Letters to the editor

Extract

In order to utilize spring growth efficiently under a system of grassland farming, a New Zealand dairy farmer endeavours to calve as many cows as possible within a four to six weeks' period. To maintain this calving pattern, herd members must conceive by 70 to 80 days after calving. Consequently normal postparturient uterine involution, together with a minimum of delay in the onset of ovarian activity and oestral cyclicity, is of vital importance. A study of these phenomena may be very rewarding in helping to achieve optimal reproductive efficiency.     

A study of the pattern of staphylococcal contamination of the udders of cows in a dairy herd

Abstract

Extract

The results of the 1965–6 New Zealand national mastitis survey (Anon., 1967 Anon Ann. Rep. Res. Div. N.Z. Dept. Agric. 1966–67 1967 77 78  [Google Scholar]) indicated that β-haemolytic staphylococci were the most common bacteria isolated from the milk of dairy cows. Effective control of β-haemolytic stapyhlococci on a national scaledepends ultimately upon an understanding of population changes of this organism within the cow and within the herd.     

Gonadesiklus van die kroonkiewiet Vanellus coronatus op enkele binnelandse lughawens

Gonadal cycle of the crowned plover Vanellus coronatus at two inland airports. The gonadal cycle of 474 crowned plovers Vanellus coronatus collected from two inland airports during 1986/87 was investigated. Judged by the ovarian mass and the diameter of the largest visible follicle, a prominent activity peak occurs in the ovarian cycle of females during early summer. Judged by the mass, volume, histological development stages and diameter jof the seminiferous tubules of the testes, a corresponding but longer activity peak also occurs among males. Although the testes of immature males are generally smaller than those of adults, some individuals are potentially capable of reproduction within their first year of life. Evidently the breeding cycle of the crowned plover is influenced to a greater extent by the relative availability of food than by environmental factors such as day length, temperature or rainfall.     

Production of irrigated Trifolium repens L. under a cutting regime in the subtropical region of Gauteng,South Africa

Abstract

The productivity of Trifolium repens L. cv. Ladino, under irrigation in the subtropical region of Gauteng, South Africa, is unknown. The performance of T. repens was determined over five years (1981/1982 to 1985/1986), at two defoliation frequencies, four levels of nitrogen (0, 400, 800 and 1 600 kg N ha^?1 ‐ total applied over five years), and either the removal or recycling of harvested material. Frequent, compared to infrequent defoliation, resulted in higher dry matter (DM) yields from the second year onwards. Dry matter yields were positively affected by the recycling of material, compared to no recycling. A mean DM yield of 191 ha^?1 in the first year and 12 t ha^?1 in the final year, was obtained. The highest DM yields occurred during October for all years and lowest DM yields from January to March. The first and final year showed similar peaks (late October) and troughs (March till April). Crude protein (CP) content of the herbage was influenced more by frequency of defoliation than recycling of material, where the highest CP content in any year was obtained from frequent defoliation. Nitrogen fertiliser applied up to a total of 1 600 kg N ha^?1 over five years had no effect on either DM yield or crude protein content. This study has shown that T. repens could be a productive pasture for at least five years in the subtropical region of Gauteng, South Africa. Productivity and quality of T. repens were enhanced by a defoliation interval of less than five weeks and when soil high fertility was maintained by recycled plant material.     

Effect of selection for litter size and body weight on hormone-induced ovulation rate in mice.

Genetic differences in natural vs hormone-induced ovulation rates were compared in immature female mice from five lines that had undergone long-term single-trait and antagonistic index selection for litter size and(or) 6-wk BW. Lines used were control (K); high litter size (L+); high BW (W+); low litter size and high BW (L-W+); and high litter size and low BW (L+W-). Natural ovulation rate at a mean age of 34.3 d and hormone-induced (5 IU of pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin followed 2 d later by 5 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin) superovulation rate at a fixed age of 31 d were obtained. Total number of eggs ovulated was affected by line (P less than .001), treatment (P less than .001), and line x treatment interaction (P less than .001). Line differences were subsequently tested within treatment because of the significant line x treatment interaction. Line differences were important (P less than .001) for natural ovulation, hormone-induced ovulation, and response to hormones. Mean natural ovulation rates for K, L+, W+, L-W+, and L+W- were 14.1, 19.8, 15.1, 13.6, and 16.4, respectively. Selection changed ovulation rate by 40, 16, 7, and -4% in the L+, L+W-, W+ and L-W+ lines, respectively (P less than .01). Hormone-induced ovulation rates in K, L+, W+, L-W+, and L+W- were 32.3, 24.6, 19.6, 20.9, and 22.1, respectively. Exogenous hormones increased ovulation by 18.2, 4.8, 4.6, 7.3, and 5.7 ova for K, L+, W+, L-W+, and L+W-, respectively (P less than .001). Lines with lower natural ovulation rates had higher responses to superovulation. Increased ovulation rate due to treatment ranged from 24.3% in L+ to 129% in K. These results indicate significant differences among lines in ovarian response to exogenous hormones.     

Effects of diet on acidic and neutral goblet cell populations in the small intestine of early weaned pigs.

Effects of dietary manipulation on Alcian blue-positive (AB+) and periodic acid-Schiff-positive (PAS+) goblet cell populations were determined for the villi and intestinal crypts in the small intestine of early weaned pigs. Pigs were weaned at 21 days of age and samples from the distal portions of the duodenum and the middle and distal portions of the jejunum were obtained when pigs were 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, and 36 days old. Pigs were assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments; all diets contained 20% protein, on the basis of hydrolyzed casein, soybean meal, or corn-soybean meal. By day 24, three days after weaning, the populations of AB+ and PAS+ goblet cells were markedly decreased, regardless of diet. Goblet cell populations in the villi tended to increase from 3 to 15 days after weaning, whereas those in the intestinal crypts remained low throughout the study. Differences between any of the dietary treatments were not apparent for AB+ or PAS+ goblet cell populations in the villi or in the intestinal crypts. It appeared that early weaning per se, and not diet, was the primary cause for decreases in goblet cell populations.     

California National Animal Health Monitoring System for meat-turkey flocks, 1988-1989: diagnostic testing results.

Six hundred fourteen meat turkeys were submitted for necropsy from 24 California ranches as part of the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS). Enteritis was the most frequent pathologic diagnosis in birds 18 days old or younger and the second most frequent diagnosis in birds 19-70 days old. Hemorrhagic enteritis was the most frequent diagnosis in birds aged 19-70 days. Tibial dyschondroplasia, bronchopneumonia, and ascaridiasis were ranked one through three in frequency of diagnoses in birds over 70 days of age. Salmonella was isolated from 71% of flocks tested, and Mycoplasma meleagridis was isolated from 33% of tested flocks over 70 days of age. Antibodies to several disease agents were detected, including hemorrhagic enteritis (100% of flocks over 70 days old) and Newcastle disease (63% of flocks over 70 days old).     

Sweating sickness: relative curative effect of hyperimmune serum and a precipitated immunoglobulin suspension and immunoblot identification of proposed immunodominant tick salivary gland proteins

Although of low morbidity, sweating sickness is readily induced in calves by infestation with positive Hyalomma truncatum adult ticks. This epitheliotrophic disease has no specific cure except by the administration of hyperimmune serum obtained from animals which have recovered and are subsequently immune to the disease. Treatment with hyperimmune serum, however, has associated problems of donor availability, possible serum contamination and i.v. administration of a relatively large volume. This paper compares the treatment and cure of sweating sickness using unrefined hyperimmune serum and that of an experimental suspension. The latter proved relatively inefficient probably due to a low concentration of effective immunoglobulins. Immunoblot analyses of the sera of affected animals, using tick salivary glands as antigen during the course of the trial revealed 4 tick salivary gland proteins with molecular masses of between 27-33 kDa. These are proposed as being associated with sweating sickness immunodominance.     

PMSG profiles in superovulated and anti-PMSG antiserum treated mice and heifers with enzymeimmunoassay

A sandwich enzymeimmunoassay (EIA) for pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) using a microtiter plate was developed. Sensitivity of the assay to PMSG was 15.6 mIU/ml (0.2 ng/well). The PMSG levels in serum were measured with the EIA in superovulated and anti-PMSG rabbit antiserum treated mice and heifers. In mice, the PMSG blood level was measurable in the serum 4-6 days after intraperitoneal injection of 5-30 IU of PMSG. The administration of anti-PMSG antiserum at the same dose level as PMSG caused a rapid decrease in the PMSG blood level, declining to undetectable levels within 17 hours. In heifers, the PMSG level was measurable at 10-11 days after the injection of 2500 or 3000 IU of PMSG. When antiserum was injected 48 hours after the PMSG injection, the clearance rate of PMSG was affected by the route of the administration. The administration of 3000 units of anti-PMSG antiserum intravenously caused a rapid decline and the disappearance of circulating PMSG within 17 hours. When 3000 units of anti-PMSG antiserum was injected intra-muscularly, the PMSG blood level also decreased and became unmeasurable 24 hours after administration; however, it was still detectable for up to 17 hours. These results indicate that the administration of anti-PMSG antiserum at the proper timing and dosage could lead to successful superovulation through the improvement of hormonal conditions.     

Effect of level of intake and supplemental barley on marker estimates of fecal output using an intraruminal continuous-release chromic oxide bolus

Sixty wethers (average BW = 45 kg) fitted with fecal collection bags were used in four experiments to evaluate the ability of a intraruminal continuous-release chromic oxide bolus to predict fecal DM output. In Exp. 1, 18 wethers housed in metabolism crates were fed barley at either 0, 100, or 200g/d and allowed ad libitum consumption of alfalfa pellets. In Exp. 2, 18 wethers were housed in metabolism crates and fed alfalfa pellets at either 70, 85, or 125% of pre-study ad libitum consumption. In Exp. 3, 12 wethers grazed a sagebrush-bunchgrass range and were individually fed barley at 0 or 200 g/d. In Exp. 4, 12 wethers grazed either an ungrazed (383 kg/ha herbaceous biomass) or a heavily grazed (175 kg/ha herbaceous biomass) sagebrush-bunchgrass range. Experiments 1 and 2 were balanced 3 x 3 Latin squares, and Exp. 3 and 4 were crossover designs. Chromium content was determined in rectal grab samples. Treatment effects were compared using marker-estimated fecal output divided by total fecal collection, multiplied by 100, as the dependent variable. Accuracy of the estimate was verified by comparing marker-estimated fecal output with total fecal collection using a paired t-test. In Exp. 1 and 2, treatments were different (P less than .05). No differences (P greater than .50) were detected in Exp. 3 and 4. In Exp. 1, 2, and 3 accuracy was different (P less than .02) among wethers within study and treatment. Only in Study 4 were minor or no differences (P greater than .09) in accuracy found.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)