A note on lamb's choice for different types of bedding materials

The aim of this study was to analyze the lamb's choice of bedding material when 4 different types of bedding materials and cement floor (CT) area were available during the fattening period. A total of 16 lambs were selected and distributed in 2 groups of 8 lambs each and fattened for 18 days. The animals were housed randomly in 1 of 2 pens that were subdivided into 5 areas. Four of these areas had 1 of the 4 types of flooring: sawdust (SU), waste of paper (WP), straw (ST), and rice husk (RH), whereas the fifth had a CT, opposite the feeding and drinking troughs. A video-recording device was set up in a room close to the pens to record maintenance behavior. Two kinds of recording were carried out: scan sampling every 10 minutes (7 am-9 pm) throughout the entire experiment, and continuous behavior sampling recorded continuously for 12 h/d (8 am-8 pm) on days 1, 7, and 14 (a total of 36 h/pen). The behavior patterns recorded during the experiment included lying down, standing, walking, feeding, and drinking. The occupancy rates for the different bedding areas were significantly different (P ≤ 0.001), and the lambs demonstrated a clear preference for SU bed, with a 47% occupancy rate, followed by WP (17%), ST, and RH, with occupancy rates of nearly 6% and 7%, respectively. The occupancy rate in the area with no bedding material (CT) was 21%. Significant differences were also found in behavior patterns between the bedding zones. When the lambs on the SU bedding were observed, 80% of the time they were lying down and 20% of the time standing. When they occupied the WP area, they spent 63% of the time lying down and 37% standing; for the ST bedding, the rates were 23% lying down and 77% standing; and when the lambs were observed in the area with RH flooring, they spent 40% of the time lying down and 60% standing. The clear preference shown by the lambs for SU may be associated to the SU's physical and thermal properties compared with ST. If all factors are taken into account (cost, animal preferences, and technical performance), WP bedding becomes a interesting material as an alternative to the ST bedding traditionally used by sheep farmers.     

Detection of antibodies against Brucella abortus, Leptospira spp., and Apicomplexa protozoa in water buffaloes in the Northeast of Argentina

Water buffalo industry has become a profitable activity worldwide, including the Northeast of Argentina (NEA). However, research on diseases affecting this species is scarce. The aim of the present study was to detect antibodies against Brucella abortus, Leptospira spp., Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii, and Sarcocystis spp. in 500 water buffalo cows from five ranches (100 animals each) in the NEA. Serum samples were tested for B. abortus by fluorescence polarization assay, Leptospira spp. by microagglutination test, and N. caninum, T. gondii, and Sarcocystis spp. by indirect fluorescent antibody tests. Overall, the proportion of seropositive animals was 6.4, 22.2, 42.2, 25.4, and 50.8 % for brucellosis, leptospirosis, neosporosis, toxoplasmosis, and sarcocystosis, respectively. The proportion of seropositive animals for all diseases was statistically different among herds (p?<?0.05). Statistical differences were also detected among age groups for brucellosis and neosporosis (p?<?0.05). The detection of specific antibodies to B. abortus, Leptospira spp., and several Apicomplexa protozoans in water buffaloes in the NEA is reported in this study.     

Effects of Live Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strain 1026) Supplementation on the Closure of Articular Growth Plates in Quarter Horse Foals

To avoid osteoarticular injury and to minimize farm losses in animal use and sales, breaking in young horses is ideally done as soon as growth plates have closed. An experiment was performed to determine whether dietary live yeast could shorten the time for growth plate closure. Twenty-four female Quarter Horse foals, 8 months of age, were allotted to two treatment groups (12 animals each) in a completely randomized experimental design. Horses were fed 0 or 20 g live yeast daily from 8 to 24 months of age. Diets were regular for a stud farm in the area of the study in Argentina. Foals at 8 months of age had a low baseline calcium urinary fractional excretion compatible with a primary calcium-deficient diet for this age in Argentina. Growth plate closure was evaluated by dorsum–palmar radiographs at baseline. A second evaluation was performed when foals were 12 months of age and a third evaluation when foals were 24 months of age. Blood and urine were sampled simultaneously at the same intervals to evaluate bone and mineral metabolism parameters (serum phosphorus, calcium, magnesium; alkaline phosphatase; and hydroxyproline). Calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus urinary fractional excretions were also calculated. Closure scales of distal radius growth plate data were compared using Wilcoxon test and bone markers were compared using Student t-test. Baseline radiological evaluation of growth plates showed that in 84% of foals, the distal metacarpi were either half closed or fully closed at 8 months; therefore, subsequent evaluations were limited to the distal radius. After 4 months of supplementation with live yeast at 12 months of age, a positive but nonsignificant elevation in calcium urinary fractional excretion was observed. At 24 months of age, radiographs showed a nonsignificant but positive effect in the live yeast group, with more than 50% of foals having closed distal radius growth plates. Although bone markers at 24 months of age did not differ (P > .05) between groups, some individual horses showed a positive effect with yeast supplementation.     

Expression of TGFBR1, TGFBR2, TGFBR3, ACVR1B and ACVR2B is altered in ovaries of cows with cystic ovarian disease

The objective of this study was to examine the expression of transforming growth factor beta receptor (TGFBR)1, TGFBR2, TGFBR3, activin receptor (ACVR)1B and ACVR2B in ovaries of cows with cystic ovarian disease (COD). The expression of the selected receptors was determined by immunohistochemistry in sections of ovaries from cows with ACTH‐induced and spontaneous COD. Expression of TGFBR1 and TGFBR3 was higher in granulosa cells of cysts from cows with spontaneous COD than in tertiary follicles from the control group. Additionally, TGFBR3 expression was higher in granulosa cells of cysts from cows with ACTH‐induced COD than in those from the control group and lower in theca cells of spontaneous and ACTH‐induced cysts than in tertiary control follicles. There were no changes in the expression of TGFBR2. ACVR1B expression was higher in granulosa cells of tertiary follicles of cows with spontaneous COD than in the control group, whereas ACVR2B expression was higher in cysts of the spontaneous COD group than in tertiary follicles from the control group. The alterations here detected, together with the altered expression of the ligands previously reported, indicate alterations in the response of the ligands in the target cells, modifying their actions at cellular level.     

Canine cutaneous neosporosis in Brazil

The clinical signs of infection in dogs with Neospora caninum are usually associated with neurological disorders and are seen in young dogs. In this brief case report we observed multifocal ulcerative and exudative skin nodules on the neck and pelvic limbs of a 10‐year‐old cocker spaniel dog. Infection with N. caninum was diagnosed on the basis of cytology and examination of skin tissues by PCR. The dog initially responded to treatment with clindamycin and then relapsed; the dog died. Infection with N. caninum may have been due in part to immune suppression due to hyperadrenocorticism; which either allowed for the development of a primary infection or reactivation of a latent infection by N. caninum with the occurrence of skin lesions.     

Status of the West Indian Manatee in Honduras

Aerial surveys and interviews with fisherman in Honduras indicate that manatee numbers are low. There is an abundance of suitable habitat, and evidence on the proportion of calves indicates that manatees are reproducing. Although natural mortality occurs when the animals are trapped in small landlocked coastal lagoons, the greatest threat to manatees is from subsistence hunting for their meat. Harpooning from a small motorised canoe is the most common means of capture; however, entanglement in gill nets may also be employed. Enforcement of existing protective laws and enlistment of public support is required to preserve the remaining manatees in Honduras.     

Adjusting P-K Fertilization and Liming Strategies to Enhance Yield of Cherry Tomato Plants Grown on an Oxisol

ABSTRACT

Although cherry-tomato is becoming more popular in the last years, there are no specific recommendations for P and K fertilization or liming strategies for this specific variety. Our aim was to assess rates of P and K and liming strategies in order to improve the yield of cherry-tomato grown on an Oxisol with a limited P-availability. Two pot experiments were developed. In the first-one, a two-factor factorial design was developed with 4 P (first-factor) and 4 K rates (second-factor), being these rates the 0%, 50%, 100%, and 200% of the recommended fertilization for tomato in South-Brazil. In the second experiment, the soil pH (4.3) was adjusted to 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5 with limestone. Soil P-availability, plant growth, diameter, number of fruits and cherry tomato yields were increased with the P addition, while a non-significant effect was observed after adding K. The highest yield was produced with 50% of the suggested amount of P for tomato in comparison with the non-fertilized plants (yield increase of 674%), while higher P rates (100% and 200%) produced a lower yield increase. The significant effect of soil liming was observed on increase of the flower bunches number when the soil pH was amended to 6.5. Cherry-tomato requirements seem to be different from the recommended for other varieties. Our results indicate that higher yields were achieved with a lower amount of chemical inputs than the recommended for tomato in general, stressing the importance of P for tomato cherry production over the other factors assessed here.     

Alpha-tocopherol protects against oxidative damage to lipids of the rod outer segments of the equine retina

Oxidative stress is a possible risk factor for eye diseases. Lipid peroxidation is one of the major events induced by oxidative stress and is particularly active in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-rich biomembranes. This work evaluated endogenous lipid antioxidants, in vitro non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation of rod outer segment membranes (ROS), the fatty acid composition during oxidative damage of total lipids from equine retina and ROS, and the protective action of alpha-tocopherol (alpha-Toc). The major lipid soluble antioxidant was alpha-Toc followed by retinoids and carotenoids. The retina contained a high percentage of PUFAs, mainly docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) and arachidonic acid (20:4n-6). Lipid peroxidation of the equine ROS, induced by Fe(2+)-ascorbate, was monitored using chemiluminescence (CL) with or without pre-treatment with alpha-Toc. With alpha-Toc pre-treatment, CL values were significantly decreased. The most abundant fatty acid was 22:6n-3. After 3h incubation, 95% of total PUFAs were destroyed by peroxidation, whereas in alpha-Toc pre-treated ROS the percentage was significantly decreased. The results show that the retina has an endogenous lipid soluble antioxidant system. ROS were highly sensitive to oxidative damage, since their fatty acid composition was markedly modified during the lipid peroxidation process. The protective role of alpha-Toc as an antioxidant was evident and it could be used in the treatment of equine ocular diseases in which free radicals are involved.