Correlation of blood and milk components with the milk yield response to bovine somatotropin in dairy cows

Our aim was to correlate the individual variation in the milk yield response (MYR) of Holstein dairy cows to bovine somatotropin (bST), with changes in milk plasmin and plasminogen activities as well as with plasma hormone and metabolite levels. Thirty-two housed multiparous Holstein cows (90 +/- 3.8 days post partum) received daily subcutaneous injections of saline for 1 week followed by subcutaneous injections of 20 mg/day of bST for 2 weeks. Blood samples were taken at approximately 4h intervals over 24 h at the end of the saline and bST treatment periods. Milk samples were also taken at the end of the saline and bST treatment periods. The difference in milk yield between the saline and the second week of bST treatment (MYR) varied considerably between animals (from -0.2 to +8.6 kg/day, relative to the saline treatment week). Low milk yield before bST treatment was associated with a high MYR. The plasma growth hormone response to treatment was negatively correlated with MYR. Plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 response to treatment was positively correlated with MYR. Furthermore, a high MYR to bST was associated with a lower milk plasminogen level before treatment and a greater reduction in the level of plasminogen in milk following treatment.     

Effect of mulesing and shearing on the prevalence of effect of mulesing and shearing on the prevalence of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae arthritis in lambs

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of management practices and environment on the prevalence of arthritis in lambs. DESIGN AND POPULATION: A case-control study was conducted on groups of lambs from 122 Western Australian sheep flocks. METHOD: Arthritis was diagnosed by visual assessment of lambs at abattoirs by qualified meat inspectors. The prevalence was estimated from data collected from producers on culling practices for arthritis. Data on management practices and environmental variables were collected by personal interview. Stepwise logistic regression was used to measure the effects of the most important factors on the prevalence of arthritis. RESULTS: Mulesing and shearing lambs increased the odds of high prevalence of arthritis by 7 (95% CI 1.9 - 25.6) and 4.3 (95% CI 0.9 - 19.6) times, respectively compared to unmarked and unshorn lambs. Lambs slaughtered between December and June had 3.7 (95% CI 0.8 - 16.6) times greater odds of having a high prevalence of arthritis than lambs slaughtered in the remainder of the year. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that, to decrease the risk of high prevalence of arthritis, lambs raised for meat production should not be mulesed or shorn. Recommended improvements to hygiene at mulesing such as the use of portable yards had little effect on the prevalence of arthritis.     

Prevalence and clinical importance of heart murmurs in racehorses

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of various types of heart murmurs in Thoroughbred racehorses and assess their association with performance by echocardiography and review of the horses' race records for the preceding 2 years. DESIGN: Clinical and retrospective study. ANIMALS: 846 Thoroughbred racehorses. PROCEDURE: Cardiac auscultations were performed by 3 individuals; for 30 horses, Doppler echocardiographic examinations were also performed. Statistical analyses of race records for 753 horses were performed to assess association of heart murmurs with performance. RESULTS: Heart murmurs were detected by cardiac auscultation in 686 of 846 (81.1%) horses. Systolic murmurs over the heart base were most common; 365 (43.1%) horses had systolic murmurs that were loudest over the pulmonary valve area, and 232 (27.4%) horses had systolic murmurs that were loudest over the aortic valve area. Systolic murmurs over the tricuspid valve area were detected in 241 (28.5%) horses, whereas systolic murmurs over the mitral valve area were detected in only 32 (3.8%) horses. Diastolic murmurs were much less common than systolic murmurs. Review of race records did not reveal a significant association between murmurs and performance. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that heart murmurs are a common finding in racehorses; most of these heart murmurs do not appear to be clinically important.     

A Comparison of Simultaneously Collected Arterial, Mixed Venous, Jugular Venous and Cephalic Venous Blood Samples in the Assessment of Blood-Gas and Acid-Base Status in the Dog

Blood samples were collected simultaneously from the pulmonary artery, jugular vein, cephalic vein, and carotid artery in awake dogs. Blood-gas and acid-base values were measured from these blood samples in normal dogs and in dogs after production of metabolic acidosis and metabolic alkalosis. The values obtained from each of the venous sites were compared with those obtained from arterial blood to determine if venous blood from various sites accurately reflected acid-base balance and could therefore be used in the clinical patient. The results of this study demonstrated significant differences between the blood from various venous sites and the arterial site for PCO2 and pH in all acid-base states. Significant differences for standard bicarbonate (SHCO3) were found only when jugular and cephalic venous blood were compared with arterial blood in dogs with a metabolic acidosis. No significant differences were found for BE when blood from the venous sites was compared with arterial blood. The values for pH, HCO3, TCO2, BE, and SHCO3 measured on blood collected at the various venous sites were found to correlate well with those obtained from arterial blood, with a correlation coefficient of 0.99 for HCO3, TCO2, BE, and SHCO3. These correlation coefficients, together with similar values in BE at all collection sites, indicate that, in the dog with normal circulatory status, blood from any venous site will accurately reflect the acid-base status of the patient.     

Prevalence, spread and control of caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus in dairy goat herds in New South Wales

SUMMARY A study of the prevalence, spread and control of caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) in dairy goat herds in New South Wales (NSW) during 1986–1988 found that 56.8% of 1484 goats in 14 dairy herds were infected with CAEV. The prevalence of CAEV infection within most herds not implementing control measures increased during the study. At the end of the study, 59.7% of 1322 goats were infected. The prevalence of CAEV increased with age. Differences between breeds were less apparent. Within seven herds with a high standard of identification of goats, 149 of 812 goats seroconverted in an ELISA. Of these newly infected goats, 142 (95.3%) were > 1 yr of age and 96 (64.4%) were > 2 yr suggesting lateral spread of the virus. Most of the goats > 2 yr of age had been in the milking herd for a minimum of 3 to 6 months. The high seroconversion rate within the milking herd suggested that factors other than the ingestion of infected colostrum and milk before weaning were important for the spread of CAEV. Observations indicated that behaviour of goats, particularly reproductive behaviour among lactating does, and milking herd management practices are important in the spread of CAEV. A high density of livestock, poor livestock control and contamination of feed, water, equipment and personnel were implicated in transmission. Poorly functioning milking machines may also be involved. CAEV was eradicated from 3 herds by the implementation of strict control measures.     

Effects of a nine-month endurance training programme on muscle composition in the horse

Muscle biopsy samples were collected from the middle gluteal muscle of seven horses undergoing a nine-month endurance training programme. Samples were collected before the programme began and again after three, six and nine months of training. A fifth sample was collected three months after training ceased. Serial muscle sections were reacted histochemically for myosin adenosine triphosphatase after either acid (pH 4.3 and 4.6) or alkaline (pH 10.3) pre-incubation, and muscle fibres identified as type I, IIA, IIB or IIC. The oxidative capacity of individual fibres was assessed, using the reduced nicotinamide dinucleotide tetrazolium reductase stain, and the number of intermyofibrillar capillaries adjacent to each fibre was counted after staining, using the alpha-amylase periodic acid Schiff technique. Biochemical analyses involved the fluorometric measurement of the enzymes citrate synthase, 3-hydroxy acyl CoA dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase as markers of end terminal oxidative, beta oxidative and glycolytic potential, respectively. There was an increase in the percentage of type IIB fibres having high nicotinamide dinucleotide tetrazolium reductase staining after three months training. This increase persisted throughout the period of training and during the period without training. There was an increase in the number of capillaries adjacent to type IIB fibres after six and nine months training. These had returned to near pre-training numbers after three months without training. There were increases in the activities of citrate synthase and 3-hydroxy acyl CoA dehydrogenase after three months training. The activities of both enzymes continued to rise throughout training and the highest activities were attained after nine months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)