Effect of synchronization protocols on reproductive indices,progesterone profile and fertility under subtropical environmental conditions in repeat breeder Holstein cows

The objectives were to evaluate the reproductive indices and survival analysis of pregnancy outcomes in multiparous repeat breeder Holstein cows (n = 557). The cows were synchronized to ovulate by Ovsynch, new controlled internal drug release device (N‐CIDRsynch), and once‐used CIDR device (U‐CIDRsynch). The pregnancy per AI at 28 days post‐insemination (P/AI 28) in the N‐CIDRsynch group (28.75%) was significantly (COR = 1.49; p = 0.011) greater than that reported in the Ovsynch (23.46%) and U‐CIDRsynch (21.73%) groups. Furthermore, the pregnancy per AI at day 75 post‐insemination (P/AI 75) in the N‐CIDRsynch group was significantly greater than the Ovysync group (COR = 1.35; p = 0.050). The repeat breeder cows received a N‐CIDR device had a significantly higher progesterone level on day 2 and day 4 of CIDR insertion (1.38 and 1.67 ng/ml, respectively) than those received a U‐CIDR device or the control group (p = 0.012 and 0.001, respectively). The Cox regression model recorded significant associations for synchronization protocols, THI at the TAI and season of calving with the hazard of P/AI 28 and P/AI 75 (p = 0.044 and 0.046; 0.001 and 0.005; 0.003 and 0.001, respectively). Multiparous repeat breeder cows (>3) had a lower hazard ratio (HR) of P/AI 28 than that reported in the reference (2nd parity) group (HR = 0.74, p = 0.050). The repeat breeder cows inseminated at 76–80 and >80 temperature‐humidity index (THI) had significantly lower HR of P/AI 28 than those inseminated at the baseline (<70) THI value (HR = 0.73 and 0.30, p = 0.036 and 0.001, respectively). The current results indicate that the use of N‐CIDR synch protocol may achieve satisfactory pregnancy outcomes in repeat breeder cows.     

Studies on the persistency of carbaryl residues in fruit

Summary The paper deals with studies on the dynamics of Carbaryl residue loss on apples, plums and peaches.The initial toxicant deposit ranges between 8 and 13 ppm on peaches, 2, 3 and 3, 4 ppm on apples and up to 1.5 ppm on plums. According to the dynamics of Carbaryl residue loss on fruit results a rest period of 2 days for plums, 7 days for apples and 21 days for peaches, on admitting a 2 ppm tolerance.

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Zusammenfassung Unter Berücksichtigung der Witterungsbedingungen wurde die Geschwindigkeit des Abbaus von Carbaryl-Rückständen bei Äpfeln, Pflaumen und Pfirsichen untersucht. Die anfängliche Höhe der Rückstände betrug bei Pfirsichen zwischen 8 und 13 ppm, bei Äpfeln 2,3 und 3,4 ppm und bei Pflaumen bis zu 1,5 ppm. Wird eine Toleranz von 2 ppm zugrundegelegt, ergibt sich entsprechend der Abbau-Geschwindigkeit von Carbaryl bei Früchten eine Wartezeit von 2 Tagen bei Pflaumen, 7 Tagen bei Äpfeln und 21 Tagen bei Pfirsichen.

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Resume On présente de données sur la dynamique de la dégradation des résidus de Carbaryl sur pommes, prunes et pêches. Le résidu initial atteint 8–13 ppm chez les pêches, 2,3–3,4 ppm chez les pommes et 1,5 ppm chez les prunes.De cette dynamique de la dégradation des résidue sur fruits il résulte que pour les prunes l'intervalle de pause de deur jours, pour les pommes de 7 jours et pour les pêches de 25 jours dans les conditions climatiques de Roumanie.

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Presented at the Congress of Chemistry in Agriculture, Bratislava, Sept. 1969.     

Embryo Production in Superovulated Goats Treated with Insulin Before or After Mating or By Continuous Propylene Glycol Supplementation

Seventeen adult and cyclic Moxoto goats were synchronized using 60 mg MPA vaginal sponge for 11 days and 50 μg cloprostenol, 48 h before sponge removal, and superovulated with 120 mg pFSH i.m. in decreasing doses at 12 h intervals for three consecutive days. In seven goats, 0.2 IU/kg BW/day of long acting insulin was subcutaneously injected at same time as pFSH, and in the other five goats, the same dose of insulin was injected for three consecutive days starting 24 h after mating. Finally, five goats were supplemented with an oral dose of 80 ml/goat/day of propylene glycol continuously during the experiment. The animals were flushed at 7 days after mating and the embryos were classified based on International Embryo Transfer Society criteria. Blood samples were collected every 3 days for insulin assay. Administration of insulin raised the insulin levels of the goats (p < 0.05), whereas in the group treated with propylene glycol, insulin rate was different only between FSH treatment and after mating (p < 0.05). Similar rates of recovery for total (80.05 ± 9.78%) or transferable structures (61.03 ± 15.13%) were obtained. Treatment was not influenced (p > 0.05) by responsiveness to superovulation, which averaged 64%. By contrast, insulin treatments were shown to increase the number of embryos considered excellent with respect to goats supplemented with propylene glycol (p < 0.05). When insulin was given before mating, a strong relationship (r = 0. 90) (p < 0.05) between number of transferable embryo and ovulations was observed in the animals. In conclusion, superovulated goats treated with low doses of exogenous insulin resulted in an enhancement in embryo quality, which was related to changes in circulating insulin concentrations.     

Familial episodic ataxia in lambs

Abstract

HISTORY: A similar episodic neurological disorder occurred in new born lambs on two unrelated properties involving disparate breeds of sheep. Because of the number of lambs born, cross-breeding and the fact it occurred in some mating groups and not others, a dominant mode of inheritance was, initially and separately, suspected in each case. The sires of affected lambs were apparently normal. Whereas one was New Zealand Romney, the other was a composite breed with East Friesian genetics, but both rams originated from the same source property. To investigate the pathogenesis of the disorder these two rams were acquired and mated with unrelated sheep, under experimental conditions in a more controlled environment.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: A proportion of lambs born to both sires exhibited a similar neurological disorder. Some lambs were noted to be abnormal at birth, both on home properties and in the experimental flock. They tended to adopt a head and neck extended posture and were slow to get to their feet and suckle when they then became more or less normal. When forced to move, they and other more robust lambs elicited an asymmetric gait, base-wide extensor hypertonia (hypometria) of thoracic limbs and flexor hypertonia (hypermetria) of pelvic limbs. In some there was nystagmus. After several metres of asymmetric ataxic gait they would fall to one side, sometimes adopting a sitting position. Recovery usually occurred in one to several minutes. As lambs aged, it became more difficult to elicit the episodes of dysfunction and by 6 months of age they appeared normal.

DIAGNOSIS: The disorder was diagnosed as a dominant familial episodic cerebellovestibular ataxia inherited as a dominant trait, with incomplete penetration of observed clinical signs and variable expressivity.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A proportion of affected lambs are likely to die in the neonatal period so the specific nature of the disorder may go unrecognised. Because of incomplete penetrance and varying expressivity, many of the lambs carrying this mutation will survive without showing clinical signs and may enter breeding flocks, where the disorder may be perpetuated and contribute to neonatal deaths.     

Epidemic of blindness in kangaroos - evidence of a viral aetiology

OBJECTIVE: To determine the cause of an epidemic of blindness in kangaroos. DESIGN AND PROCEDURES: Laboratory examinations were made of eyes and brains of a large number of kangaroos using serological, virological, histopathological, electron microscopical, immunohistochemical methods, and PCR with cDNA sequencing. In addition, potential insect viral vectors identified during the disease outbreak were examined for specific viral genomic sequences. SAMPLE POPULATION: For histopathological analysis, 55 apparently blind and 18 apparently normal wild kangaroos and wallabies were obtained from New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. A total of 437 wild kangaroos and wallabies (including 23 animals with apparent blindness) were examined serologically. RESULTS: Orbiviruses of the Wallal and Warrego serogroups were isolated from kangaroos affected with blindness in a major epidemic in south-eastern Australia in 1994 and 1995 and extending to Western Australia in 1995/96. Histopathological examinations showed severe degeneration and inflammation in the eyes, and mild inflammation in the brains. In affected retinas, Wallal virus antigen was detected by immunohistochemical analysis and orbiviruses were seen in electron microscopy. There was serological variation in the newly isolated Wallal virus from archival Wallal virus that had been isolated in northern Australia. There were also variations of up to 20% in genotype sequence from the reference archival virus. Polymerase chain reactions showed that Wallal virus was present during the epidemic in three species of midges, Culicoides austropalpalis, C dycei and C marksi. Wallal virus nucleic acid was also detected by PCR in a paraffin-embedded retina taken from a blind kangaroo in 1975. CONCLUSION: Wallal virus and perhaps also Warrego virus are the cause of the outbreak of blindness in kangaroos. Other viruses may also be involved, but the evidence in this paper indicates a variant of Wallal virus, an orbivirus transmitted by midges, has the strongest aetiological association, and immunohistochemical analysis implicates it as the most damaging factor in the affected eyes.     

Production losses in Merino ewes and financial penalties caused by trichostrongylid infections during winter and spring

SUMMARY: The productivity of Merino ewes treated with ivermectin and a controlled-release capsule containing albendazole was compared with untreated ewes grazing the same pastures on each of 3 farms. Treated breeding ewes had significantly increased greasy fleece weights (GFW, 6.5% and 7.1%) compared with untreated breeding ewes, on 2 of 3 farms but treatment caused no significant increase in the GFW of non-breeding ewes. Other benefits of treatment on all farms were a significant increase in body weight gain (from 1.7 to 3.7 kg) and a significant decrease in the weight of dag removed at crutching (from 42 to 622 g). These benefits occurred despite the presence on each farm of worms resistant to benzimidazoles. One disadvantage of treatment was an increase in mean fibre diameter of wool from treated ewes of from 0.12 to 0.41 μm. This increase reduces the value of the wool. Partial budgets indicated a net loss of from 8 to 62 cents per ewe for treatment. However, potential benefits such as increased growth rate and wool production from lambs of treated ewes were not included in the analysis. On one farm ewes were classified as ‘susceptible’ to severe dag if they had a dag score ≥ 4 at the time of capsule treatment. Ewes classified as ‘susceptible’ were about 7 times more likely to develop severe dag than were other ewes. There was no significant difference between the GFW of untreated ‘susceptible’ ewes and untreated ewes not classified as ‘susceptible’. Additionally, the response of GFW to treatment was no different to the response seen in ewes that were not classified as ‘susceptible’. The direct cost of diarrhoea and dag formation in Merino ewes was estimated to be 18, 30, 53, 86, 98 and 145 cents per head for ewes with a dag score of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. This cost did not include potential benefits from reduced risk of breech strike, or intangible benefits associated with the improved welfare of sheep.