Increased yearling weight as a proportion of 21-month weight was associated with increased milk production in dairy heifers

ABSTRACT

Aims: To examine the relationship between liveweight (LWT) at 12 months as a proportion of LWT at 21 months of age (LWT(12/21)%) and first lactation and cumulative 3-year milk production in dairy heifers in New Zealand.

Methods: Liveweight and milk production records were obtained for dairy heifers born from June to December (spring-calving season) between 2006–2007 and 2013–2014 dairy seasons; production records included first lactation (n?=?140,113) and cumulative 3-year (n?=?67,833) milksolids and energy-corrected milk (ECM) yields. Heifers were classified into five breed groups; Holstein-Friesian, Holstein-Friesian crossbred, Jersey, Jersey crossbred and Holstein-Friesian-Jersey crossbred. Within each breed group heifers were categorised into quintiles based on 21-month LWT. The LWT(12/21)% was calculated for each animal. Relationships between LWT(12/21)% and milk production within each breed group and LWT category were estimated using linear mixed effects models including the linear and quadratic effects of LWT(12/21)%.

Results: The relationship between LWT(12/21)% and milk production was predominantly curvilinear, with lower milk production at lesser LWT(12/21)% compared with greater LWT(12/21)%. For all breed groups and most LWT categories, heifers that were 55 or 65% LWT(12/21)% produced greater ECM and milksolids yields compared with heifers that were 45% LWT(12/21)%. Holstein-Friesian, Holstein-Friesian crossbred and Holstein-Friesian-Jersey crossbred heifers that were 65% LWT(12/21)% produced greater cumulative 3-year ECM and milksolids yields compared with heifers of the same breed group that were 45% LWT(12/21)%

Conclusions and clinical relevance: Heifers that were a greater proportion of their 21-month LWT at 12 months of age produced more first lactation and cumulative 3-year milk yields than heifers that were a lesser proportion of their 21-month LWT at 12 months of age. These results indicate that increased growth in early life of New Zealand dairy heifers is beneficial to future milk production.     

Effects of the Progesterone Receptor Antagonist Aglepristone on Implantation Administered on Days 6 and 7 after Mating in Rabbits

There is no safe and accurate method for early termination of pregnancy in the rabbit. So this study was carried out to determine the effect of aglepristone administration in preventing early pregnancy before implantation in this species. Twenty‐two animals (10–12 months old, New Zealand White rabbits) were naturally mated and pregnancies were confirmed in all animals by ultrasonographic examinations on day 6 after mating (5–7.5 MHz linear array transducer Dynamic Imaging Sonostar, UK) and the animals were grouped randomly: Group I & Group III: Aglepristone (Alizin^®, Virbac; 10 mg/kg, subcutaneously) was injected twice, 24 h apart, on days 6 and 7 after mating (n = 5; n = 8). Group II & Group IV: The same volume of 0.9% NaCl solution was subcutaneously injected in the same interval and served as controls (n = 5; n = 3). Ultrasonographical examination of the uterus was performed daily from day 7 to day 11 post‐mating to test aglepristone efficiency. Blood samples were collected between days 6 and 30, centrifuged at 3070 g for 10 min and stored at ?20°C. The does in aglepristone groups (Group I, III) were not pregnant whereas all animals in control groups were pregnant (Group II, IV). The does in group I & III were examined only clinically and ultrasonographically; however, does in groups III and IV were laparomized on days 6, 7, 9 and 11 post‐mating to control countable implantation sites. No implantation sites were present in group III whereas they were seen obviously in group IV. Side effects were not observed. The mean serum progesterone (P4) concentrations were not significantly different between control and treated does (p > 0.05). The results indicate that aglepristone treatment on days 6 and 7 after mating could prevent pregnancy after unwanted matings without any side effects in the rabbit. Aglepristone treatments are possibly not affecting further fertilities before implantation.     

Seasonal changes in vertical distribution patterns of cod (Gadus morhua) in the Bornholm Basin,central Baltic Sea

Hydroacoustic single fish detection and corresponding hydrographic measurements were used to study seasonal changes in vertical distribution of adult cod (Gadus morhua) in relation to ambient environmental conditions in the Bornholm Basin, central Baltic Sea. Sampling was conducted in April, June and August covering the years 2006–2009. Vertical distribution of individual fish was resolved from hydroacoustic single‐target detection in combination with a fish‐tracking algorithm and related to ambient hydrographic conditions. Based on a generalized linear effect model, both salinity and oxygen concentration were identified as key parameters affecting cod vertical distribution. Results also showed a clear seasonal effect with a more shallow distribution as the spawning season progressed and oxygen concentrations in the deep parts of the basin deteriorated. The upper limit of the distributional range was mostly constituted by the halocline and remained rather constant, whereas increasing oxygen depletion in the deep water layers lifted the lower boundary of the vertical distribution, leading to the observed upward shift in the overall distribution pattern. The results presented in this study highlight a significant shortcoming of the assessment survey design established for this species, as the observed shift in vertical distribution is not taken into account, thus introducing a potential bias into a data series used to tune the ICES standard stock assessment of this species.     

Evidence for Widespread 26Al in the Solar Nebula and Constraints for Nebula Time Scales

A search was made for 26Mg (26Mg*) from the decay of 26Al (half-life = 0.73 million years) in Al-rich objects from unequilibrated ordinary chondrites. Two Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) and two Al-rich chondrules (not CAIs) were found that contained 26Al when they formed. Internal isochrons for the CAIs yielded an initial 26Al/27Al ratio [(26Al/27Al)0] of 5 x 10(-5), indistinguishable from most CAIs in carbonaceous chondrites. This result shows that CAIs with this level of 26Al are present throughout the classes of chondrites and strengthens the notion that 26Al was widespread in the early solar system. The two Al-rich chondrules have lower 26Mg*, corresponding to a (26Al/27Al)0 ratio of approximately 9 x 10(-6). Five other Al-rich chondrules contain no resolvable 26Mg*. If chondrules and CAIs formed from an isotopically homogeneous reservoir, then the chondrules with 26Al must have formed or been last altered approximately2 million years after CAIs formed; the 26Mg*-free chondrules formed >1 to 3 million years later still. Because 26Mg*-containing and 26Mg*-free chondrules are both found in Chainpur, which was not heated to more than approximately400°C, it follows that parent body metamorphism cannot explain the absence of 26Mg* in some of these chondrules. Rather, its absence indicates that the lifetime of the solar nebula over which CAIs and chondrules formed extended over approximately5 million years.     

Isolation of bovine herpesvirus type 5 from the semen of a healthy bull in Australia

Artificial insemination is widely used in the cattle industry and a major challenge is to ensure that semen is free of infectious agents. A healthy donor bull was tested for freedom from infectious agents. A bovine herpesvirus was isolated in testis cells and identified as bovine herpesvirus type 5 (BoHV-5) by polymerase chain reaction and by direct amplicon sequencing. The amplicon sequence shared 100% similarity with the published sequence of BoHV-5. This is the first report in Australia of BoHV-5 in semen. The implications of this finding are discussed.     

Polyarthritis in wild mice (Mus musculus) caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis

SUMMARY Mice trapped on farms in south-eastern Queensland had chronic abscessating osteoarthritides mainly involving the carpi and tarsi. Pleomorphic bacteria were shown by silver staining to be plentiful within lesions. Streptobacillus moniliformis was isolated from the joints, and streptobacillary polyarthritis was diagnosed. Other lesions observed included subcutaneous and hepatic abscesses.