Effects of chilled drinking water on the performance of lactating sows and their litters during high ambient temperatures under farm conditions

Heat stress has detrimental effects on lactating sows and their litters, including decreased feed intake and milk production in sows and decreased weight gain in their offspring. It also increases respiration rate, rectal temperature, and weaning to estrus interval in sows. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of chilled water (CW) on the performance of lactating sows and their litters exposed to high ambient temperatures for 21 days. Ninety multiparous sows (Yorkshire × Landrace; parity range: 2 to 5) and their litters (Yorkshire × Landrace × Duroc) were divided into 3 blocks (30 each). Sows and their litters within each block were randomly assigned to one of the three treatment groups (n = 10 each). Each group was provided with drinking water at 10, 15, or 22 °C (control) under farm conditions where ambient temperature above 25 °C was consistent during the experimental period. Sows on CW (both 10 and 15 °C) consumed more feed and water than did control (P < 0.01) and higher estimated milk production compared with control (P < 0.01), but had lower rectal temperature and respiration rate compared with control (P < 0.01). Mean weaning weight (P < 0.01) and average daily gain (P < 0.01) of litters in CW groups were higher than those in control group. There were no differences in the measured variables, with the exception of the respiration rates, between the two CW treatment groups. These results suggest that CW may improve the performance of sows and their litters exposed to high ambient temperatures and the 15 °C water, from an energy viewpoint, may be more effective.     

Changes in orexin-A and neuropeptide y expression in the hypothalamus of obese and lean Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats

This study was carried out to investigate the changes of orexin-A (OXA) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) expression in the hypothalamus of the obese and lean Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats which have a missense mutation in the leptin receptor gene. The mean body weights (MBW) between the obese and lean ZDF rats were significantly different at 28 and 70 postnatal days. However, at 14 postnatal day, there was no significant difference in the MBW between the obese and lean ZDF rats in both male and female. The OXA immunoreactivities were not significantly different between the obese and lean ZDF rats in both sexes at 14, 28, and 70 postnatal days, respectively. The NPY immunoreactivity was higher in the obese than in the lean ZDF rats in both male and female at 28 and 70 postnatal days, whereas there was no significant difference between the obese and lean ZDF rats at 14 postnatal day. These results indicate that both OXA and NPY might halt their roles for food intake in the obese phenotype of the male and female ZDF rats in the preweaning period of 14 postnatal day, whereas NPY might play a main role in the obesity of these rats in the weaning period of 28 and 70 postnatal days.     

Risk analysis of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in Korea

The occurrence of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE, so called mad cow diseases) that was first identified in England in 1986 was considered as being limited to only European countries, including England. However, the outbreak in Asia as well as North America since 2001 has amplified the fear that there isn't any nation in the world that is a safe area. In order to assess the risk of BSE outbreak in each country, the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) and EU have respectively established criteria, where OIE has set 5 levels and EU has set 4 levels. The Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) of the European Commission conducted a Geographical BSE Risk(GBR) assessment for 64 nations, such as the United States, etc., as of April 29, 2003. However, as of July 1, 2005, the duty of GBR assessment is expected to be transferred to a newly established body called EFSA (European Food Safety Authority, located in Parma, Italy). As Korea has not undergone a GBR assessment up to now, this study analyzed the risk of BSE outbreak in Korea by reviewing BSE prevention measures, etc., that have been put in place. This study shall be a barometer for estimating the GBR assessment level of Korea.     

Immune responses during the peripartum period in dairy cows with postpartum endometritis

Determining the immune responses to the development of endometritis during the peripartum period may assist in the development of more efficient reproductive management regimens for dairy herds. In this study, we compared the peripartum immune responses of dairy cows that develop endometritis by 4 weeks postpartum (n = 11) to cows that did not develop this disease (n = 19). Blood samples were collected 1 week before calving, just after or during calving, and then at weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4 postpartum. Cows that developed endometriris had significantly higher total leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and monocyte counts than the control cows (P < 0.05) at all time points. The leukocytes from cows that developed endometritis were significantly less phagocytic than those from control cows at all sampling time points (P < 0.01). The serum TNFalpha concentrations of the control cows decreased linearly from the prepartum time point (P = 0.0029), but the endometritis cows showed a different profile (P > 0.05). As a result, the serum TNFalpha concentrations were greater in the endometritis group (P < 0.01) than in the control group during the third and fourth weeks postpartum. The greater total leukocyte numbers and neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte counts, and the maintenance of elevated serum TNFalpha levels in the cows with endometritis may be due to infection in the postpartum period. Furthermore, the decreased phagocytic capacity of leukocytes during the peripartum period, including at the prepartum time point, makes cows more susceptible to postpartum endometritis.     

Thermographic evaluation for the efficacy of acupuncture on induced chronic arthritis in the dog

This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture on induced chronic arthritis of the dog by thermography. Complete Freund's adjuvant was injected into the left knee joint of 8 dogs to induce arthritis. Acupuncture was applied to BL-40, GB-33, GB-34, and LIV-8 once a week for 4 consecutive weeks, from 3 weeks after induction of chronic arthritis, in treatment group. At 3 weeks of acupuncture treatment, skin temperature difference (DeltaT) of treatment group returned to normal range (< 0.3 degrees C), while DeltaT remained high in non-treatment group. Infrared thermography (IRT) is useful to evaluate the treatment of acupuncture for induced canine chronic arthritis. Therefore, it is considered that clinical application of IRT in arthritis treatment would be also valuable.     

Anesthetic management of an off-pump open-heart surgery in a dog

ObservationsA 9 year-old, 40 kg, female spayed Bouvier des Flandres was anesthetized for surgical removal of an intra-cardiac mass. Pre-anesthetic work-up included thoracic radiographs, which revealed moderate pleural effusion, and cardiac ultrasound, which identified a mass attached to the wall of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). The mass caused dynamic obstruction of the RVOT during systole. The dog was pre-medicated with intravenous (IV) hydromorphone (0.05 mg kg^?1). Following pre-oxygenation, anesthesia was induced with ketamine (3.75 mg kg^?1, IV) and diazepam (0.18 mg kg^?1, IV). Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen, an intravenous constant rate infusion (CRI) of fentanyl (10–30 μg kg^?1 hour^?1) and a CRI of lidocaine (50–200 μg kg^?1 minute^?1). A right lateral thoracotomy was performed. The heart was stopped transiently with a cold cardioplegic solution for 7.83 minutes to allow the removal of the mass through an open-heart procedure. No cardiopulmonary bypass was used. The heart was successfully restarted after cardiopulmonary resuscitation with internal cardiac massage and internal defibrillation. The dog recovered uneventfully from anesthesia without any apparent neurological sequelae. Post-operative analgesia consisted of intercostal nerve blocks with bupivacaine, CRIs of fentanyl (2–5 μg kg^?1 hour^?1) and lidocaine (40 μg kg^?1 minute^?1) and with oral meloxicam (0.1 mg kg^?1). Five days following surgery, the dog was discharged from the hospital. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry of the mass identified an ectopic thyroid carcinoma.ConclusionsThis case showed the feasibility of whole body hypothermia and using a cold cardioplegic solution to induce cardiac arrest for a short open-heart procedure.     

Coat and hair color: hair cortisol and serotonin levels in lactating Holstein cows under heat stress conditions

The deleterious effects of heat stress on animal health are being increasingly recognized. This study aimed to determine hair cortisol (HC) and serotonin levels in lactating Holstein cows under heat stress conditions with different coat and hair‐cut color. Forty‐five multiparous lactating Holstein cows (days in milk = 130 ± 47, body weight = 753 ± 85 kg) were divided to two main groups of over 80% black coat color (BC) and over 85% white coat color (WC) visually observed based on registry certificates and subdividing to black hair sample (BH) and white hair samples (WH) in 2 × 2 factorial arrangements. Hair samples were taken from the forehead of the individuals. Higher HC levels were observed in BC than WC cows (P < 0.05). No differences were found in HC levels between BH and WH groups (P > 0.05). Serotonin levels showed no difference between BC and WC (P > 0.05). Interaction between coat color and hair color was not significant (P > 0.05). The cortisol levels in hair are not affected by pigmentation. However, pigmentation within the coat alters cortisol levels. In conclusion, white coat color retains less cortisol than the black coat. Therefore, white coats are preferable for dairy cows under heat stress conditions.     

Evaluation of dietary methionine requirement of male Korean native ducks for 3 weeks post‐hatching

A total of 336 1‐day‐old male Korean native ducks (KND) were used in a completely randomized design with seven dietary methionine levels (0.30–0.90% with 0.1% increment) to determine the methionine requirement of male Korean native ducks for 3 weeks after hatching. Each dietary treatment had six replicates with eight ducklings per pen. One duckling from each pen (n = 6) was sacrificed to weigh empty body and drumsticks at the end of the experiment. Final body weight and weight gain of 3 weeks old KND were increased with increasing dietary methionine levels up to 0.4%, and then decreased (P < 0.05) with a further increasing dietary methionine level. In contrast, feed conversion ratio of the KND decreased up to 0.4% and increased (P < 0.05) with the increasing dietary methionine level. Both empty body weight and proportions of empty body weight were linearly increased (P < 0.05) while the dietary methionine level elevated up to 0.4%. Estimated dietary methionine requirement for maximum body weights, daily gain and minimum feed conversion ratio were 0.36, 0.39 and 0.40%, respectively, when it was fitted into linear‐ and quadratic‐plateau models.