T-shaped malformation of the ventral colon in a Thoroughbred filly with colic

A 4-month-old Thoroughbred filly presented for abdominal pain was diagnosed with a T-shaped malformation of the ventral colon at exploratory laparotomy. Following resection and anastomosis of the large colon, no further episodes of abdominal pain occurred during a 12-month follow-up. Acute dehiscence of the linea alba occurred as a complication of the initial laparotomy, but was successfully managed following additional surgical repair. T-shaped malformation of the ventral colon has not previously been reported and is considered a congenital malformation of mesocolon formation.     

A case-control study to identify farm factors affecting fertility of dairy herds: univariate description of factors

Objective To identify farm factors which were associated with reproductive performance in dairy herds in New South Wales.
Procedure A survey was administered by face to face interview to examine the responses of producers drawn from 757 herds, which used the New South Wales Agriculture Department Dairy Herd Improvement scheme. A case-control approach was used to select a total of 126 herds from the first (top group - cases) and fourth quartiles (low group - controls) for intercalving interval.
Results We found that the estimated interval from calving to first mating was significantly different between groups (P = 0.03) and that the groups significantly differed in both their target for interval to first mating (P = 0.02) and their perceived optimum time for first mating (P = 0.04). Other factors associated with a longer intercalving interval included, use of embryo transfer programs (P = 0.08), younger managers (P = 0.02), fewer breedings per day (P = 0.01), a greater number of people detecting heats (P = 0.07), but less hours spent detecting heats while handling the cows (P = 0.11), and a failure to vaccinate bulls for campylobacteriosis (P = 0.14).
Conclusions Managers of herds with poorer reproductive performance did not intend to mate cattle as soon after calving as managers with better reproductive performance, were not as active in seeking veterinary advice on reproduction, and were attempting to treat reproductive diseases and disorders themselves.     

Ecological observations on the commercial sand crab, Portunus pelagicus (L.), and its parasite, Sacculina granifera Boschma, 1973 (Cirripedia: Rhizocephala)

Abstract. Sacculina granifera was found in 12% of commercial sandcrabs, Portunus pelagicus , in Moreton Bay irrespective of sex. Although male and female crabs were randomly distributed about Moreton Bay, egg bearing females were most common at the seaward station. This and the distribution of epizoic barnacles on gills and carapace suggest the sexes school separately. The increased prevalence of barnacles on the carapace of infected crabs indicates Sacculina inhibits moulting. The distribution of interna infections in small crabs towards south and west and externa infections in large crabs in the easterly, seaward stations suggests Sacculina preferentially attacks young crabs as they move inshore and then induces crabs to behave like 'berried' (i.e. egg bearing) females by moving seaward as they grow. Morphologically female crabs are little changed by Sacculina , but the males show considerable modification which is reflected most accurately in the shortening of the chelar propodus to proportions similar to normal females. Infected crabs are sterile and internally the hepatopancreas becomes green rather than tan. Parasitized crabs were seen to groom their externae as 'berried' females groom their egg masses.     

Dislocation of the stifle joint in the cat

The clinical and radiographic features of nine cases of stifle dislocation in the cat are described. Four cases were treated with a skin prosthesis and five with a nylon prosthesis. There was an early return to soundness and in only one case was there a recurrence of joint instability.     

BOOK REVIEW

Lot Feeding in Australia – A Survey of the Australian Lot Feeding Industry , RW Tucker, PS Watts, SL Lott and P Jukes     

Insulin sensitivity decreases with obesity, and lean cats with low insulin sensitivity are at greatest risk of glucose intolerance with weight gain

This study quantifies the effects of marked weight gain on glucose and insulin metabolism in 16 cats which increased their weight by an average of 44.2% over 10 months. Significantly, the development of feline obesity was accompanied by a 52% decrease in tissue sensitivity to insulin and diminished glucose effectiveness. In addition, glucose intolerance and abnormal insulin response occurred in some cats. An important finding was that normal weight cats with low insulin sensitivity and glucose effectiveness were at increased risk of developing impaired glucose tolerance with obesity. High basal insulin concentrations or low acute insulin response to glucose also independently increased the risk for developing impaired glucose tolerance. Male cats gained more weight relative to females and this, combined with their tendency to lower insulin sensitivity and higher insulin concentrations, may explain why male cats are at greater risk for diabetes. Results suggest an underlying predisposition for glucose intolerance in some cats, which is exacerbated by obesity. These cats may be more at risk of progressing to overt type 2 diabetes mellitus.     

The effects of sodium chloride application to pasture, or its direct supplementation, on dairy cow production and grazing preference

The experiment aimed to examine the effects of sodium chloride (NaCl) application to pasture on dairy cow production, distinguishing the effects of Na supply on pasture production from the direct effects on animal production, and also to examine the preference of dairy cows for sodium-fertilized pasture. Twenty-four dairy cows were grazed in six treatment areas with three fertilizer levels—all (A), one-half (H) or none (N) of the area fertilized with 50 kg NaCl ha⁻¹, and with or without 50 g cow⁻¹ day⁻¹ NaCl supplementation (+, −) offered in concentrate feed. The experiment was a changeover design with four 3-week periods. NaCl fertilization increased herbage growth rate and Na, Cl and calcium (Ca) contents and reduced K content. Milk yield and liveweight gain were increased by NaCl application to pasture but not by direct supplementation. Milk fat content was increased with increasing Na concentration in the diet. Grazing time was increased by NaCl application to pasture, but only cows not receiving direct NaCl supplementation preferred NaCl-fertilized pasture. Ruminating time was increased both by NaCl application to pasture and by direct supplementation. It is concluded that in the warm, dry conditions of this experiment, increasing Na supply to natrophilic herbage increased both pasture and animal production, and that within the range 3–8 g Na kg⁻¹ dietary DM, increasing Na supply to the cow increased milk fat content.