The effect of exploratory laparotomy on the serum and peritoneal haptoglobin concentrations of the pony.

Serum haptoglobin concentration was used as an indicator of the acute phase response in ponies undergoing exploratory laparotomy. Preoperative, 1 h intraoperative, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h postoperative blood samples and 48 h postoperative peritoneal fluid samples were obtained for haptoglobin analysis. A spectrophotometric assay based on cyanmethemoglobin binding capacity (CyanBC) was used to determine haptoglobin concentrations. The preoperative reference range for serum haptoglobin concentrations in these ponies was 25-60 mg CyanBC/dL. Intraoperative and 3 h postoperative blood samples had decreased haptoglobin concentrations when compared to preoperative values. Serum haptoglobin concentrations began to rise by the 6 h postoperative sample and were generally elevated above preoperative values by the 24 h postoperative sample. Two of the ten ponies had mild signs of postoperative colic which were associated with twofold elevations in serum haptoglobin concentrations and fivefold elevations in peritoneal fluid haptoglobin concentrations.     

The effect of field beans on growth and flavour of broilers

The effects of feeding diets containing 45% field beans (Vicia faba L.) to broilers for up to 9 weeks were studied. Simultaneous chemical and taste panel analyses of muscle samples were carried out. Although small differences were detected by gas chromatography, no differences in flavour were found. This suggests that detailed chromatographic analysis may only be valuable after taste panel evaluation has shown differences in flavour.     

Feeding behavior of feedlot lambs fed diets containing levels of cassava wastewater

In this study, we evaluated the effects of including cassava wastewater in the diet on the feeding behavior of feedlot lambs in 35 male uncastrated Santa Inês × Dorper crossbred lambs at an approximate age of 3 months, with an average live weight of 20.0?±?3.4 kg. Diets were formulated with hay of cassava shoots (roughage) and a concentrate based on corn and soybean, with a roughage:concentrate ratio of 50:50, plus inclusion of cassava wastewater at the levels of 0, 12, 24, 36, or 48 g/kg of the total diet. Feeding behavior was evaluated between the 46th and 52nd days of the experiment. Increasing cassava wastewater levels in the diet reduced (P?<?0.05) the intakes (kg/day) of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber as well as the efficiency of rumination (g/cud and g/h) of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber. The other behavioral parameters were not affected by wastewater inclusion in the diet. Therefore, the inclusion of up to 48 g/kg of cassava wastewater on fresh matter of diets is not recommended for feedlot lambs.     

Vascularization of cancellous chip bone grafts

Fresh autogenous, frozen allogeneic, and commercially prepared xenogeneic cancellous chip bone grafts were placed into plug holes in the tibia and into surgically simulated nonunion defects in the ulna of dogs. The microvascular and correlated histologic reactions were studied at given times up to 12 weeks after the graft implantation. Marked and characteristic differences were noted among the 3 graft materials. Fresh autogenous chips were extensively vascularized by 1 week, and subsequent microscopic healing was rapid. Allogeneic chips were incorporated into all defects, but vascularization and histologic healing rates were slower than those with the fresh autogenous graft material. The xenogeneic graft was poorly incorporated. A foreign body reaction was seen histologically, and corresponding vascularization of the graft was slow and incomplete.     

Effects of suspended solids in the survival and haematological parameters of pacu juveniles (Piaractus mesopotamicus) in a biofloc technology culture system

This study determined the effects of total suspended solids (TSS) on pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) culture in a biofloc technology (BFT) system by performing two experiments. Experiment 1 evaluated the LC50-96 h of pacu at seven TSS levels (0, 1500, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000 and 7000 mg L^?1). Experiment 2 evaluated haematological variables (glucose, pH, haematocrit, haemoglobin, erythrocytes and haematimetric indices) in juveniles exposed to five different sublethal TSS concentrations (0, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 mg L^?1) for 5 days. Treatments below 5000 mg L^?1 did not cause mortality, and the LC50-96 h of TSS was estimated at 5477 mg L^?1. The TSS concentrations that caused mortality in pacu juveniles were extremely high and rarely maintained in culture systems. Exposure to high TSS concentrations (mainly 750 and 1000 mg L^?1) increased blood glucose, pH, heamatocrit, erythrocytes, haemoglobin values and haematimetric indices on the first day. On the fifth day, most of the evaluated parameters stabilized at different TSS concentrations. In conclusion, pacu exposed to high TSS concentrations for short periods may undergo physiological changes, and TSS concentrations below 250 mg L^?1 are recommended for its culture in a BFT system.     

Effect of age on absorption and immune responses to weaning or introduction of novel dietary antigens in pigs

Pigs weaned at three weeks old absorb food protein antigens from the intestine. The amount of antigen absorbed declines over the next three weeks, and this decline is associated with an increasing level of serum antibody to the fed proteins. There was no difference in the rate of immune elimination of intravenously injected antigen in fed and unfed controls. The reduction of serum antigen is thus likely to reflect reduced absorption, possibly mediated by locally produced antibody. Pigs weaned at 10 weeks old also absorbed antigens and produced an antibody response when introduced to soya; and after three weeks of feeding soya the absorption of antigen was substantially reduced. This latter exclusion was specific for soya as a second novel protein (ovalbumin) was absorbed when introduced to the diet at this time. At six months, pigs no longer absorbed soya proteins when they were introduced to the diet. Furthermore, pigs of this age had serum 'antibody' to soya and other proteins such as keyhole limpet haemocyanin to which they had never been exposed.     

Field evaluation of melatonin implants to advance the breeding season in 1-year-old farmed red deer hinds

The efficacy of controlled-release melatonin implants to advance the onset of the breeding season was assessed in 1-year-old red deer hinds on five commercial deer farms in various localities in the North Island of New Zealand. Between 44 and 60 hinds in each of six herds were equally divided among treatment and control groups at each site. Melatonin treatment commenced between 27 November and 16 December and was achieved by the subcutaneous administration of two 18 mg melatonin implants. Three doses were given at about 30 day intervals. Two adult stags for each hind group were treated with three 18 mg melatonin implants concurrently on either two or three occasions. On each property, treated and control hinds were joined as one herd to treated stags commencing 30 January-10 February and concluding 15 May-2 June. The hinds in the four experimental herds underwent rectal ultrasound examination May-June to estimate conception rate and foetal age. Calving dates, hind and calf mortalities, weaning weights, and the antler growth cycle and harvesting data were recorded. Overall, treatment with melatonin resulted in an average advance of the median calving date of 22 days (range 12-36 days) when compared with untreated controls in the same herds. Pregnancy rates were 91.3-100% in treated hinds and 63.6-100% in untreated hinds. There were no differences in calf mortality or calf sex ratio between treated and untreated groups. No hind deaths could be attributed to melatonin treatment. The weaning weights of calves were 5.68 kg and 4.43 kg heavier for the male and female offspring of treated hinds respectively, compared with those of control hinds. Treated stags commenced rutting behaviour earlier than normal and the antler casting and growth cycle was advanced. Treatment resulted in advancement of the seasonal pattern of coat changes in hinds and stags, but no untoward side effects of the melatonin treatments were observed.