科尔沁牛夏季牧食行为的研究

2002年夏季在内蒙古科左后旗的天然草场上,采用跟群放牧全日观察法,定量研究了自然放牧状态下成年科尔沁牛牧食行为.结果表明,科尔沁牛的平均采食时间为410.9±34.8 min,反刍时间为4.2±8.2 min,卧息时间为5.0±17.3 min,站立时间为18.0±16.8 min,游走时间为80.4±12.9 min.平均采食量为8.10 千克/头*天.选择采食性特征最明显的7、8月份进行的调查结果表明,放牧牛采食所涉及的牧草种类共有16种,其中7月份11种,8月份12种.     

科尔沁牛春季的牧食行为

2002年春季在内蒙古科左后旗的天然草场上,采用跟群放牧全日观察法,定量研究了自然放牧状态下成年科尔沁牛牧食行为。结果表明,科尔沁牛的平均采食时间为511.36±222.07min,反刍时间为66.38±14.60min,卧息时间为46.50±42.97min,站立时间为10.75±7.98min,游走时间为58.10±20.13min。平均采食速度为62.00±13.04口/分,平均采食量为10.38千克/头·天。对苔草草甸进行的受控放牧试验表明,主要牧草的选择性采食顺序为香茅>蒲公英>马蔺>芦苇>苔草。     

科尔沁牛春季的牧食行为

2002年春季在内蒙古科左后旗的天然草场上,采用跟群放牧全日观察法,定量研究了自然放牧状态下成年科尔沁牛牧食行为.结果表明,科尔沁牛的平均采食时间为511.36±222.07min,反刍时间为66.38±14.60min,卧息时间为46.50±42.97min,站立时间为10.75±7.98min,游走时间为58.10±20.13min.平均采食速度为62.00±13.04口/分,平均采食量为10.38千克/头·天.对苔草草甸进行的受控放牧试验表明,主要牧草的选择性采食顺序为香茅＞蒲公英＞马蔺＞芦苇＞苔草.     

科尔沁牛冬季牧食行为

2002年冬季在内蒙古科左后旗的天然草场上,采用跟群放牧全日观察法,定量研究了科尔沁牛牧食行为.结果表明,科尔沁牛的平均采食时间为302.2±26.6 min,反刍时间为13.5±22.4 min,卧息时间为21.6±27.8 min,站立时间为14.1±9.5 min,游走时间为78.2±26.6 min.平均采食速度为47.9±15.7口/分钟,平均采食量为5.31千克/头·天.日反刍周期出现于午休时间,反刍行为主要在夜间进行,夜间的反刍时间、反刍周期数和反刍总食团数均增加.     

科尔沁牛冬季牧食行为

2002年冬季在内蒙古科左后旗的天然草场上,采用跟群放牧全日观察法,定量研究了科尔沁牛牧食行为。结果表明,科尔沁牛的平均采食时间为302．2±26．6 min,反刍时间为13．5±22．4 min,卧息时间为21．6±27．8 min,站立时间为14．1±9．5 min,游走时间为 78．2±26．6 min。平均采食速度为47．9±15．7口/分钟,平均采食量为5．31千克/头·天。日反刍周期出现于午休时间,反刍行为主要在夜间进行,夜间的反刍时间、反刍周期数和反刍总食团数均增加。     

科尔沁草地不同放牧制度牧食行为研究

2006年7~10月在科尔沁草地研究了不同放牧制度下科尔沁牛的牧食行为。结果表明:科尔沁牛的采食选择性很强,不仅表现在牧草的种类上,还表现在牧草的生长季节上,主要选择那些易消化的植物种类或部位,在两种放牧制度的食谱中狗尾草所占的比例均高于45%。植物种群采食后的平均留茬高度在不同放牧制度和不同月份具有不同的表现,轮牧条件下表现为10月份7月份8月份9月份;自由放牧条件下表现为10月份9月份8月份7月份。不同放牧制度下的采食速率、采食习性、排泄行为不同,轮牧条件下采食时间和采食路线短,采食速率和采食量高,反刍?卧息和站立时间均较长,排粪和排尿次数少。     

科尔沁牛的采食量与食性选择

2002年在内蒙古科左后旗的天然草场上,采用跟群放牧全日观察法,定量研究了科尔沁牛的采食量与食性选择。结果表明,科尔沁牛秋、夏、春、冬日采食量依次呈递减趋势,每头牛每天采食干物质量分别是10.45,8.10,7.34和5.31kg。放牧牛采食所涉及的牧草种类共有16种,其中7月份11种,嗜食和喜食种类数占采食植物种类数的27%;8月份12种,嗜食和喜食种类数占采食植物种类数的50%。     

蒙古牛春季牧食习性的观察研究

1997年春季(5月中下旬)在内蒙古锡林郭勒盟多伦县测定了蒙古牛的牧食习性,研究了蒙古牛的采食、站立、游走、卧息、反刍、饮水和排泄行为.研究结果表明,蒙古牛的平均采食时间为508.1±55.5min,共计6.3±2.1个采食周期;反刍时间为386.8±54.6min;卧息时间244.9±61.0min;站立游走时间300.2±79.0.平均采食速度7.6±8.1口/min,平均采食量10.10kg/头·d.蒙古牛春季采食的牧草种类主要为单子叶植物中的禾本科、莎草科、百合科和鸢尾科植物.     

雷州山羊春季牧食行为的观测

对雷州山羊春季牧食行为进行24 h的连续观测表明,雷州山羊昼夜采食时间为415.37±26.81 min,放牧平均采食速度35.34±3.52 口/min,游走时间15.65±7.32 min;每日饮水3次,每次饮水量0.83±0.31 kg;昼夜反刍时间375.7±21.73 min,反刍与采食时间之比为0.911,昼夜反刍周期数9.01±0.38,反刍周期持续时间42.19±6.74 min,每个食团咀嚼时间50.29±8.42s,反刍咀嚼速度1.35±0.15次/s,夜间反刍时间占昼夜总反刍时间的75.66%;昼夜排粪排尿次数分别为8.67±1.37和6.88±1.04,且白昼显著多于夜间(P＜0.05).     

牦牛夏秋季和冬季各草场牧食行为的研究

2004年8、9和11月份在青海省三角城种羊场夏、秋、冬三季牧场研究了牦牛的昼牧食行为。结果表明:牦牛在夏季草场的昼采食时间最长,平均为(337.45±39.96)min,在秋季和冬季草场的平均昼采食时间分别为(301.82±27.91)min和(304.57±12.24)min。另外,在夏季草场没有观测到牦牛的昼卧息和反刍行为。其主要原因是在夏季草场牛羊放牧压力过大,草地不能为牦牛提供足够的饲草,故牦牛延长采食时间以获取最大量的饲草,因此用于其他行为的时间相对减少。牦牛在秋冬季草场的昼反刍时间分别为(86.22±14.24)min和(53.84±13.93)min,秋季草场高于冬季草场。牦牛在秋季草场的昼站立和游走时间也高于夏季草场和冬季草场。其主要原因是由于秋季草场草产量丰富,质量较好。由于冬季草场气候寒冷,牧草枯黄,质量降低,牦牛的昼卧息时间最长。     

白术、微米白术和白术多糖对断奶仔猪生长性能和肠道形态及微生态区系的影响

试验选用96头平均体重14.82 kg左右的杜×长×大断奶仔猪,随机分成4组,每组3栏,每栏8头(公母各半)。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验1、2、3组分别添加1%80目白术、0.2%白术多糖和1%微米白术。试验期30 d。结果表明:在生长性能方面,与对照组相比,1%微米白术添加组可显著提高日增重(P0.05)、降低饲料增重比和腹泻率,而且效果优于1%80目白术组和0.2%白术多糖组,在肠道形态和肠道微生态区系方面,与对照组相比,日粮添加1%80目白术、0.2%白术多糖、1%微米白术均可不同程度的提高十二指肠和空肠的绒毛高度,加深十二指肠和空肠的隐窝深度,并且增加肠道微生态区系的多样性,其中以1%微米白术添加组的效果最佳。     

Prevalence and seasonal incidence of nematode parasites and fluke infections of sheep and goats in eastern Ethiopia

Sissay, M.M., Uggla, A. and Waller, P.J., XXXX. Prevalence and seasonal incidence of nematode parasites and fluke infections of sheep and goats in eastern Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, XXXX. A 2-year abattoir survey was carried out to determine the prevalence, abundance and seasonal incidence of gastro-intestinal (GI) nematodes and trematodes (flukes) of sheep and goats in the semi-arid zone of eastern Ethiopia. During May 2003 to April 2005, viscera including liver, lungs and GI tracts were collected from 655 sheep and 632 goats slaughtered at 4 abattoirs located in the towns of Haramaya, Harar, Dire Dawa and Jijiga in eastern Ethiopia. All animals were raised in the farming areas located within the community boundaries for each town. Collected materials were transported within 24 h to the parasitology laboratory of Haramaya University for immediate processing. Thirteen species belonging to 9 genera of GI nematodes (Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus axei, T. colubriformis, T. vitrinus, Nematodirus filicollis, N. spathiger, Oesophagostomum columbianum, O. venulosum, Strongyloides papillosus, Bunostomum trigonocephalum, Trichuris ovis, Cooperia curticei and Chabertia ovina), and 4 species belonging to 3 genera of trematodes (Fasciola hepatica, F. gigantica, Paramphistomum {Calicohoron} microbothrium and Dicrocoelium dendriticum) were recorded in both sheep and goats. All animals in this investigation were infected with multiple species to varying degrees. The mean burdens of adult nematodes were generally moderate in both sheep and goats and showed patterns of seasonal abundance that corresponded with the bi-modal annual rainfall pattern, with highest burdens around the middle of the rainy season. In both sheep and goats there were significant differences in the mean worm burdens and abundance of the different nematode species between the four geographic locations, with worm burdens in the Haramaya and Harar areas greater than those observed in the Dire Dawa and Jijiga locations. Similar seasonal variations were also observed in the prevalence of flukes. But there were no significant differences in the prevalence of each fluke species between the four locations. Overall, the results showed that Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Nematodirus, Oesophagostomum, Fasciola and Paramphistomum species were the most abundant helminth parasites of sheep and goats in eastern Ethiopia.     

Phase I evaluation of CCNU (lomustine) in tumor-bearing cats

1-(2-Chloroethyl)3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU) is an alkylating agent in the nitrosourea subclass. A prospective evaluation of CCNU was done to determine the maximally tolerated dosage of CCNU in tumor-bearing cats. Response data were obtained when available. Twenty-five cats were treated with CCNU at a dosage of 50-60 mg/m3 body surface area. Complete hematologic data were available for 13 cats. Neutropenia was the acute dose-limiting toxicity. The median neutrophil count at the nadir was 1,000 cells/microL (mean, 2,433 cells/microL; range, 0-9,694 cells/microL). The time of neutrophil nadir was variable, occurring 7-28 days after treatment, and counts sometimes did not return to normal for up to 14 days after the nadir. Based on these findings, a 6-week dosing interval and weekly hematologic monitoring after the 1st treatment with CCNU are recommended. The nadir of the platelet count may occur 14-21 days after treatment. The median platelet count at the nadir was 43,500 cells/microL. No gastrointestinal, renal, or hepatic toxicities were observed after a single CCNU treatment, and additional studies to evaluate the potential for cumulative toxicity should be performed. Five cats with lymphoma and 1 cat with mast cell tumor had measurable responses to CCNU. Phase II studies to evaluate antitumor activity should be completed with a dosing regimen of 50-60 mg/m3 every 6 weeks.     

Internal Parasites and Haematological Values in Cattle Slaughtered in Buea Subdivision of Cameroon

Tropical Animal Health and Production -     

Chemotaxis of macrophage in inflammation

Our particular attention in this article was given to natural mediators for macrophages isolated from the sites of tissue injury. A number of chemotactic factors, which may satisfy many criteria making them acceptable as inflammatory leucocyte chemotactic factors, has been separated. Among them, our laboratory has isolated three macrophage (monocyte) chemotactic factors (MCF-a, -b and -c). Their purification, characterization and functional specificity are discussed.     

Prevalence of gastric lesions in racing Alaskan sled dogs

Human and equine athletes are reported to have a high prevalence of gastric disease, and anecdotal evidence suggests a similar phenomenon applies to racing sled dogs. To investigate the prevalence of gastric disease in racing sled dogs, we conducted 2 gastroscopy studies on dogs competing in the annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race. A pilot study of dogs that were either dropped from the 2000 Iditarod Sled Dog Race because of illness or that finished the race indicated that, approximately 5 days after competing, 10 of 28 dogs (35%) had endoscopic evidence of gastric ulceration, erosion, or hemorrhage. The next year, an endoscopic study of 73 dogs participating in the 2001 Iditarod race was performed in order to evaluate a larger population of dogs. Data from 70 of these dogs could be used; 34 (48.5%) had ulceration, erosion, gastric hemorrhage, or some combination of these findings. When this group of 70 dogs was compared retrospectively to a control group of 87 dogs presented to the Texas A&M University (TAMU) Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, the Iditarod sled dogs had a significantly higher prevalence (P = .049) of gastric lesions. These findings suggest that, similar to athletes of other species, elite canine athletes have an increased prevalence of gastric disease compared to the canine population at large.     

Y‐chromosomal variation of local goat breeds of Turkey close to the domestication centre

Genetic variations in chromosome Y are enabling researchers to identify paternal lineages, which are informative for introgressions and migrations. In this study, the male‐specific region markers, sex‐determining region‐Y (SRY), amelogenin (AMELY) and zinc finger (ZFY) were analysed in seven Turkish native goat breeds, Angora, Kilis, Hair, Honaml?, Norduz, Gürcü and Abaza. A SNP in the ZFY gene defined a new haplotype Y2C. All domestic haplogroups originate from Capra aegagrus, while the finding of Y1A, Y1B, Y2A and Y2C in 32, 4, 126 and 2 Turkish domestic goats, respectively, appears to indicate a predomestic origin of the major haplotypes. The occurrence of four haplotypes in the Hair goat and, in contrast, a frequency of 96% of Y1A in the Kilis breed illustrate that Y‐chromosomal variants have a more breed‐dependent distribution than mitochondrial or autosomal DNA. This probably reflects male founder effects, but a role in adaptation cannot be excluded.     

Furosemide continuous rate infusion in the horse: evaluation of enhanced efficacy and reduced side effects

Continuous rate infusion (CRI) of furosemide in humans is considered superior to intermittent administration (IA). This study examined whether furosemide CRI, compared with IA, would increase diuretic efficacy with decreased fluid and electrolyte fluctuations and activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in the horse. Five mares were used in a crossover-design study. During a 24-hour period, each horse received a total of 3 mg/kg furosemide by either CRI (0.12 mg/kg/h preceded by a loading dose of 0.12 mg/kg IV) or IA (1 mg/kg IV q8h). There was not a statistically significant difference in urine volume over 24 hours between methods; however, urine volume was significantly greater after CRI compared with IA during the first 8 hours ([median 25th percentile, 75th percentile]: 9.6 L [8.9, 14.4] for CRI versus 5.9 L [5.3, 6.0] for IA). CRI produced a more uniform urine flow, decreased fluctuations in plasma volume, and suppressed renal concentrating ability throughout the infusion period. Potassium, Ca, and Cl excretion was greater during CRI than IA (1,133 mmol [1.110, 1,229] versus 764 mmol [709, 904], 102.7 mmol [96.0, 117.2] versus 73.3 mmol [65.0, 73.5], and 1,776 mmol [1,657, 2.378] versus 1,596 mmol [1,457, 1,767], respectively). Elimination half-lives of furosemide were 1.35 and 0.47 hours for CRI and IA, respectively. The area under the excretion rate curve was 1,285.7 and 184.2 mL x mg/mL for CRI and IA, respectively. Furosemide CRI (0.12 mg/kg/h) for 8 hours, preceded by a loading dose (0.12 mg/kg), is recommended when profound diuresis is needed acutely in horses.     

Changes in proportion of canine urinary calculi composed of calcium oxalate or struvite in specimens analyzed from 1981 through 2001

The objective of this report was to characterize 20-year changes in proportion of calcium oxalate (CaOx) calculi and struvite calculi in dogs, and associations with breed, age, and sex. In this retrospective study, results of analysis of urinary calculi from dogs were reviewed for specimens received between July 1, 1981, and December 31, 2001. Breed, sex, age, year of submission of the specimen, and mineral type(s) were analyzed statistically. CaOx or Struvite or both were contained in 18,966 of 20,884 (91%) specimens. For both sexes, a 20-year statistically significant increase was observed in the proportion of calculus specimens that contained CaOx. The increase in this proportion was greater in females (1% to 31%) than in males (18% to 82%). From 1998 to 2001, when proportions may have plateaued, the odds of specimens containing CaOx were markedly higher in 18 breeds, markedly lower in 5 breeds, and not significantly different in 13 breeds compared with crossbreds. For both sexes, a 20-year statistically significant decrease was observed in the proportion of calculus specimens that contained struvite. This decrease in proportion was greater for males (79-16%) than for females (97-68%). From 1998 to 2001, when proportions plateaued, the odds of calculi containing struvite were markedly lower in 20 breeds, markedly higher in 1 breed, and not significantly different in 15 breeds when compared with crossbreds. Breed, age, and sex were associated statistically with CaOx or struvite urolithiasis. In conclusion, there appears to have been a long-term increase in the proportion of specimens of canine urinary calculi that contain CaOx as well as a long-term decrease in the proportion of specimens of calculi that contain struvite for both male and female dogs. The rate of change appeared to begin leveling off in the period 1998 to 2001. The recent proportion of dogs with either CaOx- or struvite-associated urolithiasis may depend on breed, age, and sex, and on interactions among these 3 factors.     

The Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Dairy Cattle in Central Kenya

The epidemiology of H. placei and of other gastrointestinal nematodes in yearling dairy cattle was examined on two farms in Kiambu District, central Kenya during each of 13 one-month periods from April 1993 to April 1994. On each farm, 32 newly weaned dairy calves were given a single dose of albendazole and then placed on experimental pastures. Twelve of the animals were designated for bi-monthly slaughter (n = 2) and analysis of worm population characteristics and 20 were designated for blood and faecal collection and for weighing. Two parasite-free tracer calves were grazed alongside the weaner calves each month throughout the study period and were also slaughtered for analysis of worm populations. Faecal egg counts, haematological and serum pepsinogen determinations, herbage larval counts, and animal live weight changes were recorded monthly. The study revealed that Haemonchus placei, Trichostrongylus axei, Cooperia spp. and Oesophagostomum radiatum were responsible for parasitic gastroenteritis and that H. placei was the predominant nematode present in the young cattle on both farms. Faecal egg counts from resident cattle and necropsy worm counts revealed that pasture larval levels were directly related to the amount of rainfall. The total worm burdens in the animals were highest during the rainy season (March–June and October–December) and lowest during the dry seasons (July–September and January–February). The very low recovery of immature larvae of H. placei from the tracer calves indicated that arrested development is not a feature of the life cycle of this parasite in central Kenya. The maintenance of the parasite population depended on continuous cycling of infection between the host and the pasture. The agroclimatic conditions of the study area were such that, in general, favourable weather conditions for the development and survival of the free-living stages of gastrointestinal nematodes existed all year round.