Femoral component failure in canine cemented total hip replacement: a report of two cases

Femoral stem fracture is reported as an uncommon late complication of cemented total hip replacement in two dogs. In each case surgical salvage was achieved by extirpation of the proximal unstable component of the femoral stem, resulting in acceptable limb function. To the authors' knowledge, intramedullary femoral stem failure has not been previously reported after cemented total hip replacement in the dog. Factors believed to have contributed to implant failure in these dogs are discussed and compared with the same complication in humans.     

Does the Amount of Progesterone in Intravaginal Implants Used to Synchronise Oestrus Affect the Reproductive Performance of Brahman Heifers Artificially Inseminated at a Fixed Time

The study tested the hypothesis that reduced intravaginal implant progesterone (P₄) concentration to synchronise oestrus would increase pregnancy rates to fixed‐time artificial insemination (FTAI) in Bos indicus heifers. Brahman heifers (n = 294; 2 year) were body condition scored (BCS), weighed and scanned for presence of a corpus luteum (CL). Only cyclic heifers were selected and allocated randomly within BCS and 25 kg bodyweight category to one of three P₄ treatment groups. On day 10, heifers received a P₄ implant (CueMate‐1‐pod, 0.78g P₄; CueMate‐2‐pod, 1.56g P₄; or CIDR‐B, 1.9g P₄), 2 mg oestradiol benzoate (ODB) intramuscularly (IM) and 250 ug cloprostenol IM. At day 2, the implant was removed, 250 ug cloprostenol was injected IM and tail paint applied. The heifers received 1 mg ODB 24 h later and were FTAI 48–54 h after implant removal (day 0). Ten randomly selected heifers per group were blood sampled and scanned at days 10, 2, 0 and 6 to define the P₄ profiles pre‐ and post‐FTAI. Heifers were heat‐detected 18–20 days post‐FTAI and oestrous heifers AI’d by the AM/PM rule. Bulls joined the heifers on day 27 post‐FTAI. Transrectal ultrasonography estimated conception date on day 72. Statistical analysis examined the effects of treatment, technician, semen, ovarian status, BCS and liveweight, on pregnancy rate (PR) to FTAI. There was no significant difference (p = 0.362) in PR between treatment groups (CueMate 1‐pod, 36.4%; CueMate 2‐pod, 39.6%: CIDR‐B, 28.3%), but PR was higher in those heifers with increased BCS between FTAI and pregnancy diagnosis (p = 0.005). Thirty‐three per cent of monitor heifers had plasma P₄ concentrations of <1 ng/ml on day 6 after FTAI; only 20% of these conceived vs 60% of heifers with P₄ ≥ 1 ng/ml. In summary, no significant difference in PR was identified between treatments but good BCS and a rising plane of nutrition were critical to PR of these pure grade Brahman heifers in northern Australia.     

欧拉羊杂交改良山谷型藏羊杂交F_1代与对照组羔羊生长发育效果观察

引进欧拉羊杂交改良甘南州的山谷型藏羊,跟踪测定杂交F1代与对照组羔羊初生、3月龄、6月龄的体尺、体重,对所测数据进行统计分析,并进行差异显著性检验。结果表明:杂交F1代羔羊初生、3月龄、6月龄的体尺、体重极显著的高于对照组(P0.01),管围差异不显著(P0.05)。     

Crop competitive ability contributes to herbicide performance in sweet corn

Crop variety effects on herbicide performance is not well characterised, particularly for sweet corn, a crop that varies greatly among hybrids in competitive ability with weeds. Field studies were used to determine the effects of crop competitive ability on season‐long herbicide performance in sweet corn. Two sethoxydim‐tolerant sweet corn hybrids were grown in the presence of Panicum miliaceum and plots were treated post‐emergence with a range of sethoxydim doses. Significant differences in height, leaf area index and intercepted light were observed between hybrids near anthesis. Across a range of sub‐lethal herbicide doses, the denser canopy hybrid Rocker suppressed P. miliaceum shoot biomass and fecundity to a greater extent than the hybrid Cahill. Yield of sweet corn improved to the level of the weed‐free control with increasing sethoxydim dose. The indirect effect of herbicide dose on crop yield, mediated through P. miliaceum biomass reduction, was significant for all of the Cahill’s yield traits but not Rocker. These results indicate that a less competitive hybrid requires relatively more weed suppression by the herbicide to not only reduce weed growth and seed production, but also to maintain yield. Sweet corn competitive ability consistently influences season‐long herbicide performance.     

On sustaining the ecology and livestock industry of the Bayanbuluk Grasslands

A short visit to the Bayanbuluk Grassland in the Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, PRC, revealed a number of environmental and livestock production problems, including grassland degradation, loss of grassland biodiversity, soil erosion and flash flooding downstream, decreased pasture productivity, and poor livestock nutrition (especially in winter) leading to stock losses and flocks and herds of low productivity. This paper describes those problems and then suggests some solutions. Short duration, high intensity grazing could be one of the solutions to both improving grassland condition and improving livestock nutrition. Local production of fodder crops for feeding in winter and spring deserves testing, using adapted strains of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and trialling fodder root crop production. It is important to realise that the land management objectives of scientists, administrators, herders and farmers may be similar, and that there are opportunities for land improvement through working together.     

Fish meal replacement with solvent‐extracted soybean meal or soy protein isolate in a practical diet formulation for Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus,L.) reared in low salinity

Two 8‐week growth trials were conducted with juvenile Florida pompano, Trachinotus carolinus fed 0–1000 g kg^?1 replacement of fish meal (FM) protein with soybean meal (SBM) or soy protein isolate (SPI). Practical‐type diets were formulated with at least 360 g kg^?1 digestible protein and 24 mg kJ^?1 digestible protein/digestible energy. Weight gain and efficiency were not different between 0 and 800 g kg^?1 FM protein replacement with SBM. Regression of weight gain and protein productive value suggested a conservative level of SBM substitution was 380 g kg^?1 FM protein. It appeared that lysine could be limiting beyond 400 g kg^?1 FM replacement. No significant differences were detected in fish fed 0 and 200 g kg^?1 FM protein replacement with SPI. A decrease in weight gain and efficiency parameters occurred at 400 g kg^?1 protein replacement, and fish fed a replacement of 600 g kg^?1 or greater with SPI exhibited signs of starvation. A third trial indicated intake and growth were significantly reduced (P < 0.0001) in fish fed 600 g kg^?1 relative to 0 g kg^?1 FM protein replacement with SPI. Poor palatability of diets containing 400 g kg^?1 or more FM protein replacement with SPI appeared to be the causative factor for poor performance.     

A reference diet for nutritional studies of the giant tiger prawn Penaeus monodon

Critical evaluation of the nutrient requirements of an animal requires the use of a purified reference diet. In this study, the effects of either a purified reference experimental diet, a practical experimental diet and an imported commercial diet on the growth and nutritional condition of the prawn Penaeusmonodon were compared. The reference diet, based on widely available ingredients of consistent and known nutrient content, supported excellent prawn growth when fed either ad libitum or subsatiation (≈ 75% of the mean initial satiation intake). In a 6-week experiment, growth (as percentage increase in weight, ± SEM) of the prawns fed ad libitum differed significantly (P < 0.05) between each diet in the order: practical (142 ± 10%), reference (121 ± 9%) and commercial (91 ± 16%). Growth for the reference diet fed subsatiation was 116 ± 4%, and was not significantly (P > 0.05) different from that obtained with the same diet fed ad libitum. Dry matter food conversion for the reference diet was significantly (P < 0.05) better when fed subsatiation (1.58 ± 0.08) rather than ad libitum (2.08 ± 0.06) and better than that obtained with either the practical (3.40 ± 0.15) or commercial (3.02 ± 0.28) diets, which were not significantly (P > 0.05) different from each other. The lipid content (mg g^–1 of prawn) of the digestive gland of prawns fed ad libitum was similar for reference, practical and commercial diets (6.03 ± 0.38, 4.92 ± 0.90 and 4.92 ± 0.95 mg g^–1 of prawn, respectively), but significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that for the reference diet fed subsatiation (4.73 ± 0.38 mg g^–1 of prawn).     

Public and stakeholder attitudes to the reintroduction of the burbot,Lota lota

Abstract Consideration of key sociological factors, including the views and attitudes of the local population, is critical to species reintroduction project success. This study examined the opinions of anglers, conservationists and the general public to a potential reintroduction of burbot, Lota lota L., to UK rivers. An online survey targeted the key stakeholder groups and a questionnaire was used to obtain a snapshot of public attitudes. In both studies, more than 90% of respondents supported reintroduction. Anglers, participants with prior knowledge of the species, males and respondents who were not a member of a conservation organisation, exhibited the most positive attitudes. Anglers and participants with prior knowledge of the species cited burbot as an angling opportunity, suggesting these groups view burbot as an exploitable resource. Overall, the surveys indicated that reintroduction of the burbot, should it be deemed feasible on ecological and biological grounds, would not be met by major public opposition.     

体外酶解法研究玉米的不同加工处理方式对过瘤胃淀粉小肠消化率的影响

本试验以体外酶解法来研究不同加工处理的玉米12 h瘤胃非降解残渣在小肠中的消化率。试验结果表明,不同加工处理方式对小肠淀粉消化率的影响不同,膨化加工可以显著提高过瘤胃淀粉的小肠消化率(P<0.05);烘烤、制粒、压扁以及焙炒加工处理对过瘤胃淀粉的小肠消化率没有显著影响(P>0.05)。     

Agreement among three different equine venipuncture sites with regard to measurement of packed cell volume and total solids

The primary objective of this study was to determine the agreement between the packed cell volume (PCV) and total solids (TS) values in blood collected from the jugular vein (JV) in comparison with the cephalic vein (CV) and the transverse facial venous sinus (TFVS) in healthy adult horses. A total of 72 samples were taken from 24 horses. We found high agreement that reflects no clinically relevant differences between the PCV and TS values obtained from the CV or the TFVS in comparison with the JV in standing healthy adult horses.