Influence of undegraded intake protein on reproductive performance of primiparous beef heifers maintained on stockpiled fescue pasture

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of pre- and postpartum undegraded intake protein (UIP) supplementation on body condition score (BCS), BW, calf weight, milk production, serum IGF-I concentrations, and postpartum interval in primiparous beef heifers (n = 44). Heifers were maintained on endophyte-free stockpiled tall fescue (11.7% CP, 38% ADF) and individually fed supplement daily beginning 60 d prepartum. Pre- and postpartum supplements provided 19.3% CP, 83.4% TDN (UIP); 14.1% CP, 84.1% TDN (Control); 21.5% CP, 81.5% TDN (UIP); and 14.6% CP, 81.4% TDN (Control); respectively. Blood meal (146 g/d) was the source of UIP. Six heifers were removed from the study due to calf loss unrelated to treatment; therefore, postpartum measurements are based on 19 animals per treatment. Statistical analyses using ANOVA and a split-plot design revealed no effects of treatment (P > 0.2) on BCS, BW, calf weight, milk production, or postpartum interval. There tended to be a treatment x time interaction on BCS (P < 0.09) with UIP heifers having higher BCS than Control at wk 5, 7, and 9 postpartum. There was a treatment x time interaction on serum IGF-I (P < 0.06) during the first 35 d postpartum. In UIP heifers, serum IGF-I was greater at calving compared with Control heifers (117.5 vs 92.4 ng/mL, respectively); however, these differences were not related to changes in BCS or BW. Although serum IGF-I concentrations were increased at calving in heifers receiving UIP, there were no treatment effects on postpartum interval (P > 0.7). During the first 30 d postpartum, IGF-I differed (P < 0.01) among heifers with postpartum intervals defined as short, < 50 d (128.9 ng/mL); medium, 51 to 65 d (115.2 ng/mL); and long, 66 to 130 d (52.9 ng/mL). When analyzed as a regression, a 1 ng/mL increase in IGF-I (UIP and Control heifers) at calving (P < 0.05) and throughout the postpartum period (P < 0.01) corresponded to a decrease in postpartum interval of 0.13 d. Based on the results of this study, the inclusion of UIP in diets for primiparous heifers and its effects on postpartum interval warrant further evaluation.     

Evaluation of monoclonal antibodies for identification of subpopulations of myeloid cells in bone marrow obtained from dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate monoclonal antibodies that may be useful for immunophenotyping myeloid cells in bone marrow of dogs. SAMPLE POPULATION: Bone marrow specimens obtained from 5 dogs. DESIGN: Specimens were labeled with monoclonal antibodies that detected CD18, major histocompatability antigen class-II (MHC class-II), CD14, and Thy-1. Cells labeled with each of the antibodies were isolated by use of a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Differential cell counts of sorted cells were used to determine cells that were labeled by each of the various antibodies. RESULTS: Myeloid cells labeled with anti-CD18 antibody included granulocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes-macrophages. Immature and mature granulocytes were labeled. Lymphocytes, monocytes-macrophages, and eosinophils were labeled with anti-Thy-1 antibody. Cells labeled with anti-MHC-class II antibody included approximately 9% of bone marrow cells, which consisted almost exclusively of lymphocytes and monocytes-macrophages. Approximately 4% of bone marrow cells were labeled with anti-CD14 antibody, with > 90% of sorted cells being monocytes-macrophages. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Four monoclonal antibodies for use in detecting subpopulations of canine bone marrow cells were evaluated. These antibodies should be useful in differentiating the origin of leukemic cells in dogs.     

Survival times of and prognostic indicators for dogs with heart base masses: 25 cases (1986-1999)

OBJECTIVE: To determine survival times of and prognostic indicators for dogs with heart base masses. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 25 dogs. PROCEDURE: Medical records were reviewed to obtain information regarding signalment; initial complaint; results of physical examination, radiography, electrocardiography, and echocardiography; surgical findings; medical and surgical treatment; outcome; necropsy findings; survival time; and cause of death. RESULTS: Survival time ranged from 0 to 1,096 days (mean, 213 days; median, 57 days). None of the variables examined, including initial complaints and results of physical examination, radiography, electrocardiography, and echocardiography, were associated with survival time. However, dogs that underwent pericardectomy had a significantly longer mean survival time (mean +/- SD, 661 +/- 170 days) than did dogs that were treated medically (129 +/- 51 days). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that dogs with heart base masses that undergo pericardectomy may survive longer than those that receive medical treatment alone.     

The(13)C-octanoic acid breath test for detection of effects of meal composition on the rate of solid-phase gastric emptying in ponies

The aim of this study was to apply the(13)C-octanoic acid breath test for detection of alterations in the rate of solid-phase gastric emptying, induced by changes in test meal composition, in ponies. After a 14 hour fast the ponies (n = 4) ingested a test meal with 0, 35 or 70 ml soya oil, and labelled with 250 mg(13)C-octanoic acid. Each pony was given each of the three test meals on three separate occasions, in a randomised order. Exhaled breath samples were collected for 12 hours after ingestion of the test meal. Breath samples were analysed by continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Three indices of breath(13)C-enrichment were computed, half-dose recovery time (t 1/2), gastric emptying coefficient (GEC) and time to peak breath(13)C-excretion t(max). The(13)C-octanoic acid breath test was a reliable means of assessing the significantly decreased rate of gastric emptying in the pony, associated with addition of soya oil to the test meal.     

Diversity,seasonality and sites of attachment of adult ixodid ticks on dogs in the central region of the Free State Province,South Africa

Several surveys of ticks infesting dogs belonging to owners in resource-limited and more affluent communities have been conducted in South Africa, but no such investigation has been carried out in the Free State Province of this country. The present study was initiated to meet this shortcoming. Ticks were collected from dogs at six localities in, and to the east of the city of Bloemfontein in the central region of the province. Three of these localities could be classed as resource-limited and two as affluent, while the sixth locality was an animal shelter serving all members of the public. Adult ticks belonging to nine ixodid tick species were collected, of which Rhipicephalus sanguineus was the most numerous. Significantly more R. sanguineus was collected from dogs at resource-limited than at more affluent localities. The greatest proportions of these ticks attached to the backs and necks of the dogs, with the proportions being larger in long-haired than in short-haired dogs. Most R. sanguineus were collected during the warmer months particularly from January to April. The greatest proportions of Haemaphysalis leachi, the next most numerous species, were also collected from the backs and the necks of the dogs. Most of these were present during the period September to November.     

Observations on ascites in nine cattle

Signs of ascites were observed in only nine of 1863 cattle examined over a period of five years. The ascites was most commonly associated with either primary or secondary cardiac disease; cattle with ascites have a poor prognosis because the condition is usually assocaited with terminal disease. Two animals had cor pulmonale with chronic pneumonia, three had cardiomyopathy, one had bacterial endocarditis, two had thrombosis of the caudal vena cava and one had diffuse abdominal epithelioid mesothelioma.     

Isolation and characterisation of cervine herpesvirus-1 from red deer semen

AIM: This communication describes the isolation of herpesvirus during routine export examination of semen collected from red deer stags in New Zealand. METHODS: Virus isolation was carried out using bovine embryonic lung (BEL) cells and viruses were characterised by direct immunofluorescense, restriction-fragment-length polymorphism analysis (RFLP), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis and nucleotide sequencing. RESULTS: Herpesvirus was isolated from red deer semen on 2 different occasions from different animals. In both cases the virus was identified as cervine herpesvirus-1 (CvHV-1), based on RFLP, PCR and sequence analysis. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the glycoprotein-D gene showed 99.7% homology to the Banffshire strain of CvHV-1 and 89.5%, 89.2%, 85.3% and 79.6% homology to bovine herpesvirus 1.2 (BoHV-1.2), bovine herpesvirus 1.1 (BoHV-1.1), cervine herpesvirus-2 (CvHV-2) and caprine herpesvirus-1 (CpHV-1), respectively. CONCLUSION: This is the first time that CvHV-1 has been isolated in New Zealand. Its inclusion in serological surveys will allow the prevalence of CvHV-1 in the red deer population to be assessed in this country. The clinical significance of CvHV1 infection in New Zealand red deer herds has yet to be determined.