In reality, only a few ECIs have been successful, failing to hit the required minimum target of 1 million signatures. It will have to adopt a formal response spelling out what action it will propose in response to the citizens’ initiative. Now it is the European Commission’s turn. However, the fight to get animals out of cages is not over yet. Slow Food Europe has been among 170 environmental, consumer rights and animal protection groups, which joined forces for a collaborative effort to make a much-needed change in animal farming.Īfter one year of a huge effort, a finish line in the biggest political push in farm animal welfare history has been crossed. The initiative which aims to end the use of cages for farm animals across the European Union marks one of the most significant days for animal farming and demonstrates the importance of citizens’ voice to the EU decision-making process. If you made it to the end of this article, don’t forget to check out our other post on “Cleaning of Animal Sheds ” here.The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) “End the Cage Age” was closed last night, celebrating over 1.5 million signatures gained during a 12-month period.

However, if you would like to buy meat click here to order for wholesome, traceable meat (ram & goat inclusive) from a fit-for slaughter livestock now. Would you like to know more about factors that affect sexual maturity in livestock animals? then send us an email to we will be glad to put you through however we can. If the male and female are kept together they mature earlier.If there is a lack of these stimulation leads to delay the onset of puberty.The stimulation of sensory apparatus through CNS by hearing, seeing, smelling of opposite sex, causes early puberty.Chronic diseases indirectly due to elevation of body temperature, disturbances of basal metabolism, thermal stress, anorexia, indigestion, stunted growth, emaciation, debility, weakness and endocrinological dysfunction affects the onset of puberty.Any disease which causes emaciation of individual, delay the onset of puberty and sexual maturity.If delay the release of hormones leads to delay in the puberty and sexual maturity.If hormone (FSH and ICSH) release occurs at earlier age, the puberty and sexual maturity comes earlier.

Seasonal influences are there in sheep and buffaloes – hot season delays the onset of puberty.There is a close relationship among season of birth, body weight and onset of puberty.Animals located in tropical regions are late in attaining puberty and sexual maturity.If individual animal of one geographical area raised in another geographical area, the puberty will be affected adversely.

The geographical location for rearing of young animals affects the onset of puberty and maturity.The cross breeding causes early puberty and maturity.The buffalo male calves appear to attain sexual maturity later than the cattle-bull calves even with good nutrition and management probably due to genetic difference (testicular surface area of buffalo is lesser than cattle).The larger breeds of cattle and horses have a late onset of puberty than the smaller breeds.The genetic components of young bulls affect the onset of puberty and maturity.If the individual animal gain less weight according to age factor, the puberty and ultimately sexual maturity will be delayed.Body weight plays more important role than the age for attaining puberty and sexual maturity.Lack of TDN in the feed or animal can also make them starve which leads to prevent the secretion of gonadotropic hormones by the anterior pituitary- result in failure of early puberty.Poor somatic growth and emaciation which ultimately delays the onset of puberty due to the deficient feeding of protein, iodine, phosphorus, copper, iron, cobalt.Good nutrition and an improved management system will enhance the onset of puberty at a very early age.The onset of puberty and sexual maturity in livestock animals are the gradual processes which can be influenced by different factors such as nutrition and management, cross breeding, chronic diseases, individual differences a host of other things.

There are a variety of factors that affect sexual maturity in livestock animals which can either lead to an increase or decrease in the reproduction rate of the livestock. Factors Affecting Sexual Maturity in Livestock Animals :.

Farm animal age