Effects of spray-dried animal plasma and immunoglobulins on performance of early weaned pigs

Five experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) and spray-dried bovine plasma (SDBP) and their various molecular weight fractions on performance of pigs weaned at approximately 14 or 21 d of age. In addition, the efficacy of various levels of the immunoglobulin G (IgG)-rich fraction of SDPP and SDBP were evaluated. Experiment 1 evaluated the dietary addition of SDPP and three of its fractions (IgG-rich, albumin-rich, and low molecular weight fractions). Pigs fed SDPP grew faster and consumed more feed than the controls during the first week (P < 0.05). The IgG-rich fraction resulted in improvements in ADG and ADFI that were similar to those of pigs fed SDPP. The albumin-rich fraction had no effect on growth rate, but the low molecular weight fraction decreased feed intake as well as growth rate. Experiments 2 and 3 evaluated SDPP and graded levels of its IgG-rich fraction in pigs weaned at 21 or 14 d, respectively. In Exp. 2, pigs fed SDPP grew faster and consumed more feed than the controls during the first week (P < 0.05). Pig performance was enhanced with the addition of the IgG-rich fraction that provided 80% of the amount of IgG in the SDPP diet. In Exp. 3, there was no response to SDPP during the first week, but a positive growth response to SDPP (P < 0.01) occurred by the end of wk 2 (0 to 14 d). Feeding the IgG-rich fraction increased growth rate compared with controls (P < 0.05). Over the entire experiment, the greatest ADG occurred with the IgG-rich fraction that provided 128% of the amount of IgG provided by SDPP (quadratic; P < 0.05). Two additional experiments assessed feeding SDBP and bovine IgG-rich fractions to early weaned pigs. In Exp. 4, SDPP was superior to SDBP in stimulating growth and feed intake, but this difference did not occur in Exp. 5. In both experiments, the IgG fraction of bovine plasma seemed to be as effective at improving growth as SDPP and more effective than SDBP. The results indicate that both porcine and bovine plasma are beneficial to young pig performance during the first week after weaning and that the IgG fraction of plasma is the component that is responsible for the enhancement in growth rate and feed intake.     

Economic considerations for diagnostic and control options for Neospora caninum-induced abortions in endemically infected herds of beef cattle

OBJECTIVE: To compare economic outcome for herds not exposed to Neospora caninum with that for herds with various seroprevalences of N caninum infection and evaluate 3 control strategies. DESIGN: Economic simulation model. SAMPLE POPULATION: Beef herds with various seroprevalences of N caninum infection. PROCEDURE: A 5-year simulation model was used. Control strategies that were evaluated included culling females that fail to calve, selling seropositive females and purchasing seronegative replacements, and excluding the daughters of seropositive dams as potential replacements. RESULTS: For a 5-year period with low prices for feeder calves, endemic N caninum infection decreased mean return to fixed assets by 22.2% when true seroprevalence was 10% and by 29.9% when true seroprevalence was 70%. Percentage decrease in return to fixed assets was less dramatic when a 5-year period with high prices for feeder calves was evaluated. Analysis indicated that 2 control strategies (culling females that fail to give birth to a calf and selling seropositive female cattle and purchasing seronegative replacement female cattle) were not likely to be economically beneficial. The third control strategy (testing the entire herd for N caninum infection and excluding the female offspring of seropositive dams as replacements) appeared to be a reasonable control strategy. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: For the assumptions in the model, endemic N caninum infection decreases return to fixed assets for cow-calf herds. Of the potential control strategies evaluated, testing the entire herd for N caninum infection and excluding the daughters of seropositive dams as potential replacements provided the best economic return.)     

A Technique for Precise Inoculation of the Internal Phyllosphere of Cotton with Xanthomonas campestris pv. malvacearum

ABSTRACT A technique was developed to inoculate uniformly and gently the internal phyllosphere from the upper surface of cotton leaves with the phytopathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. malvacearum. The inoculum consisted of 2 to 3 x 10(7) CFU/ml in CaCO(3)-saturated sterile distilled water containing 0.02%, vol/vol, of the wetting agent Silwet L-77. A custom-made inoculation apparatus was employed to immerse a circular area of the adaxial surface of a leaf in inoculum for 90 s. This resulted in uniform, passive entry of bacteria into the substomatal chambers, producing an endophytic bacterial population of 2 x 10(4) CFU/cm(2). Microscopic signs of infection were visible 48 to 72 h after inoculation. In susceptible leaves, uniformly distributed water-soaked spots were observed 7 to 8 days after inoculation. When the technique was used on resistant leaves, the autofluorescence that is characteristic of hypersensitively necrotic cells developed in the guard cells and palisade cells lining substomatal chambers, but not in the underlying spongy mesophyll.     

Enhancement of cation diffusion rates across the 410-kilometer discontinuity in Earth's mantle

Rates of cation diffusion (magnesium, iron, and nickel) have been determined in olivine and its high-pressure polymorph, wadsleyite, at 9 to 15 gigapascals and 1100 degrees to 1400 degreesC for compositions that are relevant to Earth's mantle. Diffusion in olivine becomes strongly dependent on composition at high pressure. In wadsleyite, diffusion is one to two orders of magnitude faster than in olivine, depending on temperature. Homogenization of mantle heterogeneities (chemical mixing) and mineral transformations involving a magnesium-iron exchange will therefore occur considerably faster in the transition zone than at depths of less than 410 kilometers.     

Emigration of hatchery‐reared Pallid Sturgeon,Scaphirhynchus albus (Forbes and Richardson), through a Missouri River dam

The middle Missouri River (MMR; Fort Randall Dam, SD to Gavins Point Dam, NE‐SD) is stocked with hatchery‐reared pallid sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus albus (Forbes and Richardson), from upper Missouri River broodstock to aid recovery of this federally endangered species. Emigration of these fish through Gavins Point Dam restores genetic connectivity that likely existed pre‐impoundment but could lead to outbreeding depression in the future. Recapture data of hatchery‐reared pallid sturgeon stocked in the MMR were evaluated to improve understanding of pallid sturgeon emigration. From 2004 to 2015, 219 emigrants were caught: 4 stocked at age ≥2 years and 215 stocked at age ≤1 year. Emigration of the 2001‐2007 year classes stocked at age 1 was a consistent phenomenon and appeared higher than emigration of year classes stocked at ages 2–3. Little evidence suggested emigration was associated with an unusually high‐water event in 2011. The annual emigration probability of individuals stocked at age 1 estimated from multi‐state mark–recapture models was 0.05 [95% confidence interval = 0.04–0.06] for fish ages ≥1 year. This study suggests that alterations to stocking practices (e.g. stocking age) may affect emigration rates and, therefore, connectivity among pallid sturgeon populations.     

Effect of feed and feeding in the culture of salmonids on the marine aquatic environment: a synthesis for European aquaculture

While marine aquaculture has grown rapidly, so have concerns regarding the environmental impacts caused by the industry. In particular, increasing discharges of solid and dissolved fish excretions, nutrients and therapeutic chemicals have coincided with greater public awareness of the possibility of environmental damage. This has stimulated a number of criticisms, drawn from a wide spectrum of interests, ranging from the use of natural fish stocks to produce fish meal for aqua feeds to the effects of enhanced nutrient input on the coastal marine environment. The present study reviews available information on the environmental effects of feeding practices in salmonid aquaculture in Europe. Accumulation of waste food and fish faecal material results in changes in the sediment under fish cages, characterized by a low redox potential, high content of organic material and accumulation of nitrogenous and phosphorous compounds. Although significant environmental impacts have been reported in the literature at distances of up to 100 m from the cages, in general such impacts are reported to be localized to within 20–50 m around the cages. For farmed salmon and trout, mass balance models have been developed for nitrogen and phosphorus, indicating that 50% of the nitrogen and 28% of the phosphorus supplied with the food is wasted in dissolved form. The maximum nutrient release can be estimated from the hydrographic conditions in the immediate vicinity of the farm, such as water volume, tidal water exchange and currents. At present production levels, improvements in the feeding efficiency and feed quality of aquafeeds could reduce waste and consequent environmental impacts.     

An autumn profile of growth regulatory hormones in chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

We examined trends in the growth regulatory hormones growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) from August to December in chinook salmon. Fish on 100% (ad libitum) and 64% rations of a low fat high protein diet, and a 64% ration of commercial feed (BioOregon-grower) were sampled twice a month. Fish were kept on simulated natural photoperiod at constant temperature. GH declined in late August and early September, consistent with photoperiodic regulation. No effects of ration or diet composition on GH were found. IGF-I increased to a peak on 4 October 1998 and declined thereafter. High dietary ration and the higher fat commercial diet increased IGF-I. Fish length and IGF-I level were positively correlated. This study shows that a peak in IGF-I may occur in the fall in chinook salmon. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of neonatal thymectomy and antilymphocyte globulin on non-specific mitogen stimulation in Holstein-Friesian calves

Nine of seventeen neonatal Holstein-Friesian calves were thymectomized, treated with antilymphocyte globulin, and monitored for immunologic functional ability for 4 to 6 months. The thymus weights for 4 to 10-day-old calves and 4 to 6-month-old calves indicated a continued increase in total weight. This indicated significant thymic involution had not occurred at 4 to 6 months. Following thymectomy a wasting syndrome was not observed although an increased incidence of a lowly virulent virus infection did occur. A significant decrease in circulating lymphocytes was observed.Peripheral blood lymphocytes were stimulated in vitro by non-specific mitogens, phytohemagglutinin, bacterial lipopolysaccharide and pokeweed mitogen using the whole blood culture method. Observations included a greater response to phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen in summer months and variable age related response to all mitogens. Lipopolysaccharide stimulation results were inconclusive. It was concluded that neonatal thymectomy was not a satisfactory experimental procedure for the production of selective immunosuppression in the bovine species.