A simple restrainer for sheep for abdominal radiography

The construction of a simple, portable restrainer for holding sheep in either the horizontal or vertical position for abdominal radiography is described. Examples of its use in locating slow-release pellets-and needles are given.     

The pharmacokinetics of fenbendazole and oxfendazole in cattle

The pharmacokinetics of fenbendazole and oxfendazole in cattle are described. The pharmacokinetics of oxfendazole were not significantly different when administered orally and by intra-ruminal injection. At a dose rate of 4.5 mg/kg, administered orally, fenbendazole gave rise to mean peak concentrations in plasma of fenbendazole and oxfendazole of 0.11 and 0.13 g/ml respectively. Oral administration of oxfendazole, at 4.5 mg/kg body weight, gave rise to plasma peak concentrations of fenbendazole and oxfendazole of 0.10 and 0.20 g/ml respectively. Following intra-ruminal administration of oxfendazole, the peak concentrations were 0.11 and 0.18 g/ml respectively.     

Equine hydatidosis: a new record for New Zealand

Cysts found in the liver of a horse which had never been out of New Zealand were used to infect two dogs which were slaughtered 35 days after infection. Large numbers of Echinococcus granulosus were recovered. These cestodes were compared with mature dog-sheep cestodes, using light and scanning electron microscopy and identified as the dog-horse strain of E.granulosus.     

Immunization against polyandroalbumin leads to increases in lambing and tailing percentages

A series of 10 farm trials was conducted in which the lambing performance of ewes immunised against polyandroalbumin was compared with that of untreated ewes in the same flock. The trials show that polyandroalbumin treatment is a reliable method of increasing lambing and tailing percentages in New Zealand flocks. An average of 39 extra lambs born per 100 ewes tupped was achieved on farms where ewes were given two treatments about four weeks apart and rams were introduced 18-26 days after the second dose. On farms where rams were introduced less than 12 days after this booster injection an average of 19 extra lambs born per 100 ewes tupped resulted. On farms where rams were introduced at 18-26 days post booster injection an average of 35 extra lambs were tailed for every 100 ewes tupped. The response for immunization increased in direct relation to the liveweight of the ewes at tupping.     

Endogenous ionic currents traverse intact and damaged bone

Living bone drives an electric current through itself and into sites of damage. Such "fracture currents" consist of two components: an intense, decaying current dependent on bone deformation and a stable, persistent current driven by a cellular battery. The latter is carried by chloride ions and, to a lesser extent, by sodium, magnesium, and calcium ions. Endogenous fracture currents are of the same polarity and similar magnitude as clinically applied currents that are successful in treating chronic nonunions in fractured bones. This suggests that the defect in biological nonunions may reside in the electrophysiology of repair.     

Incompatibility Between the Dimorphic Flowers of Collomia grandiflora, a Cleistogamous Species

The cleistogamous species Collomia grandiflora produces dimorphic cross-incompatible flowers on a single plant. The open or chasmogamous flower has smaller, flask-shaped stigmatic papillae, larger pollen grains, longer styles, and faster pollen tube growth rates down the style than the closed or cleistogamous flower. In intermorph crosses, pollen tube growth rates are greatly decreased and fertilization does not occur.