Effect of supplemental energy source and frequency on growing calf performance

Crossbred heifers (n = 120; 265 kg, SD = 37) were fed individually (84 d) to determine the effect of supplement type, concentration, and frequency on intake and performance and to estimate the energy value of dry distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) in a high-forage diet. Treatments were arranged in a 3 x 2 x 2 factorial, with 3 supplements, 2 concentrations, and 2 frequencies of supplementation. Supplements including dry-rolled corn (DRC), DRC with corn gluten meal (DRC + CGM), and DDGS were fed at 0.21% (LOW) or 0.81% (HIGH) of BW daily and were provided daily (DAILY) or 3 times weekly (ALT). Heifers were fed to consume grass hay (8.7% CP) ad libitum. Individual DMI, diet composition, BW, and ADG were used to calculate energy values for DDGS and DRC. Supplement type, concentration, frequency, and interactions were tested using the MIXED procedure of SAS, with BW included as a covariate. Supplement x concentration interactions for gain (P = 0.01) and G:F (P < 0.01) were detected. At the LOW concentration, heifers supplemented with DDGS gained more and were more efficient (P /= 0.22) between DDGS and DRC + CGM in HIGH treatments, although both improved (P 相似文献   

Interpopulation and intrapopulation maternal lineage genetics of the Lanyu pig (Sus scrofa) by analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome b and control region sequences

The Lanyu pig is an indigenous breed from the Lanyu Islet, which is southeast of Taiwan. Two herds of Lanyu pigs were introduced from the Lanyu Islet into Taiwan in 1975 and 1980. The current population of conserved Lanyu pigs consists of only 44 animals with unknown genetic lineage. The Lanyu pig possesses a distinct maternal genetic lineage remote from Asian and European pigs. The present study aimed to understand the phylogenetic relationship among conserved Lanyu, Asian, and European type pigs based on the cytochrome b coding gene, to ascertain the maternal lineage and genetic diversity within the conserved Lanyu pigs, and to address whether genetic introgression from exotic or Formosan wild pigs had occurred in the conserved Lanyu pigs. Entire mitochondrial genomes of both types of Lanyu pig comprised 2 ribosomal RNA, 22 transfer RNA, and 13 protein-coding genes. Only 2 haplotypes of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region and cytochrome b were identified in the conserved Lanyu pig herds. When maximum likelihood trees were constructed, the Type I Lanyu mitochondrial genes formed a unique clade with a large pairwise distance of both cytochrome b and the control region from Asian and European type breeds, Formosan wild pigs, and exotic breeds. Significant loss of genetic diversity of mtDNA within the conserved Lanyu pigs was demonstrated by low haplotype and nucleotide diversities, supported by Fu and Li's D* neutrality test (1.44055; P < 0.05). The mtDNA control region sequences of extant pigs in the Lanyu Islet, however, showed high haplotype and nucleotide diversity, and clustered with exotic pigs. These results indicate no maternal lineage mtD-NA gene introgression from Formosan wild pigs and introduced exotic pigs to conserved Type I Lanyu pigs, and a severe loss of heterozygosity of mtDNA in conserved Lanyu pigs. The remaining extant pigs on the Lanyu Islet have been introgressed with exotic breeds. Strategies for future conservation of native Lanyu pigs are now even more urgent and important.     

Implantable loop recorders: a viable diagnostic tool in veterinary medicine

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate whether implantable loop recorders could be used in the diagnosis of unexplained collapse in dogs. Methods : The medical records of six dogs presented to the University of Liverpool Small Animal Teaching Hospital between May 2003 and October 2006 for further evaluation of intermittent syncopal episodes, collapse or episodic weakness, were reviewed. All these dogs underwent standard investigations and had implantable loop recorders placed. Results : A provisional diagnosis of supraventricular tachycardia was made in one dog, and diagnoses of exclusion of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy and idiopathic epilepsy was made in two dogs. One dog suffered no further syncopal episodes, a diagnosis was not reached in another dog and the final dog was lost to follow‐up. Clinical Significance : The implantable loop recorder can be used successfully for the diagnosis of unexplained collapse in dogs.     

Vegetative Endocarditis in Equids (1994–2006)

Background: Endocarditis is a rare heart condition with variable clinical expressions in equids. Risk factors for this disease are incompletely understood. Objective: Describe risk factors for endocarditis in equids. Animals: One hundred and fifty‐three equids admitted to Liège University, 9 diagnosed with endocarditis and 144 free from endocarditis but admitted to the hospital with a differential diagnosis including this disease. Methods: Retrospective case‐control study. Results: Equids with endocarditis were significantly younger (mean age = 4.84 ± 5.74 years) than control equids (mean age = 10.8 ± 7.73 years) (P= .01). No sex or breed predisposition was observed. Animals with hyperthermia (odds ratio [OR] = 24.4; confidence interval [CI] = 1.40–428), synovial distension (OR = 13.4; CI = 3.00–59.8), lameness (OR = 6.52; CI = 1.63–26.1), hyperglobulinemia (OR = 26.4; CI = 3.03–229), hypoalbuminemia (OR = 11.4; CI = 1.34–96.8), hyperfibrinogenemia (OR = 9.81; CI = 1.16–82.7), or leukocytosis (OR = 7.12; CI = 1.40–36.4) presented a significantly higher risk of having endocarditis than control horses. The presence of two of the clinical signs mentioned above significantly increased the probability of a diagnosis of endocarditis (P≤ .05). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Age is associated with equine endocarditis. The diagnostic value of certain clinical signs and abnormalities in blood parameters in this disease are described.     

Mineral content of hay harvested in Bavarian and Swiss horse farms. Predictive value of cutting time,number of cut,botanical composition,origin and fertilization

Hay samples from 29 horse farms in Southern Upper Bavaria and 31 horse farms in Switzerland were taken and analysed for minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. The content of herbs and legumes in the hay was determined and the Weende analysis was performed. Comparison between Bavaria and Switzerland resulted in comparable calcium contents of approximately 4 g Ca/kg dry matter (DM) in grass hay. Hay with more than 10% of herbs and legumes found only in Switzerland showed higher Ca contents of >7 g Ca/kg DM in hay. The mineral contents of phosphorus and potassium were lower in hay from Switzerland (P: 1.8 ± 0.7 g/kg DM, K: 15.4 ± 5.1 g/kg DM) than from Bavaria (P: 3.8 ± 0.6 g/kg DM, K: 20.0 ± 6.0 DM), whereas the magnesium content of the hay showed no difference between the regions (∼1.5 g Mg/kg DM). Very late first grass hay cuts showed low magnesium and calcium (<4 g/kg DM) contents. Further minerals in the hay for horses differed from those in dairy cattle in the same region. Fertilization showed only small effects on the mineral contents of the hay produced for horses. Therefore, in calculation of ration and production of supplements for horses, these differences should be taken into account.     

Genetic analyses of piglet survival and individual birth weight on first generation data of a selection experiment for piglet survival under outdoor conditions

Genetic parameters of piglet survival traits and birth weight were estimated on the first generation data of a selection experiment aimed at improving piglet survival using a multiple trait linear and threshold model. Data on 5293 piglets for survival at birth, at day one after birth and during the entire nursing period, as well as individual birth weight and litter size, were recorded in an outdoor production system. Genetic effects of piglet survival traits and birth weight were estimated based on threshold and Gaussian models, respectively, using a Bayesian approach. The statistical model included as fixed effects selection group, parity, gender, fostering, gestation length and month of farrowing and, alternatively, an adjustment for litter size. Direct genetic effects (i.e. the piglet's genetic potential) for piglet survival and birth weight were estimated separately, whereas maternal genetic and environmental effects could only be estimated for the given data structure in a combined litter effect. Posterior means of heritabilities for direct genetic effects of survival at birth, at first day after birth and the entire nursing period, as well as birth weight, were 0.08, 0.07, 0.08 and 0.20, respectively. Genetic correlations among survival traits were in the range of 0.29 to 0.40 and indicate that these traits were mainly attributable to different genetic effects. Genetic correlations between direct effects of survival traits and birth weight ranged between 0.18 and 0.23 and were reduced when weights of stillborn piglets were omitted in the analysis or the traits were adjusted for litter size. The magnitudes of direct genetic effects of survival traits are substantially higher than estimates in the literature, which may indicate that these traits have a higher genetic influence under outdoor conditions. The use of birth weight in the multiple trait estimation provided important information for the estimation of survival traits due to its favourable genetic correlations with survival, its high heritability and its high information content as a continuously measured trait.     

Control charts applied to simulated sow herd datasets

Statistical control charts were used to detect process change in pig production. Two charts were tested to detect small deviations in production processes: the cumulative sum (CUSUM) control chart and the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) control chart. A Monte-Carlo simulation was used for developing an optimal design of the EWMA and the CUSUM charts. The traits piglets born in total and the return to oestrus rate were considered. Over a given time period, small shifts were purposely implemented to test the performance of the charts. The average time to signal (ATS) and false positive rate (FPR) were taken as classification parameters to evaluate the performance of the charts. All shifts in the number of piglets born in total were detected with CUSUM and EWMA control charts. The trait piglets born in total showed an ATS ranging from 1.3 (FPR = 33.5%) to 6.8 weeks (FPR = 1.2%) using the CUSUM chart. The EWMA chart presented an ATS which ranged between 2.0 (FPR = 14.9%) and 6.3 (FPR = 1.9%) weeks. The application of the CUSUM to the return to oestrus rate resulted in an ATS of 2.6 (FPR =  38.3%) to 15.6 weeks (FPR = 3.0%) and the EWMA chart produced a signal between 4.1 (FPR = 14.5%) and 16.4 weeks (FPR = 1.4%). Both charts appear to be useful tools for tracking commercial swine farm processes and detecting emerging change in process performance.