Bovine respiratory disease in feedlot cattle: phenotypic, environmental, and genetic correlations with growth, carcass, and longissimus muscle palatability traits

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the most costly feedlot disease in the United States. Selection for disease resistance is one of several possible interventions to prevent or reduce the economic loss associated with animal disease and to improve animal welfare. Undesirable genetic relationships, however, may exist between production and disease resistance traits. The objectives of this study were to estimate the phenotypic, environmental, and genetic correlations of BRD with growth, carcass, and LM palatability traits. Health records on 18,112 feedlot cattle over a 15-yr period and slaughter data on 1,627 steers over a 4-yr period were analyzed with bivariate animal models. Traits included ADG, adjusted carcass fat thickness at the 12th rib, marbling score, LM area, weight of retail cuts, weight of fat trim, bone weight, Warner-Bratzler shear force, tenderness score, and juiciness score. The estimated heritability of BRD incidence was 0.08 +/- 0.01. Phenotypic, environmental, and genetic correlations of the observed traits with BRD ranged from -0.35 to 0.40, -0.36 to 0.55, and -0.42 to 0.20, respectively. Most correlations were low or negligible. The percentage of carcass bone had moderate genetic, phenotypic, and environmental correlations with BRD (-0.42, -0.35, and -0.36, respectively). Hot carcass weight and weight of retail cuts had moderate, undesirable phenotypic correlations with BRD (0.37 and 0.40, respectively). Correlations of BRD with LM palatability and ADG were not detected. Low or near zero estimates of genetic correlations infer that selection to reduce BRD in feedlot cattle would have negligible correlated responses on growth, carcass, and meat palatability traits or that selection for those traits will have little effect on BRD susceptibility or resistance.     

Clinical, humoral and IFNgamma responses of cattle to infection with Mycoplasma mycoides var. mycoides small colony and attempts to condition the pathogenesis of the infection

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), caused by Mycoplasma mycoides var. mycoides small colony (MmmSC), is one of the most important diseases of cattle in Africa. The role of innate or acquired cell mediated and humoral immunity in conferring protection against MmmSC infection has not yet been elucidated. On the other hand, the pathological lesions caused by the aetiological agent have been considered indicative of an immunopathological process. In this study ten na?ve cattle were exposed to in-contact infection with animals infected by intubation with a strain of MmmSC. Clinical signs, antibody response, IFNgamma release and pathological changes at necropsy were analysed and compared with the events following in-contact infection of an equal number of animals kept under daily treatment with cyclosporine for the entire observation period of 84 days. Cyclosporine is a suppressor of the immune response related to the T-cell system. Under the conditions of the experiment, cyclosporine appeared to condition the pathogenesis of CBPP by delaying the events that follow infection, bringing further support to the possibility that the immune response may have an impact on the disease outcome.     

Culicoides biting midges at the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa

Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are responsible for the transmission of a large number of pathogens to livestock and wild animals. In this study the presence of the genus, using light traps based at four different sites within the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, was investigated during 2002-2004. In total, 37 species were recorded, including large numbers of Culicoides imicola Kieffer, 1913, which is responsible for the transmission of economically important arboviruses in South Africa, Europe, Middle and Far East. These results are discussed with reference to the wider Culicoides fauna in the Onderstepoort area of South Africa, their vector competence as well as biosecurity at the National Zoological Gardens.     

Enhancement of enrofloxacin serum antibacterial activity by calcium primed broilers

The aim of this trial was to assess the effect that calcium gluconate priming of 468 broilers has on the antibacterial activity of a standard dose of enrofloxacin. Hence, a series of oral pharmacokinetic studies were carried out in four groups of broilers medicated individually through an oral cannula as follows: group A, medicated only with enrofloxacin 10mg/kg; group B, receiving immediately one after the other, calcium gluconate (200mg/kg) and enrofloxacin 10mg/kg; group C, dosed first with calcium gluconate (200mg/kg) and 1h later enrofloxacin (10mg/kg); and group D, dosed first with calcium gluconate (200mg/kg) and 2h later enrofloxacin (10mg/kg). Broilers were bled at different times after the dose of enrofloxacin and antibacterial activity, measured as concentration of enrofloxacin, was measured by an agar diffusion assay. Results revealed that group D the greatest values of maximum serum concentration (Cs(max)), area under the concentration vs. time curve (AUC) and area under the moment curve (AUMC). These values were statistically higher than the corresponding ones derived from groups A, B and C (P<0.05). Taking Cs(max) and AUC values of group A as reference baseline, an increase of 24% and 50%, respectively, was obtained in group D. Group B had the lowest Cs(max), AUC, AUMC and elimination half life (T(1/2)beta) and these values were statistically different from groups A, C and D (P<0.05). The T(1/2)beta was statistically longer in groups C and D as compared with A and B, and the former groups were also different between each other (P<0.05). These results show that if calcium gluconate is first dosed to broilers and 2h later enrofloxacin is administered (as in group D), a more pronounced antibacterial activity of enrofloxacin can be obtained. A challenge of this sequential dosing scheme in a field trial may reveal its clinical value.     

Studies on the toxicity of an aqueous extract of the leaves of Abrus precatorius in rats

The toxic effects of an aqueous extract of Abrus precatorius were studied in 20 male white rats over a period of 18 days. The rats were divided into four groups of five rats per group. Those in Group A served as controls while the rats in Groups B, C and D were dosed per os with 400 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg and 1 600 mg/kg of the extract, respectively. Blood samples were collected for haematological and biochemical analysis and specimens of the liver, kidney and testes were taken for histopathological studies. The study showed that the extract of A. precatorius caused decreased levels of packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin. The extract also resulted in increased levels of total serum protein, albumin, alanine amino transaminase, aspartate amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin. Histologically, testicular degeneration characterized by decreased numbers of lining cells of the epithelium as well as reduction in sperm cells with presence of scattered Sertoli cells were noted. The study thus showed that aqueous extract of Abrus precatorius is toxic and caution should be exercised in its use for medicinal purpose.     

Pre-partum monensin supplementation improves body reserves at calving and milk yield in Holstein cows dried-off with low body condition score

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a monensin controlled-release capsule administered intraruminally at drying-off on body condition score (BCS) at calving, milk yield, fertility and concentration of energy-related blood metabolites in Holstein cows dried-off with low BCS (< or = 3.0, scale 1 to 5 with a 0.25 point of increment). Between July and August, 2001, 220 cows from parity 2 or more and dried-off 50-70 days before expected parturition, with a BCS < or = 3.0 were randomly assigned to either a treatment group (n=110; oral capsule of monensin releasing 335 mg/day for 95 days) or a control group (no capsule, n=110). At assignment, on day 21 before expected parturition, at calving, and at 7, 14, and 21 days in milk a blood sample was obtained from a random sub sample of 10 cows per group. Effects of monensin on serum NEFA, BHBA and glucose were measured. Milk yield, milk fat and protein content (%) at DHIA test days during the entire lactation, 305 ME milk production and reproductive responses were compared. Monensin significantly improved BCS at calving, increased milk yield at test days 4 and 8, decreased the percentage of milk protein, did not change the percentage of milk fat, and decreased NEFA and BHBA during the post-partum period.     

Detection of antibodies to Francisella tularensis in cats

Blood samples were obtained from privately owned cats in Connecticut and New York State, USA in 1985-1990, and analyzed for evidence of Francisella tularensis, the etiologic agent of tularemia. Of the 91 sera tested by microagglutination (MA) methods, 11 (12%) contained antibodies to F. tularensis. Analyses of the same sera by indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) staining methods revealed 22 (24%) positives. There was good agreement in results of both tests (73% concordance). However, we measured higher titers (1:80 to 1:640) with IFA analysis than by MA methods (1:80 to 1:160). Both tests were suitable for general screening purposes. The DNA of F.tularensis was not detected in the 24 antibody-positive sera tested. Cats living in Connecticut and New York State were naturally exposed to F.tularensis or a closely related organism. With exposure to ticks, other biting arthropods, mice, and rabbits, cats are at risk for acquiring F.tularensis infections and can be an important source of information on the presence of this agent in nature.     

Optimising cutting method and timing for the control of Abutilon theophrasti seed production

Abutilon theophrasti (velvetleaf) is a widespread and problematic annual weed. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different cutting methods on the viability of A. theophrasti seeds. Three cutting methods were assessed: (1) Entire plant cut and dried (EPD)—plants were cut at soil level and dried with capsules attached on the greenhouse bench or soil surface for 4 weeks; (2) capsules detached and dried (CD)—capsules were removed from plants and dried for 4 weeks; and (3) capsules detached and tested while fresh (CF)—a control treatment. Before drying, the developmental stage (stage one, dark green; stage two, light green; stage three, yellowish-green; or stage four, black with the slightly open capsule) and age (days after flowering, DAF) of each capsule was recorded. Seed viability was measured immediately in the CF treatment and after the 4-week drying period in the EPD and CD treatments. No seeds in the EPD and CD treatments were viable when harvested at the first developmental stage (1–8 DAF) in either experiment, but 100% of seeds in the CF treatment in the field were viable when harvested at 8 DAF. In both greenhouse and field experiments, seeds attained full viability at earlier harvest ages in CF than in EPD or CD treatments, suggesting that seeds might become viable relatively early in development but lose viability if allowed to dry. These findings could be applied to optimise late-season mechanical control of A. theophrasti.