Physiological Predictors in Calves of Dairy Breeds: Part 1. Genetic Parameters of Basal and Induced Growth Hormone Secretion

Abstract

Genetic variation in plasma growth hormone (GH) concentration before and after GRF (growth hormone releasing factor) stimulation was studied in young bulls (N=284) and heifers (N=212), the progeny of 53 sires of four dairy and dual-purpose breeds (Danish Jersey, Red Dane, Danish Friesian and Danish Red and White). Male and female calves were reared, fed and tested on separate experimental stations; thus sex, station and feeding were completely confounded effects. The animals were tested at about 9 months of age, after a 24 h fast. GH concentration was measured in serial plasma samples collected for 1 h before and 1 h following intravenous administration of 2.0 ug synthetic GRF(1–29)NH₂/kg live weight^>0.75. Prior to statistical analysis, concentrations were log_e-transformed. Response variables were BASELINE (mean GH in -15, -5 and 0 min samples) and PEAK (mean GH in 10, 15 and 20 min samples). A statistical model taking at least three generations of ancestral relationships into account was used to estimate variance and covariance components for traits in male and female calves by use of restricted maximum likelihood methods.

Heritability of BASELINE was low (0.04 ± 0.12) in males but high in females (0.60 ± 0.16). The heritability of PEAK was high in both sexes (males, 0.42 ± 0.16; females, 0.60 ± 0.16). Genetic correlations between the same trait measured in males and females were low for BASELINE (r _g = 0.32±0.55) but high for PEAK (r _g = 0.82±0.15). Within sex, BASELINE and PEAK were both highly genetically correlated (males, r _g=0.62 ± 0.40; females, r _g= 1.00 ± 0.07).

We conclude that growth hormone concentration is a highly heritable trait in juvenile cattle of both sexes, and that GRF stimulation is benificial to the uncovering of genetic differences among animals.     

Accumulation of trehalose in the thermophilic fungus Chaetomium thermophilum var. coprophilum in response to heat or salt stress

The disaccharide trehalose, known to be an effective protectant against various kinds of stress, was observed to accumulate in the cytosol of Chaetomium thermophilum var. coprophilum during heat stress. Trehalose was apparently neither involved in the defence of C. thermophilum var. coprophilum against high concentrations of sodium chloride nor directly linked to thermophily.In C. thermophilum var. coprophilum three different trehalose hydrolyzing activities were eluted from a mono Q anion exchange column by sodium chloride concentrations of 0.10, 0.15 and 0.24 M, respectively.     

Effects of rice straw,biochar and mineral fertiliser on methane (CH<Subscript>4</Subscript>) and nitrous oxide (N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O) emissions from rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.) grown in a rain-fed lowland rice soil of Cambodia: a pot experiment

We studied the effects of water regimes and nutrient amendments on CH₄ and N₂O emissions in a 2 × 3 factorial, completely randomised growth chamber experiment. Treatments included continuously flooded (CF) and alternate wetting and drying (AWD), and three organic amendments: no amendment-control, rice straw (RS) and biochar (BC). Compound fertiliser was applied to all treatments. Rice was grown in columns packed with a paddy soil from Cambodia. Results revealed faster mineralisation of organic carbon (RS and BC) when applied in water-saturated conditions lasting for 2 weeks instead of flooding. This resulted in lower total CH₄ emissions in treatments under AWD than those under the CF water regime, namely 44 % in RS treatments and 29 % in BC treatments. Nitrous oxide fluxes were generally non-detectable during the experimental period except after fertilisation events, and the total N₂O–N emissions accounted for on average 1.7 % of the total applied mineral fertiliser N. Overall, the global warming potentials (GWPs) were lower in treatments under AWD than those under the CF water regime except for the control treatment with only mineral fertiliser application. Grain yields were slightly higher in treatments under AWD than the CF water regime. Hence, the yield-scaled GWP was also lower in the treatments under the AWD water regime, namely 51 % in RS, 59 % in BC and 17 % in control treatments. Control treatments had the lowest GWP, but provided the highest yield. The yield-scaled GWP under these treatments was therefore lower than under the other treatments.     

Assessment of shoreline vegetation in relation to use by molting black brant Branta bernicla nigricans on the Alaska coastal plain

To evaluate the importance of large thaw lakes on the Alaska Coastal Plain for molting Pacific black brant Branta bernicla nigricans, distribution and life form of shoreline vegetation were assessed using several scales: satellite imagery, point-intercept transects, cover quadrats, and a parameter for water regime. Brant population and distribution estimates from aerial surveys were used to classify large lakes into high, moderate, and low use. Correlations between brant and abundance of their preferred feeding site — moss flats — were best demostrated by satellite imagery. Intercepts and cover ratings were not correlated, presumably because these techniques were less efficient at assessing area. General observations suggested that the presence of islands, large ice floes, and possibly other physical attributes of the habitat, influenced brant distribution. This area is unique because of low-lying, drained-lake basins that have ideal combinations of moss flats and large water areas where brant seek protection disturbance is vital to the success of this declining species because alternate habitats may not be available elsewhere on the Coastal Plain. in water or on ice floes. Protection of the area from     

Intellectual property. Enhanced: intellectual property landscape of the human genome

The impact of gene patents on downstream research and innovation are unknown, in part because of a lack of empirical data on the extent and nature of gene patenting. In this Policy Forum, the authors show that 20% of human gene DNA sequences are patented and that some genes are patented as many as 20 times. Unsurprisingly, genes associated with health and disease are more patented than the genome at large. The intellectual property rights for some genes can become highly fragmented between many owners, which suggests that downstream innovators may face considerable costs to gain access to gene-oriented technologies.     

Experimental fetal infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus. I. Virological and serological studies.

The serological and virological results of an experimental infection of bovine fetuses with bovine viral diarrhea virus are presented. Four fetuses, 120-165 days gestational age, were inoculated in utero with a second passage virus strain. Two fetuses received a sham-inoculum. A humoral immune response in the virus-inoculated fetuses, was demonstrated three weeks later. In three fetuses only IgM and IgG1 were detectable. The serum from the fourth fetus also contained IgG2 and IgA. Bovine viral diarrhea virus-neutralizing antibodies were detected in two fetuses. These two fetuses inoculated at 135-150 days gestational age, represent the youngest reported bovids, giving a specific response in three weeks following an experimental infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus. The fetal sera did not contain heat-labile factors, which could mediate the neutralization. The virus was not reisolated from any of the fetuses, but viral antigen was nevertheless demonstrated by immunocytochemical methods in sections of several of the fetal organs, primarily lymphoid tissues.     

Characterization of circulating antibodies against Chlamydia psittaci in turkeys.

Plasma and joint fluids from turkeys experimentally inoculated with Chlamydia psittaci strain TT3 were evaluated by immunoblotting to identify antibodies elicited by chlamydial antigens during the course of infection. Protein antigens from elementary bodies of TT3 were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transferred electrophoretically to nitrocellulose before being probed with plasma or synovial fluid from TT3-inoculated birds. The major outer-membrane protein (MOMP), the 60,000-molecular-weight proteins, and a 97,400-molecular-weight protein were the predominant antigens recognized by IgG in the plasma and joint fluids. Plasma IgG specific for the 97,400 protein band was first detectable at day 10 postinoculation (PI). Antibodies to the 60,000-molecular-weight protein and MOMP were first detected at days 14-17 PI and at days 7-10 PI, respectively, in some birds, and as late as days 36-42 PI and days 42-70 PI in others. The antibodies were still present at day 142 PI. Immunoblotting techniques indicated that the antigens to which these antibodies were reacting were protein. These observations may have implications for the development of serodiagnostic assays as well as the identification of potential proteins for subunit immunogens in birds.     

The apparent prevalence of skin lesions suspected to be human-inflicted in Danish finishing pigs at slaughter

Skin lesions on pigs inflicted by humans compromise animal welfare and are the subject of increased public and political attention in Denmark. Systematic surveillance of such skin lesions was enforced in April 2010 at all Danish pig abattoirs, through the recording of meat inspection Code 904 for the presence of skin lesions suspected to be human inflicted. The objectives of the present study were to (a) estimate the apparent prevalence of Code 904s at the pig and herd owner level; (b) characterise the distribution of deliveries with pigs demonstrating a Code 904; (c) characterise the distribution of herd owners with repeated Code 904 recordings; and (d) determine the developments in Code 904 prevalence over time in Danish finishing pigs in the period from May 1, 2010 to September 30, 2013.     

Effect of K-diformate in starter diets on acidity, microbiota, and the amount of organic acids in the digestive tract of piglets, and on gastric alterations

The aim of this investigation was to study the effect of K-diformate on the intraluminal pH, microbial composition in digesta and feces, organic acids along the digestive tract, and alterations of the gastric epithelium of pigs. Pigs (n = 36) weaned at 28 d of age were allotted to two groups and fed without (control diet) or with 1.8% supplemental K-diformate. Fecal samples were taken from the rectum on d 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 postweaning. Half of the animals from each group were killed on d 7 and the other half on d 29 postweaning. Growth performance was not different for both groups (P > or = 0.73). The gastric epithelium was not negatively affected by K-diformate (P = 0.25). Potassium-diformate decreased (P < or = 0.04) or tended to decrease (P < or = 0.10) the counts of total anaerobic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, and yeasts in feces and digesta samples from the stomach, distal small intestine, cecum, and middle segment of the colon. The pH along the gastrointestinal tract of piglets was not affected by K-diformate (P > or = 0.30). On d 7, the concentration of lactic acid along the gastrointestinal tract was similar with both diets (P = 0.15). On d 29, the concentrations of lactic acid tended to be lower along the small intestine (P < or = 0.08) and the stomach (P = 0.11) of the pigs fed K-diformate. Formic acid in digesta was detected at significant levels only in the distal segment of the small intestine of the control pigs (from 4 to 11 mmol/kg of wet digesta), whereas considerable amounts were measured in the stomach (from 23 to 40 mmol/kg of wet digesta) and all segments of the small intestine (from 7 to 25 mmol/kg of wet digesta) in the K-diformate-fed pigs on both days. On d 7, pigs fed the K-diformate diet had a tendency (P < or = 0.08) to have higher concentrations of organic acids (acetic + propionic + butyric) in the digesta of the distal small intestine, cecum, and proximal colon. On d 29, both groups had similar concentrations of these acids, irrespective of the segment of the gastrointestinal tract (P = 0.95). Our study showed that the addition of K-diformate to a starter diet for piglets decreased total anaerobic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, coliforms, and yeasts in feces and in digesta from various segments of the gastrointestinal tract, without affecting the gastric or intestinal pH.     

Development of intervertebral disk calcification in the dachshund: a prospective longitudinal radiographic study

Plain spinal radiography was performed in 40 dachshunds at regular intervals from 6 or 12 months of age to 2 years of age. A follow-up study at 3 to 4 years of age included 12 dogs. High incidence rates of intervertebral disk calcification were seen at 6 to 18 months of age. The number of dogs affected and number of calcified disks seemed to reach a steady level or a maximum at about 24 to 27 months of age. Dissolution of previously calcified disks without clinical signs was demonstrated, causing decreasing numbers of visibly calcified disks after 2 years of age. Radiographic examination for calcified intervertebral disks in the dachshund is recommended at 24 to 30 months of age for heritability studies and selective breeding.