Book reviews

Recent Advances in Turkey Science. Edited by C. Nixey and T. C. Grey, Poultry Science Symposium Number 21. London, Butterworths, ISBN 0 408 00971 3

Egg and Eggshell Quality. Sally E. Solomon, 1991, 149 pp., illustrated. London, Wolfe Publishing Ltd., £35.00, ISBN 0 7234 1647 8.

Aleen Cust, Veterinary Surgeon, Britain's First Woman Vet. Connie M. Ford, 1990, 109 pp., £5.99, Bristol, Biopress Ltd., The Orchard, Clanage Road, ISBN 0 948737 11 5.

Avian Incubation. Edited by S. G. Tullett, 1991, xiv + 335 pp., illustrated. London, Butterworth‐Heinemann. £00.00, $00.00. ISBN 0–7506–1002–6.

A Colour Atlas of Diseases & Disorders of the Domestic Fowl & Turkey. Edited by C. J. Randall, second edition, 1991, 175 pages, 432 illustrations in colour. London, Wolfe Publishing Ltd, £35, ISBN 0723416281.     

Three cases of disputed paternity in dogs resolved by the use of DNA fingerprinting

DNA fingerprinting with the probes 33.15 and alpha-globin 3'HVR has been used to resolve three cases of disputed paternity in dogs. For each pedigree it was necessary to establish which bands in the DNA fingerprints of the offspring were of paternal origin, and then establish which putative sire carried all these bands. In the first case, a litter of Rhodesian Ridgebacks, twelve DNA bands were informative in establishing paternity. In the second case, a litter of Afghan hounds, five DNA bands established paternity, Lastly, in a litter of Border collies, five DNA bands established paternity. In each case a single dog only sired the entire litter.     

The anti-proteolytic activity of blood and ovarian follicular fluid in sheep after stimulation with serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and administration of Antisergon]

The synthesis and secretion of trypsin (trypsin model serine protease) inhibitors are regulated in ovarian follicles by gonadotropins. The superovulation stimulations with 400 IU FSH, 1000 IU PMSG, 1000 IU HCG, 750 IIU PMSG + 750 IU HCG influence in a different way the trypsin inhibiting activities (TIA) of blood plasma (BP) (Figs 1 and 2) and follicular fluid (fig. 3); this points to a possibility of local effects. An increase in the average values of TIA in BP was statistically significant during the whole experiment: P less than 0.05 to P less than 0.001 (following the administration of PMSG+HCG, or PMSG, and HCG); Antisergon administered in 68 hours after PMSG reduced this increase. The changes in the fraction of low-molecular TIA in BP (after BP treatment with perchloric acid) were of converse nature; a decrease in the average values ranged from P less than 0.02 to P less than 0.001 (following PMSG or other stimulations). Antisergon did not influence this decrease. The changes observed on particular days of the trial (Figs. 1 and 2) also indicate different effects of the preparations, mainly of the component LH, which resulted in the occurrence of large nonovulating follicles (greater than 10 mm--"cystic" ones). No such follicles were observed in nonstimulated ewes and after FSH stimulation. The administration of antisergon (goat's antiserum against PMSG) 68 hours after PMSG administration did not prevent their creation. The TIA of follicular fluid (FF) of antral follicles was on average tenfold in comparison with that of blood plasma; and the TIA FF of follicles greater than 10 mm was higher (up to P less than 0.001) than the TIA FF of follicles less than 10 mm. The administration of Antisergon in shorter intervals following PMSG administration (12, 24, 48 and 58 hours) influenced the average values of TIA BP in 120 hours (since PMSG administration) in dependence on time (Tab. I). The effects of Antisergon administered in 12 and 24 hours after PMSG administration on the TIA BP were insignificant if it was administered in 48 and 58 hours the TIA BP increased (P less than 0.02; P less than 0.001) in comparison with the interval of 12 hours. The TIA FF of follicles less than 5 mm, 5-10 mm and greater than 10 mm varied in dependence on the time intervals of Antisergon administration (Fig. 4). The statistical significance of these changes in shown in Tab. II.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Some nutritional and genetic considerations in the performance testing of beef bulls

Performance testing started after it was recognized that growth traits were heritable. In the early years of performance testing there was a tendency to feed higher levels of energy for longer periods of time. More recently, the trend has been to feed lower levels of energy for shorter periods. There are still differences in opinion as to the appropriate level of energy to use. Although it is important that the level of energy fed is adequate to correctly establish a bull's ability to gain, it is essential to know that it will pose no risk of impaired spermatogenesis or cause any degree of laminitis. Clinical observations and research on overfeeding clearly show that both libido and spermatogenesis can be impaired by excess energy intake. The damage in 2-year-old bulls can be very extensive and in some animals it may not be reversible. The scant amount of research in yearling bulls indicates that there is considerable potential danger from overfeeding energy as well. Test stations are under used in regard to performing research that would help identify heritable defects that would interfere with the productive and reproductive efficiency of beef cattle. The first performance testing programs emphasized average daily gain from weaning to 1 year of age, so "performance" has traditionally meant rate of gain to most cattle raisers. The term "performance" is now starting to acquire a broader and more inclusive definition. For many breeders, it now includes weight per day of age, which is in part a maternal trait, and some kind of male evaluation for reproductive potential that can also be extrapolated to the female side. One of the first breakthroughs in this regard was to recognize the heritability of testicular size, and that testicular size could be fairly accurately determined by scrotal circumference measurement. It was also found that there was a favorable relationship between larger testicle size and the ability to produce high quality semen. As a result, it became a common practice to include scrotal circumference measurements in the published bull test results. However, many test station patrons were, and still are, content to consider the scrotal circumference measurement alone as an evaluation of a bull's breeding potential. Unfortunately, less than half of the bulls finishing a performance test at ages ranging from 11 to 14 months will be able to produce semen of completely acceptable quality.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Feline struvite crystalluria: a comparison of some commercially available dry cat diets in New Zealand

Thirteen adult cats were each fed consecutively five test diets: firstly a complete canned diet, and then four commercially available dry cat diets (New Formula Biscats, Cat Chow, Go-Cat and Whiskettes) for 7,13, 5, 4 and 4 weeks respectively. Urine samples were tested for pH and presence of struvite crystals. Body weight was recorded weekly. Urine pH was ranked from acid to alkaline as follows: Whiskettes (pH 5.8), canned diet (pH 5.9), Biscats (pH 6.1), Cat Chow (pH 6.45) and Go-Cat (pH 6.5). The pH of urine when cats were fed Whiskettes, Biscats and canned diet was not significantly different. Biscats produced a urine pH significantly higher than Whiskettes but, in each case, these three diets produced a significantly lower urine pH than Cat Chow and Go-Cat. Struvite crystals occurred spontaneously in 9% of urine samples from cats when fed Whiskettes and Biscats, 71% when fed Cat Chow and 38% when fed Go-Cat: spontaneous struvite was not seen in any cat fed CX9. Haematuria was seen in 2.9% (2/69) urine samples from cats fed Cat Chow. One tom cat had a blocked urethra after 24 days on Go-Cat. No abnormalities were observed in any cat when fed canned diet, Biscats or Whiskettes. It was concluded that of the four dry cat diets tested only Biscats and Whiskettes produce urine with an acceptably low rate of spontaneous struvite crystalluria.