Sources of variation and prospects for improvement of productive efficiency in the dairy cow: a review

In this review, "productive efficiency" in dairy cows is defined as the yield of milk obtained in ratio to the nutritional costs associated with maintenance, milk synthesis and loss of body condition during lactation. Improvements in efficiency could occur as a result of changes in digestion and nutrient absorption, maintenance requirement, utilization of metabolizable energy for production or nutrient partitioning. Digestibility can be greatly enhanced by appropriate dietary manipulation. Likewise, it may be possible to reduce maintenance requirements and improve the efficiency with which metabolizable energy is used for milk synthesis by manipulation of the pattern of nutrients presented to tissues. However, these factors apparently do not respond to selection for increased milk yield, and little variation is observed among cows. In contrast, individual cows differ substantially in feed intake and in the partitioning of nutrients among body tissues. Techniques associated with genetic engineering and the early prediction of genetic merit have the potential to improve productive efficiency by manipulation of these processes. However, changes in nutrient partitioning and feed intake during lactation are coordinated by a complex network of controls that accommodate the nutrient requirements of each tissue while maintaining homeostatic balance. Future improvements in productive efficiency will therefore depend on our ability to understand the manner in which these controls operate.     

Esophageal ectasia in a quarterhorse colt

A one month old Quarterhorse colt was presented after a week history of bilateral nasal discharge and respiratory difficulty. The cervical esophagus was greatly dilated, tortuous and filled with diluted milk. A nasogastric tube could not be passed beyond the base of the heart. An aspiration pneumonia was found at postmortem examination and the esophageal segment from the pharynx to the base of the heart was dilated, thin-walled, had degenerative muscular changes, and a reduction in size and number of ganglion cells of the myenteric plexus. Muscular hypertrophy of the terminal esophagus had reduced its lumen size. Some similarities and disparities of this condition to achalasia of man and megaesophagus of dogs are discussed.     

Equine herpesvirus abortion in Australia 1977 to 1982

Until 1977 no case of abortion caused by equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV1) had been recorded in Australia although the virus, called equine rhinopneumonitis virus, had been known to have been present at least since 1962. Outbreaks of EHV1 abortion occurred in New South Wales in 1977 and in 1981. Sporadic cases of EHV1 abortion had been confirmed in some parts of Australia each year since 1975. It was concluded that an abortigenic subtype of EHV1 had been introduced to Australia in 1977 and that the previously endemic respiratory subtype occasionally caused abortion. Virus isolation in a variety of cell cultures and histopathological examination of tissue were shown to be satisfactory methods of diagnosis of EHV1 abortion. Lung proved to be the specimen of choice. Slight serological differences between "abortigenic" and "respiratory" subtypes of EHV1 were found in cross neutralisation tests. A serological survey of 219 Sydney horses of various ages revealed that most yearlings had already acquired neutralising antibody to both subtypes.     

Synthetic pyrethroids and avermectin for controlling the grapevine pestsLobesia botrana,Cryptoblabes gnidiella andDrosophila melanogaster

Field treatments in a vineyard with 0.015 or 0.01% a.i. of cypermethrin, fenvalerate, fenpropathrin or AC-222,705 were more efficient in controlling the grape-berry moth (Lobesia botrana Schiff.) and the honeydew moth (Cryptoblabes gnidiella Mill.) than four standard treatments consisting of two with 0.05% a.i. fenitrothion and two with 0.075% a.i. diazinon. In pyrethroid-treated plots, infestation at the end of the trials ranged between 2.5 and 12%, compared with 21% in the standard treatment plots and 34% in the untreated plots. Cypermethrin, fenpropathrin and AC-222,705 exhibited similar field activity, while that of fenvalerate was somewhat lower. Under laboratory conditions, cypermethrin at 0.005 and 0.01% a.i. was significantly more potent than fenvalerate, fenpropathrin and AC-222,705; at a higher concentration, 0.015% a.i., all pyrethroids were highly active, with mortality ranging between 75 and 95%. Under laboratory conditions the vinegar fly (Drosophila melanogaster Meig.) was in general more susceptible to pyrethroids than was the grape-berry moth. Cypermethrin and AC-222,705 at 0.005% a.i. and avermectin at 0.0035% a.i. were potent compounds against the vinegar fly and more active than fenvalerate and fenpropathrin.     

Contribution of lipoprotein lipase activity to the differential growth of three adipose tissue depots in young broiler chickens

1. The growth of three distinct adipose tissue depots around the abdomen, neck and thigh was measured in a commercial strain of broiler, and related to the changes in activity of lipoprotein lipase within each depot.

2. At 10 d of age there was no significant difference between the weights of the depots. Thereafter the abdominal fat pad exhibited a much greater rate of growth than the other two depots so that by 55 d of age the abdominal fat pad was 4 times the size of the leg depot and 3.4 times the size of the neck depot.

3. Changes in total lipoprotein lipase activity for all three depots showed a similar pattern to the changes in their weight.

4. When [¹⁴C]‐VLDL was injected intravenously into birds at 15 and 57 d of age the percentage taken up into the abdominal fat pad was greater than that into the other two depots at both ages. At 57 d of age the abdominal fat pad had a 2.3‐fold greater uptake than at 15 d whereas the other two depots showed no significant differences at the two ages.

5. These results provide further evidence for a key role of lipoprotein lipase in regulating adipose tissue growth in broilers. They also demonstrate that although the abdominal fat pad has been used in a number of studies of adipose tissue metabolism it is not necessarily representative of other depots.     

Simple acid-base disorders

The body regulates pH closely to maintain homeostasis. The pH of blood can be represented by the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation: pH = pK + log [HCO3-]/PCO2 Thus, pH is a function of the ratio between bicarbonate ion concentration [HCO3-] and carbon dioxide tension (PCO2). There are four simple acid base disorders: (1) Metabolic acidosis, (2) respiratory acidosis, (3) metabolic alkalosis, and (4) respiratory alkalosis. Metabolic acidosis is the most common disorder encountered in clinical practice. The respiratory contribution to a change in pH can be determined by measuring PCO2 and the metabolic component by measuring the base excess. Unless it is desirable to know the oxygenation status of a patient, venous blood samples will usually be sufficient. Metabolic acidosis can result from an increase of acid in the body or by excess loss of bicarbonate. Measurement of the "anion-gap" [(Na+ + K+) - (Cl- + HCO3-)], may help to diagnose the cause of the metabolic acidosis. Treatment of all acid-base disorders must be aimed at diagnosis and correction of the underlying disease process. Specific treatment may be required when changes in pH are severe (pH less than 7.2 or pH greater than 7.6). Treatment of severe metabolic acidosis requires the use of sodium bicarbonate, but blood pH and gases should be monitored closely to avoid an "overshoot" alkalosis. Changes in pH may be accompanied by alterations in plasma potassium concentrations, and it is recommended that plasma potassium be monitored closely during treatment of acid-base disturbances.