Effect of feather meal on live animal performance and carcass quality and composition of growing-finishing swine

A total of 252 crossbred pigs were used in two experiments to determine the effect of feeding hydrolyzed feather meal (FM) during the growing-finishing period on animal performance, carcass composition, and pork quality. All pigs were blocked by weight, and dietary treatments were assigned randomly to pens within blocks. In Exp. 1, 24 pens were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments: 1) control corn-soybean meal starter, grower, and finisher diets devoid of FM; 2) control diets formulated with 3% FM; and 3) control diets formulated with 6% FM. During the starter phase, there was a quadratic decrease in average daily gain (P < 0.06) and gain:feed (P < 0.01) with increasing FM, and during the grower-II phase, gain:feed increased linearly (P < 0.07) with increasing FM inclusion level. However, dietary FM had no effects (P > 0.10) on performance during the grower-I phase, finisher phase, or in the overall trial. Moreover, carcasses from pigs fed 3% FM had greater (P < 0.05) average backfat depth than carcasses of pigs fed 0 and 6% FM, but FM did not affect (P > 0.10) ham or carcass lean composition. In Exp. 2, 24 pens were randomly allotted to one of four dietary treatments: 1) positive control corn-soybean meal-based starter, grower, and finisher diets; 2) negative control corn-soybean meal- and wheat middlings-based starter, grower, and finisher diets; 3) negative control diets formulated with 3% FM; and 4) negative control diets formulated with 6% FM. Dietary FM had no effect (P > 0.10) on average daily gain, average daily feed intake, or gain:feed during any phase of the experiment. Ham weight decreased linearly (P < 0.04), whereas ham lean weight increased linearly (P < 0.09), with increasing levels of FM in the diet. Pork from pigs fed 3% FM tended (quadratic effect, P < 0.10) to receive higher Japanese color scores than pork from pigs fed either negative control or 6% FM diets. Moreover, pork color became lighter (P c 0.08), less red (P < 0.001), and less yellow (P < 0.003) as FM level was increased in swine diets. Results from these two experiments indicate that as much as 6% FM can be incorporated into isolysinic diets of growing-finishing pigs without adversely impacting animal performance, carcass composition, or pork quality.     

Serum troponin T concentrations in two strains of commercial broiler chickens aged one to 56 days

Troponin T is a specific and sensitive serological indicator of acute myocardial infarction in human patients. The concentration of serum troponin T was measured by an technique in two strains of healthy commercial broiler chickens (Cobb 500 and Ross I) aged between one and 56 days. The concentrations of cardiac-derived troponin T in day-old Cobb and Ross chicks were 5·74 and 8·35 ng ml⁻¹, respectively, and much higher than in 14-day-old chicks. Between 21 and 56 days, the values were consistently lower than the mean troponin T concentration of 0·20 ng ml⁻¹ reported previously in a group of healthy 30-day-old broilers. All the other heart measurements, including the arterial pressure index, were within normal limits. The high troponin T concentrations after hatching are probably due to an embryonic isoform that rapidly becomes replaced by an adult isoform by three weeks of age. The data suggest that in healthy birds, there is an inverse relationship between troponin T concentrations and age.     

C-kit,flt-3, PDGFR-β, and VEGFR2 expression in canine adrenal tumors and correlation with outcome following adrenalectomy

The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the expression of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) in canine adrenal tumors and correlate this expression with features of tumor aggressiveness and survival in dogs undergoing adrenalectomy.Forty-three canine adrenal tumors were evaluated for expression of c-kit, fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (flt-3), platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFR-β), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) using immunohistochemistry. Tumor RTK staining characteristics were compared to normal adrenals. Medical records were reviewed for data regarding patient outcome and tumor characteristics. Expression of c-kit, flt-3, PDGFR-β, and VEGFR2 was detected in 26.9%, 92.3%, 96.2%, and 61.5% of cortical tumors and 0%, 63.2%, 47.4%, and 15.8% of pheochromocytomas, respectively. Expression of RTKs was not significantly increased when compared to normal adrenals and did not correlate with survival after adrenalectomy. Receptor tyrosine kinases are not overexpressed in canine adrenal tumors compared to normal adrenal tissue. Therapeutic inhibition of these receptors may still represent an effective approach in cases where receptor activation is present.     

Family-based transmission disequilibrium association study on TGFβ1 -509C/T polymorphism and IgA nephropathy

AIM: To investigate the relationship between transforming groupth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1)-509C/T polymorphism and IgA nephropathy using family-based analysis of transmission disequilibrium test and haplotype relative risk. METHODS: The genotypes of TGFβ1 -509C/T were determined by PCR-RFLP and direct sequencing. Two family-based designs, transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) and haplotype-based haplotype relative risk (HRR) were employed for the data analysis. The patients were followed up and clinical data retrieved and compared. RESULTS: ① No transmission disequilibrium was found from heterozygous parents onto patients in our 106 trios analyzed by TDT （χ2=0.559, P>0.05）. ② No increased risks of contracting the disease oweing to-509C/T polymorphism of TGFβ1 in our 130 trios analyzed by either genotype-based HRR or haplotype-based HRR （χ2=0.667, P>0.05; χ2=0.650, P>0.05, HRR=0.878）. ③ 296 cases of IgA nephropathy were tracked for nearly two years, the results showed that the CC genotype frequency was very significantly higher in patients with renal function deterioration ［χ2 (CC/others)=10.402, P<0.01, OR=2.900］. CONCLUSION: TGFβ1-509 CC genotype may be associated with progression of IgA nephropathy, but the -509C/T polymorphism is not associated with susceptibility to this disease in Chinese Han population.     

Comparison of steer behavior when housed in a deep-bedded hoop barn versus an open feedlot with shelter

The use of hoop barns as an alternative housing system for beef cattle has not been widely researched. The objectives of this study were to determine the main effects of behavior of steers 1) over winter and summer, 2) when housed in either a hoop barn or a conventional feedlot, and 3) interactions between season and housing system. A total of 960 crossbred Bos taurus steers were used [August 2006 to April 2008 (2 winter and 2 summer trials)]. Steers were housed in either 1 deep-bedded hoop barn (n = 12 pens; 4.65 m(2)/steer) or 1 open feedlot with shelter (n = 12 pens; 14.7 m(2)/steer). Steers were ear tagged, implanted, and weighed (414 ± 36 kg) on arrival and allotted to treatments that were balanced for source, BW, and hide color. Behavioral data (3 postures and 2 behaviors) were collected using a 10-min live scan. The experimental unit for behavior was a pen of steers. Behavioral data were arcsine transformed to achieve a normal distribution. There were no (P > 0.05) differences for time spent at bunk or waterer for steers between housing treatments. Steers housed in an open feedlot with shelter spent less time lying and more time standing and walking (P < 0.05) compared with steers housed in a hoop barn. There were no (P = 0.32) differences between seasons for standing. Steers spent more time at the bunk (P < 0.0001) and waterer (P < 0.0001) in the summer compared with the winter. In the winter, steers engaged in more lying (P = 0.0002) and walking (P < 0.0001). Overall, steers stood less (P = 0.006) and spent more time lying (P = 0.024) when housed in a hoop barn than in the open feedlot with shelter regardless of season. Steers housed in the open feedlot with shelter walked more (P < 0.0001) than steers housed in the hoop barn and walked more (P < 0.0001) in winter than in summer months (6 vs. 3%). There were no (P > 0.05) differences in time spent at bunk and waterer between housing systems within season, but time spent at the waterer and bunk decreased (P < 0.05) for both housing systems during the winter. In conclusion, housing 40 steers per pen in a cornstalk-bedded hoop barn at 4.65 m(2)/steer does not result in adverse behavioral alterations and can be considered as a housing alternative for finishing steers in the Midwestern United States when compared with steers fed in an open feedlot with shelter provided.     

Floristic changes in soil algae and cyanobacteria in reclaimed metal-contaminated land at Sudbury,Canada

Logging, fires and smelting have produced extensive barren areas in Sudbury, Ontario. Soils from these areas have a low pH (3.7 to 4.2), elevated concentrations of Cu and Ni, and are subject to erosion. A successful revegetation program has been in operation since 1978. Manual applications of limestone, fertilizers and seeds have produced extensive grassy swards. Enrichment cultures (Bold Basal and Allen's medium) were used to compare the soil algae and cyanobacteria from barren sites with those treated 6 mo, 2, 4, and 5 yr ago. Cultures of soils from barren sites were characterized by a low diversity of chlorophytes and a few diatoms. Cyanobacteria were absent. In comparison, treated soils yielded an increased diversity of chlorophytes and included a number of cyanobacterial genera. Chlorophyll a analysis indicates a higher biomass of autotrophic organisms on treated sites. Increased diversity and biomass on treated soils may reduce erosion while the presence of N fixing cyanobacteria could contribute to the fertility of these soils. A filamentous picocyanobacterium appeared in enrichment cultures (1/3 strength Allen's medium) of treated soils but not of untreated soils. The techniques of epifluorescence microscopy may be valuable in further investigations of autotrophic soil organisms.     

Importance of optimal mixtures of EDTA anticoagulant:blood for the preparation of well‐stained avian blood smears

1. This paper describes and illustrates the dangers of sub‐optimal mixtures of EDTA anticoagulant:blood during the preparation of avian blood smears.

2. Excessive concentrations of EDTA lead to variable staining and make cellular differentiation more difficult.

3. It is recommended, for the use of a 2.5 ml graded blood tube containing 3.75 mg EDTA, that no less than 1.0 ml of blood be mixed.     

Effects of Water Stress on Colonization of Poplar Stems and Excised Leaf Disks by Septoria musiva

ABSTRACT Septoria musiva causes leaf spot and canker diseases of trees in the genus Populus, and is one of the most damaging fungal pathogens of hybrid poplar in eastern North America. The effect of host water stress on Septoria canker development was studied in two separate greenhouse experiments. Hybrid poplar clones NM6, NC11396, and NE308 were stressed by withholding water until predawn water potential fell below -1.0 MPa. Stems were treated by removing a leaf and applying agar plugs that were either colonized by S. musiva (inoculated) or sterile (control) to the wound. Cankers on inoculated water-stressed trees were significantly larger than those on nonstressed trees. A leaf disk assay also was conducted three times with the NM6 and NE308 trees. We cut two disks from each of 120 stressed and 120 well-watered trees, placing them on water agar in 24-well tissue culture plates. A conidial suspension was applied to one disk in each pair and sterile water to the other. Inoculated disks from water-stressed trees developed less necrosis than those from well-watered trees. These results demonstrate that environmental influences on host condition must be considered in evaluating resistance of clones proposed for widespread culture of hybrid poplar.