Measurements of heat production for estimation of maintenance energy requirements of Hereford steers

This study aimed to test the hypothesis that maintenance energy requirement (MEm) can be estimated from continuous heat production measurements during a change from a near maintenance feeding level to far below maintenance for two consecutive days. The MEm of eight Hereford steers weighing 286 +/- 5 kg (mean +/- SE) was determined in a balance trial. In addition, during the 10-d collection period, the animals were kept in open-circuit respiration chambers to measure 24-h gas exchange continuously at 10-min intervals. During the balance trial, the animals were fed dried chopped grass twice daily at an estimated level of 1.2 x MEm. After termination of the collection period on the 11th d of the balance trial, the steers were offered 2 kg/d of wheat straw while only gas exchange was measured. Estimates of MEm were derived from heat production (HP) data. The analyses included values of 24-h HP, HP of the nocturnal period (0000 to 0630), HP of the nocturnal period (excluding HP caused by standing) during the grass-feeding period and 24-h HP, nocturnal HP, and nocturnal HP (excluding HP caused by standing) during the straw feeding period. The MEm predicted from estimates of HP measurements were 536 +/- 9, 470 +/- 8, 441 +/- 8, 435 +/- 8, 393 +/- 9, and 373 +/- 9 kJ.kg of BW(-0.75).d(-1), respectively, whereas MEm calculated from data of the balance trial were 416 +/- 9 kJ.kg of BW(-0.75).d(-1). Values predicted for nocturnal HP (excluding HP caused by standing) of grass fed animals, 24-h HP, and nocturnal HP during straw feeding did not differ significantly from MEm. The differences in MEm among animals were reflected by all estimates of HP, whereas the correlation with the 24-h HP during straw feeding reached 0.9 (P = 0.002). We conclude that the method described is adequate to determine MEm with a sufficient degree of accuracy.     

Analysis of the 96 most often cited articles published in veterinary journals in 2002 and 2003

Summary The study concerned 123 Journals of the category "Veterinary Sciences" as defined in the Journal Citation Reports (?, Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), Philadelphia, USA). Using Web of Knowledge (?, ISI, USA), update December 3, 2005, articles published in 2002 and 2003 and cited 20 times or more were selected. The total number of selected articles was 96. They were published in 34 out of the 123 journals. Based on the country of the first author, the articles originated form 24 countries. Forty-nine of the 96 articles (51%) were written in only two countries being England (15) and the USA (34). The articles could be classified in six categories being immunology (21), microbiology and directly related subjects (48), prions and prion-induced diseases (5), reproduction (23), toxicology (3), and miscellanea (11). The category "microbiology" (48) was divided into six subcategories: general (1), bacteriology (17), mycology (3), parasitology (5), protozoology (6), and virology (5). Some articles were classified in more than one (sub)category.     

An investigation into the usefulness of a rostrocaudal nasal radiographic view in the dog

A rostrocaudal (RCd) nasal view was developed in large breed mesaticephalic dogs using a complete, subsequently sectioned, skull and cadaver specimens to optimise the radiographic technique and evaluate normal anatomic features. Gelatin was placed in one nasal passage of the cadaver specimens to mimic the effects of nasal pathology. The latter specimens and 18 clinical cases with suspected nasal disease were evaluated to determine the usefulness of the RCd view compared to standard nasal views. An optimal RCd view was obtained with the dog in dorsal recumbency and the head symmetrically positioned with the hard palate perpendicular to the table using a table top technique with 8:1 grid, collimating to the nasal region and centring the primary beam on the philtrum. The dorsolateral aspects of the maxillary bone, the nasal bones, septal sulcus of the vomer, mucosa lined nasal septum and conchae could be seen. A centrodorsal more radiolucent area representing the ethmoid bone region was also visible. Gelatin soft tissue opacification of the nasal passage could be seen more clearly in RCd nasal view than in occlusal dorsoventral view. In clinical cases the RCd view was useful to build up a 3-dimensional image of nasal passage pathology as well as to detect nasal septum and osseous nasal border pathology not visible in other views. This view is particularly useful in cases where cross-sectional imaging modalities are not available or where the nasal investigation is limited by cost considerations.     

Classification of abomasal displacement in cows according to histopathology of the liver and clinical chemistry

Histopathological features of livers and blood chemical values in cows with abomasal displacement were investigated. Liver biopsy samples were collected during redressment operations in 92 cows with abomasal displacement, and the samples were stained with haematoxylin and eosin or periodic acid Schiff (PAS). Blood was collected for chemical tests. Livers were histopathologically divided into the following four types: normal histology cases (21%), fatty degeneration cases (36%), cloudy swelling cases (19%) and fatty degeneration cases with cloudy swelling (24%). The number of PAS-positive samples was significantly higher in the normal histology group and significantly lower in the severe fatty degeneration group and severe cloudy swelling group. Cows with fatty degeneration had significantly higher levels of serum 3-hydroxybutyric acid, non-esterified fatty acid and aspartate aminotransferase than did those with cloudy swelling or normal histology. The results indicate that the morbid conditions of cows with abomasal displacement can be classified into four types.     

Ultrasonographic evaluation of urinary bladder in normal,fern fed and enzootic bovine haematuria-affected cattle

A total of 19 adult hill cattle of both sexes were subjected to trans-rectal ultrasound scanning of urinary bladder to evaluate bladder wall thickness and the presence of space-occupying lesions. The animals were divided into four groups. Eight apparently healthy hill cattle maintained under standard ration served as control (group I) and the remaining II animals were divided into three groups (II, III and IV). Group II animals (n = 8) were fed with different type of ferns which were further divided into subgroups II-P, -D and -B and fed with Polystichum squarrosom (n = 2). Dryopteris juxtaposita (n = 2) and Pteridium aquilinum (n = 4) ferns, respectively. The one animal in group III was a natural case of enzootic bovine haematuria (EBH) and the two animals in group IV were natural cases of microscopic EBH fed with Polystichum squarrosum fern. In group I animals, the average bladder wall thickness was 1.45 mm. The delineation of the bladder wall was uniformly smooth and the echo pattern of the bladder was homogeneously black, which was suggestive of clear urine content. In group II (P, D and B) the average bladder wall thickness of the six animals was 1.87 mm and the sonographic features were within normal limit when compared with controls. In two of the animals of group II-B, the bladder wall was apparently thick (4.36 mm) and there was no intraluminal mass except at one or two focal elevated points. Animals of groups III and IV showed the average bladder wall thickness of 4.86 mm and were characterized by the presence of irregular sessile masses extending into the bladder lumen. The homogeneous anechoic area was reduced centrally due to the presence of a hypoechoic soft tissue mass all around the bladder wall. Post-sonographic urinalysis, biopsy and necropsy of selected cases further confirmed the sonographic findings.     

Meal size and starch content affect gastric emptying in horses

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Feeding practices have been associated with colic in horses. If meal size and composition have an effect on gastric emptying, this could be one of the mechanisms by which feeding practices are related to the occurrence of colic. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of meal size and starch content on solid phase gastric emptying. METHODS: Solid phase gastric emptying of 3 different radiolabelled meals, small low-starch (SmLS), small high-starch (SmHS) and large high-starch (LgHS) meals, was measured in 5 horses by scintigraphy using 99mTc-disofenin. Data were compared among meals using nonlinear mixed-effects models and paired t tests. RESULTS: On a percentage basis, SmHS emptied significantly faster than LgHS and SmLS emptied significantly faster than SmHS meals. However, when meals of unequal size were compared by emptying rate in g/min and Kcal/min, LgHS emptied significantly faster than SmHS. CONCLUSIONS: Meal size and composition affect gastric emptying. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Further work needs to be performed in order to substantiate the possibility of a relationship between digestive functions and occurrence of colic and gastric ulcers.