The effect of different combinations of local anaesthesia,sedative and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on daily growth rates of dairy calves after disbudding

AIM: To assess the effect of sedation and local anaesthesia (LA) at disbudding, and the addition of meloxicam or ketoprofen treatment, on weight gain in dairy calves following disbudding.

METHODS: Friesian-Jersey cross calves, from four dairy farms, were enrolled when 3–6 weeks old. All calves (n=271) were disbudded by veterinary personnel and randomly assigned to six groups: 136 were disbudded without sedation or LA, of which 31 received 20 mg meloxicam S/C and 75 received 150 mg ketoprofen I/M. A further 135 were disbudded with sedation (0.25 mg/kg xylazine I/M) and LA, of which 30 also received meloxicam and 75 received ketoprofen. Calves were weighed 3 days before, and 15 and 30 days after, disbudding (Day 0). Daily weight gain was analysed using mixed models and ANOVA.

RESULTS: Complete results were obtained from 263 calves. From Day ?3 to Day 15, the growth rate of calves disbudded without pain relief (0.53 (95% CI=0.47–0.60) kg/day) was less that of calves disbudded with some form of pain relief (0.65 (95% CI=0.62–0.68) kg/d; p=0.004). There was no difference between the effect of meloxicam or ketoprofen (p=1.00). An interaction between use of sedation and LA and additional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) meant that NSAID treatment did not increase growth rates in calves disbudded with sedation and LA but did increase growth rates for calves disbudded without pain relief (p<0.05). From Day 16 to Day 30 there was no effect of NSAID treatment on growth rate, but calves receiving LA and sedation grew faster (0.74 (95% CI=0.69–0.80) kg/day) than calves disbudded without LA and sedation (0.66 (95% CI=0.61–0.71) kg/day; p=0.018). From Day ?3 to Day 30, calves disbudded with sedation and LA grew faster (0.71 (95%CI=0.64–0.77) kg/day) than calves disbudded without sedation and LA (0.60 (95% CI=0.55–0.65) kg/day; p=0.011). However, addition of NSAID to sedation and LA made no further difference to growth rates (p=0.69).

CONCLUSIONS: Dairy calves disbudded with no pain relief had slower growth rates than calves receiving pain relief. From Day 15 to 30 calves given no pain relief, or NSAID alone, grew more slowly than those receiving sedation and LA at disbudding. The addition of NSAID treatment to sedation and LA did not further increase growth rates.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study adds to the evidence that pain management when disbudding is beneficial for calf productivity as well as calf welfare.     

An epizootic of bovine ephemeral fever in New South Wales in 2008 associated with long-distance dispersal of vectors

Objective To report the rapid transmission of bovine ephemeral fever ( BEF) virus from north-western New South Wales south to the Victorian border in January 2008 and to present data that suggests an uncommon meteorological event caused this rapid southward dispersal of vectors. Procedure The locations of reported clinical cases, data from sentinel herds and results from a survey of cattle in the southern affected area were examined to delineate the distribution of virus transmission. Synoptic weather charts for January 2008 were examined for meteorological conditions that may have favoured movement of vectors in a southerly direction. Results Cases of BEF and exposure to BEF virus in NSW were confirmed west of the Great Dividing Range, extending from the Queensland border to Finley, on the far North Coast and around the Hunter Valley. A low-pressure system moved south across the state on 18–19 January 2008, preceding the first cases of BEF in the south of NSW by 1–2 days. Conclusion Heavy rainfall in December 2007 provided a suitable environment for vector breeding, resulting in the initiation of and support for continuing BEF virus transmission in north-western NSW. The movement of a low-pressure system south across central western NSW in mid-January 2008 after the commencement of BEF virus transmission in the north-west of the state provided a vehicle for rapid southward movement of infected vectors.     

Variable very-high-energy gamma-ray emission from the microquasar LS I +61 303

Microquasars are binary star systems with relativistic radio-emitting jets. They are potential sources of cosmic rays and can be used to elucidate the physics of relativistic jets. We report the detection of variable gamma-ray emission above 100 gigaelectron volts from the microquasar LS I 61 + 303. Six orbital cycles were recorded. Several detections occur at a similar orbital phase, which suggests that the emission is periodic. The strongest gamma-ray emission is not observed when the two stars are closest to one another, implying a strong orbital modulation of the emission or absorption processes.     

Application of the 51Cr-EDTA urinary recovery test for assessment of intestinal permeability in the horse

Altered intestinal permeability is implicated in the pathogenesis of diverse equine medical conditions including alimentary laminitis and protein-losing enteropathies associated with parasitic infection. The aims of this study were to assess the feasibility of applying the 51Cr-EDTA absorption test for the assessment of intestinal permeability in the horse, and to apply this test in horses with experimentally induced alterations in gastrointestinal function. Four healthy ponies were administered 36 MBq of 51Cr-EDTA via naso-gastric tube, and urine samples were collected into polythene bags strapped to the pony's abdomen. Total urine voided every 6 h was collected during each test, and 1 ml samples were taken for measurement of gamma-radiation. Urinary recovery of 51Cr-EDTA was measured following intravenous atropine sulphate or bethanecol, and following 22 and 46 days of administration of 250,000 third-stage cyathostome larvae. There was no significant difference in urinary 51Cr-EDTA recovery following the control treatment, and following atropine or bethanecol administration, but significant increases were detected in the animals with experimental cyathostome infection consistent with increased permeability of the intestinal membrane. Motility modifying agents (bethanecol and atropine) did not affect absorption of 51Cr-EDTA, suggesting that subtle changes in motility might not affect the ability of this test to detect altered intestinal permeability. The finding of increased urinary recovery of 51Cr-EDTA in ponies with cyathostome infection suggests that 51Cr-EDTA may be a useful marker for assessment of intestinal permeability in the horse.     

Fagacées: a tree-centered growth and yield model for sessile oak (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus petraea</Emphasis> L.) and common beech (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus sylvatica</Emphasis> L.)

• Introduction  

Fagacées is a growth model that has been developed for pure Oak or Beech stand management in even-aged high forests and coppice with standards forests. It has been calibrated for the plain forests of northern France.     

Evolution of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) in the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from the Iberian Peninsula

To date information on rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) in Spain and Portugal has been scarce, although the disease is endemic and continues to have a considerable impact on species conservation and hunting industry. We analysed RHDVs obtained between 1994 and 2007 at different geographic locations in Portugal (40 samples), Spain (3 samples) and France (4 samples) from wild European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) that succumbed to the disease. Phylogenetic analyses based on partial VP60 gene sequences allowed a grouping of these RHDVs into three groups, termed "Iberian" Groups IB1, IB2 and IB3. Interestingly, these three Iberian groups clustered separately, though not far from earlier RHDVs of Genogroup 1 (containing e.g., strain "AST89"), but clearly distinct from globally described RHDV strains of Genogroups 2-6. This result, supported by a bootstrap value of 76%, gives rise to the hypothesis that the virus evolved independently since its introduction to wild rabbit populations on the Iberian Peninsula, with the Pyrenees acting as a natural barrier to rabbit and hence to virus dispersal. No differences were observed in RHDV sequences obtained from geographic regions where the rabbit subspecies O. c. algirus prevails compared with those obtained from O. c. cuniculus.     

Effect of bandaging on second intention healing of wounds of the distal limb in horses

Objective   To evaluate the effect of a non-occlusive dressing incorporated in a 3-layer bandage on second intention healing of wounds of the distal portion of the limb.
Study Design   Untreated wounds in 33 adult horses used in four studies using the same wound-healing model conducted over 5 years.
Methods   Standardised, full-thickness wounds were made in the skin overlying the dorsomedial aspect of the mid-metacarpus; 17 horses were bandaged with a non-occlusive dressing covered by gauze-coated cotton wool that was compressed with adhesive tape; 16 horses were left unbandaged. Wounds were photographed weekly for 9 weeks and the images were analysed electronically.
Results   There were significant effects associated with bandage (P < 0.0001), week (P < 0.001), and bandage by week interaction (P < 0.0001). There was no difference in wound area at the first time-point after wound creation (P = 0.38). After week 1, there was a difference between bandaged and unbandaged wounds in wound area at each measurement until the end of the study. Bandaged wounds showed greater and more prolonged retraction. Unbandaged wounds retracted for 2 weeks before beginning to contract, whereas bandaged wounds continued to retract for 3 weeks. In bandaged wounds excess granulation tissue required regular trimming, but not in unbandaged wounds. There was no difference between groups in the total days to healing or the overall rate of healing.
Conclusions   These results should be treated with caution until validated with contemporaneous, controlled studies. Covering a wound with a non-occlusive dressing in a 3-layer bandage led to greater wound retraction, modulated the rate of wound contraction and promoted excessive granulation tissue. If excessive granulation tissue is excised regularly, bandaging has no effect on total time to healing.     

一例犬细小病毒病的诊断与治疗

犬细小病毒病是由犬细小病毒引起的以出血性肠炎或非化脓性心肌炎为主要特征的一类疾病.根据发病情况、临床特征、剖检变化、实验室诊断等情况,对一例犬细小病毒病临床病例进行了诊断并采取了相应的治疗措施,取得了较好的效果.     

Resistance to glyphosate in Lolium rigidum

Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) is a widespread and important weed of Australia and populations of this weed have developed resistance to most major herbicides, including glyphosate. The possible mechanisms of resistance have been examined in one glyphosate-resistant Lolium population. No major differences were observed between resistant and susceptible biotypes in respect of (i) the target enzyme (EPSP synthase), (ii) DAHP synthase, the first enzyme of the target (shikimate) pathway, (iii) absorption of glyphosate, or (iv) translocation. Following treatment with glyphosate, there was greater accumulation of shikimate (derived from shikimate-3-Pi) in susceptible than in resistant plants. In addition, the resistant population exhibited cross-resistance to 2-hydroxy-3-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propyl phosphonate, a herbicide which, although structurally similar to glyphosate, acts at an unrelated target site. On the basis of these observations we speculate that movement of glyphosate to its site of action in the plastid is involved in the resistance mechanism. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry