Carcass characteristics and meat quality of sheep fed alfalfa hay to replace Bermuda grass hay

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The objective of this study was to evaluate carcass characteristics, meat quality, and organ and viscera weight of forty male sheep, not castrated, initially...     

Voluntary intake and digestion of Coastal Bermuda grass hay by yearling and mature horses

Coastal Bermuda grass hay was fed as the sole source of nutrients to determine comparative voluntary intake and nutrient digestibility of hay in yearling and mature horses. Yearling horses consumed dry matter at a higher (P<.10) percentage of their body weight (2.5%) than mature horses (2.0%). digestion of hemicellulose was higher (P<.05) in mature horses, but digestion of dry matter, gross energy, neutral detergent fiber and crude protein was similar between the 2 classes of horses.     

Effects of supplemental Bermuda grass hay or corn on intake, digestion and performance of cattle consuming endophyte-infected fescue

Effects of supplemental Bermuda grass hay (BG) or ground corn on intake, digestion and performance of cattle consuming endophyte-infected fescue (I) were studied. In Exp. 1, a Latin square study, five growing Holstein steers (158.1 kg) consumed I ad libitum and were offered 0, .3, .6, .9 or 1.2% body weight (BW) of BG daily. Total dry matter (DM) intake rose linearly (P less than .05) with increasing BG, although intake was numerically similar with .6, .9 and 1.2% BW of BG. Digestibility was constant with diet (P greater than .10). Six growing Holstein steers used in Exp. 2, a Latin square with a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments, ingested I or noninfected (NI) fescue hay ad libitum with 0, .5 or 1.0% BW of ground corn. Total DM intake increased linearly as the level of corn rose (P less than .05). Total intake with I increased more with the first than with the second addition of corn, and the opposite occurred with NI (interaction between fescue infection and the quadratic effect of corn level, P less than .10). Organic matter digested (g/d) was greater for NI than for I and rose linearly with increasing corn ingestion (P less than .05). Ninety-six crossbred beef heifers and steers (184.2 kg avg initial live weight) were used in a 77-d fall grazing experiment (Exp. 3) with a 2 x 3 factorial treatment arrangement. Cattle grazed I or NI paddocks and were given no supplement or .34% BW of BG or .65% BW of ground corn on a daily basis (DM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Caecal impactions: Diagnosis,management and prognosis

A caecal impaction can be caused by an accumulation of dry ingesta (type I) or abnormal caecal motility resulting in a feed impaction of fluid consistency (type II). Horses that develop a caecal impaction have often been administered a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) during hospitalisation for treatment of a painful condition such as an ocular or orthopaedic disease. Clinical signs of caecal impaction can be mild, and progress to more moderate to severe signs of abdominal pain as the impaction enlarges. Since an impacted caecum has a high risk of rupture, early diagnosis and treatment are important. Horses with a caecal impaction can be treated medically or surgically, and treatment decisions are based on clinical signs, results of transrectal palpation, character of peritoneal fluid and response to medical management. For type I caecal impaction, medical management consists of aggressive fluid therapy, both intravenous and enteral, to soften ingesta. Fluid therapy can be combined with laxatives, motility-enhancing drugs and analgesic drugs. Surgery is indicated if results of transrectal abdominal examination indicate that the impaction is unchanged or has enlarged, signs of abdominal pain increase, or if there is cardiovascular deterioration. Horses with type II caecal impaction have a greater chance of survival if managed surgically. Using a ventral mid-line celiotomy approach, a caecal impaction can be resolved via a typhlotomy. When caecal motility is poor, or there are signs of chronic caecal dysfunction, a caecal bypass procedure (jejunocolostomy or ileocolostomy) should be considered. Although the prognosis for horses with a caecal impaction is claimed to be fair to good, choice of treatment is controversial and may influence prognosis. If the affected horse survives to discharge from the hospital, the long-term prognosis is generally good. Many retrospective studies of cases of caecal impaction are weakened by failure to distinguish between types I and II.     

Medical management of large colonic impactions

Large colonic impactions are a common cause of abdominal pain in the horse. This review aims to discuss normal function of the large colon, risk factors for development of colonic impactions, diagnosis and optimal strategies for management and prevention based on the evidence available.     

Nutritional management of recurrent colic and colonic impactions

Although diagnosis and treatment of horses with colic have improved in the last 30 years, horses with recurrent colic can be a diagnostic and management challenge for both owners and veterinarians, and colic remains a high priority health concern of owners (Mellor et al. 2001 ). Nutritional management of these cases is often based on previous experience combined with recommendations from the evidence‐based literature. This review will briefly summarise the aetiologies of recurrent colic and primarily focus on evidence‐based nutritional management of colonic impactions, sand enteropathy, inflammatory bowel disease, and idiopathic recurrent colic, which is limited. Additional topics to be covered elsewhere in this series that are relevant to this topic include nutritional management of gastric ulceration, liver disease, colitis, geriatric horses, and feeding the horse pre‐ and post surgery.     

Diagnosis,management and prognosis of small colon impactions

Common causes of obstruction of the small colon and rectum include diffuse faecal impaction, enterolithiasis, faecalithiasis, phytobezoar, trichobezoar, phytotrichobezoar, phytoconglobate, foreign body, intramural haematoma and retained meconium. Poor dentition, poor-quality hay, lack of adequate water, parasite damage and lack of exercise are risk factors for the development of small colon impactions. Clinical signs of small colon obstruction develop slowly because a large space proximal to the obstruction allows ingesta, gas and fluid to accumulate. Medical management of horses with faecal impaction of the small colon involves improvement of hydration, stimulation of colonic motility, softening the impaction by the administration of osmotic laxatives or lubricants, and control of pain. Surgical intervention is indicated when medical management fails to resolve the impaction or when intractable pain and a deteriorating cardiovascular status ensues.     

Diagnosis,management and prognosis of large colon impactions

The majority of large colon feed impactions occur in the left ventral colon at the pelvic flexure. Sand and enterolith impactions most commonly occur in the left ventral colon at the pelvic flexure or in the right dorsal colon; however, sand can accumulate anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract. Enteral fluid therapy can, in most cases, supplement or even replace i.v. administration of fluids and it appears effective and safe to soften large colon contents and resolve simple large colon impactions. Surgical intervention is indicated when a concurrent displacement is suspected, as lengthy medical treatment of large colon impaction secondary to large colon displacements would not be indicated and may increase the risk of colonic rupture. Other indications for surgical intervention include uncontrollable pain, when cardiovascular parameters deteriorate, or when there is evidence of intestinal devitalisation. The prognosis for horses undergoing large colon enterotomy is dependent on the extent and type of impaction, but is generally excellent.     

Sand impactions in a Saskatchewan beef cow-calf herd

Forty beef cows were reported to show signs of abdominal pain and discomfort over a period of 1 wk. Two of the affected animals died and on postmortem examination were found to be impacted with sand in their abomasum and small intestines. Sand-laden barley silage was found to be the cause of these impactions.     

压扁处理对紫花苜蓿干燥特性及干草品质的影响

为了研究紫花苜蓿干草田间调制过程中干燥特性及营养成分的变化规律,试验采用压扁和未压扁二种处理方法,在田间自然晾晒条件下,分别在刈割后和含水量为50%、40%、30%、20%时进行取样分析。结果表明：压扁处理干燥速度显著快于未压处理（P〈0.05）,水分散失均呈先快后慢的趋势;压扁处理显著降低苜蓿叶片的损失（P〈0.05）;含水量为50%、40%、30%、20%时,压扁处理苜蓿干草的粗蛋白、总消化营养物质、无氮浸出物、胡萝卜素含量均明显高于未压处理;中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维含量明显低于未压扁处理,说明压扁处理能明显提高紫花苜蓿干燥速度,降低叶片损失,改善干草的营养品质。     

不同调制方法紫花苜蓿干燥特性及干草质量的研究

对6种调制方法紫花苜蓿干燥特性及干草质量进行研究,结果表明,1)在参试的6种调制方法中,紫花苜蓿干燥的快慢顺序是:65℃烘干>压扁 喷碳酸钾溶液=喷碳酸钾溶液>压扁茎秆>自然晒干>风干.2)65℃烘干、压扁 喷碳酸钾溶液及喷碳酸钾溶液3种调制方法因缩短了干燥时间,从而提高了紫花苜蓿干草的质量;压扁茎秆虽可缩短紫花苜蓿的干燥时间,但在提高干草质量上效果不显著.3)采用灰色关联度分析对参试调制方法进行综合评价,结果表明,65℃烘干综合表现最好;其次是压扁 喷碳酸钾溶液及喷碳酸钾溶液,此2种方法调制的干草质量较高且操作简单易行,在生产中可优先选用.     

调制方法对多花黑麦草干燥特性及干草质量的影响

研究6种调制方法对多花黑麦草干燥特性及干草质量的研究,结果表明：（1）与自然晒干相比,烘干、压扁茎秆、压扁茎秆＋喷碳酸钾3种调制方法可显著缩短多花黑麦草干燥所需时间,提高多花黑麦草干草质量,而喷碳酸钾溶液和风干处理在缩短多花黑麦草干燥时间及提高其干草质量上效果不显著;（2）灰色关联综合评价结果表明,与自然晒干相比,烘干...     

Outcome of surgical correction of meconium impactions in 8 foals

Meconium impactions are only rarely refractory to medical therapy. The purpose of this paper is to examine the outcome of 8 foals that required an exploratory celiotomy to correct a meconium impaction. Between 1984 and 1992, 24 foals were referred with a primary diagnosis of meconium impaction. All foals were treated medically prior to and following referral. Of the 24 foals, 8 had impactions requiring surgical intervention. Exploratory celiotomies were performed, and the impaction was reduced manually or by enterotomy. Follow up information was available on 7 foals. All survived surgery and were discharged. Four of the 8 foals matured and raced. Two foals were euthanatized due to extensive serosal adhesions and one foal was euthanatized due to an unrelated orthopedic condition. Our results support the decision for an exploratory surgery only after aggressive medical therapy has failed. Several treatment options have been developed in recent years that have reduced the number of foals that may require surgery.     

Retrospective study assessing efficacy of treatment of large colonic impactions

Cases with a history of colic due to a large colonic impaction were recruited retrospectively to assess the treatment efficacy and complications of oral and parenteral fluid therapy regimes for correction of primary large colon impactions. Oral isotonic fluids had been administered at varying intervals following initial treatment with magnesium sulphate and water. There was no significant difference in complication rates between groups. Considering complication rates with impaction clearance, hourly administration of oral fluids appears to be the most appropriate treatment regime of those investigated.     

壳聚糖对狗牙根种子萌发的影响

用不同浓度的壳聚糖柠檬酸溶液处理狗牙根Cynodon dactylon种子,研究壳聚糖对狗牙根种子萌发的影响.结果表明:适当浓度的壳聚糖溶液(2.0%)能提高狗牙根种子活力,促进幼苗生长,提高发芽率和发芽势,呼吸速率也随浓度的增大而明显提高.因此壳聚糖处理有利于狗牙根种子的萌发.     

不同基因型狗牙根耐镉及镉富集特性

狗牙根(Cynodon dactylon)作为我国南方重金属污染区的优势种,在污染土壤的修复过程中有巨大的应用潜力。本研究利用水培试验,分析了10个狗牙根基因型生长指标的变化、耐镉能力及镉吸收转运特征。结果表明,1.5mmol·L~(-1)镉胁迫条件下,狗牙根各基因型均表现出生长缓慢、叶片失绿、根系生长不良等受害症状。不同基因型的受害程度差异较大,其中,基因型WBD242、WBD245和WBD193的受害程度较轻。综合评价结果表明,这3个基因型对镉具有很强的耐受性,且其地上部积累的镉离子浓度分别高达119.0、177.0和124.2mg·kg~(-1),均高于超富集植物的标准(地上部分富集镉超过100mg·kg~(-1)),可用于高浓度镉污染土壤的植物修复;基因型WBD144和WBD147具有最高的转移系数,但是耐镉能力较弱,可用于轻度镉污染土壤的植物修复。研究结果为镉污染土壤的植物修复与植被重建提供了新的材料和理论基础。     

Some Copepod and Isopod Parasites of Bermuda Marine Fishes

Abstract

Three species are added to the depauperate parasite fauna of Bermuda: Caligus balistae, Lernanthropus talipes, and Alcirona insularis. The latter, normally a rare associate, seems to thrive on groupers (Serranidae) in captivity. An offshore record for Nerocila lanceolata on ocean triggerfish Canthidermis sufflamen contrasts with its known nearshore occurrence. A new host record is noted for each of four parasites occurring in Bermuda: Caligus balistae, A. insularis, Cymothoa oestrum, and N. lanceolata     

Dietary galactooligosaccharides affect ileal and total-tract nutrient digestibility, ileal and fecal bacterial concentrations, and ileal fermentative characteristics of growing pigs

The objective of this study was to evaluate dietary galactooligosaccharide (Gal OS) addition on swine nutrient digestibility, ileal and fecal bacterial populations, and ileal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, and to determine their impact on ileal fermentative characteristics in vitro. Twelve T-cannulated pigs (BW = 25 kg) were fed a diet free of Gal OS for 21 d. On d 22, ileal digesta samples were collected for an in vitro fermentation experiment (Exp. 1). Substrates included: raffinose/stachyose combination (R + S), soy solubles (SS), and transgalactooligosaccharides (TOS). Also included were the non-OS components of SS and TOS. Nine pigs (three donors per treatment) served as ileal effluent donors. Each substrate was fermented in vitro for 6 h, and pH and SCFA and gas production were determined. Pigs then were allotted to three treatments: a Gal OS-free control diet and the control diet with either 3.5% added Gal OS from SS or TOS. Diets, feces, and digesta samples collected weekly for 6 wk on d 6 (feces) and 7 (digesta) were analyzed for DM, OM, CP, and chromic oxide concentrations. Feces and ileal digesta were analyzed for bifidobacteria and lactobacilli populations. Ileal digesta samples were analyzed for SCFA. On d 64, a second in vitro fermentation experiment (Exp. 2) was conducted using ileal effluent from three pigs per treatment and the same substrates used in Exp. 1. In vivo results showed that ileal and total tract DM and OM digestion were decreased (P < 0.05) by addition of both SS and TOS to the diet. Ileal and total-tract N digestibilities were decreased (P < 0.05) by dietary addition of SS. Fecal bifidobacteria and lactobacilli were increased (P < 0.05) by addition of SS and TOS to the diet. Ileal propionate and butyrate concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) for pigs fed diets containing both sources of Gal OS. In vitro results showed that fermentation data were not affected by donor animal adaptation to treatment. For both in vitro experiments, gas and SCFA production were higher (P < 0.05) for R + S than for SS or TOS. Fermentation of R + S resulted in a higher pH (P < 0.05) than did SS or TOS. Fermentation of non-OS components of SS and TOS resulted in more (P < 0.05) gas and SCFA production, and pH values that did not differ (P > 0.05) compared to SS and TOS. The Gal OS used in this study were prebiotics, increasing beneficial bacteria in vivo and SCFA concentrations both in vivo and in vitro.