Effect of dietary crude-protein type on fertilization and embryo quality in dairy cattle

An experiment was conducted to determine whether balancing dietary crude protein for optimal rumen degradability would improve fertilization rate and quality of ova in lactating dairy cows. Thirty-eight Holstein cows in early lactation were fed 1 of 2 diets formulated to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous, containing 16% crude protein. Diet 1 contained 73% rumen degradable intake protein, whereas diet 2 contained 64% rumen degradable intake protein. The cows were induced to superovulate and were inseminated, and ova were recovered nonsurgically on postbreeding day 7. Ova were counted and classified as fertilized or unfertilized. Fertilized ova were scored as excellent, good, fair, poor, or degenerate. Unfertilized ova and poor and degenerate embryos were considered to be nontransferable ova and excellent, good, and fair embryos were considered to be transferable ova. There were no differences for mean number of fertilized, unfertilized, transferable, or nontransferable ova recovered from cows fed the 2 diets (P greater than 0.10). Mean percentage of fertilized ova recovered from cows was greater (P less than 0.05) in those fed diet 2, compared with diet 1. Mean percentage of transferable ova recovered from cows tended to be greater (P = 0.06) in those fed diet 2, compared with diet 1. More cows failed to yield transferable ova (P less than 0.05) when fed diet 1, compared with diet 2. Fertilization failure or early degeneration of embryos may occur in cows fed excess rumen degradable protein.     

Production‐level risk factors for syncytial hepatitis in farmed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L)

Syncytial hepatitis (SHT) is an emerging viral disease of tilapia characterized by significant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to establish the production‐level risk factors associated with presence and severity of SHT. Production factors were analysed during multiple outbreaks of SHT that occurred between 2011 and 2013 on a single tilapia farm in Ecuador and compared with the year 2010 before the SHT outbreaks. Relative risks, t tests, modified Poisson and forward stepwise linear regression analyses were performed using EPIINFO?. Compared to other strains, Chitralada had an elevated risk of SHT [RR = 2.1 (95%CI 1.8–2.4)]. Excessive mortality associated with the presence (and severity) of SHT increased by 611 (365), 6,814 (5,768) and 388 (340) deaths per 100,000 fry when stocking density, dissolved oxygen and pond production cycles were raised by 1 fish/m², 1 mg/L and 1 cycle, respectively. Excessive mortality associated with the presence (and severity) of SHT decreased by 337 (258) and 1,354 (1,025) deaths per 100,000 when stocking weight and water temperature increased by 1 g and 1°C, respectively. Time (season and stocking year) was not significantly associated with SHT. This study shows that some production factors increase the risk incidence and severity of SHTon a farm.     

Linear programming can help identify practical solutions to improve the nutritional quality of food aid

OBJECTIVES: To assess the nutritional quality of food aid delivered by food banks in France and to identify practical modifications to improve it. DESIGN: National-level data were collected for all food aid distributed by French food banks in 2004, and its nutrient content per 2000 kcal was estimated and compared with French recommendations for adults. Starting with the actual donation and allowing new foods into the food aid donation, linear programming was used to identify the minimum changes required in the actual donation to achieve the French recommendations. RESULTS: French food-bank-delivered food aid does not achieve the French recommendations for dietary fibre, ascorbic acid, vitamin D, folate, magnesium, docosahexaenoic acid, alpha-linolenic acid and the percentage of energy from saturated fatty acids. Linear programming analysis showed that these recommendations are achievable if more fruits, vegetables, legumes and fish were collected and less cheese, refined cereals and foods rich in fat, sugar and/or salt. In addition, new foods not previously collected are needed, particularly nuts, wholemeal bread and rapeseed oil. These changes increased the total edible weight (42%) and economic value (55%) of the food aid donation, with one-third of its edible weight coming from fruits and vegetables, one-third from staples, one-quarter from dairy products and approximately a tenth from meat/fish/eggs. CONCLUSIONS: Important changes in the types and amounts of food collected will improve the nutritional quality of food-bank-delivered food aid in France. Such changes are recommended to improve the diets of deprived French populations.     

Estimating evaporation: A comparison between Penman, Idso-Jackson, and zero-flux methods

A field evaporation—drainage study was conducted to compare three methods of predicting evaporative losses from a bare soil. Two of the methods (modified Penman combination and Idso—Jackson) are dependent only on measurements of atmospheric parameters whereas the third method (plane of zero flux) is dependent only on measurements of soil parameters.A Captina soil profile was wet up and allowed to dry by evaporation and drainage. For the initial two days after infiltration ceased all three methods predicted similar evaporative losses. Differences between the three methods occurred when the soil moisture content at the soil surface controlled the evaporation rates. Under the three drying conditions the three methods behaved somewhat differently in the prediction of the amounts of water evaporated from the soil surface. Lower losses by evaporation were predicted by the Idso—Jackson and zero-flux methods. In the case of the Idso—Jackson method this result was attributed to the influence of clouds on albedo, the impact of wind and the importance of albedo in the predictive equation. For the zero-flux method the decrease in evaporation was due to lower soil water contents and matrix potentials near the surface which resulted in lower transport rates of water to the surface.     

Effects of pocket gophers,bracken fern,and western coneflower on planted conifers in northern Idaho – an update and two more species

Grand Fir Mosaic forests innorthern Idaho are difficult to regenerate afternatural or human-caused disturbances. Sparseconifer regeneration appears to be associated withhigh populations of northern pocket gophers (Thomomys talpoides) plus expansion by bracken fern(Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn) and invasionof western coneflower (Rudbeckia occidentalisNutt.). This report updates an earlier study(Ferguson and Adams 1994) that quantified theeffects of four treatments on survival and growth ofplanted conifers: unweeded with gophers, weeded withgophers, unweeded without gophers, and weededwithout gophers. Weeding removed only bracken fernand western coneflower. Subalpine fir (Abieslasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.), grand fir (Abiesgrandis (Dougl.) Lindl.), and western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) had over 80% mortalityfrom pocket gophers and other causes. Lodgepolepine (Pinus contorta var. latifoliaEngelm.) had 49.2% mortality from pocket gophersand 6.8% mortality from other causes, but snowdamage is a problem for lodgepole pine. Engelmannspruce (Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.)had 42.2% gopher-caused mortality and 8.4%mortality from other causes. Spruce suffered littletop damage from snowpacks and was stout enough towithstand senescing bracken fern fronds. Westernwhite pine (Pinus monticola Dougl.) had only24.1% mortality from pocket gophers after 4 years,and only 11.8% of the white pine died from causesother than gophers. Of the mortality caused bypocket gophers, 76.8% occurred the first summer andnext two winters after planting. The recommendedspecies for reforestation are Engelmann spruce andwhite pine.     

Effect of darglitazone on glucose clearance and lipid metabolism in obese cats

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of darglitazone, a compound of the thiazolidinedione class, on glucose clearance and lipid metabolism in obese cats. ANIMALS: 18 obese and 4 lean adult neutered female cats. PROCEDURE: IV glucose tolerance tests with measurements of glucose, insulin, and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations were performed before and 42 days after daily administration of darglitazone (9 obese cats) or placebo (9 obese and 4 lean cats). Additionally, cholesterol, triglyceride, leptin, and glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations were measured. RESULTS: Darglitazone-treated cats had significantly lower cholesterol, triglyceride, and leptin concentrations, compared with placebo-treated obese cats. A significant decrease in the area under the curve for NEFAs, glucose, and insulin during an i.v. glucose tolerance test was seen in darglitazone-treated cats. The drug was well tolerated. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The response of obese cats to darglitazone was similar to the response to thiazolidinediones in obese humans and rodents Darglitazone was effective in improving insulin sensitivity and glucose and lipid metabolism in obese cats.     

Canine mammary gland tumors

An understanding of the known biologic facts of this disease and methodical evaluation of the individual patient are necessary prerequisites for outlining rational courses of therapy for dogs afflicted with mammary tumors. Because of the common occurrence of multiple tumors arising at various stages of development simultaneously and the heterogeneity of histology of the complex (mixed tissue types) tumors, presurgical biopsy is recommended only in cases in which mast cell tumor or anaplastic carcinoma is suspected. Although investigative work is being performed regarding the efficacy of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy, surgery still remains the mainstay in treatment of this condition. No one surgical procedure fits the needs of all patients, although it seems logical to remove as much breast tissue as is reasonable in each circumstance owing to the multicentric nature of the disease. Ovariohysterectomy has not been demonstrated to be of value in treatment of dogs with mammary tumors, but it is a markedly effective method of preventing mammary tumors if it is performed before puberty; it is moderately effective if performed before the dog is 21/2 years of age.