Effect of oat decortication on chemical composition,in vitro digestibility and in situ degradability

The effect of decortication on chemical composition and degradability characteristics of four Danish oat varieties was investigated. Effective degradability (ED) and post-ruminal disappearance (PRD) were measured by in situ and mobile bag techniques respectively. Decorticated oat showed higher (p = .01) concentrations of crude protein (CP; 134 vs. 108 g/kg DM) and crude fat (71.6 vs. 53.1 g/kg DM) and a higher (p = .001) organic matter digestibility (OMD; 888 vs. 703 g/kg OM) than oat. The content of total fatty acids (FA) in DM was higher in decorticated oat. The proportion of linoleic acid (C18:2 n6) increased (p < .05) due to decortication, while the linolenic acid (C18:3 n3) proportion of total FA decreased in decorticated oat. Decortication increased (p = .01) the concentration of amino acids (AA), but the proportion of lysine in total AA decreased (p < .002). Effective degradability (ED) of both DM and CP was (p < .001) higher in decorticated oat. Decortication increased the total tract disappearance (TTD) and PRD of CP (p < .001). In conclusion, decortication can be used as a practical approach to increase the nutritional value of oat.     

Path analysis of peripartum and postpartum events, rectal palpation findings, endometrial biopsy results and reproductive performance in Holstein-Friesian dairy cows

Peripartum events, rectal palpation findings, histological and bacteriological results of endometrial biopsy, and postpartum disease variables were included in a path analysis of reproductive performance for 55 Holstein-Friesian cows from one herd. Both logistic and least squares regression were used. Based on this model, dystocia had both direct and indirect sparing associations on poor reproductive performance. A larger corpus luteum on the ovary ipsilateral to the previously non-gravid horn at Day 26 postpartum indirectly was associated with a decreased likelihood of poor reproductive performance through reduced isolation of Actinomyces pyogenes from the uterus and reduced inflammation in the stratum compactum. In the model, A. pyogenes indirectly increased poor reproductive performance through reduced number of lymphocytic foci and increased inflammation in the stratum compactum at Day 26. Increased numbers of lymphocytic foci had a direct sparing effect on poor reproduction. Stratum compactum inflammation was associated with a direct and indirect increase in the likelihood that a cow would experience poor reproductive performance via increased occurrence of cystic ovarian disease. Presence of a larger follicle on the ovary ipsilateral to the previously gravid horn had a direct beneficial effect on reproductive performance.     

Use of acupuncture for the treatment of chronic back pain in horses: stimulation of acupuncture points with saline solution injections

Fifteen horses that could not train or perform their sport at an acceptable level because of chronic back pain of 2 to 24 months' duration, and that did not obtain lasting improvement from other previous treatments, were treated with acupuncture. The treatments consisted of injection of 1 ml of sterile saline (0.9% NaCl) solution, with no preservatives, at 9 acupuncture points. The horses were treated once a week for a mean of 9 treatments. The mean number of treatments before obvious improvement was 4. After treatment, 13 of the 15 horses had apparent alleviation of their signs of pain and could train and compete. Six to 12 months after their last treatment, 2 horses had been removed from competition; one had sustained a fracture and the other had died. The remaining 11 of the original 13 that competed after treatment were still competing.     

Conservative treatment of a minimally displaced fracture of the radius of a horse

The successful conservative treatment of an open, displaced fracture of the radius of a horse suggests that conservative treatment should not be ignored when surgery is not an option. The importance of proper soft-tissue management and the use of broad-spectrum antimicrobial treatment in the management of orthopedic injuries is emphasized.     

Histological and morphometric lesions in the pre-clinical,developmental phase of insulin-induced laminitis in Standardbred horses

Lamellar pathology in experimentally-induced equine laminitis associated with euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemia is substantial by the acute, clinical phase (～48 h post-induction). However, lamellar pathology of the developmental, pre-clinical phase requires evaluation. The aim of this study was to analyse lamellar lesions both qualitatively and quantitatively, 6, 12 and 24 h after the commencement of hyperinsulinaemia. Histological and histomorphometrical analyses of lamellar pathology at each time-point included assessment of lamellar length and width, epidermal cell proliferation and death, basement membrane (BM) pathology and leucocyte infiltration. Archived lamellar tissue from control horses and those with acute, insulin-induced laminitis (48 h) was also assessed for cellular proliferative activity by counting the number of cells showing positive nuclear immuno labelling for TPX2.Decreased secondary epidermal lamellar (SEL) width and increased histomorphological evidence of SEL epidermal basal (and supra-basal) cell death occurred early in disease progression (6 h). Increased cellular proliferation in SELs, infiltration of the dermis with small numbers of leucocytes and BM damage occurred later (24 and 48 h). Some lesions, such as narrowing of the SELs, were progressive over this time period (6–48 h). Cellular pathology preceded leucocyte infiltration and BM pathology, indicating that the latter changes may be secondary or downstream events in hyperinsulinaemic laminitis.     

Congenital infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum in a calf in northern Germany

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a Gram-negative, obligate intracellular tick-transmitted bacterium that replicates in neutrophils. It causes tick-borne fever (TBF) in sheep and cattle, but also elicits febrile disease in humans as well as in other domestic animals such as dogs, horses, and cats. Although increasingly recognized in Europe, the first laboratory-confirmed case of TBF in cattle from Germany has been published only recently. We here present the unusual case of an intrauterine transmission of A. phagocytophilum in a calf from northern Germany. To our knowledge, this is the first report of such an event occurring under field conditions in cattle.     

Evaluation of feedstuffs and pig diets. Energy or nutrient‐based evaluation systems? II. proposal for a new nutrient‐based evaluation system

A new nutrient‐based evaluation system for feedstuffs and pig diets is proposed. The proposed system is based on (i) an identification of those organic nutrient fractions that, according to their absorption, metabolism and utilization, are relevant for determining the value of the feed, and (ii) biochemically‐based calculations of the potential physiological value of these fractions. The system is further based on a flexible stepwise evaluation in which the fundamental properties of the feed are related to its utilization in actual situations. Step 1 is characterized by single feedstuffs according to the digestible amounts of those nutrient fractions which are relevant for feed formulation, i.e. essential amino acids, other N‐compounds, ileal digestible carbohydrates, fermentable carbohydrates, fatty acids and other lipid compounds. Step 2 involves complete diets with three complementary properties, measured according to their potential value for the pig: protein value (i.e. amount of digestible ideal protein), “fat value”; (i.e. amount of digestible triacylglycerols) and the “complemental energy value”; (i.e. potential metabolic energy generated directly from the residual digestible nutrient fractions). Step 3 predicts the production value, either a standardized value determined by standard mathematical equations, or the actual value determined by the use of computerized pig models.     

Ejaculatory failure associated with aortic-iliac thrombosis in two stallions.

Two mature breeding stallions were evaluated because of specific ejaculatory dysfunction, and each was found to have aortic-iliac thrombosis occluding 60 to 70% of the aortic lumen. In each case, the stallion had strong libido, normal mounting, and vigorous initial thrusting. With continued exertion, thrusting became weak and dismount was awkward. Treatment aimed at maximizing sexual arousal before mounting and reducing hind limb pain and exertion during breeding allowed these stallions to continue breeding. A program of gradually increasing daily exercise also was associated with improved breeding performance during subsequent breeding seasons. In cases of specific ejaculatory dysfunction, aortic-iliac disease should be included among the differential diagnoses.     

Insulin resistance and changes in plasma concentration of TNFalpha, IGF1, and NEFA in dogs during weight gain and obesity

Obesity-induced insulin resistance (IR) is a common problem in humans as well as domestic dogs. It is well-known that this syndrome is associated with many modifications but it is still unclear if the changes are alterations or adaptations. The purpose of this study was to develop obesity-induced IR in dogs, through a long-term overfeeding period, and to explore hormonal and metabolic disturbances associated with the development of this syndrome. Dogs were overfed for 7 months. Body weight increased by 43 +/- 5%, and insulin sensitivity decreased by 44 +/- 5%. Plasma insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentrations progressively increased during the overfeeding period (IGF1: 111 +/- 13 to 266 +/- 32 ng/ml, p < 0.001; TNFalpha: 5 +/- 5 to 134 +/- 41 pg/ml; NEFA: 0.974 +/- 0.094 to 1.590 +/- 0.127 mmol/l, p < 0.05). These metabolic and hormonal impairments are associated with IR, in obese dogs, and could explain, at least in part, the outbreak of this syndrome.