Transition From Sagebrush Steppe to Annual Grass (Bromus tectorum): Influence on Belowground Carbon and Nitrogen

Vegetation changes associated with climate shifts and anthropogenic disturbance have major impacts on biogeochemical cycling. Much of the interior western United States currently is dominated by sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) ecosystems. At low to intermediate elevations, sagebrush ecosystems increasingly are influenced by cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) invasion. Little currently is known about the distribution of belowground organic carbon (OC) on these changing landscapes, how annual grass invasion affects OC pools, or the role that nitrogen (N) plays in carbon (C) retention. As part of a Joint Fire Sciences-funded project called the Sagebrush Treatment Evaluation Project (SageSTEP), we quantified the depth distribution of soil OC and N at seven sites experiencing cheatgrass invasion. We sampled plots that retained sagebrush, but represented a continuum of cheatgrass invasion into the understory. Eighty-four soil cores were taken using a mechanically driven diamond-tipped core drill to a depth of 90 cm, or until bedrock or a restrictive layer was encountered. Samples were taken in 15-cm increments, and soil, rocks, and roots were analyzed for OC and total N. We determined that cheatgrass influences the vertical distribution of OC and N within the soil profile and might result in decreased soil OC content below 60  cm. We also found that OC and total N associated with coarse fragments accounted for at least 10% of belowground pools. This emphasizes the need for researchers to quantify nutrients in deep soil horizons and coarse fragments.     

Risk factors for tibial tuberosity fracture after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy in dogs

Objective— To evaluate factors that predispose to tibial tuberosity (TT) fracture after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) in dogs.
Study Design— Retrospective study.
Animals— Dogs (n=182) with cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture undergoing 213 TPLO surgeries.
Methods— Medical records and radiographs of 2 groups of dogs that had TPLO surgery (2000–2001, 2004–2005) were evaluated to determine the effect of operative technique and surgeon experience on TT fracture.
Results— TT fracture was diagnosed in 8 dogs (9 TPLO, 4.2% of surgical procedures). Four fractures occurred after unilateral TPLO in 167 dogs (2.4%), 4 fractures occurred after simultaneous bilateral TPLO in 5 dogs (40%), and 1 fracture occurred after staged bilateral TPLO in 36 dogs (2.8%). Simultaneous bilateral TPLO resulted in a 12.4 times higher odds of TT fracture versus unilateral TPLO ( P =.046). The mean absolute thickness of the TT after TPLO was less in dogs sustaining TT fractures (7.2 ± 2.2 mm) than those that did not (10.8 ± 2.7 mm, P <.0001). The odds of fracture decreased by 37% when the absolute TT width postosteotomy increased by 1 mm ( P <.0001). An increase in tibial plateau angle at follow-up versus immediately postoperative was associated with TT fracture ( P =.025). Surgeon experience was not associated with TT fracture.
Conclusion— A combination of surgical decision-making and surgical technique play a role in the occurrence of TT fracture after TPLO. Simultaneous bilateral TPLO was associated with a high percentage of TT fracture.
Clinical Relevance— Careful planning of osteotomy positioning is advised while performing TPLO surgery.     

Genomic-polygenic evaluation of Angus-Brahman multibreed cattle for feed efficiency and postweaning growth using the Illumina 3K chip

The objectives of this study were to determine the fraction of additive genetic variance explained by the SNP from the Illumina Bovine3K chip; to compare the ranking of animals evaluated with genomic-polygenic, genomic, and polygenic models; and to assess trends in predicted values from these 3 models for residual feed intake (RFI), daily feed intake (DFI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and postweaning BW gain (PWG) in a multibreed Angus-Brahman cattle population under subtropical conditions. Data consisted of phenotypes and genotypes from 620 bulls, steers, and heifers ranging from 100% Angus to 100% Brahman. Phenotypes were collected in a GrowSafe automated feeding facility (GrowSafe Systems, Ltd., Airdrie, Alberta, Canada) from 2006 to 2010. Variance components were estimated using single-trait genomic-polygenic mixed models with option VCE (Markov chain Monte Carlo) of the program GS3. Fixed effects were contemporary group (year-pen), age of dam, sex of calf, age of calf, Brahman fraction of calf, and heterozygosity of calf. Random effects were additive SNP, animal polygenic, and residual effects. Genomic predictions were computed using a model without polygenic effects and polygenic predictions with a model that excluded additive SNP effects. Heritabilities were 0.20 for RFI, 0.31 for DFI, 0.21 for FCR, and 0.36 for PWG. The fraction of the additive genetic variance explained by SNP in the Illumina 3K chip was 15% for RFI, 11% for DFI, 25% for FCR, and 15% for PWG. These fractions will likely differ in other multibreed populations. Rank correlations between genomic-polygenic and polygenic predictions were high (0.95 to 0.99; P < 0.0001), whereas those between genomic-polygenic and genomic predictions were low (0.65 to 0.74; P < 0.0001). Genomic-polygenic, genomic, and polygenic predictions for all traits tended to decrease as Brahman fraction increased, indicating that calves with greater Brahman fraction were more efficient but grew more slowly than calves with greater Angus fraction. Predicted SNP values were small for all traits, and those above and below 0.2 SNP SD were in multiple chromosomes, supporting the contention that quantitative traits are determined by large numbers of alleles with small effects located throughout the genome.     

Evaluation of biochemical evidence of congenital nutritional myopathy in two-week prepartum fetuses from selenium-deficient ewes

Muscle damage attributable to selenium (Se)/vitamin E deficiencies is known to develop at birth or later in lambs. The purpose of this study was to determine whether and when muscle damage develops in utero. Thirty pregnant ewes maintained on Se-deficient forages from birth were allotted to 3 equal groups. Half of each group was given a single IM injection of 0.056 mg of Se/kg of body weight, 1 month before parturition. At 3 weeks before parturition, cesarean section-derived fetuses from Se-deficient ewes did not have evidence of muscle damage. At 2 weeks before parturition, fetuses from Se-deficient ewes had biochemical evidence of congenital nutritional myopathy, as evidenced by low blood Se concentration (P less than 0.05) and by increased plasma creatinine kinase (P less than 0.001) and lactate dehydrogenase (P less than 0.01) activities, compared with fetuses from Se-treated ewes. Thus, for optimal protection of fetuses and newborn lambs in Se-deficient areas, Se should be administered to ewes at least 1 month before parturition.     

Replacement of maize by triticale in broiler diets

1. The nitrogen‐corrected metabolisable energy contents of the triticale varieties Multi Graze, Graze Grain 70, 204 and 131 were 12.28, 12.69, 12.37 and 12.03 MJ/kg respectively.

2. Increasing proportions (0, 25, 50 or 75%) of the maize of a diet were replaced by triticale 131 to provide diets of equal energy and nitrogen contents for broilers. These diets resulted in weight gains of 1.775, 1.782, 1.713 and 1.808 kg respectively at 8 weeks and there were no significant differences among efficiencies of food conversions.

3. Dressed carcass weights as percentages of body weight were 74.38, 75.01, 73.98 and 74.50 respectively and did not differ significantly.

4. Triticale in the diet did not seem to influence the relative weights of either liver or gizzard.

5. The flavour of the meat seemed to become less acceptable as the triticale in the diet increased but there were no significant differences in tenderness and juiciness of the meat caused by the treatments.     

Onchocerca sp. in an imported Zangersheide gelding causing suspensory ligament desmitis

A 5-year-old imported Zangersheide gelding was evaluated for SC swellings over both forelimbs and lameness localized to the distal metacarpus. Ultrasound examination of the SC masses was compatible with verminous granulomas. Linear hyperechoic foci were present within the suspensory ligament branches of both forelimbs, suggestive of ligamentous parasitic infiltrates. A diagnosis of onchocerciasis was confirmed on biopsy of a SC mass. The gelding was treated with ivermectin and a tapering course of PO dexamethasone but was eventually euthanized. Necropsy confirmed the presence of SC eosinophilic granulomas and degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis, both with intralesional nematodes. Given the location and appearance of the nematode, a diagnosis of Onchocerca sp., most likely O. reticulata, was made. Onchocerciasis should be included as a differential diagnosis for multifocal suspensory ligament desmitis with these sonographic characteristics when paired with SC masses in imported European Warmbloods.     

Effect of sodium bicarbonate and sodium bentonite on digestion, solid and liquid flow, and ruminal fermentation characteristics of forage sorghum silage-based diets fed to steers

Six ruminally cannulated steers, five Holsteins and one Hereford (250 to 295 kg), were fed 84% forage sorghum silage plus 16% supplement or 50% forage sorghum silage plus concentrate and supplement diets containing either no addition (controls), 1% sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) or 2% sodium bentonite in a 2 X 3 factorial arrangement of treatments in a 6 X 6 Latin-square experiment with 3-wk periods. Sodium bicarbonate increased dry matter (DM) intake when concentrate was included, but neither compound affected intake of the 84% silage diet. Bentonite lowered DM, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibilities, but NDF disappearance from nylon bags was unchanged. Ruminal pH, osmolality and L(+) and D(-) lactate were not affected by treatment. Both NaHCO3 and bentonite tended to lower ruminal NH3-N concentrations. Bentonite lowered the molar proportion of isobutyrate in ruminal fluid relative to controls, but proportions of other volatile fatty acids (VFA) and total VFA concentrations were unchanged. Neither NaHCO3 nor bentonite affected ruminal liquid or solid volumes, dilution rate constants or ruminal outflow rates. Markers overestimated volumes, but correction with measured volumes did not change interpretation of treatment effects. It was concluded that control diets had sufficiently high baseline values of pH, dilution rate and acetate proportion to preclude changes induced by either compound, especially at 1 or 2% of DM intake. An effect on palatibility through neutralization of silage acids may have been responsible for the intake response to NaHCO3.     

Experimental Infections of Bluegill with the Trematode Ribeiroia ondatrae (Digenea: Cathaemasiidae): Histopathology and Hematological Response

Infections by the digenetic trematode, Ribeiroia ondatrae, cause severe limb malformations in many North American amphibians. Ribeiroia ondatrae also infects fishes as second intermediate hosts, but less is known about the pathology and immune responses initiated in infected fish, even though reports of infected fish date back to early 1900s. To this end, we experimentally exposed juvenile Bluegills Lepomis macrochirus to three doses of R. ondatrae cercariae and monitored the pathology, parasite infection success, and humoral responses over 648 h. All exposed fish became infected with metacercariae, and the average infection load increased with exposure dose. Histologically, infection was associated with acute hemorrhages in the lateral line and local dermis at 36 h, followed by progressive granulomatous inflammation that led to the destruction of encysted metacercariae. Correspondingly, over the course of 648 h we observed an 85% decline in average infection load among hosts, reflecting the host's clearance of the parasite. Infection was not associated with changes in fish growth or survival, but did correlate with leukocytosis and neutrophilia in circulating host blood. Understanding the physiological responses of R. ondatrae in Bluegill will help to clarify the ecological effects of this parasite and provide a foundation for subsequent comparisons into its effects on behavior, individual health, and population dynamics of Bluegill.

Received March 4, 2015; accepted August 9, 2015     

Llama reproduction

The reproductive anatomy, physiology, and breeding behavior of the llama is unique enough to make familiarity with it imperative. Female puberty averages 12 months, while many males are not reproductively functional until after 3 years. Proper management of a breeding pair or herd is necessary to maintain maximum reproductive performance. Proof of pregnancy is suggested by rejection of the male and may/should be confirmed by progesterone assay, rectal palpation, or ultrasound techniques. The postpartum female is notable for breeding back rapidly, with high pregnancy rates resulting. Both male and female factors enter into llama infertility, with each gender having significant incidence of reproductive anatomical abnormalities. Management as well as acquired infertility problems (heat factors, trauma, infection, neoplasia, and hormonal imbalances) contribute to the bulk of infertility cases investigated. Techniques used to diagnose infertility in llamas are quite comparable to the equine species; however, female body size and semen analysis in the male present significant challenges. The approach to therapy has been quite empirical to date, owing to lack of consistent problems and numbers to afford conclusive trials. Alterations of pregnancy include resorption, abortions, and stillbirths. Resorption between 30 to 60 days of gestation is reported regularly. Abortions caused by stress occur regularly. Infection abortions caused by leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, and chlamydiosis are to be expected. Ponderosa pine-related abortions are suspected. In summary, I find use for a broad background in large animal theriogenology to apply to llama infertility. There no doubt are additional diagnostic techniques and therapeutic regimens that have application, and it is up to us all to keep good records and share the information.