Analysis of factors affecting the electric conductivity of cow's milk--breed, locale, season

The problem was studied in a set of 678 mammary glands of 212 cows - crossbreds between the Holstein-Friesian breed with the Slovak Spotted cattle, crossbreds of the Black-Pied Lowland and Bohemian Spotted breed, and three-way crossbreds of the Black-Pied Lowland, Swedish White and Bohemian Spotted cattle. The confrontation of the confidence intervals of milk conductivity (MC) in healthy mammary glands at alpha = 0.05 showed that in the crossbreds of the Black-Pied Lowland cattle the MC was statistically significantly higher than in the breed types of the Holstein-Friesian cattle. The MC values decrease when there is a larger proportion of the blood of beef-and-dairy cattle (Slovak Spotted and Bohemian Spotted breeds). The locality where the stock was kept was found to act as an important factor underlying MC only in cases when both the geographical conditions and breed proportions were different. In a set homogenized with respect to the breeds, statistically significant differences in MC were demonstrated between the spring and summer season, spring and autumn, summer and autumn, and autumn and winter season.     

Life cycle and ultrastructure of Eimeria stigmosa, the intranuclear coccidian of the goose (Anser anser domesticus).

The oocyst morphology and endogenous development of Eimeria stigmosa Klimes, 1963 in a domestic goose (Anser anser domesticus L.) was studied using light and electron microscopy. The oocyst wall consisted of two layers. The outer layer formed densely accumulated protrusions, whilst the inner layer was smooth and formed a collar structure around the micropyle. Meronts were observed in the posterior part of the jejunum, along the whole length of the ileum and in Meckel's diverticulum within 1-4 days post infection (DPI). Sexual generation was found in the caecum and colon 4-5 DPI. All endogenous stages were located intranuclearly in enterocytes, predominantly in the apical part of the villi in distinct parasitophorous vacuoles. Numerous different developmental stages were frequently found in one nucleus. Current evidence indicates the existence of only one asexual generation formed by ectomerogony. During the development of asexual stages, invaginations into the body of a meront by the host cell nucleoplasm were observed.     

Similarity in the incidence of mastitis in the daughters of related bulls

The overall prevalence of mastitis in the cow population, selected with respect to sire relatedness, was 12%. As positive for mastitis the cows with positive bacteriological findings in milk were considered. In order to objectify the evaluation by regarding the lactation number achieved, the index of morbidity In was introduced (In = number of positive findings/lactation achieved). Using this index, the groups of halfsisters--daughters of bulls and their sons--were compared and within-group variances were calculated. Differences in In between the groups of unrelated bulls were highly significant (P less than 0.01). In the progeny of sons of the same bull no significant differences were found. This indicates the role of genotype in the susceptibility to mastitis. Mean In value was 0.04 and 0.05 for the progeny of Czech Pied and Friesian breed, resp. No marked differences were observed between the groups of daughters of related bulls. The portion of Staphylococcus infections in the total number of positive findings was higher in the progeny of Friesian bulls (26.3 and 19.8% for the first and the second generation, resp.) than in the progeny of Czech Pied bulls (16.2 and 16.5% for the first and the second generation, resp.).     

The effect of Linola and W92/72 transgenic flax seeds on the rabbit caecal fermentation--in vitro study

The effect of W92/72 transgenic flax seeds taken from a variety of Linola on the production of SCFA, ammonia and methane by bacteria inhabiting rabbit caecum was studied. The in vitro method was used where caecal contents from rabbits was incubated with W92/72 transgenic or Linola flax seeds, or without any additives (control samples). The total concentration of SCFA was higher in samples with the addition of flax seeds than in the control samples. The increase in concentrations of acetic, propionic and butyric acids was the highest in samples with Linola seeds added. A higher percentage of propionic and butyric acids was observed in the contents incubated with addition of flax seeds as compared to the control samples. This increase was the result of a percentage decrease in acetic acid. No differences were observed in the concentration of ammonia between fermented samples. Moreover, the addition of flax seeds resulted in slight decrease of pH in incubated samples. In gas samples, the methane level was higher in samples with flax seeds added, although the highest level was found in samples with transgenic seeds. In addition, gas pressure was significantly higher in samples with flax seeds added as compared to control samples, and this may indicate a higher intensity of microbiological fermentation processes. These studies suggest that neither Linola nor W92/72 flax seeds have any unfavorable effect on the caecal microflora activity of rabbits. A beneficial influence of flax seeds on the microbiological fermentation process in rabbit caecum was observed, based on an increase in percentage ratio of propionic acid in samples with flax seeds added.     

Health status of cattle in relation to the time of year

The periodicity of morbidity rate in heifers and dairy cows kept on pasture (278 animals) and in stables (187 animals) was studied in relation to macroclimatic conditions under the assumption of two peaks per annum. The following conditions were used as the parameters of morbidity: purulent inflammations of uterus, sterility, lesions of the female tract and sepsis, dystocia, retention of placenta, mastitis, foot diseases and lying down after parturition. No significant differences were found between the studied groups of animals. A statistically significant up to highly significant dependence was found between the health of the heifers and cows and macroclimatic conditions both in stables and on pasture; an increase in morbidity rate was recorded in spring and autumn.     

Pathogenicity of Tetratrichomonas gallinarum]

Eight axenic strains of Tetratrichomonas gallinarum were isolated from the caeca or cloacae of ducks and geese. Different growth curves were determined for each of the strains and the generation times were calculated, ranging from 2 h 36 min to 4 h 44 min. The axenic cultures of seven T. gallinarium strains were subjected to the Honigberg test on inbred mice. The average volumes of the six-day-old subcutaneous abscesses ranged from 129.98 to 185.63 mm3. Selected strains of trichomonads were used for experimental infection of ducks and geese. Neither the macroscopis examination nor the microscopic analysis did find any greater pathological changes in the mucosa of the caecum of the birds, though the Trichomonas organisms were observed in large quantities among the villi in the crypts. It is believed on the basis of the results that the species T. gallinarium carries no primary pathogenicity to the specific hosts.     

The effect of a light regimen on the dynamics of biochemical indicators in the blood, serum and urine of heifers during 1 day

Circadian dynamics of 38 biochemical parameters of the blood, serum and urine of heifers was studied under the natural light conditions of a light (160-180 lux) and dark (10-40 lux) small cow house. In each house, eight parameters were subject to a significant influence during the day, six of them being the same in both houses: calcium, chlorides, urea and thyroxine of blood serum, glucose and haematocrit in the blood of heifers. The comparison of parameters in different groups showed that different light regimes exerted a significant influence on calcium, chlorides, total protein, cholesterol, vitamin A and thyroxine in serum, haematocrit and leucocyte count in blood, and sodium and urea in the urine of heifers. The effect of feeding regime on the dynamics of parameters was tested by the calculation of the percentual fluctuation of their average values in heifer blood and serum before feeding (samples taken at 6.30 hrs) and after feeding (sampled at 10 hrs). In the light house, six parameters were judged to be less stable and one unstable (urea in serum). In the dark house six parameters were less stable and four unstable (calcium, urea, copper and thyroxine in serum).     

Compressive Strength of Wheat Endosperm: Analysis of Endosperm Bricks

The material properties of wheat grain endosperm are central to its processing and end‐use quality. The preparation of geometrically‐defined endosperm specimens free of bran, germ, and pigment strand can facilitate the objective study of endosperm material properties. This study was conducted to characterize the material properties of wheat endosperm from two soft, two hard, and one durum wheat varietal samples. Additionally, each varietal sample was sorted according to vitreous or mealy kernel type. Endosperm ‘bricks’ approximately 0.76 × 2.08 × 1.06 mm were prepared using an abrading (Kernel Sanders, KS) device. Bricks were tested in compression using a texture analyzer (TA.XTPlus). Stress‐strain curves were used to calculate failure strain, failure stress, failure energy, and Young's modulus. Additionally, the effect of brick aging up to one month, and changes in moisture content (freeze drying, oven drying, and equilibration to ≈10.5–11% mc) were studied. Intrakernel variation was assessed by preparing two sibling bricks (one from each cheek) from individual kernels. Failure strain, stress, and energy all had relatively high model R² values (0.68, 0.79, and 0.75, respectively). The ANOVA model R² for Young's modulus was 0.46. All models indicated variety as a highly significant source of variation in brick material properties. The effect of vitreous versus mealy kernel type was not consistent across varietal samples. Brick age and moisture content did not significantly affect brick material properties. Analysis of sibling bricks indicated that the magnitude of intrakernel variation was similar to that observed for individual varietal lots of uniform vitreous or mealy kernel type. Overall, failure strain provided a ranking and mean separation most consistent with kernel texture market class. The results obtained in the present study, although similar to other published reports do not closely agree with them on the material properties of wheat endosperm. Similarly, published results of material properties often differ considerably. The source of these discrepancies are at present unknown, but in some circumstances they may relate to specimen orientation relative to the source kernel, as there was evidence for anisotropic behavior. A companion study compares the variation in kernel texture obtained with the single kernel characterization system (SKCS) with that obtained here using bricks.     

Preliminary survey of ethylenethiourea residues in the Canadian food supply, 1972.

A preliminary monitoring program was initiated in 1972 to determine ethylenethiourea (ETU) content of the Canadian food supply. Of 167 samples analyzed, 90 were domestic and 77 were imported. Samples were analyzed by electron-capture/gas-liquid chromatography. Thirty-three percent of the samples contained detectable ECU residues; most of these were 0.020 ppm or less. Highest levels, 0.047 and 0.083 ppm, were found in canned spinish and orange peel respectively.