Effects of growth and dietary crude protein level until first insemination on milk production during first lactation in Holstein heifers

To decrease the age at first calving in Holsteins, the effects of average daily body weight gain (ADG) and crude protein (CP) level until first insemination on growth performance and milk production were examined. The MM group had a target ADG of 0.75 kg and received a diet with a CP level of 14%. The HM and HH groups had a target ADG of 1 kg; both these groups received a diet with CP levels 14% and 16%, respectively. The ADG in the HM and HH groups was 1.1 kg, whereas in the MM group it was 0.97 kg (P < 0.01). The HM and HH groups showed no differences in withers height at body weight 350 kg. The ages at first calving in MM, HM and HH groups were 23.1, 21.0 and 21.8 months, respectively. The HM and HH groups had lower milk yield at day 305 than the MM group (P < 0.01). These results suggest that growth performance until first insemination should be maintained at an ADG of 0.97 kg or less with a CP level of approximately 14%, to shorten time until first insemination and prevent the decrease of milk yield.     

Characterization of corrinoid compounds from a Japanese black tea (Batabata-cha) fermented by bacteria

A Japanese fermented black tea (Batabata-cha) contained a considerable amount of vitamin B(12) (456 +/- 39 ng per 100 g dry tea leaves and 2.0 +/- 0.3 ng per 100 mL of tea drink). A corrinoid compound was partially purified and characterized from the tea leaves. The patterns of the purified compound by the silica gel 60 thin-layer chromatography and C18 reversed phased high-performance liquid chromatography were identical to those of authentic vitamin B(12). When 20 week old vitamin B(12) deficient rats, which excreted substantial amounts (about 250 mg/day) of methylmalonic acid in urine as an index of vitamin B(12) deficiency, were fed the tea drink (50 mL/day, 1 ng of vitamin B(12)) for 6 weeks, urinary methylmalonic acid excretion (169 +/- 29 mg/day) of the tea drink-supplemented 26 week old rats decreased significantly relative to that (250 +/- 32 mg/day) of the deficient rats. The results indicate that the vitamin B(12) found in the fermented black tea is bioavailable in mammals.     

Macrolides and lincomycin susceptibility of Mycoplasma hyorhinis and variable mutation of domain II and V in 23S ribosomal RNA

A total of 151 strains of Mycoplasma hyorhinis isolated from porcine lung lesions (weaned pigs, n=71, and finishers, n=80) were investigated for their in vitro susceptibility to 10 antimicrobial agents. Thirty-one strains (28 from weaned pigs and 3 from finishers) showed resistance to 16-membered macrolide antibiotics and lincomycin. The prevalence of the 16-membered macrolide-resistant M. hyorhinis strain in weaned pigs from Japanese herds has approximately quadrupled in the past 10 years. Several of the 31 strains were examined for mutations in the 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA). All field strains tested showed a transition of A to G at position 2059 of 23S rRNA-rendered Escherichia coli. On the other hand, individual tylosin- and lincomycin-resistant mutants of M. hyorhinis were selected in vitro from the susceptible type strain BTS7 by 3 to 9 serial passages in subinhibitory concentrations of each antibiotic. The 23S rRNA sequences of both tylosin and lincomycin-resistant mutants were compared with that of the radical BTS7 strain. The BTS7 mutant strain selected by tylosin showed the same transition as the field-isolated strains of A2059G. However, the transition selected in lincomycin showed mutations in domains II and V of 23S rRNA, G2597U, C2611U in domain V, and the addition of an adenine at the pentameric adenine loop in domain II. The strain selected by lincomycin showed an additional point mutation of A2062G selected by tylosin.     

Distribution of TNF receptors and TNF receptor-associated intracellular signaling factors on equine tendinocytes in vitro

Although tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha is an important key factor in degeneration of equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), the dynamism of TNF receptors and associated factors on tendinocytes has not been elucidated. To reveal signaling events mediated by TNF-receptors (TNF-Rs) in tendinocytes, we focused on four signaling factors, TNF-R1, TNF-R2, TNF-R-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB), and investigated the distribution and production of these factors. Cultured tendinocytes were obtained from SDFTs of thoroughbred horses. The tendinocytes were treated with 10 ng/ml equine TNFalpha medium for 6 hours and then the four factors on tendinocytes were visualized by using an immunohistochemical method, and the amounts of the four factors were determined by Western blot analysis. Although TNF-R1 and TNF-R2 co-localized on the same tendinocyte, in untreated control cells (normal condition), immunoreactivity against TNF -R1 was very weak but TNF-R2 showed a strong reaction. However, TNF-R1 showed the same high level of reaction as TNF-R2 in TNFalpha-treated cells (inflamed condition). Intense TRAF2 and NF-kappaB were detected at inflamed condition, however both factors were also detected at normal condition. The distinct distributions of the four factors under different conditions (normal and inflamed condition) in vitro not only reflect the dynamism of the cytokines but may also provide important clues for a means to prevent from occurrence of tendonitis and progress of tendon degeneration.     

Empirical Percentile Growth Curves with Z-scores Considering Seasonal Compensatory Growths for Japanese Thoroughbred Horses

Percentile growth curves are often used as a clinical indicator to evaluate variations of children’s growth status. In this study, we propose empirical percentile growth curves using Z-scores adapted for Japanese Thoroughbred horses, with considerations of the seasonal compensatory growth that is a typical characteristic of seasonal breeding animals. We previously developed new growth curve equations for Japanese Thoroughbreds adjusting for compensatory growth. Individual horses and residual effects were included as random effects in the growth curve equation model and their variance components were estimated. Based on the Z-scores of the estimated variance components, empirical percentile growth curves were constructed. A total of 5,594 and 5,680 body weight and age measurements of male and female Thoroughbreds, respectively, and 3,770 withers height and age measurements were used in the analyses. The developed empirical percentile growth curves using Z-scores are computationally feasible and useful for monitoring individual growth parameters of body weight and withers height of young Thoroughbred horses, especially during compensatory growth periods.     

Correlation between villous height and the disaccharidase activity in the small intestine of piglets from nursing to growing

Early weaning induces villous atrophy in the small intestine. Reduction in villous height in the small intestine after weaning is associated with reductions in brush‐border enzyme activity. Body weight gain after weaning is, therefore, correlated with villous height. This evidence suggested that the maintenance of small intestinal structure and function after weaning is important for the growth of young pigs. On the other hand, the relationship between villous height and the activity of the digestive enzymes in the small intestine has not been studied with piglets from the suckling to the growing period. Five suckling piglets, four piglets in the proximal stage of weaning, four pigs in the distal stage of weaning and four growing pigs were used. The activities of lactase (LA), sucrase (SA) and maltase (MA) were determined. LA showed a positive correlation with villous height in weaning. SA and MA were positively correlated with villous height from suckling to growing. In a previous study, non‐infectious dyspeptic diarrhea was frequently observed in growing piglets on Japanese swine farms. The maintenance of villous height to retain disaccharidase activity may prevent dyspepsic diarrhea in this stage.     

Growth inhibition activities of Sugi bark components against Heterosigma akashiwo

In our ongoing efforts to develop new uses for wood-based waste streams, the growth inhibition activities of extracts obtained from Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) bark were examined against Heterosigma akashiwo, otherwise known as red tide plankton. The Sugi bark was separated into its outer and inner barks and then extracted sequentially with hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol. Strong inhibitory activities against H. akashiwo were observed in the tests involving the hexane extract from the inner and outer barks, as well as the ethyl acetate extract from the inner bark. Gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) analysis revealed that cubebol, phyllocladanol, 6,7-dehydroferruginol, ferruginol, and sugiol were the main components in the active extracts. These components themselves were then tested for their growth inhibition activities against H. akashiwo. Cubebol and ferruginol showed potent inhibitory activities, whereas phyllocladanol, 6,7-dehydroferruginol, and sugiol were only weakly active. Taken together, these results suggested that the Sugi bark extracts could be used as inhibition reagents against red tide plankton.