温度对垂穗披碱草青贮品质的影响

为探讨不同温度下青藏高原垂穗披碱草（Elymus nutans）贮藏过程中发酵品质的动态变化,本研究以采自青海省果洛藏族自治州的垂穗披碱草为青贮原料,在当地完成塑料袋青贮后带回实验室分别置于15和25 ℃下进行青贮,在贮藏2、4、6、8、12、14、30、60 d后开袋,测定其相关指标。结果表明,15 ℃处理下,pH值缓慢下降至5.68,乳酸含量1.44%,青贮效果不佳;25 ℃增加了乳酸含量（6.21%）,使pH值显著降至4.27（P<0.05）,取得了良好的青贮效果。随着贮藏时间的延长,AN/TN值逐渐增加,乙酸含量在发酵初期(4 d内)显著增加（P<0.05）,在发酵后期水溶性碳水化合物含量显著降低（P<0.05）,之后保持稳定。温度和发酵时间对粗蛋白、中性洗涤纤维和酸性洗涤纤维含量没有显著影响（P>0.05）。     

Concentrations of serum amyloid A and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein in horses with colic

OBJECTIVE: To determine concentrations of 2 acute-phase proteins (serum amyloid A [SAA] and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein [LBP]) in serum samples obtained from horses with colic and identify relationships among these acute-phase proteins and clinical data. ANIMALS: 765 horses with naturally developing gastrointestinal tract diseases characterized by colic (ie, clinical signs indicative of abdominal pain) and 79 healthy control horses; all horses were examined at 2 university teaching hospitals. PROCEDURE: Serum concentrations of SAA and LBP were determined by immunoturbidometric and dot-blot assays, respectively. RESULTS: SAA and LBP concentrations were determined for 718 and 765 horses with colic, respectively. Concentrations of SAA were significantly higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors, and horses with enteritis or colitis and conditions characterized by chronic inflammation (eg, abdominal abscesses, peritonitis, or rectal tears) had SAA concentrations significantly greater than those for horses with other conditions. Serum concentrations of LBP did not correlate with outcome, disease process, or portion of the gastrointestinal tract affected. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Circulating concentrations of SAA were significantly higher at admission in horses with colic attributable to conditions having a primary inflammatory cause (eg, enteritis, colitis, peritonitis, or abdominal abscesses) and were higher in horses that failed to survive the episode of colic, compared with concentrations in horses that survived. Serum concentrations of LBP did not correlate with survival. Analysis of these findings suggests that evaluation of SAA concentrations may be of use in identifying horses with colic attributable to diseases that have inflammation as a primary component of pathogenesis.     

Different origins of two corpora lutea recovered from a pregnant African elephant (Loxodonta africana)

Elephant ovaries contain multiple corpora lutea (CLs) throughout pregnancy. Two CLs (P‐1 and P‐2) collected from a pregnant African elephant were used to investigate their origin and physiological state in this study. The mRNA expressions of prolactin receptor, CYP11A and inhibin betaB subunit were higher in P‐2 than in P‐1, while LHCGR and inhibin betaA subunit mRNA were higher in P‐1 than in P‐2. Protein expression of cleaved caspase‐3 was detected in P‐1 but not in P‐2. These results suggest different origins for the two CLs in this one pregnant elephant, and we also demonstrated the production of bioactive prolactin by the elephant placenta.     

Comparison of radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunoassay for the measurement of progestogen in equine plasma and milk

Milk and plasma samples were obtained every 48 hours from eight pony mares for 40 days after foaling. Progestogen concentrations in milk and plasma were measured using an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and compared with radioimmunoassay of the plasma. In general the three assays showed similar trends in progestogen concentration changes but absolute values varied considerably. Difficulty could occur in interpreting the results from single samples taken at times when progestogen concentrations were either rising (ie, after ovulation) or falling. ELISA could be used on plasma obtained by allowing the erythrocytes to settle for 30 minutes at room temperature or for two days at 4 degrees C.     

Energy and Carbon Costs of Selected Cow-Calf Systems

Fossil fuel-derived inputs can increase cow-calf production per unit of land or labor but can raise financial and environmental concerns. Eleven US cow-calf systems from nine ecological regions in Iowa, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas were analyzed to determine quantities of energy used and carbon (C) emitted due to fossil fuel use (excluding emissions from soils and biota) and to determine how management and environment influenced those quantities. Total energy and C cost, calculated cow^?1 or ha^?1, were highly correlated (0.99). Energy use cow^?1 and ha^?1 varied greatly across systems, ranging from 3 000 to 12 600 megajoules (MJ) · cow^?1 · yr^?1 and from 260 to 20 800 MJ · ha^?1 · yr^?1. As stocking rate increased, MJ · cow^?1 increased at an increasing rate. Differences in quantity of fertilizer accounted for most variation in energy use. Fertilizer allowed higher stocking rates but reduced energy efficiency of liveweight marketed. Compared to intensive, higher stocking rate systems, rangeland systems based on native or naturalized forages used little or no fertilizer, but used more energy cow^?1 for crude protein (CP) supplementation, fencing, and pickup trucks. Across all systems, energy used to produce winter feed ranged from 0% to 46% of total energy. Northern systems used higher percentages of total energy for winter feed and fed for more days year^?1, but southern systems that included large amounts of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) hay used the most MJ · cow^?1 for winter feed. Systems with high MJ · cow^?1 were vulnerable to shocks in energy prices. Reducing energy use and C emissions from cow-calf operations is possible, especially by reducing fertilizer and hay use, but would likely reduce productivity ha^?1. Forages with high nitrogen use efficiency, locally adapted plants and animals, and replacement of hay with unfertilized dormant forage and CP supplementation could reduce energy use.     

EXCRETORY UROGRAPHY BY INTRAOSSEOUS INJECTION OF CONTRAST MEDIA IN A RABBIT MODEL

There are many indications for an intravenous excretory urogram. However, where intravenous access is not available, the intraosseous route to the circulation may be an alternative. We found that safe and diagnostic excretory urograms could be obtained in rabbits following the injection of different contrast media via the intraosseous route. In fact, these excretory urograms were indistinguishable from ones obtained by the conventional intravenous route. While the rabbits did not develop any abnormal clinical signs following the procedure, there were postmortem histologic lesions of osteochondrosis in 5 of 22 (22.7%) tibias receiving an intraosseous needle, but in none of the 14 tibias that did not receive an intraosseous needle. Further, the use of diatrizoate was associated with the development of osteochondrosis while the use of iopamidol was not.     

Vertical position of the patella in the stifle joint of clinically normal large-breed dogs

OBJECTIVE: To define the vertical position of the patella in clinically normal large-breed dogs. SAMPLE POPULATION: Cadavers of 13 clinically normal large-breed dog. PROCEDURE: Both hind limbs were harvested with intact stifle joints and mounted on a positioning device that allowed full range of motion of the stifle joint. Lateral radiographic views were obtained with the stifle joints positioned at each of 5 angles (148 degrees, 130 degrees, 113 degrees, 96 degrees, and 75 degrees). Vertical position of the patella through a range of motion was depicted on a graph of mean stifle angle versus corresponding mean proximal patellar position (PPP) and distal patellar position (DPP) relative to the femoral trochlea for each dog. Ratio of length of the patellar ligament to length of the patella (L:P) was determined for each dog. Overall mean, SD, and 95% confidence intervals for L:P were calculated for all dogs. RESULTS: Evaluation of vertical position of the patella through a range of motion revealed a nearly linear relationship between joint angle and PPP and joint angle and DPPF Evaluation of L:P results did not reveal significant differences between limbs (left or right) or among joint angles. Overall mean +/- SD L:P for all dogs was 1.68 +/- 0.18 (95% confidence interval, 1.33 to 2.03). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The L:P proved to be a repeatable measurement of vertical patellar position, which is independent of stifle angles from 75 degrees to 148 degrees.This measurement could be used as a quantitative method for diagnosing patella alta and patella baja in large-breed dogs.     

Responses to submaximal treadmill exercise and training in the horse: changes in haematology, arterial blood gas and acid base measurements, plasma biochemical values and heart rate

Four standardbred horses with subcutaneously relocated carotid arteries were given a seven week training programme of treadmill exercise at a gradient of 19 per cent in order to assess if there were any effects of exercise and training on haematology, arterial blood gas and acid base measurements, plasma biochemistry and heart rate. The exercise consisted of one minute walking at 110 metres/minute followed by five minutes trotting at 200 metres/minute, twice daily in the first week. The period of trotting exercise was increased by one minute per week so that by the seventh week the horses were being given 12 minutes trotting twice daily. Before training commenced venous blood samples, for complete blood counts and plasma biochemistry, and arterial samples, for blood gas, acid base and lactate measurements, were taken at rest, after five minutes and 15 minutes of treadmill exercise (200 metres/minute) and 30 minutes and 60 minutes after completing the exercise. Heart rate was measured by telemetric electrocardiogram at similar intervals. This exercise test and blood collection were repeated after one, three, five and seven weeks of training. The only significant changes were a decrease in exercise lactate with training, increases in exercise and recovery total protein. The haematological response to treadmill exercise included an increase in certain red cell parametes and a leucocytosis which was caused by both a neutrophilia and a lymphocytosis. These effects had largely disappeared by 30 minutes after exercise and all values had returned to resting values by one hour after exercise.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Tetramine cupruretic agents: a comparison in dogs

The cupruretic effects of 2 tetramine (N,N'-bis (2-aminoethyl) alkane diamine) chelators were examined in healthy dogs fed a commercial dog food containing 12.2 micrograms of copper/g of dry diet. Two groups of 3 dogs each were given either 300 mg of 2,2,2-tetramine tetrahydrochloride or 2,3,2-tetramine tetrahydrochloride for 23 consecutive days. Serum and 24-hour urine samples obtained before drug administration and during therapy were analyzed for copper, zinc, and iron concentrations. Both tetramines produced a significant cupruresis without significant changes in serum copper or in serum or urine zinc and iron concentrations. The 2,3,2-tetramine tetrahydrochloride produced a 4- to 9-fold greater cupruresis than did 2,2,2-tetramine tetrahydrochloride and resulted in a daily loss of more than 2 mg of copper in the urine. The dogs had no laboratory or clinical evidence of toxic side effects to either cupruretic agent during the treatment period. The results of the present study indicate that 2,3,2-tetramine should be an effective decoppering drug for use in dogs.