饲粮中添加屎肠球菌对断奶仔猪生长性能、肠道菌群和免疫功能的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮中添加屎肠球菌对断奶仔猪生长性能、肠道菌群和免疫功能的影响。选用255头(35±1)日龄断奶的"杜×长×大"三元杂交仔猪,随机分为5个组,每个组3个重复,每个重复17头仔猪。对照组饲喂基础饲粮(不添加抗生素和屎肠球菌);抗生素组在基础饲粮中添加8 mg/kg黄霉素和90 mg/kg阿散酸;屎肠球菌3个试验组在基础饲粮中分别添加100、300、500 mg/kg屎肠球菌。试验期为35 d。结果表明:1)与对照组相比,饲粮中添加屎肠球菌对仔猪平均日采食量(ADFI)、平均日增重(ADG)、料重比(F/G)没有显著影响(P>0.05),但添加100、300 mg/kg的屎肠球菌有提高仔猪ADFI的趋势(P>0.05),添加500 mg/kg的屎肠球菌有降低仔猪F/G的趋势(P>0.05)。与抗生素组相比,饲粮中添加屎肠球菌对仔猪ADG、ADFI、F/G均无显著影响(P>0.05)。2)与对照组相比,饲粮中添加300、500 mg/kg的屎肠球菌显著增加仔猪盲肠中乳酸杆菌的数量(P<0.05);与抗生素组相比,饲粮中添加100、300、500 mg/kg的屎肠球菌对其数量没有显著影响(P>0.05)。与对照组相比,饲粮中添加500 mg/kg的屎肠球菌显著降低仔猪结肠中大肠杆菌的数量(P<0.05),添加300、500 mg/kg的屎肠球菌显著增加仔猪结肠中乳酸杆菌数量(P<0.05);与抗生素组相比,饲粮中添加300、500 mg/kg的屎肠球菌显著增加仔猪结肠中乳酸杆菌数量(P<0.05)。3)与对照组相比,饲粮中添加300 mg/kg的屎肠球菌显著提高仔猪脾脏重量和脾脏指数(P<0.05)。与抗生素组相比,饲粮中添加300、500 mg/kg的屎肠球菌可显著提高仔猪脾脏重量(P<0.05)。4)与对照组相比,饲粮中添加300、500 mg/kg的屎肠球菌显著提高仔猪血液中淋巴细胞数量及淋巴细胞比率(P<0.05),添加100、300、500 mg/kg的屎肠球菌显著提高血清中免疫球蛋白G(IgG)含量(P<0.05),添加300、500 mg/kg的屎肠球菌显著提高血清中免疫球蛋白M(IgM)含量(P<0.05)。与抗生素组相比,饲粮中添加300、500 mg/kg的屎肠球菌显著提高仔猪血液中淋巴细胞比率及血清中IgM含量(P<0.05),添加100、300、500 mg/kg的屎肠球菌显著提高血清中IgG含量(P<0.05)。综上所述,仔猪饲粮中添加屎肠球菌可以改善仔猪生长性能,维持仔猪肠道菌群平衡,有效增强仔猪免疫力,其中以添加500 mg/kg效果最好。     

壳聚糖对断奶仔猪生长性能、粪便评分及血清激素和T淋巴细胞亚群的影响

本试验旨在研究壳聚糖对断奶仔猪生长性能、粪便评分及血清激素和T淋巴细胞亚群的影响。选取28日龄断奶的杜×大×长三元杂交仔猪60头,随机分为5组(每组12头):对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组分别饲喂在基础饲粮中添加250、500、1 000和2 000 mg/kg壳聚糖的试验饲粮。试验期14 d。结果表明:1)饲粮添加250~2 000 mg/kg壳聚糖显著提高断奶仔猪的平均日增重(ADG)(P0.05),显著降低料重比(F/G)(P0.05);2)饲粮添加250~2 000 mg/kg壳聚糖显著降低试验第11天断奶仔猪的粪便评分(P0.05);3)饲粮添加适宜剂量的壳聚糖显著提高断奶仔猪的血清促生长激素释放激素(GHRH)(250~2 000 mg/kg)、生长激素(GH)(500~1 000 mg/kg)和瘦素(LP)(2 000 mg/kg)的浓度(P0.05),显著降低血清促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素(CRH)(250~2 000 mg/kg)、促肾上腺皮质激素(ACTH)(500~1 000 mg/kg)、皮质醇(COR)(250~2 000 mg/kg)和可溶性CD8(sCD8)(500~2 000 mg/kg)的浓度(P0.05)。由此可见,饲粮中添加适宜剂量的壳聚糖能够促进断奶仔猪的生长,降低腹泻,缓解断奶应激。     

饲粮中肉桂醛替代抗生素对仔猪生长性能和腹泻指数的影响

试验旨在研究肉桂醛替代饲粮中部分抗生素对仔猪生长性能的影响。选取120头断奶仔猪,随机分为4组,每组3个重复,每个重复10头。A组为对照组,饲喂基础饲粮+15%金霉素500 mg/kg+10%硫酸粘杆菌素200 mg/kg+5%喹乙醇2 000 mg/kg;B、C、D组为试验组,分别在饲粮中添加200、300、400 mg/kg的肉桂醛替代对照组饲粮中的喹乙醇。试验期4周。结果表明:与对照组A比,试验C组和试验D组仔猪末重显著增加(P0.05);试验B组仔猪末重有增加的趋势(P=0.06);3个试验组(B、C、D)均显著提高仔猪全期ADFI(P0.05);试验C组和试验D组能显著提高仔猪全期ADG(P0.05);试验D组仔猪全期F??G有降低的趋势(P=0.07)。试验D组能显著改善仔猪皮毛柔顺光亮程度(P0.05)。3个试验组(B、C、D)与对照组A相比,仔猪腹泻指数无显著差异(P0.05)。由此可见,饲粮中添加400 mg/kg肉桂醛替代部分抗生素可以提高仔猪生长性能,改善仔猪皮毛柔顺光亮程度。     

不同抗生素替代品组合对断奶仔猪生长性能、腹泻及抗氧化能力的影响

为研究不同替代品组合替代饲用抗生素的可行性,选取240头、(28±3)日龄的"杜×长×大"断奶仔猪,随机分为5组:对照组(基础日粮)、抗生素组(基础日粮+75 mg/kg金霉素+40 mg/kg杆菌肽锌+100 mg/kg喹乙醇)、处理1组(基础日粮+2 000 mg/kg发酵中草药)、处理2组(基础日粮+500 mg/kg丁酸梭菌+1 000 mg/kg三丁酸甘油酯)及处理3组(基础日粮+450 mg/kg博落回散+800 mg/kg无水甜菜碱)。每组设5个重复,每重复12头。试验期32 d。在试验第14、32天时,每重复随机选取1头仔猪,前腔静脉采血,分离血浆,测定其生长性能、腹泻指数及血液抗氧化指标。试验结果表明:①1～14 d时,相比对照组,处理3组可显著提高平均日采食量(ADFI)、平均日增重(ADG)(P0.05),显著降低料重比(F/G)(P0.05)。15～32 d时,处理3组的料重比比对照组和抗生素组极显著降低(P0.01)。1～32 d时,与抗生素组相比,处理3组料重比显著降低(P0.05)。②1～14 d时,与对照组相比,处理3组腹泻指数极显著降低(P0.01)。在15～32和1～32 d时,处理2组、3组的腹泻指数均极显著低于对照组(P0.01);处理3组与抗生素组腹泻指数差异不显著(P0.05),但均比对照组有一定程度降低(P0.05)。③与对照组和抗生素组相比,处理3组14 d时的血浆总超氧化物歧化酶(T-SOD)活性、谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量显著或极显著增加(P0.05;P0.01),丙二醛(MDA)、过氧化氢(H_2O_2)含量极显著或显著降低(P0.01;P0.05);32 d时GSH含量极显著增加(P0.01),MDA含量极显著或显著降低(P0.01;P0.05)。比较各试验处理,日粮中添加博落回散(450 mg/kg)+无水甜菜碱(800 mg/kg)能降低断奶仔猪的料重比,提高抗氧化性能,减少腹泻,效果优于其他组合,可作为抗生素替代品在仔猪饲料中使用。     

甘草多糖对断奶仔猪生长性能、血常规、血清生化指标及抗氧化性能的影响

试验旨在研究饲粮中添加不同浓度的甘草多糖对断奶仔猪生长性能、血常规、血清生化指标及抗氧化性能的影响。选用体重接近、健康状况良好的35日龄“长×大”二元杂交断奶仔猪300头,完全随机分为5组,每组6个重复,每个重复10头仔猪,公母各半。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组分别在基础饲粮中添加500、1 000、2 000 mg/kg和5 000 mg/kg的甘草多糖。预试期5 d,正试期16 d。结果表明：(1)与对照组相比,饲粮中添加1 000 mg/kg和2 000 mg/kg甘草多糖显著提高断奶仔猪的平均日增重（ADG）(P<0.05),添加1 000 mg/kg和2 000 mg/kg甘草多糖显著降低断奶仔猪的腹泻率和料重比（F/G）(P<0.05);(2)饲粮中添加1 000 mg/kg甘草多糖显著升高断奶仔猪血液中白细胞数（WBC）、红细胞数（RBC）、中性粒细胞数（Neut#）和血小板数（PLT）(P<0.05);(3)饲粮中添加1 000 mg/kg和2 000 mg/kg甘草多糖显著提高断奶仔猪血清中碱性磷酸酶（ALP）含量（P<0.05）,显著降低血清中...     

不同饲用抗生素替代品对断奶仔猪生长性能及血液指标的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮中添加植物精油及抗菌肽对断奶仔猪生长性能、腹泻率及血液指标的影响。试验选取120头体重相近的"杜×长×大"断奶仔猪,按体重胎次性别一致原则分为3组,每组4个重复(栏),每个重复10头猪。各组分别饲喂在基础饲粮中添加75mg/kg金霉素+240mg/kg土霉素钙(对照组)、400mg/kg植物精油、500mg/kg抗菌肽的试验饲粮,试验为期21天。结果表明:(1)植物精油组仔猪平均日增重(ADG)显著低于对照组及抗菌肽组(P0.05),且料肉比(F/G)显著高于其他两组(P0.05),各组间仔猪平均日采食量无显著差异(P0.05)。此外,抗菌肽组仔猪ADG及F/G与对照组均无显著差异(P0.05)。(2)植物精油组仔猪腹泻率显著高于对照组及抗菌肽组(P0.05),而抗菌肽组与对照组仔猪腹泻率无显著差异(P0.05)。(3)植物精油组仔猪血清尿素氮水平显著高于对照组及抗菌肽组(P0.05),而抗菌肽组与对照组仔猪血清尿素氮水平无显著差异(P0.05)。(4)各组间血浆内毒素含量无显著差异(P0.05)。综上,断奶仔猪饲粮中添加抗菌肽可以达到与抗生素相同的促生长抗腹泻效果,抗菌肽可能作为断奶仔猪潜在的抗生素替代品。     

葡萄糖氧化酶替代饲用抗生素对川藏黑猪配套系商品仔猪生长性能、抗氧化能力及免疫功能的影响

试验旨在研究饲粮中添加葡萄糖氧化酶(GOD)替代饲用抗生素对川藏黑猪配套系商品仔猪生长性能、血清生化指标、抗氧化性能及免疫功能的影响。试验选用60头56日龄平均体重为(14.99±1.45)kg的健康川藏黑猪配套系商品仔猪,按体重相近、公母各半的原则随机分为3组:基础饲粮组(无抗生素对照组)、抗生素组(基础饲粮+50 mg/kg喹烯酮+50 mg/kg吉他霉素+75 mg/kg金霉素)、葡萄糖氧化酶组(基础饲粮+50 U/kg葡萄糖氧化酶),每组5个重复,每个重复4头猪,试验期30 d。结果表明:(1)在1～14、15～30 d和1～30 d仔猪平均日增重(ADG)、平均日采食量(ADFI)、料重比(F/G)和腹泻率处理影响未达显著水平(P0.05)。(2)与抗生素组相比,饲粮中添加葡萄糖氧化酶显著提高了仔猪血清中总蛋白(TP)含量(P0.05)。(3)与对照组和抗生素组相比,饲粮中添加葡萄糖氧化酶极显著降低了仔猪血清中谷胱甘肽过氧化酶(GSH-Px)活性(P0.01),极显著提高了血清中总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)(P0.01)。(4)与对照组相比,饲粮中添加葡萄糖氧化酶极显著或显著提高了仔猪血清IgG、TNF-α和IL-6含量(P0.01或P0.05),显著降低IL-2含量(P0.05)。与抗生素组相比,饲粮中添加葡萄糖氧化酶极显著提高了仔猪血清中IgA、IgG、IgM、IL-6、TNF-α和IFN-γ含量(P0.01)。综上所述,饲粮中添加葡萄糖氧化酶提高了川藏黑猪配套系商品仔猪的抗氧化能力和免疫功能。     

丁酸梭菌对断奶仔猪生长性能、肠道结构和免疫功能的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮添加丁酸梭菌对断奶仔猪生长性能、肠道结构和免疫功能的影响。选取(25±1)日龄、体重(6.24±0.32)kg的健康"杜×长×大"杂交仔猪360头,随机分为5个组,每组4个重复,每个重复18头猪。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组分别饲喂在基础饲粮中添加250、500、1 000和2 000 mg/kg丁酸梭菌的试验饲粮。试验期30 d。结果表明:1)250和1 000 mg/kg丁酸梭菌添加组断奶仔猪的平均日采食量(ADFI)显著低于对照组(P0.05);250和500 mg/kg丁酸梭菌添加组的腹泻率较对照组分别显著降低了40.99%和44.32%(P0.05)。2)丁酸梭菌添加组断奶仔猪的空肠绒毛高度较对照组分别显著提高了32.23%、35.71%、33.59%和47.36%(P0.05),空肠绒毛高度/隐窝深度较对照组分别显著或极显著提高了47.24%(P0.01)、48.03%(P0.01)、19.69%(P0.05)和22.83%(P0.05)。3)饲粮添加丁酸梭菌显著提高断奶仔猪的血清免疫球蛋白A(IgA)和免疫球蛋白G(IgG)含量(P0.05),各组的血清免疫球蛋白M(IgM)、补体3(C3)和补体4(C4)含量则无显著差异(P0.05)。结果提示,25~55日龄断奶仔猪饲粮添加250~500 mg/kg丁酸梭菌可改善断奶仔猪肠道结构,增强机体免疫功能。     

酿酒酵母发酵液对断奶仔猪生长性能、小肠发育及小肠黏膜免疫功能的影响

本试验旨在探究酿酒酵母(S.cerevisiae)发酵液对断奶仔猪生长性能、小肠发育及小肠黏膜免疫功能的影响。选取平均体重为(6.57±0.13)kg的26日龄"长白×杜洛克"断奶仔猪60头(公母各占1/2),按体重和性别随机分为3个组,每组4个重复,每个重复5头仔猪。3个组分别为:对照组(基础饲粮+300 m L/kg空白培养液)、酿酒酵母发酵液组(基础饲粮+300 m L/kg酿酒酵母发酵液)和抗生素组(基础饲粮+20 mg/kg硫酸黏杆菌素+40 mg/kg杆菌肽锌)。试验期21 d。结果表明:1)与对照组相比,酿酒酵母发酵液组和抗生素组的平均日增重(ADG)和平均日采食量(ADFI)显著或极显著升高(P0.05或P0.01),料重比极显著降低(P0.01);但酿酒酵母发酵液组与抗生素组的以上生长性能指标均无显著差异(P0.05)。2)与对照组相比,酿酒酵母发酵液组和抗生素组的十二指肠、空肠和回肠黏膜总蛋白、DNA和RNA含量显著或极显著升高(P0.05或P0.01);但酿酒酵母发酵液组与抗生素组的以上指标均无显著差异(P0.05)。3)与对照组相比,酿酒酵母发酵液组和抗生素组的十二指肠和回肠绒毛高度显著升高(P0.05),十二指肠、空肠和回肠绒毛高度/隐窝深度(V/C)显著或极显著升高(P0.05或P0.01);但酿酒酵母发酵液组与抗生素组的以上指标均无显著差异(P0.05)。4)与对照组相比,酿酒酵母发酵液组和抗生素组的十二指肠、空肠和回肠黏膜免疫球蛋白A、免疫球蛋白G和免疫球蛋白M含量均显著或极显著升高(除空肠黏膜免疫球蛋白G外)(P0.05或P0.01);但酿酒酵母发酵液组和抗生素组的以上指标均无显著差异(P0.05)。结果显示,饲粮中添加酿酒酵母发酵液能够提高断奶仔猪的生长性能,促进小肠发育,提高小肠黏膜免疫功能,达到与抗生素相当的效果。提示酿酒酵母发酵液可有效缓解断奶应激,减少或者替代抗生素在断奶仔猪饲粮中的使用,这为研发无抗饲粮提供了有力的理论依据和数据支持。     

三丁酸甘油酯和牛至油对断奶仔猪生长性能、血清生化指标和营养物质表观消化率的影响

本试验旨在探讨饲粮中添加三丁酸甘油酯(TB)和牛至油(OEO)对断奶仔猪生长性能、血清生化指标、营养物质表观消化率和粪中微生物菌群的影响。试验选用28日龄平均体重为(7.27±0.68)kg的健康大白断奶仔猪128头,随机分成4组,每组4个重复,每个重复8头猪。各组分别饲喂基础饲粮(对照组)、基础饲粮+1 kg/t TB(TB组)、基础饲粮+1 kg/t OEO(OEO组)、基础饲粮+1 kg/t TB+1 kg/t OEO(TB+OEO组)。试验期28 d。结果表明:1)与对照组相比,OEO组显著提高了断奶仔猪平均日增重(P0.05),极显著降低了腹泻率(P0.01);TB+OEO组显著降低了断奶仔猪料重比(P0.05),极显著降低了腹泻率(P0.01)。2)各组之间血清生化指标无显著差异(P0.05)。3)与对照组相比,TB+OEO组显著提高了断奶仔猪粗蛋白质表观消化率(P0.05),极显著提高了粗脂肪表观消化率(P0.01)。4)与对照组相比,TB组、OEO组和TB+OEO组均极显著降低了粪中大肠杆菌的数量(P0.01);TB+OEO组显著提高了粪中双歧杆菌的数量(P0.05)。综上所述,基础饲粮中添加TB+OEO可提高断奶仔猪生长性能,改善营养物质表观消化率,调节肠道菌群平衡。     

Concentrations of strontium,barium, cadmium,copper, zinc,manganese, chromium,antimony, selenium,and lead in the liver and kidneys of dogs according to age,gender, and the occurrence of chronic kidney disease

This study was conducted to measure the concentrations of strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), antimony (Sb), selenium (Se), and lead (Pb) in canine liver, renal cortex, and renal medulla, and the association of these concentrations with age, gender, and occurrence of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Tissues from 50 dogs were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Cu, Zn, and Mn levels were highest in the liver followed by the renal cortex and renal medulla. The highest Sr, Cd, and Se concentrations were measured in the renal cortex while lower levels were found in the renal medulla and liver. Female dogs had higher tissue concentrations of Sr (liver and renal medulla), Cd (liver), Zn (liver and renal cortex), Cr (liver, renal cortex, and renal medulla), and Pb (liver) than male animals. Except for Mn and Sb, age-dependent variations were observed for all element concentrations in the canine tissues. Hepatic Cd and Cr concentrations were higher in dogs with CKD. In conclusion, the present results provide new knowledge about the storage of specific elements in canine liver and kidneys, and can be considered important reference data for diagnostic methods and further investigations.     

Comparisons of Angus, Charolais, Galloway, Hereford, Longhorn, Nellore, Piedmontese, Salers, and Shorthorn breeds for weight, weight adjusted for condition score, height, and condition score of cows

Breed differences for weight (CW), height (CH), and condition score (CS) were estimated from records (n = 12,188) of 2- to 6-yr-old cows (n = 744) from Cycle IV of the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center's Germplasm Evaluation (GPE) Program. Cows were produced from mating Angus and Hereford dams to Angus, Hereford, Charolais, Shorthorn, Galloway, Longhorn, Nellore, Piedmontese, and Salers sires. Samples of Angus and Hereford sires were 1) reference sires born from 1962 through 1970 and 2) 1980s sires born in 1980 through 1987. The mixed model included cow age, season of measurement and their interactions, year of birth, pregnancy-lactation code (PL), and breedgroup as fixed effects for CW and CS. Analyses of weight adjusted for condition score included CS as a linear covariate. The model for CH excluded PL. Random effects were additive genetic and permanent environmental effects associated with the cow. Differences among breed groups were significant (P < 0.05) for all traits and were maintained through maturity with few interchanges in ranking. The order of F1 cows for weight was as follows: Charolais (506 to 635 kg for different ages), Shorthorn and Salers, reciprocal Hereford-Angus (HA) with 1980s sires, Nellore, HA with reference sires, Galloway, Piedmontese, and Longhorn (412 to 525 kg for different ages). Order for height was as follows: Nellore (136 to 140 cm), Charolais, Shorthorn, Salers, HA with 1980s sires, Piedmontese, Longhorn, Galloway and HA with reference sires (126 to 128 cm). Hereford and Angus cows with reference sires were generally lighter than those with 1980s sires. In general, breed differences for height followed those for weight except that F1 Nellore cows were tallest, which may in part be due to Bos taurus-Bos indicus heterosis for size.     

Supplementation of broodmares with copper, zinc, iron, manganese, cobalt, iodine, and selenium

In experiment 1, 6 pregnant mares received a concentrate that contained a trace mineral premix that provided 14.3 mg Cu, 40 mg Zn, 28 mg Fe, 28 mg Mn, 0.08 mg Co, 0.16 mg I, and 0.16 mg Se/kg concentrate (group A). Seven mares received the same concentrate plus 502 mg Zn and 127 mg Cu once daily (group B). No differences (P > .05) in foal growth data, or Cu, Zn, and Fe concentrations of mare milk, mare serum, or foal serum were observed. In experiment 2, 6 pregnant mares received the same concentrate as group A (group C), and 8 mares received the same concentrate fortified with 4× the trace mineral premix (group D). Group C mares had higher serum Zn concentration at 1 day (P < 0.01) and 56 days (P < 0.04). Group C mares had higher milk Fe concentration at 28 days (P < .01), and group D mares had higher milk Cu concentration at 56 days (P < .01). Group C foals had higher serum Cu concentration at 14 days (P < .03). The results from this study provide no evidence to indicate that supplementing late gestating and lactating mares with higher dietary trace mineral levels than those recommended currently by NRC has any influence on foal growth and development, or on the Cu, Zn, and Fe concentrations of the mare milk, mare serum, or foal serum.     

电感耦合等离子-质谱法测定饲料中钠、镁、铬、锰、铁、铜、锌、砷、硒、镉和铅

应用电感耦合等离子-质谱技术(ICP-MS),建立饲料中钠、镁、铬、锰、铁、铜、锌、砷、硒、镉和铅等元素的测定方法。对饲料样品的前处理方法、仪器工作参数和11种元素标准曲线进行优化;并以加标回收、分析方法比对和重复测试说明方法的准确性和精密性。方法在0～1 000 ng/ml范围内线性良好,仪器检出限为0.557 7～5.072 ng/ml,具有良好的精密度,其回收率在88.1%～104.4%之间,相对标准偏差小于5.0%。同时与原子吸收和原子荧光方法进行比对,测定结果相近。所建立的方法简单、快速,可替代原子吸收和原子荧光方法测定饲料中的11种金属元素,为饲料的质量控制提供理想的元素分析方法。     

The effects of antibiotic,probiotic, organic acid,vitamin C,and Echinacea purpurea extract on performance,carcass characteristics,blood chemistry,microbiota, and immunity of broiler chickens

The present context investigated the comparative study on the supplementation of antibiotic, probiotic, organic acid, vitamin C, and herbal extract after vaccination into drinking water and their effects on performance, carcass quality, blood biochemical parameters, immune system, and intestinal flora in broiler chicks for 42 days. A total of 420 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned into 7 treatments with 3 replicates (pens) per treatment and 20 male chicks for each replicate (pen). The experimental treatments consisted of drinking water (control, without additive); drinking water + antibiotic sulfamet; drinking water + C-Vet-50; drinking water + antibiotic sulfamet + C-Vet-50; drinking water + probiotic Primalac; drinking water + butyric acid; and drinking water + extract of Echinacea purpurea Moench (coneflower). There were no differences observed among the treatments for feed intake, but during the whole experimental period, the highest body weight gain was found in the chicks fed with drinking water + antibiotic sulfamet + 50 cc vitamin C (P < 0.05). There were no differences (P > 0.05) observed among the treatments for feed conversion ratio (P > 0.05). Moreover, there were no differences reported among treatments for carcass characteristics at the end of the experiment. Among the treatments, drinking water + 50 cc vitamin C, and drinking water + extract of E. purpurea reduced (P < 0.05) the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoproteins. Drinking water + 50 cc vitamin C, drinking water + Primalac, and drinking water + extract of E. purpurea increased (P < 0.05) the lymphocytes count and decreased the heterophils count and heterophil:lymphocyte ratio. The highest Escherichia coli count and lowest Lactobacillus count in ileal content of the broilers were observed in the control group (P < 0.05). The additives used in this study may be incorporated in the drinking water of broiler chickens as growth promoters and for improved performance. A further, wider supplementation study is required to understand the performance, immune system, variation in the intestinal microbial counts, and any other possible alteration in the intestinal biota of the broilers.     

Granulocyte isolation from whole blood of goat, sheep, cattle, horse, dog, pig, and man

A simple two step procedure for the isolation of caprine, ovine, bovine, equine, canine, porcine and human peripheral blood granulocytes is described. After enrichment of granulocytes by centrifugation, contaminating erythrocytes are lysed hypotonically. Recovery, purity, and viability of the granulocyte suspensions are determined. FACScan analysis of the cell suspensions measuring cellular size by forward and sideward light scatter is compared with the corresponding analysis of whole blood leukocytes. Constituencies of the isolated cell suspensions and loss of granulocyte subpopulations through isolation procedure is discussed with regard to granulocyte function assays.     

Department of Clinical Veterinary Practices, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

Circular excised skin wounds in the thoracic and metatarsal regions of the dog were studied. A similar sequence of events took place in the two regions although differences did occur due to the different reactions of the tissues which surrounded the wounds. None of the wound cavities became filled with exudate during the early stages of healing. In the thoracic wounds the cavities were largely filled by the swelling and inward movement of adipose tissue. Epithelium first grew on the wound surface in the sector of the wound that was situated in the direction of hair flow. The average time to complete epithelization was similar in both sets of wounds. A zone of alopecia developed around the wounds.