The effects of potassium diformate and its molecular constituents on the apparent ileal and fecal digestibility and retention of nutrients in growing-finishing pigs

Five 43-kg barrows [(Dutch Landrace x Yorkshire) x Yorkshire] were fitted with steered ileocecal valve cannulas to compare the effects of K-diformate (KDF), a specifically conjugated salt vs its molecular constituents, namely, formic acid and K-formate, as acidifiers in lysine-deficient diets on the apparent ileal (ID) and fecal digestibility, retention of nutrients, and manure production. The animals were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments according to a 5 x 5 Latin square design as follows: 1) control-no acidifier; 2) 1% KDF (= 0.65% K-formate + 0.35% formic acid, or 0.7% [HCOO-] + 0.3% [K+]); 3) 0.65% K-formate (= 0.35% [HCOO-] + 0.3% [K+]); 4) 0.35% formic acid (= 0.35% [HCOO-]); and 5) 1.3% K-formate (= 0.7% [HCOO-] + 0.6% [K+]). Diets were formulated with barley, wheat, soybean meal, and canola meal as major ingredients, and provided all nutrients at adequate levels, except for lysine (24% less than estimated requirement). Feeding level was equal to 2.5 x maintenance requirement (MR) for ME (MR = 418 kJ ME x BW(-0.75)), and daily rations were given in two portions after mixing with water in a ratio of 1:2.5. Chromic oxide was used as an indigestible marker. No clinical health problems due to the dietary treatments were observed. Irrespective of the additive, there were no differences (P < or = 0.10) in the ID of DM, OM, CP, or essential amino acids compared to the control, except for phenylalanine (P < or = 0.05). Among nonessential AA, only the ID of tyrosine tended (P = 0.092) to increase (up to 3.9 percentage units). The fecal digestibility of ash and K were greater (P < or = 0.001) in pigs fed supplemental K, irrespective of its source. The greater intake and fecal digestibility of K corresponded with greater (P < or = 0.05) losses of K in urine. Body retention of N, Ca, total P, and K was similar (P > or = 0.10) among treatments. As estimated from a separate nonorthogonal analysis, supplemental K improved (P < or = 0.05) body N by 3.7 percentage units compared to the control. The results of this study do not provide a clear explanation for the improved growth performance reported previously with KDF and its molecular constituents, and further research on their in vivo mode of action will require methodological refinement, especially with regard to the efficiency of AA utilization.     

Optimizing the Conditions for In Vitro Maturation and Artificial Activation of Sika Deer (Cervus nippon hortulorum) Oocytes

With the goal of establishing experimental protocols for cloning sika deer, various conditions for in vitro maturation (IVM) and artificial activation of sika deer oocytes were examined. In vitro maturation was evaluated in seven different culture media. The highest rate of oocyte maturation was 75.4% in 10 μg/ml follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH), 1 μg/ml LH, 0.2 mm cysteamine and 50 ng/ml epidermal growth factor (EGF) after 24 h of IVM. The efficiency after 24 h of IVM did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) from that observed after 20 h. Cysteamine (0.2 mm ) significantly increased the maturation rates after 20 h (from 59.1% to 67.2%, p < 0.05) and after 24 h (from 63.2% to 71.6%, p < 0.05) of IVM. The IVM rates of oocytes collected during the oestrous season (75.4%) and the anoestrous season (23.3%) were significantly different at 24 h. The 20 μg/ml FSH, 2 μg/ml LH, 0.4 mm cysteamine and 100 ng/ml EGF significantly increased the maturation rates (from 23.3% to 54.2%, p < 0.01) at 24 h during the anoestrous season. For the activation experiments, the most effective method was chemical activation [ionomycin + 6‐dimethylaminopurine (6‐DMAP)], which promoted the development of sika deer oocytes to the blastocyst stage (32.4%). Our results indicate that in vitro matured sika deer oocytes are good candidates for parthenogenetic activation and that chemical treatment is needed for relatively efficient activation of the oocytes. These optimized conditions for IVM and parthenogenetic activation may be useful for efforts to restore populations of the endangered sika deer using the somatic cell nuclear transfer technique.     

Dietary supplementation of Zingiber officinale and Zingiber zerumbet to heat‐stressed broiler chickens and its effect on heat shock protein 70 expression,blood parameters and body temperature

The present study was conducted to assess the effects of dietary supplementation of Zingiber officinale and Zingiber zerumbet and to heat‐stressed broiler chickens on heat shock protein (HSP) 70 density, plasma corticosterone concentration (CORT), heterophil to lymphocyte ratio (HLR) and body temperature. Beginning from day 28, chicks were divided into five dietary groups: (i) basal diet (control), (ii) basal diet +1%Z. zerumbet powder (ZZ1%), (iii) basal diet +2%Z. zerumbet powder (ZZ2%), (iv) basal diet +1%Z. officinale powder (ZO1%) and (v) basal diet +2%Z. officinale powder (ZO2%). From day 35–42, heat stress was induced by exposing birds to 38 ± 1 °C and 80% RH for 2 h/day. Irrespective of diet, heat challenge elevated HSP70 expression, CORT and HLR on day 42. On day 42, following heat challenge, the ZZ1% birds showed lower body temperatures than those of control, ZO1% and ZO2%. Neither CORT nor HLR was significantly affected by diet. The ZO2% and ZZ2% diets enhanced HSP70 expression when compared to the control groups. We concluded that dietary supplementation of Z. officinale and Z. zerumbet powder may induce HSP70 reaction in broiler chickens exposed to heat stress.     

Pulmonary lipoma in a dog

An eight‐year‐old, neutered, male German short‐haired pointer was presented for a chronic cough and an intrathoracic mass. Computed tomography revealed a mass with low attenuation in the right caudal lung lobe that invaded the principal bronchi. The mass was removed by right caudal and accessory lung lobectomy. The histopathological diagnosis was pulmonary lipoma. The clinical signs resolved following surgery. There was no evidence of recurrence or de novo lesions on computed tomography performed 12 months post‐surgery. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of a pulmonary lipoma in a dog.     

Antibacterial susceptibility patterns of Pseudomonas strains isolated from chronic canine otitis externa

Development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a problem of great concern. It is important to establish the convenience of antimicrobial susceptibility tests in animal infections. The aim of this study was to test the susceptibility to antibiotics of Pseudomonas strains isolated from chronic canine otitis externa. We tested 23 strains of Pseudomonas: 19 Ps. aeruginosa, three Ps. fluorescens and one Pseudomonas spp. The most effective antibiotics were tobramycin (100% susceptible), marbofloxacin (91.3%) and ceftazidime (91.3%). Ticarcillin and gentamicin, commonly used for the treatment of otitis externa also showed good results (susceptibility of strains was 86 and 65.2% respectively). Lower susceptibility was found using enrofloxacin (52.1%) probably due to its indiscriminate use. We emphasize the need for a rational policy of antibiotic prescribing in order to prevent the selection of resistant strains.     

Analgesia in Dogs After Intercostal Thoracotomy: A Clinical Trial Comparing Intravenous Buprenorphine and Interpleural Bupivacaine

We prospectively studied 26 dogs that presented for intercostal thoracotomy. Dogs were pre-medicated with oxymorphone, induced with diazepam and etomidate, and anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. Preoperatively, animal patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group 1 (n = 13) received buprenorphine (10 μg/kg intravenously [IV]) every 6 hours for 24 hours starting 10 minutes before tracheal extubation. Group 2 (n = 13) received 0.5% bupivacaine (1.5 mg/kg) administered interpleural (IP) by slow injection through a pediatric feeding tube fixed to the most dorsal aspect of the thoracotomy incision. Interpleural injections were administered with each dog placed in lateral recumbency with the incision positioned ventrally; IP injections were administered every 4 hours for 24 hours starting 10 minutes before tracheal extubation. All cases were monitored in the intensive care unit for 24 hours postoper-atively. The analgesic efficacy of each regimen was evaluated using a pain scoring system that included a subjective pain score, heart rate, and respiratory rate. Arterial blood pressure, arterial blood gases, oxygen saturation, body temperature, and changes in the electrocardiogram or neurological status were also noted. Significant increases in mean heart rate, respiratory rate, and total pain score occurred after surgery in dogs in the buprenorphine group. In contrast, dogs in the bupivacaine group had no significant changes when compared with their preoperative values. Dogs in the bupivacaine group had significantly decreased total pain scores and better PaO₂ and oxygen saturation values when compared with the dogs receiving buprenorphine. Hypoventilation did not occur in either group.     

Characteristics of calves produced with sperm sexed by flow cytometry/cell sorting

The objectives of this study were to determine whether calves produced by sexed sperm differed from controls and to what extent the sex ratio of calves was altered by the sexing procedure. Data were collected from 1,169 calves produced from sperm sexed by flow cytometry/cell sorting after staining with Hoechst 33342, and 793 calves produced from control sperm during breeding trials between 1997 and 2001. Least squares ANOVA were completed using factors of treatment (sexed vs. control sperm), 19 management groups from 13 field trials, and calf sex. Responses analyzed include gestation length, birth weight, calving ease, calf vigor, weaning weight, abortion rate, and death rates (neonatal and through weaning). No significant difference was observed for any response due to treatment or treatment interactions (P > 0.10). Therefore, calves produced from sexed sperm grew and developed normally both pre- and postnatally. A neurological disorder was observed in four control calves and one sexed calf from one farm. No gross anatomical abnormalities were reported for any calves in the study. Differences were observed for all responses among management groups (P < 0.03 for abortions and P < 0.01 for all other responses). Heifer and bull calves differed (P < 0.001) in gestation length (278.4 and 279.6 d), birth weight (32.8 and 35.2 kg), calving ease (1.15 and 1.30), and weaning weight (233 and 247 kg). Gestation length did not affect characteristics of calves. The sex ratio at birth of calves from unsexed control sperm was 49.2% male. Sexing accuracy of X-sorted sperm was 87.8% female calves, and Y-sorted sperm produced 92.1% male calves. Flow cytometry/cell sorting can be used to preselect sex of calves safely with approximately 90% accuracy.     

Changes in daily energy amounts of main milk components (lactose, protein and fat) during the lactation of high-yielding dairy cows

The aim of this study was to examine the changes of the daily energy amount of lactose, protein and fat throughout the lactations, and compare them to each other. A total of 309 Israeli Holstein-Friesian cows from one kibbutz were investigated in three lactations, and information was given for a period of five years from 1996 to the end of 2000. The distribution of milk components and milk yield during lactation, and changes of the absolute and relative energy amount in the different milk components were calculated and evaluated. The results showed changes in the energy content of milk and its different components throughout the lactation. Each component (fat, lactose and protein) is dominant in different periods during the lactation. The energy amount from fat reaches a peak first, between days 40 and 50. Lactose has a peak at about day 66 of lactation, and protein reaches the peak last, approximately at day 104 of lactation. It seems that this peak sequence is constant and it is considered to be physiological. It might be suggested that there is a regulation governing the secretion of the different components at different times, and only one component is dominant in a given period. Each component exerts negative and positive influences on the secretion of the other components, which interact with each other and are not fully independent.