The impact of highly concentrated Mo and Cu dietary supplements,fed as a bolus,on the efficacy of chelated versus inorganic Cu in cattle on a low-Cu diet

AIM: To compare the efficacy of chelated versus inorganic forms of dietary Cu supplements, fed as a bolus, when challenged by a daily bolus of dietary Mo in cattle on a low-Cu diet.

METHODS: Forty non-lactating, Friesian dairy cows of adequate Cu status were assigned to four groups and fed a basal diet of baled silage containing 5.3 mg Cu and 0.4 mg Mo/kg DM. The experimental design was a factorial of two chemical forms of supplemental Cu and two levels of Mo intake, provided as pelleted grain supplements made from crushed barley/molasses plus Cu and Mo. The supplements contained 140 mg Cu/kg as Cu sulphate pentahydrate (CS), 140 mg Cu/kg as Cu glycinate (CG), CS plus 38 mg Mo/kg as sodium molybdate (CS+Mo), or CG plus 38 mg Mo/kg (CG+Mo). Commencing on Day 0, supplements were fed once daily (offered 1–1.2 kg/cow) and were completely consumed within 5–10 minutes, which constitutes a bolus type of administration. Liver samples were collected by biopsy at Days ?24, 13, 41 or 47, and 69 for Cu determinations.

RESULTS: The diets fed to the Cu+Mo groups were roughly equivalent to 25 mg Cu and 5.7 mg Mo/kg DM. Mean initial concentration of Cu in liver for all groups was 516 (SE 54) μmol Cu/kg fresh tissue. In cows supplemented with CS and CG, the final (Day 69) concentrations increased (p<0.01) to 939 (SE 166) and 853 (SE 163) μmol Cu/kg, respectively. These values were not different (p=0.72). For groups CS+Mo and CG+Mo, the final concentrations of 535 (SE 122) and 453 (SE 102) μmol Cu/kg were not different from initial values or from each other (p>0.25). The rate of accumulation of Cu in liver following bolus Cu and Mo intake was highly variable but was not affected by initial concentration of Cu in liver (p>0.9) or by the form of Cu (p>0.6). Mean rates of accumulation of Cu in liver were 4.0 (SD 3.8) and 0.65 (SD 2.0) μmol Cu/kg fresh tissue/day for the Cu-only treatments and the Cu+Mo treatments, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: When fed together as a bolus, high Mo intake negated the effect of supplemental Cu but it did not reduce liver Cu stores. There was no difference in the reaction of dietary Mo with chelated Cu (as glycinate) versus inorganic Cu (as sulphate) dietary supplements.     

Unconditional quantum teleportation

Quantum teleportation of optical coherent states was demonstrated experimentally using squeezed-state entanglement. The quantum nature of the achieved teleportation was verified by the experimentally determined fidelity Fexp = 0.58 +/- 0.02, which describes the match between input and output states. A fidelity greater than 0.5 is not possible for coherent states without the use of entanglement. This is the first realization of unconditional quantum teleportation where every state entering the device is actually teleported.     

Follicular Dynamics, Ovulation and Conception Rates in Bitches

Real-time ultrasound imaging was used in a clinical study to estimate the number of follicles of different sizes, ovulation and conception rates, and to study follicle dynamics following oestrus-induction of bitches.
Follicles were identified during late anoestrus (between 100 and 60 days prior to the pre-ovulatory LH surge) and there appeared to be a shift in the population from small follicles (1–3 mm in diameter) to large follicles (>4 mm diameter) approximately 2 days prior to the LH surge. Corpora lutea could be reliably identified although the majority were cavitated. High ovulation rates (97–100%) and pregnant rates (86–100%) were detected, and although the conception rate was approximately 70% it varied between 8 and 92%. Within the narrow range of the clinical population studied there were trends relating age to reproduction performance. Oestrus induction with a gonadotrophin regime appeared to result in large numbers of small follicles that did not ovulate, whilst when using cabergoline the number of small and large follicels and the number of copora lutea were similar to those of control cycles.     

Acute toxicity in five dogs after ingestion of a commercial snail and slug bait containing iron EDTA

This case series of five dogs describes the effects of ingesting large amounts of an iron EDTA snail-bait product. In all cases signs of toxicity occurred between 6 and 24 h after ingestion and included abdominal pain and haemorrhagic gastroenteritis. Two of the dogs had pretreatment serum iron levels measured and in both cases the levels were above normal limits. All of the dogs were treated with iron chelation therapy and supportive care including intravenous fluids, analgesics, gastric protectants and antibiotics. Chelation therapy with desferrioxamine mesylate did not cause adverse effects in any of the dogs and all survived to discharge. The effects of iron EDTA snail bait in dogs requires further study and minimum toxic doses need to be established.     

The Effect of a Chronic Stressor, Lameness, on Detailed Sexual Behaviour and Hormonal Profiles in Milk and Plasma of Dairy Cattle

The objectives of the present study were to quantify the effects of a biological chronic stressor (lameness) on the duration and frequency of different oestrous behaviours in parallel with milk hormone profiles. Dairy cows 51.8 ± 1.4 days postpartum (n = 59), including 18 non‐lame control cows, were scored for lameness and closely observed for signs of oestrus having had their follicular phases synchronized by administration of gonadotrophin‐releasing‐hormone (GnRH) followed by prostaglandin F_2α (PG) 7 days later. Lameness shortened the period when herd‐mates attempted to mount the lame cows (1.83 ± 0.69 h vs 5.20 ± 1.53 h; p = 0.042) but did not affect the overall duration of total behaviours (lame 12.3 ± 1.3 h vs non‐lame 15.2 ± 1.3 h). Lameness also lowered the intensity of oestrus [1417 ± 206 points (n = 18) vs 2260 ± 307 points (n = 15); p = 0.029]. Throughout the synchronized oestrous period, lame cows mounted the rear of herd‐mates less frequently (p = 0.020) and tended to chin rest less (p = 0.075). Around the period of maximum oestrous intensity, lameness also diminished the proportion of cows mounting the rear of another cow and chin resting (p = 0.048, p = 0.037, respectively). Furthermore, lame cows had lower progesterone values during the 6 days before oestrous (p ≤ 0.05). Fewer lame cows were observed in oestrus following PG (non‐lame 83%, lame 53%; p = 0.030); however, if prior progesterone concentrations were elevated, lame cows were just as likely to be observed in oestrus. In conclusion, following endogenous progesterone exposure, lameness shortens the period when herd‐mates attempt to mount lame cows but does not affect the incidence of oestrous. However, lame cows are mounted less frequently and express oestrus of lower intensity. This is associated with lower progesterone prior to oestrus but not with abnormal oestradiol or cortisol profiles in daily milk samples.     

Grain yield,stalk rot,and mineral concentration of fertigated corn as influenced by N P K

Peanut (Arachis hypoaaea L.) is a major cash crop in Georgia. Corn (Zea mays L.) is the preferred rotation crop, but is often not profitable because of large inputs costs. Fertilizer comprises approximately 50% of the variable production costs of irrigated corn. There is interest in reducing fertilizer inputs, in particular N, to reduce variable costs and decrease nitrate leaching to groundwater, but yields may suffer. Our objective was to investigate the effect of N, P, and K fertilizer rates on the yield of N‐fertigated corn in a corn/peanut rotation. Field experiments were conducted during 1987 and 1988 on a Tifton loamy sand (fine‐loamy, siliceous, thermic Plinthic Paleudult) at Tifton, GA. Treatments were three rates each of N, P, and K fertilizer in a complete factorial. Nitrogen, P, and K rates were 168, 252, 336 kg N ha^‐1 yr^‐1; 44, 73, 103 kg P ha^‐1 yr^‐1; and 84, 223, and 363 kg K ha^‐1 yr^‐1, respectively. Grain yields were large, 12.6 and 10.4 Mg ha^‐1 in 1987 and 1988, respectively, but not affected by N, P, or K rate. Since the lower rates of N, P, and K were less than recommended, fertilizer use efficiency for fertigated corn can be improved, for at least one year, by reducing N, P, and K fertilizer rates to less than current recommendations. Rates of N, P, and K did not result in a substantial difference in the concentration of essential nutrients. Stalk rot was limited (< 15%), but decreased with increasing K fertilizer rate.     

Grain yield,seed weight,seed N concentration,and nodule activity of soybean as influenced by defoliation and N fertilizer

It is unknown if nitrogen (N) fertilizer application will ameliorate the yield loss associated with severe defoliation of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] at the R5 stage of growth. The objective of this field study was to investigate the interaction of N fertilization rate and extent of defoliation on soybean yield, seed weight, seed N concentration, and nodule activity. Field experiments were conducted in 1988 and 1989 on a Drummer silty clay loam (Typic Haplaquolls). Treatment variables were three cultivars: BSR 101, Chamberlain, and Elgin 87; three N fertilizer rates applied one day after defoliation: 0, 84, and 168 kg N ha^‐1 as urea; and three levels of defoliation: 0, 50, and 75%. Grain yield was not significantly affected by N rate but did decrease with defoliation. Fertilizer N did not ameliorate the yield reduction associated with defoliation. Seed weight decreased linearly with increasing defoliation. Plants exposed to the most severe defoliation produced seed which weighed 1 g 100^‐1 seed less than seed from nondefoliated plants. In 1989 seed weight of only the nondefoliated plants increased slightly with N rate, seed weight was not affected by N rate for any other year by defoliation treatment combination. Seed N concentration was not affected by N rate. Seed N concentration increased with defoliation in 1988 but not in 1989. Seed N concentration was not affected by defoliation in 1989. N fertilizer application and defoliation decreased nodule activity. Defoliated plants utilized nitrates in preference to dinitrogen fixation. Fertilizer N increased the concentration of nitrates in the plant, but the increase did not ameliorate the yield loss. Developing pods and seed are the predominate sink. The additional energy presumably required for dinitrogen fixation did not exacerbate the yield loss.