Beziehungen zwischen Kriterien der Eigenleistungsprüfung, der Spermaqualität and dem Befruchtungserfolg von Besamungsebern

Inhalt Anhand des Datenmaterials eines Zuchtunternehmens wurden die Beziehungen zwischen Mastleistungs- und Spermaqualitätsmerkmalen und der Reproduktionsleistung an 220 Besamungsebern mit insgesamt 3740 Ejakulaten untersucht. Zwischen Merkmalen der Mast- und Reproduktionsleistung konnten keine statistisch gesicherten Beziehungen gefunden werden, obwohl eine Tendenz bestand, daβ Eber mit geringerer Speckdicke auch weniger Ferkel je Besamung brachten. Zwei Merkmale der Mastleistung (Muskel- und Rückenspeckdicke) zeigten Beziehungen zu Spermaqualitätsmerkmalen. Diese hatten allerdings keinen Einfluβ auf die Reproduktionsleistung der Eber. Contents Relationship between performance testing, sperm quality and success of insemination in boars. Using data from a breeder, the relationship between fattening performance and criteria of sperm quality and reproduction performance of 220 Al-boars with in toto 3,740 ejaculates was investigated. There was no statistically conclusive relationship between fattening and reproductive performance, although boars with less fat tended to beget fewer piglets per insemination. Two characteristics of fattening performance showed a relationship to criteria of sperm quality. These had, however, no influence on the breeding performance of the boars.     

Untersuchungen zur unblutigen Gewinnung von Rinderembryonen in Besamungszuchtprogrammen*

Inhalt In einem ersten Versuch, ausgeführt in Februar und März 1977, wurde der derzeitige Stand der Embryo Transfertechnik im Rahmen eines Besamungszuchtprogrammes geprüft. Es wurden 16 Tiere erfolgreich gespült aus einer Gesamtzahl aon 21 stimulierten Tieren. 5,3 Embryonen wurden pro Spender ausgespült. Die Irächtigkeitsrate nach Palpation betrug 32,25 %. Um praktische Bedeutung für ein Besamungszuchtprogramm zu erreichen, muβ es möglich werden: (1) Die Ausfallraten (bei Stimulierung, Oaulation, Befruchtung der Eier und Spülung) zu reduzieren; (2) 2,5 Kälber pro Spender pro Spülung zu produzieren; (3) 2 Spülungen pro Spender hintereinander durchzuführen. Contents Studies on the nonsurgical recovery of bovine embryos within Al breeding programs. At the Munich University a pilot project was carried out in February and March 1977 to study embryo transfer in an AI breeding programme. 16 donors out of 21 preselected superior cows could be flushed successfully. Flushing was done exclusiaely nonsurgically. An average of 5.3 embryos were collected per donor. Pregnancy rate based on palpation was 32.25 %. To become feasible for an AI breeding programme, results would have to be like the following: (1) less failures on the donor side (stimulation, oaulation, flushing and unfertilized eggs); (2) 2.5 calves per donor per flushing; (3) two flushings per donor in a row.     

Die Fruchtbarkeit beim Rind und ihre Beziehungen zu Stallsystemen und verschiedenen anderen EinflußgrösZen

Inhalt: Die Untersuchungen im Bereich der Besamungsstation Herbertingen um fassen Daten aus 41 Betrieben mit insgesamt 479 Kiihen, die sich etwa gleichmagig auf FV und SB verteilen. In die Verarbeitung der Daten wurden in erster Linie Besamungsindex, Zwischenkalbereit, Giistreit und Rastzeit, daneben auch Abkalbequote, Weidehaltung, Laktationsnummer und Milchleistung einbezogen. Ausgewertet wurde mit Hive der LSQ-Analyse nach Harvey (1960) und der Regressionsanalyse. Die LSQ-Analyse laßt nur bei der Aufstallung und der Wechselwirkung rwischen Aufstallung und Rasse einen signifikanten Einfluj3 auf die Fruchtbarkeitsrnerkmale erkennen. Diese werden vom Aufstallungssystem starker beeinfluflt als von der Rasse. Die Auswertung nach Betrieben mittels Regressionsanalyse bringt insgesamt eine Bestatigung der Auswertung nach Tieren mit der LSQ-Analyse.     

Die testikuläre Feminisierung beim Rind als Sterilitätsursache von Färsen

As a contribution to knowledge of anoestrus in heifers, a case of testicular feminisation in a Friesian heifer is reported. This is the first case of this unusual intersex form in German breeds of cattle. 2. The genital syndrome “testicular feminisation” originates in genotypically male animals with foetal testicular insufficiency resulting in diminished or absent androgen production. For this reason, despite the male karyotype, phenotypically female individuals develop with normal female external genitalia, but lacking a uterus and having a short vagina. The male internal organs are also absent, apart from the large intra-abdominal testes. 3. Testicular parenchyma and tubular epithelium are arrested in a state of embryonic development, with severe degeneration of the tubular epithelium which do not contain cells at more developed stages of spermiogenesis. 4. Testicular feminisation is genetically conditioned and is due to a recessive, sex-linked gene which is transmitted by female animals. The frequency of occurrence of this gene and the incidence of the defect in the population appear to be very low.     

Evaluation of the bispectral index as an indicator of degree of central nervous system depression in isoflurane-anesthetized horses

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the bispectral index (BIS) can be used as an indicator of degree of CNS depression in isoflurane-anesthetized horses. ANIMALS: 10 Standardbred and 6 Norwegian cold-blooded trotter stallions admitted for routine castration. PROCEDURE: A 2-channel referential electrode configuration was used to record EEG for calculation of BIS by the EEG monitor. The BIS was calculated before (awake) and after (sedated) administration of detomidine (0.01 mg/kg of body weight, IV) and butorphanol (0.01 mg/kg, IV). Anesthesia was induced with ketamine hydrochloride (2.5 mg/kg, IV) and diazepam (0.04 mg/kg, IV) and maintained with isoflurane delivered in oxygen. The BIS was calculated after 30 minutes of equilibration at an end-tidal isoflurane concentration of 1.4% (n = 8) or 1.9% (8) and recorded continuously during surgery. RESULTS: Bispectral index was significantly less in sedated and anesthetized horses, compared with awake horses. However, BIS was not significantly different between sedated and anesthetized horses. Mean BIS in horses anesthetized at 1.9% isoflurane was significantly greater, compared with horses anesthetized at an end-tidal concentration of 1.4%. Four horses in the 1.4% group moved during surgery, and BIS increased immediately prior to movement in 2 of these horses. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: BIS is not a precise indicator of degree of CNS depression in isoflurane-anesthetized horses. Thus, determination of BIS may not be a useful technique for monitoring anesthetic depth in isoflurane-anesthetized horses.     

Subjective and objective evaluation of veal lean color

Because veal lean color continues to be a primary factor that determines veal carcass value and is typically assessed by subjective means, it is important to explore objective methods for color assessment. Objective and subjective evaluations of veal flank and breast lean color were compared as predictors of longissimus lean color at 24 h postmortem. One hundred fifty special-fed Holstein veal calves were Kosher-slaughtered with blood samples collected upon exsanguination and analyzed for hematocrit and hemoglobin content. Lean color was evaluated in the flank and breast at 0, 6, 12, and 24 h postmortem. Color of the longissimus was evaluated at 6 h, when possible, and at 24 h. A panel of three trained individuals used a 5-point color standard developed in the Netherlands to visually evaluate lean color. A Minolta Chromameter CR-300 was used to obtain L*, a*, and b* values. A plant employee assigned packer grades at slaughter. Temperature and pH were also measured at each time period. Hemoglobin was more highly correlated than hematocrit with colorimeter values. Hemoglobin levels correlated well with a* values of the flank at 0 h postmortem (r = 0.52) although the correlation declined at 24 h (r = 0.30). The correlation between packer grades and 24-h visual loin color was r = 0.41. Visual loin color at 24 h postmortem was selected as the predicted variable for regression analysis. Temperature and pH did not contribute significantly to any prediction equations. The equation using breast L*, a*, and b* values at 24 h postmortem to predict 24-h loin color gave a higher prediction coefficient (R2 = 0.44) than the corresponding equation using 0-h breast values (R2 = 0.28). Objective measurement of lean color may be useful in veal carcass grading because it is more precise than subjective methods and would allow for uniformity among processing plants.     

Neospora caninum and Waddlia chondrophila strain 2032/99 in a septic stillborn calf

Characteristics of an intracellularly growing micro-organism isolated from an aborted bovine foetus are described. The organism replicated within cytoplasmic vacuoles, was resistant to penicillin and exhibited structural characteristics compatible with Waddlia chondrophila. An ELISA specific for Chlamydia spp., immunofluorescence tests using antibodies directed against Chlamydia spp. or Simkania negevensis, and PCR using Chlamydia-specific primers showed that the agent was distinct from Chlamydiae or S. negevensis. Determination of 16S and partial 23S ribosomal RNA gene sequences in combination with the PCR results and the morphological, antigenic and developmental characteristics provided evidence that the isolate 2032/99 can be classified as W. chondrophila or a closely related organism.