Nutritional effects on the growth and fatness of broilers

1. Broiler chickens given diets high in protein, or choice-fed on a high protein balancer, had much lower abdominal fat contents than those reported in many recent experiments. The values for males were 10.8 g/kg liveweight at 56 d at 2.43 kg liveweight in one experiment in Scotland and 16.0 g/kg liveweight at 42 d at 1.93 kg liveweight in another in South Africa. For females the values were 18.8 g/kg liveweight at 56 d at 2.15 kg liveweight in Scotland and 15.7 g/kg liveweight at 42 d at 1.60 kg in South Africa. 2. The content of abdominal fat was, in general, increased by reducing the protein content of the diet or by dilution of the food with oil or starch. It was, in general, reduced by diluting the food with dietary fibre which also reduced liveweight gain. 3. The results are consistent with the idea that chickens attempt to control their food intake so that they achieve a particular fatness. This level of fatness differs between the sexes and between degrees of maturity.     

Rabies surveillance in the United States during 1989

In 1989, 4,808 cases of rabies in animals other than human beings were reported to the Centers for Disease Control, 1.8% more (4,724 to 4,808) than in 1988. Eighty-eight percent (4,224/4,808) of those affected were wild animals and 12% (584/4,808) were domestic animals. Cases were reported from 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico; Hawaii remained rabies-free. Skunks (1,657) continued to be the most commonly reported rabid wild animal. For the second consecutive year, more cats (212) were reported to be infected with rabies virus than any other domestic species. Compared with their 1988 reports, 5 states reported increases of greater than 100% (Alaska, 109%; New Jersey, 233%; Ohio, 133%; Oklahoma, 168%; and Washington, 125%), and 5 states reported decreases of greater than 50% (Connecticut, 63%; Mississippi, 56%; Montana, 67%; Nevada, 55%; and West Virginia, 53%) in 1989.     

Surgical repair of peripheral detachment of the medial meniscus in 34 cattle

A detachment of the periphery of the medial meniscus from the joint capsule and medial collateral ligament in 34 cattle was repaired by securing the meniscus to the joint capsule with vertical mattress sutures during arthrotomy. Of 28 cattle with follow-up reports, 20 had recovered satisfactorily by their owners' evaluations; 17 were either not lame or slightly lame after the operation and three were moderately lame. Three of four cattle without follow-up reports were either not lame or slightly lame when discharged from the hospital.     

The pathogenesis of velogenic Newcastle disease virus infection of chickens of different ages and different levels of immunity

Chickens of 7 weeks or 20 weeks of age were divided into three groups according to their antibody status (high, low, absent) and were infected with a velogenic viscerotropic Newcastle disease virus. To follow patterns of viral replication, birds were necropsied at regular intervals up to 22 days and organs were sampled from each bird. In non-immune birds, virus could be isolated from all organs examined. In birds with antibody, virus was most frequently isolated from the proventriculus, cecal tonsil, bursa, and brain. However, because no one organ could be recommended for all situations, all four should be sampled for field diagnosis. In immune birds, although clinical signs were either mild or absent, widespread virus replication occurred up to 19 days post-challenge.     

Determination of a sedative dose and influence of midazolam on cardiopulmonary function in Canada geese

Midazolam HCl (1.0 or 2.0 mg/kg of body weight) was administered IM to 6 Canada geese to determine a sedative dose that would allow positioning for radiologic examination. The effects of both test doses on cardiopulmonary function were evaluated at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40 minutes after drug administration and were compared with 2 end-tidal isoflurane concentrations (1.5 and 2.5%). The 2.0 mg/kg dosage induced moderate sedation at 15 and 20 minutes; sedation was adequate for positioning the geese. Sedation induced by the 1.0 mg/kg dosage was inadequate. The effects of both test doses on blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature were not significantly different from each other and from baseline data. Respiratory rate increased significantly (P less than 0.05) at 10, 15, 20, and 30 minutes with the 2.0 mg/kg dosage, and at 15 and 20 minutes with the 1.0 mg/kg dosage. Blood pressure and respiratory rate were significantly (P less than 0.05) decreased with isoflurane when compared with baseline data and the midazolam test doses. The results of this study indicate that midazolam at a dosage of 2.0 mg/kg induces adequate sedation with minimal cardiopulmonary changes, and, as an alternative to general anesthesia with isoflurane, provides a satisfactory level of restraint for radiography.     

Role of oxytocin and/or PGF2 alpha on breeding efficiency in buffaloes

A study was conducted on 40 buffalo-cows, assigned randomly, immediately after calving into three groups: group I (n = 10) injected with saline and taken as control; group II (n = 15) received 25 mg PGF2 alpha/animal (Lutalyse); group III (n = 15) received 25 mg PGF2 alpha + 25 i.u. oxytocin/animal (Syntocinon), single i.m. dose. Oxytocin and/or PGF2 alpha significantly (P less than 0.01) shortened the interval from calving to first service (38.33 and 31.53 days for groups II and III respectively, versus 91.60 days for controls). The treatment reduced the service period (38.29 and 35.87 days for groups II and III respectively, versus 45.40 days for controls). Concomitantly a significant (P less than 0.01) decrease in the open-days post partum was achieved (76.62 and 67.40 days for groups II and III respectively, versus 137.00 days for controls). In addition, the treated buffaloes needed significantly (P less than 0.01) fewer services per conception (1.67 and 1.20 S/C for groups II and III respectively) than the untreated ones (2.70 S/C), besides a substantial improvement (P less than 0.01) in their conception rate either at 60 or 85 days post partum. Significantly improved (P less than 0.05) results were obtained in the oxytocin and PGF2 alpha treated animals, than in those receiving PGF2 alpha alone for all the previous parameters, except for the service period. Buffaloes therefore seemed to respond better to such treatment than dairy cows.     

Absorption of equations for non-parents for an animal model with maternal effects and genetic groups

Rules for forming the mixed-model equations for the reduced animal model with all relationships and including maternal effects have been set out by Quaas and Pollak. They also have shown how to simplify the mixed-model equations when genetic group effects are included in the model with what has become known as the Q-P transformation. Westell has given rules for calculating the coefficients for the Q-P transformed equations that are associated with the inverse of the numerator relationship matrix and genetic group effects. Those rules can be extended to include maternal effects and genetic groups for maternal as well as direct effects. As with the rules of Quaas and Pollak for the equations for the reduced animal model, a similar set of rules can be obtained for the genetic groups model after the Q-P transformation. The rules are derived easily by examining the algebraic results of absorbing the direct and maternal breeding value equations for non-parents into the parent breeding value, group and fixed effects equations. These rules involve Westell's rules and the inverse elements of the genetic (co)variance matrix for direct and maternal additive genetic effects. The rules make calculation of breeding values for parents for models including direct and maternal genetic group effects nearly as easy as for models without genetic group effects. Back solution for direct and maternal breeding values of non-parents similarly is as simple as when genetic group effects are not in the model.     

Fatty acid supplementation and skin disease

The importance of dietary fatty acids to the health of the skin was recognized more than 60 years ago. Fatty acids are important in providing membrane fluidity and maintaining the cutaneous water permeability barrier. Fatty acids function as precursors of eicosanoids. Eicosanoids, which include prostaglandins and leukotrienes, influence cellular interactions, cellular proliferation, and inflammation. Certain diseases, such as atopy and hypothyroidism, are characterized by abnormalities in fatty acid metabolism. Dietary manipulations may be useful in the treatment of diseases mediated by eicosanoids.     

Relationship between oocyte maturation and fertilization on zygotic diversity in swine

Two experiments were conducted to examine how oocyte maturation and fertilization influence zygotic diversity in swine. In the first experiment, the distribution of oocyte maturation was compared to that of zygotic development. Oocytes were aspirated from follicles of 31 gilts and classified into stages of meiosis. Zygotes were flushed from oviducts of 19 additional gilts and classified into stages of meiosis and fertilization. The second experiment examined whether the time from ovulation to fertilization was constant among all oocytes. To test this premise, four to six oocytes from follicles of 10 mated gilts were aspirated just before or during ovulation, stained and transferred back into the oviducts of these same gilts. Zygotes were recovered 10 h later to determine whether the first oocytes ovulated were the more developed zygotes and, conversely, whether the last oocytes to be ovulated represented the lesser developed contemporaries. The skewed (P less than .05) distribution of oocyte maturation was similar to that of zygotic development. Regression of the frequency distribution describing early oocyte maturation resulted in a line with a slope (.59) that was similar to the slope (.58) of the regressed distribution of zygotic development. Likewise, the order of ovulation and order of subsequent stages of zygotic development were similar. These data suggest that variation in zygotic development in swine was due to variability in oogenesis; the time from ovulation to fertilization appeared to be constant.