Cow/calf preweaning efficiency of Nellore and Bos taurus x Bos indicus crosses

The objectives of this study were to determine if percentage Bos taurus (0 or 50%) of the cow had an effect on ME requirements and milk production, and to compare cow/calf efficiency among 3 mating systems. Metabolizable energy requirements were estimated during a feeding trial that encompassed a gestation and lactation feeding trial for each of 2 groups of cows. Cows were 0 or 50% Bos taurus (100 or 50% Nellore) breed type: Nellore cows (NL; n = 10) mated to Nellore bulls, NL cows (n = 9) mated to Angus bulls, Angus x Nellore (ANL; n = 10) and Simmental x Nellore (SNL; n = 10) cows mated to Canchim (5/8 Charolais 3/8 Zebu) bulls. Cows were individually fed a total mixed diet that contained 11.3% CP and 2.23 Mcal of ME/kg of DM. At 14-d intervals, cows and calves were weighed and the amount of DM was adjusted to keep shrunk BW and BCS of cows constant. Beginning at 38 d of age, corn silage was available to calves ad libitum. Milk production at 42, 98, 126, and 180 d postpartum was measured using the weigh-suckle-weigh technique. At 190 d of age, calves were slaughtered and body composition estimated using 9-10-11th-rib section to obtain energy deposition. Regression of BW change on daily ME intake (MEI) was used to estimate MEI at zero BW change. Increase in percentage Bos taurus had a significant effect on daily ME requirements (Mcal/d) during pregnancy (P < 0.01) and lactation (P < 0.01). Percentage Bos taurus had a positive linear effect on maintenance requirements of pregnant (P = 0.07) and lactating (P < 0.01) cows; during pregnancy, the ME requirements were 91 and 86% of those in lactation (131 +/- 3.5 vs. 145 +/- 3.4 Mcal x kg(-0.75) x d(-1)) for the 0 and 50% B. taurus groups, respectively. The 50% B. taurus cows, ANL and SNL, suckling crossbred calves had greater total MEI (4,319 +/- 61 Mcal; P < 0.01) than 0% B. taurus cows suckling NL (3,484 +/- 86 Mcal) or ANL calves (3,600 +/- 91 Mcal). The 0% B. taurus cows suckling ANL calves were more efficient (45.3 +/- 1.6 g/Mcal; P = 0.03) than straightbred NL (35.1 +/- 1.5 g/Mcal) and ANL or SNL pairs (41.0 +/- 1.0 g/Mcal). Under the conditions of this study, crossbreeding improved cow/ calf efficiency and showed an advantage for cows that have lower energy requirements.     

Effects of high concentrations of dietary vitamin E and ethoxyquin on the performance of laying hens

1. Three experiments were carried out with light strain laying hens to evaluate the effects of relatively high doses of dietary vitamin E (125 mg/kg food) or ethoxyquin (EQ) (250 mg/kg food) on their laying performance. The control diet contained 5 and 125 mg/kg vitamin E and EQ, respectively. The experimental diets were fed either from one or 32 weeks until 88 or 89 weeks of age. 2. The two antioxidants did not affect the growth of the pullets, age at first egg, final body weight, average egg weight or relative abdominal fat pad size and liver weight at the termination of the experiments. In two out of three experiments, vitamin E and EQ did not affect egg production, food efficiency or mortality; in the third experiment vitamin E significantly (P less than 0.05) improved egg production and food efficiency after an outbreak of Newcastle disease which occurred at 34 weeks of age. EQ significantly reduced mortality during the course of this experiment, but did affect the variables of performance. In two experiments vitamin E consistently improved shell density, although a significant effect was observed in only one of the eight determinations carried out. EQ did not affect this variable. 3. The uterine muscle was more susceptible to oxidation than the drumstick meat, as evaluated by TBA values. In both tissues, vitamin E significantly and consistently decreased TBA values and restricted their increase during incubation, while EQ was less effective, particularly in the drumstick meat. 4. It is concluded that increasing vitamin E and EQ concentrations in diets of laying hens have no effect on the decrease in egg production due to aging. However, vitamin E may minimize the decline in egg production and food efficiency following the outbreaks of some diseases and slightly improve--under certain yet undefined conditions--shell density.     

Identification of functional corridors with movement characteristics of brown bears on the Kenai Peninsula,Alaska

We identified primary habitat and functional corridors across a landscape using Global Positioning System (GPS) collar locations of brown bears (Ursus arctos). After deriving density, speed, and angular deviation of movement, we classified landscape function for a group of animals with a cluster analysis. We described areas with high amounts of sinuous movement as primary habitat patches and areas with high amounts of very directional, fast movement as highly functional bear corridors. The time between bear locations and scale of analysis influenced the number and size of corridors identified. Bear locations should be collected at intervals ≤6 h to correctly identify travel corridors. Our corridor identification technique will help managers move beyond the theoretical discussion of corridors and linkage zones to active management of landscape features that will preserve connectivity.     

Dietary plant bioactives for poultry health and productivity

1. Plants and their biologically active chemical constituents, sometimes called secondary metabolites or bioactives, present numerous opportunities for the improvement of livestock production by inclusion in the diet. 2. Many such plant derived materials have well established therapeutic values in man; however, their potential as feed additives in animal production, particularly of poultry, remains largely unexploited. 3. There is increasing evidence indicating that they can be efficient in controlling diseases, and plant bioactives may also influence production parameters such as feed efficiency and product quality. 4. It has been reported that they may even replicate some of the effects of antibiotic growth promoters, which were banned from use in Europe from 2006. 5. This review assesses the status of plant bioactives in poultry production and their mode of action on avian physiology, particularly in the digestive tract.     

DIE WIRKUNG DER HERBIZIDE 2,4-D, AMITROL, ATRAZIN, CHLORPROPHAM UND CHLORFLURENOL AUF DIE NUCLEINSÄURE-BIOSYNTHESE DES ASCOMYCETEN NEUROSPORA CRASSA

Zusammenfassung. Es wurde die DNS- und RNS-Biosynthese von Neurospora crassa Wildstamm 3a6A unter Einfluss unterschiedlicher Konzentrationen von 2,4-D, Amitrol, Atrazin, Chlorpropham und Chlorflurenol untersucht. Die Variation der Herbizide erfolgte von 10^?3 bis 10^?6 M. Der in beliifteten Kulturen gezüchtete Pilz ist gegenuber Chlorpropham am empfindlichsten. Bei 10^?3 M ist die Toxizitätsgrenze überschritten und das Wachstum vollständig gehemmt. 2,4-D hat in einer Konzentration von 10^?3 M den grössten Einfluss auf die Nucleinsäure-Biosynthese. Die DNS-Werte erhöhen sich gegenüber der Kontrolle aiif 140%. Unter Einfluss von Atrazin (10^?3 M) scheint besonders die Protein-Synthese stimuliert zu werden. Die Zunahme beträgt hier fast 140%. Allgemein haben die untersuchten 5 Herbizide einen relativ geringen Einfluss auf die Nucleinsäure-Biosynthese. Ein grösserer Effect ist nur bei der höchsten Herbizid-Konzentration von 10^?3 M ZU erkennen. Der Pilz ist gegenüber diesen Herbiziden wenig empfindlich. Effets des herbicides 2,4-D, aminotriazole, atrazine, chlorprophame et chlorflurénol sur la biosynthése de l'acide nucléique chez un ascomycéte; Neurospora crassa Résumé. La biosynthése de l'ADN et de l'ARN fut déterminée chez la race sauvage 3a6A de Neurospara crassa, cultivé sur des milieux contenant du 2, 4-D, de l'aminotriazole, de l'atrazine, du chlorprophame et du chlorflurenol à des concentrations de 10^?3 a 10^?6 M. En culture aéréc, JV. crassa fut plus sensible au chlorprophame et à 10^?3 M. sa croissance fut complétement inhibée. L'effet le ptus marqué sur la biosynthésc de I'acide nucléique fut observé avec lc 2,4-D à 10^?3 M. concentration qui porta la teneur en ADN à 140% de celle du téemoin. Avec l'atrazine à 10^?3 M. la synthése des proteines en particulier sembla stimulée jusqu’à atteindre environ 140% du témoin. En général, les cinq herbicides etudids n'eurent qu'un effet relativement faibie sur la biosynthése de l'acide nucléique; seule la concentration la plus forte, 10^?3 M. cut un effet appreciable. N. crassa ne se montra pas tres sensible à ces herbicides. Effects of the herbicides 2,4-D, aminotriazole, atrazine, chlorpropham and chlorflurenol on nucleic-acid biosynthesis in the ascomycete Neurospora crassa Summary. Biosynthesis of DNA and RNA was determined in Neurospora crassa wild race 3a6A grown in cultures containing 2,4-D, aminotriazole, atrazine, chlorpropham and chlorflurenol in concentrations of 10^?3-10^?6 M. In aerated culture, N. crassa was most sensitive to chlorpropham and at 10^?3 M growth was completely inhibited. The greatest effect on nucleic-acid biosynthesis was given by 2,4-D at 10^?3 M which increased the DNA value to 140% of the control. With atrazine at 10^?3 M. protein synthesis in particular appeared to be stimulated, to almost 140% of the control. In general, the five herbicides studied had a relatively slight effect on nucleic-acid biosynthesis; only with the highest concentration of 10^?3 M was the effect appreciable. N. crassa was not very susceptible to these herbicides.     

The elecrophysiological bulbocavernosus reflex test in female dogs: Its technique and applicability

The intent of the study was to clarify the technique and the application of the electrophysiological bulbocavernosus reflex (EBCR) test in healthy female dogs. For this aim, 15 healthy female dogs were used in the study. The stimulations were made on the clitoris and the responses were recorded from the right side of the external anal sphincter muscle with a concentric needle recording electrode. The EBCR had response latencies between 18.99 and 25.69ms with the mean value of 22.26ms. The EBCR reflex test is not yet widely used for the evaluation of the functional integrity of sacral spinal cord segments and nerve roots in veterinary clinics. Our experiences indicated that the EBCR reflex test gives valuable data about sacral spinal reflex arc functionality and can be accepted as a routine diagnostic method in small animal clinics for evaluation of the sacral reflex arc.