Effect of iodine, copper and zinc additions to the diet with a high proportion of coarse rape meal extract on the growth and thyroid function of fattening pigs. 1. The effect on fattening performance

In three experiments with fattening pigs the supplementation of a ration with 8% rapeseed oilmeal (RSO) with 1 mg J/kg resulted in an increased weight gain per day of 31, 94 and 87%. On the other hand, only 83, 76 and 84% of the weight gain of the soybean oilmeal control groups were achieved. The additional supply with 250 mg Cu (experiments II and III) increased the weight gain to 84 and 96% in comparison to the unsupplemented control groups. The combination of J + Cu + Zn lead to the same performance as that of J + Cu (experiment III). In the RSO groups without J-supplement changes in body proportions and parakeratosis could be observed after approximately equal to 7 weeks. After the sole supplementation of Cu these symptoms occurred approximately equal to 4 weeks later. In vitro, the supplementation of RSO with a CuSO4 solution resulted in a decrease of vinylthiooxazolidon and isothiocyanate in line with the CuSO4-concentration. 0.2 mg J/kg feed (experiment III) resulted in the same fattening performance as the supplementation of the ration with 1 mg J and outwardly visible deficiency symptoms. The results show that Cu, depending on its quota, results in a decrease of goitrogenics in the feed and that J and Cu supplementation to rations with rapeseed oilmeal have an additive effect and that parakeratosis can be prevented by J-supplementation.     

Congenital unilateral facial nerve paralysis in a Warmblood filly

A 17-month-old Warmblood filly was referred to our clinic for evaluation of congenital facial nerve (FN) paralysis. Clinical examination revealed a right-sided facial paralysis with mild masticatory muscle atrophy, mild dysphagia and exposure keratitis. Apart from the FN deficits, neurological examination of the remaining cranial nerves showed no abnormalities. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination using a 3.0 Tesla scanner showed that in comparison to the left FN, the intracranial section of the right FN between the pons and internal acoustic canal was thinner, whereas it appeared indistinct and thickened within the internal acoustic canal and facial canal. Signs of meningitis or encephalitis were not present on MRI. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed mild pleocytosis. The owner of the filly requested euthanasia due to the guarded prognosis. At necropsy, the intracranial section of the right FN was macroscopically thinner than the left side and within the facial canal, a 5 mm tissue stump could be identified with an absent extracranial part of the right FN. Histological examination of the brain stem showed different architecture of the left and right motor nuclei of the FN: in the left nucleus, motor neurons of a normal size and well stainable Nissl bodies were present, whereas in the right nucleus, neurons with Nissl bodies were decreased in number and size. Further, a cytoplasmic rich cell population with a nucleus size compatible with normal neurons was present. These cells were suspected to be atrophic neurons. The tissue stump within the facial canal was histologically identified as connective tissue. Unilateral malformation of the FN has not previously been described in the horse. This filly showed a right-sided, intracranial hypoplasia accompanied by an extracranial aplasia of the FN causing complete, congenital facial nerve paralysis, which corresponded to a difference in the architecture of the affected motor nucleus of the FN.     

The occurrence of Cryptococcus neoformans in fecal samples from birds kept in human living areas]

With help of Guizotia creatinine agar (syn. bird seed agar) Cryptococcus (Cr.) neoformans var. neoformans was isolated from 71 (7.7%) of 925 investigated droppings of birds kept within human living area. Cr. neoformans was detected in droppings of 1.2% from 164 psittacines, in droppings of 1.7% from 118 budgerigars and in droppings of 18.4% from (carrier) pigeons. This yeast was not isolated from droppings of 13 small parrots, 10 eclectus parrots, 13 rosellas, 21 cockatiels, 6 Polytelidus sp., 32 Cacatua sp., 13 Carduelis sp., 5 waxbills, 5 starlings, 120 chicken, 9 turkeys, 2 geese, 2 Turdus sp., 1 duck and 1 gull.     

Cägliche Durchmesserschwankungen der Zweige

European Journal of Forest Research -     

The extraction particles from winter rapeseed with different glucosinolate fractions in swine with regard to the iodine supply. 3. Apparent digestibility of crude nutrients with special regard to the carbohydrate and nitrogen balance]

In two digestibility and N-balance experiments the following solvent extracted meals were examined in a grain (barley and wheat in equal parts) or in a starch diet with four female pigs/group fitted with urethra catheters during the 5 days sampling period: 48% soyabean meal (SBM) (1), 24% conventional rapeseed meal (RSM) (2), 24 (3) or 48% (4) RSM from a newly bred low glucosinolate variety, groups 1 to 4 with grain, 48% low glucosinolate RSM (5) or 48% SBM (6) both with starch. In numeric order of the groups 88, 85, 86, 84, 79 and 89% N were digested. Pigs responded to the additional faecal N excretion from RSM diets by a lower urinary N excretion and thus they reached the N-balance of the animals fed on SBM. In numeric order of the groups 86, 79, 80, 73, 73 and 92% of the organic matter of the solvent extracted meals were digested. In comparison with SBM even 48% RSM in the feed significantly lowered the digestibility of organic matter. Using detergents the additional faecal organic matter excretion of RSM versus SBM could quantified as two third lignin. In the case of 24% RSM in the diet--i.e. 15% of the carbohydrates given--the carbohydrate digestibility is estimated with a high error, that an energetic feed value should not calculated. Investigating 48% SBM or RSM respectively in a grain diet the net energy content was 9.8 MJ (666 Energetic Feed Units, EFU pig) or 8.3 MJ (569 EFU pig)/kg dry matter (DM). Based on the starch diet, however, little relevant for estimation of normal pig diets, there were evaluated 10.6 MJ (720 EFU pig) for SBM and 8.3 MJ (567 EFU pig) net energy/kg DM for RSM.