Early weaning and postweaning nutritional management affect feedlot performance of angus x simmental heifers and the relationship of 12th rib fat and marbling score to feed efficiency

Early-weaned Angus x Simmental heifers were used to evaluate the effects of postweaning nutritional management on feedlot performance, carcass merit, and the relationship of intramuscular and subcutaneous fat deposition to the feed efficiency among heifers fed for a high-quality market. Sixteen heifers were weaned at 73+/-5.5 d of age and grazed on endophyte-infected tall fescue for 18 mo before entering the feedlot (early-weaned-P). Eighty heifers from the following year's calf crop were weaned at 71+/-5.5 d of age and allowed either ad libitum access to a 25% concentrate diet (early-weaned-25C) or limit-fed a 90% concentrate diet (early-weaned-90C) to achieve a similar ADG. Following a 119-d growing period, 16 early-weaned-90C and 16 early-weaned-25C calves were paired based on BW and growth rate and individually fed during the finishing period along with the early-weaned-P heifers. Ultrasound measurements of s.c. and i.m. fat were recorded at approximately 60-d intervals throughout the finishing period. Feed efficiency was regressed against s.c. and i.m. fat, and i.m. fat was regressed on s.c. fat. Despite a similar ADG, early-weaned-90C calves gained more efficiently (P < or = 0.05) in the feedlot than early-weaned-25C calves. Heifers finished as yearlings tended (P < or = 0.10) to gain faster but gained less efficiently (P < or = 0.01) than early-weaned-90C heifers finished as calves. The rate of s.c. and i.m. fat deposition was similar between early-weaned-90C and early-weaned-25C heifer calves. The calves were grouped together for comparison to yearlings. Feed efficiency decreased quadratically (P < or = 0.01) as s.c. fat cover increased. The rate at which feed efficiency decreased relative to increasing s.c. fat cover was similar regardless of age at feedlot entry. However, heifers finished as calves gained more efficiently (P < or = 0.01) than yearlings at any given fat thickness. Feed efficiency decreased linearly (P < or = 0.01) as i.m. fat increased among heifers finished as calves. Additionally, heifers finished as calves deposited i.m. fat at a faster rate relative to s.c. fat (P < or = 0.01) than yearlings. These data suggest that heifers finished as calves produce high-quality carcasses with less s.c. fat cover while gaining more efficiently than heifers finished as yearlings.     

A multisite case report on the clinical use of sevoflurane in dogs

The purpose of this report was to evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of sevoflurane as an inhalant anesthetic in dogs. Subjective and objective data from 196 clinical cases utilizing sevoflurane as the maintenance anesthetic was collected at three sites. After preanesthetic evaluation, the attending anesthesiologist assigned the dogs to one of the following six anesthetic protocols: protocol 1, oxymorphone premedication and thiopental induction; protocol 2, oxymorphone/acetylpromazine premedication and thiopental induction; protocol 3, xylazine/butorphanol premedication and thiopental induction; protocol 4, opioid premedication and propofol induction; protocol 5, optional premedication and mask induction with sevoflurane in oxygen; and protocol 6, optional premedication and optional induction. The average quality of induction, maintenance, and recovery was good to excellent in all protocols. The three most common side effects during maintenance and recovery were hypotension, tachypnea, and apnea. Sevoflurane produces anesthesia in dogs comparable to the other inhalation anesthetics currently used (i.e., halothane and isoflurane) for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.     

Epidemiology and significance of chicken infectious anemia virus infections in broilers and broiler parents under nonvaccinated European circumstances

A serologic survey in unvaccinated broiler parent and broiler progeny flocks demonstrated seroconversion against chicken infecrious anemia virus (CIAV) in all parent flocks before or around point of lay and in 38% of the broiler flocks examined at slaughter age. The presence of CIAV antibodies at slaughter of broilers was positively correlated with slaughterhouse condemnation rates. Results indicate that CIAV infections are highly prevalent in both broiler parent and broiler flocks and that CIAV infections in broilers are associated with increased slaughterhouse condemnation.     

Effect of a valine residue at codon 352 of the VP2 capsid protein on in vivo replication and pathogenesis of Aleutian disease parvovirus in mink

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a group of 3 genetic differences in the nonstructural protein (NS1) or 1 genetic difference in the structural protein (VP2) of Aleutian disease parvovirus (ADV) is responsible for an increase in the in vivo replication and pathogenicity of G/U-8, a chimera of ADV-G (nonpathogenic) and ADV-Utah (pathogenic), compared with G/U-10. ANIMALS: 32 eight-month-old female sapphire mink (Mustela vison). PROCEDURE: Chimeric viruses were constructed, propagated in vitro, and used to inoculate mink. Antiviral antibody responses, presence of serum viral nucleic acid, and serum gamma globulin concentrations were monitored for 120 days following inoculation. Histologic examination of the liver, kidneys, spleen, and mesenteric lymph nodes was performed after necropsy. RESULTS: A chimera containing only the 3 amino acid substitutions in NS1 did not elicit measurable responses indicative of replication or pathogenicity in inoculated mink. Serum antiviral antibody responses, frequency of detection of viral nucleic acid in serum, gamma globulin response, and histologic changes in mink inoculated with chimeras containing a valine residue at codon 352 (352V) of VP2 capsid were increased, compared with values from mink inoculated with chimeric viruses that did not contain 352V. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A valine residue at codon 352 in the VP2 capsid protein of ADV affects in vivo viral replication and pathogenicity. This amino acid may be part of an incompletely defined pathogenic determinant of ADV. Further characterization of the pathogenic determinant may allow future development of focused preventive and therapeutic interventions for Aleutian disease of mink.     

Plasma ascorbic acid concentrations in healthy dogs

Using a highly sensitive and selective analytical method and careful stability control, plasma concentrations of ascorbic acid were determined in German Shepherd Dogs, Labrador Retrievers and Siberian Huskies, a total 99 animals. Mean concentration was 35.9 micromol l(-1)(range 18.2-50.7), and no significant variation was observed neither between breeds nor between females and males. These and previous reported data on plasma ascorbic acid levels in dogs are discussed in the light of methodological aspects.     

Detection of Pasteurella multocida in pigs with porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome.

Comprehensive bacterial cultures were made on samples from 20 pigs that had died of porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome after a short clinical illness. Eleven species of porcine bacterial pathogens and a range of commensal organisms were isolated. Pasteurella multocida was isolated from 16 of the 20 cases but the other pathogens occurred much less commonly. P. multocida was isolated from between one and five sites per case and from the tonsils, retropharyngeal lymph node or lungs in 14 of the 16 cases. Immunohistochemical investigations of kidneys from 30 cases of the syndrome (including the 20 cases in the bacteriological study) revealed P. multocida-specific staining in 26 of the cases, primarily in the renal tubular epithelial cells of the proximal convoluted tubules, but also in the glomeruli, in lesions of renal vasculitis and in the cytoplasm of interstitial mononuclear cells.     

Alteration of body composition in rats: effect of organic chromium and L-carnitine

A growth trial was carried out to test the effect of organic, trivalent chromium and L-carnitine on the body composition of growing rats. At the same time, an evaluation of different measurement methods (weight of epididymal fat pad, adipocyte morphometry, total body electrical conductivity) was performed. Outbred Wistar rats of 30 days of age were fed diets of different (0, 10 and 20%) protein level. The diets were supplemented with 4 mg/kg Cr as chromium nicotinate, and 100 mg/kg L-carnitine. The experimental feeding lasted 15 days, after a 5-day-long adjustment period. It was found that Cr addition increased feed intake. Both treatments caused changes in body composition, increasing fat and protein deposition. Organic chromium had no effect at either protein level, while L-carnitine improved the protein retention only at an optimum (20%) protein supply. No statistically significant correlation was found between total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC) and body composition, which could be attributed to the great individual differences. A close correlation was found among total body fat percentage, weight of epididymal fat pad and the adipocyte surface. The data suggest that there is an interaction between dietary protein supply and the effect of repartitioning agents.