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.     

Population structure of Argas arboreus (Acari: Argasidae) ticks associated with seasonally abandoned mixed heronries, dominated by cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis), in South Africa

During winter populations of Argas arboreus from heronries of the cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis, in South Africa are composed of adults, with some predominance of males, and II-IV instar nymphs, in a state of diapause. The period of tick activity, including reproduction and development of eggs, larvae and N1 nymphs, is synchronized with the nesting and breeding season of their avian hosts. It begins during spring with the return of birds to the heronry, and ceases in autumn through induction of reproductive diapause in engorged females, and behavioural diapause in unfed nymphs and adult ticks. Many ticks showed morphological anomalies and malformations, the study of which could possibly be used for monitoring of environmental pollution.     

Schistosoma mattheei--an ovum containing twin miracidia

A large Schistosoma mettheei ovum containing two miracidia was recovered from a squash preparation of the liver of an experimentally infected hamster. When observed, the miracidia were motile and facing in opposite directions.     

Description and classification of abnormal cercariae of Schistosoma mattheei and a method of concentration and collection

Over a period of about 12 years, 30 abnormal Schistosoma mattheei cercariae were found among a total of approximately 2.8 million examined. Initially seven were recovered from about 1.02 million (0.0007%), which were examined individually while being counted with the aid of a stereoscopic microscope. Subsequently, on the strength of relatively high percentages of abnormal individuals recovered when counting cercariae that failed to penetrate into oxen, it appeared that the morphologically abnormal cercariae were unable to swim and would mostly sediment out of a suspension while most of the normal cercariae would remain swimming. This surmise is supported by recovery of 23 morphologically abnormal cercariae (0.001%) from about 1.8 million, by examining the sediment after the cercarial suspension had been left standing undisturbed in glass measuring cylinders. The abnormalities ranged from aberrant tails only (e.g. an underdeveloped tail, or different degrees of schism) or aberrant heads only, to abnormalities of both the heads and tails. A suggested schematic classification of abnormal cercariae is presented. A young, adult hamster was exposed to eight S. mattheei cercariae with complete schism of the shaft of the tail, by pipetting the cercariae onto the shaved abdominal skin of the anaesthetised animal. Two underdeveloped females were subsequently encountered in squash preparations of the liver when the hamster was killed for worm recovery 10 weeks after infection, thus showing that some of the abnormal cercariae were viable. A method is also described for killing and fixing cercariae while retaining some of the shining brilliance of live cercariae, without them becoming shrivelled, granular and semi-opaque, as occurs when cercariae die spontaneously or are killed with heat. This is apparently the first report of abnormal cercariae of S. mattheei. In addition, a method of concentrating abnormal cercariae after emergence from a snail, a schematic classification of abnormal cercariae and a method for killing and fixing cercariae while retaining much of the shiny brilliance of live cercariae are also reported for the first time as far as is known.     

Influence of detomidine and buprenorphine on motor-evoked potentials in horses

Horses need to be sedated before they are investigated by transcranial magnetic stimulation because of the mild discomfort induced by the evoked muscle contraction and the noise of stimulation. This paper describes the influence of a combination of detomidine (10 microg/kg bodyweight) and a low dose of buprenorphine (2.4 microg/kg) on the onset latency and peak-to-peak amplitude of magnetic motor-evoked potentials in normal horses. There were no significant differences between measurements of these parameters made before the horses were sedated and measurements made 10 and 30 minutes after the drugs were administered.     

Echinococcus multilocularis (Cestoda,Taeniidae) in Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in northern Belgium

The first record of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis (Cestoda, Taeniidae) in Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in northern Belgium is described. Between 1996 and 1999, 237 dead foxes were examined for the presence of this tapeworm using the intestinal scraping technique. Four foxes (1.7%) were found to be infected with E. multilocularis and showed medium to very high parasitic burdens. Three infected foxes originated from the south of the study area and the fourth animal came from the north of the study area near the border with The Netherlands. These findings are discussed in relation to the high endemicity of E. multilocularis in southern Belgium and to the increased distribution of the Red fox (V. vulpes) in northern Belgium during the last two decades.     

Responses of horses in behavioural tests correlate with temperament assessed by riders

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Behavioural tests as well as observers' ratings have been used to study horses' temperament. However, the relationship between the ratings and the responses in behavioural tests has not yet been studied in detail. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to examine this relationship between ratings and responses. METHODS: Eighteen mature Swedish Warmblood horses were subjected to 2 behavioural tests, one relating to novelty (novel object test) and one to handling (handling test). Subsequently, 16 of these horses were ridden by 16 equally experienced students, having no former experience with the horses. Immediately after each ride, the students scored the horse for 10 temperamental traits using a line rating method. RESULTS: It was shown that for each temperamental trait all 16 riders agreed on the ranking of the horses (0.212相似文献