沟垄集雨下密度和施氮对黄土高原青贮玉米叶片酶活性及水氮利用的影响

为探究沟垄集雨下青贮玉米叶片酶活性与水氮利用效率对种植密度和施氮量的响应,于2019和2020年在甘肃环县开展田间试验,设置4个种植密度(D₁:6.0万株·hm^-2;D₂:7.5万株·hm^-2;D₃:9.0万株·hm^-2;D₄:10.5万株·hm^-2)和4个施氮水平(N₀:0 kg·hm^-2;N₁:120 kg·hm^-2;N₂:240 kg·hm^-2;N₃:360 kg·hm^-2)。结果表明:1)在吐丝期和灌浆期,硝酸还原酶(nitrate reductase,NR)、超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)、过氧化氢酶(catalase,CAT)活性随着密度的增加而降低,N₂、N_3...     

种植密度与施氮对玉米/秣食豆间作系统饲草产量、品质和氮肥利用的影响

2019和2020年在河西灌区进行玉米/秣食豆间作田间试验,设置7.5（D₁）、9.0（D₂）、10.5万株·hm^-2（D₃）3个青贮玉米种植密度,每个种植密度下设置0（N₁）、120（N₂）、240（N₃）、360 kg·hm^-2（N₄）4个施氮水平,探究种植密度与施氮对饲草产量、品质和氮肥利用的影响。结果表明,两年D₂和D₃处理的青贮玉米、秣食豆及总体的干草产量、粗蛋白产量显著高于D₁,N₃和N₄处理的青贮玉米及总体的干草产量、粗蛋白产量显著高于N₂和N₁。所有处理中,D₂N₃获得了最高的总干草产量,2019和2020年分别为36.16和30.31 t·hm^-2。两年随着密度的增加,青贮玉米、秣食豆及总体的粗蛋白、粗脂肪含量呈下降趋势,而粗灰分、中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维含量呈增加趋势。随着施氮量的增加,总体粗蛋白、粗脂肪含量增加,而粗灰分、中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维含量呈下降趋势。两年D₂处理下总体氮含量、氮吸收量和氮肥利用效率显著高于D₃,且D₂获得较高的氮肥农学效率。N₂、N₃、N₄处理的总体氮含量和氮吸收量显著高于N₁,N₃处理的氮肥农学效率和氮肥利用效率显著高于N₄。所有处理中D₂N₃获得最高的氮肥利用效率,2019和2020年分别为1.41和0.86 kg·kg^-1。因此,该处理是一种河西灌区青贮玉米/秣食豆间作系统适宜的田间管理措施,具有一定推广价值。     

种植密度与施氮量对陇中旱农区玉米产量及光合特性的影响

在陇中旱农区,依托2012年布设的田间定位试验研究了种植密度与施氮量对全膜双垄沟播玉米光合特性、产量及产量构成要素的影响。采用裂区设计,主处理为种植密度:4.5(D₁)、5.25(D₂)、6(D₃)、6.75万株·hm^-2(D₄);副处理为施氮水平:施纯氮200(N₂)和300 kg·hm^-2 (N₃)。结果表明:1)随着玉米种植密度和施氮量的增加,玉米的叶面积指数增加,但叶片的叶绿素含量减小;2)施氮量对玉米的光合作用影响不显著,但玉米光合作用随种植密度增加而减弱;3)D₂N₂处理下的玉米产量最高,D₂的籽粒产量和生物产量较D₁分别增加了15.2%和14.5%,N₂的籽粒产量和生物产量较N₃增加了10.9%和4.8%。4)玉米籽粒产量与穗数、穗粒数显著正相关,与百粒重无显著相关关系。因此,在陇中旱农区应用全膜双垄沟播技术种植玉米,密度为5.25万株·hm^-2,施纯氮200 kg·hm^-2左右时,叶片光合作用关系协调,有利于穗数和穗粒数的增加,从而提高玉米籽粒产量。     

节水减氮对甘肃河西灌区青贮玉米生长及水氮利用效率的影响

针对当前青贮玉米(Zea mays L.)生产中灌溉水资源不足和施氮过量的问题，本研究以河西灌区规模化种植青贮玉米为研究对象，布设4个灌水水平(W₁,6 150 m³·hm^-2;W₂,5 535 m³·hm^-2;W₃,4 920 m³·hm^-2;W₄,4 305 m³·hm^-2)和4个施氮水平(N₁,311 kg·hm^-2;N₂,279.9 kg·hm^-2;N₃,248.8 kg·hm^-2;N₄,217.7 kg·hm^-2)的二因素田间实验，探究不同节水减氮对青贮玉米生长及水氮利用效率的影响。结果表明：W₂处理青贮玉米的总耗水量与W...     

氮肥运筹对陇中旱农区玉米光合特性及产量的影响

全膜双垄沟播技术使玉米成为了陇中旱农区主要作物之一,但该技术下玉米的高产出导致土壤养分耗竭,影响玉米生产的可持续性。本研究依托2012年布设在陇中旱农区的田间定位试验,研究4个施氮水平 (N₀:不施肥;N₁:100 kg·hm^-2、N₂:200 kg·hm^-2、N₃:300 kg·hm^-2)和2个施氮时期(T₁: 1/3基肥+1/3拔节期+1/3开花期、T₂: 1/3基肥+2/3拔节期)对玉米光合特性、叶绿素含量、叶面积指数、干物质积累和分配量及产量的影响。结果表明:1) 随着施氮量的增加玉米光合性能也在增强,而N₃和T₂N₂间差异不显著,T₂时期提高玉米光合特性;2) 全生育期内,N₃处理下叶绿素含量较N₂、N₁、N₀分别平均增加50.9%、17.0%、2.7%;叶面积指数也随施氮量的增加而增加,但N₂和N₃间无显著差异;T₂下的叶绿素含量和叶面积指数在生育后期显著高于T₁;3) 干物质积累量和籽粒分配量表现为:N₃>N₂>N₁>N₀,T₂下的干物质积累和籽粒分配量高于T₁;4) 籽粒产量和生物产量均随施氮量的增加而增加,N₂和N₃下的籽粒产量和生物产量显著高于N₀,其中N₃较N₀增加79.2%和68.4%,N₂较N₀增加65.9%和54.1%,T₂下的籽粒产量和生物产量分别较T₁显著增加9.9%和13.5%,而T₂N₂与N₃间无显著差异,因此,在陇中旱农区应用全膜双垄沟播技术种植玉米,施纯氮200 kg·hm^-2左右,按照1/3基肥+2/3拔节期配施,可以增强光合作用,从而提高玉米籽粒产量和饲料产量,促进玉米生产可持续发展。     

小麦/玉米/大豆套作和施氮对玉米生长及氮吸收利用的影响

为研究小麦/玉米/大豆套作种植模式和施氮水平对玉米生长、产量及氮吸收利用规律的影响,进行了2个种植模式(玉米单作和小麦/玉米/大豆套作)和2013年3个施氮水平(0,180,360 kg/hm²)及2014年4个施氮水平(0,90,180,270 kg/hm²)的双因素随机区组实验,以期揭示施氮及套作对玉米产量的影响规律,为进一步提高小麦/玉米/大豆套作体系产量提供理论依据。研究结果表明,1)在N₀及N₉₀处理下套作玉米的产量分别比单作低20.5%、7.5%,表现为套作劣势,而在N₁₈₀、N₂₇₀、N₃₆₀处理下,套作玉米与单作玉米产量无显著差异。2)单/套作玉米地上部生物量在各生育时期均表现为随施氮量的增加先增加后略有降低,干物质积累速率均在吐丝期到收获期达到最大。相对单作,各施氮处理下小麦对套作玉米的茎秆生长均产生显著不利影响,在拔节期套作玉米茎秆生长率比单作低12.5%,这种影响随施氮量的增加而减小,在施氮量到达180 kg/hm²后影响不显著。3)在N₀、N₉₀处理下,单作玉米花期氮积累量在生殖生长期更多转运到籽粒,而在N₁₈₀、N₂₇₀、N₃₆₀处理下,套作花期前氮积累量转移到籽粒的比例更高。而两种模式下均以施氮180~270 kg/hm²下氮转运指标最优,这说明在该施氮条件下最有利于提高植株氮素转运机能。综上所述,适量施氮有利于稳定小麦/玉米/大豆套作种植模式中的玉米产量,提高氮的吸收转运效率,减轻小麦对玉米生长和氮吸收利用的影响,本研究条件下,套作玉米施氮量以180 kg/hm²为宜。     

施氮量和种植密度对青贮玉米产量和品质的影响

为研究优质青贮玉米种植的最佳氮肥施用量及最适宜种植密度,提高生产水平及饲草品质,为青贮玉米的实际生产提供数据支撑和技术指导,选择临夏地区主栽的2个青贮玉米品种(S1：铁研53;S2：屯玉168)为试验材料,通过裂区设计,研究3种不同施氮量(A1:0 kg N/hm²;A2:180 kg N/hm²;A3:360 kg N/hm²)和5种不同种植密度(B1:7.5万株/hm²;B2:8.25万株/hm²;B3:9万株/hm²;B4:9.75万株/hm²;B5:10.5万株/hm²)对青贮玉米产量及品质的影响。结果表明：在同一种植密度下,铁研53的株高、鲜草产量、粗淀粉、粗蛋白质含量与施氮量均呈正相关,中性洗涤纤维含量与施氮量差异不显著,酸性洗涤纤维含量呈负相关;其中铁研53在施氮量达到180 kg N/hm²以上时,株高和鲜草产量差异不显著。屯玉168的株高、鲜草产量、粗淀粉、粗蛋白质含量与施...     

青贮剂对再生稻头季全株青贮品质和体外瘤胃发酵特性的影响

旨在探究青贮剂对再生稻头季全株青贮品质和体外瘤胃发酵特性的影响。以再生稻头季全株为青贮原料,在青贮中分别添加植物乳杆菌（60%）+纤维素酶（30%）+木聚糖酶（10%）、植物乳杆菌（70%）+粪肠球菌（20%）+纤维素酶（5%）+半纤维素酶（5%）、植物乳杆菌（30%）+粪肠球菌（60%）+纤维素酶（5%）+半纤维素酶（5%）、等量水为对照（依次记为N₁、N₂、N₃和CK组,各组添加量为500 g·t^-1 鲜重）。青贮45 d后开包取样,分析其青贮品质和体外瘤胃发酵特性。结果表明：1）青贮结束后,N₁、N₂和N₃组的总能显著高于CK组（P<0.05）,中性洗涤纤维和酸性洗涤纤维含量显著低于CK组（P<0.05）,且N₂组的中性洗涤纤维含量显著低于N₁和N₃组（P<0.05）,N₁、N₂和N₃组的总可消化养分含量和乙酸含量均显著高于CK组（P<0.05）,氨态氮/总氮显著低于CK组（P<0.05）。2）体外发酵24 h后,N₂组的24 h累积产气量和快速降解部分的产气量显著高于N₁、N₃和CK组（P<0.05）,N₂组的潜在产气量显著高于N₁、N₃和CK组（P<0.05）,且N₁组显著高于CK组（P<0.05）,N₁和N₂组的pH显著低于N₃和CK组（P<0.05）,N₂组的乙酸和氨态氮含量显著高于N₁、N₃和CK组（P<0.05）,N₁和N₂组的丙酸含量显著高于N₃和CK组（P<0.05）,N₂组乙酸/丙酸显著低于N₃和CK组（P<0.05）,N₂和N₃组的干物质降解率和粗蛋白质降解率显著高于N₁和CK组（P<0.05）,N₂组的有机物降解率、中性洗涤纤维降解率和酸性洗涤纤维降解率显著高于N₁、N₃和CK组（P<0.05）。综上所述,在实际生产中,建议青贮剂在以植物乳杆菌为主要添加剂的前提下,辅助添加粪肠球菌、纤维素酶和半纤维素酶,有利于获得营养价值较佳的再生稻头季全株青贮。     

水分胁迫下不同氮素对多枝柽柳幼苗生长及生理的影响

多枝柽柳是塔里木河下游优势物种,下游生态恢复过程中多枝柽柳幼苗的成活及其生长受水分和养分双重胁迫。本试验设置4个水分梯度(土壤相对含水量分别为D₁-20%、D₂-35%、D₃-50%与D₄-75%)并选用两种氮素(N₁-KNO₃与N₂-NH₄Cl)来探究水分与氮素对多枝柽柳幼苗生长及生理的影响。实验结果表明,1)水分是影响多枝柽柳幼苗表观生长的主要因子,施氮对其株高有显著的促进作用,D₁时铵态氮对其株高的促进作用显著,而D₄时硝态氮的促进作用更为显著。2)幼苗在D₁受到严重胁迫时,两种氮素对叶绿素a的含量均有显著的促进作用,铵态氮在土壤水分为D₂、D₃时,对叶绿素b有显著的促进作用。3)施氮可以提高幼苗的光合效率(φ_PS(Ⅱ)和ETR),D₁、D₃时,铵态氮对其影响显著,D₂时硝态氮对其影响显著。4)铵态氮更容易被幼苗根系吸收用于总生物量的积累,硝态氮只有在水分D₄时对其总生物量有显著的促进作用,土壤水分为D₂、D₃时,施氮使其比根长显著减小,说明幼苗生物量的分配更趋向地上部分;当水分不足时,硝态氮显著增加其根冠比,氮素更多地被幼苗用于根系生长,只有水分适宜时(D₃),铵态氮使其根冠比显著减小,用于地上冠面积的增长。因此,水分作为多枝柽柳幼苗早期生长的关键因子,幼苗吸收氮素后与其之间的耦合效应,有利于幼苗改变表观生长及光合生理来适应不良的环境。     

玉米秸秆还田配施氮肥对豫西旱地小麦土壤酶活性和氮肥利用效率的影响

为阐明玉米秸秆还田配施氮肥条件下土壤酶活性、氮肥利用效率及产量的变化规律，本试验选用洛旱22为材料，采用裂区试验设计，主区为玉米秸秆还田处理，分别为秸秆不还田(S₀)、秸秆全量还田(S₁)，副区为施氮量处理，分别为0 (N₀)、120 (N₁)、180 (N₂)、240(N₃)和300 kg·hm^-2(N₄)，测定了小麦各生育期0～20 cm和20～40 cm土层土壤脲酶、蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶及蛋白酶活性，并分析计算小麦产量、氮肥农学利用率、氮肥表观回收率、氮肥偏生产力和氮素吸收效率。结果表明：1)秸秆还田配施氮肥处理较单施氮肥处理提高了土壤酶活性、氮肥利用效率和小麦产量，小麦产量以秸秆还田配施氮肥240 kg·hm^-2处理最高，较无秸秆还田不施氮处理增产36.92%。2)土壤酶活性均随施氮量的增加呈先上升后下降的趋势，除拔节期脲酶和蔗糖酶以施氮量180 kg·hm^-2时...     

Concentrations of strontium,barium, cadmium,copper, zinc,manganese, chromium,antimony, selenium,and lead in the liver and kidneys of dogs according to age,gender, and the occurrence of chronic kidney disease

This study was conducted to measure the concentrations of strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), antimony (Sb), selenium (Se), and lead (Pb) in canine liver, renal cortex, and renal medulla, and the association of these concentrations with age, gender, and occurrence of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Tissues from 50 dogs were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Cu, Zn, and Mn levels were highest in the liver followed by the renal cortex and renal medulla. The highest Sr, Cd, and Se concentrations were measured in the renal cortex while lower levels were found in the renal medulla and liver. Female dogs had higher tissue concentrations of Sr (liver and renal medulla), Cd (liver), Zn (liver and renal cortex), Cr (liver, renal cortex, and renal medulla), and Pb (liver) than male animals. Except for Mn and Sb, age-dependent variations were observed for all element concentrations in the canine tissues. Hepatic Cd and Cr concentrations were higher in dogs with CKD. In conclusion, the present results provide new knowledge about the storage of specific elements in canine liver and kidneys, and can be considered important reference data for diagnostic methods and further investigations.     

Antibacterial action of combinations of oxytetracycline, dimethyl sulfoxide, and EDTA-tromethamine on Proteus, Salmonella, and Aeromonas

Antibacterial effects against Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella typhimurium, and Aeromonas hydrophila were obtained with subminimal inhibitory concentrations of oxytetracycline and EDTA-tromethamine. Antibacterial effects were not observed with subminimal inhibitory concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide plus oxytetracycline or with dimethyl sulfoxide plus EDTA-tromethamine. Using a 2-dimensional Microtiter checkerboard technique, inhibitory activities of the various combinations of solutions were studied, and isobolograms were plotted. A synergistic effect was seen with combinations of oxytetracycline and EDTA-tromethamine. The greatest synergistic effect was observed when the mixture was caused to react with P mirabilis. These findings were confirmed by kinetic studies of microbial death, using one-fourth minimal inhibitory concentrations of these preparations.     

Comparative cardiovascular, analgesic, and sedative effects of medetomidine, medetomidine-hydromorphone, and medetomidine-butorphanol in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To compare sedative, analgesic, and cardiopulmonary effects after IV administration of medetomidine (20 microg/kg), medetomidine-hydromorphone (20 microg of medetomidine/kg and 0.1 mg of hydromorphone/kg), and medetomidine-butorphanol (20 microg of medetomidine/kg and 0.2 mg of butorphanol tartrate/kg) in dogs. ANIMALS: 6 dogs healthy mixed-breed dogs. PROCEDURE: Instruments were surgically inserted, and heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), systolic arterial pressure (SAP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), central venous pressure (CVP), core body temperature, and cardiac output (CO) were measured 0, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes after injection. Cardiac index (CI), stroke volume (SV), stroke index (SI), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) were calculated. Arterial samples for blood gas analysis were collected 0, 15, and 45 minutes after injection. Intensity of analgesia, degree of sedation, and degree of muscle relaxation were evaluated at aforementioned time points and 75, 90, 120, 150, 180, and 210 minutes after injection. RESULTS: Administration of medetomidine, medetomidine-hydromorphone, and medetomidine-butorphanol was associated with increases in SAP, MAP, DAP, MPAP, PCWP, CVP, SVR, PVR, core body temperature, and PaCO2 and decreases in HR, CO, CI, SV, SI, RR, pH, and PaO2. Clinically important differences were not detected among treatments. Medetomidine-hydromorphone and medetomidine-butorphanol provided a longer duration of sedation and better quality of analgesia, compared with medetomidine alone. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Medetomidine-hydromorphone or medetomidine-butorphanol is associated with improved analgesia and sedation but has cardiopulmonary effects comparable to those for medetomidine alone.     

Toxicology of selected pesticides, drugs, and chemicals. Anticoagulant, cholecalciferol, and bromethalin-based rodenticides

The control of rodent pests is a continuing goal of mankind. To this end, a multitude of rodenticides have been produced, each designed to kill rodents by exerting their toxic effects on various body systems. As examples, veterinarians have had to manage companion animal poisonings due to anticoagulant, sodium fluoroacetate (compound 1080), thallium, barium carbonate, and zinc phosphide-based rodenticides. Many of these rodenticides were introduced because of their anticipated safety in relation to nontarget species; unfortunately, this has not been the case. Veterinarians must attempt to identify the specific rodenticide involved in poisoning cases. Therapeutic success in these poisonings is often more dependent upon symptomatic and supportive care rather than the use of antidotal therapy.     

Comparisons of Angus, Charolais, Galloway, Hereford, Longhorn, Nellore, Piedmontese, Salers, and Shorthorn breeds for weight, weight adjusted for condition score, height, and condition score of cows

Breed differences for weight (CW), height (CH), and condition score (CS) were estimated from records (n = 12,188) of 2- to 6-yr-old cows (n = 744) from Cycle IV of the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center's Germplasm Evaluation (GPE) Program. Cows were produced from mating Angus and Hereford dams to Angus, Hereford, Charolais, Shorthorn, Galloway, Longhorn, Nellore, Piedmontese, and Salers sires. Samples of Angus and Hereford sires were 1) reference sires born from 1962 through 1970 and 2) 1980s sires born in 1980 through 1987. The mixed model included cow age, season of measurement and their interactions, year of birth, pregnancy-lactation code (PL), and breedgroup as fixed effects for CW and CS. Analyses of weight adjusted for condition score included CS as a linear covariate. The model for CH excluded PL. Random effects were additive genetic and permanent environmental effects associated with the cow. Differences among breed groups were significant (P < 0.05) for all traits and were maintained through maturity with few interchanges in ranking. The order of F1 cows for weight was as follows: Charolais (506 to 635 kg for different ages), Shorthorn and Salers, reciprocal Hereford-Angus (HA) with 1980s sires, Nellore, HA with reference sires, Galloway, Piedmontese, and Longhorn (412 to 525 kg for different ages). Order for height was as follows: Nellore (136 to 140 cm), Charolais, Shorthorn, Salers, HA with 1980s sires, Piedmontese, Longhorn, Galloway and HA with reference sires (126 to 128 cm). Hereford and Angus cows with reference sires were generally lighter than those with 1980s sires. In general, breed differences for height followed those for weight except that F1 Nellore cows were tallest, which may in part be due to Bos taurus-Bos indicus heterosis for size.     

Genetic parameters among weight, prolificacy, and wool traits of Columbia, Polypay, Rambouillet, and Targhee sheep

Genetic parameters for Columbia, Polypay, Rambouillet, and Targhee sheep were estimated using REML with animal models for prolificacy, weight, and wool traits. All bivariate analyses included a covariance between additive genetic effects for the two traits plus appropriate additional covariances. Number of observations by breed ranged from 5,140 to 7,095 for prolificacy traits, from 7,750 to 9,530 for weight traits, and from 4,603 to 34,746 for wool traits. Heritability estimates ranged from .03 to .11 for prolificacy traits (litter size at birth and litter size at weaning), from .09 to .26 for weight traits (birth weight and average daily gain), and from .25 to .53 for wool traits (fleece weight, fleece grade and staple length). Estimates of direct genetic correlations among prolificacy and among weight traits were positive and ranged from .58 to 1.00 and .18 to 1.00, respectively. Estimates of direct genetic correlation between fleece weight and staple length were positive (.50 to .70) but were negative between fleece weight and fleece grade (-.60 to -.34) and between staple length and fleece grade (-.72 and -.40). Prolificacy and wool traits were essentially uncorrelated. Weight and prolificacy traits were slightly positively correlated. Weight traits had a moderate positive direct genetic correlation with fleece weight and staple length, but were uncorrelated with fleece grade. These estimates of genetic parameters between prolificacy, weight, and wool traits can be used to construct multiple-trait selection indexes for dual-purpose sheep.     

Echocardiography, electrocardiography, and radiography of cats with dilatation cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and hyperthyroidism

The echocardiographic, ECG, and radiographic findings of sequentially examined cats with dilatation cardiomyopathy (DCM, n = 7), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM, n = 8), and hyperthyroidism (HT, n = 20) were compared with those of healthy control cats (n = 11). Cats with DCM were easily differentiated from healthy cats by echocardiography and from cats with HCM and HT by a dilated left ventricle at end-diastole with a mean +/- SD of 2.20 +/- 0.36 cm, reduced fractional shortening (2.9% +/- 3.7%), reduced aortic amplitude (0.07 +/- 0.05 cm), reduced left ventricular wall amplitude (0.09 +/- 0.09 cm), and increased E-point septal separation (0.83 +/- 0.29 cm). The cats with HCM were most consistently recognized echocardiographically by increased left ventricular wall thickness at end-diastole (0.75 +/- 0.12 cm). Some cats with HT had abnormal echocardiograms with left ventricular wall hypertrophy. These cats could usually be differentiated from the cats with HCM because of normal or increased ventricular wall amplitude, aortic amplitude, or percentage of thickening of the left ventricular wall and interventricular septum. Left atrial enlargement (left atrial diameter greater than 1.57 cm or left atrium/aorta greater than 1.75) was commonly detected by the echocardiogram in cats with DCM, HCM, or HT. The echocardiogram was helpful in differentiating the type of cardiomyopathy (DCM, HCM, or HT) when plain thoracic radiographs indicated that cardiomegaly existed. The ECG may have indicated incorrectly that there was left ventricular enlargement in some cats with HT, and it did not indicate consistently that left ventricular enlargement existed when present in cats with DCM or HCM. The ECG was a poor indicator of left atrial enlargement in all cats.