Economic Evaluation of Different Stocking Densities for Various Sized in Texas

There has been a trend toward intensification of shrimp farming in the U.S. FiCteen simulated farms were used to evaluate economies of scale and to compare three Penaeus vannclmei commercial production strategies: semi-intensive, intensive, and very-intensive. Large economies of scale were associated with each production strategy. Over the range of farm sizes considered, investment cost per hectare decreased approximately 50% and production cost decreased approximately 25%. Farms' returns were measured with Internal Rate of Return (IRR). When investment was greater than $0.75 million, the intensive strategy provided slightly better returns to the investor than semi-intensive or very-intensive strategies. At investment levels less than $0.75 million, the semi-intensive strategy provided the highest IRR.     

Biochemical indicators of fatness in meat-type chickens: lack of correlation between lipoprotein lipase activity in post-heparin plasma and body fat

1. Possible relationships between fatness and lipoprotein lipase activity in adipose tissue and plasma from heparinised birds were examined in 7-week-old male and female broilers. 2. Total lipoprotein lipase activity in abdominal fat was significantly correlated (r = 0.5) with fat pad weight, but there was no correlation between specific activity of the enzyme and fat pad weight. 3. Lipoprotein lipase activity in post-heparin plasma showed no correlation with either abdominal fat or total body fat content. 4. The results indicate that measurements of lipoprotein lipase activity in biopsy samples or in post-heparin plasma are of no value in predicting the fat content of live birds.     

Pemphigus foliaceus in dogs: a review of 37 cases

Thirty-seven dogs with pemphigus foliaceus were seen over a span of 9 years in a veterinary medical teaching hospital. Four breeds of dogs (Bearded Collie, Akita, Newfoundland, Schipperke) were at significant elevated risk when compared with both the dermatology canine case population and the hospital canine population. The mean age of onset was 4.2 years. The dorsal part of the muzzle was the most common site of initial involvement in over 50% of the dogs, and lesions of the head were seen first in 81% of the dogs. Disease progression was gradual (greater than 3 months) in 73% of the dogs. Somewhat bilaterally symmetric scaling, crusting, and alopecia were seen in all of the dogs. Vesicles, pustules, and bullae were not seen commonly, but target lesions with peripheral collarettes were seen frequently. Most dogs had characteristic footpad lesions, with erythematous swelling at the pad margins, cracking, and villous hypertrophy. Generalized exfoliative dermatitis was seen in dogs with widespread disease. Pruritus was noted in less than one half of the dogs. Typical histopathologic findings included subcorneal and intragranular cell layer epidermal pustules, or intrafollicular pustules with prominent acantholysis. Direct immunofluorescence in an intercellular pattern was noted in 76% of the dogs tested and indirect immunofluorescence was noted in 75% of a much smaller sample. Thirty-nine percent of the dogs responded to corticosteroid therapy alone, and 50% and 55% responded, respectively, to prednisone and cytotoxic drugs, and to prednisone with aurothioglucose. Aurothioglucose was successful alone in 27% of the dogs. One-year survival was achieved in 53% of the dogs.     

The economic effects of trypanosomiasis in sheep and goats at a range research station in Kenya

A study on the economic effects of naturally acquired trypanosomiasis in sheep and goats over a period of 35 weeks under range conditions in the Kiboko area of Kenya indicated that the financial loss from reduced weight gain and death amounted to 36.2 and 62.9 Kenya shillings per head for goats and sheep respectively. This was derived from the weight loss through death together with the reduced weight gain of the survivors compared with treated animals. The study also compared the efficacy of 3 drug regimes in goats and suggests that although quinapyramine (prophylactic) B.vet.C. provided the longest protective period, the weight increase of the stock under isometamidium chloride treatment was higher. The benefits of the drugs used are discussed.     

Fiber digestibility by black lemurs (Eulemur macaco macaco).

Black lemurs, Eulemur macaco, are classified as generalist feeders, consuming a proportion of fruits and leaves that varies with seasonal availability. It is hypothesized that black lemurs are capable of using neutral detergent fiber (NDF) as a source of energy through fiber fermentation in the cecum and large intestine. In captivity, they are typically fed a diet of commercially available primate biscuits and readily available produce, both of which are limited in NDE Digestibility trials were conducted on 14 black lemurs; 12 were housed in groups (four, three, three, and two) and 2 were individually housed. The lemurs were fed four manufactured feeds differing in fiber form and content. A commercially available primate biscuit, containing approximately 27% NDF, served as the control diet. The second diet contained the same primate biscuits, which were ground and then incorporated into a fiber-based gel matrix. The third and fourth diets were formulated using soybean hulls or ground corncobs as the fiber source, resulting in 53% and 47% NDF, respectively. Produce was added to the diet at 36% (dry matter basis). Dry matter digestibility differed significantly among all diets. Neutral detergent fiber digestibility was highest for the ground biscuit in gel and lowest for the two high-fiber gel diets, with biscuit digestibility values falling between the two extremes. The high-fiber gel diets were successful in increasing the NDF concentrations of the primate diets; however, black lemurs were capable of only limited fiber digestion.     

National Beef Quality Audit-2005: survey of targeted cattle and carcass characteristics related to quality, quantity, and value of fed steers and heifers

The National Beef Quality Audit-2005 assessed the current status of quality and consistency of US fed steers and heifers. Hide colors or breed type were black (56.3%), red (18.6%), Holstein (7.9%), gray (6.0%), yellow (4.9%), brown (3.0%), white (2.3%), and brindle (1.0%). Identification method and frequency were lot visual tags (63.2%), individual visual tags (38.7%), metal-clip tags (11.8%), electronic tags (3.5%), bar-coded tags (0.3%), by other means (2.5%), and without identification (9.7%). Brand frequencies were no (61.3%), 1 (35.1%), and 2 or more (3.6%), and brands were located on the butt (26.5%), side (7.4%), and shoulder (1.2%). There were 22.3% of cattle without horns, and the majority of those with horns (52.2%) were between 2.54 and 12.7 cm in length. Percentages of animals with mud or manure on specific body locations were none (25.8%), legs (61.4%), belly (55.9%), side (22.6%), and top-line (10.0%). Permanent incisor number and occurrence were zero (82.2%), 1 (5.2%), 2 (9.9%), 3 (0.4%), 4 (1.2%), 5 (0.1%), 6 (0.3%), 7 (0.0%), and 8 (0.7%). Most carcasses (64.8%) were not bruised, 25.8% had one bruise, and 9.4% had multiple bruises. Bruise location and incidence were round (10.6%), loin (32.6%), rib (19.5%), chuck (27.0%), and brisket, flank, and plate (10.3%). Condemnation item and incidence were liver (24.7%), lungs (11.5%), tripe (11.6%), heads (6.0%), tongues (9.7%), and carcasses (0.0%). Carcass evaluation revealed these traits and frequencies: steer (63.7%), heifer (36.2%), bullock (0.05%), and cow (0.04%) sex classes; dark-cutters (1.9%); A (97.1%), B (1.7%), and C or older (1.2%) overall maturities; and native (90.9%), dairy-type (8.3%), and Bos indicus (0.8%) estimated breed types. Mean USDA yield grade (YG) traits were USDA YG (2.9), HCW (359.9 kg), adjusted fat thickness (1.3 cm), LM area (86.4 cm(2)), and KPH (2.3%). The USDA YG were YG 1 (16.5%), YG 2 (36.3%), YG 3 (33.1%), YG 4 (11.8%), and YG 5 (2.3%). Mean USDA quality grade traits were USDA quality grade (Select(90)), marbling score (Small(32)), overall maturity (A(64)), lean maturity (A(57)), and skeletal maturity (A(68)). Marbling score distribution was Slightly Abundant or greater (2.7%), Moderate (4.3%), Modest (14.4%), Small (34.5%), Slight (41.2%), and Traces or less (2.9%). This information helps the beef industry measure progress and provides a benchmark for future educational and research activities.     

Experimental infections in young red deer (Cervus elaphus) with a bovine and an ovine strain of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis

AIMS: To compare the virulence of a 'bovine' and an 'ovine' strain of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (M. ptb) in red deer (Cervus elaphus) after experimental inoculation orally, and to examine the relationship between the dose of the bovine strain given and immunological, clinical and histopathological outcomes in young red deer. METHODS: Newly-weaned 4-month-old male red deer (n=81) were randomly assigned to one of five groups. Three groups (n=16) received high (10(9) colony forming units (cfu); HB), medium (10(7) cfu; MB) or low (10(3) cfu; LB) oral doses of a bovine strain of M. ptb, one group (n=16) received medium (10(7) cfu; MO) doses of an ovine strain of M. ptb, and a Control group (n=17) was not dosed. The HB and Control groups were grazed together, the MB and LB groups were grazed together, and the MO group was grazed alone, in separate small paddocks on a quarantined area of the farm for 45 weeks. Liveweight, clinical signs and immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) antibody levels were monitored for up to 45 weeks. Deer affected with Johne's disease were euthanised when they showed obvious clinical signs. Unaffected deer were slaughtered at the end of the trial (Week 45), and all deer were necropsied. Faeces and tissue samples were cultured for M. ptb, and fixed tissues were examined for histopathology. RESULTS: Between 21 and 38 weeks post-challenge (pc), 5/16 animals in the HB group developed early signs of Johne's disease and were euthanised. The remaining deer in the five groups were all apparently healthy and reached good liveweights (approximately 100 kg average), and were euthanised and examined 45 weeks pc. Three deer (two HB and one MB) had small caseous lesions in their jejunal lymph nodes (JJLNs) and one HB animal had a small caseous lesion in a retropharyngeal lymph node. The remaining animals had no grossly-visible lesions. Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis was cultured from samples from 100% of the HB and MB animals, 50% of the LB group, 69% of the MO group and all Control animals. Thus all Control deer were infected by natural transmission from the HB group but none developed signs of clinical disease. Examination of histological sections of jejunum, ileocaecal valve (ICV) and associated lymph nodes showed a gradation of severity of lesions that was positively correlated (p<0.001) with dose of the bovine strain administered; mean lesion severity scores were 4.8, 2.9 and 0.9 for HB, MB and LB groups, and 2.2 and 0.9 for the Control and MO groups, respectively. IgG1 antibody levels at the time of euthanasia were also correlated with lesion severity scores at slaughter (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The ovine strain of M. ptb used in this study was less virulent for red deer than the bovine strain. The correlation between dose of the bovine strain and the severity of lesions suggests that clinical Johne's disease in yearling red deer likely results from high oral challenge with a bovine strain whilst they are young. The minimum oral infective dose may be close to 10(3) cfu for this bovine strain.