Impact of commercial pre-harvest processes on the prevalence of Salmonella enterica in cull sows

This study examined the impact of transport and lairage on Salmonella enterica prevalence in cull sows held under commercial conditions. Five sampling periods over 10 weeks yielded 181 selected culls. Fecal sample positives at the farm and collection point were 2% and 3%, respectively. After transport and lairage 41% of cull sows yielded S. enterica in one or more sampled tissues. A significant increase in cecal isolations was observed. The two S. enterica serotypes found at the production site and collection point were found at the abattoir, as were 13 other serotypes. Transport and lairage practices may contribute to an increased S. enterica contamination immediately prior to slaughter.     

Haemophilus somnus-induced IgE in calves vaccinated with commercial monovalent H. somnus bacterins

The ability of commercially available Haemophilus somnus bacterins to elicit an immunoglobulin E (IgE) response was examined in healthy calves using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blotting techniques. Thirty five calves were utilized in this study. Calves in Group 1 (n=7) did not receive any H. somnus vaccination and served as negative controls. Calves in each of Groups 2-5 (n=7 each) were vaccinated on days 0 (primary) and 14 (booster) with one of four commercially available H. somnus bacterins. Sera were harvested on days 0 and 14 and at weekly intervals for a total of 45 days. Sera were tested for the presence of IgE antibodies using a bovine IgE-specific ELISA.Low levels of H. somnus-specific IgE were detected by ELISA in all animals prior to the initiation of the study. All bacterins induced IgE levels that were significantly higher than control levels. Two bacterins elicited higher IgE levels at all time points. Sera were adsorbed against washed whole cells of either Salmonella typhimurium, P. multocida, or H. somnus or extracts of H. somnus. ELISA absorbance values were significantly decreased by adsorption with washed whole cells or extracts of H. somnus, whereas adsorption with other gram-negative bacteria only minimally decreased ELISA absorbance values. These results indicate that commercially available H. somnus bacterins can induce IgE antibody as early as 14 days post-vaccination. This IgE can be detected 45 days after the primary vaccination. Results also indicate that H. somnus-specific IgE antibodies can be found in serum of some cattle, possibly induced by existing or previous sensitization.     

Effects of Blend and Processing Method on the Nutritional Quality of Weaning Foods Made from Select Cereals and Legumes

Weaning blends, formulated in a 60% cereal to 40% legume combination using teff, pearl millet, cowpea, and peanut, were evaluated for changes in nutritional quality due to the effects of blend and processing method. Four blends were prepared by each of four traditional processing methods: control (unprocessed), roasting, germination, and natural fermentation. The main effect of blend formulation proved to be the stronger determinant of nutrient density, while processing method produced the strongest effect on weaning food viscosity. Germinated blends yielded viscosity measurements significantly below those resulting from other processing methods. Germination of ingredients increased nutrient density and in vitro protein digestibility, while roasting and fermentation produced little change from the control product. Complementation of cereal flours with peanut yielded weaning foods with a significantly (P < 0.01) higher nutrient density, increased in vitro protein digestibility and lower viscosity when compared to cowpea-based blends. The use of 20% whole grain teff in weaning blends increased protein content but did not significantly increase nonstarch polysaccharide content as compared to weaning blends without teff.     

Factors associated with colostrum quality in individual cows from dairy herds in the Waikato region of New Zealand

AIMS: To examine associations between various cow-level factors and quality of first-milking colostrum (measured as Brix), and to evaluate herd-level associations between vaccination against calf diarrhoea and colostrum quality, in cows from dairy herds in the Waikato region of New Zealand.

METHODS: A single colostrum sample was collected, by complete udder evacuation, from each of 20 cows from 29 dairy herds in the Waikato region of New Zealand during the 2016 spring calving period. Vaccination pre-partum with a calf diarrhoea vaccine was used in 15 herds. Each colostrum sample was tested using a digital Brix refractometer. The body condition score of each cow was recorded at the time of sample collection and farmers provided records of clinical mastitis and facial eczema from the previous 12 months, as well as the age and breed of cows. Associations between cow-level variables in non-vaccinated herds and Brix were examined using a multivariable linear mixed model and estimated marginal means obtained for different categories.

RESULTS: Mean Brix of 281 samples from cows in non-vaccinated herds was 18.7 (SD 0.26)%; 63/281 (22.4%) samples had Brix ≥22% and 152/281 (54.1%) had Brix ≥18%. Mean Brix of colostrum samples from cows aged ≥6 years (20.2 (95% CI=19.1–21.2)%) was higher than for samples from 2-year-old cows (18.6 (95% CI=17.3–19.9)%) (p=0.005). Colostrum that was collected at the first milking on the day of calving had higher Brix (20.0 (95% CI=19.1–20.9)%) than colostrum collected from cows that calved the previous day (17.5 (95% CI=16.5–18.4)%) (p<0.001). Mean Brix of colostrum samples from cows which produced ≥8?L (18.2 (95% CI=17.1–19.2)%) tended to be lower than from cows which produced <8?L first-milking colostrum (19.1 (95% CI=18.3–20.0)%) (p=0.08). Among vaccinating herds, 9/15 (60%) had ≥60% colostrum samples with Brix ≥18% compared with 4/14 (29%) of non-vaccinating herds (p=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Colostrum quality, as measured by Brix, was associated with the total volume of first-milking colostrum, interval from calving to colostrum collection and cow age. Vaccination against calf diarrhoea was associated with a higher proportion of colostrum samples with adequate Brix. Careful selection of colostrum donor cows should ensure newborn calves are fed adequate quality colostrum which should be beneficial in preventing failure of passive transfer of IgG. Testing of colostrum from individual cows with a Brix refractometer is advocated for the selection of colostrum for feeding newborn calves.     

A pedological investigation of an archaeological site in Ontario,Canada, I. An examination of the soils in and adjacent to a former village

The Benson site is a former village which was inhabited by Huron Indians in the 1600's. It is located 90 km northeast of Toronto, Canada. The soils of a portion of the site were sampled on a 1-m grid 15 cm below the surface. These soils were then analyzed for magnesium, calcium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, carbonates, pH and organic carbon. Three off-site soil profiles (Podzols) were sampled and analyzed for comparative purposes.Of the chemical attributes of soil materials studied at the Benson site amounts of magnesium, organic phosphorus, and inorganic phosphorus were sufficiently different to be useful in distinguishing formerly occupied soils from off-site soils. Such information may thus be an aid to archaeologists in determining the presence or absence of sites occupied in the past.     

Carbon mineralization patterns of cotton leaves and stems in vertisols and inceptisols

In India, cotton crop residues available after cotton picking are considered as waste materials and disposed off the field. For developing better residue management practices, knowledge of the decomposition kinetics is needed. Short-term laboratory incubations were conducted to determine the pattern of C mineralization from cotton leaves and stems [stem pieces (ca. 2 cm) vs. ground stem (0.25 mm)] in the two major soil groups (vertisols and inceptisols) on which cotton is grown to a large extent. The amount of C mineralized was significantly greater from leaf- (18.3% of added C) and ground stem-C (19% of added C) when compared to stem pieces-C (13.2% of added C). Differences between the residues were not seen in the inceptisols. The cumulative amount of C mineralized ranged from 9.6-11.5% of the added C. Narrowing the C:N ratio of stem did not enhance C mineralization.     

THE NORMAL-ACID FIBRE CONTENT OF SPFCIES AND VARIETIES OF HERBAGE GRASSES

Normal-acid fibre content has been suggested as a useful indication of the digestibility of herbage. The changes in fibre content were therefore recorded during the spring and early summer of 1957 and 1958 to see whether regular differences occurred between species and varieties of herbage grasses.
All species showed an increase in fibre content during spring and early summer, but considerable year-to-year fluctuations occurred: fibre content was also influenced by manuring and spacing. Regular differences between species and varieties have been detecled and, in perennial ryegrass, differences between individual genotypes. It should be possible to select breeding material for high or low fibre content if required.