Effects of EDTA-Induced Hypocalcaemia and Stress on Plasma TNF-α, IL-1-ra,G-CSF,GM-CSF and S-100 in Dairy Cows

The pathophysiology of postparturient paresis is still not completely understood. Knowledge recently acquired in immunology, endocrinology and cell physiology has still to be integrated in order to elucidate the aetiopathogenesis of the disease. For that purpose, the effect of the EDTA infusion model on the plasma concentrations of selected cytokines and growth factors, and of a calcium binding protein was examined in dairy cows. Six 6- to 11-year-old Brown Swiss cows in mid lactation were infused with a 5% solution of Na²EDTA in one jugular vein over a period of 5 h. Blood samples were collected from the contralateral side daily two days before, and then hourly for five hours during the infusion, hourly for five hours after the end of the infusion, and once daily for 10 days thereafter. The plasma concentrations of cortisol, tumour necrosis factor-, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte and macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and the calcium binding protein S-100 were determined. Before the EDTA infusion, during the infusion and for two days thereafter, the mean plasma concentrations of cortisol were significantly higher than those from days 4 to 10 after the infusion. The plasma concentrations of tumour necrosis factor- and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist followed a similar profile. At the end of EDTA infusion, low concentrations of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor were detected in one cow only. On days 3 and 4, the mean plasma concentrations of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor were significantly higher than the pre-infusion values, but this was followed by a significant decrease on post-infusion day 5. From day 4 to 7, the plasma concentrations of S-100 were significantly lower than the pre-infusion values. The importance of these findings in the pathophysiology of postparturient paresis remains to be established.     

South American camelids in Switzerland. III. Digestibilities of different feedstuff

Feces from 15 adult llamas were collected in 4 herds and the exact diet was determined, either of the group or of individual animals, to examine apparent digestibility. A questionnaire was submitted to the animal owners. The questionnaire included questions about the animals in the herd (number, age, gender, origin), management methods, pastures, watering and feeding facilities for the animals, hay supplementation, composition of the ration and fodder additives used. Analysis of the feed revealed an average apparent digestibility for dry matter of 81+/-4%, for the organic matter 77+/-7%, for crude protein 69+/-10%, for nitrogen-free extract 83+/-5%, for calcium 60+/-17%, for phosphorus 54+/-11% and 81+/-9% for crude fiber. All feed components seem to be digested similarly to domestic ruminants whereas the apparent digestibility of crude fiber was high, which indicates that the digesting system seems to be more effective.     

Influence of dietary phosphorus deficiency with or without addition of fumaric acid to a diet in pigs on bone parameters

The purpose of this study was to examine if substantial bone loss occurs in weaned pigs by feeding a phosphorus-deficient diet with or without fumaric acid. Eighteen weaned pigs were used. The animals were assigned to three groups: group C (control; 0.65% P on DM basis), group LP (low phosphorus; 0.37% P on DM basis) and group LPF (low phosphorus plus fumaric acid; 0.35% P on DM basis plus 2% fumaric acid). These three diets were fed to the groups for a period of four weeks after a two-week adaptation period. Blood samples were collected once a week. Carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) in serum was used as a bone resorption marker. Osteocalcin (OC) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (bAP) were used as bone formation markers. Bone mineral density (BMD) and content (BMC) were determined by peripheral quantitative computer tomography. BAP activities significantly increased (24%) in group LPF, and at the last sampling day group LPF had significantly increased activities in comparison to group C. In contrast, ICTP concentrations significantly increased with time in group LP and LPF, and at the last sampling day group LPF had significantly increased activities in comparison to group C. BMD and BMC in femur and tibia significantly decreased in group LP and LPF. The results show that P-deficient diets induce a bone loss. Fumaric acid did not influence the degree of bone loss. With a better understanding of its effect on bone, dietary phosphorus requirements in pigs could be more precisely defined.     

Feeding the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus L.)—risks of commercial diets for wildlife

The supplemental feeding of wildlife is a worldwide phenomenon. The most widespread and socially accepted example is bird feeding. Commercial hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus L.) diets are readily available in Switzerland. To test the hypothesis that commercial hedgehog diets are nutritionally inadequate, the following parameters (as taken from the label) of five commercial diets (three dry and two wet) were compared to the natural diet of E. europaeus: List of feed materials, crude ash (CA), crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), ether extract (EE) and nitrogen-free extracts (NfE). To test the second hypothesis, that feed labels of commercially available hedgehog diets in Switzerland are in accordance with Swiss and European law, the following parameters were assessed: Type of feed, net quantity, moisture content, instructions for proper use, list of the feed materials and claims. In all dry diets, the first ingredient was cereals (38.8%–50%), whereas in both wet diets, it was meat and meat by-products (51% in one product). Only one product had a CP content comparable to that of the natural diet and four products had a higher NfE content. Overall, the wet products were more comparable to the natural diet, especially regarding CP and NfE content. Of the five examined diets, three were labelled as complete feeds and two as compound feeds. The label analysis revealed inaccuracies and possible misleading information on two products. In conclusion, the use of commercial dry hedgehog diets should be discouraged as they do not resemble the natural diet of E. europaeus and are likely nutritionally inadequate. The commercial wet hedgehog diets should only be used supplementary. The feed labels of commercially available hedgehog diets were not always in compliance with Swiss and European law. The public should be educated about feeding E. europaeus and the risks of commercial diets for wildlife.     

Guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) drinking preferences: do nipple drinkers compensate for behaviourally deficient diets?

When offered diets with hay ad libitum, rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) clearly prefer open dishes over nipple drinkers, but whether this preference also applies in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) is unsure. We tested the drinker preference of 10 guinea pigs when offered open dishes (OD) and nipple drinkers (ND) simultaneously and measured the amount of water consumed by each animal on four different diets (grass hay 100%, or as 10% of intake on diets of fresh parsley, seed mix or pelleted complete feed, respectively) on either of the drinking systems. All animals ingested the hay portion of the combined diets first. The amount of water consumed differed significantly between individual animals. Animals drank less water on parsley than on the other diets. Nine of 10 animals clearly preferred ND when having a choice, and eight of these drank more when on ND only. The difference between the drinking systems was not consistent across all diets: on hay, similar amounts of water were drunk when on OD or ND only. Differences in water intake were reflected in urine production. Because drinking from ND in guinea pigs involves jaw movements similar to those in chewing, the results could suggest that when motivation for oral processing behaviour is not satisfied by a diet, animals may respond in using ND beyond physiological water necessity. Whereas physiological water requirements are probably better investigated with other drinking systems due to a possible overestimation when using ND, offering ND to pet guinea pigs most likely offers a form of behavioural enrichment that at the same time may increase water intake and hence act as prophylaxis against urolithiasis.