% lower in birds transported after thinning. Birds raised on chopped straw had more FPD (49.3%), followed by wood shavings (31.1%). Scratches were higher at higher temperatures and increased with transport distance. Birds transported after thinning had 5.8% more scratches than non-thinned birds, while increased stocking density (kg/m 2) on the farm tended to increase scratches. Back haematomas were 32.6% higher in birds that were thinned, while wing haematomas increased with stocking density (kg/m 2). Back haematomas were also 23.7% higher in males and more common in white-skinned birds.
Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 2019
The transport of broilers to slaughter normally results in a small percentage of dead on arrival ... more The transport of broilers to slaughter normally results in a small percentage of dead on arrival (DoA) but little is known about the effects of flock thinning or bird weight. A multivariable linear model was used to analyse the incidence of DoA over one year in 1,856 flocks of Ross broilers (9,188 shipments). Each flock was categorized according to broiler type (yellow-skinned females and males, white-skinned females and males and roaster females) and thinning (birds transported after thinning, remaining birds after thinning and non-thinned flocks), in addition to transport distance, waiting time, maximum and minimum daily temperatures, precipitation and maximum wind speed. The overall percentage of DoA was 0.187%. The effect of the daily maximum outside temperature on DoA was quadratic with minimum DoA at 21.5ºC. Arrival time to the slaughterhouse and waiting time increased DoA by 0.0044% and 0.0021% for every 60 min increase, respectively. DoA were higher in males (which were heavier than females), and in the flocks that were previously thinned. An interaction between thinning and bird type was found, so that DoA were higher in previously thinned flocks of male broilers and roaster females. Despite the high incidence of thinning and larger bird weight, the percentage of DoA was comparable to previous studies. This research provides one of the largest detailed analyses of DoA in commercial broiler production in the Iberian Peninsula. The models described allow to quantify how increases in temperature, transport distance, waiting time, bird weight and the practise of thinning can all increase broiler mortality.
Mammalian skin temperature is often used as an indicator of health status but has also been used ... more Mammalian skin temperature is often used as an indicator of health status but has also been used in animal production as a proxy measure for thermoregulatory effort or energy wastage. An animal with a higher skin temperature may also have a lower feed efficiency. With advances in technology it is now feasible to continuously record temperatures of livestock over protracted periods of time. In this study, the ear skin pig temperature was related to feed efficiency using phase space diagram methodology. Fourteen Landrace finishers (all male) housed in one pen over a week at relatively high temperatures (average temperature throughout the experiment 27 C) were supervised. The date, time and amount of feed consumed per individual animals was monitored via an electronic feeding station. The number of visits to the feeding station was used as an indicator of physical locomotor activity. Each animal was weighed at the beginning and at the end of the experiment to calculate their feed efficiency. The areas of the phase space diagrams of skin temperatures were used to quantify the variability of the time temperature series. Two areas in the phase space were correlated with feed efficiency (r ¼ 0.77) and physical lo-comotor activity (r ¼ 0.53). An index was developed that includes both areas, which increased the correlation between the variability of ear skin temperature and feed efficiency to r ¼ 0.85. This methodology could be used to help categorise pigs in terms of feed efficiency for rapid phenotyping.
Microbial biomass (MB) produced by different industries is thought to be a beneficial supplement ... more Microbial biomass (MB) produced by different industries is thought to be a beneficial supplement in fish feed due to high contents of antioxidants and pigments. However, little is known about their impact on fish health. In this experiment, 960 tilapia (26.84 AE 1.03 g) were fed one of eight experimental diets—a control diet with no MB (C), a control diet with vitamin E (VE) and six diets with three types of MB at two concentrations (0.25% and 0.5%): Rubrivivax gelatinosus (RG25 and RG50), Spirulina platensis (SP25 and SP50) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC25 and SC50). Adding MB to diets decreased plasma total oxidant status, malonaldehyde and leucocyte respiratory burst; increased the total antioxidant status; and did not affect the blood biochemical parameters. In flesh, the use of the MB lowered the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and increased redness (except for SC) and carotenoid deposition (except SC25). So, it was concluded that the use of the MB provided an antioxidant effect in tilapia blood plasma, decreased lipid oxidation and increased pigmentation and carotenoid deposition in the fish flesh, without imparting a negative impact on the animals' health. K E Y W O R D S biochemical analysis, carotenoids, colour, leucocyte respiratory burst, lipid oxidation, TBARS
The effect of wine by-products in the feeding of ewes on fatty acid composition of milk and meat ... more The effect of wine by-products in the feeding of ewes on fatty acid composition of milk and meat of their suckling lambs and the sensory quality of the meat was investigated. Forty-two ewes were fed during the second half of gestation and lactation one out of three treatments: a control diet based on a commercial concentrate and two concentrates supplemented with either 10% grape pomace or 5% grape seed. In addition, all animals had ad libitum access of Lucerne chaff. The control group showed lower concentration of saturated fatty acids (mainly in short and medium chain) and higher monounsaturated fatty acids (mainly oleic acid) in the milk fat, being the total polyunsaturated fatty acids unchanged. However, this variation was not reflected in the meat of the suckling lambs, where only few differences in individual fatty acids were found, such as linoleic acid being highest in the pomace treatment. Spicy and metallic flavours were increased in the wine by-products groups, but overall liking was not affected. The by-products added to the diets may be a good way to reduce costs on feeding and waste, but they were not able to provide a healthier fatty acid profile, neither in milk nor in the meat of the suckling lambs.
Several recent studies have shown that Arthrospira sp. supplementation of feeds has a beneficial ... more Several recent studies have shown that Arthrospira sp. supplementation of feeds has a beneficial effect on fish health and growth, but less is known about its possible effects on stress responsiveness. The present study was designed to evaluate using Arthrospira platensis as a feed supplement for Oreochromis niloticus fry, reared in recirculating aquaculture systems. Two isocaloric and isonitrogenous fishmeal-based diets were prepared with 0% and 1% A. platensis and fed to fry, approximately 10 mg live weight at the beginning of the experimental period (n=16 tanks, 8 tanks per treatment), at a feeding rate of 6% live weight, four meals a day for 50 d. The weight gain per tank, specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio were similar among treatments but A. platensis supplementation significantly increased survival (p<0.05). Stress responsiveness was measured in all fish from 12 tanks using a non-invasive two-choice test. All fish from one home tank (n=6 tanks per treatment), were placed into a shaded tank where oxygen levels were slowly reduced. A doorway was then opened to a second illuminated tank with normal oxygen levels and the number of fish that left the home tank were counted. The fish fed A. platensis stayed significantly (p=0.001) longer in the home tank (30.20 min ± 13.22) than controls (17.35 min ± 8.32), suggesting a lower stress responsiveness and a higher tolerance to hypoxia. Additional keywords: fish; feed additive; two-choice; behaviour; non-invasive. Abbreviations used: CTR (control fish); FCR (feed conversion ratio); SPR (Arthrospira platensis supplemented fish). Authors' contributions: Conceived and designed the experiments, and drafted the manuscript: IPG, MV, JLG. Performed the experiments, analysed and interpreted the data: IPG and MV. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: MV and JLG. Citation: Plaza, I.; García Lopez, J. L.; Villarroel, M. (2018). Effect of spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) supplementation on tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) growth and stress responsiveness under hypoxia.
The study aim was to identify consumer segmentation based on nonhuman animal welfare (AW) attitud... more The study aim was to identify consumer segmentation based on nonhuman animal welfare (AW) attitudes and their relationship with demographic features and willingness to pay (WTP) for welfare-friendly products (WFP) in Mexico. Personal interviews were conducted with 843 Mexican consumers who stated they purchased most of the animal products in their home. Respondents were selected using a quota sampling method with age, gender, education, and origin as quota control variables. The multi-variate analysis suggested there were three clusters or consumer profiles labeled " skeptical, " " concerned, " and " ethical, " which helped explain the association between AW attitudes, some demographic variables, and WTP for WFP. This study is one of the first to address consumer profiling in Latin America, and the findings could have implications for the commercializa-tion of WFP. Hence, customers should receive information to consider welfare innovations when deciding to purchase animal products. The growth of the WFP food market establishes an element of a far more multifaceted phenomenon of sustainable consumption and support of a new paradigm called responsible marketing in emerging markets such as Mexico.
Aquaponics is an approach of coupling two technologies: recirculation aquaculture (fish-farms) an... more Aquaponics is an approach of coupling two technologies: recirculation aquaculture (fish-farms) and hydroponics (soil-less cultivation of crops). While it is perceived as a way to contribute to more sustainable food systems, the technology is still in its infancy, with several challenges. This paper describes current conditions of development and identifies aspects that can promote or hinder future pathways. We focus our analysis on the EU, using Germany as an institutional case study, while also considering worldwide developments. We propose a framework to analyze aquaponics as an emerging technological innovation system at the interface between existing fish and plant production systems. The approach is explorative based on a literature review and interviews with experts. The main findings are that stakeholders have different views regarding the future development pathways, knowledge to manage complex systems in the long term is needed and it is still unclear how to design institutional conditions to deliver sustainable outcomes.
Animal welfare has become an important subject of public, economic and political concern, leading... more Animal welfare has become an important subject of public, economic and political concern, leading to the need to validate indicators that are feasible to use at abattoirs. A systematic review was carried out, which identified 72 cattle welfare indicators (CWI) that were classified into four categories (physiological, morphometric, be-havioral and meat quality). Their validity and feasibility for use in abattoirs were evaluated as potential measures of cattle welfare during transportation to the abattoir and at the abattoir itself. Several highly valid indicators were identified that are useful to assess welfare at abattoirs, including body condition score, human-animal interactions, vocalizations, falling, carcass bruising, and meat pH. In addition, some intermediate valid indicators are useful and should be investigated further. Information along the food chain could be used systematically to provide a basis for a more-risk-based meat inspection. An integrated system based on the use of key indicators defined for each inspection step with the setting of alarm thresholds could be implemented.
Livestock transport exposes animals to a range of potential stressors that may compromise their w... more Livestock transport exposes animals to a range of potential stressors that may compromise their welfare and final product quality, and those effects typically increase with the distance travelled. In North America, producers often use pot-belly vehicles for long hauls but little is known about their suitability for transporting lambs. We followed two long-distance trips using pot-belly trailers carrying 500 lambs (each) from Northern to Central Mexico in winter, to measure possible effects on animal welfare and meat quality. Sixty lambs per trip were placed at different locations within the pot-belly trailer. Animals were equipped with iButton Thermochron® temperature devices, which registered body temperature throughout pre-and post-slaughter stages. Despite the rather cool winter conditions, lambs placed in the Bbelly^ and Bnose^ compartments had higher body temperatures at loading, during transport and lairage and after slaughter (carcass temperature). Those lambs also had higher levels of plasma cortisol, glucose and creatine kinase (CK), and a higher neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio. Regarding meat quality, ultimate pH (24 h) was higher in all locations, especially in LT4 location. Overall, the results suggest a link between thermal stress during transport, elevated physiological indicators of stress and poorer meat quality.
The response of cultured rainbow trout to their mirrored image was investigated. Thirty fish were... more The response of cultured rainbow trout to their mirrored image was investigated. Thirty fish were placed individually in two novel aquariums consecutively for 10 min each. Walls in one aquarium were covered with mirrors on all four sides, whereas the walls of the other aquarium were non-transparent black. Because all four walls were covered with mirrors, the mirrored image of the fish was reproduced multiple times such that 'a group' of fish was created surrounding the individual. Half of the fish started in the aquarium with the mirrors, whereas the other half started in the mirrorless aquarium. Fish swim faster in the aquarium with mirrors than in the mirrorless aquarium (2.95 vs. 2.40 cm/s; p < 0.01), indicating a positive behavioural response towards their mirrored images. Fish did not show aggressive interactions towards their mirrored images. Being confronted with 'a group' of fish and not just one 'opponent' may have inhibited aggressive behavior, or individuals may not have considered the images to be fellow individuals. Fish that swam faster in the mirrorless aquarium also did so in the aquarium with mirrors (r = 0.73; p < 0.0001), indicating a persistent behavioural coping response (boldness) in response to the two novel environments. Mirrors may be used to influence social behaviour of fish in aquaculture; further research is needed to investigate the influence of mirror placement in tanks of group housed trout on growth and behaviour. Correspondence should be addressed to Wendy Rauw: rauw.wendy@inia.es Abbreviations used: BW (body weight). Funding: Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of the Spanish Government, Project entitled " Group competition, feed efficiency and welfare in traditional and genomic selection programs in aquaculture / Competición de grupo, eficiencia alimentaria y bienestar animal en programas de selección tradicional y genómica en acuacultura " (AGL2012-39137).
Global environmental, social and economic challenges drive the need for new and improved solution... more Global environmental, social and economic challenges drive the need for new and improved solutions for food production and consumption. Food production within a sustainability corridor requires innovations exceeding traditional paradigms, acknowledging the complexity arising from sustainability. However, there is a lack of knowledge about how to direct further activities, to develop technologies as potential solutions for questions related to climate change, loss of soil fertility and biodiversity, scarcity of resources, and shortage of drinking water. One approach that promises to address these problems is controlled environment agriculture. Aquaponics (AP) combines two technologies: recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS) and hydroponics (plant production in water, without soil) in a closed-loop system. One challenge to the development of this technology is the conversion of the toxic ammonium produced by the fish into nitrate, via bacteria in a biofilter, to provide nitrogen to the plants. However, as this Special Issue shows, there are many other challenges that need to be addressed if the goal of the technology is to contribute to more sustainable food production systems.
Pre-slaughter fasting is a common practice in aquaculture to ensure emptying of the digestive tra... more Pre-slaughter fasting is a common practice in aquaculture to ensure emptying of the digestive tract, but little is known about how long fish should be fasted, in terms of degree days (°C days), to clear the gut without affecting their welfare or flesh quality. In this study, 180 rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were fasted for 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 days (17.2, 22.3, 28.6, 35.3, 41.8 and 55.3 °C days, respectively) and different morphometric, hematological and flesh quality parameters were measured. The slaughter weight, relative growth and hepato-somatic index did not decrease until after 7 days of fasting (41.8 °C days) and stomach content was similar and near zero after 4 days of fasting (22.3 °C days). Conversely, fasting time increased carcass yield. Plasma concentrations of cortisol, glucose and creatine phosphokinase enzyme were lower with increasing days of fasting. However, trout slaughtered after 5 days of fasting (28.6 °C days) had a higher flesh pH at 0 h post-mortem than 3 and 4 days fasted trout and, consequently, earlier establishment of rigor mortis. Furthermore, liver color could be useful as a stress indicator since its hue decreases after 5 days of fasting (28.6 °C days). In conclusion, a pre-slaughter fasting period from 17.2 °C days to 22.3 °C days makes possible to obtain a complete emptying of the digestive system in rainbow trout and simultaneously it can minimize the stress response with consequent better flesh quality.
Increasing concerns about farm animal welfare have led to an increase in the availability of welf... more Increasing concerns about farm animal welfare have led to an increase in the availability of welfare-friendly-products (WFP), but little is known about how much more consumers are willing-to-pay (WTP) for WFP or about their buying trends in Latin America. In this study, a survey was given to 843 meat consumers in the city of Toluca, Mexico. The results show that consumers were interested in farm animal welfare issues and their ethical , sociological and economic implications, as in Europe. The people surveyed also conveyed a high level of em-pathy with animal feelings and emotions, however they clearly demanded more information and regulations related to farm animal welfare. The majority of respondents expressed that they were WTP more for properly certified WFP, but mostly based on the benefits in terms of product quality and human health. If the demand for WFP begins to increase in Mexico, the supply chain should consider a certification system to guarantee product origin based on current conditions.
International aquaponic production has increased over the past decade, but less is known about re... more International aquaponic production has increased over the past decade, but less is known about research activities and production facilities operating in Europe. We conducted an online survey to get a better idea about research and production in Europe, focusing on five areas of aquaponics (i.e., demographics, facilities used, fish and crops produced, funding sources, and personal or company priorities for further development). The 68 respondents were distributed among 21 European countries, 43% were working at a university, and 19% were commercial producers. Only 11.8% of those surveyed had sold fish or plants in the past 12 months. Most respondents were male (66.2%) and had a postgraduate degree (91.7%). Facilities were generally new (74.5% constructed after 2010) and self-designed. Production figures were modest, with less than 10 respondents producing more than 1000 kg of fish or plants per year (mostly tilapia or catfish and herbs or lettuce). Systems were often funded by government grants (35.3%). The great majority of respondents (80.4%) stated that aquaponics was not their main source of income. Most respondents prioritized using aquaponics for educational purposes, while few (25%) used it to produce their own food or improve their health. Questions related to personal knowledge about aquaponics underlined the need for more training about fish diseases and plant pests.
Preventive Veterinary Medicine , 2020
Every year thousands of North American horses from the United States of America (USA) or Mexico h... more Every year thousands of North American horses from the United States of America (USA) or Mexico horses are transported to slaughter in Mexico, but little is known about their welfare or pre-slaughter logistics. In this study, we recorded the origin, sex, age and condition of horses (121 journeys, 2,648 animals) upon arrival to an abattoir in northern Mexico, including transport details. Horse welfare was measured indirectly via individual scores for body condition, coat quality, lameness, ocular and nasal discharge, as well as reactivity to a chute restraint test, all performed shortly after unloading. The average journey duration was 9.69 (±7.6) hours for horses from Mexico and 16.77 (±4.51) hours for horses from the USA (77% of all journeys). The prevalence of ocular discharge, nasal discharge, skin wounds, lameness and diarrhoea, were 23%, 12%, 11%, 9%, 1% (respectively) of all the horses observed, with no significant differences between Mexican and American horses (p≥0.05). During the chute test the American horses were calmer than the Mexican ones (P = 0.000), who were more restless and aggressive (P=0.001). Likewise, vocalizations in their three variants during the restraint, neigh/whinny (P=0.018), nicker (P=0.000), and snort (P=0.018), were more common in horses from Mexico. In order to help characterize fitness for transport, a two-step cluster analysis was applied using the welfare indicators, suggesting the existence of four clusters (C) evaluated on arrival at the abattoir (from good to very poor fitness): good (profile C4, n=769, 29.1%), average (profile C1, n=799 horses, 30.2%), poor (profile C3, n=586, 22.1%) and very poor (profile C2, n=493, 18.6%). In fact, the C4 best welfare group had 0% lame, 0% nasal discharge, 16.4% ocular discharge, 7.9% skin wounds. Instead, the C2 poorest welfare group had 45.8% lame, 61.1% nasal discharge, 42.8% ocular discharge, and 19.9% skin wounds. Results show potential for using lameness, nasal discharge, and ocular discharge as iceberg indicators of horse fitness and welfare on abattoir. The study provides detailed scientific data to help establish strategies regarding optimal days of recovery post-transport and fattening for homogenization of weights between animals of different origins, logistic planning, and optimization of logistic resources to minimize the biological cost of long-distance transport.
Grassi 2020, 2020
Saccharomyces cerevisiae biomass generated as a by-product in industrial processes and other biom... more Saccharomyces cerevisiae biomass generated as a by-product in industrial processes and other biomasses grown in industry waste waters like Spirulina platensis and Rubrivivax gelatinous can be used in aquafeed, thus reducing the costs of discard and minimizing environmental damage. In this study, 840 male Nile tilapias (Oreochromis niloticus; 26.8 ± 1.03 g average weight) were distributed among 21 tanks (40 fish/tank, 1.07 kg/m 3). Fish were fed to satiation three times a day throughout the trial (72 days). A completely randomized design experiment with 7 treatments (control group and 6 different diets, 3 replicates per treatment) was conducted to investigate the effects of these three microbial biomasses (added at 0.25 and 0.5% into an isoproteic/isoenergetic tilapia diet) on the growth and visceral indexes of the fish and on the composition and texture of the fillets. Feed conversion ratio was significantly lower in fish fed 0.5% R. gelatinosus than that in the control group, but no difference was detected among the treatments either for the other growth indicators or for the organs' indexes. Including microbial biomass in the diet did not significantly affect either fillet pH or texture parameters. However, the use of microbial biomass increased the protein content and decreased the n-6/n-3 ratio of the fillets compared with that of the control group. So, it was concluded that the dietary intake of low concentrations of S. cerevisiae, S. platensis and R. gelatinosus biomasses did not affect the growth performance of tilapias, increased the nutritional quality and preserved the texture features of the fillets.
Journal of Veterinary Behavior , 2019
Social personality can be key factor in evolution because of intraindividual consistency, heritab... more Social personality can be key factor in evolution because of intraindividual consistency, heritable basis, and linkage with fitness. The aim of this study was to identify the existence of sheep personality profiles based on the use of social strategies and its associations on morphological, cognitive, and reproductive success. Fifty adult ewes, housed indoor, were studied in terms of social and maintenance behavior, stress response, morphological variables, and productive performance. The cognitive abilities of the ewes were also analyzed. A factor analysis was used to summarize the data of 7 social behavioral variables. Agonistic and nonagonistic behaviors were grouped in classes. The factors were extracted using principal components. A hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to identify clusters or profiles. The results demonstrated the existence of 4 personalities profiles (avoider, affiliative, aggressive, and pragmatic), determined by social behavior and the index of success. The study addresses the multidimensionality of personality, showing that sheep personality comprises several social and nonsocial dimensions. The data confirm that the use of social strategies and the index of success are a useful tool to predict individual differences or personalities in a flock.
Aquaculture Research, 2019
Supplementing fish feed with Arthrospira platensis has several beneficial effects, such as improv... more Supplementing fish feed with Arthrospira platensis has several beneficial effects, such
as improved growth, survival and feed conversion, but little is known about how it
affects gut microbiota or flesh quality. In this trial, feed with 3% A. platensis was given
to Oreochromis niloticus (SPR, spirulina supplemented) over a period of 50 days and
their gut microbiota and flesh quality were compared with controls (CTRs, no supplementation).
Average daily growth was higher in SPR fish (p < 0.05). Regarding microbiota,
a total of 5,470,272 readings (individuals) were obtained from 16 gut
samples (n = 8 CTR, n = 8 SPR), with a gamma diversity of 1,563 species but no significant
differences were found between treatments. Among the high inter‐individual
variability found, some individual microbiota were dominated by Proteobacteria
(36.6%) and Fusobacteria (32.9%) and others more by Actinobacteria (37%). Regarding
flesh quality, significant differences were observed in flesh colour post‐mortem (a*, b*
and chroma) (p < 0.05), with higher reflectance in the range of 470–500 and 620–
670 nm in SPR tilapia, which corresponds with the reflectance range of β‐carotene
and phycocyanin. However, rigor mortis was resolved earlier in SPR fish (p < 0.05),
which suggests a shorter shelf life. Adding 3% of A. platensis in O. niloticus diet can
improve growth and flesh colour and does not appear to modify intestinal
microbiota.
Biological Theory, 2019
According to the dual inheritance theory, cultural learning in our species is a biased and highly... more According to the dual inheritance theory, cultural learning in our species is a biased and highly efficient process of transmitting cultural traits. Here we define a model of cultural learning where social learning is integrated as a complementary element that facilitates the discovery of a specific behavior by an apprentice, and not as a mechanism that works in opposition to individual learning. In that context, we propose that the emergence of the ability to approve or disapprove of offspring behavior, orienting their learning (a process we call assessor teaching), transformed primate social learning into a cultural transmission system, like that which characterizes our species. Assessor teaching facilitates the replication and/or reconstruction of behaviors that are difficult to imitate and helps to determine which behaviors should be imitated. We also explore the form in which assessor teaching has conditioned the evolution of our abilities to develop cultures in the hominin line, converting us into individuals equipped with what we call a suadens psychology. Our main point is to defend the hypothesis that suadens psychology determines the stability and dynamics that affect the trajectories of many cultural characters. We compare our proposal with other theories about cultural evolution, specifically with dual inheritance theory and cultural attraction theory.
Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 2018
A multivariable linear model was used to analyse the incidence of carcass quality defects over on... more A multivariable linear model was used to analyse the incidence of carcass quality defects over one year in a commercial database that included 1,856 flocks of Ross broilers (9,188 shipments, 1,975,420 carcasses inspected). The incidence of foot-pad dermatitis (FPD), scratches and wing and back haematomas was scored and analysed in terms of the effects of transport distance, arrival time to the slaughterhouse, waiting time at the slaughterhouse, maximum outside temperature on the day of transport, feed conversion rate, stocking density, bird type (yellow-skinned females or males, white-skinned females or males and roaster females), thinning (birds transported after thinning, birds remaining after thinning, and non-thinned flocks), bed litter type (rice hulls, chopped straw or wood shavings), and ventilation system (dynamic, static or tunnel). The incidence of FPD was significantly (p<0.001) lower at higher maximum temperatures and higher in flocks with a higher feed conversion rate. FPD also increased with stocking density (kg/m 2) and was, on average, 5.0% higher in males than females. Regarding thinning, FPD was 13% lower in birds transported after thinning. Birds raised on chopped straw had more FPD (49.3%), followed by wood shavings (31.1%). Scratches were higher at higher temperatures and increased with transport distance. Birds transported after thinning had 5.8% more scratches than non-thinned birds, while increased stocking density (kg/m 2) on the farm tended to increase scratches. Back haematomas were 32.6% higher in birds that were thinned, while wing haematomas increased with stocking density (kg/m 2). Back haematomas were also 23.7% higher in males and more common in white-skinned birds.
Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 2019
The transport of broilers to slaughter normally results in a small percentage of dead on arrival ... more The transport of broilers to slaughter normally results in a small percentage of dead on arrival (DoA) but little is known about the effects of flock thinning or bird weight. A multivariable linear model was used to analyse the incidence of DoA over one year in 1,856 flocks of Ross broilers (9,188 shipments). Each flock was categorized according to broiler type (yellow-skinned females and males, white-skinned females and males and roaster females) and thinning (birds transported after thinning, remaining birds after thinning and non-thinned flocks), in addition to transport distance, waiting time, maximum and minimum daily temperatures, precipitation and maximum wind speed. The overall percentage of DoA was 0.187%. The effect of the daily maximum outside temperature on DoA was quadratic with minimum DoA at 21.5ºC. Arrival time to the slaughterhouse and waiting time increased DoA by 0.0044% and 0.0021% for every 60 min increase, respectively. DoA were higher in males (which were heavier than females), and in the flocks that were previously thinned. An interaction between thinning and bird type was found, so that DoA were higher in previously thinned flocks of male broilers and roaster females. Despite the high incidence of thinning and larger bird weight, the percentage of DoA was comparable to previous studies. This research provides one of the largest detailed analyses of DoA in commercial broiler production in the Iberian Peninsula. The models described allow to quantify how increases in temperature, transport distance, waiting time, bird weight and the practise of thinning can all increase broiler mortality.
Mammalian skin temperature is often used as an indicator of health status but has also been used ... more Mammalian skin temperature is often used as an indicator of health status but has also been used in animal production as a proxy measure for thermoregulatory effort or energy wastage. An animal with a higher skin temperature may also have a lower feed efficiency. With advances in technology it is now feasible to continuously record temperatures of livestock over protracted periods of time. In this study, the ear skin pig temperature was related to feed efficiency using phase space diagram methodology. Fourteen Landrace finishers (all male) housed in one pen over a week at relatively high temperatures (average temperature throughout the experiment 27 C) were supervised. The date, time and amount of feed consumed per individual animals was monitored via an electronic feeding station. The number of visits to the feeding station was used as an indicator of physical locomotor activity. Each animal was weighed at the beginning and at the end of the experiment to calculate their feed efficiency. The areas of the phase space diagrams of skin temperatures were used to quantify the variability of the time temperature series. Two areas in the phase space were correlated with feed efficiency (r ¼ 0.77) and physical lo-comotor activity (r ¼ 0.53). An index was developed that includes both areas, which increased the correlation between the variability of ear skin temperature and feed efficiency to r ¼ 0.85. This methodology could be used to help categorise pigs in terms of feed efficiency for rapid phenotyping.
Microbial biomass (MB) produced by different industries is thought to be a beneficial supplement ... more Microbial biomass (MB) produced by different industries is thought to be a beneficial supplement in fish feed due to high contents of antioxidants and pigments. However, little is known about their impact on fish health. In this experiment, 960 tilapia (26.84 AE 1.03 g) were fed one of eight experimental diets—a control diet with no MB (C), a control diet with vitamin E (VE) and six diets with three types of MB at two concentrations (0.25% and 0.5%): Rubrivivax gelatinosus (RG25 and RG50), Spirulina platensis (SP25 and SP50) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC25 and SC50). Adding MB to diets decreased plasma total oxidant status, malonaldehyde and leucocyte respiratory burst; increased the total antioxidant status; and did not affect the blood biochemical parameters. In flesh, the use of the MB lowered the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and increased redness (except for SC) and carotenoid deposition (except SC25). So, it was concluded that the use of the MB provided an antioxidant effect in tilapia blood plasma, decreased lipid oxidation and increased pigmentation and carotenoid deposition in the fish flesh, without imparting a negative impact on the animals' health. K E Y W O R D S biochemical analysis, carotenoids, colour, leucocyte respiratory burst, lipid oxidation, TBARS
The effect of wine by-products in the feeding of ewes on fatty acid composition of milk and meat ... more The effect of wine by-products in the feeding of ewes on fatty acid composition of milk and meat of their suckling lambs and the sensory quality of the meat was investigated. Forty-two ewes were fed during the second half of gestation and lactation one out of three treatments: a control diet based on a commercial concentrate and two concentrates supplemented with either 10% grape pomace or 5% grape seed. In addition, all animals had ad libitum access of Lucerne chaff. The control group showed lower concentration of saturated fatty acids (mainly in short and medium chain) and higher monounsaturated fatty acids (mainly oleic acid) in the milk fat, being the total polyunsaturated fatty acids unchanged. However, this variation was not reflected in the meat of the suckling lambs, where only few differences in individual fatty acids were found, such as linoleic acid being highest in the pomace treatment. Spicy and metallic flavours were increased in the wine by-products groups, but overall liking was not affected. The by-products added to the diets may be a good way to reduce costs on feeding and waste, but they were not able to provide a healthier fatty acid profile, neither in milk nor in the meat of the suckling lambs.
Several recent studies have shown that Arthrospira sp. supplementation of feeds has a beneficial ... more Several recent studies have shown that Arthrospira sp. supplementation of feeds has a beneficial effect on fish health and growth, but less is known about its possible effects on stress responsiveness. The present study was designed to evaluate using Arthrospira platensis as a feed supplement for Oreochromis niloticus fry, reared in recirculating aquaculture systems. Two isocaloric and isonitrogenous fishmeal-based diets were prepared with 0% and 1% A. platensis and fed to fry, approximately 10 mg live weight at the beginning of the experimental period (n=16 tanks, 8 tanks per treatment), at a feeding rate of 6% live weight, four meals a day for 50 d. The weight gain per tank, specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio were similar among treatments but A. platensis supplementation significantly increased survival (p<0.05). Stress responsiveness was measured in all fish from 12 tanks using a non-invasive two-choice test. All fish from one home tank (n=6 tanks per treatment), were placed into a shaded tank where oxygen levels were slowly reduced. A doorway was then opened to a second illuminated tank with normal oxygen levels and the number of fish that left the home tank were counted. The fish fed A. platensis stayed significantly (p=0.001) longer in the home tank (30.20 min ± 13.22) than controls (17.35 min ± 8.32), suggesting a lower stress responsiveness and a higher tolerance to hypoxia. Additional keywords: fish; feed additive; two-choice; behaviour; non-invasive. Abbreviations used: CTR (control fish); FCR (feed conversion ratio); SPR (Arthrospira platensis supplemented fish). Authors' contributions: Conceived and designed the experiments, and drafted the manuscript: IPG, MV, JLG. Performed the experiments, analysed and interpreted the data: IPG and MV. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: MV and JLG. Citation: Plaza, I.; García Lopez, J. L.; Villarroel, M. (2018). Effect of spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) supplementation on tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) growth and stress responsiveness under hypoxia.
The study aim was to identify consumer segmentation based on nonhuman animal welfare (AW) attitud... more The study aim was to identify consumer segmentation based on nonhuman animal welfare (AW) attitudes and their relationship with demographic features and willingness to pay (WTP) for welfare-friendly products (WFP) in Mexico. Personal interviews were conducted with 843 Mexican consumers who stated they purchased most of the animal products in their home. Respondents were selected using a quota sampling method with age, gender, education, and origin as quota control variables. The multi-variate analysis suggested there were three clusters or consumer profiles labeled " skeptical, " " concerned, " and " ethical, " which helped explain the association between AW attitudes, some demographic variables, and WTP for WFP. This study is one of the first to address consumer profiling in Latin America, and the findings could have implications for the commercializa-tion of WFP. Hence, customers should receive information to consider welfare innovations when deciding to purchase animal products. The growth of the WFP food market establishes an element of a far more multifaceted phenomenon of sustainable consumption and support of a new paradigm called responsible marketing in emerging markets such as Mexico.
Aquaponics is an approach of coupling two technologies: recirculation aquaculture (fish-farms) an... more Aquaponics is an approach of coupling two technologies: recirculation aquaculture (fish-farms) and hydroponics (soil-less cultivation of crops). While it is perceived as a way to contribute to more sustainable food systems, the technology is still in its infancy, with several challenges. This paper describes current conditions of development and identifies aspects that can promote or hinder future pathways. We focus our analysis on the EU, using Germany as an institutional case study, while also considering worldwide developments. We propose a framework to analyze aquaponics as an emerging technological innovation system at the interface between existing fish and plant production systems. The approach is explorative based on a literature review and interviews with experts. The main findings are that stakeholders have different views regarding the future development pathways, knowledge to manage complex systems in the long term is needed and it is still unclear how to design institutional conditions to deliver sustainable outcomes.
Animal welfare has become an important subject of public, economic and political concern, leading... more Animal welfare has become an important subject of public, economic and political concern, leading to the need to validate indicators that are feasible to use at abattoirs. A systematic review was carried out, which identified 72 cattle welfare indicators (CWI) that were classified into four categories (physiological, morphometric, be-havioral and meat quality). Their validity and feasibility for use in abattoirs were evaluated as potential measures of cattle welfare during transportation to the abattoir and at the abattoir itself. Several highly valid indicators were identified that are useful to assess welfare at abattoirs, including body condition score, human-animal interactions, vocalizations, falling, carcass bruising, and meat pH. In addition, some intermediate valid indicators are useful and should be investigated further. Information along the food chain could be used systematically to provide a basis for a more-risk-based meat inspection. An integrated system based on the use of key indicators defined for each inspection step with the setting of alarm thresholds could be implemented.
Livestock transport exposes animals to a range of potential stressors that may compromise their w... more Livestock transport exposes animals to a range of potential stressors that may compromise their welfare and final product quality, and those effects typically increase with the distance travelled. In North America, producers often use pot-belly vehicles for long hauls but little is known about their suitability for transporting lambs. We followed two long-distance trips using pot-belly trailers carrying 500 lambs (each) from Northern to Central Mexico in winter, to measure possible effects on animal welfare and meat quality. Sixty lambs per trip were placed at different locations within the pot-belly trailer. Animals were equipped with iButton Thermochron® temperature devices, which registered body temperature throughout pre-and post-slaughter stages. Despite the rather cool winter conditions, lambs placed in the Bbelly^ and Bnose^ compartments had higher body temperatures at loading, during transport and lairage and after slaughter (carcass temperature). Those lambs also had higher levels of plasma cortisol, glucose and creatine kinase (CK), and a higher neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio. Regarding meat quality, ultimate pH (24 h) was higher in all locations, especially in LT4 location. Overall, the results suggest a link between thermal stress during transport, elevated physiological indicators of stress and poorer meat quality.
The response of cultured rainbow trout to their mirrored image was investigated. Thirty fish were... more The response of cultured rainbow trout to their mirrored image was investigated. Thirty fish were placed individually in two novel aquariums consecutively for 10 min each. Walls in one aquarium were covered with mirrors on all four sides, whereas the walls of the other aquarium were non-transparent black. Because all four walls were covered with mirrors, the mirrored image of the fish was reproduced multiple times such that 'a group' of fish was created surrounding the individual. Half of the fish started in the aquarium with the mirrors, whereas the other half started in the mirrorless aquarium. Fish swim faster in the aquarium with mirrors than in the mirrorless aquarium (2.95 vs. 2.40 cm/s; p < 0.01), indicating a positive behavioural response towards their mirrored images. Fish did not show aggressive interactions towards their mirrored images. Being confronted with 'a group' of fish and not just one 'opponent' may have inhibited aggressive behavior, or individuals may not have considered the images to be fellow individuals. Fish that swam faster in the mirrorless aquarium also did so in the aquarium with mirrors (r = 0.73; p < 0.0001), indicating a persistent behavioural coping response (boldness) in response to the two novel environments. Mirrors may be used to influence social behaviour of fish in aquaculture; further research is needed to investigate the influence of mirror placement in tanks of group housed trout on growth and behaviour. Correspondence should be addressed to Wendy Rauw: rauw.wendy@inia.es Abbreviations used: BW (body weight). Funding: Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of the Spanish Government, Project entitled " Group competition, feed efficiency and welfare in traditional and genomic selection programs in aquaculture / Competición de grupo, eficiencia alimentaria y bienestar animal en programas de selección tradicional y genómica en acuacultura " (AGL2012-39137).
Global environmental, social and economic challenges drive the need for new and improved solution... more Global environmental, social and economic challenges drive the need for new and improved solutions for food production and consumption. Food production within a sustainability corridor requires innovations exceeding traditional paradigms, acknowledging the complexity arising from sustainability. However, there is a lack of knowledge about how to direct further activities, to develop technologies as potential solutions for questions related to climate change, loss of soil fertility and biodiversity, scarcity of resources, and shortage of drinking water. One approach that promises to address these problems is controlled environment agriculture. Aquaponics (AP) combines two technologies: recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS) and hydroponics (plant production in water, without soil) in a closed-loop system. One challenge to the development of this technology is the conversion of the toxic ammonium produced by the fish into nitrate, via bacteria in a biofilter, to provide nitrogen to the plants. However, as this Special Issue shows, there are many other challenges that need to be addressed if the goal of the technology is to contribute to more sustainable food production systems.
Pre-slaughter fasting is a common practice in aquaculture to ensure emptying of the digestive tra... more Pre-slaughter fasting is a common practice in aquaculture to ensure emptying of the digestive tract, but little is known about how long fish should be fasted, in terms of degree days (°C days), to clear the gut without affecting their welfare or flesh quality. In this study, 180 rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were fasted for 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 days (17.2, 22.3, 28.6, 35.3, 41.8 and 55.3 °C days, respectively) and different morphometric, hematological and flesh quality parameters were measured. The slaughter weight, relative growth and hepato-somatic index did not decrease until after 7 days of fasting (41.8 °C days) and stomach content was similar and near zero after 4 days of fasting (22.3 °C days). Conversely, fasting time increased carcass yield. Plasma concentrations of cortisol, glucose and creatine phosphokinase enzyme were lower with increasing days of fasting. However, trout slaughtered after 5 days of fasting (28.6 °C days) had a higher flesh pH at 0 h post-mortem than 3 and 4 days fasted trout and, consequently, earlier establishment of rigor mortis. Furthermore, liver color could be useful as a stress indicator since its hue decreases after 5 days of fasting (28.6 °C days). In conclusion, a pre-slaughter fasting period from 17.2 °C days to 22.3 °C days makes possible to obtain a complete emptying of the digestive system in rainbow trout and simultaneously it can minimize the stress response with consequent better flesh quality.
Increasing concerns about farm animal welfare have led to an increase in the availability of welf... more Increasing concerns about farm animal welfare have led to an increase in the availability of welfare-friendly-products (WFP), but little is known about how much more consumers are willing-to-pay (WTP) for WFP or about their buying trends in Latin America. In this study, a survey was given to 843 meat consumers in the city of Toluca, Mexico. The results show that consumers were interested in farm animal welfare issues and their ethical , sociological and economic implications, as in Europe. The people surveyed also conveyed a high level of em-pathy with animal feelings and emotions, however they clearly demanded more information and regulations related to farm animal welfare. The majority of respondents expressed that they were WTP more for properly certified WFP, but mostly based on the benefits in terms of product quality and human health. If the demand for WFP begins to increase in Mexico, the supply chain should consider a certification system to guarantee product origin based on current conditions.
International aquaponic production has increased over the past decade, but less is known about re... more International aquaponic production has increased over the past decade, but less is known about research activities and production facilities operating in Europe. We conducted an online survey to get a better idea about research and production in Europe, focusing on five areas of aquaponics (i.e., demographics, facilities used, fish and crops produced, funding sources, and personal or company priorities for further development). The 68 respondents were distributed among 21 European countries, 43% were working at a university, and 19% were commercial producers. Only 11.8% of those surveyed had sold fish or plants in the past 12 months. Most respondents were male (66.2%) and had a postgraduate degree (91.7%). Facilities were generally new (74.5% constructed after 2010) and self-designed. Production figures were modest, with less than 10 respondents producing more than 1000 kg of fish or plants per year (mostly tilapia or catfish and herbs or lettuce). Systems were often funded by government grants (35.3%). The great majority of respondents (80.4%) stated that aquaponics was not their main source of income. Most respondents prioritized using aquaponics for educational purposes, while few (25%) used it to produce their own food or improve their health. Questions related to personal knowledge about aquaponics underlined the need for more training about fish diseases and plant pests.