Nitrogen and amino acid absorption in the small intestine of growing pigs. 2. Apparent and true crude protein digestibility and amino acid absorption to the end of the small intestine

Studies of the apparent and true ileal digestibility of crude protein and the apparent and true amino acid (AA) absorption were carried out with 7 female pigs in the live weight range between 22 and 34 kg after ileorectostomy. Protein sources of varied quality with regard to the method of treatment (toasted) and untoasted soybean oilmeal) and to the AA composition (vital gluten or vital gluten + L-lysine X HCl) were used. Distinct differences regarding the apparent ileal digestibility of crude protein and the apparent absorption of amino acids were discovered between the protein sources, the cause of which is to be seen in the different amounts of endogenous N. The true ileal digestibility of crude protein and amino acid absorption were partly distinctly higher than the values of the apparent ileal digestibility of crude protein and AA absorption. On the whole one can say that the results of the investigation gained by means of ileorectostomy can be compared to the values gained from cannulated animals. Thus the experimental method used is suitable for studying the absorption process to the end of the small intestine of pigs.     

Wohlfahrtia magnifica (Schiner, 1862) Diptera: Sacrophagidae) causing a vaginal myiasis in domesticated two-humped camels in the Mongolian People's republic]

Wohlfahrtia magnifica (Schiner, 1862) [Diptera: Sarcophagidae] was established as the causal agent of a vaginal myiasis in female camels in the Mongolian Democratic Republic. Changes of the genitals occur nearly the beginning of June, 4-6 weeks after foaling, a spontaneous recovery is seen at the beginning of October. Clinical signs of the vaginal myiasis and morphology of the three stages of larvae are described in detail.     

The association between rainfall and seropositivity to Leptospira in outdoor reared pigs

Outdoor reared pigs were used as indicators for investigating the effect of weather conditions in the seroprevalence of Leptospira. Over the period February to March 2008, sera from 386 sows on 11 farms in southern Sweden were tested for antibodies to the following Leptospira serovars: L. interrogans serovar (sv) Bratislava, L. kirschneri sv Grippotyphosa, L. interrogans sv Icterohaemorrhagiae, L. interrogans sv Pomona, L. borgpetersenii sv Tarassovi and one domestic strain (mouse 2A) related to L. borgpetersenii sv Sejroe and L. borgpetersenii sv Istrica. The highest seroprevalence was to this strain (8.0%) followed by sv Bratislava (3.9%). Six of the 11 farms had sows which were seropositive to at least one of the Leptospira serovars. Data on rainfall and temperature were retrieved for the respective farms. For each millimetre of extra rainfall, there was an increase in the odds ratio (OR) for seropositivity to sv Bratislava of 4.3 (95% CI 1.9-10), and to strain mouse 2A of 2.5 (95% CI 1.0-6.4). There was no association between seropositivity and temperature. This study indicates that different climate conditions within the northern temperate climate zone may be of importance for the presence of Leptospira-seropositivity in mammals.     

Investigations on the antioxidative metabolism during the periparturient period in dairy goats with special regard to seasonal differences in feeding and management

In a herd of 1400 dairy goats with an average milk yield of 840 kg/year, 40 "Weisse Deutsche Edelziegen" (October-January: n = 19; April-July: n = 21) were examined. Venous blood samples were collected 6-8, 3-4 and < 2 weeks (wks) ante partum (a. p.) and 2-4 days (d), 3-4 and 6-8 wks post partum (p. p.). Antioxidative Capacity of Water soluble substances (ACW) and Trolox Equivalent Antioxidative Capacity (TEAC) were measured in serum; activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were measured in an erythrocyte pellet and in whole blood. ACW and TEAC increased significantly 3-4 wks p. p. In summer these two parameters showed significantly higher concentrations than in winter. The SOD had a significantly higher activitiy < 2 wks a. p. and 6-8 wks p. p. GPX-activity showed a constant increase from the beginning of investigations and from 3-4 wks p. p. up to the end of investigations activities were significantly higher than 6-8 wks a. p. The samples ante partum and the first sample taken post partum showed significantly higher activities in summer than in winter. The present study shows, that the metabolic challenge associated to the periparturient period in combination with changing capacity of food intake, influences the antioxidative metabolism in dairy goats. Seasonal depending changes on feeding quality and climate (barn temperature, quality of feeding components) also influence this system.     

Metabolic profiles in five high-producing Swedish dairy herds with a history of abomasal displacement and ketosis

Background

Body condition score and blood profiles have been used to monitor management and herd health in dairy cows. The aim of this study was to examine BCS and extended metabolic profiles, reflecting both energy metabolism and liver status around calving in high-producing herds with a high incidence of abomasal displacement and ketosis and to evaluate if such profiles can be used at herd level to pinpoint specific herd problems.

Methods

Body condition score and metabolic profiles around calving in five high-producing herds with high incidences of abomasal displacement and ketosis were assessed using linear mixed models (94 cows, 326 examinations). Cows were examined and blood sampled every three weeks from four weeks ante partum (ap) to nine weeks postpartum (pp). Blood parameters studied were glucose, fructosamine, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), insulin, β-hydroxybutyrate, aspartate aminotransferase, glutamate dehydrogenase, haptoglobin and cholesterol.

Results

All herds had overconditioned dry cows that lost body condition substantially the first 4–6 weeks pp. Two herds had elevated levels of NEFA ap and three herds had elevated levels pp. One herd had low levels of insulin ap and low levels of cholesterol pp. Haptoglobin was detected pp in all herds and its usefulness is discussed.

Conclusion

NEFA was the parameter that most closely reflected the body condition losses while these losses were not seen in glucose and fructosamine levels. Insulin and cholesterol were potentially useful in herd profiles but need further investigation. Increased glutamate dehydrogenase suggested liver cell damage in all herds.     

Massive uric acid crystalluria and cylinduria in a dog after l‐asparaginase treatment for lymphoma

A 10‐year‐old golden retriever bitch was treated for diarrhea and vomiting that lasted about 1 month without a specific diagnosis until a hepatic biopsy provided a histopathologic diagnosis of lymphoma. The dog was referred to the Swedish University of Agricultural Science and treated with one dose of l ‐asparaginase. The day after chemotherapy, the urine was dark yellow, very turbid, and had large amounts of small amorphous crystals and many casts made of similar appearing material identified by infrared spectroscopy to be 100% uric acid dihydrate. Serum uric acid was elevated at 224 μmol/L (RI 0‐59). The dog's illness became worse after chemotherapy. Lymphoma treatment was not continued, and the dog was euthanized 9 days after the l ‐asparaginase treatment. Among other problems were persistent proteinuria with a urine protein‐to‐creatinine ratio of 2.3 and severe hypoalbuminemia. Serum protein electrophoresis performed 3 weeks prior to chemotherapy indicated hyperproteinemia (total protein 78 g/L) having a biclonal gammopathy with 35 g/L β‐2 globulins and 11 g/L γ globulins. Despite prominent cylinduria and crystalluria, the patient did not develop azotemia or isosthenuria.     

Levels of Avenanthramides and Activity of Hydroxycinnamoyl‐CoA:Hydroxyanthranilate N‐Hydroxycinnamoyl Transferase (HHT) in Steeped or Germinated Oat Samples

Concentrations of avenanthramides and activity of the biosynthetic enzyme hydroxycinnamoyl‐Co A:hydroxyanthranilate N‐hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HHT) were analyzed in dry or, steeped nonmilled or milled, non‐heat‐treated (raw) or heat‐treated oat samples (Avena sativa L.). Increased avenanthramide concentrations were found when intact raw groats were steeped. The increase was time‐ and temperaturedependent and maximal after 10 hr of steeping at 20°C. Continuous germination in air, after steeping, only contributed to a further increase in avenanthramides when steeping times were shorter than 10 hr. Concentrations of avenanthramides and HHT activity were positively correlated during steeping of intact groats at 8 and 20°C. The increase in avenanthramides was suggested to be due to de novo synthesis and a whole grain structure seemed to be required as no increase was found when groats were milled before steeping. Avenanthramide levels also increased when heat‐treated samples, lacking HHT activity, were steeped. This increase may be due to release of bound forms, possibly formed during the preceding heat treatment.     

Machine vision smart sprayer for spot-application of agrochemical in wild blueberry fields

An essential part of the wild blueberry cropping system is the proper management of agrochemical inputs including herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. A machine vision system was developed and mounted on the rear sprayer boom 0.18 m in front of the sprayer nozzles capable of targeting the agrochemical application on an as-needed basis. The three-point hitch mounted sprayer featured 27 nozzles over a 13.7 m boom width and a storage tank capacity of 1135 l. Nine digital color cameras continually take images in real-time while computer software processes the images in 0.15 s to determine the target locations where the nozzles open and spray at speeds up to 1.77 m s^?1. Two wild blueberry fields in central Nova Scotia were selected for smart sprayer performance testing with spot-application (SA) of agrochemical as compared to control and uniform application techniques. Chateau^® herbicide was applied in a field with an infestation of hair cap moss. Spray droplet comparison showed moss patches were properly targeted using the smart sprayer. SA provided the same coverage performance as compared to uniform on the moss targets with herbicide application savings of 78.5% using the smart sprayer. Harvestable yield results were similar for all application tracks. TruPhos Magnesium and ZincMax foliar fertilizers were tank mixed with Bravo^® and Proline^® fungicides and applied to compare the difference of SA, control and uniform application. Results showed SA of foliar fertilizer and fungicide led to less premature leaf drop and increased the blueberry stem height, number of branches, stem diameter and fruit buds. SA of foliar fertilizer and fungicide also increased the percent of healthy wild blueberry plants by 57.8% and the harvestable yield by 137.8%. Fungicide application savings using the smart sprayer for SA were 11.6%.     

Economic growth and nutrition transition: an empirical analysis comparing demand elasticities for foods in China and Russia

This study provides empirical evidence on the link between economic growth and nutrition transition in two emerging economies, China and Russia. Both countries have experienced rising average incomes, accompanied by an increasing rate of nutrition-related chronic diseases in recent years. Given the regional heterogeneity between these two countries, we analyze the extent to which income growth as a major driver of nutrition transition has a significant effect on the consumption of different food aggregates and how these effects differ between Chinese and Russian consumers. Our results indicate that with increasing household incomes over time the demand for carbohydrates decreases, while the demand for meat and dairy products, as well as fruits increases. This is a development generally known as nutrition transition. Further, we estimate a Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System(QUAIDS) for nine different food aggregates for China and Russia. Our results indicate that in both countries all food aggregates have positive expenditure elasticities and are thus normal goods. Moreover, our results indicate that in 2008/2009 meat is still a luxury good in China yet a necessity good in Russia. For 2009, the highest own-price elasticities in China are found for non-meat protein sources and dairy products. Within the meat group, beef, poultry and mutton have the highest price elasticities in China. In Russia, the milk and dairy group, together with the vegetable group, is the most price-elastic food group in 2008. In line with the definition of a nutrition transition, our overall results underscore the finding that income growth in China and Russia tends to increase the demand for animal-based products much stronger than, for example, the demand for carbohydrates. Despite being a positive signal for problems of malnutrition in rural China, this trend of increasing meat consumption might further increase the incidence of chronic diseases in urban areas since there is convincing scientific evidence that increasing meat consumption, especially red and processed meat, is associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases.