Cholesterol concentration of longissimus muscle, subcutaneous fat and serum of two beef cattle breed types

The cholesterol concentration of uncooked and cooked longissimus muscle, uncooked subcutaneous fat and serum, as affected by days on feed, breed type and sex class in a factorial arrangement, and the relationship between serum cholesterol and tissue cholesterol were studied. Days on feed, breed type and sex class had no effect (P greater than .05) on tissue cholesterol concentrations. Overall least-squares means for uncooked and cooked longissimus muscle and subcutaneous fat were 63.32, 80.27 and 98.90 mg of cholesterol/100 g of tissue, respectively. Cholesterol concentration was 26.8% higher in cooked vs uncooked muscle and 56.2% higher in uncooked subcutaneous fat compared with uncooked muscle. Serum cholesterol concentration was lower (P less than .05) for fullblood Chianinas and steers (122.6 and 133.9 mg/dl) compared with crossbreds and heifers (162.3 and 151.0 mg/dl), respectively. Serum cholesterol concentration showed a cubic response (P less than .05) over days on feed; it was lowest at 0 d (79.6 mg/dl), increased up to 77 d (156.3 mg/dl), leveled off (154.7 mg/dl), then increased again (179.3 mg/dl). Serum cholesterol had low and insignificant correlation coefficients with all tissue cholesterol concentrations (r = .08 to .22; P greater than .05). Results indicate that muscle and fat tissue cholesterol concentrations do not vary in response to the differences in breed type, sex class or time on feed represented in the present study and thus may be an inherent characteristic dependent upon quantitative needs for cellular membrane functions. However, serum cholesterol concentration was affected by treatments evaluated in this study and may be related to factors affecting lipid metabolism.     

Fractionation of neutralising antibodies in serum of ducklings vaccinated with live duck hepatitis virus vaccine

Neutralising antibodies were present in duckling serum four days after vaccination of two-day-old ducklings with live duck hepatitis virus vaccines. The antibodies were found in the macroglobulin and 7S fractions by Sephadex G200 chromatography, had gamma or beta 2 mobility in immunoelectrophoresis and reacted with an antiserum to duck immunoglobulins.     

Simulation modelling for orchard management

A simulation model is presented for a typical Australian pome fruit orchard. The main routine calculates annual after-tax profit and sub routines generate optimum replacement age and stochastic variability due to hail and drought. The principal dependent variables such as prices, yields and costs can be changed as required to add flexibility for various practical circumtances. Two replacement policies are used, self replacement (270 trees/ha) and semi-intensive (715 trees/ha). Under mean price and yield conditions, converting the orchard to semi-intensive production gives an average annual improvement in profit of $13 000 over a 100 year simulation period. Results emphasised the need for earlier replacement of trees than is usual practice. Existing trees were replaced at 31 years of age and thereafter recycled at 46 year intervals. Application of regression analysis to produce iso-performance curves revealed important interactions between price, cost, yield and orchard profitability with price being the most sensitive parameter.     

RADIOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT IN THE DOG

The radiographic signs associated with implanted canine total hip prostheses include: (1) a 1 mm-or-less wide static lucent zone at the acetabular and femoral bone-cement interfaces, and (2) periosteal bone proliferation surrounding the stem of the femoral prosthesis. The radiographic signs associated with total hip replacement complications are dislocation of the femoral component, bone changes suggestive of infection involving the acetabular and femoral components, and loosening of the acetabular component. Arthrography is beneficial in determining the presence of a loose prosthesis with or without infection.     

Analysis of monoclonal antibodies reacting with molecules expressed on gammadelta T-cells.

Twenty-six monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) selected after the first round of analysis in the Third International Swine Workshop were grouped with additional mAbs from the first and second workshops and mAbs under study for further evaluation. Preparations of peripheral blood leukocytes were used in single and multicolor flow cytometric (FC) analyses. Six mAbs did not react with gammadelta T-cells. Two were negative for all tested specificities. Seven mAbs recognized molecules expressed on gammadelta T-cells that were not lineage restricted. One of these from the first workshop (2B11) yielded a pattern of labeling identical to a mAb under study (PGB73A). Ten mAbs were characterized in previous workshops and known to react with the gammadelta TCR or molecules expressed on subsets of gammadelta T-cells. One belonged to SWC4, two to SWC5, and one to SWC6. Two mAbs from the second workshop recognized a molecule or molecules expressed on subsets of gammadelta T-cells. A new mAb (PPT16) added late to the workshop following a request by the workshop chairs appeared to recognize a determinant expressed on the gammadelta TCR/CD3 molecular complex.     

Production Characteristics of PanSize Channel Catfish in Cages and Open Ponds1

Production characteristics of pan-size (approximately 227 g) channel catfish (Ictalurus puncturus) were determined in cages and open ponds stocked with fingerlings to densities of 20,000 and 12,500 fish/ha. After 145 days, mean fish weight in all treatments exceeded 227 g. Mean survival was similar in all treatments. Food conversion ratios were significantly better in ponds than in cages but density did not affect the ratios. Neither density nor production system affected production (as measured by total weight produced) when initial density differences were considered (analysis of covariance). Variability in total length at harvest was similar between production systems; however, low density treatments were less variable than high density treatments. Results of this study indicate that pan-size channel catfish can be cultured efficiently at stocking densities well above the 12,500 fish/ha (5,000 fishlacre) generally used when culturing fish to larger sizes.     

Diagnoses of infections by the so-called chick anemia agent: anemia and direct transmission electron microscopic detection of virus.

Blood from 48 chicks was examined for anemia (packed cell volume), and plasma was examined for virus particles by direct transmission electron microscopy (DTEM). There was agreement between the occurrence of anemia and the presence of CAA virus particles in plasma from anemic chicks (Kappa = 0.2425, Z = 2.096, P = 0.036). Although DTEM is a method that can be used to diagnose CAA in chicks, more sensitive, economical and less laborious diagnostic assays are needed.