An Epidemiological Study on Orodental Disorders in 3,791 Working Donkeys in Egypt: Prevalence and Risk Factors

Orodental disorders are common in equidae and can lead to serious clinical complications. This study determines the prevalence rate (PR) of orodental disorders in working donkeys in Egypt and their potential risk factors. During 4 years, 3,791 donkeys were examined in six Egyptian governorates. Full case history and thorough clinical and oral examinations were performed. Radiography and oroendoscopy were undertaken whenever possible. All data were statistically analyzed using Poisson generalized linear models to compare PR among governorates, sex, years, body condition score, and age groups and to determine the potential risk factors. Of 3,791 examined donkeys, 954 donkeys (25.17%) had orodental disorders. The PRs of acquired disorders were 9.81% sharp enamel points, 5.86% buccal ulcers, 4.88% hook, 4.70% overgrown teeth, 4.19% periodontal disease, 3.11% ramp, 2.60% dental caries, 2.37% dental calculus, 2.30% diastema, 2.06% step mouth, 2.00% soft tissue injuries other than buccal ulcers, 1.77% worn tooth, 1.37% loose tooth, 1.29% exaggerated transverse ridge, 1.24% fractured teeth, 0.82% missing teeth, 0.69% wave mouth, 0.50% molar table angle change, and 0.45% wolf tooth overgrowth. The PRs of the congenital disorders were 1.90% displaced teeth, 1.37% deviated teeth, 0.58% retained teeth, 0.16% overbite, 0.16% underbite, 0.11% supernumerary teeth, and 0.11% premolar cap. The risk factors significantly associated (P < .05) with the orodental disorders were age and sex of the animal, geographic location, and year of examination. This study provides a database for future studies on orodental disorders and for designing effective preventive and therapeutic strategies for these disorders in donkeys.     

Common dental disorders in the donkey

Normal dental anatomy and the range of dental disorders found in donkeys are largely similar to those described in horses. Recent studies have shown dental disease to have a high prevalence in donkeys. Some dental disorders, such as diastemata, displaced teeth and wave mouth can have serious clinical consequences by causing oral pain and weight loss and even predispose to colic. Many of these signs can be prevented by regular dental treatment that can slow down or even prevent the progression of these disorders.     

Risk factors to tick infestations and their occurrence on horses in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

From December 1998 to March 1999, 40 stud farms were studied in the state of S?o Paulo, Brazil. During visits to farms, horses reared under grazing conditions were examined for the presence of ticks. On each farm visit, horse pastures were closely inspected and a questionnaire was given to the farm supervisor with the purpose of gaining information about ecological and management variables (independent variables) that could be associated with the presence and infestation levels of ticks on the farm (dependent variables). Three tick species were found during the study. Anocentor nitens, Amblyomma cajennense and Boophilus microplus were present on horses from 38 (95%), 20 (50%) and four (10%) farms, respectively. All farms that had A. cajennense or B. microplus infestations also had A. nitens infestations. Only one of the four farms with B. microplus infestations on the horses also had A. cajennense infestations. Two farms had all horses free of ticks. There was a strong association between the presence of infestation by B. microplus on horses and the simultaneous use of a grazing area by cattle and horses (P = 0.000). There was no statistical association between any of the independent variables and the presence or infestation level of A. nitens on the horses (P > 0.20). The presence of A. cajennense was statistically associated with the presence of at least one mixed overgrowth pasture in the farm (P = 0.001). A mixed overgrowth pasture means the presence of undesired plants such as bushes and shrubs in the pasture. The presence of high levels of A. cajennense on horses was also associated with the presence of at least one mixed overgrowth pasture in the farm (P = 0.026). The regular use of acaricides was statistically associated with the presence of ticks on the horses (P < 0.05), making this procedure a result of the inefficacy of controlling ticks on the farms. The occurrence of human infestation by ticks was statistically associated with the presence of A. cajennense on the horses (P=0.000). The presence of at least one mixed overgrowth pasture on the farm was associated (P = 0.000) to either higher horse densities and to farms that did not mow all the pastures once a year, indicating that mowing all the pastures at least once a year can be considered a protective factor against the presence of mixed overgrowth pastures on the farm, and consequently, against the presence of A. cajennense on the horses.     

放牧对家畜及畜产品的影响

家畜放牧饲养符合草食家畜的生活习性,家禽能在开阔的草地上采食和自由活动,可以充分利用各种自然资源,有助于家禽增强体质和抗病力,有利于生产安全、营养、保健的畜产品.笔者基于目前放牧家畜的现状,简单评述了放牧对家畜及畜产品的影响.     

Ideal Free Distributions of Mobile Pastoralists in Multiple Seasonal Grazing Areas

The pastoral system in the Far North Region of Cameroon is best described as an open system in which mobile pastoralists have open access to common-pool grazing resources. We hypothesized that there is a self-organizing management system of open access to common-pool grazing resources and predicted that we would find an Ideal Free Distribution (IFD) of mobile pastoralists within seasonal grazing areas. In this paper we used mobility data and remote sensing data from two seasonal grazing areas at the end of the dry season in three consecutive years to evaluate that hypothesis. We found evidence of an IFD in the two seasonal grazing areas of the Logone Floodplain and the Lake Maga area. These findings offer further support for our hypothesis that there is a complex adaptive system in which pastoralists distribute themselves effectively over available grazing resources.     

The effect of extended grazing time and supplementary forage on the dry matter intake and foraging behaviour of cattle kept under traditional African grazing systems

An experiment was carried out at Alemaya University in Ethiopia to investigate the effect of night kraaling on the dry matter intake (DMI), live weight gain (LWG) and foraging behaviour of Ogaden cattle. Three groups of four animals were given either 7 h access to pasture per day, simulating traditional grazing (TG) practice; extended grazing (EG) access for 11 h per day; or traditional grazing access plus a nocturnal forage supplement (TF). Live weight gain, DMI and foraging behaviour were measured during the late dry season (EP1) and the wet season (EP2). None of the treatments had any significant effect on either DMI or LWG during EP1 or EP2. Extending pasture access time from 7 h to 11 h did not significantly increase the amount time spent grazing, but grazing intensity was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced during the non-common grazing hours. Step rate was significantly lower (p < 0.01) during EP2 than during EP1 and bites per step were significantly higher (p < 0.001) during EP2 than EP1, indicating that animals had to travel a shorter distance before selecting material to eat during the wet season (EP2). Providing supplementary forage (TF) had no significant effect on any measured parameter. In this study neither of the two low-cost methods (EG and TF) of improving access to forage had any beneficial effect on cattle productivity. It is concluded that, under the prevailing conditions, the traditional grazing practices of this part of Ethiopia do provide sufficient pasture access time to achieve daily voluntary food intake.     

An outbreak of contagious pustular dermatitis associated with Dermatophilus congolensis infection

Extract

Professional opinion was sought by a Taupo district farmer when he noticed what he took to be advanced cases of scabby mouth amongst one group of 3- to 4-month-old Romney lambs. These affected animals, and other groups of clinically normal lambs, had a 1 been “inoculated” with scab-by mouth vaccine by the farmer, at docking time 11 weeks previously. Most grazing on the farm was improved and in good condition after a wet and warm spring. Only the affected group of lambs and their ewes had been grazing on an unusually fibrous pasture.     

A study of sub-occlusal secondary dentine thickness in overgrown equine cheek teeth

The presence of cheek tooth loss or defects, with subsequent overgrowth of the opposing teeth, is common in horses. Little is known about the factors that control the deposition of sub-occlusal secondary dentine (SO2D) in normal equine teeth, but these are likely to include stimulation of the occlusal surface. There appears to be no information on the possible alterations to this process when teeth develop overgrowths and, consequently, of the net effect on SO2D thickness caused by reduced stimulation of the occlusal surface and of absent/reduced normal occlusal wear (attrition). Knowledge of the likely thickness of SO2D in overgrown teeth may help reduce the risks of pulp horn exposure or thermal damage during therapeutic reduction of overgrowths. This study utilised 24 permanent cheek teeth (CT) with overgrowths (mean overgrowth height: 9.5 mm; range, 3.4-17.9 mm), and 18 control CT obtained from 15 horses of different breeds and ages. The thickness of SO2D was measured above 94 matched pulp horns in control and overgrown CT and showed a mean value of 12.14 mm (range 1.87-36.02 mm) in overgrown teeth and of 10.25 mm (range 2.64-17.26 mm) in controls. There was no significant difference between SO2D thickness in overgrown (mean 11.38 mm) and control (11.41 mm) mandibular CT, but SO2D was significantly thicker in overgrown (mean 12.57 mm) as compared to control maxillary (9.41 mm) CT. A comparison of SO2D thickness above the 94 matched pulp horns in overgrown and control teeth showed that 49% (46/94) of pulps in overgrown teeth had less SO2D overlying them than had control teeth. Of major clinical relevance was that the height of dental overgrowths was greater than SO2D thickness over one or more pulp horns in 14/24 overgrown teeth. Consequently, reduction of these overgrown teeth to the level of adjacent normal-height teeth would cause occlusal pulp exposure in 58% of teeth, in addition to possible thermal damage to additional pulp horns. It was concluded that equine CT overgrowths should be gradually reduced, by a few millimetres at a time, over a prolonged period.     

The effect of grazing on cow mortality in Danish dairy herds

The effect of summer grazing in large Danish dairy herds and certain management characteristics of grazing were studied for their impact on dairy cow mortality. Mortality data (from the Danish Cattle Database) from 391 Danish dairy herds (>100 cows) were combined with information from a questionnaire survey of grazing procedures on these herds in 2008. In all, 131 of the herds were identified as summer grazing and 260 as zero-grazing herds. The mortality was affected by an interaction of summer grazing and milking system. The risk of a cow dying was reduced to 46% in a grazing compared to a zero-grazing herd having automatic milking system. In traditional milking system, mortality was reduced to 75% in grazing compared to zero-grazing herds. Within the grazing herds, the risk of mortality decreased with increasing number of hours on pasture during the season. Free access between barn and pasture was associated with increased cow mortality.     

Offstream water and trace mineral salt as management strategies for improved cattle distribution

The objective of this study was to test the combined effect of offstream water and trace mineral salt on cattle distribution in a riparian meadow and its adjacent uplands. From July 15 to August 26, 1996 and 1997, three treatments were each randomly assigned to one pasture in each of three blocks. Sixty cow/calf pairs were then randomly allotted to the grazed pastures. The treatments included 1) stream access and access to offstream water and trace-mineral salt (off-stream), 2) stream access and no access to offstream water or trace-mineral salt (no-offstream), and 3) ungrazed control. The response of cattle was measured through visual observations of cattle distribution, grazing activity and travel distance, cow/calf performance, and fecal deposit distribution. Distribution patterns of the cattle, measured as the distance of cattle from the stream, was characterized by a time of day x treatment x time in grazing period x year interaction (P < 0.05). No-offstream cattle began the day further from the stream than offstream cattle but consistently moved closer to the stream after the morning grazing period (0600 to 0900). Differences in distribution patterns between the two treatments were more pronounced early in the grazing period than late in the grazing period. Grazing activity, fecal deposit distribution, and travel distance of cattle were not affected by the presence of offstream water and trace-mineral salt. Cows and calves with offstream water and trace-mineral salt gained 11.5 kg and 0.14 kg/d more, respectively, than no-offstream cows and calves averaged across years (P < 0.05). Overall, cattle distribution patterns and cow/calf performance were influenced by the presence of offstream water and trace-mineral salt. Changes in distribution were most pronounced early in the grazing season.     

Oral endoscopy as an aid to diagnosis of equine cheek tooth infections in the absence of gross oral pathological changes: 17 cases

Reasons for performing study: Removal of cheek teeth in all but the aged horse or pony is a serious undertaking with potentially deleterious sequellae. Rigid endoscopy permits detailed examination of the oral cavity and erupted dental tissues and has the potential to assist in the correct identification of the diseased tooth. Objectives: To document oral endoscopic findings associated with infected equine cheek teeth in cases without gross oral pathological changes and thereby determine the usefulness of rigid oral endoscopy as an aid to diagnosis of such infections. Methods: Records of all cases of equine cheek tooth removal attempted under standing sedation over a 38 month period were examined. Cases were excluded from the study if apical infection was associated with gross dental fracture, malalignment, diastema/periodontal pocketing or supernumerary teeth. Endoscopic and radiographic findings were analysed and correlated to diseased tooth location. Results: Seventeen cases of apical dental infection fitting the inclusion criteria (nonresponsive to antibiotics and with no gross oral abnormality of the affected arcade) were identified in which oral endoscopy was used as an aid to diagnosis. In 15 (88%) of the 17 cases, oral endoscopy revealed abnormalities specific to the infected tooth. Focal gingival recession (10/17 cases) was the most common visible abnormality associated with infected teeth. Conclusions: In the majority of cases of apical infection of equine cheek teeth there is visible intraoral evidence implicating the affected tooth. Potential relevance: Oral endoscopy facilitates detailed examination of the mouth and should be considered along with radiography as an important aid to diagnosis in cases of equine dental infection.     

Restricting access time at pasture and time of grazing allocation for Holstein dairy cows: Ingestive behaviour,dry matter intake and milk production

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of restricting access time to pasture and time of grazing allocation on grazing behaviour, daily dry matter intake (DMI), rumen fermentation, milk production and composition in dairy cows. Twenty-one autumn-calving Holstein cows were assigned to one of the following 3 treatments: providing access to a daily strip of pasture for either 8 h between 07:00 and 15:00 h (T7–15), 4 h between 07:00 and 11:00 h (T7–11), or 4 h between 11:00 and 15:00 h (T11–15). The experimental period consisted of 3 weeks of adaptation and 6 weeks of measurements. Cows were offered a daily herbage allowance of 18 kg DM/cow to ground level, 6.1 kg DM/day of a ground sorghum grain-based supplement and 5.2 kg DM/day of maize silage. Milk yield was greater for cows with 8 h access time to the pasture (25.4 vs. 24.1 for 8 and 4 h access time, respectively). Milk yield was not different between cows that access early (T7–11) or late (T11–15) to the grazing session. Milk protein yield was greater for cows with 8 h access time (0.75 kg/d) vs. 4 h access time treatments (0.72 kg/d). Cows with late access time to grazing in the morning produce more protein (0.74 kg/d) than cows with early access to the pasture (0.70 kg/d). Duration of access had a significant effect on herbage DMI (8.3 vs. 6.6 kg/d, for 8 and 4 h access, respectively), but there was no significant effect of time of grazing allocation. Intakes of concentrate and maize silage DM did not differ between treatments.     

放牧家畜养分消化率的测定

放牧家畜养分消化率反映牧草供给量和营养品质、家畜的健康状况以及生产性能等，是草原管理的关键指标之一。放牧家畜养分消化率的测定方法主要有直接测定和间接估测两种，直接法包括全收粪法、指示剂法、近红外光谱法（NIRS）等，间接法主要有体内或体外发酵法、牧草品质和气候等预测法。全收粪法是较精确的测定方法，然而耗时、费力，对家畜放牧行为有较大影响，难以体现牧场饲草供给的空间异质性；指示剂法根据不溶物的回收比例估测养分消化率，对家畜放牧行为干扰较小，指示剂不易收集，也不适于野性较高的放牧动物；NIRS法效率高、劳动强度低、成本小、不影响家畜，能够大尺度地估测放牧家畜的养分消化率，需要大量的实测数据完善预测模型；气候估测法快捷、省时，精确性较差，适于大时空尺度。放牧家畜的养分消化率与家畜、草地、放牧方法、温度、降水等生物因子，环境因子和社会因子密切相关，与遥感、无人机（UAV）和人工智能等结合，可以准确、快速地测定放牧家畜养分消化率，为草地生态修复与健康管理提供支撑。     

Diseases and outcomes in rabbits with high BUN levels

One hundred and ninety cases of rabbits, seen at animal hospitals in Saitama and Tokyo, Japan from 1998 to 2001, with BUN values greater than 27 mg/dl were analyzed regarding their underlying and/or complicating diseases and outcomes. Gastrointestinal disorder (54 cases) was the most common disease, followed by overgrowth of molar teeth and then liver disturbance. The total mortality was 48.9% within three months, and cases showing complications such as liver disturbance or bacterial infection showed highest mortality. Cases with higher BUN values showed even higher mortality, although mortality varied depending on the complications. Therefore, the prognosis of rabbit cases with high BUN values should be evaluated based on findings from blood chemistry, together with the seriousness of the underlying and/or complicating disease.     

Clinical findings and treatment of shear mouth in two horses associated with ipsilateral painful dental disease

Shear mouth is a rare and poorly described dental condition observed in horses. This report outlines 2 cases of unilateral shear mouth with ipsilateral painful dental disease. Both cases are young horses diagnosed with idiopathic 409 cheek tooth fractures associated with shear angles on the 100 and 400 cheek teeth rows. Corrective odontoplasty was performed in both cases to correct the cheek tooth occlusal surface angle following exodontia of the diseased molars.     

A method for the measurement of the gingival sulcus of sheep.

A method for measuring and comparing the depths of the gingival sulcus of sheep in the incisor region at necropsy is described. The method was devised to assess and compare dental health in groups of sheep with and without premature loss of incisor teeth (broken mouth). The technique involves the use of paper spills in combination with dental plaster models.     

放牧强度对半干旱草地优势植物赖草功能性状的影响

放牧是草原生态系统中草地利用的主要方式，研究草地植物功能性状对长期放牧干扰的响应策略具有重要意义。本文以晋北农牧交错带半干旱草地为例，研究优势植物赖草(Leymus secalinus)功能性状在不同放牧强度下的变化，结果表明：放牧显著降低了赖草株高等形态结构性状以及茎叶比等生产力性状(P<0.05)，中度放牧与不放牧的差异最小；整株干重(地上部分)的变异系数(52.92%)和可塑性指数(93.17%)最大；生产力性状、光合生理性状和化学计量3类性状内部指标之间的相关性均为极显著正相关(P<0.01)；茎氮磷比等性状是赖草响应放牧干扰的主要功能性状。本研究表明，中度放牧下，赖草具有补偿性生长的能力，矮化型变特征和非对称性响应机制是赖草在放牧干扰下的主要适应方式。     

划区轮牧与草地可持续性利用的研究进展

划区轮牧是一种充分利用饲草生长旺季而进行的集约、区块式放牧管理系统。本文总结了近年来国内外轮牧制度的发展现状,概括了划区轮牧的优势包括:提高草地生态系统的功能性、草地生产力;降低草食动物肠胃线虫感染率;分析了其与传统连续放牧相比所具有的局限性。进一步从放牧类型的延展、放牧策略的改进、人为因素的投入、生态模型研究等多角度综合考究,提出综合协调生物因素与环境、平衡生态与经济以及优化牧企合作现状的轮牧策略,以期为轮牧对于生态恢复和草地可持续性利用的生产实践应用提供科学依据和优化管理的决策参考。     

Land Manager Perceptions of Opportunities and Constraints of Using Livestock to Manage Invasive Plants

The ecological impacts of rangeland invasive plants have been widely documented, but the social aspects of how managers perceive their impacts and options for control have been relatively understudied, and successful, long-term invasive plant management programs are limited. In particular, though a growing body of research has identified livestock grazing as the most practical and economical tool for controlling invasive rangeland plants, to date there has not been a systematic assessment of the challenges and opportunities producers and other land managers see as most important when considering using livestock to manage invasive plants. In-depth, semistructured interviews with California annual grass and hardwood rangeland ranchers, public agency personnel, and nongovernmental organization land managers were used to address this need. Although interviewees broadly agreed that grazing could be an effective management tool, differences emerged among the three groups in how they prioritized invasive plant control, the amount of resources devoted to control, and the grazing strategies employed. Interviewees identified key challenges that hinder broad-scale adoption of control efforts, including the potential incompatibility of invasive plant management and livestock production; a lack of secure, long-term access to land for many ranchers; incomplete or insufficient information, such as the location or extent of infestations or the economic impacts to operations of invasive plants; and the temporal and spatial variability of the ecosystem. By identifying key socioecological drivers that influence the degree to which livestock are used to manage invasive plants, this study was able to identify potential pathways to move our growing understanding of the science of targeted grazing into practice. Research, extension, and grazing programs that address these barriers should help increase the extent to which we can effectively use livestock to slow and perhaps reverse the spread of some of our most serious rangeland weeds.     

Effect of Restricted Pasture Access on Pasture Dry Matter Intake Rate,Dietary Energy Intake,and Fecal pH in Horses

Eight mature horses were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to determine the effect of restricted pasture access on dry matter intake rate (DMIR), energy intake, and fecal pH. Horses were randomly assigned to one of four groups (HGRPs), each containing two horses. HGRPs were randomly assigned to one of four treatments consisting of 3, 6, 9, or 24 hours of pasture access, for a period of 7 days. Treatments were switched every 7 days. The 3- and 6-hour groups were fed free choice mature grass hay while not grazing. Daily pasture dry matter intake (DMI) for each HGRP was estimated by calculating the difference between initial herbage mass of the grazing cell before grazing and residual herbage mass after 7 days of grazing. Total dry matter intake was the sum of pasture and hay DMI for the 3- and 6-hour treatments. Fecal pH was measured on day 7 of each period. Response variables were analyzed using analysis of variance for Latin square design. Restricting pasture access decreased mean pasture DMI (P = .02), pasture dietary energy (DE) (P = .02), and fecal pH (P < .001), but increased DMIR (P = .02). Mean total dry matter intake was not different (P = .16) among treatments. In conclusion, restricting pasture access accelerates pasture DMIR and decreases fecal pH, and although restricting pasture access decreases DE intake from pasture, it did not result in a decrease in total DE intake for horses having ad libitum access to hay.