Test for linkage between the eumelanin dilution blue (B1), the extended black (E) allele at the E-locus and the linked pea comb (P) and eumelanin extension (M1) genes in the domestic fowl

1. A mating was made between a Blue Andalusian bantam male and a pea comb striped necked bantam female to produce a quadruple heterozygote of the linked pea comb (P) and eumelanin extension (Ml) genes and of the eunmelanin dilution blue (Bl) gene and the extended black (E) allele at the E-locus. 2. Two pea comb blue females so produced were mated to a single comb striped necked bantam male, thus providing a backcross to the quadruple recessive. 3. Bl segregated independently with each of the other three genes whilst 25 crossovers occurred amongst the 55 progeny assessed for linkage between P and Ml, confirming loose linkage between P and Ml which had previously been shown to be approximately 46 units. Linkage of 0.3% had been previously reported (Crawford, 1986) between P and a "melanotic" gene isolated from a segregating gene pool. Evidence is presented to demonstrate that two different "melanotic" genes were being considered, thus explaining the apparently contradictory reports. Charcoal (cha) is suggested for the recessive gene linked with P by 0.3%. 4. Thirty-four crossovers occurred among the 97 progeny between P and E suggesting linkage of approximately 35 units. A further mating was made from among segregants in the backcross which confirmed P-E linkage with 17 crossovers in 55 gametes. Combining the tests produced a linkage value of approximately 34 units.     

The use of the sugar beet in swine nutrition. 2. The effect of different preparation processes on the apparent prececal and fecal digestibility

With ileum cannulated sows were tested the apparent precaecal and faecal digestibility of crude nutrients from raw and thermically treated fodder sugar beets of size "Rosamona". Two samples from two different harvest years, differing extremely in the content of disaccharides were tested. The crude nutrient digestibility affected stronger by content of sucrose then by treatment. Fodder sugar beets with contents of disaccharide lower then 400 g/kg DM showed low precaecal and faecal digestibilities. A longer cooling phase decreased the feed value of steamed beets through the microbial attack in the formation of precaecal indigestible sugar alcohols (mannitol).     

Five field trials on the efficacy of a bovine respiratory syncytial virus vaccine

Five field trials evaluated whether immunization of beef cattle prior to weaning, at weaning, or immediately upon arrival at the feedlot with a commercial bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) vaccine would reduce subsequent treatment for respiratory disease.

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus vaccination was associated with a significant (p<0.05) reduction in treatment rate in one of three groups of calves immunized prior to weaning (−12%) and in calves immunized upon arrival at the feedlot (−4%).

There was no significant (p>0.05) effect of the BRSV vaccine on treatment rate in calves immunized at weaning, in calves immunized upon arrival at the Saskatoon bull test station, or in yearlings immunized upon arrival at the feedlot.

Although the trend in these field trials was to a sparing effect of the BRSV vaccine, the small reduction in treatment rate may not justify the cost of the vaccination program.

     

Detection of squash mosaic virus in seeds of melon (Cucumis melo) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

Squash mosaic virus (SqMV, comovirus) is seed-transmitted in severalCucurbitaceae. Therefore, the use of virus-free seed is important to prevent establishment of this virus in the Netherlands and to avoid spread to other countries.This study was undertaken to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of SqMV in melon seeds. An antiserum was produced to a serotype 1 isolate from melon. Two ELISA variants were investigated viz. an ELISA variant with simultaneous incubation of sample and enzyme conjugate (ELISA 1) and an ELISA variant with successive incubation of sample and enzyme conjugate (ELISA 2). The sensitivity of ELISA was tested by mixing fluor of ground infected and non-infected seeds in different proportions. SqMV was detected by both ELISA variants at dilutions of 1 160 (1 part of infected flour mixed with 159 parts of non-infected flour) or higher after a substrate incubation period of 4 h. However, ELISA 1 gave relatively higher absorbance values than ELISA 2 for nearly all dilutions. Since ELISA 1 is also faster than ELISA 2, ELISA 1 is advised for routine testing. In these test, using subsamples of 100 melon seeds SqMV is detected reliably. ELISA 1 is now used in the Netherlands for routine-indexing of melon seed lots for SqMV.Samenvatting Het pompoenemozaïekvirus gaat over met het zaad van verscheideneCucurbitaceae. Het gebruik van virusvrij zaad is belangrijk om te voorkomen dat het virus zijn intrede doet in Nederland en zich naar andere landen verspreidt.Een antiserum werd geproduceerd tegen een serotype 1 isolaat van meloen. Met behulp van dit antiserum werd een ELISA ontwikkeld om pompoenemozaïekvirus in zaden van meloen aan te tonen. Twee varianten van ELISA werden vergeleken, namelijk een variant waarbij monster en enzymconjugaat gelijktijdig geïncubeerd werden (ELISA 1) en een variant waarbij monster en enzymconjugaat na elkaar geïncubeerd werden (ELISA 2). De gevoeligheid van de ELISA varianten werd uitgetoetst door meel van zieke zaden in verschillende verhoudingen te mengen met meel van gezonde zaden. Het pompoenemozaïekvirus werd met beide ELISA varianten aangetoond in verdunningen van 1 160 (1 deel meel van zieke zaden gemengd met 159 delen meel van gezonde zaden) of hoger na 4 uur incubatie met substraat. ELISA 1 gaf doorgaans hogere extinctiewaarden dan ELISA 2 voor bijna alle verdunningen. Omdat ELISA 1 ook nog sneller is dan ELISA 2, wordt ELISA 1 aanbevolen voor routinematig gebruik. Wanneer voor routinematig gebruik 100 meloenezaden per submonster getoetst worden, kan het pompoenemozaïek virus betrouwbaar worden aangetoond. In Nederland worden momenteel per zaadpartij 20 submonsters van 100 zaden getoetst.     

Teaching animal welfare in the land grant universities

Colleges and universities have an obligation to teach the basis of animal husbandry and welfare and must prepare students so that they can respond effectively to challenges by proponents of the animal welfare and animal rights movements. Veterinary curricula must now contain formal instruction in professional ethics and humane stewardship of animals for accreditation by the American Veterinary Medical Association. It is helpful if students have an understanding of farm animal behavior, stress physiology and methods of assessing welfare prior to learning about the animal welfare/rights movement's philosophies and issues. A review of early judicial practices, "classical" Judeo-Christian philosophy, the philosophy of Rene Descartes, Jeremy Bentham, Albert Schweitzer, and current philosophers and the entertainment media places the movements in perspective. Students should be familiar with such concepts as the mind-body controversy, equality of suffering, self-awareness or intelligence, and speciesism. After acquiring an appreciation of the basics, a knowledge of the issues facing animal agriculture and the arguments for and against each issue are necessary. Graduates of colleges of agriculture need to realize the potential effects the movements can have and take the initiative to improve the image of animal agriculture.     

Detection of a novel chloramphenicol resistance plasmid from "equine" Staphylococcus sciuri

A small chloramphenicol resistance (Cm) plasmid of 4.65 kB could be detected in an "equine" Staphylococcus sciuri-culture. This plasmid, designated as pSC3, was identified by interspecific protoplast transformation. On the basis of restriction endonuclease analyses a detailed restriction map of pSC3 could be constructed. This allowed structural comparisons of pSC3 with Cm-plasmids of other staphylococcal species from infections of humans and animals and identification of pSC3 as a member of the pC 221-family of staphylococcal Cm-plasmids. The pSC3-plasmid encoded an inducible chloramphenicol acetyltransferase as confirmed by enzymatic assays. This enzyme could be demonstrated in cell-free lysates of Cm-induced pSC3-transformants.     

Exclusion of infectious diseases from sheep and goat farms

It is important for practitioners and owners to be aware of the risk associated with an open herd. This article has discussed some of the infectious diseases that might be inadvertently introduced. Many others--including most exotic diseases and some that are regulated by governmental agencies, such as tuberculosis and brucellosis--have been omitted. It should be obvious that a simple health certificate is an inadequate guarantee of freedom from infections. Instead, producers should be prepared to invest both time and money in evaluating the health status of the herd of origin. Some of the diseases discussed, such as foot rot, cause tremendous financial losses. Others, such as pinkeye, can be easily "lived with." The point to be made is that producers should consider all these and other diseases and then make informed decisions based on the probable cost of these diseases if they became established in the herd.     

30 years of swine health services in Bavaria

A Pig Health Service in Bavaria was established in 1958, there was one veterinary-officer working. The department Pig-Health Service of the "Tiergesundheitsdienst Bayern" has twenty-one veterinary-officers now. They mostly are working in the pig health scheme, doing stress susceptibility test, giving advice and expert evidence.