Response of growing-finishing pigs to decreasing floor space allowance and(or) virginiamycin in diet

Five hundred forty crossbred pigs were utilized in four trials (10 replications) at two stations to determine the separate and interacting effects of decreasing floor space allowance with or without the addition of virginiamycin to the diet on performance of growing-finishing pigs. Pigs were allowed .37, .33 or .28 m2/pig during the growing phase (23 to 55 kg) and .74, .66, .56 m2/pig during the finishing phase (55 to 100 kg) and fed either a corn-soybean meal control diet or the control diet plus 11 mg of virginiamycin/kg of diet. Floor space allowances were achieved by varying pen size, so the number of pigs and feeder space per pig were constant for all pens. During the growing phase, daily gain (P less than .01) daily feed intake (P less than .05) and feed conversion ratio (P less than .05) decreased as floor space allowance decreased. During the finishing phase and for the total test period, daily gain (P less than .01) and feed conversion ratio (P less than .05) were reduced but daily feed intake was not affected (P greater than .05) by restricted floor space allowance. The addition of virginiamycin to the diet had no effect on pig performance. The virginiamycin X floor space allowance interaction was not significant, suggesting that pigs fed a diet with or without virginiamycin responded similarly to restricted floor space allowance. The data suggest that the addition of virginiamycin to the diet was ineffective in overcoming the decrease in performance of growing-finishing pigs caused by crowded conditions.     

Perinatal piglets under sublethal concentrations of atmospheric carbon monoxide

Perinatal exposure to atmospheric carbon monoxide at sublethal concentrations affected neonatal piglets negatively. Low total hemoglobin concentration and oxyhemoglobin saturation ratio were present at birth in piglets farrowed by gilts that had been exposed to carbon monoxide at 250 ppm from gestation d 109 on, but stillbirth rate was only 4.8%. Carboxyhemoglobin saturation ratio increased from .0 to 19.8 and 22.4% as carbon monoxide concentration rose from background (less than 5 ppm) to 200 and 250 ppm. Carbon monoxide affected neonatal piglets' behavior. Piglets exposed to atmospheric carbon monoxide at 250 ppm perinatally took longer to nurse for the first time than did counterparts under background or 200-ppm concentrations. Those under carbon monoxide at 250 ppm had compromised performance in behavior tests that measured a piglet's ability to orient itself in, maneuver in and investigate its environment, respectively.     

Clinical use of tissue adhesives in the closure of udder wounds in lactating ewes and goats.

Twenty-seven udder wounds in lactating goats and ewes were treated and closed with synthetic tissue adhesive. Twenty-four healed by primary intention (89%), two wounds were partially healed by primary intention and partially by second intention and a wound failed to heal and developed milk fistula. In general, non suture closure of skin wounds using tissue adhesive proved to be satisfactory and highly efficient in small ruminants.     

Isolation of poxvirus from debilitating cutaneous lesions on four immature grackles (Quiscalus sp.).

Poxvirus was isolated from nodules on four immature grackles (Quiscalus sp.) collected in two residential areas of Victoria, Texas. All of the birds were emaciated and had nodules on the eyelids, bill, legs, toes, and areas of the skin on the wings, neck, and ventral abdomen. These pox nodules were extensive and probably interfered with both sight and flight. The preliminary diagnosis was confirmed by virus isolation, histopathology, and electron microscopy. Poxvirus was isolated on the chorioallantoic membrane of embryonated hen's eggs and in Muscovy duck embryo fibroblast cell culture. Phaenicia calliphoridae (blowfly) larvae were found in one of the pox nodules, raising the possibility of mechanical transmission of the virus by contaminated adult blowflies.     

Study of cystine urinary calculi in dogs.

The composition and structure of 48 canine cystine urinary stones were determined by infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and electron dispersive X-ray analysis. The infrared analysis showed that about 45% of the specimens were composed of pure cystine. The remainder also contained calcium oxalate (mono and/or dihydrate), magnesium ammonium phosphate hexadydrate (struvite), calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate (brushite) and complex urates (ammonium, ammonium potassium and/or potassium enriched ammonium urate). The infrared study of several samples heated at 620 degrees C and 750 degrees C revealed the presence of apatitic calcium phosphate. This compound was difficult to detect in the spectrum of the original samples due to the small proportion of phosphate contained in the calculi and to band overlapping. The examination of a series of selected samples by means of scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis complemented the infrared results.     

Nutrient digestibilities of soft winter wheat, improved triticale cultivars, and pearl millet for finishing pigs

A replicated 4 x 4 Latin square digestion trial was conducted to determine apparent nutrient digestibilities and N and energy balances for soft red winter wheat, Beagle 82 triticale, Florico triticale, and pearl millet using finishing pigs fitted with ileal T-cannulas. Fortified experimental diets contained 97.5% of each respective grain. Nitrogen and amino acid digestibilities of soft winter wheat and triticale were similar (P greater than .13) when measured near the end of the small intestine and over the total digestive tract. Ileal digestibilities of alanine, isoleucine, leucine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine were higher (P less than .05) for pearl millet than for the other grains. Total tract N and amino acid digestibilities were all higher than ileal digestibilities. Gross energy and DM digestibilities determined at the small intestine were higher (P less than .05) for wheat and pearl millet than for Beagle 82 triticale, with the Florico variety being intermediate in energy digestibility. Total tract digestible and ME concentrations followed essentially the same pattern as ileal GE digestibility and were 2 to 3% higher (P less than .05) for wheat and pearl millet than Beagle 82 triticale. Florico triticale had similar (P greater than .05) DE but was 1.3% lower (P less than .05) in ME content than wheat.     

Antibiotic and sulfonamide residues from Food Safety Inspection Service bob veal calf tissues by region, from October 1987 to September 1988

Of 3,095 bob veal carcasses declared positive to the calf antibiotic and sulfonamide test (CAST) performed by USDA-FSIS personnel during the fiscal year 1988, 967 were submitted to USDA-FSIS laboratories for intensified antimicrobial evaluation of kidney, liver, and muscle specimens. In the western region, CAST-positive specimens were analyzed from certified calves, that is, calves declared free of antimicrobials by their producers. In the midwestern and eastern regions, 20% of the CAST-positive carcass submissions were certified and 20% had not been certified. Among the regions, neomycin was the most commonly reported agent from kidney specimens; however, there were some distinct differences among regions (24.6% of the specimens in the Midwest, 37.4% in the East, and 46.8% in the West). Reports of gentamicin in specimens also were different among regional laboratories (9.0% in the Midwest, 12.1% in the East, 3.1% in the West). Sulfamethazine was less frequently reported by the western laboratory, never exceeding 2% among the 3 tissues tested, whereas the eastern and midwestern laboratories had at least 1 tissue type that was greater than or equal to 9%. Not all specimens were subjected to sulfonamide evaluation. Regional patterns were noticed for unidentified microbial inhibitors, which were most evident for liver in which 24.6% of the specimens at the western laboratory were classified as having unidentified microbial inhibitors, and only 6.3% of specimens at the eastern laboratory were classified as having unidentified microbial inhibitors.     

Poor reproductive response of anestrous Suffolk ewes to ram exposure is not due to failure to secrete luteinizing hormone acutely

Twenty Polypay-sired ewes (Group P) and 14 Suffolk ewes (Group S) were bled at 48-h intervals for 10 d beginning on April 6, 1989, and the serum was assayed for progesterone to determine which ewes were anestrous; 9/20 Group P ewes were anestrous, compared with 14/14 Group S ewes (P less than .001). Catheters were placed into the jugular vein of anestrous ewes from both breed groups (eight of Group P, seven of Group S), and samples of serum were collected at 12-min intervals for 4 h. Then, the ewes were exposed to mature, intact rams, and additional samples were taken at 12-min intervals for 4 h after ram exposure. The serum was later analyzed to determine the secretion of LH in response to ram introduction. After the acute bleeding period, all Group P and Group S ewes were commingled and exposed to a ram continuously for 42 d. Samples of serum were collected thrice weekly and analyzed for progesterone to monitor ovulatory response to ram introduction through the 42-d period. In addition, breeding activity and lambing data were recorded. When all Group P ewes were compared to Group S ewes, a greater proportion (P less than .001) of Group P ewes were mated (20/20 vs 3/13; one Group S ewe died during the 42-d mating period) by the end of the 42-d period and more (P less than .001) ewes lambed in the fall (17/20 Group P vs 2/13 Group S).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Urinary Incontinence after Prostatectomy in Dogs

Eleven dogs with prostatic disease were treated by total prostatectomy. Urinary incontinence persisted in three of nine dogs, two of which were also incontinent before surgery. The incidence of postoperative incontinence may be reduced by undermining the prostatic capsule to preserve as much prostatic urethra as possible. The risk of postoperative incontinence appeared greater if there was prostatic neoplasia or preoperative urinary incontinence.     

Efficacy of the immunoblot assay for cysticercosis in pigs and modulated expression of distinct IgM/IgG activities to Taenia solium antigens in experimental infections

A recently invented immunoblot assay for human cysticercosis was evaluated for efficacy in pigs. The test population consists of 45 pigs with parasitologically confirmed cysticercosis, 47 with heterologous infections, 45 SPF or concrete raised control animals. With this group of 137 animals the test performance was 100% sensitive and 100% specific. The antigen-specific responses of immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG and IgM in four pigs infected with Taenia solium eggs derived from a human were quantified by immunoblot. Antigen-specific activities were observed as early as 1 week postinfection. The first antigen-specific isotypic response was IgM antibodies directed against a glycoprotein at 97 KD (GP97). This activity generally disappeared between the sixth and ninth week postinfection. Between Weeks 5 and 8, IgG activity rose as IgM activity fell. The IgG activity, however, was directed mostly towards GP50 and GP42 antigens. If the same response occurs in people with cysticercosis, identifying specific isotype activity may help to distinguish new infection from old.