头骨形态指标鉴别水貂来源有效性的评估

人工驯养野生动物是获取野生动物产品的重要手段,但是非法盗猎的野生动物产品以人工饲养的名义进入市场,就会对野生动物的保护形成挑战。因此,准确鉴别市场上的动物产品是来自养殖场还是野外,是保护野外种群,维持养殖业正常秩序的关键。本研究以北美水貂(Neovison vison)为例,基于颧骨内侧空间(ZAS)、颧宽(ZAA和ZBA)、颅基长(BSL)、下颌长(MDL)、眶后收缩(POC)和最大面部宽度(GFB)等量度,建立了9个头骨形态计量学指标:POC/GFB、POC/BSL、POC/MDL、ZAS SQRT/BSL、ZA SSQRT/MDL、ZBA×BSL/2ZAS、ZBA×MDL/2ZAS、ZBB×BSL/2ZAS和ZBB×MDL/2ZAS。野生组(n=32,9雄23雌)和饲养组(n=45,35雄10雌)的比较表明,除POC/GFB外,所有指标对于在两组样品之间均有显著差异,整体判别正确率为73.2%—85.5%。在性别已知的情况下,雄性的整体正确率为82.4%—93.8%,雌性为41.7%—85.7%。为此,应针对不同性别、不同来源的动物建立相应的参考数据,利用似然比进行鉴别。本研究的结果不仅可用于北美水貂的鉴别,也为其他小型食肉动物的鉴别提供经验。     

Effects of equine chorionic gonadotropin on reproductive performance in anestrous mink.

The incidence of anestrous mink during the normal breeding season has been reported to be as high as 5%. We sought to induce estrus in these mink by using various doses of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Seventy-five female mink maintained under standard ranch conditions failed to demonstrate estrus during the annual breeding season in March. These anestrous mink were randomly assigned to treatment groups. Treatments were given on March 16 and again on March 18. On these 2 d, mink were treated with equal doses of saline, 25, 50, or 100 IU of eCG, or 50 IU of eCG on March 16 and 50 of IU of eCG + 100 IU of hCG on March 18. Females were paired with males beginning on March 22. None of the saline-treated mink mated. In contrast, reproductive performance of the anestrous mink was significantly improved by treatment with eCG. This included proportion of mink breeding (47 to 100%), proportion giving birth (33 to 80%), and average litter size (2.6 to 4.0 kits per whelping female). Reproductive efficiency improved with increasing doses of eCG and was not further improved by addition of hCG. These results demonstrate that eCG has a potential application for treating anestrous mink during the breeding season.     

Effects of temperament and acclimation to handling on reproductive performance of Bos taurus beef females

Two experiments evaluated the effects of temperament and acclimation to handling on reproductive performance of Bos taurus beef females. In Exp. 1, 433 multiparous, lactating Angus × Hereford cows were sampled for blood and evaluated for temperament before the breeding season. Cow temperament was assessed by chute score and exit velocity. Chute score was assessed on a 5-point scale according to behavioral responses during chute restraining. Exit score was calculated by dividing exit velocity into quintiles and assigning cows with a score from 1 to 5 (1 = slowest, 5 = fastest cows). Temperament score was calculated by averaging chute and exit scores. Cows were classified for temperament type according to temperament score (≤ 3 = adequate, > 3 = aggressive). Plasma cortisol concentrations were greater (P < 0.01) in cows with aggressive vs. adequate temperament. Cows with aggressive temperament had reduced (P ≤ 0.05) pregnancy and calving rate and tended to have reduced (P = 0.09) weaning rate compared with cows with adequate temperament. Hence, kilogram of calf born per cow was reduced (P = 0.05) and kilogram of calf weaned per cow tended to be reduced (P = 0.08) in aggressive cows. In Exp. 2, 88 Angus × Hereford heifers (initial age = 206 ± 2 d) were weighed (d 0 and 10) and evaluated for temperament score (d 10). On d 11, heifers were ranked by these variables and assigned to receive or not (control) an acclimation treatment. Acclimated heifers were processed through a handling facility 3 times weekly for 4 wk (d 11 to 39; Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays), whereas control heifers remained undisturbed on pasture. Heifer puberty status, evaluated via plasma progesterone concentrations, was assessed on d 0 and 10, d 40 and 50, 70 and 80, 100 and 110, 130 and 140, 160 and 170, and 190 and 200. Blood samples collected on d 10 and 40 were also analyzed for plasma concentrations of cortisol and haptoglobin. Temperament score was assessed again on d 40 and d 200. Acclimated heifers had reduced (P = 0.01) concentrations of cortisol and haptoglobin on d 40 and reduced (P = 0.02) exit velocity on d 200 compared with control heifers. Puberty was hastened in acclimated heifers compared with control (P = 0.01). Results from this study indicate that B. taurus beef cows with aggressive temperament have impaired reproductive performance compared with cohorts with adequate temperament, whereas acclimation to human handling after weaning hastens reproductive development of replacement heifers.     

Food transit time,nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention in farmed and feral American mink (Neovison vison) – a comparative analysis

The aim of this study was to determine whether farming leads to changes in gastrointestinal function and nitrogen metabolism in farmed mink (FA), as compared with their wild‐living counterparts. Three digestibility and balance trials were carried out. Experiment I was performed in May, and experiments II and III were conducted in September 2011. Farmed mink with the standard coat colour were purchased from a production farm in south‐eastern Poland. Feral mink were harvested using cages in the hunting grounds of the Polish Hunting Association, Branch in Olsztyn. The experimental materials comprised of the following: trial I – adult males (eight animals per group), trial II – young females (six animals per group), trial III–young animals (five males and five females per group). Food transit time was measured during digestibility trials, on 10 consecutive days. The coefficients of nutrient and energy digestibility and daily nitrogen balance values were compared between groups in each experiment. It was found that farming contributed to changes in gastrointestinal function and nitrogen metabolism in mink. Farmed animals were characterized by a longer bowel transit time, a tendency towards higher nutrient digestibility and higher nitrogen retention, which resulted from selection for higher productivity.     

Genetic-statistical analysis of environmental and genetic influences on the outcome of the juvenile and breeding performance tests for behaviour traits in Hovawart dogs

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the importance of genetic and environmental sources of variation for results of behaviour tests recorded at juvenile and breeding performance tests in the Hovawart dog. For these analyses behaviour test results of 1882 (juvenile evaluation), respectively 929 dogs (breeding performance test) born in 1995 to 2000 had been used. Variance component estimation was performed for the traits appearance, play instinct, hunting affinity, group of people, shoot, acoustical and optical influences and temperament using multivariate linear animal models and Residual Maximum Likelihood (REML). The models included test-year-season, sex, litter size, age and inbreeding coefficient of the animal as fixed effects. Additive genetic effects of the animal, permanent environmental effect of the litter and the effect of the kennel were considered as random factors.The sex of the dog was significant for appearance, play instinct, hunting affinity, acoustical and optical influences of juvenile evaluation and for the traits temperament, play instinct, hunting affinity, acoustical and one of the optical influences of breeding performance test.The age of the dog at test significantly influenced the traits play instinct, hunting affinity and acoustical influences of juvenile evaluation and optical influences and hunting affinity of breeding performance test. All traits with exception of hunting affinity and group of people were significantly affected by the test-year-season. The inbreeding coefficient was significant for appearance of juvenile evaluation and play affinity of breeding performance test. The effect litter size did not influence any of the traits significantly.The estimated heritabilities for the behaviour traits of juvenile and breeding performance test ranged from h2 = 0.01 to h2 = 0.13, respectively h2 = 0.01 to h2 = 0.14, with standard errors of up to 0.03. The additive genetic correlations between most of the traits were moderately to highly positive (r(g) = 0.20 to r(g) = 1.0, respectively r(g) = 0.29 to r(g) = 1.0). Negative additive genetic correlations were only found for a few traits of juvenile (r(g) = -0.02 to r(g) = -0.58) and breeding performance test (r(g) = -0.28 to r(g) = -0.83). Progress in breeding for the behaviour traits investigated here may only be meaningful when information from all relatives is used in an animal model instead of selection based on the phenotype of the single animal.     

Associations between response to handling and growth and meat quality in frequently handled Bos taurus beef cattle

Fearful behavioral responses to handling (temperament) are undesirably associated with ADG and meat quality in infrequently handled Bos indicus cattle. It has never been assessed whether these relationships exist in calmer Bos taurus breeds in systems where handling is more frequent. Such systems predominate in some countries where beef production is a major agricultural activity. During fattening, 144 crossbred cattle from Limousin and Aberdeen Angus sires were assessed for temperament using 4 approaches: response to movement along a race (race score; 4 occasions), restraint in a crush (crush score; 4 occasions), flight speed from the crush (flight speed; 4 occasions), and isolation in a pen with a human (isolation score; 1 occasion in yr 1, 2 occasions in yr 2). Measurements of ADG were made between birth and slaughter and between 16 and 18 mo of age during fattening. Fattening occurred indoors on a complete mixed diet fed for ad libitum intake. Meat quality was measured by pH, color, and Volodkevitch shear force and by a sensory panel. The repeatability of temperament traits was 0.17 (race score), 0.35 (crush score), 0.51 (flight speed), and 0.36 (isolation score). The proportion of the total variance of temperament traits attributable to the sire and the social group was low (0.003 to 0.402). However, the sire did affect behavior in all tests apart from the crush score (ranging from P = 0.02 to P < 0.001). Correlations between behavior in the different tests (ranging from r = 0.21 to 0.54, and P = 0.02 to P < 0.001) apart from between-flight speed and isolation score indicate that fearful behavior was consistently shown across assessment methods. A calm response in the crush score test was associated with a greater ADG during fattening (P = 0.05), whereas a calm response during the isolation test was associated with a greater ADG in cold carcass weight (P = 0.02). Animals with a calm isolation score had less tender meat as judged by the sensory panel (P = 0.03), but no other effects were apparent between temperament and meat quality measures, although several tendencies (0.06 ≤ P ≤ 0.10) were found. Temperament did not appear to relate to meat quality in this study of frequently handled Bos taurus genotypes, which is in contrast to other studies using different beef production systems. Genetic correlations between temperament and meat quality under these conditions could, although not measured in this study, still exist in the absence of phenotypic correlations.     

Genetic and phenotypic relationships of feeding behavior and temperament with performance, feed efficiency, ultrasound, and carcass merit of beef cattle

Feeding behavior and temperament may be useful in genetic evaluations either as indicator traits for other economically relevant traits or because the behavior traits may have a direct economic value. We determined the variation in feeding behavior and temperament of beef cattle sired by Angus, Charolais, or Hybrid bulls and evaluated their associations with performance, efficiency, and carcass merit. The behavior traits were daily feeding duration, feeding head down (HD) time, feeding frequency (FF), and flight speed (FS, as a measure of temperament). A pedigree file of 813 animals forming 28 paternal half-sib families with about 20 progeny per sire was used. Performance, feeding behavior, and efficiency records were available on 464 animals of which 381 and 302 had records on carcass merit and flight speed, respectively. Large SE reflect the number of animals used. Direct heritability estimates were 0.28 +/- 0.12 for feeding duration, 0.33 +/- 0.12 for HD, 0.38 +/- 0.13 for FF, and 0.49 +/- 0.18 for FS. Feeding duration had a weak positive genetic (r(g)) correlation with HD (r(g) = 0.25 +/- 0.32) and FS (r(g) = 0.42 +/- 0.26) but a moderate negative genetic correlation with FF (r(g) = -0.40 +/- 0.30). Feeding duration had positive phenotypic (r(p)) and genetic correlations with DMI (r(p) = 0.27; r(g) = 0.56 +/- 0.20) and residual feed intake (RFI; r(p) = 0.49; r(g) = 0.57 +/- 0.28) but was unrelated phenotypically with feed conversion ratio [FCR; which is the reciprocal of the efficiency of growth (G:F)]. Feeding duration was negatively correlated with FCR (r(g) = -0.25 +/- 0.29). Feeding frequency had a moderate to high negative genetic correlation with DMI (r(g) = -0.74 +/- 0.15), FCR (r(g) = -0.52 +/- 0.21), and RFI (r(g) = -0.77 +/- 0.21). Flight speed was negatively correlated phenotypically with DMI (r(p) = -0.35) but was unrelated phenotypically with FCR or RFI. On the other hand, FS had a weak negative genetic correlation with DMI (r(g) = -0.11 +/- 0.26), a moderate genetic correlation with FCR (r(g) = 0.40 +/- 0.26), and a negative genetic correlation with RFI (r(g) = -0.59 +/- 0.45). The results indicate that behavior traits may contribute to the variation in the efficiency of growth of beef cattle, and there are potential correlated responses to selection to improve efficiency. Feeding behavior and temperament may need to be included in the definition of beef cattle breeding goals, and approaches such as the culling of unmanageable cattle and the introduction of correct handling facilities or early life provision of appropriate experiences to improve handling will be useful.     

Influence of age,sex, capture technique,and restraint on hematologic measurements and serum chemistries of wild California sea otters

Hematologic and/or serum chemical analyses were done on a total of 27 non-tranquilized adult and juvenile wild sea otters, 66 tranquilized adult and juvenile wild sea otters, and 26 wild sea otter pups. The median and inner 90 percentile range were determined for the adult, juvenile, and pup groups and for the following subgroups: adult male versus adult female, juvenile male versus juvenile female, pup male versus pup female, captured with dip net versus captured with Wilson trap, and tranquilized adults and juveniles versus non-tranquilized adults and juveniles. When values for adults were compared to values for juveniles and pups, hematocrits, red blood cell counts, and hemoglobin levels were significantly lower in pups. This is consistent with documented findings in other species. White cell counts were also somewhat lower in younger animals. Among the subgroups, significantly higher hemoglobin levels, white cell counts and neutrophil counts were found in adult females than in adult males. This is in direct contrast to what is seen in other mammalian species and warrants further documentation. Method of capture and tranquilization did not appear to influence either hematologic or serum biochemical determinations from a clinical perspective.     

The effects of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin on follicular development, mating and pregnancy in mink

Forty-four female ranch mink, maintained out-of-doors under standard conditions, were exposed to natural photoperiod supplemented with a period of artificial light from approximately 2300 hr to 0300 hr from early January to mid February. Breeding was initiated on March 1. After repeated attempts to breed the animals, it was determined that the likelihood of their breeding was very low, presumably due to the artificial and asynchronous long-day photoperiod. In an attempt to induce breeding, the mink were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: saline, 25 International Units (IU) PMSG, 37.5 IU PMSG and 50 IU PMSG. Significantly different (p<0.05) patterns of breeding success were observed following PMSG treatment. Approximately 90% of the 37.5 and 50 IU PMSG-treated females bred while only 30 to 50% of the females in the saline and 25 IU PMSG-treated groups bred. More importantly, there was a marked difference in successful pregnancies observed between the saline- and PMSG-treated animals. None of the saline-treated females bore offspring while 40% of the animals that were treated with PMSG gave birth, with litter size averaging between 4 and 5 kits per female. Histological evaluation of ovaries obtained from an additional 13 animals treated in a similar fashion demonstrated that PMSG treatment significantly increased the number of small follicles. These results demonstrate that the exogenous administration of PMSG has a potential application in increasing the reproductive efficiency of female mink with functional ovarian tissue yet rendered infertile due to other factors.     

利用下颌骨形态鉴别野生和饲养北美水貂的研究

当前,我国法律明令禁止对濒危野生动物进行猎杀、滥食以及非法交易,但鼓励人工饲养种群的规模化养殖和商业化利用。这引起一个重要问题:即从野外非法猎取的野生动物,会假借人工驯养繁殖的名义合法地进入市场,这对执法部门如何精准鉴定动物来源造成了极大的困扰。现有的依靠骨密度和头骨形态的鉴定方法不能满足需求。本研究以野外水貂(n=25)和人工驯养水貂(n=38)的下颌骨为对象,建立一个更为简便而有效的鉴别方法。下颌骨与咬肌构成一个杠杆系统,髁状突为支点,前臼齿和臼齿的齿尖为阻力点,各个齿尖到髁状突的距离为阻力臂。我们推测,野生水貂的食物质地较为坚硬,而人工饲养的动物食物柔软,因而野生水貂捕食和进食时需要更大的咬合力和咬合效率。这一差异在个体发育过程中很可能导致阻力臂结构发生变化。如果这种变化足够明显,就可以据此建立动物来源的判别指标。通过测定髁状突到前臼齿第3齿尖以及臼齿上的下原尖和下前尖的阻力臂、齿冠长及齿尖高等数据,建立了13个判别指标,利用这些指标分析野生与饲养个体间的差异并进行判别分析,以已知来源个体的正确回判率来评价其有效性。结果显示,与野生组相比,人工饲养水貂下颌咬合杠杆的阻力臂更长,支持了我们的推测。在13个判别指标中,H₂/L₂(臼齿下前尖高和其力臂长之比)和CosA(犬齿沿矢状面的倾角)无性别差异,二者联合使用时,已知来源个体的正确回判率可达到91.20%,具有很强的鉴别能力。由于水貂是典型的小型食肉动物,因此本研究的结果对其他小型食肉动物的鉴别也具有重要的参考意义。     

Subluxation of the carpus in thirteen horses

The records of 13 horses of various breeds with subluxation of the radiocarpal, intercarpal or carpometacarpal joint, or combinations of these were reviewed. Subluxation was most common at the carpometacarpal joint (n = 10) and concomitant fractures of individual carpal bones or metacarpus II and IV were seen (n = 12).

Treatment comprised of immobilization in a full leg plaster cast for from four to 18 weeks. Three animals were euthanized, two because of cast complications and one because of a request by the owner. The remaining ten were saved to function as breeding animals.

     

育成期不同饲养方式对水貂配种行为和配种进度的影响

观察并研究了水貂育成期不同饲养方式,即断奶后一直双层单笼单养和单层单笼多养(3~4只)对水貂配种行为变化和配种进度的影响。结果表明:育成期单笼多养的水貂的初配率和复配率均显著高于单笼单养的水貂(P<0.05)。说明水貂饲养环境的改变直接影响水貂的繁殖情况,单笼多养饲养方式代替传统的单笼单养饲养方式,显著提高水貂的配种进度及水貂的配种率,水貂育成期单笼多养饲养方式具有较大的推广应用前景。     

水貂配种期精液检查技术的研究

为研究水貂的繁殖率,避免母貂空怀,2010年3月3~20日对大连名威貂业有限公司配种期种貂精液进行了检查,结果表明:2 933只种公貂中有103只无精或死精,占种公貂总数的3.51%。说明做好精液检查是提高水貂妊娠率和产仔率的关键。如果采用同一只公貂复配,可降低母貂空怀率17.55%,能有效提高水貂的繁殖率。     

The influence of transportation on the induction of estrus in gilts of different ages

Six series of experiments, involving 72 gilts in groups of 4 were carried out to investigate the effects of transportation, vibration and noise, and proximity of sexually mature adult breeding stock on attainment of first estrus in gilts of different ages. The animals grew normally during the periods of observation. Gilts aged 120 days (n = 12) at the start of the observations did not display estrus in response to exposure to vibration and noise or a 2 hr road journey. Similarly aged groups housed near adult breeding stock, but not exposed to vibration and noise, displayed estrus during the first 30 days of observation. All gilts aged 140 days (n = 12) displayed estrus within 5 days of being housed adjacent to adult breeding stock. Others, not housed near adult stock, but exposed to vibration and noise, or a road journey, did not consistently display estrus. When the observations were repeated on gilts aged 160 days (n = 12), the observations were similar. It was concluded that proximity of adult breeding stock and not transportation per se was the critical factor in inducing estrus behavior in normally growing gilts.     

Effects of alprazolam on capture stress-related serum cortisol responses in Korean raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of alprazolam on the stress that Korean raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis) may experience while caught in a live trap by measuring their serum cortisol response. The animals were placed in a live trap with or without being pretreated with oral doses of alprazolam. In both groups, pre-trap blood samples were initially collected without anesthesia before the animals were positioned in the live trap; then post-trap blood samples were collected after the animals had remained in the live trap for 2 h. Changes in cortisol levels were observed using a chemiluminescent immunoassay. The level of cortisol increased in the control group and decreased in the alprazolam-pretreatment group (p < 0.05). In this study, we demonstrated that alprazolam pretreatment reduced stress during live trap capture.     

特种经济动物的保护与福利

以狐狸、水貂、鹿、鸵鸟、七彩山鸡和鹌鹑分别作为毛皮动物、药用动物和特种禽类的代表,从生活环境、饲喂、日常管理、疾病防治、运输和处死方法等动物生产环节,阐述了我国特种经济动物的保护和福利问题,旨在为更好地进行特种经济动物养殖提供参考。     

Genomic selection in American mink (Neovison vison) using a single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction model for size and quality traits graded on live mink

Genomic selection relies on single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which are often collected using medium-density SNP arrays. In mink, no such array is available; instead, genotyping by sequencing (GBS) can be used to generate marker information. Here, we evaluated the effect of genomic selection for mink using GBS. We compared the estimated breeding values (EBVs) from single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (SSGBLUP) models to the EBV from ordinary pedigree-based BLUP models. We analyzed seven size and quality traits from the live grading of brown mink. The phenotype data consisted of ~20,600 records for the seven traits from the mink born between 2013 and 2016. Genotype data included 2,103 mink born between 2010 and 2014, mostly breeding animals. In total, 28,336 SNP markers from 391 scaffolds were available for genomic prediction. The pedigree file included 29,212 mink. The predictive ability was assessed by the correlation (r) between progeny trait deviation (PTD) and EBV, and the regression of PTD on EBV, using 5-fold cross-validation. For each fold, one-fifth of animals born in 2014 formed the validation set. For all traits, the SSGBLUP model resulted in higher accuracies than the BLUP model. The average increase in accuracy was 15% (between 3% for fur clarity and 28% for body weight). For three traits (body weight, silky appearance of the under wool, and guard hair thickness), the difference in r between the two models was significant (P < 0.05). For all traits, the regression slopes of PTD on EBV from SSGBLUP models were closer to 1 than regression slopes from BLUP models, indicating SSGBLUP models resulted in less bias of EBV for selection candidates than the BLUP models. However, the regression coefficients did not differ significantly. In conclusion, the SSGBLUP model is superior to conventional BLUP model in the accurate selection of superior animals, and, thus, it would increase genetic gain in a selective breeding program. In addition, this study shows that GBS data work well in genomic prediction in mink, demonstrating the potential of GBS for genomic selection in livestock species.     

Laparoscopic hernioplasty in recumbent horses using transposition of a peritoneal flap

Objective— To evaluate the efficacy of a laparoscopic peritoneal flap hernioplasty (PFH) to close anatomically the vaginal ring and to evaluate its protective effect in horses with a history of strangulated inguinal hernia (SIH) against future herniation.
Study Design— Prospective study.
Animals— A first group of 5 ponies, 3 horses and 1 donkey with no history of SIH and a second group of 4 horses 'clinical cases' with a history of SIH.
Methods— A laparoscopic PFH was effected on all horses under general anaesthesia. Peritoneum ventro-lateral to the vaginal ring was elevated and cut on 3 sides, separated from the underlying muscle, then inverted and attached dorso-medially and laterally to the parietal wall using intra-corporeal stitches (6 cases) or laparoscopic staples (7 cases). Animals of the first group (n=9) underwent a standing laparoscopy 7 days post-operatively to visualize the vaginal rings. Horses of the second group were followed to confirm the absence of re-herniation.
Results— The laparoscopic check-up showed that the vaginal ring had been effectively and completely covered in all cases except the first one. No adhesions was observed. In the four clinical cases, none of the horses have had a reccurence of SIH at the time of writing (6 months to 4 years).
Conclusion— Laparoscopic hernioplasty on a recumbent horse is feasible by closing the vaginal ring with a peritoneal flap. This technique was efficient in our cases to prevent recurrence of SIH but more cases are needed. This technique may reduce inflammation and irritation of the spermatic cord, which could otherwise jeopardise the animal's breeding career.
Clinical Relevance— Laparoscopic PFH coud be used in horses with a history of SIH.     

Plasma prolactin responses to serial bleeding in turkeys

Changes in plasma prolactin (PRL) in response to serial bleeding by venipuncture were measured in turkeys of varying age, sex and reproductive condition. Serial bleeding increased plasma PRL levels in immature, ovariectomized (OVX), laying and non-laying females, but depressed PRL levels in broody (incubating) females. Immature males showed a positive PRL response, while mature males showed no significant response to serial bleeding. The effective stressor was shown to be repeated capture and restraint for serial bleeding and not blood loss. The pattern of the PRL response in OVX hens was not significantly influenced by variations in time required for capture and restraint or by variation in the fear reaction to capture. Habituation of OVX hens to serial capture and handling on 14 consecutive days did not significantly blunt the PRL response to serial bleeding. These results reaffirm the importance of understanding the role of physiological and psychological factors influencing PRL secretion in birds as well as the need to avoid undue stress in birds used for studies of PRL secretion.     

Mercury and mink. I. The use of mercury contaminated fish as a food for ranch mink.

Adult female and juvenile ranch mink were fed rations containing 50 and 75% of fish containing 0.44 ppm total mercury over a 145 day period. There was no clinical or pathological evidence of intoxication in these animals and mercury concentrations in tissue appeared to be at a level below that associated with toxicity.