饲用凝结芽孢杆菌在肉鸡生产中的应用研究进展

鉴于饲用微生态制剂凝结芽孢杆菌(Bacillus coagulans)对肉鸡生产性能影响的试验报道较少,文章较为全面地搜集了国内外相关文献,总结了饲用凝结芽孢杆菌制剂在肉鸡饲粮中的添加剂量及应用效果,进一步分析了影响饲用凝结芽孢杆菌改善肉鸡生产性能效果的因素,包括肉鸡的品种、日龄阶段、所用商品饲用凝结芽孢杆菌的质量(菌株特性、芽孢率、杂菌数)等。文章旨在为凝结芽孢杆菌这一新型饲用微生态制剂在肉鸡饲粮中更好地推广应用提供参考。     

饲用凝结芽孢杆菌在蛋禽生产中的应用研究进展

凝结芽孢杆菌(Bacillus coagulans)兼具乳酸菌及芽孢杆菌的共同良好特性,成为我国畜禽养殖生产中应用的热点。近年来,凝结芽孢杆菌这一新型饲用微生态制剂逐步在我国蛋鸡、蛋鸭等蛋禽实际生产中推广。当前有关饲用凝结芽孢杆菌在蛋禽生产中应用的试验报道不多,文章较为全面地搜集了国内外相关文献,综述饲用凝结芽孢杆菌在蛋禽生产中的应用效果及其影响因素,旨在为饲用凝结芽孢杆菌在蛋禽生产中进一步推广应用提供参考。     

凝结芽孢杆菌的生物学功能及其在动物生产中的应用

凝结芽孢杆菌(Bacillus coagulans,BC)属于微生态制剂,是近年来国内外学者的研究热点。凝芽孢杆菌有芽孢,可以产生乳酸,具有乳酸菌和双歧杆菌的双重功效,具有良好的抗逆性,以及耐高温、胃酸和胆盐的特性。凝结芽孢杆菌可抑制肠道致病菌,维持肠道菌群的平衡,促进养分的消化吸收,降低动物腹泻率,提高动物的免疫功能,减少环境污染。作为新型的饲料添加剂被广泛应用于动物生产中,因此备受关注。文章根据国内外研究成果,就凝结芽孢杆菌的生物学功能及其在动物生产中的应用进行综述,为凝结芽孢杆菌在动物绿色养殖中的应用提供参考。     

凝结芽孢杆菌对蛋鸡生产性能和蛋品质的影响

试验为研究凝结芽孢杆菌对蛋鸡生产性能及蛋品质的影响。选取9 000羽罗曼蛋鸡,随机分为3个处理组,对照组饲喂基础日粮;试验1组在基础日粮添加100 mg/kg凝结芽孢杆菌Ⅱ型制剂;试验2组在基础日粮添加150 mg/kg凝结芽孢杆菌Ⅱ型制剂。结果表明:饲粮中添加凝结芽孢杆菌制剂后蛋鸡的病死率显著下降(P0.05),可提高鸡蛋蛋壳强度和蛋壳厚度,并改善蛋黄颜色。     

凝结芽孢杆菌对蛋鸭生产性能和蛋品质的影响

试验旨在探讨凝结芽孢杆菌在蛋鸭饲粮中的应用效果。选取2 000只300日龄产蛋鸭,分为2个处理组,对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组饲喂基础饲粮+100 mg/kg凝结芽孢杆菌制剂,观测试验群体的产蛋性能和蛋品质。试验结果表明,凝结芽孢杆菌制剂能提高蛋鸭的产蛋性能,不影响鸭蛋的蛋品质。     

浅谈凝结芽孢杆菌在断奶仔猪饲料中的应用

随着饲料中禁止添加促生长药物抗生素日程的临近,饲料行业中有关替抗方法的研究加速,其中微生态制剂的应用就是主要方向之一。凝结芽孢杆菌作为新开发出的饲用微生态制剂,以其良好的抗逆性、产乳酸抑菌性、安全性等综合优势,备受广大研究者的关注。本文就凝结芽孢杆菌在断奶仔猪饲料中的应用作简要阐述,以供借鉴。     

饲用枯草芽孢杆菌在养殖业中的应用

<正>目前,绿色饲料添加剂的微生态制剂成为人们研究的重点和热点,微生态制剂是一种活菌制剂,无残留、无抗药性,可改善动物微生态平衡、提高健康水平、促进生长发育、提高生产性能,其应用前景越来越广阔。乳酸杆菌、双歧杆菌、芽孢杆菌等动物肠道细菌,已被开发制成活菌制剂,但从动物生产和饲料工业角度来评价,芽孢杆菌类具更多优点,本文就枯草芽孢杆菌在养殖生产中的应用做一简要介绍。1枯草芽孢杆菌菌种特性枯草芽孢杆菌隶属芽孢杆菌科芽孢杆菌属,是一种可形成芽     

芽孢杆菌制剂对断奶仔猪生长性能、胃肠道pH值及免疫器官指数的影响

本试验旨在研究芽孢杆菌制剂对断奶仔猪生长性能、胃肠道pH值及免疫器官指数的影响。选择35日龄断奶仔猪72头,按性别比例一致的原则,随机分为3个处理,每个处理3个重复,每个重复8头仔猪,每个重复为一栏。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组在基础日粮中分别添加3%芽孢杆菌制剂Ⅰ和芽孢杆菌制剂Ⅱ(每千克日粮中含有的活菌数分别为2.64×1010 cfu和1.89×1010 cfu)。试验期35 d。结果显示:与对照组相比,芽孢杆菌制剂Ⅰ、Ⅱ组对断奶仔猪生长性能均无显著影响(P>0.05);除回肠段芽孢杆菌制剂Ⅱ组pH值比对照组高外(P>0.05),其余胃肠段(胃、十二指肠段、结肠、直肠部分)各处理组pH值均比对照组pH值低(P>0.05);芽孢杆菌制剂Ⅰ与对照组相比,肝脏器官指数、胸腺器官指数、脾脏器官指数均有所提高(P>0.05);芽孢杆菌制剂Ⅱ组胸腺器官指数也高于对照组(P>0.05)。试验表明:芽孢杆菌制剂对断奶仔猪生长性能、胃肠道pH值、免疫器官指数均无显著影响。     

饲用凝结芽孢杆菌在仔猪生产中的应用研究进展

文章重点对饲用凝结芽孢杆菌的理化特性、益生作用机理及其在断奶仔猪饲料及生产上的应用效果、影响因素等进行综述,旨在为凝结芽孢杆菌这一新型饲用微生态制剂在断奶仔猪饲料中的应用推广,提供科学的依据。     

凝结芽孢杆菌在生猪养殖中的应用及其作用机理的研究进展

近年来集约化养殖已成为畜牧业的发展方向,养殖规模越来越大,特别是生猪养殖是关乎民生的支柱性产业,占整个畜牧业养殖规模的一半以上。如何在保证生猪养殖业可持续发展的基础上,提高生产效益并达成无抗养殖已成为当下的研究热点。凝结芽孢杆菌(Bacillus coagulans)作为一种新型饲用益生菌,兼具乳酸菌和芽孢杆菌的性质,既能产生乳酸,又能形成芽孢;具有改善生猪肠道健康、提高机体免疫力和抗病能力、调节肠道菌群平衡和提高动物生产性能等作用,在生猪养殖中具有很大的应用前景。作者概述了凝结芽孢杆菌的生物学特性;重点总结了凝结芽孢杆菌在无抗日粮、替抗方案、有抗日粮、与其他添加剂混合使用以及其他方面对生猪生产性能的影响;并从肠道健康与消化吸收、机体免疫力和肠道菌群平衡方面结合已有的试验结果分析了凝结芽孢杆菌对生猪生长性能改善的作用机理;提出了凝结芽孢杆菌在生猪养殖应用中存在的问题及建议,以期为进一步开发应用凝结芽孢杆菌制剂提供参考。     

Effects of Bacillus subtilis C‐3102 on production,hatching performance,egg quality,serum antioxidant capacity and immune response of laying breeders

To investigate the supplemental effects of Bacillus subtilis C‐3102 on the production, hatching performance, egg quality, serum antioxidant capacity and immune response of laying breeders, a total of 480 Xuefeng black‐bone (25‐week‐old) hens were randomly assigned into four treatment groups: Hens fed the basal diets with 0 (CON), 3.0 × 10⁵ (BS‐1), 6.0 × 10⁵ cfu/g (BS‐2) and 9.0 × 10⁵ (BS‐3) cfu/g of B. subtilis C‐3102. As the B. subtilis C‐3102 level increased, egg weight (linear, p < 0.01; quadratic, p = 0.003), fertility (linear, p = 0.021; quadratic, p = 0.059), hatchability (linear, p = 0.038; quadratic, p = 0.119) and yolk colour (linear, p = 0.006; quadratic, p = 0.021) increased in a linear or quadratic manner. Yolk index increased quadratically (linear, p = 0.054; quadratic, p = 0.017), and eggshell thickness (linear, p = 0.036; quadratic, p = 0.128), the activity of GSH‐Px (linear, p = 0.024; quadratic, p = 0.078), the concentration of IgM (linear, p = 0.016; quadratic, p = 0.056) and the level of AIV‐Ab (linear, p = 0.034; quadratic, p = 0.103) in the serum increased linearly as dietary supplementation of B. subtilis C‐3102 increased. The results showed that dietary treatments did not affect egg production, feed conversion ratio, egg mass, hatchability of fertile eggs, eggshell‐breaking strength, egg‐shape index, yolk percentage, Haugh unit, T‐SOD, T‐AOC, MDA, IgA and IgG concentrations and the level of NDV‐Ab in the serum. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 9.0 × 10⁵ cfu/g B. subtilis C‐3102 in laying breeders diets may be a feasible means of effectively increasing egg weight, fertility and hatchability, and improving egg quality such as eggshell thickness, yolk index and yolk colour. Besides, B. subtilis C‐3102 can enhance the activity of GSH‐Px, the concentration of IgM and the level of AIV‐Ab in the serum.     

Dose-related antinociceptive effects of intravenous buprenorphine in cats

The dose-related antinociceptive effects of intravenous (IV) buprenorphine were evaluated in cats. Thermal (TT) and mechanical threshold (MT) devices were used for nociceptive stimulation. After baseline threshold recordings, buprenorphine was administered IV (0.01, 0.02 or 0.04 mg/kg; B1, B2 and B4, respectively) in a randomised, blinded and cross-over study. Data were analysed by ANOVA (P < 0.05) using 95% confidence intervals (CI). TT increased 15, 30, 45 min and 1 (5.2 ± 2.7 °C), 2, 3 and 4 h after B1; 15, 30, 45 min and 1 (5.1 ± 3.9 °C) and 2 h after B2, and 15, 30, 45 min and 1 (5.4 ± 3.3 °C), 2, 3, 6 and 8 h after B4. MT increased 15 and 45 min after B2 (260 ± 171 mmHg), and 30 (209 ± 116 mmHg) and 45 min and 1 and 2 h after B4. At 45 min, MT values were significantly higher after B2 compared to B1 (P < 0.05). With MT, B2 and B4 produced more antinociception and longer duration of action than B1, respectively. No dose response to thermal stimulation was detected.     

Effect of storage duration on egg quality,embryo mortality and hatchability in FUNAAB-ɑ chickens

Effect of extended storage on egg quality, embryo mortality and hatchability in FUNAAB-ɑ chickens was determined. Hatchable eggs (n = 288; weighing 53.2 ± 4.67 g) collected from a flock of FUNAAB-ɑ layer breeder hens aged 32 weeks were stored in egg tray with broad end up under 16 ± 1.5°C for either 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 or 20 d. Before incubation, eight eggs from each group were evaluated for internal and external quality traits. Remaining eggs were set in an incubator and transferred into hatcher on embryonic day 18. Data collected were subjected to one-way analysis of variance. Egg weight loss (EWL; p < .001), surface area (p < .001), yolk diameter (p < .001), inner and outer blastoderm diameters (p < .05) and dead in germ (DIG; p < .001) increased with storage duration while yolk height (p < .001), yolk index (p < .001), albumen weight (p < .05), albumen height (p < .05), albumen index (p < .01), Haugh's unit (HU; p < .05), fertility (p < .001), hatchability of set (HATCHS; p < .001) and fertile eggs (p < .05) decreased. Weight losses of 0, 1.2, 2.2, 3.4, 4.6 and 6.1% were recorded in egg stored for 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 days respectively. Eggs stored beyond 8 days exhibited higher DIG and lower HATCHS. Shell percentage in 4 days storage (11.4%) was lower (p < .05) than in 16 days storage (13.4%). Shell thickness was similar in eggs stored for 0 to 12 days, but 8 days storage (0.60 mm) had thinner (p < .01) shell than day 16 (0.71 mm) and day 20 (0.73 mm) storage. Internal quality unit (IQU) was higher (p < .05) in fresh eggs (180.4) than in 12 days (167.8) and 20 days (167.8) stored eggs. Extended storage of FUNAAB-ɑ eggs caused EWL, surface area shrinkage, lowered HU and IQU, loss of yolk and albumen quality, increased blastoderm diameters and DIG, and decreased egg fertility and HATCHS from day 8 forward. Storing FUNAAB-ɑ eggs beyond 8 days reduced quality parameters; therefore, other mitigating factors are recommended when storing beyond 8 days.     

Low‐density lipoproteins and milk serum proteins improve the quality of stallion sperm after vitrification in straws

Lipids and proteins can be used for sperm vitrification to preserve the integrity of sperm membranes or to increase the viscosity of the medium. This study evaluated the effect of low‐density lipoproteins (LDL) and milk serum proteins (Pronexcell) for stallion sperm vitrification. Hippex extender (Barex Biochemical Products, The Netherlands), plus 1% of bovine serum albumin and 100 mM of trehalose, was used as control for sperm vitrification. In experiment 1, different concentrations of LDL (L1 = 0.25, L2 = 0.5, L3 = 1%) and in experiment 2 of Pronexcell (P1 = 1, P2 = 5, P3 = 10%) were added to control extender. Vitrification was performed in 0.25‐ml straws directly plunged into liquid nitrogen. Total motility (TM, %) and progressive motility (PM, %) were analysed by CASA, and plasma membrane (IMS, %) and acrosome membrane integrity (AIS, %) were assessed under epifluorescence microscopy. Post‐warmed sperm parameters were compared between treatments by ANOVA. Results were expressed as mean ± SEM. In both experiments, the minimum concentration of LDL and Pronexcell obtained significantly higher values (p < 0.01) than the control extender for TM (L1 = 52.95 ± 4.4; P1 = 58.99 ± 4.6; C = 30.88 ± 3.0), PM (L1 = 36.79 ± 5.5; P1 = 47.25 ± 4.3; C = 19.20 ± 2.4), IMS (L1 = 68.88 ± 3.6; P1 = 47.25 ± 4.3; C = 52.81 ± 2.6) and AIS (L1 = 45.88 ± 3.6; P1 = 47.25 ± 4.3; C = 26.00 ± 2.1). No differences in sperm parameters were found among different concentrations of LDL or Pronexcell. In conclusion, the addition of 0.25% LDL and 1% Pronexcell to the vitrification extender is recommended to improve the quality of stallion sperm after vitrification.     

Comparison of the sedative effects of intranasal or intramuscular dexmedetomidine at low doses in healthy dogs: a randomized clinical trial

ObjectiveTo compare the sedative effects of dexmedetomidine administered either intranasally or intramuscularly to healthy dogs.Study designProspective, randomized, blinded, clinical trial.AnimalsA group of 16 client-owned healthy dogs.MethodsDogs were randomly allocated to one of two groups that were administered dexmedetomidine 5 μg kg^–1 via either the intranasal route (IN_Dex), through a mucosal atomization device in one nostril, or the intramuscular route (IM_Dex), into the epaxial muscles. Ease of intranasal administration, sedation score, onset of sedation, cardiopulmonary variables, mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) and response to venous catheterization were recorded at 0 (baseline), 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 minutes, following drug administration. Data were compared with the one-way anova, Mann-Whitney U test, and chi-square test, where appropriate.ResultsGroups were not different for age, sex, weight, body condition score or temperament. Sedation scores, MNTs and response to intravenous catheter placement were not different when dexmedetomidine was administered by either route (p = 0.691; p = 0.630 and p = 0.435, respectively). Onset of sedation was not different between groups IN_Dex and IM_Dex reaching a score of 4.2 ± 0.9 and 5.5 ± 1.2 at 9 ± 5 and 8 ± 4 minutes, respectively (p = 0.467). The highest sedation score was achieved at 30 and 35 minutes and sedation scores were 9.7 ± 2.0 and 9.5 ± 2.3 in groups IN_Dex and IM_Dex, respectively (p = 0.799). Respiratory rate was higher in group IN_Dex (p = 0.014), while there were no differences between routes in heart rate (p = 0.275), systolic (p = 0.957), diastolic (p = 0.837) or mean arterial pressure (p = 0.921).Conclusions and clinical relevanceIntranasal administration of dexmedetomidine at 5 μg kg^–1 provides effective sedation in healthy dogs.     

A meta-analysis on effects of supplementing low-quality roughages with foliages from browses and tree fodders on intake and growth in sheep

A meta-analysis of data obtained from previous studies was conducted to understand the responses of foliage supplementation on intakes of basal DM (BDMI) and total DM (TDMI), and daily gain (ADG). Thirty-four published studies containing 223 treatments and 1127 sheep met criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Major predictive variables considered were percentages of foliages in diet (SD), CP in foliages (PS), NDF in foliages (FS), NDF in forages (FB), CP in basal roughages (PB), CP in diet (PD) and foliage CP intake (SPI). TDMI (g/d) increased quadratically (P < 0.001) with increasing PS, FS, SPI (R² = 0.66), PB, SD (R² = 0.58) and PD (R² = 0.73). The maximal response of TDMI were 778 g/d at 42% of SD, 894 g/d at 19.8% PD, 893 g/d at 148 g/d SPI and 749 g/d at 26.4% PS (P < 0.001; R² = 0.58, 0.73, 0.66, and 0.37, respectively). BDMI increased quadratically with increasing SD, PD and PB, but decreased quadratically (P < 0.001) with increasing PS (P < 0.001; R² = 0.07). The breakpoint of BDMI was 570 g/d at 6.58% of PD in the diet (P < 0.001, R² = 0.28). Overall, BDMI responded at very low level of SD in the diet, peaking at 7.6% SD with BDMI of 572 g/d (P < 0.001, R² = 0.72). However, when PB was less than 3%, the maximal BDMI was 489 g/d at foliage levels of 25.7%. When PB was between 3 and 6%, maximal BDMI was at 13% of foliage in the diet and the basal forage intake of 597 g/d; whereas, BDMI decreased linearly with SD when PB was greater than 6%. BDMI (g/d) decreased quadratically when foliage CP percentages were lesser than 10%, but increased quadratically with PS when foliage CP percentages were greater than 10%. ADG responded positively and quadratically to PS, SPI, SD, PD and TDMI (g/d) and the relationships were moderate to high. However, ADG (g/d) decreased linearly with increasing FS (P < 0.001, R² = 0.35). The maximal ADG was 42 g/d at 43% of SD, 41 g/d at 9.4% PD, 42 g/d at 53 g/d SPI, 35 g/d at 25% PS and 46 g/d at TDMI of 889 g/d (P < 0.001; R² = 0.74, 0.84, 0.74, 0.29 and 0.74, respectively). It is concluded that the interactions of quality and quantity of foliage supplements and quality of basal forages affect intakes of basal and total DM, and growth in sheep.     

Betaine improves growth performance,liver health,antioxidant status,breast meat yield,and quality in broilers fed a mold-contaminated corn-based diet

Betaine has been demonstrated to improve growth performance and antioxidant status of animals under various stress conditions. However, there is no literature on the effects of betaine in animals exposed to mycotoxins, which are among the most prevalent contaminants in feed. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the influence of dietary betaine on broilers fed a diet based on mold-contaminated corn (MCC). A total of 192 Ross 308 male broiler chicks at 1 d of age were randomly divided into 4 groups with 6 replicates and fed an MCC-based diet supplemented with 0, 250, 500, and 1,000 mg/kg betaine, respectively. Betaine increased average daily gain (linear, P = 0.030) and decreased feed conversion ratio (linear, P = 0.027) of broilers during d 1 – 21, and decreased feed conversion ratio during d 22 – 42 (linear, P = 0.012; quadratic, P < 0.001) and d 1 – 42 (linear, P = 0.003; quadratic, P = 0.004), whereas feed intake was not affected. Total cholesterol (linear, P = 0.024), alanine aminotransferase (quadratic, P < 0.001) and alkaline phosphatase (linear, P = 0.007; quadratic, P = 0.025) activities in serum were decreased by betaine. Betaine linearly increased breast muscle yield (P = 0.003) and pH_24 h (P = 0.008), and decreased drip loss (P = 0.022). Betaine increased (linear, P = 0.025; quadratic, P = 0.016) total superoxide dismutase activity in breast muscle and reduced malondialdehyde content in serum (linear, P = 0.006), liver (quadratic, P = 0.006) and breast muscle (linear, P = 0.003). Moreover, the zearalenone concentrations in breast muscle were linearly decreased by betaine (P = 0.006). It was concluded that betaine could improve growth performance, liver health, antioxidant status, and breast meat yield and quality, and reduce zearalenone residue in broilers fed the MCC-based diet, especially at 500 or 1,000 mg/kg.     

Influence of dietary lysine level on whole-body protein turnover, plasma IGF-I, GH and insulin concentration in growing pigs

Four growing pigs (initial liveweight 25.9 ± 0.54 kg, final liveweight 43.0 ± 1.06 kg) were used to study the effect of dietary lysine level on nutrient digestibility, whole-body protein turnover, plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), growth hormone (GH), insulin, glucose, and urea nitrogen (PUN). Four diets, containing 7.0 g (L1), 9.5 g (L2), 12.0 g (L3) and 14.5 g (L4) lysine per kg diet respectively, were formulated as experimental treatments. The animals and diets were allocated in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Nitrogen (N) metabolism and whole-body protein turnover were measured by classical method and single-dose ¹⁵N end-product method, respectively. The blood samples were taken at the end of each experimental period. Results showed that N retention (NR) and N biological value (NBV) were significantly increased from L1 to L4 (P < 0.05). However, differences in NR and NBV between L2, L3 and L4 were not significant (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference on dry matter (DM) digestibility, organic matter (OM) digestibility and N digestibility between different treatments (P > 0.05). Whole-body protein synthesis, protein degradation and protein accretion increased markedly from L1 to L2 (P < 0.05), but did not increase further from L2 to L4. Whole-body protein accretion (y, g/kg W^0.75/d) increased with dietary lysine (x, g/kg) in a quadratic manner: y = − 0.09x² + 2.12x − 5.14 (r² = 0.96, n = 4, P < 0.05).The results also showed that differences in plasma IGF-I, GH, glucose and PUN concentration between different treatments were not significant (P > 0.05). Plasma insulin concentration (y, μIU/ml) was increased with dietary lysine (x, g/kg) in a quadratic manner: y = 0.23x² − 4.10x + 32.25 (r² = 0.99, n = 4, P < 0.05), but it was not found that plasma insulin concentration was related to NR. A significant correlation was found between NR (y, g/d) and plasma IGF-I (x, ng/ml): y = − 3.1 × 10^− 3x² + 1.31x − 122.28 (r² = 0.99, n = 4, P < 0.05).It was concluded that dietary lysine level had a significant influence on NR and whole-body protein turnover but not on plasma IGF-I and GH concentration. Plasma IGF-I may be an important factor controlling N metabolism of growing pigs. Further research was needed to study the mechanism.     

Factors affecting dystocia and offspring vigour in different sheep genotypes

Birth difficulty and poor lamb vigour are significant causes of perinatal lamb mortality. In this study we investigated whether sheep breeds differing in appearance, muscularity and selection history also had differences in dystocia and lamb vigour, and considered some of the factors that may contribute to the variation in these traits. Data were collected at birth from a total of 3252 lambs of two terminal sire breeds selected for lean growth (Suffolk [S], n = 500 and Texel [T], n = 1207), from a Hill breed (Scottish Blackface [B], n = 610), which has been mainly selected for hardiness, and a crossbred (Mule × T [M], n = 935) representing a maternal line. For each lamb the degree of assistance at delivery, lamb presentation, amount of assistance to achieve successful sucking, sex, litter size and birth weight were recorded. T lambs required the most, and B and M lambs the least assistance at birth, S lambs were intermediate (% lambs assisted: T = 55.7, S = 30.7, B = 22.7, M = 24.9, P < 0.001). T and S lambs were equally likely to be malpresented at birth (29% of births) and more likely to be malpresented than B or M lambs (20%; P < 0.001). In T and S breeds lambs requiring veterinary assistance at delivery were mainly heavy and singleton lambs, whereas in B and M breeds these were exclusively low birth weight lambs in multiple litters. Although heavier lambs needed greater birth assistance, T lambs were lighter than S and M lambs, but heavier than B lambs (birth weight (kg): S = 4.66, M = 4.56, T = 4.32, B = 3.67, P < 0.001). S lambs were more likely to require assistance with sucking than other breeds, and T lambs also required more assistance than B or M lambs (% lambs assisted to suck: S = 56.0, T = 31.6, M = 19.8, B = 18.4, P < 0.001). Heavier lambs were more likely to suck unaided than lighter lambs (P < 0.001). The data suggest that the two terminal sire breeds, selected narrowly for greater productivity (muscle growth and conformation), are more likely to experience birth difficulty and poorer lamb vigour than the breed selected for hardiness, or the cross breed. Whether these effects arise as a consequence of genetic selection (e.g. for specific lamb conformation), or as a result of management practices to achieve selection goals (e.g. increased intervention at lambing) is unknown. Specific actions to improve birth difficulty and lamb vigour, such as including these traits in the selection index, would be beneficial in improving the welfare of ewes and lambs of the terminal sire breeds.     

Effect of food on the pharmacokinetics of oral cefuroxime axetil in dogs

Cefuroxime axetil pharmacokinetic profile was investigated in 12 Beagle dogs after single intravenous and oral administration of tablets or suspension at a dose of 20 mg/kg, under both fasting and fed conditions. A three-period, three-treatment crossover study (IV, PO under fasting and fed condition) was applied. Blood samples were withdrawn at predetermined times over a 12-hr period. Cefuroxime plasma concentrations were determined by HPLC. Data were analyzed by compartmental analysis. No statistically significant differences were observed between formulations and feeding conditions on PK parameters. Independently of the feeding condition, absorption of cefuroxime axetil after tablet administration was low and erratic. The drug has been quantified in plasma in 3 out of 6 and 5 out of 6 dogs in the fasted and fed groups. For this formulation, the bioavailability (F), peak plasma concentration (C_max), and area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) of cefuroxime axetil were significantly enhanced (p < .05) by the concomitant ingestion of food (32.97 ± 13.47–14.08 ± 7.79%, 6.30 ± 2.62–2.74 ± 0.66 µg/ml, and 15.75 ± 3.98–7.82 ± 2.76 µg.hr/ml for F, C_max, and AUC in fed and fasted dogs, respectively), while for cefuroxime axetil suspension, feeding conditions affected only the rate of absorption, as reflected by the significantly shorter absorption half-life (T_½(a)) and time to peak concentration (T_max) (0.55 ± 0.27–1.15 ± 0.19 hr and 1.21 ± 0.22–1.70 ± 0.30 for T_½(a) and T_max in fed and fasted dogs, respectively). For cefuroxime axetil tablets, T > MIC (≤1 µg/ml) was <2 hr in fasted and ≈4 hr in fed animals, and for cefuroxime axetil suspension, T > MIC (≤1 µg/ml) was ≈5 hr and for T >MIC (≤4 µg/ml) was ≈2.5 hr for fasted and fed dogs, respectively. Cefuroxime axetil as a suspension formulation seems to be a better option than tablets. However, its short permanence in plasma could reduce its clinical usefulness in dogs.