Vitamin D doses for alpacas (Lama pacos)

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of cholecalciferol (D3) doses for maintaining adequate vitamin D status in crias and adult female alpacas at pasture. DESIGN: A field experiment during winter and early spring in a herd on a farm in South Australia. ANIMALS AND PROCEDURE: Crias, usually less than 6 months of age and female alpacas, aged 2 to 6 years, were given a single subcutaneous dose of 0, 1000 or 2000 IU D3/kg body weight. Plasma concentrations of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH D3), phosphorus, calcium and vitamins A and E and alkaline phosphatase activity were measured at intervals over a period of 16 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: Crias not given a vitamin D supplement had reduced growth rate during winter and one animal showed clinical signs of rickets. Vitamin D treatment had no effect on the body weight of mature females. Vitamin D supplements increased the 25-OH D3 and phosphorus concentrations in plasma of both crias and adult females; alkaline phosphatase activity was not affected by treatment. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that for alpacas in southern Australia a subcutaneous dose of 1000 IU D3/kg body weight to crias in late autumn and again in mid winter and to adult females in mid winter should prevent vitamin D inadequacy.     

识别假劣、失效兽药的简易方法

介绍了识别假劣、失效兽药的简易方法,包括假劣兽药的外观识别和部分失效兽药的识别,可供畜牧养殖者参考.     

Factors influencing recruitment of walleye and white bass to three distinct early ontogenetic stages

Determining the factors that influence recruitment to sequential ontogenetic stages is critical for understanding recruitment dynamics of fish and for effective management of sportfish, particularly in dynamic and unpredictable environments. We sampled walleye (Sander vitreus) and white bass (Morone chrysops) at 3 ontogenetic stages (age 0 during spring: ‘age‐0 larval’; age 0 during autumn: ‘age‐0 juvenile’; and age 1 during autumn: ‘age‐1 juvenile’) from 3 reservoirs. We developed multiple linear regression models to describe factors influencing age‐0 larval, age‐0 juvenile and age‐1 juvenile walleye and white bass abundance indices. Our models explained 40–80% (68 ± 9%; mean ± SE) and 71%–97% (81 ± 6%) of the variability in catch for walleye and white bass respectively. For walleye, gizzard shad were present in the candidate model sets for all three ontogenetic stages we assessed. For white bass, there was no unifying variable in all three stage‐specific candidate model sets, although walleye abundance was present in two of the three white bass candidate model sets. We were able to determine several factors affecting walleye and white bass year‐class strength at multiple ontogenetic stages; comprehensive analyses of factors influencing recruitment to multiple early ontogenetic stages are seemingly rare in the literature. Our models demonstrate the interdependency among early ontogenetic stages and the complexities involved with sportfish recruitment.     

Evidence for Widespread 26Al in the Solar Nebula and Constraints for Nebula Time Scales

A search was made for 26Mg (26Mg*) from the decay of 26Al (half-life = 0.73 million years) in Al-rich objects from unequilibrated ordinary chondrites. Two Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) and two Al-rich chondrules (not CAIs) were found that contained 26Al when they formed. Internal isochrons for the CAIs yielded an initial 26Al/27Al ratio [(26Al/27Al)0] of 5 x 10(-5), indistinguishable from most CAIs in carbonaceous chondrites. This result shows that CAIs with this level of 26Al are present throughout the classes of chondrites and strengthens the notion that 26Al was widespread in the early solar system. The two Al-rich chondrules have lower 26Mg*, corresponding to a (26Al/27Al)0 ratio of approximately 9 x 10(-6). Five other Al-rich chondrules contain no resolvable 26Mg*. If chondrules and CAIs formed from an isotopically homogeneous reservoir, then the chondrules with 26Al must have formed or been last altered approximately2 million years after CAIs formed; the 26Mg*-free chondrules formed >1 to 3 million years later still. Because 26Mg*-containing and 26Mg*-free chondrules are both found in Chainpur, which was not heated to more than approximately400°C, it follows that parent body metamorphism cannot explain the absence of 26Mg* in some of these chondrules. Rather, its absence indicates that the lifetime of the solar nebula over which CAIs and chondrules formed extended over approximately5 million years.     

Evaluation of an agar immunodiffusion procedure for confirming bacterial ring rot diagnoses

Bacterial ring rot-infected tuber and stem tissue reacted withCorynebacterium sepedonicum antiserum in agar immunodiffusion (AID). The AID test was as effective as immunofluorescence (IF) in confirming ring rot in potato tubers submitted for diagnosis. Precipitin bands developed in AID with tuber preparations that contained, in a 1:10 dilution of the preparation, at least 100 IF positive cells/microscope field with a 100 X oil objective. Only a low percentage of preparations with less than 100 IF positive cells were positive with AID. Samples inoculated withC. sepedonicum strains which produced non-mucoid colony types on YGM medium did not consistently develop precipitin bands in AID which suggests that the usefulness of the test may be limited where non-mucoid strains occur naturally.     

Tail docking in dogs: A sample of attitudes of veterinarians and dog breeders in Queensland

One hundred veterinarians and 100 breeders of traditionally docked dogs from Queensland were surveyed by telephone to determine their attitudes towards tail docking. Eighty-four percent of the breeders surveyed were in favour of docking, whereas 83% of veterinarians were opposed to the practice. Most pups were docked between 1 and 3 days of age. All veterinarians surgically amputated the tail, whereas 16% of breeders applied rubber bands to the tail. Seventy-six percent of the veterinarians, but only 18% of the breeders believed that docking caused significant to severe pain. No veterinarians, but 25% of the dog breeders believed that docking was painless. Although recent changes to the Queensland Canine Control Council's rulings allow dogs with intact tails to be shown in traditionally docked classes, the requirement of breed standard was cited as the major reason for tail docking by both breeders and veterinarians.     

Use of induced cutaneous immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions to evaluate anti-inflammatory effects of triamcinolone topical solution in three dogs

The anti-inflammatory effect of a triamcinolone topical solution (TTS) was evaluated by use of induced cutaneous immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions in dogs. Healthy dogs ( n  = 3) were treated on one side of the lateral thorax with TTS, and on the contralateral side with vehicle solution. After 7 days of treatment, serial dilutions of inflammatory stimuli (histamine, compound 48/80, anticanine IgE, substance P, and morphine sulphate) were injected intradermally on both sides. Resulting immediate reactions were subjectively scored, their diameters were measured in millimetres, and microcirculatory blood flow at each site was measured using laser Doppler velocimetry. The magnitude of the differences between TTS and vehicle-treated sides varied with the type of measurement and the stimulus used. With compound 48/80, anti-IgE, substance P, and morphine sulphate-injected sites, for at least one concentration, the reaction scores and sizes were notably less on the TTS-treated sides. Punch skin biopsy specimens were obtained from selected sites 24 h after injection. A pathologist examined stained tissue sections and scored each section as to degree of late-phase dermal cellular infiltrate. Dermal infiltrate scores were generally lower at the TTS-treated sites; the composite score from all TTS-treated sites was 30% lower than that from the vehicle-treated sites. Observations suggest that TTS may be effective in decreasing some aspects of the inflammatory response in canine skin.     

Depot injection of barium selenate for long-term prevention of selenium inadequacy in beef cattle

In southern Australia, cattle at risk from selenium (Se) deficiency can be given an oral dose of supplements that are effective in maintaining adequate Se status for between 9 and 12 months. The present study was undertaken to assess the duration of the effect of parenteral barium selenate (BaSe) in raising the Se status of cattle at pasture in an area of marginal Se deficiency. The BaSe was given subcutaneously to Hereford heifers, using an 18-gauge needle. Cattle had regular blood sampling to assay Se, from 8 days before dosing to 1155 days afterwards. Results show that a single injection of BaSe was effective in elevating blood and plasma Se concentrations to normal values for at least 2 to 3 years, when given to beef cattle of low normal Se status. We suggest that a prophylactic dosage of 0.5 mg Se/kg body weight as BaSe should be given every 2 years to prevent Se inadequacy in beef cattle grazing pasture of marginal Se content.     

PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF SURVIVAL AND GROWTH OF JUVENILE RED DRUM (Sciaenops ocellata) IN FRESH AND SALT WATER

Heretofore few quantitative studies on the tolerance of red drum (Sciaenops ocellata Linnaeus) to freshwater (FW) or dilute sea water have been conducted. In the laboratory we subjected larval and juvenile stages of red drum to dechlorinated FW for 96 hours and found 5% survival in larvae (23-day-old, 6.2 mm SL), 70% for postlarvae (34 and 47-day-old, 16.2 mm to 19.7 mm SL) and 95% for juveniles (57-day-old, 56.9 mm SL). Survival in control salinities of 10 ppt was 90% or greater. The results indicate that tolerance to dilute media is size dependent. In a separate experiment growth of juvenile red drum (52 mm SL) over a 30-day period was compared in two raceways with flow-through supplies of dechlorinated FW, and SW of ambient (35±2 ppt) salinity. SW fish grew significantly larger (P < .01) than those acclimated to FW. Within both treatments a large size differential developed with time. Food conversion efficiency was improved and appetite drive was enhanced in the SW treatment. Percent survival after 30 days was comparably high (93%) in both treatments. Fast growth and high survival of juvenile (>20 mm SL) red drum promote the feasibility of this valuable sport and commercial species in both FW and SW aquaculture. Its potential as a control fish in FW fishery management deserves further investigation.     

An investigation of skin temperature differentials in relation to estrus in dairy cattle using a thermal infrared scanning technique

To evaluate the effectiveness of thermal infrared scanning as a technique to detect estrus, 27 Holstein-Friesian cows were observed for a 90-d period beginning in the second week postpartum. The area enclosed by the 37-C isotherm on the gluteal region of a cow's body tended to increase in association with the occurrence of estrus. This increase became statistically significant at the third postpartum estrus. During the first 50-postpartum d, infrared scanning enhanced detection of estrus when compared with standard dairyman-detection accuracy. However, detection of estrus using infrared scanning was hampered by false positives (33% around the third postpartum estrus) and inability to detect estrus for some cows (7%). It appears at present that the usefulness of infrared scanning for routine detection of estrus in dairy cows is limited, but the technique may have potential as a research tool for the study of skin temperature patterns.