Patterns of crossfostering and piglet mortality on commercial U.S. and Canadian swine farms

A data base of 300 farms using computerized records was used to examine the extent and timing of crossfostering being practiced in commercial herds in the Midwestern U.S. and Canada in 1994–1995. Crossfostering was used on 98% of farms. Across all farms, the mean percent of piglets crossfostered was 8.6%. Farms varied greatly in the age at which they moved piglets. The 20 farms that moved piglets the earliest after birth were classified as early-move farms and the 20 that moved the oldest piglets were classified as late-move farms. Early-move and late-move farms did not differ in herd size (P = 0.14), average parity of farrowed sows (P = 0.47) or age at weaning (P = 0.37). There were differences between early-move and late-move farms in percent of piglets fostered (P = 0.0001), pigs born alive/litter (P = 0.04), and pre-weaning mortality (P = 0.0005). A subset of late-move farms that were part of an integrated production group had unique production parameters that suggested inaccurate record-keeping.     

Performance measured in pigs with pneumonia and housed in different environments

During an investigation of poor growth performance, rate of weight gain and feed efficiency were studied in pigs with pneumonia. During the study, pigs either were housed in an improved environment or remained at their home farm. In both environments, rate of gain tended to decrease in association with increasing severity of pneumonia. When pigs with similar extent of lung lesions were compared, growth performance of pigs housed in the improved environment was better than that of pigs on the home farm. However, growth performance of pigs with pneumonia affecting greater than 20% of lung tissue was equally poor in either environment. When type of housing and extent of pneumonia were included in a model for analysis of variance, housing had a highly significant (P = 0.003) effect on rate of gain, and pneumonia had a nonsignificant effect.     

Factors affecting mortality in finishing pigs

Two groups of finishing pigs at a test station were studied to test the effect of initial weight, weight change in the 1st week, age, breed, and distance the pig was transported on mortality. Total mortality was 5.3% in 1 group and 6.3% in the other group. Specific causes of death were pneumonia (24.7%), gastric ulceration (14.0%), enteritis (6.4%), trauma (4.3%), gastrointestinal displacement (4.3%), rectal stricture (3.2%), porcine stress syndrome (3.2%), and brain abscess (2.2%). Other categories for cause of death were miscellaneous (6.5%), and undiagnosed (31.2%). More pigs died in the last 6 weeks of the 18-week finishing period than in the 1st 6 weeks (P less than 0.05). Death rates were not significantly different between pigs that lost weight and pigs that maintained or gained weight during the 1st week after arrival at the test station. The mean transportation distance to the test station was not significantly different between pigs that died and pigs that survived. Transportation distance was not correlated with mean daily gain. The death rate was significantly (P less than 0.03) higher for Yorkshire pigs than for crossbred, Poland China, Hampshire, and Duroc pigs, and it was significantly (P less than 0.01) higher for Berkshire, Spot, and Chester White pigs than for Hampshire and Duroc pigs.     

Limb-sparing treatment for osteosarcoma in dogs

Twenty dogs with spontaneously developing osteosarcoma of the extremities were treated with 1 of 3 multimodality limb-sparing procedures. Excision of the tumor was preceded by intra-arterial (IA) administration of cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum) alone directed to the affected extremity, irradiation plus IA administration of cisplatin, or irradiation plus IV administration of cisplatin. All dogs were free of apparent metastatic disease at the time of initial treatment. After diagnosis, dogs administered cisplatin IA had selective angiography performed on arteries supplying the tumor, and 70 mg of cisplatin/m2 of body surface was administered over 2 hours. This protocol was repeated 3 weeks later. Dogs that were irradiated received 25 or 40 Gy in 10 fractions over a 22-day period. The first and last radiation doses were immediately preceded by IA administration of cisplatin. Dogs given IV treatment received 10 mg of cisplatin/m2 2 hours before each radiation fraction was administered. Three weeks after the last treatment, tumors were excised and the limb underwent orthopedic reconstruction, generally using cortical allografting and bone plating. Limb function, allograft healing, local tumor control, and metastatic dissemination were monitored. Limb function was good to excellent in 69% (11/16) of dogs evaluated. Forelimb-sparing procedures were generally associated with better function than were limb-sparing procedures performed on hind limbs. Local tumor control was obtained in 79% (11/14) of dogs thoroughly evaluated, with local recurrences in 3 dogs at 3, 4, and 7 months after treatment. Fifteen dogs developed metastatic disease at a median time of 8 months from the time of diagnosis. Mean and median survival times for all dogs, regardless of cause of death, were 11.7 and 8 months, respectively. Tumor necrosis greater than 80% was statistically associated with lack of recurrence. Of 16 dogs, 5 (31%) developed infections at the surgical site. Multimodality limb-sparing treatment is believed to be a viable alternative for appropriately selected dogs with osteosarcoma. The optimal method of treatment prior to or after tumor excision has not yet been established.     

Stratigraphic sections, bedding sequences, and random processes

Both dependent and independent random processes can be used to study and synthesize stratigraphic sections and bedding sequences. Synthetic stratigraphic sections can be modeled to fit any geologic problem with a good correspondence between the synthetic and actual stratigraphic sections. To synthesize a sedimentary sequence, one needs only a transition procedure to go from one lithology or bedding type to another, and frequency distributions of thickness for the various lithologies. A sedimentation process with a "memory" is termed Markovian; if the past has no influence on either present or future sedimentation, it is called an independent trials process.     

Effect of dry period length on the effect of an intramammary teat sealant on the risk of mastitis in cattle treated with antibiotics at drying off

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate, under farm conditions, the use of a teat sealant in addition to whole herd dry cow antibiotic therapy on the risk of clinical mastitis in dairy cattle at pasture, and to evaluate the impact of dry period length on that risk and the impact of the teat sealant on that risk.

METHODS: Dairy cows in three herds which used routine whole herd antibiotic therapy were randomly assigned to receive either treatment with an internal teat sealant (n=322) or no additional treatment (n=313) at drying-off between March and May 2010. All clinical mastitis cases during the dry period and to the end of the subsequent lactation were recorded by farm staff; factors affecting risk of clinical mastitis were then analysed using a Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS: Median duration of the dry period was 112 days with >25% of cows having a dry period >130 days. The incidence risk of mastitis during lactation for cows treated with teat sealant was 9.9 (95% CI=6.9–13.7) cases per 100 cows compared with 17.9 (95% CI=13.8–22.6) cases per 100 cows for cows treated with antibiotic alone. The addition of a teat sealant to dry cow antibiotic therapy decreased the risk of clinical mastitis only in the first 33 days after calving (Hazard risk 0.24 (95% CI=0.12–0.48)). Length of dry period did not significantly affect the risk of clinical mastitis, or the effect of adding teat sealant to dry cow antibiotic therapy on the risk of clinical mastitis.

CONCLUSIONS: In these herds where, based on the mastitis history, whole herd antibiotic therapy had been recommended, the use of a teat sealant significantly reduced the risk of clinical mastitis. This effect was limited to the first 33 days after calving; subsequently there was no significant effect of treatment. There was no effect of dry period length on risk of clinical mastitis, nor any significant interaction with treatment.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Combination therapy with teat sealant and antibiotic was effective under New Zealand conditions in herds using whole herd antibiotic treatment at drying off. Teat sealant reduced risk of clinical mastitis in cattle with dry periods substantially longer than 100 days, and there was no evidence that this effect changed as dry period length increased.     

The Kirschner-Ehmer splint in small animal orthopedics

The Kirschner-Ehmer splint can be used to treat open, infected or highly comminuted fractures, gunshot fractures, nonunions, delayed unions, mandibular fractures and angular deformities in association with osteotomy, as well as to immobilize joints and as an adjunct to other fixation devices. After the fracture is reduced, 2-4 percutaneous pins are inserted with a Jacobs hand chuck through one or both cortices at 45-60 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the bone and attached to a connecting bar with clamps. Complications are minimized by not inserting the pin through large muscle masses, the fracture hematoma, large blood vessels or the incision line, avoiding encroachment of soft tissue with the clamps, and restricting the animal's activity during healing.     

Use of radiotherapy for the treatment of intranasal tumors in cats: six cases (1980-1985)

Six cats with intranasal neoplasia treated with radiotherapy were evaluated. The mean survival time from the initiation of radiotherapy was 19 months, with 2 cats still known to be alive. Two cats died for reasons unrelated to the primary tumor. One cat had no clinical evidence of nasal tumor 41 months after treatment, but was lost to further follow-up evaluation.     

Primary anconeal fracture in a boxer

A 14-month-old speyed female Boxer was presented with acute non-weight-bearing lameness in the right forelimb. Radiography revealed separation of the anconeal process, which was thence surgically removed. Histological examination of the anconeal process confirmed a primary fracture. Isolated unilateral anconeal process fracture in the dog is rare and this report includes histopathological findings of a primary anconeal fracture.     

Intercalary bone grafts for joint and limb preservation in 17 dogs with high-grade malignant tumors of the diaphysis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate postoperative complications, limb function, and tumor control after intercalary resection and reconstruction for preservation of limb and joint function in dogs with high-grade malignant tumors of diaphyseal bone. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: Seventeen client-owned dogs. METHODS: The bone tumor database and medical records were reviewed (1986-2002) for dogs with diaphyseal tumors treated with intercalary resection and reconstruction with either an allograft or irradiated autograft. Clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, surgical management, and outcome were determined from medical records and telephone interviews with veterinarians and owners. Statistical analyses included chi2 to test associations between intra- and postoperative variables with complications, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis for disease-free interval, metastasis-free interval (MFI), and median survival time. RESULTS: Intercalary limb-sparing surgery was performed in 17 dogs with diaphyseal tumors: osteosarcoma (OSA) (15), histiocytic sarcoma (1), and solitary metastasis from a pulmonary adenocarcinoma (1). One dog was excluded from further analysis when the spared limb was amputated 4 days postoperatively because of incomplete tumor resection. In 16 dogs, limb function was good to excellent. Complications occurred in 5 dogs (31.3%) and included superficial infection in 2 dogs (12.5%) and implant failure in 4 dogs (25%). All implant failures occurred in the ulna and there was a significant association between implant failure and non-cemented allografts (P=.042). Non-union of 1 or both osteotomies was diagnosed in 10 dogs (83.3%) and, despite lack of clinical signs in all cases, was significantly associated with the use of intracavitary locally released cisplatin (P=.046) and cemented intercalary grafts (P=.046). Local tumor recurrence was diagnosed in 1 dog (6.3%) and metastatic disease in 12 dogs (75.0%), including 10 dogs with OSA. The median MFI was 137 days. The local disease-free and overall limb-salvage rate was 94% and 100%, respectively. Overall median survival time was 393 days and the median survival time for dogs with OSA was 449 days. CONCLUSION: Intercalary limb-sparing surgery results in better postoperative limb function with fewer and less severe complications than historical reports of dogs treated with non-intercalary limb-sparing surgery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In dogs with diaphyseal tumors, intercalary limb-sparing surgery preserves normal joint function and results in good to excellent limb use with few complications and good local tumor control.