Food value of straw meal in the nutrition of pigs. 1. Digestibility of the nutrients and N-balance after feeding with partially hydrolized straw meal]

Straw Meal was mixed with concentrated HCl at a mass proportion of approximately 10 : 1. After a one-hour duration of action the mixture was diluted with water (in proporation to the added HCl volume the double amount of water) and steamed in an electric steaming caldron for one hour. The partially hydrolised final product was neutralised with calcium hydroxide (3,5 kg per 10 kg HCl). In a digestibility experiment 4 pigs were fed according to the differential method with barley (supplemented with lysine and methionine) without straw meal resp. with straw meal (717 g barley dry matter+386 g straw meal dry matter per animal and day for pigs with an average live weight of 64.3 kg). In this test 21.0% of the organic matter of partially hydrolised straw meal, 0.5% of the crude fibre and 42.3% of the N-free extractives were digestible. When the animals were fed with barley exclusively (1045 g dry matter per day and animal of an average body weight of 61,4 kg), 17,1% of the 26,0 t N per animal and day were excreted in feces. After the feeding with straw meal admixtures, 34,5% of the 20,9 g N per animal and day were excreted in feces. When the feed consisted of 1,99 kg barley, 220 g fish meal and 565 g straw meal (dry matter in each case) per animal and day for the same pigs with an average body weight of 97,1 kg a digestibility of the organic matter of the partially hydrolised straw meal of 24,6% was achieved. 24.3% of the nitrogen consumed (72.9 g) by each animal per day were excreted in feces. After slaughtering, the pH-value in the caecum sould be ascertained as 6.0 to 6.5. The conclusion of this is that partially hydrolised straw meal contains approximately 20% utilisable carbohydrates and has a positive dietic effect in the digestive tract.     

Sialomucin Complex (Muc4) Expression in Porcine Endometrium During the Oestrous Cycle and Early Pregnancy

The non‐invasive type of implantation in the pig is characterized by the maintenance of a thick glycocalyx coating on the uterine epithelial surface microvilli. Present study investigated the alteration in the sialomucin complex (Muc4) expression during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy in the pig. Endometrial tissue samples were immunostained with the primary antibody to the Muc4 transmembrane subunit ASGP‐2. Muc4 immunostaining increased in the surface and glandular epithelia between days 5 and 10 of oestrous cycle. Immunostaining continued to increase on day 12 with the greatest intensity of uterine Muc4 immunostaining detected on day 15 of the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy. Endometrial Muc4 expression in cyclic gilts decreased dramatically during early proestrous but continued to remain abundant in the surface and glandular epithelium of pregnant gilts during the period of conceptus attachment to the uterine surface.     

Osmium Recycling in Subduction Zones

Peridotite xenoliths from the Cascade arc in the United States and in the Japan arc have neodymium and osmium isotopic compositions that are consistent with addition of 5 to 15 percent of subducted material to the present-day depleted mantle. These observations suggest that osmium can be partitioned into oxidized and chlorine-rich slab-derived fluids or melts. These results place new constraints on the behavior of osmium (and possibly other platinum group elements) during subduction of oceanic crust by showing that osmium can be transported into the mantle wedge.     

Endoscopic resection of a vaginal septum in a bitch and observation of septa in two related bitches

Abstract

CASE HISTORY: In 2008, a 3-year-old female Labrador Retriever was presented for routine breeding soundness evaluation.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: Vaginal endoscopy revealed an 8-cm long and 1-cm thick vaginal septum. Surgical resection of the septum was performed under general anaesthesia using a bipolar high-frequency resectoscope. Three months later the bitch was naturally mated and subsequently delivered five male and two female puppies without complications. Both female puppies were examined at the age of 12 and 15 months and showed a vaginal septum with a diameter of 0.3 and 0.5 cm, respectively.

DIAGNOSIS: Vaginal septa in three related bitches.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This is the first report describing the use of a bipolar high-frequency resectoscope for vaginal surgery in dogs. The septum could be resected quickly, with preservation of surrounding structures. Furthermore, it is the first report collecting information about familial presentation of vaginal septa in female dogs. Based on this case, we suggest that consideration should be given to the possible risk of inheritance of vaginal septa before considering surgical resection and breeding of female dogs.     

Effect of glutamic acid content in the diet on the catabolic rate of the isotope-labeled glutamic acid in rats. 4. Measurement of 14C-glutamic acid oxidation to 14CO2 with various energy sources in the diet

48 male rats (body weight 80-100 g) were fed with 2 diets different in the glutamic acid content (diet I 2.42 and diet II 6.24% glutamic acid in the dry matter). The mixture of the other synthetic L-amino acids was adapted to the egg protein pattern corresponding 10% crude protein in the diet. Each diet was fed either on 73% or 98 to 104% of the energy maintenance requirement. After 7 days of experimental feeding 14C-U-L-glutamic acid was given to each group by intragastric infusion (i.g.), intraperitoneal (i.p.) or subcutaneous injection (s.c.), respectively, followed by a measurement of the CO2-and 14CO2-excretion during two subsequent periods of 3 hours. The CO2-excretion was lower in animals with restricted energy intake especially during the first 3 hour-period, which was started 2 hours after feed intake. The relative 14CO2-excretion (percent of the dose) was neither significantly influenced by the level of energy intake nor by the amount of dietary glutamic acid. The highest degradation rates of 14C-glutamic acid to 14CO2 were measured after i.g. application (more than 50%), followed by the i.p. injection (nearly 50%) and the lowest values were observed after s.c. injection (about 40%). These differences were only evident during the first CO2-absorption period. Furthermore the s.c. injection caused a lower specific radioactivity of CO2 compared with the data after i.g. and i.p. application. The results suggest the high metabolic activity of the intestinal tissue for glutamic acid.