Estimates of beef growth trait variances and heritabilities determined from field records

Variance components were estimated from field-collected performance records for use in national beef sire evaluation mixed-model programs. Estimates of residual error variances (sigma 2e), sire effect variances (sigma 2s) and dam effect variances (sigma 2d) were obtained for the American Hereford and the American Angus breeds for each of three growth traits: birth weight, weaning weight and postweaning gain. Estimates obtained for birth weight were sigma 2e, 8.43 and 9.26 kg2; sigma 2s, 1.34 and .66 kg2; and sigma 2d, 3.24 and 3.70 kg2 for the Hereford and Angus breeds, respectively. Estimates obtained for weaning weight were sigma 2e, 438.09 and 267.38 kg2; sigma 2s, 20.37 and 17.13 kg2; and sigma 2d, 162.25 and 157.28 kg2 for the Hereford and Angus breeds, respectively. Estimates obtained for postweaning gain were sigma 2e, 425.75 and 374.33 kg2; sigma 2s, 20.08 and 16.49 kg2; and sigma 2d, 41.74 and 48.61 kg2 for the Hereford and Angus breeds, respectively.     

Retracted: Effect of Post‐Thaw Storage Time on Motility and Fertility of Cryopreserved Beluga Sturgeon (Huso huso) Sperm

The aim of this study was to test the influence of post ‐ thaw storage time on the duration of sperm motility, percentage of motile sperm, and fertilization and hatching rates of fresh sperm and sperm stored for 0, 30 and 60 min at 4°C post‐thawing. After being frozen in liquid nitrogen and then thawed, the percentage of motile sperm and duration of motility were not affected by 30 min of storage at 4°C, whereas a significant decline in these parameters was observed after 60 min of storage. Similarly, fertilization and hatching rates were significantly affected within 60 min of storage at 4°C, and the fertility of frozen‐thawed sperm was significantly lower than that of fresh sperm. We conclude that cryopreserved sperm of beluga sturgeon could be stored for 30 min without the loss of sperm quality. This described procedure for beluga sturgeon cryopreservation is reliable and efficient and therefore can be recommended for hatchery practice after scaling up this technique.     

Original Study: Comparison of three intraosseous access techniques in cats

Objective – To compare the placement feasibility and amount of bone trauma induced by 3 intraosseous (IO) access techniques in cats: an automatic impact penetration device (A), an automatic rotary insertion device (B), and a manual IO needle (C). Design – Prospective ex vivo study. Setting – University. Animals – Eighteen adult mixed breed feline cadavers. Interventions – Cadavers provided 72 total IO insertion locations divided equally between the right and left humerus and tibia. The 3 IO techniques were randomly allocated to these locations. Time to successful insertion, ease of insertion, and success rate were recorded. Each insertion site was analyzed for the number of bone fragments and defect diameter by computed tomography. Measurements and Main Results – Device B had lower time of insertion (P=0.01) compared with devices A and C. Device B had better ease of insertion scores (P<0.01) compared with devices A and C. No differences were detected between insertion sites (tibia versus humerus). No differences in the number of bone fragments, defect diameter, or success rate were detected among devices (P=0.06, 0.31, and 0.14, respectively). Conclusions – All 3 IO access methods evaluated yield acceptable results. Device B is significantly faster and easier to place in cat cadavers when compared with other methods.