On-farm udder health monitoring

In this article an on-farm monitoring approach on udder health is presented. Monitoring of udder health consists of regular collection and analysis of data and of the regular evaluation of management practices. The ultimate goal is to manage critical control points in udder health management, such as hygiene, body condition, teat ends and treatments, in such a way that results (udder health parameters) are always optimal. Mastitis, however, is a multifactorial disease, and in real life it is not possible to fully prevent all mastitis problems. Therefore udder health data are also monitored with the goal to pick up deviations before they lead to (clinical) problems. By quantifying udder health data and management, a farm is approached as a business, with much attention for efficiency, thought over processes, clear agreements and goals, and including evaluation of processes and results. The whole approach starts with setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Acceptable, Realistic, Time-bound) goals, followed by an action plan to realize these goals.     

Evaluation of modified techniques for immobilization of wild ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta)

Wild ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) can be anesthetized with Telazol via blow dart, but improved techniques are needed so that each lemur is reliably induced with a single dart. Medetomidine-butorphanol (MB) is a good supplemental protocol to be administered once the lemurs are captured, but other protocols may provide longer periods of sedation and immobility. One possible way of increasing the efficacy of each dart is to increase the time it is retained in the leg. In this investigation, a "double-sleeve" technique was used to try to increase the time of dart retention. This technique used a standard silicone sleeve on the needle, along with a second sleeve at the needle hub. Induction values were compared between lemurs darted with double-sleeve needles and those induced with needles that each had a single silicone sleeve. Once the lemurs were induced, supplementation with MB (0.04 mg/kg and 0.2 mg/kg) was compared with supplementation with ketamine-medetomidine (KM) (10 mg/ kg and 0.04 mg/kg). Twenty-three lemurs were darted with Telazol by using single-sleeve needles, and 24 were darted with double-sleeve needles. The number of darts per lemur and number of escapes were not different between animals darted with a single sleeve compared with a double-sleeve; thus, there were no significant improvements in induction success with the double-sleeve technique. Adequate sedation and muscle relaxation were achieved with both MB and KM; however, lemurs that received MB were more relaxed and needed fewer additional supplements that those that received KM. Single-sleeve dart needles are recommended for Telazol induction of ring-tailed lemurs via blow dart and MB is preferable to KM for supplemental sedation and muscle relaxation.     

The alcelaphine herpesvirus-1 ORF 57 encodes a nuclear shuttling protein

Alcelaphine herpesvirus-1 (AlHV-1) is a γ₂ rhadinovirus associated with Malignant Catarrhal Fever (MCF) in cattle. ORF 57 is well conserved among gammaherpesviruses and it has been shown that the ORF 57 gene products of Herpesvirus Saimiri (HVS), Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) play an important role in regulating viral gene expression. The AlHV-1 ORF 57 gene product has not been characterized. In the accompanying paper we have demonstrated that AlHV-1 ORF 57 encodes an immediate early protein that acts as a regulator of gene expression. The ORF 57 gene product has an up-regulatory effect only on another immediate early gene product encoded by ORF 50. Here we show that the ORF 57 gene product is a nuclear protein. When ORF 57 was fused to the gene encoding Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP), the fusion protein exhibited a punctate nuclear distribution that co-localized with the nucleolar phosphoprotein C23. The nuclear localisation signal of ORF 57 gene product was located at the N-terminus. The ORF 57 gene product travels from nucleus to the cytoplasm, where it accumulates during Actinomycin D treatment. The domain involved in nuclear shuttling was also localised at the N-terminal region of the protein. Thus in common with homologues in other herpesviruses the AlHV-1 ORF 57 gene product is a nuclear cytoplasmic shuttling protein which may play a role in export of viral mRNAs from the nucleus of infected cells.     

Metabolic changes induced by regular submaximal aerobic exercise in meat-type rabbits

Pannon White growing rabbits (a group of 8) were exposed to treadmill exercise (3-9 m/s, 1.2-1.6 km/day) twice a day for 4 weeks, while additional 8 animals, kept inactive, were assigned as the control group. Weekly, 12 hours after exercise, venous blood was taken for serum metabolite and enzyme activity measurements. Total serum protein, albumin and creatinine levels significantly increased during the second half of the training, as compared to the control group. Triacylglycerol levels in the exercised group as compared to controls, however, were higher only after the first and the fourth weeks of the experiment. Resting non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration of the trained rabbits was lower at the end of the trial. On the other hand, there were no significant differences, as compared to the respective controls, in serum urea, total and HDL cholesterol levels. At the end of the exercise alkaline phosphatase activity was higher and total lactate dehydrogenase activity was lower in the trained rabbits. Serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activities were not changed, while creatine kinase activity was slightly lower in the trained group. The serum cortisol concentration was not different in the trained and control rabbits.     

Regional variations in the nematode worm populations of breeding ewes in New Zealand

AIM: To determine whether the generic composition of nematode parasites in lactating ewes varies between geographic regions in New Zealand and whether age and fecundity of ewes affect nematode egg output. METHODS: Four ram breeding properties in each of the northern (NNI) and southern (SNI) North Island and the northern South Island (NSI) regions, together with six properties in the southern South Island (SSI) were investigated. Faecal samples were obtained on one occasion, 2-6 weeks after lambing, from at least 60 ewes on each property, stratified according to age and reproductive status. Nematode eggs were counted and coprocultures prepared to identify genera present. Information on the history of anthelmintic use on each property was also collected. RESULTS: Highest faecal egg counts (FEC) were observed from ewes in the NNI and SSI regions. Lambed hoggets and twin-rearing two-tooth ewes had higher FEC than their unlambed or single-lamb-rearing contemporaries, respectively. However, no significant effect of reproductive effort on FEC was demonstrated in mixed-aged ewes. Significant regional differences in generic composition of nematode parasites were observed: Teladorsagia spp (also referred to as Ostertagia spp) eggs made up 56% of total eggs shed from sheep in the SSI compared with14% in the NNI, and values for Haemonchus spp were 1%and 24% for these same regions, respectively. Trichostrongylus colubriformis and T. vitrinus together made up 7, 15, 13 and15% of eggs counted from sheep in the SSI, NSI, SNI and NNI, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: More comprehensive epidemiological information may suggest regional-specific approaches to the management of nematode parasites in ewes should be devised in the future.     

Discriminant analysis for predicting dystocia in beef cattle. II. Derivation and validation of a prebreeding prediction model

Discriminant analysis was utilized to derive and validate a model for predicting dystocia using only data available at the beginning of the breeding season. Data were collected from 211 Chianina crossbred cows (2 to 6 yr old) bred to Chianina bulls. A proportionally stratified sampling procedure divided females into an analysis sample (n = 134) on which the model was derived and a hold-out sample (n = 77) on which the prediction model was validated (tested). Variables available during the derivation stage were cow age, cow weight, pelvic height, pelvic width, pelvic area and calf sire. Dystocia was categorized as either unassisted or assisted. Occurrence of dystocia was 17.2 and 18.2% in the analysis and hold-out samples, respectively. All data were standardized to a mean of zero and a variance of one before statistical analysis. The centroid of cows experiencing dystocia differed (P less than .01) from that of cows calving unassisted in the analysis sample. Significant variables were pelvic area and cow age (standardized coefficients = .56 and .51, respectively). This model correctly classified 85.1% of the cows in the analysis sample. This was 13.5% greater than the proportional chance criterion. For model validation, prediction accuracy was 84.4% in the hold-out group, which was 14.2% greater than the proportional chance criterion. However, only 57.1% of the cows that experienced dystocia were correctly classified. Examination of the data revealed that those cows misclassified were 3 yr of age or older.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Diseases diagnosed in broiler chicken flocks in Victoria, Australia, 1977 to 1984

During the period July 1977 to June 1984, specimens from 1402 broiler chicken flocks were submitted to the Veterinary Research Institute, Victoria, Australia for investigation of morbidity, mortality and, or, poor performance. A total of 19,450 post mortem examinations, as well as numerous ancillary tests, were performed. The findings on these flocks are presented and the consequences of some particular diseases noted.     

Correlative biomechanical and histologic study of the cranial cruciate ligament in dogs

The mechanical properties of the cranial cruciate ligament were determined, using unilateral bone-ligament-bone preparations from 65 dogs of various ages and body sizes. Tensile loading of the cranial cruciate ligament from 1 of each pair of stifle joints demonstrated a decrease in material properties (modulus, maximum stress, strain energy) with aging. The decreases in maximum stress and strain energy with age were significantly less (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.05, respectively) in the cranial cruciate ligament from dogs weighing less than 15 kg, compared with those weighing 15 kg or more. The cranial cruciate ligament and remaining femorotibial ligaments were collected from the opposite stifle joints and examined microscopically. By 5 years of age, the cranial cruciate ligaments of dogs weighing greater than 15 kg consistently had microscopic evidence of degenerative disease (loss of ligamentocytes, metaplasia of surviving ligamentocytes to chondrocytes, and failure to maintain collagen fibers and primary collagen bundles) which progressed in severity with age. The caudal cruciate ligaments were similarly affected, although the degenerative changes were rarely as severe as in the cranial cruciate ligament. The collateral ligaments underwent minimal degeneration. Sex differences had no bearing on degeneration. The cranial cruciate ligaments in dogs weighing less than 15 kg generally had less severe alterations than those in heavier dogs, and the onset of the degenerative process was delayed by several years. Cranial cruciate ligaments removed from dogs after ligament failure not only had degenerative disease, but also had undergone unsuccessful attempts at repair. In contrast, fibrous repair was rarely present in intact ligaments of asymptomatic dogs with degenerative disease of the cranial cruciate ligament.     

Nitrogen and amino acid resorption in the small intestine of growing swine. 1. Animal study method, nitrogen content and amino acid composition of the small intestine chyme by administration of various proteins

The amount of endogenous N in the chyme at the end of the small intestine and the amino acid composition of the ileum chyme were ascertained with growing pigs with ileorectostomy after feeding qualitatively differentiated protein sources. In dependence on the protein used, distinct differences turned out for some amino acids with regard to their content in the ileum chyme. Bacteriologic and histologic investigations subsequent to the dissection of the test animals showed that - in comparison to the control animals-the functions of the small intestine remained the same during the time of the experiment. The experiment method described appears to be suitable for absorption investigations up to the end of the small intestine of growing pigs.