Marketing dairy practice

Marketing to veterinarians is the process of synchronizing the business aspects of his or her goods and services so that they are understood and desired by animal owners. The basic components of a successful marketing program are in four categories: the individual, the situation, the needs, and the implementation. Each category is important and all are interrelated; however, the implementation of a program should not begin until a self-analysis has been done and the situation and its needs are thoroughly researched. Programs that have been used by successful practitioners can be copied. No program can be effective unless the economic status of the client's enterprise is known and understood.     

Effect of milk sampling techniques on milk composition, bacterial contamination, viability and functions of resident cells in milk.

Three different milk sampling techniques were evaluated during milk sampling: a direct aseptic collection from the udder through a sterile cannula was used as the reference technique, compared with either a manual or a mechanical sampling method. In this study 30 high-yielding Holstein-Friesian dairy cows at different stages of lactation and free of udder infection were used. For each milk sample, the influence of milk sampling techniques was determined for the following parameters: somatic cell count, milk composition, bacterial contamination, viability, in vitro phagocytosis and overall killing of Staphylococcus aureus Newbould 305, and cellular chemiluminescence. Because milk sampling occurred throughout lactation, the differences between early, mid- and late lactation were estimated. It was concluded that bacterial contamination was not significantly different in manual milking samples and the reference technique; bacterial contamination was, however, significantly (P < 0.001) higher in machine milking samples than in the reference technique. Among the different sampling techniques, no significant effects on SCC, milk composition, viability and functions of the cells isolated from milk were observed. It was found that viability, intracellular killing and cellular chemiluminescence of milk PMN were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in early lactation compared to mid-lactation. Phagocytosis was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in early lactation compared to mid- and late lactation, and no significant differences were observed between mid- and late lactation. From this study, it can be concluded that despite a higher bacterial contamination obtained with the mechanical sampling method, the 3 milk sampling techniques described in this study can be used for the evaluation of milk cell functions.     

Host serum proteins in Taenia saginata metacestode fluid

Taenia saginata cyst fluid was examined for host proteins; IgG1 and IgG2 as well as haemolytic complement activity were detected. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed differences in proteinograms among the samples taken from 1-, 4-, and 10-month old cysts. Fluid from older cysts had fewer protein components and showed a weaker antigenic reaction with sera of bovines infected with T. saginata than that of younger cysts. The roles of antibody and complement in initiating degeneration of the parasite are discussed.     

Bleeding tendency as a cause of epistaxis in the dog

Based upon a survey of the pathophysiology of haemostasis, the causes of epistaxis in the dog are discussed, and guidelines for a diagnostic and therapeutic approach are given.     

Reproductive emergencies.

The emergency clinician is frequently called on to manage problems relating to the female reproductive tract. Because owners sel-dom have the medical knowledge needed to differentiate normal from abnormal reproductive behaviors, they frequently look to the emergency veterinarian for guidance and information during and after parturition. For this reason, it is essential that the veterinarian have a good understanding of the normal reproductive cycle as well as the common emergencies that may occur. This article reviews the events surrounding normal parturition in the dog and cat and the reproductive emergencies seen most commonly in practice.     

Relationship between blood iron parameters and trichinellosis in swine

Reduced levels of total iron binding capacity and unsaturated iron binding capacity were observed in the blood of trichinous and iron-injected trichinous pigs. No change was observed in their serum iron and saturation concentration levels. Also, reduced iron concentration levels were observed in the livers of trichinous pigs, while increased iron concentration levels were observed in the spleens of trichinous pigs and the livers and spleens of iron-injected pigs. No difference was found with regard to weight gains, number of larvae per gram of tissues, or histologic characteristics of 'nurse cells'.     

Effects of Carbon Dioxide Exposure on Intensively Cultured Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss: Physiological Responses and Fillet Attributes

Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (261.6 × 24.7 g initial weight, mean × SEM) at 13.1 × 0.2 C were exposed for 94 d to one of three CO₂ treatments: control (22.1 × 2.8 mg/L), medium (34.5 × 3.8 mg/L), or high (48.7 × 4.4 mg/L). Trout were checked daily for survival, and fish were sampled at 0, 28, 56, and 84 d for physiological responses, growth, and fillet quality assessments. Trout were also challenged to a 15-min crowding stress at 93 d to assess their ability to initiate a stress response during hypercapnia. Chronically exposed trout showed nearly 100% survival through 84 d exposure (1 of 1,500 fish died). Growth and physiological results showed that increasing elevated CO₂, concentrations result in corresponding decreased growth rates and CO₂specific physiological parameters: The medium and high CO₂ treatments had significantly slower growth and subsequently smaller fish by 84 d. Exposed trout also showed significantly ( P < 0.05) decreased plasma chloride for medium and high CO₂ treatments compared to the control from 28 through 84 d. Decreased growth and smaller fish in the medium and high CO₂ treatments resulted in correspondingly smaller fresh and smoked fillet weights. Chronic CO₂ exposure did not result in notable changes in ultimate muscle pH. Exposure to 15-min crowding stress at 93 d resulted in significant changes in hematocrit, plasma cortisoI, glucose, and chloride for all treatment groups. CO₂-specific changes were detected in hematocrit, plasma cortisoI, and plasma chloride responses following the 15-min crowding stress.     

Patterns of silver eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) sex ratio in a catchment

Abstract –  Changes in the numbers and size-class structure of European silver eels, Anguilla anguilla , in the River Frémur (France) were examined over a 9-year period after installation of downstream eel passes. The number of silver eels migrating downstream peaked in 1999, then decreased strongly and steadily after 2000, reaching relatively low levels. At the same time, a gradual shift in the silver eel sex ratio from a dominance of males (size from 270 to 442 mm, age from 3 to 6 years) to females (size from 366 to 1112 mm, age from 4 to 9 years) was recorded. Possible explanations for the escapement patterns observed are environmental sex determination and the installation of eel passes on the main hydraulic engineering structures in 1992 and 1996.