Aspiration of barium-impregnated polyethylene spheres by a dog

This case report describes an 11-year-old Belgian Malinois dog with acute onset of cough caused by aspiration of barium-impregnated polyethylene spheres (BIPS) and pneumonia following an episode of suspected gastric dilation. Although bronchoscopic retrieval of the BIPS was largely unsuccessful, the dog recovered uneventfully, with most of the BIPS being coughed out and swallowed over a 1-month period. Aspiration of BIPS should be considered a potential complication of their administration. Furthermore, endoscopic removal of aspirated BIPS is challenging and may not be indicated because of their inert nature and possible self-clearance.     

Sites of digestion in beef steers fed bermudagrass hay and supplemented with high-nitrogen feeds alone or mixed with tallow

Five crossbred beef steers (329 kg) were used in a 5 x 5 Latin square experiment with 14-d periods to determine the effects of supplementation with high-nitrogen (N) feeds alone or mixed with tallow on sites of digestion with a basal diet of bermudagrass hay. Hay was 1.93% nitrogen, 75% neutral detergent fibre and fed at 1.83% of body weight (dry matter; DM). Supplements were basal (B; 105 g DM): 81.8% dried molasses product (DMP) and 18.2% calcium carbonate (CC); soybean meal (S; 942 g DM): 88.0% soybean meal, 9.8% DMP and 2.2% CC; S mixed with 9.8% tallow (SF; 1041 g DM); corn gluten and blood meals (CB; 662 g DM): 62.5% corn gluten meal, 20.8% blood meal, 13.6% DMP and 3.0% CC; CB mixed with 13.2% tallow (CBF; 757 g DM). Total N intake was 117, 185, 187, 174 and 172 g/d, and duodenal N flow was 121, 148, 143, 162 and 169 g/d for B, S, SF, CB and CBF, respectively, being lower for B than for other treatments and higher for supplements with the corn gluten and blood meal mix than for soybean meal (P less than 0.05). Duodenal microbial N flow was 39, 51, 49, 38 and 45 g/d for B, S, SF, CB and CBF, respectively, being greater (P less than 0.05) for supplements with soybean meal than with corn gluten and blood meals. Duodenal flow of feed N was greater (P less than 0.05) with than without high-N feeds and for supplemental corn gluten and blood meals than for soybean meal (78, 90, 86, 117 and 116 g/d for B, S, SF, CB and CBF, respectively). In conclusion, mixing of tallow and high-N feeds did not affect the extent of ruminal N disappearance, and soybean meal supplementation increased duodenal N flow less than did supplementation with corn gluten and blood meals. Increased duodenal N flow with soybean meal was associated with about equal elevations of ruminal outflow of microbial and feed N, whereas the corn gluten-blood meal mix affected the intestinal protein supply by increasing ruminal escape of feed protein.     

Selenium effects on glutathione peroxidase and the immune response of stressed calves challenged with Pasteurella hemolytica

The present study was conducted to determine whether a marginal Se deficiency affects health, blood characteristics and the immune response of calves subjected to stresses associated with weaning, shipping (332 km) and Pasteurella hemolytica inoculation. Treatments were 1) -Se, 2) -Se/P. hemolytica, 3) +Se (.1 mg Se/kg feed) and 4) +Se/P. hemolytica. Previous Se intake was controlled; dams of -Se calves were fed diets marginally deficient in Se (.03 to .05 mg/kg), whereas dams of +Se calves received a s.c. injection of 30 mg Se (as sodium selenite) every 60 d. Calves were inoculated with P. hemolytica intratracheally on d 3 following weaning and transport. Inoculation with P. hemolytica increased (P less than .05) body temperatures, platelet counts, serum IgM concentrations and serum antibody titers and decreased serum albumin concentrations at 4 to 7 d postinoculation. Weight gains for the 21-d study were not affected by Se status, although whole blood and plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were higher (P less than .05) for +Se calves. Plasma GSH-Px increased (P less than .01) in calves showing signs of morbidity. Increases in plasma GSH-Px were correlated positively with body temperature. Serum IgM concentrations were higher (P less than .05) in +Se calves on d 17, but Se-supplemented calves had lower (P less than .05) anti-P. hemolytica titers on d 17 than -Se calves. Selenium status did not affect body temperatures, plasma creatine phosphokinase or serum IgG and albumin concentrations. These results indicate that Se status can affect IgM concentrations following stress.     

Feed intake, digestion and digesta characteristics of cattle fed Bermudagrass or orchardgrass alone or with ground barley or corn

Feed intake, digestion and digesta characteristics of cattle fed bermudagrass (BG) or orchardgrass (OG) alone or with supplemental ground corn or barley were determined in two 6 x 6 latin squares with 2 x 3 factorial treatment arrangements. In Exp. 1, beef cows (Hereford, Angus and Hereford-Angus; 452 kg) cannulated in the rumen and duodenum were fed BG (7.9% CP, 79% NDF and 8.7% ADL) or OG (9.8% CP, 79% NDF and 7.2% ADL) hays at 1.2% of BW per day either alone or with added ground barley (.64% BW) or ground corn (.60% BW daily). The increase in microbial OM flow with corn was greater for OG than for BG; corn elevated microbial OM flow more than did barley with OG but less than with BG (forage type x grain source interaction; P less than .10). The increase in total tract OM digestion with grain was greater for BG than for OG (supplementation effect and forage type x supplementation interaction; P less than 05). In Exp. 2, Holstein steers (228 kg) were fed BG and OG hays ad libitum either alone or with addition of either 1.07% of BW per day of barley or 1.00% BW of corn. Total DM intake was 2.19, 3.03 and 2.82% BW for BG and 2.14, 2.80 and 2.52% BW for OG alone or with barley or corn supplements, respectively, being affected by forage type, grain supplementation, grain type and a forage type x grain supplementation interaction (P less than .05). Organic matter digested daily (g/d) was higher for OG than for BG, higher with than without grain and higher for barley than for corn (P less than .05).     

Is That a Rodent in Your Luggage? A Mixed Method Approach to Describe Bushmeat Importation into the United States

Bushmeat, defined as meat derived from wild animals, is a potential source of zoonotic pathogens. Bushmeat from restricted animals is illegal to import into the United States under US federal regulations. We reviewed US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) port of entry surveillance records from September 2005 through December 2010 and conducted focus group studies to describe trends in and reasons for bushmeat importation into the United States. In total, 543 confiscated bushmeat items were recorded. Half of the confiscated bushmeat items identified were rodents. Africa was the most frequent continent of origin. Seasonality was evident, with bushmeat confiscations peaking in late spring to early summer. Four times more bushmeat was confiscated during an enhanced surveillance period in June 2010 compared with the same period in previous years, suggesting that routine surveillance underestimated the amount of bushmeat detected at US Ports of Entry. Focus groups held in three major US cities revealed that bushmeat importation is a multifaceted issue. Longstanding cultural practices of hunting and eating bushmeat make it difficult for consumers to acknowledge potential health and ecologic risks. Also, US merchants selling African goods, including bushmeat, in their stores have caused confusion among importers as to whether importation is truly illegal. Enhancing routine surveillance for bushmeat and consistent enforcement of penalties at all ports of entry, along with health education aimed at bushmeat importers, might be useful to deter illegal importation.     

Failure of a recombinant Schistosoma bovis-derived glutathione S-transferase to protect cattle against experimental Fasciola hepatica infection

The potential of a recombinant Schistosoma bovis 28-kDa glutathione S-transferase (rSb28GST) to protect cattle against Fasciola hepatica was tested in a vaccination trial. Thirty two calves were randomly divided into four groups of eight animals. Calves of the three vaccine groups received two intramuscular injections at 3 weeks interval, of 0.250mg rSb28GST in either aluminium hydroxide (Al(OH)(3)), Quil A, or PBS emulsified in an equal volume of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA).Animals of the control group received injections of Al(OH)(3)/PBS only. All animals were challenged orally with a total of 360 metacercariae of F. hepatica, spread over 6 weeks.All groups of vaccinated animals produced measurable IgG antibody titers to rSb28GST after vaccination. Animals immunised with FCA adjuvanted vaccine had the highest and more durable antibody titers and only sera from this group recognised an approximately 24kDa protein band from F. hepatica, that is thought to be a F. hepatica GST. Despite a good antibody response differences in cumulative faecal egg output between the groups were not statistically significant. In addition, no significant difference was found between groups in terms of total worm numbers or percentage of immature flukes recovered at necropsy. In conclusion, the recombinant S. bovis 28kDa GST was not found to adequately protect cattle against experimental F. hepatica challenge, using either aluminium hydroxide, Quil A or FCA as adjuvant.     

Effects of feeding programme and feeder space change at photo-stimulation using maize- or wheat-based diet on growth and reproductive performance of female broiler breeders

1. This study was carried out to determine the effects of breeder feeding programme to 29 weeks of age, and feeder space change at photo-stimulation using two sources of grain on breeder hen reproductive efficiency and egg characteristics.

2. Fast-feathering Cobb 500 pullet broiler breeders were housed in 16 pens of 81 females each during rearing, and fed on either maize- or wheat-based diet, formulated to have similar nutrient composition. Two feeding programmes, Fast and Slow, were used from 14 to 29 weeks of age. At 22 weeks of age, 69 females that represented the body weight (BW) distribution from each pen were placed in a layer house where feeder space either remained very similar (from 6.3 to 6.5 cm/female) or was increased (from 6.3 to 8.4 cm/female). Breeder growth performance, reproductive efficiency and egg characteristics were evaluated.

3. Data were analysed as a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design with diet type, feeding programme and feeder space change as the main factors. The main effects of the treatments were found but there were no treatment interactions.

4. Breeders fed on wheat were consistently heavier than breeders fed on maize from 10 to 52 weeks of age and exhibited greater hen mortality during the layer phase. Breeders fed on wheat diets exhibited improved egg production while laying eggs with a greater yolk:albumen ratio compared to the maize group.

5. The Fast feeding programme increased female mortality and increased BW during the layer phase. Breeders fed according to the Slow feeding programme had better fertility, and laid eggs with lower percentage eggshell that might be associated with the lower early embryonic mortality observed in these hens as compared with the Fast feeding programme.

6. Breeders having increased feeder space at photo-stimulation matured earlier and produced more eggs compared to breeders with no change in feeder space.

7. It was concluded that the feeding of wheat, the use of the Slow feeding programme and an increase in feeder space improved some aspects of hen productivity and egg characteristics.     

Effects of ruminal casein and glucose on forage digestion and urea kinetics in beef cattle

Effects of supplemental glucose and degradable intake protein on nutrient digestion and urea kinetics in steers (Bos taurus) given ad libitum access to prairie hay (4.7% CP) were quantified. Six ruminally and duodenally cannulated steers (initial BW 391 kg) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square with 2 extra steers. Treatments were arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial and included 0 or 1.2 kg of glucose and 240 or 480 g of casein dosed ruminally once daily. Each period included 9 d for adaptation, 4 d for total fecal and urine collections, and 1 d for ruminal and duodenal sampling. Jugular infusion of (15)N(15)N-urea with measurement of enrichment in urine was used to measure urea kinetics. Glucose reduced forage intake by 18% (P < 0.01), but casein did not affect forage intake (P = 0.69). Glucose depressed (P < 0.01) total tract NDF digestion. Glucose supplementation decreased ruminal pH 2 h after dosing, but the effect was negligible by 6 h (treatment × time; P = 0.01). Providing additional casein increased the ruminal concentration of NH(3), but the increase was less when glucose was supplemented (casein × glucose; P < 0.01). Plasma urea-N was increased (P < 0.01) by additional casein but was reduced (P < 0.01) by glucose. Microbial N flow to the duodenum and retained N increased (P ≤ 0.01) as casein increased, but neither was affected by glucose supplementation. Urea-N entry rate increased (P = 0.03) 50% with increasing casein. Urinary urea-N excretion increased (P < 0.01) as casein increased. The proportion of urea production that was recycled to the gut decreased (P < 0.01) as casein increased. Glucose supplementation decreased (P < 0.01) urinary urea excretion but did not change (P ≥ 0.70) urea production or recycling. The amount of urea-N transferred to the gut and captured by ruminal microbes was less for steers receiving 480 g/d casein with no glucose than for the other 3 treatments (casein × glucose interaction, P = 0.05), which can be attributed to an excess of ruminally available N provided directly to the microbes from the supplement. Overall, the provision of supplemental glucose decreased forage intake and digestibility. Increasing supplemental casein from 240 to 480 g/d increased urea production but decreased the proportion of urea-N recycled to the gut.     

育成期肉种鸡最低累积营养摄入量概念的拓展

“最低累积营养摄入量”概念首次在1995年的（NCSU）肉种鸡研讨会上提出并讨论,之后,这个概念在各种科技会议上被广泛讨论,并为许多肉种鸡饲养管理者接纳和作为技术指南。但当前讨论的焦点已偏离了原来的综合性概念。原来的概念强调饲养方案的形式、长期相对的一致性以及光刺激的年龄应结合累积营养摄入量目标值来考虑。许多生产管理者和技术顾问在将此概念与肉种鸡体重（BW）和均匀度目标结合时,仅强调累积代谢能（ME）和粗蛋白（CP）需要目标。很显然,对最低累积营养概念缺乏全面理解可能会导致一些问题,