Large round bale feeder design affects hay utilization and beef cow behavior

One hundred sixty beef cows (631 +/- 78 kg) were used to evaluate the quantity of hay loss and feeding behaviors from different round bale feeders. Twenty cows were allotted by weight and body condition score to one of eight pens with four feeder designs: cone, ring, trailer, or cradle. All feeder types provided approximately 37 cm of linear feeder space per animal. Alfalfa and orchardgrass round bales were weighed and sampled before feeding. Hay that fell onto the concrete surrounding the feeder was considered waste and was collected and sampled daily. At the end of a 7-d period, each feeder type was assigned to a different pen for a second 7-d period. On four consecutive days in each period, animal behavior was recorded using a time-lapse video system. Data were collected from 5-min observational intervals from the video tapes every 0.5 h each day. Feeder access, occupancy rate, and occurrence of agonistic interactions were recorded. Dry matter hay waste was 3.5, 6.1, 11.4, and 14.6% for the cone, ring, trailer, and cradle feeders, respectively. Calculated dry matter intake of hay ranged from 1.8 to 2.0% of body weight and was not different among feeder type (P < 0.05). Percentage of organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and crude protein were all lower and acid detergent lignin was higher in the recovered waste compared to the hay fed (P < 0.05). Cows feeding from the cradle feeder had nearly three times the agonistic interactions and four times the frequency of entrances compared to cows feeding from the other feeder types (P < 0.05). Feed losses were positively correlated with agonistic interactions, frequency of regular and irregular entrances, and feeder occupancy rate (P < 0.05). Agonistic interactions by cows and frequency of feeder entrances differed among feeders and were correlated to feeder design induced feed losses.     

Sweating sickness: relative curative effect of hyperimmune serum and a precipitated immunoglobulin suspension and immunoblot identification of proposed immunodominant tick salivary gland proteins

Although of low morbidity, sweating sickness is readily induced in calves by infestation with positive Hyalomma truncatum adult ticks. This epitheliotrophic disease has no specific cure except by the administration of hyperimmune serum obtained from animals which have recovered and are subsequently immune to the disease. Treatment with hyperimmune serum, however, has associated problems of donor availability, possible serum contamination and i.v. administration of a relatively large volume. This paper compares the treatment and cure of sweating sickness using unrefined hyperimmune serum and that of an experimental suspension. The latter proved relatively inefficient probably due to a low concentration of effective immunoglobulins. Immunoblot analyses of the sera of affected animals, using tick salivary glands as antigen during the course of the trial revealed 4 tick salivary gland proteins with molecular masses of between 27-33 kDa. These are proposed as being associated with sweating sickness immunodominance.     

Seasonal changes in the histochemical properties of the olfactory epithelium and vomeronasal organ in the Japanese striped snake, Elaphe quadrivirgata

Seasonal changes in the histochemical properties of the vomeronasal and olfactory epithelia of the Japanese striped snake were examined in four seasons, viz. the reproductive, pre-hibernating, hibernating and post-hibernating seasons. In the vomeronasal and olfactory supporting cells, secretory granules were much more abundant in the hibernating season than in the other seasons. In the vomeronasal and olfactory receptor cells, the lipofuscin granules were much fewer in the post-hibernating season than in the other seasons. In histochemical studies with 21 lectins, several lectins stained the vomeronasal and olfactory epithelia (receptor cells, supporting cells and free border) more weakly in the hibernating season than in the reproductive season. However, all lectins stained both epithelia in the hibernating season after sialic acid removal in a similar manner as in the reproductive season after sialic acid removal. These lectin histochemical studies indicate that sialic acid residues in the vomeronasal and olfactory epithelia are more numerous in the hibernating season than in the reproductive season. The results suggest that during hibernation, the vomeronasal and olfactory receptor cells possibly undergo rapid cell turnover, and that during this time, the vomeronasal and olfactory epithelia are securely protected from pathogens by an innate immune defence system.     

Prevalence and Aetiology of Mastitis in Cows from Two Major Ethiopian Dairies

The study was undertaken to determine the aetiology and prevalence of mastitis in hand-milked cows (n = 186) in two major Ethiopian dairies. The California Mastitis Test and culturing for bacteria revealed that 21.5% of the cows were clinically infected and 38.2% had subclinical mastitis. Most mastitis pathogens isolated from milk samples testing positive by the California Mastitis Test were Gram-positive cocci. Staphylococci constituted 57% of the isolates, of which the predominant cause of bovine mastitis was Staphylococcus aureus (40.5%). Other mastitis pathogens isolated include streptococci (16.5%), coliforms (9%) and corynebacteria (5%). Retrospective analysis of farm records indicated that mastitis was the second most important cause of culling and accounted for 27% of the cows removed from these two dairies.     

Effects of ketanserin on pulmonary hemodynamics, lung mechanics, and gas exchange in endotoxemic pigs

The effects of ketanserin on pulmonary hemodynamics, lung mechanics, and gas exchange were determined in anesthetized 10- to 14-week-old pigs after they were endotoxemic for 1 or 4.5 hours. Saline solution was given to controls (group 1). Escherichia coli endotoxin (055-B5) was infused IV at a dosage of 5 micrograms/kg for 1 hour (group 2). In group 3, endotoxin was infused at 5 micrograms/kg the first hour plus a continuous infusion of endotoxin at 2 micrograms/kg/hr. Ketanserin, a specific serotonin receptor antagonist, was infused IV (300 micrograms/kg) after pigs were endotoxemic for 1 or 4.5 hours (groups 2 and 3, respectively). At 1 hour of endotoxemia, mean pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance were increased, and cardiac index was decreased. Ketanserin caused a small attenuation of the increases in mean pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance, indicating that serotonin may have a small role in the endotoxin response at 1 hour. At 4.5 hours of endotoxemia, mean pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, alveolar dead space ventilation, and alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient were increased, and cardiac index and lung dynamic compliance were decreased; ketanserin significantly attenuated the endotoxin-induced changes in cardiac index, mean pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, and lung dynamic compliance. Ketanserin also decreased the blood temperature after pigs were endotoxemic for 4.5 hours. However, the endotoxin-induced increases (at 4.5 hours) in alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient and alveolar dead space ventilation were not acutely reversed by ketanserin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Disposition of sulfonamides in food-producing animals: pharmacokinetics of sulfamerazine in ewe lambs

Date from plasma and urine samples from four ewe lambs were analyzed after administration of sulfamerazine as single IV and oral doses. A two-compartment pharmacokinetic model was developed to describe the disposition of sulfamerazine. The drug was eliminated, primarily by renal excretion of (i) unchanged sulfamerazine and metabolism to an acetyl metabolite, (ii) polar conjugates, and (iii) a third metabolite. The biological half-life of the drug was 6.6 hours. The average value of the absorption rate constant was 0.433 hour-1 (half-life 1.60 hours). Sulfarmerazine was relatively completely absorbed (approx 81% of dose) after oral administration in solution.