Influence of limestone level in high concentrate and high roughage diets on site and extent of digestion in lambs

Two digestion and slaughter trials were conducted to evaluate the influence of limestone level on site and extent of digestion and rumen fermentation in lambs. In trial 1, 11 wether lambs (avg wt 40.7 kg) were fed 75% concentrate diets supplemented with .6, 1.5 or 3.0% limestone (.6,1.2,1.7% dietary Ca, respectively) in a completely randomized design. Dry matter intake increased linearly (P less than .10) with limestone level; therefore, other data were analyzed with dry matter intake as a covariate. Total tract organic matter digestion decreased linearly (P less than .05) with increasing limestone but dry matter and fiber digestion were not affected by limestone. Ruminal digestion of dry matter and organic matter declined linearly (P less than .05) with increasing limestone. Ruminal neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestion was higher with the 1.5 than the .6 and 3.0% limestone diets (quadratic effect, P less than .05) but ruminal digestion of other fiber components was not affected by limestone. Ruminal volatile fatty acids were not affected by limestone level; however, rumen ammonia concentrations decreased linearly (P less than .05) with increasing limestone level. In trial 2, 12 wether lambs (avg wt 43.3 kg) were fed a 35% concentrate diet with .1, 1.5 or 3.0% limestone (.5, 1.2 and 1.6% dietary Ca, respectively) in a completely randomized design. Dry matter intake was not affected by limestone level, but digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and starch (P less than .10), energy, crude protein, acid detergent fiber (ADF) and cellulose (P less than .05) responded quadratically to limestone level, with increases at the 1.5% limestone level. Ruminal dry and organic matter (P less than .05), NDF (P less than .10), ADF (P less than .01), cellulose (P less than .05) and starch (P less than .05) digestion responded quadratically to limestone level with higher values at the 1.5% limestone level. Proportions of ruminal propionate increased linearly (P less than .01) with increasing limestone level and acetate: propionate ratio declined linearly (P less than .01) with limestone level.     

A simple technique for preparation of chicken-embryo-skin cell cultures

A simple, rapid technique was developed for preparing chicken-embryo-skin cell cultures utilizing trypsinization of the skin of intact 12-day-old chicken embryos. When cell cultures were inoculated with fowl pox virus, those that consisted of at least 80% epithelial cells yielded a higher virus titer than fibroblast cell cultures.     

Economic values and selection index in different Angus‐Nellore cross‐bred production systems

Bioeconomic models were developed to calculate economic values (EV) for economically important traits in beef cattle, to evaluate the impact of these traits on production profitability, to assess possible market changes with a payment system and to develop economic selection indexes for Angus cattle for two production systems. Two beef cattle production systems were simulated as follows: a cow‐calf cycle (CC) and a complete cycle (CoC). Following selection, positive changes in the EV were observed. In the CC, each 1.0% increment in weaning weight (WW), weaning rate (WR) and pregnancy rate (PR) resulted in increases in US$ 1.30, US$ 3.68 and US$ 3.55 per cow/year in profit, respectively. In the CoC, EV of US$ 1.01, US$ 1.79, US$ 1.19, US$ 1.34, US$ 6.84 and US$ 7.86 per cow/year were obtained for WW, year weight, yearling weight, final weight, WR and PR, respectively. The payment system for carcass quality showed that the scenario considering that 100% of the animals displayed uniform carcasses exhibited the highest EV and was considered optimal. Considering the sensitivity analysis, the price paid per animal was the factor that most affected the EV in both systems. The selection indexes obtained may be used in similar production systems, and the use of EV and selection indexes are important tools for any production system with positive change in profit after selection.     

Drug resistance in Sudanese Trypanosoma evansi

The drug sensitivities of 16 Trypanosoma evansi isolates from Sudan were examined using two different in vitro assays and rodent models. IC₅₀ values (concentration which inhibited incorporation of ³H-hypoxanthine by 50%) obtained in a 40 h assay indicate that most of the isolates were resistant to suramin, a drug which has not been used in Sudan since 1975. Sensitivities for suramin in a 10-day-in vitro assay varied within a 124-fold range. The in vitro results were confirmed by infection/treatment experiments in mice. Sensitivities in vitro for quinapyramine varied within a 166-fold range. In mice, the least sensitive isolates were not cured with dosages up to 10 mg/kg quinapyramine. Based on in vitro results, all isolates appeared to be susceptible to isometamidium.     

Variations in Sugar Content and Dry Matter Distribution in Roots and their Associations with Frost Tolerance in Certain Forage Legume Species

Enhancement of cold tolerance is an important aspect in breeding forage legumes in view of increasing interest in extending the cultivation of these crops. Three classes of characters — morphological, morpho-physiological and biochemical — were considered in selection for cold-tolerance between and within forage legume species under contrasting growing conditions in the field and a plastic house.
Significant correlation was found between cold damage and concentration of sugars m roots of various forage legume species which were grown under field conditions and subjected to natural frost. Both morphological as well as morpho-physiological characters were related to cold tolerance in Lathyrus ochrus (L.) DC. This indicated that chemical constituents cannot be used as a sole criterion to select for winter-hardy strains of this species. Root-shoot ratio showed a consistent relationship with tolerance to cold irrespective of the growing conditions and season. Hence, sugar concentration and root-shoot ratio are useful characters in testing species found cold tolerant by other methods. The root-shoot ratio could be used for testing cold tolerance under controlled conditions. The number of primary branches per plant, root weight and shoot weight may be used as morphological characters in selection for cold tolerance in L. ochrus under field conditions.     

Fusarium solani f.sp.cucurbitae andF. oxysporum f.sp.niveum inoculum densities in tunisian soils and their effect on watermelon seedlings

Populations ofFusarium solani f.sp.cucurbitae (Fsc) andFusarium oxysporum f.sp.niveum (Fon) in naturally infested soil of watermelon fields were counted by the soil dilution method with subsequent pathogenicity tests. Inoculum density varied within the same region from one field to another, ranging between 9 and 1600 CFU g^?1 soil forFsc and from 0 to 200 CFU g^?1 soil forFon. Fusarium crown- and root-rot-diseased seedlings were observed in most soils (93%); however, Fusarium wilt was observed in only 34% of soil samples. The disease incidence on cv. ‘Giza’ (Y) increased significantly with inoculum density in the soil (X) (P<0.001). ForFsc, the relationship between inoculum density and disease incidence was characterized by the equation Y=0.0005X+0.165 (R²=0.67). ForFon, the equation was Y=0.003X?0.0014 (R²=0.88). Based on these equations, the estimated inoculum densities required to cause 50% disease incidence (DI₅₀) on cv. Giza plants was 670 and 171 CFU g^?1 soil forFsc andFon, respectively.     

Pharmacodisposition of thiamphenicol in rabbits

The pharmacokinetic parameters of thiamphenicol (TAP) were studied in New Zealand white rabbits. Five rabbits were each given thiamphenicol as a single 30 mg/kg of body weight dosage by intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular (i.m.) and oral routes. Serum antibacterial concentrations were determined for 72 h after dosing. Compartmental modeling of the i.v. administration indicated that a 2-compartment open model best described the disposition of thiamphenicol in rabbits. Serum thiamphenicol concentrations after i.m. and oral dosing were best described by a 1- and 2-compartment model, respectively. Overall elimination half-lives for i.v., i.m. and oral routes of administration were 1.39, 2.45, and 1.44 h, respectively. The half-life of absorption for oral dosing was 1.2 times the half-life of absorption after i.m. dosing (0.49 h vs 0.40 h). The calculated time to maximal serum concentration was 1.25 h after i.m. dosing and 1.17 h after oral administration. The calculated serum concentrations at these times were 80.4 and 69.8 micrograms/ml, respectively. Mean residence time's were 1.89 h for i.v. injection, 2.78 h for i.m. dosing and 4.11 h for oral administration. Thiamphenicol was widely distributed in the rabbit as suggested by the volume of distribution value at steady state of 1.47 l/kg calculated from the i.v. study. Bioavailability was 101.4% after i.m. dosing and 64.2% for oral absorption.     

Alterations in 5-HT1B receptor function by p11 in depression-like states

The pathophysiology of depression remains enigmatic, although abnormalities in serotonin signaling have been implicated. We have found that the serotonin 1B receptor [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT1B) receptor] interacts with p11. p11 increases localization of 5-HT1B receptors at the cell surface. p11 is increased in rodent brains by antidepressants or electroconvulsive therapy, but decreased in an animal model of depression and in brain tissue from depressed patients. Overexpression of p11 increases 5-HT1B receptor function in cells and recapitulates certain behaviors seen after antidepressant treatment in mice. p11 knockout mice exhibit a depression-like phenotype and have reduced responsiveness to 5-HT1B receptor agonists and reduced behavioral reactions to an antidepressant.