Effects of supplementing fish oil in the drinking water of dairy cows on production performance and milk fatty acid composition

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of supplementing fish oil (FO) in the drinking water of dairy cows on production performance and milk fatty acid composition. Sixteen multiparous Holstein dairy cows (741 +/- 84 kg of BW; 60 +/- 2.3 d in milk, mean +/- SD) housed in a tie-stall facility were used in the study. The study was conducted as a completely randomized design with repeated measurements. The cows were blocked by days in milk and allocated to 1 of 2 treatments: 10 g of menhaden FO/kg of DM top-dressed on the total mixed ration (FOT), and 2 g of menhaden FO/L delivered in the drinking water (FOW). The trial lasted for 5 wk: a 1-wk pretreatment adjustment period and 4 wk of treatment. The animals were fed and milked twice daily (feeding at 0830 and 1300; milking at 0500 and 1500) and had unlimited access to water. Dry matter intake (21.3 kg/d for FOT vs. 22.7 +/- 0.74 kg/d for FOW), milk yield (38.2 kg/d for FOT vs. 39.5 +/- 1.9 kg/d for FOW), and water intake (101 L/d for FOT vs. 107 +/- 4.4 L/d for FOW) were not affected by treatment. The mode of delivery of FO had no effect on milk fat percentage, but milk fat percentage declined linearly with time. The fatty acid contents of 7:0; 8:0; 9:0; 10:0; 12:0 in the milk of FOT cows were lower than for FOW cows, whereas 18:1 trans-12; 18:1 trans-13 and 14; 18:1 trans-16; and trans-9, trans-11 plus trans-10, trans-12 CLA were greater for FOT than for FOW. The contents of 24:1 in the milk of FOW cows were 48% greater than for FOT cows, although the concentrations were low in both groups. There was a tendency for the contents of 14:0 and 22:5n-6 to be greater in FOW cows than FOT cows and for the contents of iso-18:0 to be lower for FOW cows than for FOT cows. Although it appears that the amount of FO added in the study did not bypass the rumen as hypothesized, these results suggest that drinking water can be an alternative for supplementing FO to dairy cows without decreasing feed or water intake relative to cows fed FO in the diet.     

Bilateral nasolacrimal duct atresia in a cria

A 2-month-old, male alpaca had a 1-month history of mucoid ocular discharge from the left eye. Signalment, history and clinical findings were suggestive of a congenital nasolacrimal outflow obstruction. A dacryocystorhinogram confirmed bilateral nasolacrimal duct atresia, which involved the distal half of both nasolacrimal ducts. In order to establish alternative outflow, a conjunctivomaxillosinusotomy and conjunctivorhinostomy were performed on the right and left eye, respectively. The surgical openings remain patent after 11 months, and there have been no clinical signs of nasolacrimal disease.     

The influence of body mass and thoracic dimensions on arterial oxygenation in anaesthetized horses and ponies

ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between body mass and thoracic dimensions on arterial oxygen tensions (PaO₂) in anaesthetized horses and ponies positioned in dorsal recumbency.Study designProspective clinical study.AnimalsThirty six client-owned horses and ponies, mean [±SD (range)] age 8.1 ± 4.8 (1.5–20) years and mean body mass 467 ± 115 (203–656) kg.MethodsBefore general anaesthesia, food and water were withheld for 12 and 1 hours respectively. Body mass (kg), height at the withers (H), thoracic circumference (C), thoracic depth (length between dorsal spinous process and sternum; D), thoracic width (between point of shoulders; W), and thoracic diagonal length (point of shoulder to last rib; L) were measured. Pre-anaesthetic medication was with intravenous (IV) romifidine (0.1 mg kg⁻¹). Anaesthesia was induced with an IV ketamine (2.2 mg kg⁻¹) and diazepam (0.05 mg kg⁻¹) combination and maintained with halothane in 1:1 oxygen:nitrous oxide (N₂O) mixture. Animals were positioned in dorsal recumbency and allowed to breathe spontaneously. Nitrous oxide was discontinued after 10 minutes, and arterial blood samples obtained and analysed for gas tensions at 15, 30 and 60 minutes after connection to the anaesthetic breathing circuit. Data were analysed using anova and Pearson's correlation co-efficient.ResultsThe height per unit body mass (H kg⁻¹) and thoracic circumference per unit body mass (C kg⁻¹) correlated strongly (r = 0.85, p < 0.001 and r = 0.82, p < 0.001 respectively) with arterial oxygen tensions (PaO₂) at 15 minutes.ConclusionsThere is a strong positive correlation between H kg⁻¹ and C kg⁻¹ and PaO₂ after 15 minutes of anaesthesia in halothane-anaesthetized horses positioned in dorsal recumbency.Clinical relevanceReadily obtained linear measurements (height and thoracic circumference) and body mass may be used to predict the ability of horses to oxygenate during anaesthesia.     

AGE AND DIET EFFECTS ON RELATIVE RENAL ECHOGENICITY IN GERIATRIC BITCHES

Under controlled, but varied dietary conditions 35 geriatric, uninephrectomized, spayed Beagle bitches (dogs) observed for 4 years, renal cortical and renal medullary echogenicity was measured relative to hepatic and splenic echogenicity. Regardless of the diet fed, 60-75% of these aged dogs had renal cortical echogenicity less than that of either the liver or spleen across time; 25-35% of these dogs had renal cortical echogenicity equal to that of the liver, but less than that of the spleen across time. Less than 3% of these dogs had renal cortical echogenicity greater than that of the liver, but less than that of the spleen. Only 1 (one) of these dogs had renal cortical echogenicity equal to that of the spleen and that occurred at only one of the 14 chronologic assessments. Therefore, in either mature or aged dogs imaged with 4.0 to 5.0 MHz equipment, the renal cortical echogenicity should be considered normal if it is less than or equal to that of the liver and less than that of the spleen. In 29 dogs imaged with the 4.0/5.0 MHz equipment and 6 dogs imaged with 7.5 MHz equipment, there was no significant diet or individual dog effect. The 7.5 MHz (6 dog) group had significantly higher average cortical echogenicity scores than the 4.0/5.0 MHz (29 dog) group. However, the occurrence of renal cortical echogenicity greater than liver echogenicity was seen in only 5 of 83 samples (approximately 6.0%) made on 6 dogs imaged with 7.5 MHz equipment and only 1 of 375 samples (approximately 0.27%) made on 29 dogs with 4.0/5.0 MHz equipment. With the exception of one occurrence, all dogs had renal medullary echogenicity less than that of the liver or spleen regardless of imaging equipment frequency. The renal medulla was always hypoechoic compared to the cortex.     

Metoclopramide ameliorates the effects of endotoxin on gastric emptying of acetaminophen in horses.

The effect of metoclopramide on gastric emptying of a liquid marker in horses was evaluated by measuring serum concentrations of acetaminophen. Gastric emptying was determined in normal, fasted horses (n = 7), horses given endotoxin intravenously (n = 7), and horses given intravenous metoclopramide plus endotoxin (n = 6). The mean time to reach maximum serum acetaminophen concentration (Tmax), the maximum serum concentration (Cmax), and the area under the serum acetaminophen concentration vs time curve (AUC) were compared among treatment groups. Endotoxin caused a profound delay in gastric emptying, and pretreatment with metoclopramide significantly (P < 0.05) ameliorated this effect.     

Trace metals in the soils of Water Conservation Area of Florida Everglades: Considerations for ecosystem restoration

Purpose

Inorganic contaminants present a major challenge for the restoration of aquatic ecosystems. The objectives of this study were to determine the extent of trace metal contamination and investigate the influence of different plant communities on trace metal accumulation in the soils of the Florida Everglades.

Materials and methods

Soil samples (n?=?117) were collected from 0 to 10-cm depth using a stainless steel coring device from sites with three dominant plant communities—cattail, sawgrass, and slough—of Water Conservation Area-2A (43,281 ha) of Florida Everglades.

Results and discussion

The mean pH in soils collected from three plant communities was 6.75–6.82, whereas electrical conductivity was slightly greater in the sawgrass (0.69 dS m^?1) than cattail (0.58 dS m^?1) and slough (0.40 dS m^?1). Mean reduction–oxidation potential was greatest in cattail (?113 mV) than sawgrass (?85.3 mV) and slough (?48.3 mV) soils. Among 11 trace metals (As, B, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Zn) found in soil samples, Na had the greatest contents and was greater in cattail (2070 mg kg^?1) and sawgrass (1735 mg kg^?1) than slough (1297 mg kg^?1). Four trace metals (B, Cu, Mo, Ni) were significantly greater in cattail than sawgrass and slough. Whereas, Mn was significantly lower in cattail (31 mg kg^?1) than both sawgrass (84 mg kg^?1) and slough (51 mg kg^?1). Cattail also had significantly lower Cr (1.97 mg kg^?1) and Pb (10 mg kg^?1) than sawgrass (Cr 2.5 mg kg^?1; Pb 20.8 mg kg^?1). As (<6.9 mg kg^?1), Co (<1.3 mg kg^?1), and Zn (<17.2 mg kg^?1) were not significantly different among soils collected from three plant community-dominant sites. Contents of Cd and Se were below the method detection limits (Cd 0.01 mg L^?1; Se 0.2 mg L^?1) and are not reported.

Conclusions

None of the trace metals in the soils exceeded the US Environmental Protection Agency sediment toxicity thresholds. Results from this study provided baseline concentrations of trace metals, which can be used to measure the success of restoration efforts in Florida Everglades.

     

Distance to edges, edge contrast and landscape fragmentation: Interactions affecting farmland birds around forest plantations

Afforestation often causes direct habitat losses for farmland birds of conservation concern, but it is uncertain whether negative effects also extend significantly into adjacent open land. Information is thus required on how these species react to wooded edges, and how their responses are affected by edge and landscape characteristics. These issues were examined in Mediterranean arable farmland, using bird counts at 0, 100, 200, 300 and >300 m from oak, pine and eucalyptus edges, embedded in landscapes with variable amounts and spatial configurations of forest plantations. Bird diversity declined away from edges, including that of woodland, farmland and ground-nesting birds. Positive edge responses were also found for overall and woodland bird abundances, and for five of the nine most widespread and abundant species (Galerida larks, stonechat, linnet, goldfinch and corn bunting). Strong negative edge effects were only recorded for steppe birds, with reduced abundances near edges of calandra larks and short-toed larks, but not of little bustards and tawny pipits. Edge contrast affected the magnitude of edge effects, with a tendency for stronger responses to old and tall eucalyptus plantations (hard edges) than to young and short oak plantations (soft edges). There were also species-specific interactions between edge and fragmentation effects, with positive edge responses tending to be strongest in less fragmented landscapes, whereas steppe birds tended to increase faster away from edges and to reach the highest species richness and abundances in large arable patches. Results suggest that forest plantations may increase overall bird diversity and abundance in adjacent farmland, at the expenses of steppe birds of conservation concern. Clustering forest plantations in a few large patches and thus reducing the density of wooded edges at the landscape-scale might reduce such negative impacts.     

Relationship of the iridocorneal angle, as measured using ultrasound biomicroscopy, with post-operative increases in intraocular pressure post-phacoemulsification in dogs

Objective  To investigate the relationship of the iridocorneal angle as it appears on ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) to increases in IOP post-phacoemulsification in the canine eye.
Animals studied  47 eyes of 28 dogs of various age, sex, and breed.
Methods  The ciliary process and limbus were used as a reference points to measure the angle opening distance (AOD), which was set by multiplying 0.45 by the distance between the ciliary process and limbus (when measured from the ciliary process). Pressure measurements were taken at five set points: Before, immediately post-, one day post-, 1 week post-, and 1 month post-phacoemulsification.
Results  A weak relationship between the AOD and the IOP one day post-phacoemulsification (Intercept: 2.83, Slope: –1.24, P -value: 0.0155) was observed. No relationship immediately post-operative (Intercept: 3.45, Slope: –1.34, P -value: 0.0651), 1 week post-phacoemulsification (Intercept: 2.31, Slope: –0.01, P -value: 0.9829), 1 month post-phacoemulsification (Intercept: 1.85, Slope: –0.49, P -value: 0.1533) was observed. The pre-operative measurements made with UBM were: Distance from limbus to ciliary process (DLCP): (Minimum: 1.152, Maximum: 2.992, Mean: 1.91, SD: 0.468); AOD (Minimum: 0.104, Maximum: 0.764, Mean: 0.40, SD: 0.172).
Conclusions  The relationship between AOD as measured by UBM pre-operatively is weakly associated with IOP pressure elevations at day one post-phacoemulsification. Further study is required prospectively to establish the importance of this relationship. Initial measurements of the canine iridocorneal angle were created, suggesting a method to be used in the future to establish true canine normal measurements.