Dietary crude protein concentration does not affect the leucine requirement of growing dogs

The objective of the present study was to examine the interaction between graded levels of leucine and dietary crude protein. Dose–response curves were generated using four 3 × 3 Latin squares (two dogs/square). Each square represented one of two concentrations of crude protein (140 or 280 g/kg diet) and one of two combinations of three concentrations of leucine (5.0, 7.0 and 9.0 g/kg diet or 9.0, 11 and 13 g/kg diet). An additional experiment was performed by feeding crude protein at 210 g/kg diet with either 7.0 or 11 g leucine/kg diet. Weight gain, food intake, nitrogen retention, plasma albumin and plasma amino acids were measured. The requirement was determined to be the minimum leucine concentration required to maximize weight gain and nitrogen retention. For 8–14-week-old male Beagle dogs, 140 g crude protein/kg diet in a diet containing 18 kJ metabolizable energy/g does not appear to support maximal growth. The leucine requirement was not affected by doubling the dietary crude protein level from 140 to 280 g/kg diet. From these results, the leucine requirement of 8–14-week-old Beagle dogs appears to be 11 g leucine/kg diet independent of the level of dietary crude protein, whereas dogs over 14 weeks require only 7 g leucine/kg diet for maximal nitrogen retention.     

Double infection with maedi virus and adenomatosis virus in Merino sheep]

This is the first report of the simultaneous occurrence of sheep pulmonary adenomatosis and lymphoid interstitial pneumonia (Maedi) in the same animal in the Federal Republic of Germany. Seven adult sheep of the Merino Landrace were tested by immunodiffusion-assay for antibodies against Maedi/Visna-virus. Five of them originating from three different flocks had a positive reaction. In all pulmonary foci, which were examined by light microscopy, we found proliferations of the alveolar epithelium and therefore made a diagnosis of pulmonary adenomatosis. The animals with antibodies against Maedi-virus were additionally affected by a non-purulent peribronchitis and interstitial pneumonia. The diagnostic difficulties in double infections like those reported here are discussed. Eradication is complicated by the unknown epidemiologic situation.     

Quantitative analysis of canine plasma lipoproteins

A combined ultracentrifugationl/precipitation method for the measurement of lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations was developed and validated for use with canine plasma. Very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) were isolated by flotation ultracentrifugation and low density lipoproteins (LDL) separated from high density lipoproteins (HDL) by precipitation with heparin-manganese chloride. Effective separation of these classes was confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis of native lipoproteins and by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of their apolipoprotein distributions. There was trace contamination of the LDL precipitate with HDL, but this represented less than 4 and 9 per cent of the total plasma HDL in normo- and hypercholesterolaemic dogs, respectively. The intra-assay and interassay coefficients of variation for LDL- and HDL-cholesterol concentrations were between 3·3 and 6·9 per cent, and 7·2 and 9·0 per cent, respectively, for plasma cholesterol concentrations between 2·67 and 8·14 mmoll/litre. The intra-assay coefficient of variation for VLDL-cholesterol was 53·8 and 18·4 per cent at plasma cholesterol concentrations of 2·67 and 8·14 mmol/litre, respectively. The interassay coefficient of variation for VLDL was 22·5 per cent. Storage of plasma at -20°C for between two and eight weeks did not affect VLDL-cholesterol concentrations, but led to an increase in LDL-cholesterol and a decrease in HDL-cholesterol concentrations of approximately 10 per cent. The method described is appropriate for the measurement of lipoprotein concentrations in plasma from normo- and hypercholesterolaemic dogs, but samples should not be subjected to prolonged storage before analysis.     

Radiographic interpretation of normal skeletal variations and pseudolesions in the equine foot.

Effective radiographic interpretation requires a veterinarian who is knowledgeable of equine limb anatomy and the various principles that affect the resulting image. The normal and its variations must be recognized and understood before the abnormal can be confidently identified as pathologic. Proper patient positioning and sound radiographic technique are mandatory if reliable diagnostic radiographs are to be produced. This review emphasizes equine foot radiographic variations of normal and pseudolesions that occur with commonly used radiographic views performed in equine practice.     

Which evidence permits a liver cell smear in cattle with metabolic disorders?]

The technique of liver puncture as described by Holtenius (1961) was assessed with regard to its practicability and safety in a preliminary study of 26 cattle and a follow-up study of 108 German black pied cattle. The sample material was smeared, stained and examined by light microscope. All animals with changes of grade 5 had to be slaughtered. Liver puncture is a simple, quick and safe technique which supplies useful information about the various stages of hepatic fatty degeneration in individual cattle.     

Nitrogen uptake by ryegrass from organic wastes applied to a sandy loam soil

Sandy‐textured Mediterranean soils are invariably depleted in organic matter and supply only small amounts of N to crops. To compensate for these deficiencies, we tested the N supply from six organic wastes applied to a Cambic Arenosol in pots growing ryegrass. The results showed that the behaviour of the wastes in supplying N to a ryegrass crop grown in this soil can be predicted by observing their performance in laboratory aerobic incubations. The N made available during these incubations fitted well to a one‐pool kinetic model.     

Compatible measurements of volumetric soil water content using a neutron probe and Diviner 2000 after field calibration

Field calibrations for a neutron probe and a capacitance sensor (Diviner 2000) for measuring the soil water content of a shrinking–swelling clay soil were substantially different from commonly used default values. Using our field calibrations, the two instruments estimated similar changes in the cumulative water content of a soil profile (0–1 m depth) over one growing season.     

A novel approach to studying the effects of temperature on soil biogeochemistry using a thermal gradient bar

The temperature dependence of chemical reaction rates and microbial metabolism mean that temperature is a key factor regulating soil trace gas emissions and hydrochemistry. Here we evaluated a novel approach for studying the thermal response of soils, by examining the effects of temperature on gas emissions and hydrochemistry in (a) peat and (b) soil from a Sitka spruce plantation. A thermal gradient was applied along an aluminium bar, allowing soil to be incubated contemporaneously from 2 to 18 °C. The approach demonstrated clear differences in the biogeochemical responses of the two soil types to warming. The peat showed no significant emission of CH₄ at temperatures below 6 °C, while above 6 °C, a marked increase in the rate of release was apparent up to 15 °C (Q₁₀ = 2.5) with emissions being similar between 15 and 18 °C. Conversely, CH₄ emissions from the forest soil did not respond to warming. Nitrate availability in the peat decreased by 90% between 2 and 18 °C (P < 0.01), whereas concentrations in the forest soil did not respond. Sulphate availability in the peat decreased significantly with warming (60%, P < 0.01), while the forest soil showed the opposite response (a 30% increase, P < 0.01). Conventionally, thermal responses are studied by incubating individual soil samples at different temperatures, involving lengthy preparation and facilities to incubate samples at different temperatures simultaneously. Data collected on a given thermal response is usually limited and thus interpolated or extrapolated. The thermal gradient method overcomes these problems, is simple and flexible, and can be adapted for a wide range of sample types (not confined to soil). Such apparatus may prove useful in the optimization of management practices to mitigate the effects of climate change, as thermal responses will differ depending on land use and soil type.