Developmental stages of Taenia krabbei Moniez, 1879 (Cysticercus tarandi) in deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) in Czechoslovakia]

The breast and shoulder-blade muscles of a roe (Caprelous capreolus L.), shot in a hunting district in western Bohemia, were found to contain cysticerci with morphological characters and size corresponding to those of Cysticercus tarandi, which is a developmental stage of the tapeworm Taenia krabbei Moniez, 1879. The surface as well as deeper layers of muscle contained one to two cysticerci per 100 cm2 of area. The authors describe the larvocysts and histological changes in the site where the micro-organisms were found. The cysticerci are discussed as to the species to which they belong.     

The effect of the addition of dried pig excrement to beef cattle diet on meat quality

The carcasses and meat and fat properties of a group of five bulls fed a basal diet with an addition of 0.80 kg of dried pig excrements for 135 days were compared with a group of five control bulls fed the basal diet. The pre-mortal examination of the clinical state of the animals, the post-mortal veterinary inspection of the meat and internal organs, and the comparison of blood transaminase activity did not reveal any signs of health disorders ascribable to the experimental diet. The organoleptic examination and determination of the basic and some other technological characteristics and other properties of the meat and fat did not show any significant differences in quality to justify a decision by which the meat of the experimental bulls would be treated as less valuable or non-edible.     

The relationship between fermentation and the morphological structure of rumen epithelium in sheep fed pelleted feeds]

Wethers were fed complete granular feed rations including 41.81% of grass hay, 25.28% of barley, 15.37% of sawdust, 14.98% of molasses, 1.32% of urea, and 1.24% of mineral supplement in dry matter for 24 weeks. Samples of the dorsal rumen sac of these wethers were subjected to patho-anatomical, histological, histo-chemical, and electron-microscopical examination. Volatile fatty acids were also determined in the rumen fluid of slaughtered animals. The control group was given the same diet in the classical form with long hay. The rumen contents of the slaughtered animals of the experimental group had an increased level of total volatile fatty acids (125.93 mM) and butyric acid (17.8 M%). The acetate:propionate ratio was 3.66. No substantial differences were observed in enzymatic activity. Electronograms recorded an increase in the number of T cells and keratinizing cells -- this suggests an increased intensity of the process of keratinization.