Trainers and chokers. How dog trainers affect behavior problems in dogs

Veterinarians will benefit from carefully selecting a dog trainer to assist clients. Poorly qualified and poorly selected dog trainers can increase problems for the practitioner. Methods of assessing a dog trainer's skills and value to the practitioner are outlined.     

Relation between stockperson behavior toward cows in a holding area and milk yields

To assess the effects of negative and positive behaviors on milk yields, this study examined the attitudes and behaviors of stockpersons toward their cows and milk yields at a farm where 15 workers milked 67 cows as rotating shift work. At a holding area when moving cows to the parlor, stockperson behaviors were observed at 34 milkings. Behaviors were classified as negative (NEG) or positive (POS): NEG were attempts to move cows using touching (NT), vocalization (NV), and gestures (NG); POS were communications without attempting to move cows, consisting of touch (PT) or vocalization (PV). Numbers of NV and NEG were negatively correlated with milk yields of first parity (p < .05). Average milk yields of first parity and all cows were higher when PT were observed (p < .001, p < .0001) and POS were observed (p < .001 and p < .0001). Numbers of PT were positively correlated with milk yields of first parity (p < .05). Average milk yields of second parity were higher when PV was observed (p < .01). Positive behaviors, especially touching, are related to higher herd milk yields. Negative behaviors such as negative vocalizations are related to lower yields of younger cows.     

The spatial distribution and breeding behavior of neighbors affect the reproductive success of tits

The spatial distribution and breeding behavior of neighboring birds(conspecific and heterospecific)may influ-ence reproduction and the effects differ across spe...     

影响种蛋孵化率的因素及应对措施

雏禽孵化在现代化养禽生产中占有十分重要的地位。欲获得健康合格的雏禽和取得良好的经济效益，必须加强对种禽、种蛋和孵化环节的管理。１影响种蛋孵化率的因素１．１种禽因素刚开产种禽所产种蛋孵化率较低，头２周一般只有５０％左右。从开产到产蛋高峰期，种蛋孵化率逐渐升高，开产后约１０周达到最高峰，可达９０％～９５％。随着禽龄增加，蛋形会变大，种禽对钙、磷的沉积能力较差，种蛋孵化率逐渐降低。以种鸡为例，一般以开产后７～３５周所集种蛋质量最好，孵化率最高。１．２饲料营养饲料的营养成分可影响种蛋的孵化率。饲料中蛋白…     

牛常见病毒性疾病及其防控方法

<正>牛病毒性疾病是牛养殖业中的常见病,由病毒引起的病毒性疾病具有传播速度快、流行范围广、传播途径多和发病率高等特点,可给牛养殖业带来较大的危害。为此,应明确牛病毒性疾病的发病原因和临床症状,并进行科学诊断,为之后的防控提供依据。     

影响畜产品安全性的因素及其对策

随着世界工业化进程的加速，环境中的有毒有害物质越来越多，对人类的食品安全构成了严重威胁。近几年，世界先后发生了诸多有关食品卫生的事件，如英国的“疯牛病”，香港”的“禽流感”，欧洲的“二恶英”以及我国一些省区出现的“瘦肉精”等食品卫生安全问题，引起了国际社会的广泛关注和高度重视，各国均采取了相应的对策强化监督管理。     

Flushing and altrenogest affect litter traits in gilts

Gilts (n = 267) were allotted to flushing (1.55 kg/d additional grain sorghum), altrenogest (15 mg.gilt-1.d-1) and control treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Altrenogest was fed for 14 d. Flushing began on d 9 of the altrenogest treatment and continued until first observed estrus; 209 gilts (78%) were detected in estrus. The interval from the last day of altrenogest feeding to estrus was shorter (P less than .05) with the altrenogest + flushing treatment (6.6 +/- .2 d) than with flushing alone (7.6 + .3 d). Ovulation rates (no. of corpora lutea) were higher (P less than .05) in all flushed gilts (14.5 +/- .4 vs 13.4 +/- .4), whether or not they received altrenogest. Flushing also increased the total number of pigs farrowed (.9 pigs/litter; P = .06) and total litter weight (1.43 kg/litter; P = .01), independent of altrenogest treatment. Number of pigs born alive and weight of live pigs were higher for gilts treated with altrenogest + flushing and inseminated at their pubertal estrus than for gilts in all other treatment combinations. In contrast, gilts receiving only altrenogest had greater live litter weight and more live pigs born when inseminated at a postpubertal estrus than when inseminated at pubertal estrus. We conclude that flushing increased litter size and litter weight, particularly for gilts that were inseminated at their pubertal estrus. Increased litter size resulted from increased ovulation rates, which, in nonflushed gilts, limited litter size at first farrowing.     

Dietary zinc concentration and lipopolysaccharide injection affect circulating trace minerals,acute phase protein response,and behavior as evaluated by an ear-tag–based accelerometer in beef steers

To assess plasma trace mineral (TM) concentrations, the acute phase protein response, and behavior in response to a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge, 96 Angus cross steers (average initial body weight [BW]: 285 ± 14.4 kg) were sorted into two groups by BW (heavy and light; n = 48/group), fitted with an ear-tag–based accelerometer (CowManager SensOor; Agis, Harmelen, Netherlands), and stagger started 14 d apart. Consecutive day BW was recorded to start the 24-d trial (days −1 and 0). Dietary treatments began on day 0: common diet with either 30 (Zn30) or 100 (Zn100) mg supplemental Zn/kg DM (ZnSO₄). On day 17, steers received one of the following injection treatments intravenously to complete the 2 × 3 factorial: 1) SALINE (~2–3 mL of physiological saline), 2) LOWLPS: 0.25 µg LPS/kg BW, or 3) HIGHLPS: 0.375 µg LPS/kg BW. Blood, rectal temperature (RT), and BW were recorded on day 16 (−24 h relative to injection), and BW was used to assign injection treatment. Approximately 6, 24 (day 18), and 48 (day 19) h after treatment, BW, RT, and blood were collected, and final BW recorded on day 24. Data were analyzed in Proc Mixed of SAS with fixed effects of diet, injection, diet × injection; for BW, RT, dry matter intake (DMI), plasma TM, and haptoglobin-repeated measures analysis were used to evaluate effects over time. Area under the curve analysis determined by GraphPad Prism was used for analysis of accelerometer data. Body weight was unaffected by diet or injection (P ≥ 0.16), but there was an injection × time effect for DMI and RT (P < 0.05), where DMI decreased in both LPS treatments on day 16, but recovered by day 17, and RT was increased in LPS treatments 6 h post-injection. Steers receiving LPS spent less time highly active and eating than SALINE (P < 0.01). Steers in HIGHLPS spent lesser time ruminating, followed by LOWLPS and then SALINE (P < 0.001). An injection × time effect (P < 0.001) for plasma Zn showed decreased concentrations within 6 h of injection and remained decreased through 24 h before recovering by 48 h. A tendency for a diet × time effect (P = 0.06) on plasma Zn suggests plasma Zn repletion occurred at a greater rate in Zn100 compared to Zn30. These results suggest that increased supplemental Zn may alter the rate of recovery of Zn status from an acute inflammatory event. Additionally, ear-tag–based accelerometers used in this study were effective at detecting sickness behavior in feedlot steers, and rumination may be more sensitive than other variables.     

Animal behavior and animal welfare

The value of behavioral techniques in assessing animal welfare, and in particular assessing the psychological well being of animals, is reviewed. Using cats and horses as examples, 3 behavioral methods are presented: (1) comparison of behavior patterns and time budgets; (2) choice tests; and (3) operant conditioning. The behaviors of intact and declawed cats were compared in order to determine if declawing led to behavioral problems or to a change in personality. Apparently it did not. The behavior of free ranging horses was compared with that of stabled horses. Using two-choice preference tests, the preference of horses for visual contact with other horses and the preference for bedding were determined. Horses show no significant preference for locations from which they can make visual contact with other horses, but they do prefer bedding, especially when lying down. Horses will perform an operant response in order to obtain light in a darkened barn or heat in an outside shed. These same techniques can be used to answer a variety of questions about an animal's motivation for a particular attribute of its environment.     

CT features of pleural masses and nodules

Pleural space masses and nodules are rarely described on computed tomography (CT) in veterinary medicine and have only been described in patients with neoplasia. Our purpose was to describe the CT findings and diagnoses in seven patients with pleural masses and nodules. Two patients had broad-based, plaque-like pleural masses, both of which were due to neoplasia (primary pleural carcinoma, metastatic thymoma). Two patients had well-defined pleural nodules and nodular pleural thickening, one of which had mesothelial hypertrophy, and another of which had metastatic hemangiosarcoma. Three patients had ill-defined pleural nodules to nodular pleural thickening, one of which had metastatic pulmonary carcinoma, while the other two had bacterial infection with mesothelial proliferation (n = 2), fibrinous pleuritis (n = 1), and severe mediastinal pleuritis/mediastinitis (n = 2). Five of the seven patients had focal, multifocal or diffuse smooth, and/or irregular pleural thickening. Five of seven patients had pleural effusion, and postcontrast CT was useful in several patients for delineating the pleural lesions from the effusion. All patients except one had additional lesions identified on CT besides those in the pleural space. CT is useful in identifying and characterizing pleural space lesions and could be used to guide further diagnostic procedures such as thoracoscopy or exploratory thoracotomy. Both neoplastic and nonneoplastic diseases should be considered in the differential diagnoses for pleural space masses and nodules found on CT.     

豆粕供需关系正从供大于求向平衡方向发展

豆粕自2006年1月高点调整以来,经过了3个多月时间,价格已经回落到2005年11月底的低点附近,虽然目前大豆和豆粕价格仍然疲弱,但种种迹象显示,大豆和豆粕市场已经在朝利多方面发展,一波行情其实正在酝酿之中,具体分析如下.     

Protocol for assessing brain function in fish and the effectiveness of methods used to stun and kill them

A method for the evaluation of brain function in fish has been developed which is based on assessments of self-initiated behaviours, responses to stimulation, and reflexes. These assessments were validated in several freshwater and marine species and applied to evaluate the brain function of fish while they were anaesthetised and while they were being killed by a variety of methods. The results of these investigations were compared with published neurophysiological observations and it is concluded that some of the tests can be used to identify, with reasonable confidence, the state of awareness, and thus the capacity to experience suffering of several species of fish.     

Temperature and mass scaling affect cutaneous and pulmonary respiratory performance in a diving frog

Global climate change is altering patterns of temperature variation, with unpredictable consequences for species and ecosystems. The Metabolic Theory of Ecology (MTE) provides a powerful framework for predicting climate change impacts on ectotherm metabolic performance. MTE postulates that physiological and ecological processes are limited by organism metabolic rates, which scale predictably with body mass and temperature. The purpose of this study was to determine if different metabolic proxies generate different empirical estimates of key MTE model parameters for the aquatic frog Xenopus laevis when allowed to exhibit normal diving behavior. We used a novel methodological approach in combining a flow-through respirometry setup with the open-source Arduino platform to measure mass and temperature effects on 4 different proxies for whole-body metabolism (total O₂ consumption, cutaneous O₂ consumption, pulmonary O₂ consumption, and ventilation frequency), following thermal acclimation to one of 3 temperatures (8°C, 17°C, or 26°C). Different metabolic proxies generated different mass-scaling exponents (b) and activation energy (E_A) estimates, highlighting the importance of metabolic proxy selection when parameterizing MTE-derived models. Animals acclimated to 17°C had higher O₂ consumption across all temperatures, but thermal acclimation did not influence estimates of key MTE parameters E_A and b. Cutaneous respiration generated lower MTE parameters than pulmonary respiration, consistent with temperature and mass constraints on dissolved oxygen availability, SA:V ratios, and diffusion distances across skin. Our results show that the choice of metabolic proxy can have a big impact on empirical estimates for key MTE model parameters.