Practices and opinions of New Zealand beef cattle farmers towards bovine viral diarrhoea control in relation to real and perceived herd serological status

ABSTRACT

Aims: To investigate the seroprevalence of infection with bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus among 75 beef herds and seroconversion in cattle during early pregnancy, and to determine the practices and opinions of farmers towards BVD control and their association with real and perceived herd serological status.

Methods: Blood samples were collected before mating in 75 beef herds across New Zealand from 15 unvaccinated heifers that had delivered their first calf that season. Serum samples were tested for BVD antibodies using ELISA individually, and after pooling samples for each farm. Animals that were antibody-negative were retested at either pregnancy diagnosis or weaning. Farmers were asked to complete a detailed survey about herd demographics, BVD testing and vaccination practices, and opinions towards national BVD control.

Results: Based on the pooled serum antibody ELISA results, there were 28/75 (37%) negative herds, 15/75 (20%) suspect herds, and 32/75 (43%) positive herds. Of 1,117 animals sampled 729 (65.3%) tested negative for BVD virus antibodies; when retested, 47/589 (8.0%) animals from 13/55 (24%) herds had seroconverted. Among 71 famers providing survey responses 11 (15%) believed their herd was infected with BVD, 24 (34%) were unsure and 36 (51%) did not think their herd was infected. Only 19/71 (18%) farmers had performed any BVD testing within the past 5 years and 50/70 (71%) had not vaccinated any cattle for BVD. Support for national BVD eradication programme was strong in 51/71 (56%) respondents, but the biggest challenge to BVD control was considered to be famer compliance. Compared to farmers who did not think their herd was infected, more farmers who thought BVD was present in their herds had previously tested for BVD, would consider testing all replacement calves, and would support establishing a national BVD database; fewer would consider purchasing BVD tested or vaccinated cattle only.

Conclusions and clinical relevance: Only 15% of the beef farmers in this study believed their herds were infected with BVD virus and few of them had undertaken BVD screening. Nevertheless many were supportive of implementing a national BVD control programme. It is likely that the lack of farmer awareness around BVD and the failure of farmers to recognise the potential impacts in their herds are hindering progress in controlling the disease in New Zealand. There are opportunities for New Zealand veterinarians to be more proactive in helping beef farmers explore BVD management options.     

Effect of Suppression of FSH with a GnRH Antagonist (Acyline) Before and During Follicle Deviation in the Mare

A GnRH antagonist (Acyline) was used to study the role of FSH in early development of a follicular wave in 61 mares. In Experiment 1, a single dose of 3 mg per mare, compared with 0 and 1 mg, suppressed both the FSH and follicle responses to exogenous GnRH. In Experiment 2, high concentrations of FSH were induced by two successive ablations of all follicles ≥ 6 mm on days 10 and 13 (day 0 = ovulation). A single treatment with Acyline resulted in significantly greater suppression of plasma concentrations of FSH than a single treatment with charcoal-extracted follicular fluid (source of inhibin) or oestradiol. Suppression of FSH was not significantly different between the group treated with Acyline alone and a group treated with a combination of Acyline, inhibin and oestradiol. In Experiment 3, all follicles were ablated on day 10 to induce an FSH surge and a new follicular wave. Acyline treatment on day 10 resulted in an immediate decrease in FSH, without a significant effect on day of emergence of a new wave or growth of follicles from 7 to 11 mm on days 11–13. Treatment on day 15, a day before expected follicle deviation and after the peak of the wave-stimulating FSH surge, resulted in an immediate decrease in FSH and cessation of follicle growth. Results indicated that growth of follicles for about 2 days after wave emergence was independent of FSH. In contrast, during the decline in the wave-stimulating FSH surge and before follicle deviation, growth of follicles was dependent on FSH.     

hCG‐Induced Ovulation in Thoroughbred Mares Does Not Affect Corpus luteum Development and Function During Early Pregnancy

Our aim was to compare Corpus luteum (CL) development and blood plasma concentration of progesterone ([P₄]) in thoroughbred mares after spontaneous (Control: C) or human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)‐induced ovulation. Lactating mares (C = 12; hCG = 21) were daily teased and mated during second oestrus post‐partum. Treated mares received 2500 IU hCG i.v. at first day of behavioural oestrus when dominant follicular size was >35, ≤42 mm and mated 12–24 h after. Control mares in oestrus were mated with dominant follicular size ≥45 mm. Dominant follicle before ovulation, CL and gestational sac were measured by ultrasound and [P₄] by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Blood sampling and ultrasound CL exams were done at days 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 60 and 90 after ovulation and gestational sac from day 12 after ovulation in pregnant (P) mares; non‐pregnant (NP) were followed until oestrus returned. Data analyses considered four subgroups: hCG‐P, hCG‐NP, C‐P and C‐NP. Preovulatory follicular size was smaller in hCG mares than in C: 39.2 ± 2.7 mm vs 51.0 ± 1.8 mm (p < 0.0001). All hCG mares ovulated 24–48 h after treatment and presented similar oestrus duration as controls. C. luteum size in P mares showed the same pattern of development through days 4–35, presenting erratic differences during initial establishment. Thus, on days 1 and 3, CL was smaller in hCG‐P (p < 0.05); while in hCG‐NP, CL size was greater than in C‐NP on day three (p = 0.03). Corpus luteum size remained stable until day 90 in hCG‐P mares, while in C‐P a transient and apparently not functional increase was detected on days 40 and 45 (p < 0.05) and the decrease from day 60 onwards, made this difference to disappear. No differences were observed in [P₄] pattern between P, or between NP subgroups, respectively. So, hCG‐induced ovulation does not affect CL development, neither [P₄] during early pregnancy. One cycle pregnancy rate tended to be lower in hCG mares while season pregnancy rates were similar to controls.     

Maya Blue Paint: An Ancient Nanostructured Material

Maya blue paint was often used in Mesoamerica. The origin of its color and its resistance to acids and biocorrosion have not been fully understood. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and x-ray microanalysis studies of authentic samples show that palygorskite crystals in the paint form a superlattice that probably occurs as a result of mixing with indigo molecules. An amorphous silicate substrate contains inclusions of metal nanoparticles encapsulated in the substrate and oxide nanoparticles on the surface. The beautiful tone of the color is obtained only when both the particles and the superlattice are present.     

Oriented 2D covalent organic framework thin films on single-layer graphene

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), in which molecular building blocks form robust microporous networks, are usually synthesized as insoluble and unprocessable powders. We have grown two-dimensional (2D) COF films on single-layer graphene (SLG) under operationally simple solvothermal conditions. The layered films stack normal to the SLG surface and show improved crystallinity compared with COF powders. We used SLG surfaces supported on copper, silicon carbide, and transparent fused silica (SiO(2)) substrates, enabling optical spectroscopy of COFs in transmission mode. Three chemically distinct COF films grown on SLG exhibit similar vertical alignment and long-range order, and two of these are of interest for organic electronic devices for which thin-film formation is a prerequisite for characterizing their optoelectronic properties.