Hot iron branding--not a reasonable requirement for international trade in live ruminants

"Brand" means a permanent identification mark of which the letters, numbers and figures used are each three (3) inches or more in length or diameter and are humanely burned into the hide of a live animal with a hot iron or tattoo or caustic chemical substance and is to be considered in relation to its location on the animal and the term relates to both the mark and location.     

Comparison of pharmacokinetics of danofloxacin and enrofloxacin in calves challenged with Mannheimia haemolytica

OBJECTIVE: To compare concentrations of danofloxacin, enrofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin in plasma and respiratory tissues of calves treated after challenge with Mannheimia haemolytica. ANIMALS: 75 calves. PROCEDURE: 24 hours after challenge with M. haemolytica, 72 calves with clinical signs of respiratory tract disease were randomly assigned to 1 of 12 equal treatment groups.Three nonchallenged, nontreated calves formed a control group. Challenged calves were treated with danofloxacin (6 and 8 mg/kg, SC) and enrofloxacin (8 mg/kg, SC) once. At 1, 2, 6, and 12 hours after treatment, 6 calves from each treatment group were euthanatized. Antimicrobial drug concentrations were assayed in various specimens. Peak plasma concentration (Cmax)-to-minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC; Cmax-to-MIC) ratios and the area under the concentration versus time curve over a 12-hour period-to-MIC ratios (AUC(12h)-to-MIC) were calculat-ed. RESULTS: Danofloxacin and enrofloxacin had MICs of 0.03 microg/mL for the M. haemolytica challenge isolate. Danofloxacin administered at doses of 6 and 8 mg/kg resulted in numerically higher geometric mean concentrations of danofloxacin in plasma and all respiratory tissues than geometric mean concentrations of enrofloxacin after treatment with enrofloxacin. Geometric mean concentrations of enrofloxacin were numerically higher than geometric mean concentrations of ciprofloxacin metabolite in plasma and almost all respiratory tissues. Danofloxacin and enrofloxacin achieved Cmax-to-MIC ratios >10 and AUC(12h)-to-MIC ratios >125 hours. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: When used to treat pneumonic pasteurellosis in calves, danofloxacin and enrofloxacin can be expected to deliver concentration-dependent bactericidal activity against M. haemolytica, the bacteria most commonly associated with bovine respiratory tract disease.     

Evaluation of microbial culture of pooled fecal samples for detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis in large dairy herds

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate sensitivity of microbial culture of pooled fecal samples for detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (MAP) in large dairy herds and assess the use of the method for estimation of MAP prevalence. ANIMALS: 1,740 lactating cows from 29 dairy herds in California. PROCEDURE: Serum from each cow was tested by use of a commercial ELISA kit. Individual fecal samples were cultured and used to create pooled fecal samples (10 randomly selected fecal samples/pool; 6 pooled samples/herd). Sensitivity of MAP detection was compared between Herrold's egg yolk (HEY) agar and a new liquid culture method. Bayesian methods were used to estimate true prevalence of MAP-infected cows and herd sensitivity. RESULTS: Estimated sensitivity for pooled fecal samples among all herds was 0.69 (25 culture-positive pools/36 pools that were MAP positive). Sensitivity increased as the number of culture-positive samples in a pool increased. The HEY agar method detected more infected cows than the liquid culture method but had lower sensitivity for pooled fecal samples. Prevalence of MAP-infected cows was estimated to be 4% (95% probability interval, 2% to 6%) on the basis of culture of pooled fecal samples. Herd-level sensitivity estimate ranged from 90% to 100% and was dependent on prevalence in the population and the sensitivity for culture of pooled fecal samples. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Use of pooled fecal samples from 10 cows was a cost-effective tool for herd screening and may provide a good estimate of the percentage of MAP-infected cows in dairy herds with a low prevalence of MAP.     

Agroforestry for Livelihood Security in Agrarian Landscapes of the Padma Floodplain in Bangladesh

In the Padma floodplain of Bangladesh, the traditional system of agriculture has become unsustainable due to high population growth. Mango-based agroforestry which has been practiced by the farmers since the 1990s, is a promising alternative and is considered as one of the few options to lift farmers out of poverty and improve livelihood security. This paper examines the potential of mango-based agroforestry to improve livelihoods, using data collected by rapid rural appraisal, farmer participatory research, stakeholder analysis and a farm household survey in six representative villages in the floodplain. Farmers with the least land were found to allocate a higher percentage of their land to agroforestry, and the increased income from agroforestry compared to other agricultural systems helps reduce relative poverty. This income maintains basic household needs, providing food security and fuelwood, and contributes to healthcare, housing and sanitation conditions, and meeting educational expenses.     

Effects of Ω-3 (n-3) Fatty Acid Supplementation on Insulin Sensitivity in Horses

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of dietary ω-3 fatty acid supplementation on insulin sensitivity (SI) in horses. Twenty-one mares were blocked by age, body weight (BW), and body condition score (BCS) and randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments. Treatments consisted of (1) 38 g of n-3 fatty acids via fish and algae supplement and diet (MARINE), (2) 38 g of n-3 fatty acids via a flaxseed meal from the supplement and diet (FLAX), and (3) control (CON) no supplemental fatty acid. Treatments were supplemented for 90 days. Frequent sampling intravenous glucose tolerance tests were performed on days 0, 30, 60, and 90. Blood samples were analyzed for glucose and insulin. The minimal model was applied for the glucose and insulin curves using MinMod Millennium. SI increased 39% (P < .007) across all treatment groups. Acute insulin response to glucose decreased 22% (P < .006) between days 30 and 60 and increased (P = .040) again at day 90. Disposition index (combined SI and β pancreatic response) increased (P = .03) by 53% in the MARINE- and 48% in the FLAX-supplemented horses and did not change with time in the CON group. In insulin-resistant mares, MARINE- and FLAX-treated horses had an increase in SI (P = .09). It would be interesting to test this supplement in a larger group of insulin-resistant horses. If proven effective, supplementation with ω-3 fatty acids would help to reduce problems associated with insulin resistance in horses.