Dairy farming financial structures in Hokkaido, Japan and New Zealand

The productivity and financial performance of dairy farms in New Zealand and Japan (Hokkaido) were analyzed. By recomposing the official statistics on the dairy industry relative to Japan, New Zealand has low milk yield productivity per cow, but higher per hectare performance because of their seasonal breeding and pasture grazing systems. In the revenue and expenses analysis, New Zealand had a high cash surplus ratio compared with Hokkaido. In the cost analysis, for expenses on a “per kg of raw milk” basis, New Zealand milk production costs are 29% of those in Hokkaido. More than 60% of the production costs were attributable to feed, interest charges and wages in New Zealand. In Hokkaido, the feed cost alone accounted for 73% of the total cost. There is also a remarkably high interest expenditure in New Zealand caused by non‐subsidized fund procurement from finance organizations. In the financial analysis, New Zealand dairy farms have only approximately 50% of the total assets per cow compared with farms in Hokkaido. But total liabilities per cow in Hokkaido are twofold to threefold greater than in New Zealand. The difference between total assets and total liabilities shows that Hokkaido dairy farmers have an equity that is 50–200% greater than New Zealand dairy farmers. In the management analysis, New Zealand has a low turnover ratio of gross assets caused by the seasonal breeding system. In conclusion, New Zealand has higher per hectare production performance than Hokkaido, but has a low utilization of gross assets caused by a seasonal breeding system based on pasture grazing.     

The effect of treatment duration on weaning weights in a cow-calf herd with a protracted severe outbreak of diarrhea in calves

The objective of this study was to describe a multiyear outbreak of calf diarrhea in an Alberta cow-calf herd and the impact of severe diarrhea on calf productivity. A retrospective analysis was performed through the use of detailed individual animal records and laboratory reports. The most significant laboratory finding was Salmonella Typhimurium isolated from the fecal samples of 2 ill members of the treatment crew and from 3 calves on postmortem examination. In 2002, at the peak of the outbreak, 90.3% (325/360) of the calves required treatment and 8.9% (32/360) of the calves died. In 2003, the severity of the problem had declined with only 20.9% (47/225) of the calves requiring treatment and 3.1% (7/225) of the calves dying. In both years, the weaning weights of treated calves were significantly reduced compared with those of nontreated calves. For calves weaned in 2002, after adjusting for the effect of calf sex, calves treated more than 6 times had 200-day adjusted weaning weights that were 15.2 kg (95% CI; 5.8 to 24.4 kg) lighter than of those calves treated only once or not at all (P = 0.0015, n = 321). For calves weaned in 2003, calves were 5.5 kg (95% CI; 0.23 to 10.8, P = 0.04, n = 207) lighter per treatment day with electrolytes, when calf sex and dam age were controlled for. Assuming that increased days of treatment or number of treatments is representative of disease severity, long-term calf performance is negatively affected by severe calfhood disease. The estimated lost revenue and treatment expenses, excluding the cost of labor, cow feed, and maintenance, was $22 800 in 2002 and $1589 in 2003.     

Epidemiology and cost of Lyme disease‐related hospitalizations among patients with employer‐sponsored health insurance—United States, 2005–2014

An estimated 300,000 cases of Lyme disease occur in the United States annually. Disseminated Lyme disease may result in carditis, arthritis, facial palsy or meningitis, sometimes requiring hospitalization. We describe the epidemiology and cost of Lyme disease‐related hospitalizations. We analysed 2005–2014 data from the Truven Health Analytics MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Databases to identify inpatient records associated with Lyme disease based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD‐9‐CM) codes. We estimated the annual number and median cost of Lyme disease‐related hospitalizations in the United States in persons under 65 years of age. Costs were adjusted to reflect 2016 dollars. Of 20,983,165 admission records contained in the inpatient databases during the study period, 2,823 (0.01%) met inclusion criteria for Lyme disease‐related hospitalizations. Over half of the identified records contained an ICD‐9‐CM code for meningitis (n = 614), carditis (n = 429), facial palsy (n = 400) or arthritis (n = 377). Nearly 60% of hospitalized patients were male. The median cost per Lyme disease‐related hospitalization was $11,688 (range: $140–$323,613). The manifestation with the highest median cost per stay was carditis ($17,461), followed by meningitis ($15,177), arthritis ($13,012) and facial palsy ($10,491). Median cost was highest among the 15‐ to 19‐year‐old age group ($12,991). Admissions occurring in January had the highest median cost ($13,777) for all study years. Based on extrapolation to the U.S. population, we estimate that 2,196 Lyme disease‐related hospitalizations in persons under 65 years of age occur annually with an estimated annual cost of $25,826,237. Lyme disease is usually treated in an outpatient setting; however, some patients with Lyme disease require hospitalization, underscoring the need for effective prevention methods to mitigate these serious cases. Information from this analysis can aid economic evaluations of interventions that prevent infection and advances in disease detection.     

New Zealand veterinarians--demography, remuneration and vacancies

AIMS: To determine levels of remuneration for veterinarians in New Zealand, to examine associations between putative explanatory factors and gross annual remuneration, and to quantify the type and prevalence of vacant positions. METHODS: A postal survey to 486 identifiable clinical practices and 53 identifiable organisations that employ veterinarians was used to gather data for the 2-month period of December 2001 to January 2002. RESULTS: Data were produced for 972 veterinarians (367 females and 605 males) working in 325 clinical practices, and 299 veterinarians (88 females and 211 males) employed by 32 organisations. Median levels of gross annual remuneration for assistants, partners/ shareholders and sole owners working >/=5 days per week in clinical practice were NZ$60,000, $90,000 and $75,000, respectively, and for veterinarians in organisations, irrespective of number of days per week worked, was $68,000. Pay rates increased linearly as the number of years since graduation increased for all clinicians and with increasing age for veterinarians in organisations. Full-time assistants were likely to be paid more if the practice was rural rather than urban in location, if they were males, and if administrative duties were part of the job. The same factors, except for sex, were significant for remuneration for owners and partners/shareholders working full-time. Their remuneration tended to be higher if the practice was involved with either dairy or deer work but decreased as the number of animal species serviced increased and if they worked >5 days per week. Part-time female veterinarians were generally paid more than male counterparts. Male veterinarians working in organisations were generally paid about 8% more than their female colleagues. Veterinarians in organisations involved with administration at a head office were generally better paid than those without administrative duties. Pay rates were, on the whole, better in private organisations than in universities, state-owned enterprises, government-operated and other types of organisations About 50% of all services provided by clinical practices were directed to small animals, 27% to dairy cattle and about 10%, 6% and 3% to horses, sheep and beef cattle, and deer, respectively. About 31% of veterinarians worked solely with small animals but most had multiple species workloads. Of the 325 respondent practices, 98 reported vacancies for 119 veterinarians, of which 79 were full-time, 27 part-time and 12 locum positions. Of the 32 respondent organisations, seven reported vacancies for 16 mostly full-time positions. Farmer owned co-operative practices were less likely than privately owned practices to have full-time vacant positions. The only factor identified as influencing part-time vacancies in clinical practices was hourly pay rate. Vacancies occurred randomly across practices, irrespective of location, and there was no indication of greater demand for services for any particular species. The odds of a vacancy in organisations was lower for state-owned enterprises and private organisations than for government organisations (odds ratios (OR)=0.14 and 0.18, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Relatively more females than males worked part-time and 23% of all assistants in clinical practice worked part-time. Sex made a significant difference to gross remuneration for full-time assistants in clinical practice and for veterinarians employed by private or government organisations. In both situations, males were generally better paid than females. Female part-time assistants and partners/shareholders or sole owners in clinical practice were generally better rewarded than their male counterparts. Sex had no effect on remuneration levels for owners/ partners working full-time in clinical practices. The study confirmed a serious shortage of veterinarians in New Zealand. The probability of a vacancy occurring in farmer owned co-operative ('club') practices was lower than in private practices. Vacancies were distributed randomly among rural, urban and rural/urban practices with no evidence of rural practices being more severely affected than urban or rural/urban practices.     

Training failure among yearling horses

OBJECTIVE: To compare financial returns between pinhooked yearling horses (ie, bought and trained for approximately 5 months with the goal of selling the horse at "2-year-olds in training" sales) that had mild or severe training failure and horses that had planned versus nonplanned training failure. ANIMALS: 40 Thoroughbred pinhooked yearling horses. PROCEDURE: During the period from September 1998 through and April 1999, 20 horses had mild training failure (1 to 11 days lost), and 20 horses had severe training failure (13 to 108 days lost). Horses were assigned to these 2 groups on the basis of frequency distribution (median) of days lost during training. Horses were also categorized on the basis of type of training failure (planned vs nonplanned training failure). The outcome of primary interest was financial return. Median financial returns were compared among groups by use of the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Median financial returns for horses that had severe training failure ($1,000) were significantly different, compared with horses that had mild training failure ($24,000). Analysis of results also indicated that median returns were significantly different among horses that had planned training failure (-$2,000; eg, horses with radiographic abnormalities detected during routine prepurchase examinations that required surgical treatment, resulting in days lost during training), compared with horses that did not ($10,000). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Training failure has an economic impact on revenues in pinhooked yearling horses. Lameness, planned training failure, respiratory disease, and ringworm were common and important causes of training failure.     

Socioeconomic burden of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in endemic areas of Anhui Province,eastern China

Understanding the socioeconomic burden of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is important for making decisions on health resources allocation. This study aimed to assess the economic burden of patients with this syndrome in endemic areas of the Anhui Province in 2018. A total of 114 patients were recruited, and the median age was 63.5 years, 62 (54.4%) were female, 97 (85.1%) were farmers, 108 (94.7%) were survival patients, and 71 (62.3%) had a family monthly income less than $453.3. The median times of hospital visits and hospitalizations of patients were three times, and the median lost work days of these patients, caregivers and visitors were 14.5 days, 14.5 days and 7.5 days, respectively. The median direct costs of the patient were $3,761.6, and the median indirect costs were $508.3. Taking direct and indirect costs into consideration, the median total economic costs of patients were $4,323.9, and the total annual cost of 2018 was $1,396,913.6. Although 113 (99.1%) patients had medical insurance, only 25.8% of costs were covered by reimbursement, and the total cost paid for by the patients and their families was $1,041,073.6 in 2018. Our findings revealed that the patients and their families had a significant economic burden, and preventive measures should be strengthened in endemic areas. The findings also provided baseline data for assessing the cost‐effectiveness of the vaccines or anti‐viral drugs in the near future in China.     

Costs and Returns of Camels,Cattle and Small Ruminants in Pastoral Herds in Eastern Ethiopia

Two questionnaire surveys (2×44) were conducted among pastoral households, using three grazing management systems. The average number of Tropical Livestock Units (250 kg) was 4.0 per member of the household. Milk production was the most important source of revenue (66% of the total) followed by sale of livestock (17%) and transport (16%). High mortality rates were recorded for all livestock. About 27% of the milk was sold fresh or as butter. Sedentary and transhumant grazing management systems showed similar levels of income, but nomads had a 2.6-fold higher overall net income. The average total gross income from the entire herd amounted to US$ 6382 per household per year. The calculated costs were 29% of the gross returns. The contribution to the total gross revenues of camels, cattle and small ruminants was 58%, 25% and 17%, respectively.     

Estimate of the annual economic impact of treatment of cranial cruciate ligament injury in dogs in the United States

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the economic impact to veterinary clients for the medical and surgical treatment of rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament (RCCL) in dogs for the year 2003. DESIGN: Economic impact survey. SAMPLE POPULATION: 501 diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) indicating that their area of surgical emphasis was small animal orthopedic surgery or small animal general and orthopedic surgery and 4,000 veterinarians indicating to the AVMA that their professional area was small animal practice exclusive or mixed animal practice (at least 80% small animal). PROCEDURE: Veterinarians were surveyed concerning the cost for medical and surgical treatment of RCCL for 2003. The economic impact was calculated by multiplying the number of RCCL surgeries performed by the mean cost of surgery. This was added to the number of RCCL cases managed medically multiplied by the mean cost of medical management. This estimate for survey responders was extrapolated to the total number of veterinarians in the study population for the ACVS or AVMA. RESULTS: Estimates for the total cost of surgery were $171,730,134.72 and $1,020,167,907 for veterinarians in the ACVS and AVMA populations, respectively. The cost of medical management was $2,885,687.86 and $126,558,155.16 for veterinarians in the ACVS and AVMA populations, respectively. After combining the ACVS and AVMA populations, we estimated that owners spent $1.32 billion for the treatment of RCCL in the United States in 2003. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: RCCL is a prevalent, costly injury. Results may motivate veterinary and consumer agencies to prioritize funding for a better understanding of the injury.     

Genetic, environmental and interaction effects on lifetime production efficiency of crossbred ewes

A total of 399 crossbred ewes born in 2 yr were maintained either on irrigated or dryland hill pastures. The ewes were sired by North Country Cheviot, Dorset, Finnsheep or Romney rams mated to Suffolk or Columbia-type ewes. The crossbred ewes were mated to Hampshire rams throughout the study and had the opportunity for either 4 or 5 yr of production. Annual feed cost was calculated based upon estimated annual metabolizable energy (ME) requirements for maintenance, ewe growth, pregnancy and lactation. Income from weaned feeder lambs and from orphan lambs sold shortly after birth, feed cost and net revenue were analyzed during each ewe's first production year, as well as for the entire period of the experiment. Crossbred group significantly affected income from lambs produced, feed cost and net revenue for the ewes' first production year. Crossbred group and crossbred group X management system interactions generally influenced lifetime income from lambs produced and from orphans sold, gross income, total cost and net revenue per ewe. Finnsheep X Suffolk ewes performed best on irrigated pastures but were below average for lifetime net revenue on hill pastures. Finnsheep X Columbia ewes performed best on hill pastures and, with Dorset X Suffolk and Dorset X Columbia ewes, were well above average for lifetime net revenue on irrigated pastures as well. Suffolk crossbreds consistently performed better on irrigated than on hill pastures. While most ewes with Columbia-type inheritance were more efficient on hill than on irrigated pastures, this result was not always consistent.     

Comparing the 2000 and 2005 factors affecting the selling price of feeder cattle sold at Arkansas livestock auctions

The objectives of the study were to determine how factors affecting the selling price of feeder calves changed from 2000 to 2005 and to examine the perception that discounts narrow or even disappear as calf supplies decrease and selling prices increase. Data from weekly Arkansas livestock auctions were collected from January 1 to December 31 in 2000 and 2005. Data included calf sex, breed type, color, muscle score, horn status, frame score, fill, condition, health, and BW. Mean selling prices for 2000 and 2005 were $92.91 +/- 15.05 and $118.32 +/- 15.13 (mean +/- SD; $/45.45 kg), respectively. Individual price observations were subtracted from the respective annual means and became the dependent variable. The selling prices for feeder calves sold in groups of 2 to 5 calves and in groups of >/= 6 calves were greater in 2005 than 2000 (P < 0.001). Steers received a greater premium ($6.48 +/- 0.09 vs. $6.02 +/- 0.08; mean +/- SE) and bull calves received greater discounts ($0.30 +/- 0.14 vs. $1.68 +/- 0.09) in 2005 than in 2000. Breeds types that increased in value from 2000 to 2005 were Angus x Hereford, Angus, Angus x Charolais, and Brahman (P < 0.001). Breed types that received a reduced selling price in 2005 compared with 2000 (P < 0.001) were one-fourth Brahman Cross, Charolais, Charolais x Limousin, Hereford x Limousin, Limousin, Limousin x one-fourth Brahman, Longhorn, Saler and Simmental. Yellow-white face, black-white face, black, and gray feeder calves received an increase in selling price from 2000 to 2005 (P < 0.001). Although fewer horned feeder calves were sold in 2005 (P < 0.01), they received greater discounts in 2005 than 2000 (-$2.86 +/- 0.16 and -$0.51 +/- 0.09; P < 0.001). In 2005, large-framed feeder calves did not receive the premium detected in 2000, but medium-framed feeder calves in 2005 received a greater selling price compared with 2000. Feeder calves with a muscle score of 1 received a greater premium in 2005 compared with 2000 ($2.58 +/- 0.06 and $0.02 +/- 0.09, respectively; P < 0.001). Feeder calves with a muscle score of 2 were discounted in both years, but the discount in 2005 was not as great as in 2000 (P < 0.001). Full and tanked feeder calves received greater discounts in 2005 than in 2000 (P < 0.001). Discounts for fleshy and fat feeder calves were greater in 2005 than in 2000. Most factors affecting the selling price of Arkansas feeder calves in 2000 affected the selling price in 2005. Although feeder calf supplies were smaller in 2005 than 2000, many discounts increased.     

Costs of studying veterinary science: a national survey of fourth year veterinary students

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the costs to the student of veterinary education. METHOD: A questionnaire was completed by 180 fourth-year veterinary students from the four veterinary schools in Australia. Frequencies and median costs were estimated using the SAS System for Windows 95. RESULTS: The median direct living costs were about $5000 per academic year, but were higher in Sydney and for those with additional expenses including children, pets and cars. Other costs associated with the course including text books, equipment and travel to practical work were of the order of $1000, and income foregone while doing practical work placed additional burdens on some. More than half the students from Sydney and Murdoch needed to work to provide basic necessities. Most of this work involved interaction with animals or people. The percentage of Queensland and Melbourne students needing to work was lower, 47 and 24 respectively, and fewer of those worked directly with animals or people. The students expected to repay a median of $14,000 after they graduate, with 70% of this being due to the Australian government as part of the Higher Education Contribution Scheme. CONCLUSIONS: Although parents contributed an average of between one-third and one half of the costs of obtaining a veterinary degree, the extent of parental contributions was very uneven and almost one half of all students needed to work to provide basic necessities. The average total debt on graduation was about half the annual starting salary, but those starting the course from 1997 are subject to much higher charges, and their average debt is likely to exceed one year's salary.     

Initial work experiences of veterinarians who graduated from Australian universities in 2005

Objective To describe the location, type, support from and effects of their first position for the veterinary graduates of 2005, and to make comparisons with graduates of 1950-2000. Procedure Questionnaires were sent to veterinarians who had graduated from an Australian university in 2005, and data were analysed with SAS System 8 for Windows. Results One-sixth of the graduates left for overseas, and 55% (Murdoch) to 85% (Melbourne) of the remainder found their first veterinary position in the state where they were trained. More were in small animal (48%) and less in mixed practice (48%) than in previous decades, and they spent more time (79%) with dogs and cats, and less with horses (9%), cattle (8%) and other production animals (1%). The median income of males working full-time was $43,000 and $39,000 for equivalent females. Most were satisfied with the help and support received from their boss and workplace; approximately 20% felt that support was inadequate, and many felt overworked and underpaid. The graduates with inadequate support were more likely to suffer stress and were less likely to have enjoyed their first year or to agree that they would become a veterinarian again. The levels of perceived support, and of stress, were similar to those reported by graduates of 2000, though more favourable than in the previous 2 decades. Conclusions Graduates of 2005 were less likely than their predecessors to start in mixed practice or to work with cattle and horses. Most felt poorly paid, but most, though not all, felt well supported in their first position. Aust Vet J 2008;86:357-364.     

Prednisone and Vinblastine Chemotherapy for Canine Mast Cell Tumor—41 Cases (1992–1997)

Forty-one dogs with mast cell tumors (MCTs) were treated with oral prednisone and injectable vinblastine (VBL), both in the adjuvant setting (23 dogs) and in dogs with gross disease (18 dogs). Adverse effects were noted in 20% (8/41) of the patients, usually after the 1st dose of VBL. Adverse effects were considered mild in 6, and severe, necessitating treatment discontinuation, in 2 (5%). Overall response rate in the evaluable dogs with gross disease was 47% (7/15), consisting of 5 complete responses and 2 partial responses. Median response duration was 154 days (24 to >645 days). As adjuvant therapy to incomplete surgical resection, prednisone and VBL conferred a 57% 1- and 2-year disease-free rate. Median survival time (MST) for the entire patient population was not reached with a median follow-up of 573 days; however, the MST for dogs with grade III MCT was 331 days, with 45% of dogs alive at 1 and 2 years. This is an apparent improvement over historical survival data employing surgery alone. Upon univariate analysis, significant prognostic factors (P < .05) for survival included presence of a locally recurrent tumor, presence of gross disease, argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region frequency, lymph node status, histologic grade, previous chemotherapy, and ulceration of the tumor. Similar criteria were significant when analyzed for time to treatment failure. Response to therapy was also predictive of survival in the gross disease group. Upon multivariate analysis, histologic grade (P = .012) and presence of a locally recurrent tumor (P < .001) were significant factors for survival.     

Molecular characterization of bovine rotavirus strains circulating in northern Italy, 2003-2005

A total of 232 stools collected from calves with rotavirus infection in herds located in northern Italy from 2003 to 2005 was investigated. Determination of the rotavirus G and P types was carried out using nested RT-PCR. G6 was the most prevalent genotype, accounting for 78.5% of samples, G10 accounted for 9.9% of samples and viruses of G8 type were found in 4.7% of samples. In 3% of samples, viruses were not classified due to concomitant infection with more G type strains, whereas viruses in 3.9% of samples could not be characterized with any of the G-specific primers used in this study. Most common P types were P[11] and P[5], accounting for 65.1% and 25%, respectively. In 2.6% of cases, samples reacted with multiple P-specific primers; no P[1] serotype was identified. The G6P[11] combination was predominant throughout the study period, i.e. 52.5% in 2003, 50% in 2004 and 40% in 2005. The incidence of G6P[5] increased from 13.1% in 2003 to 27% in 2004 and 25.5% in 2005. The G10P[11] combination decreased markedly from 18% in 2003 to 2.6% in 2004, rising again to 7.3% in 2005. G8P[11] viruses were similarly present in 2003 (5%) and 2004 (4.3%), declining slightly in 2005 (1.8%).     

Career profile of the Canadian Standardbred. II. Influence of age, gait and sex upon number of races, money won and race times.

The objective of the study was to examine the career profile of the average racehorse in order to establish normal values for performance. Records of race performance for a population of 762 horses randomly-selected from the 1972 registrations of the Canadian Standardbred Horse Society were summarized to provide annual statistics for number of races, money won, and times for the mile (race times) over the period 1974 to 1983 inclusive. Results were analyzed to determine the influence of sex, gait, age, and year of the first race. The transformation log (1 + X) was used to achieve normality where necessary. The 95% confidence interval for the mean (mean range) for career total for number of races was 21.8 to 69.6. Of the horses which raced, 30% raced 20 or fewer times, 29% raced more than 100 times. Females raced significantly less often than either males or geldings (p less than 0.001), pacers significantly more often than trotters (p less than 0.01). Regardless of the age at which they first competed all horses were raced lightly in their first race year. Mean range for career total for money won was $2,212 to $2,798 (n = 507). Of 507 horses which raced, 65.8% earned less than $10,000, 6.3% more than $50,000. Trotting geldings had the highest mean money won, mean range $2,448 to $38,105. Mean range for money won per race for all horses racing was $67.77 to $74.51. Overall, 58% of horses earned less than $100 per race, 4.5% over $500. Only 4.5% of horses racing met their immediate training expenses. Increase in age at first race was associated with highly significant and progressive reductions in career races, money won, and money won per race. Of 507 horses which raced, 409 or 80% won at least one race and thus acquired an official winning time or mark. Population mean for career mark was 2.126 min (2.07.3.). Population trend in mean mark was for progressive improvement over the ten year racing period amounting to 0.0968 min or 5.81 s. The average horse achieved its best winning time 2.55 years after starting racing, at a mean age of 5.27 years. The results suggest that the best nonwinning time may be a better indicator of potential than the best winning time. For the average as opposed to the superlative horse, number of races appears to be of greater importance than speed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

New versus old broiler housing technology: Which leads to greater profit?

The method of matching samples was used to compare the costs and returns associated with broiler housing technology using Agricultural Resource Management Survey data for 2006 and 2011. Farms with housing that included tunnel ventilation and evaporative cooling cells (new technology) were compared with farms with housing that did not include this technology (old technology). Gross farm income, total variable expenses, and total fixed expenses were higher for the new technology farms for both years. New technology farms had greater income over variable expenses and net cash farm income in both years.     

Lameness, athletic performance, and financial returns in yearling Thoroughbreds bought for the purpose of resale for profit

OBJECTIVE: To characterize lameness during training and compare exercise variables and financial returns among yearling Thoroughbreds that were bought for the purpose of resale for profit. ANIMALS: 40 yearling Thoroughbreds. DESIGN: Prospective study. PROCEDURES: Horses purchased at yearling sales (summer 2004) were trained prior to resale at 2-year-olds in training sales (spring 2005). Horses were monitored daily for diagnosis and treatment of lameness during training. Selected variables, including sex, age, purchase price, lameness, distance (No. of furlongs) galloped during training, and financial returns, were compared among horses that had performance speeds (assessed at 2-year-olds in training sales) classified as fast, average, or slow. RESULTS: 37 of 40 horses became lame during training, most commonly because of joint injury. Eighteen of the lame horses had hind limb injuries only; 5 horses had injuries in forelimbs and hind limbs. The frequency of new cases of lameness increased as the date of the 2-year-olds in training sales approached. At the sales, 4, 21, and 15 horses were classified as fast, average, or slow, respectively; median financial return was slightly (but significantly) different among horses classified as fast ($14,000), average ($0), or slow (-$8,000). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Incidence of lameness during training in yearling horses purchased for the purpose of resale for profit was high. Lameness more commonly affected hind limbs than forelimbs and was attributable to joint injury in most horses. Financial returns differed between horses classified as fast and average or slow at the 2-year-olds in training sales.     

Hematologic, biochemical, and protein electrophoretic values in captive tawny owls (Strix aluco)

BACKGROUND: The tawny owl (Strix aluco) is a protected species in Italy. Orphaned, injured, and ill owls often are sheltered and treated in rehabilitation centers, where hematologic and biochemical analyses would be helpful to evaluate and monitor the status of their health. OBJECTIVES: The major aim of this work was to assess hematologic and biochemical constituents together with protein electrophoretic fractions in healthy tawny owls. In addition, we compared laboratory methods for determining hemoglobin (Hgb), total protein, and albumin concentrations. METHODS: Heparinized blood samples were collected from 10 clinically healthy adult captive tawny owls between March 2001 and November 2003 for CBC, routine biochemical analysis, and protein electrophoresis. Alternate methods for Hgb (estimation as HCT/3 vs spectrophotometry), total protein (biuret vs refractometry), and albumin (bromcresol green vs electrophoresis) concentrations were compared in 34 samples from 16 unhealthy adult owls and 8 nestlings. RESULTS: Results were reported as mean, median, and range (minimum-maximum). Significant differences and poor concordance were observed between methods for Hgb, total protein, and albumin. CONCLUSIONS: Hematologic and plasma biochemical values in captive tawny owls may be useful in evaluating and monitoring the health of this species in captivity.     

Serum-free thyroxine concentrations, measured by chemiluminescence assay before and after thyrotropin administration in healthy dogs, hypothyroid dogs, and euthyroid dogs with dermathopathies.

The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of free thyroxine (FT4) measured by chemiluminescence in evaluating thyroid function in dogs. Total thyroxine (TT4) concentration measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and FT4 measured by chemiluminescence were evaluated in 30 healthy dogs, 60 euthyroid dogs with concurrent dermatopathies, and 30 hypothyroid dogs before and after intravenous stimulation with 1 or 2 IU of thyrotropin (TSH). Median basal TT4 and median TT4 concentrations at 4 h post-TSH administration were not significantly different (P < 0.0001) between healthy dogs and euthyroid dogs with dermatopathies, but were significantly higher than those in hypothyroid dogs. In healthy dogs, the median TT4 concentrations at 4 and 6 h post-TSH administration were not significantly different. Median basal FT4 and median FT4 concentrations at 4 h post-TSH administration in healthy dogs were significantly lower (P < 0.0001) than those in euthyroid dogs with dermatopathies, but significantly higher than the same parameters in hypothyroid dogs. There was a significant difference between the median FT4 concentrations at 4 h post-TSH administration and median basal FT4 concentrations for healthy dogs and euthyroid dogs with dermatopathies, but not for hypothyroid dogs. Lastly, in healthy dogs, median FT4 concentrations at 4 and 6 h post-TSH administration were not significantly different. Free thyroxine measured by chemiluminescence was highly correlated (P < 0.0001; Spearman r = 0.91) with FT4 measured by the reference method for free hormone analysis, namely, equilibrium dialysis, when sera from 56 dogs were used.