Prognostic factors for recovery from coxo-femoral dislocation in cattle

Details were recorded of 47 cases of coxo-femoral dislocation observed in cattle over 1 year. Treatment was successful in 20/47 (42.6%) cases using a method of closed reduction. Factors that most strongly influenced the prognosis were identified. The most useful single prognostic factor was whether the cow was able to stand before reduction. Other factors that also had a strong positive influence on the prognosis were: age less than 3y, bodyweight less than 400kg and duration of dislocation less than 12h. Nineteen unsuccessful cases were examined at the knackery. Four were found to have a fracture of the proximal femur. The coxo-femoral joint was carefully dissected in the other 15 cases and there was no evidence of hip dysplasia. A seasonal incidence of dislocations, which coincides with the calving and mating periods, was demonstrated during the survey and from practice records for the previous 3 years.     

青藏高原“黑土滩”退化高寒草甸草原的形成机制和治理方法的研究进展

高寒草甸是青藏高原天然草地的主体,也是我国最重要和面积最大的一个草地类型。“黑土滩”是高寒草甸退化的综合表现,对当地、我国甚至东南亚和南亚的生态安全和经济发展具有重大的影响。本文论述了高寒草甸生态系统的气候、土壤、植被和动物特点,全面综述了“黑土滩”退化草地的特征和表现,分析了导致“黑土滩”形成的诸因素及其形成的综合原因和机理,阐述了“黑土滩”对生态环境和草地畜牧业生产的不利影响和危害,提供了恢复和治理“黑土滩”退化草地的原则和具体技术方法。     

不同温度挤压膨化玉米在泌乳奶牛瘤胃内干物质和淀粉降解规律的研究

本试验选用3头安装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的泌乳前期荷斯坦奶牛为试验动物,在精粗比为55∶45的日粮条件下,采用尼龙袋法测定了不同温度挤压膨化加工处理的玉米在奶牛瘤胃内干物质和淀粉的降解规律。试验结果表明,玉米经过挤压膨化加工处理,能明显提高干物质和淀粉在泌乳奶牛瘤胃中的降解率(P<0.05)。随着挤压膨化温度的不断升高,干物质和淀粉的瘤胃降解率线性下降。     

Salmonella monitoring programs in Australian feed mills: a retrospective analysis

The availability of safe, commercially prepared stock feed for production animals is an important step in ensuring animal health and welfare and the safety of food animal products for human consumption. Animal feed quality assurance programs include microbiological monitoring of raw materials, mill equipment and finished feed. Over a period of 16 years, 23,963 samples for Salmonella culture and serotyping were collected from 22 stock feed mills. A multivariable generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) was used to identify mill and sample type factors that increase the odds of detecting Salmonella. The odds of detecting a Salmonella positive sample was greatest in samples from raw materials and in mills that processed restricted animal material (RAM). The percentage of positive samples ranged from 7.2% in 2003 to 2.8% in 2017. Of the 1,069 positive samples, 976 were serotyped with 61 different Salmonella serotypes isolated. The serotype most frequently isolated from raw materials was S. Agona, (n = 108) whilst S. Anatum was the serotype most frequently isolated from equipment and finished feed (n = 156). The diversity of Salmonella serotypes differed between mills and different stages of the production line. Microbiological monitoring in the commercial preparation of animal feed in Australian stock feed mills guides the implementation of quality control measures and risk mitigation strategies thereby reducing the prevalence and diversity of potentially zoonotic bacteria such as Salmonella, enhancing food safety for both animal and consumer.     

Optical chlorophyll measurements as predictors of total nitrogen,nitrogen fractions and in vitro ruminal nitrogen degradability in tropical grass forages

This study evaluated whether the FieldScout CM 1000 NDVI and Yara N–Tester models can produce accurate and reliable estimates of nitrogen (N), buffer-soluble nitrogen (BSN), buffer-insoluble nitrogen (BISN), non-protein nitrogen (NPN) and in vitro ruminal nitrogen degradability after 3, 12 and 24?h incubation (ND3, ND12 and ND24) in three tropical grasses: Brachiaria hybrid, Megathyrsus maximus and Paspalum atratum. Correlation between the Yara N-Tester and N, BISN and in vitro ruminal N degradability of the Brachiaria hybrid and M. maximus were high (r 0.67–0.83). The Yara N-Tester accounted for 81% and 86% (p 0.000) of N variability in the Brachiaria hybrid and M. maximus, respectively. The Yara N-Tester prediction models explained 72% and 70% (p 0.000) BISN variability in the Brachiaria hybrid and M. maximus, respectively. In vitro ND24 of the Brachiaria hybrid (R?2 0.75) and M. maximus (R?2 0.75) was also best predicted with the Yara N-Tester. Model validation showed generally low (≤0.90) concordance correlation coefficients except for Yara N-Tester N and ND24 in M. maximus. Random error was the main source of error. We conclude that the accuracy of the Yara N-Tester prediction models was superior to that of the FieldScout CM 1000 NDVI models, and that the Yara N-Tester can produce accurate and reliable estimates of Brachiaria hybrid and M. maximus N and M. maximus ND24.     

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)。     

Overview and initial results of the very long baseline interferometry space observatory programme

High angular resolution images of extragalactic radio sources are being made with the Highly Advanced Laboratory for Communications and Astronomy (HALCA) satellite and ground-based radio telescopes as part of the Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) Space Observatory Programme (VSOP). VSOP observations at 1.6 and 5 gigahertz of the milli-arc-second-scale structure of radio quasars enable the quasar core size and the corresponding brightness temperature to be determined, and they enable the motions of jet components that are close to the core to be studied. Here, VSOP images of the gamma-ray source 1156+295, the quasar 1548+056, the ultraluminous quasar 0014+813, and the superluminal quasar 0212+735 are presented and discussed.     

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)。