Juvenile mortality in captive lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis) at Basle Zoo and its relation to nutrition and husbandry.

Since 1956, when the Basle Zoo (Switzerland) initiated the breeding of lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis), 43% of the lesser kudu juveniles died before reaching an age of 6 mo. In this study, the objective was to obtain the pathological findings, nutritional history, and family tree information in order to evaluate the influence of husbandry on juvenile mortality in these animals. The main cause of death was white muscle disease (WMD), diagnosed in 14 cases (26%) of the deceased juveniles. Although enclosure size had remained constant and animal accessibility to the public was constantly high, both herd size and juvenile mortality had increased from 1956-2004. The diet consumed by the whole group in 2004 had deficient levels of vitamin E and selenium. The increasing linear trend of the mortality rate since the 1960s was significant, and there was a significant correlation between herd size and overall juvenile mortality. In contrast, there was no correlation between herd size and the occurrence of juvenile mortality associated specifically with WMD. Other investigated factors (sex, inbreeding, and season) had no significant effect on overall mortality up to 6 mo of age or on mortality associated with WMD. These results characterize both a dietary and a husbandry problem, and are supported by a lack of similar juvenile mortality in another facility where the diet was supplemented with vitamin E, animal numbers were kept low, and the enclosure structure offered more retreat options for the animals.     

UV‐light and dietary vitamin D and their effects on ionized calcium and 25‐OH‐D plasma concentrations in captive gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua)

In this study, the effect of ultraviolet (UV) light and dietary vitamin D on calcium metabolism in permanently indoor‐housed gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua ) was investigated. The study consisted of three periods, each completed with blood samples to analyse plasma concentrations of 25‐OH‐D, 1,25‐(OH)₂‐D, ionized (iCa) and total calcium (tCa). During the first study period (D), animals were housed under routine conditions without UV‐light and fed a diet of different fish species, supplemented with 1,000 IU vitamin D per animal and day. The following study period (Baseline) of 28‐day duration consisted of the same diet without any vitamin D supplementation and without UV‐light. During the study period (UVB) artificial UV‐light was added for 3 weeks. The vitamin D content of fish was measured by high‐performance liquid chromatography. It varied between fish species and between facilities, ranging from no measurable content in capelin (Mallotus villosus ) to 7,340 IU vitamin D/kg original matter (OM) in herring (Clupea spp). The average dietary vitamin D content was 311 IU/kg OM at facility 1 and 6,325 IU/kg OM at facility 2, resulting in a vitamin D intake per animal and day without supplementation of 130 IU (25.5 IU/kg body weight BW) and 2,454 IU (438.2 IU/kg BW) respectively. The supplementation of vitamin D elevated significantly the plasma concentrations of 25‐OH‐D by an intraindividual difference of 15 (range ?2 to 59) nmol/L and tCa by 0.1 (0.0–0.3) mmol/L only at facility 2. The exposure to UV‐light raised the blood concentrations of tCa at facility 2 by 0.15 (0.1–0.2) mmol/L, and of iCa and tCa for females at facility 1 by 0.23 (0.13–0.41) mmol/L and 1.8 (1.1–2.5) mmol/L respectively. No significant influence of the study periods (D) and (UVB) was found for the concentrations of 1,25‐(OH)₂‐D at both facilities.     

Effects of breed, sex and halothane genotype on fatty acid composition of triacylglycerols and phospholipids in pork longissimus muscle

The objective of this study was to estimate the effects of breed, sex, and halothane (HAL‐1843^TM) genotype on fatty acid composition of triacylglycerols (TAG) and phospholipids (PL) extracted from porcine longissimus muscle (LM). Purebred Yorkshire (n = 131), Duroc (n = 136), Hampshire (n = 49), Spotted (n = 35), Chester White (n = 74), Poland China (n = 51), Berkshire (n = 169) and Landrace (n = 82) pigs (n = 727; 427 barrows and 300 gilts) from the 1994 and 2001 National Barrow Show Sire Progeny Tests were used. For statistical analyses, a mixed model was used that included fixed effects of breed, sex, HAL‐1843^TM genotype, year, slaughter date within each year, interaction of breed × sex and random effects of sire and dam within breed. Breeds and sex were significantly associated with the percentages of the majority fatty acids in TAG. Duroc pigs had greater total saturated fatty acids (SFA) and lower total monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (p < 0.05) contents than did pigs of all other breeds except Berkshire (p > 0.05). The concentration of total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was the greatest in Hampshire pigs (p < 0.05). The content of total SFA was greater (p < 0.01), whereas the concentrations of total MUFA and PUFA were lower (p < 0.01) in barrows than those in gilts. The contents of major SFA in PL did not differ significantly among pigs from different breeds and sex groups. However, breed and sex significantly affected the concentrations of major MUFA and PUFA in PL and strong negative correlation between the total contents of MUFA and PUFA in PL was observed in the current study. Chester White pigs had greater total MUFA and lower total PUFA contents (p < 0.05) in PL than did pigs of all other breeds except Spotted (p > 0.05). In contrast to breed and sex effects, the concentrations of fatty acids in PL were more affected by HAL‐1843^TM genotype than those in TAG. The content of C16:0, a major SFA in PL, differed significantly in pigs with different HAL‐1843^TM genotypes. In conclusion, these results suggest that breed and sex are important sources of the variations for fatty acid composition of TAG and PL in LM.     

Genetic heterogeneity of pestiviruses of ruminants in Switzerland

We have genetically analyzed ruminant pestiviruses. All >150 bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) viruses isolated from cattle in Switzerland belonged to genotype 1, with subgenogroups e, h, k and b found in decreasing frequency. To date, representatives of subgenogroup k have been detected in Switzerland only. Despite serological evidence of Border disease in sheep, only few Border disease viruses have been isolated, all of which belong to the novel group 3. Serological evidence suggested that pestivirus infections may occur also in wild ruminants in Switzerland but no isolates are available for analysis. In addition, we describe two pestiviruses, one a cell culture contaminant and the other isolated from a buffalo, that cluster with a recently proposed novel pestivirus species.     

A comparison of hydrogen ion concentration and pH genetic predictions and fixed effect estimations when assessing pork quality

An evaluation of ultimate pH (pH) and hydrogen ion concentration (H+) was conducted to determine if the mathematical conversion of H+ to pH could affect 1. fixed and random effect inferences and 2. prediction of genetic merit of animals when either pH or H+ is used as an indicator in the assessment of pork quality. Data from 4,262 purebred animals and 577 sires having complete three-generation pedigrees from the 1991 to 2001 National Barrow Show Progeny Tests were utilized in this study. Existing loin muscle pH data were converted to their original H+. Numerical changes in values occurred across all fixed effects and in the case of breed and test, changes in differences among subclasses occurred. These changes may result in differing inferences that can be made depending on whether pH or H+ is used as the dependent variable. Heritability estimates for pH and H+ were 0.52 +/- 0.074 and 0.62 +/- 0.078, respectively. The Pearson correlation between pH and H+ breeding values was -0.92. Spearman Rank correlation of -0.91 between pH and H+ breeding values was calculated and indicates that sires do not rank the same when ordered by breeding values for each trait. When pH is the selection objective, the selection differential reduction in H+ from these data ranges from 3.8 to 9.1%. Additionally, only 77.7% of the estimated genetic progress per generation in H+ is realized when selection (5% selected) is based on pH. The genetic correlation between pH and H+ was -0.96. Changes in the absolute values of the genetic correlations between various pork quality indicator traits and pH or H+ concentration were 0.04 or less. Differences in pH and H+ results could impact decisions made by swine breeders and meat processors who are concerned about pork quality. This, combined with the greater heritability and biochemical reality for H+, indicates that H+ rather than pH is the more appropriate trait breeders and processors should focus on when attempting to improve pork quality.     

饲粮添加有机和无机微量元素对猪粪矿物元素排泄量及生-K性能的影响

1 摘要 本研究采用分析粪样、试验末体重和超声波检测的方法评定百乐(R)系列有机微量元素对生长肥育猪粪矿物元素(铜、铁和锌)排泄量以及生长性能和肉质的影响(n=528).     

Co-existence of genetically and antigenically diverse bovine viral diarrhoea viruses in an endemic situation

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) is an important cattle pathogen that causes acute or persistent infections. These are associated with immunotolerance to the viral strain persisting in animals that became infected early in their intrauterine development. To this date, the epidemiology of BVD in Switzerland runs virtually undisturbed by control measures such as restrictions on animal traffic or vaccination. Here, we analysed the viral genetics of 169 Swiss isolates and carried out crossed serum neutralisation tests to assess the antigenic spectrum of BVDV strains present in the cattle population. Besides confirming the presence of BVDV type 1 subgroups b, e, h and k, a single "orphan" BVDV-1 virus was detected that does not belong to any known BVDV-1 subgroup. No BVDV type 2 viruses were detected, suggesting that they are rare or not present in the cattle population. Antigenic comparison revealed significant differences between the different subgroups, with anti-1k immune serum having up to tenfold lower neutralising activity against 1b, 1e and 1h subgroup viruses, which however may still suffice to protect 1k-immune animals against superinfection by viruses of those other subgroups. Serum from routinely vaccinated animals revealed generally low titres but good cross-neutralisation. A geographic information system revealed that the viruses of the different subgroups are distributed in an apparently randomised fashion in the cattle population. This geographic distribution pattern may reflect peculiarities of the management practice in the Swiss cattle industry that, especially through annual transhumance of up to 25% of the entire population in the alpine region, tend to optimise the spread of BVDV.