An evaluation of anthelmintic properties,assessed using faecal nematode egg counts,of New Zealand native flax (Phormium tenax)

AIM: To investigate the anthelmintic properties of New Zealand native flax (Phormium tenax) for cattle, using a faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT).

METHODS: Twenty-six heifer calves with high (>300 epg) faecal nematode egg counts (FEC) were paired into two groups and fed either chopped flax leaves ad libitum, or barley straw at an equivalent dry matter (DM) rate, from Day 0–7; all were supplemented with 1.5 kg/head/day cereal feed supplement. On Days 8–10, all heifers were fed a common diet of 3.5 kg DM/ head/day barley straw and 1.5 kg/head/day cereal feed supplement. Heifers were weighed and faecal samples were collected on Days —6, 0, 7, and 10; samples were analysed in triplicate for FEC. The nutritive value of the flax and straw was analysed.

RESULTS: Both the flax and straw had low dry matter digestibility (DMD) and protein content. Although the flax-fed claves grew more than the controls, this may have been related to gut fill. Total daily faecal egg output was similar for flax and straw groups on Day 7 (14.7 vs 15.0 x 10⁶ eggs/day, respectively) and Day 10 (14.9 vs 15.1 x 10⁶ eggs/day, respectively). There was no difference in the change in FEC with time between the calves fed flax or straw diets.

CONCLUSION: Consumption of flax leaves did not reduce FEC in calves with a mixed nematode infection.     

Resection and anastomosis of the small colon in four horses

Resection and anastomosis of the small colon was performed on 4 horses with vascular lesions (strangulating lipoma, mesenteric tear, dissecting haematoma) or functional obstruction (stricture) of this area of the bowel. The anastomoses were performed using a variety of suture materials in 2 layers. An appositional, full-thickness, simple, interrupted pattern was used in the first layer in all cases and oversewn with either a Cushing pattern (3 cases) or a Utrecht pattern (1 case). Post-operative complications associated with suture material and surgical technique were not seen. All horses were discharged from the hospital and all were alive more than one year after discharge.     

Off-axis crustal thickness across and along the east pacific rise within the MELT area

Wide-angle seismic data along the Mantle Electromagnetic and Tomography (MELT) arrays show that the thickness of 0.5- to 1. 5-million-year-old crust of the Nazca Plate is not resolvably different from that of the Pacific Plate, despite an asymmetry in depth and gravity across this portion of the East Pacific Rise. Crustal thickness on similarly aged crust on the Nazca plate near a magmatically robust part of the East Pacific Rise at 17 degrees15'S is slightly thinner (5.1 to 5.7 kilometers) than at the 15 degrees55'S overlapping spreading center (5.8 to 6.3 kilometers). This small north-south off-axis crustal thickness difference may reflect along-axis temporal variations in magma supply, whereas the across-axis asymmetry in depth and gravity must be caused by density variations in the underlying mantle.     

Climatic Limits on Landscape Development in the Northwestern Himalaya

The interaction between tectonism and erosion produces rugged landscapes in actively deforming regions. In the northwestern Himalaya, the form of the landscape was found to be largely independent of exhumation rates, but regional trends in mean and modal elevations, hypsometry (frequency distribution of altitude), and slope distributions were correlated with the extent of glaciation. These observations imply that in mountain belts that intersect the snowline, glacial and periglacial processes place an upper limit on altitude, relief, and the development of topography irrespective of the rate of tectonic processes operating.     

Premature farrowings caused by feeding cottonseed meal

Increasing the level of cottonseed meal (CSM) in sow diets from less than 5% to 10% increased the incidence of premature farrowings (gestation length less than 111 days) from 1.1% to 2.7% (p less than 0.001) and reduced the mean gestation length from 114.07 +/- 1.53 to 113.70 +/- 1.59 days (p less than 0.0001). Survival of piglets born prematurely was poor. After removal of CSM from the diet there was a residual effect lasting several weeks before the gestation length returned to normal. Experimental feeding of diets containing 20% and 40% CSM to small groups of sows caused significant shortening of gestation length and 3 of 26 sows fed 40% CSM farrowed prematurely. The mechanism by which CSM causes this effect has yet to be determined.     

The effect of a staphylococcal cell wall factor on the early inflammatory response to staphylococcal infection of the lactating bovine udder

The effect on the early inflammatory response in the bovine mammary gland of a factor extracted from the cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus was studied. The insoluble factor was extracted from a 3h-culture, and was mixed with S. aureus from an overnight culture (OF) for experimental infection of a lactating quarter. Other quarters were infected with a 3h or an overnight culture (O). Five cows were used in the experiment. The O-quarters showed more severe clinical signs than seen in the 3h-and OF-quarters. Antitrypsin levels and NAGase concentrations were much reduced in the 3h-and OF-quarters. While the cell wall factor profoundly reduced the early inflammatory response, the effect on the final outcome of the infection was not determined.