Total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC) measurement of compositional differences in hams, loins, and bellies from conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)-fed stress-genotype pigs.

This study was designed to observe the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation on lean content of pork carcass primal cuts (hams, loins, and bellies) and to determine the ability of total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC) to predict lean content. A total of 64 crossbred growing-finishing barrows were placed on a control (soybean oil) or CLA (0.75%) diet at an average weight of 40 kg. Pigs were penned in pairs according to diet and stress genotype (negative, carrier, and positive) and slaughtered at 115 kg. Stress genotype was included because of known variations in lean content. Hams (IMPS 401A; n = 64), loins (IMPS 410; n = 24), and bellies (IMPS 408; n = 63) were fabricated from carcasses at 24 h postmortem and scanned for electromagnetic (EM) absorption by a MQ-25 EM scanner. Each wholesale cut was scanned in triplicate at 2.5 MHz to yield a peak mean average (PMA) value then separated into lean, fat, bone, and skin components. Bellies were skinned prior to scanning then subjected to a belly bar firmness test before dissection. Supplementation with CLA had no effect (P > 0.05) on lean ham composition. Regression analysis was used for lean weight prediction using primal weight and PMA value as predictors. Lean content prediction of hams by TOBEC resulted in an R2 of 0.80. Loins from CLA-supplemented pigs exhibited increased lean weight (P < 0.05) and PMA values (P < 0.05) compared to controls. Lean prediction of loins by TOBEC resulted in an R2 of 0.66. Bellies from CLA-supplemented pigs had a higher percentage of moisture (P < 0.03) and protein (P < 0.01) and decreased percentage of lipid (P < 0.01). The R2 values from the regression analysis predicting protein, moisture, protein + moisture, and fat-free soft tissue composition of the skinless bellies were 0.67, 0.68, 0.71, and 0.78, respectively.     

The influence of irradiated ergosterol products on the blood calcium level

The numbers of psychrotrophic fungi in various environments have been investigated as these fungi are potential meat spoilage organisms, carried into the freezing works on stock awaiting slaughter. Of a number of soils examined, those from urban and high-altitude areascontained the fewest psychrotrophic fungi. In rural soil samples the total psychrotrophic fungal population varied with the stocking intensity in the paddocks from which samples were obtained. Highest fungal counts were obtained for soils from stockyards. Cowhair, wool,and sheepskin all contained a variety of psychrotrophic species in moderate numbers.

A total of 17 mould and 6 yeast species were cultured, Cladosporium cladosporioides being the most frequent mould and Torulopsis Candida the most frequent yeast. Several of the species demonstrated in soils and on stock were also present in the air.     

Modulation of Glycolysis and the Pentose Phosphate Pathway Influences Porcine Oocyte In Vitro Maturation

Glycolytic and pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) activities were modulated in porcine cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) during in vitro maturation (IVM) by the addition of inhibitors or stimulators of key enzymes of the pathways to elucidate their relative participation in oocyte maturation. The activities of glycolysis and PPP were evaluated by lactate production per COC and by the brilliant cresyl blue test, respectively. Glucose uptake per COC and the oocyte maturation rate were also evaluated. Lactate production, glucose uptake and the percentage of oocytes reaching metaphase II decreased in a dose‐dependent manner in the presence of the pharmacological (NaF) or the physiological (ATP) inhibitors of glycolysis (p < 0.05). The addition of the physiological stimulator of glycolysis (AMP) caused no effect on lactate production, glucose uptake or the meiotic maturation rate. The pharmacological (6‐AN) and the physiological (NADPH) inhibitors of PPP induced a dose‐dependent decrease in the percentage of oocytes with high PPP activity and in the nuclear maturation rate (p < 0.05). The physiological stimulator of PPP (NADP) caused no effect on the percentage of oocytes with high PPP activity. The glycolytic and PPP activities of porcine COCs and maturational competence of oocytes seem to be closely related events. This study shows for the first time the regulatory effect of ATP and NADPH as physiological inhibitors of glycolysis and PPP in porcine COCs, respectively. Besides, these pathways seem to reach their maximum activities in porcine COCs during IVM because no further increases were achieved by the presence of AMP or NADP.     

Biomechanical Analysis of Torsion and Shear Forces in Lumbar and Lumbosacral Spine Segments of Nonchondrodystrophic Dogs

Objective— To determine stiffness and load–displacement curves as a biomechanical response to applied torsion and shear forces in cadaveric canine lumbar and lumbosacral specimens.
Study Design— Biomechanical study.
Animals— Caudal lumbar and lumbosacral functional spine units (FSU) of nonchondrodystrophic large-breed dogs (n=31) with radiographically normal spines.
Methods— FSU from dogs without musculoskeletal disease were tested in torsion in a custom-built spine loading simulator with 6 degrees of freedom, which uses orthogonally mounted electric motors to apply pure axial rotation. For shear tests, specimens were mounted to a custom-made shear-testing device, driven by a servo hydraulic testing machine. Load–displacement curves were recorded for torsion and shear.
Results— Left and right torsion stiffness was not different within each FSU level; however, torsional stiffness of L7-S1 was significantly smaller compared with lumbar FSU (L4-5–L6-7).
Ventral/dorsal stiffness was significantly different from lateral stiffness within an individual FSU level for L5-6, L6-7, and L7-S1 but not for L4-5. When the data from 4 tested shear directions from the same specimen were pooled, level L5-6 was significantly stiffer than L7-S1.
Conclusions— Increased range of motion of the lumbosacral joint is reflected by an overall decreased shear and rotational stiffness at the lumbosacral FSU.
Clinical Relevance— Data from dogs with disc degeneration have to be collected, analyzed, and compared with results from our chondrodystrophic large-breed dogs with radiographically normal spines.     

Wounds of the pastern and foot region managed with phalangeal casts: 50 cases in 49 horses (1995–2006)

Objective   Describe the use of a phalangeal cast as treatment for wounds in the pastern and foot region of horses. Secondly, to evaluate the healing and soundness of horses treated with phalangeal casts.
Design   Retrospective study of 49 horses.
Procedures   Medical records of 49 horses that were treated with a phalangeal cast for 50 cases of wounds in the pastern and foot region at equine referral hospitals from 1995 to 2006 were reviewed and follow-up information was obtained.
Results   Treatment consisted of wound debridement, lavage, wound closure (28 wounds), cast application and antibiotics (84%). At follow-up, the majority of horses were sound (42 of 47 wounds, 89.4%), three horses were still lame and one horse was euthanased because of persistent lameness. Three horses were lost to follow-up. There was no statistical difference between the outcomes of horses treated acutely (<24 h) or after a 24-h delay. Similarly, the involvement of synovial structures in the wound did not significantly influence outcome.
Conclusions   In this study, wounds involving the pastern and foot that were treated with a phalangeal cast carried a good prognosis for soundness (89.4%) and cosmetic healing (89.5%). The phalangeal casts were well-tolerated and effective.     

AN IMPROVED METHOD FOR THE COLLECTION OF FAECAL SAMPLES FROM SHEEP

A light-weight plastic faecal extractor and its use in the collection of faecal samples from sheep is described.     

Towards the establishment and standardization of a veterinary antimicrobial resistance surveillance and monitoring programme in South Africa

The objective of this study was to establish a repeatable, standardized laboratory procedure for monitoring the development of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria isolated from animals and food of animal origin in South Africa, with reagents prepared in-house. The emergence of resistance and the spread of resistant bacteria can be limited by implementing a veterinary antimicrobial drug policy, in which inter alia systematic monitoring and prudent use play essential roles. The bacteria included in this study represented three different categories, namely zoonotic bacteria (Salmonella), indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium) and veterinary pathogens (Mannheimia haemolytica). Thirty isolates of each species were collected with the aim of standardizing the laboratory methodology for a future national veterinary surveillance and monitoring programme. Susceptibility to ten selected antimicrobial drugs was determined by means of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) using the microdilution method. The method according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards was used as the standard. Multi-well plates containing varying dilutions of antimicrobial drugs and prepared in-house for MIC determinations, yielded repeatable results. Storage of plates for 2 months at -70 degrees C did not influence results meaningfully. Within this limited sample of bacteria, MIC results did not indicate meaningful resistance against any of the ten selected antimicrobial drugs. The findings of the study will be used to establish a national veterinary antimicrobial resistance surveillance and monitoring programme in South Africa. To allow for international comparison of data, harmonisation of the surveillance and monitoring programme in accordance with global trends is encouraged. Ideally it should be combined with a programme monitoring the quantities of antimicrobial drugs used. The aim is to contribute to slowing down the emergence of resistance and the problems associated with this phenomenon by means of the rational use of antimicrobial drugs.