Reproductive performance of nili-ravi buffaloes after a single injection of GnRH earlypost partum

Summary Sixty dairy buffaloes (second to fourth lactation) from a large buffalo farm were used to compare the effects of single intramuscular injections of 100 µg gondadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH), 250 µg GnRH or saline given on day 14post partum. The buffaloes had calved at the end of the breeding season (December). Milk samples for progesterone determination were taken at the time of injection and then three times a week either until first insemination or until around day 90post partum. GnRH given at 14 dayspost partum resulted in quicker completion of uterine involution, earlier resumption of ovarian activity, shorter intervals between calving and conception and a better first service conception rate in non-suckled dairy buffaloes. Differences between the results obtained by a GnRH dose level of 100 µg and 250 µg were non-significant. In the post-treatment period cases of prolonged luteal activity were common in all groups of buffaloes. Therefore the sequential administration of GnRH and prostaglandin is suggested for the management of post-partum reproductive activity in problem herds.

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Desempeno Reproductivo De Bufalos Nili-Ravi Despues De Una Sola Inyeccion De GnRH Temprano Despues Del Post-Parto

Resumen Sesenta búfalos lecheros (segunda a cuarta lactancia) pertenecientes a un hato grande fueron utilizados para comparar los efectos de inyecciones intramusculares de 100 µg de GnRH, 250 µg y de solución salina, aplicadas 14 días después del parto. Los búfalos habian parido al final de la estación de pariciones (diciembre). Se tomaron muestras de leche para medir progesterona, en el momento de la inyección y después tres veces por semana hasta la primera inseminación, o hasta cerca de los 90 días post-parto. La GnRH administrada 14 días post-parto, dio como resultado una rápida involución uterina, más rápido retorno a la actividad ovárica, más cortos intervalos entre partos y concepción, y un mejor índice servicio-concepción en búfalos lecheros que no estaban amamantando. Los resultados de dosis de 100 µg y 250 µg no fueron significativos. En el período post-tratamiento, los casos de actividad luteal prolongada fueron comunes en todos los grupos de búfalos. Se sugiere entonces, la administración secuencial de GnRH y prostaglandina, parar el manejo de la actividad reproductiva post-parto en hatos problema.

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Performances De Reproduction Du Buffle Nili-Ravi Apres Une Injection Unique PrecocePost Partum De Gonadotrophine (GnRH)

Résumé Soixante bufflesses laitières (de la seconde à la quatrième lactation), appartenant à une grande ferme d'élevage de buffles, ont été utilisées pour comparer les effets d'une injection unique intramusculaire de 100 µg de gonadotrophine, ou de 250 µg du même produit ou d'une solution de sérum physiologique. Les bufflesses avaient mis bas à la fin de la saison de reproduction soit en décembre. Des prélèvements de lait ont été effectués pour déterminer le taux de progestérone au moment de l'injection d'une part, puis trois fois par semaine d'autre part jusqu'à la première insémination ou aux alentours d'une période de 90 jours après le part. La gonadotrophine, libérée sous forme d'hormone (GnRH), injectée 14 jours après la mise bas a eu pour effet un retour complet plus rapide de l'involution utérine et des intervalles plus courts entre la mise bas et la conception ainsi qu'un meilleur taux de conception à la première monte chez les femelles laitières non allaitantes. Les différences entre les résultats obtenus par une dose de 100/µg ou de 250/µg de gonadotrophine (GnRH) n'étaient pas significatives. Pendant la période post-thérapeutique, des cas d'activité lutéale prolongée ont été courants dans tous les groupes de bufflesses. En conséquence, l'administration séquentielle de GnRH et de prostaglandine est conseillée pour contrôler l'activité post-partum de reproduction dans les troupeaux qui présentent des problèmes de cet ordre.

     

Taste aversion learning in horses

The ability of ponies to learn to avoid a relatively novel food associated with illness was tested in three situations: when illness occurred immediately after consuming a feed; when illness occurred 30 min after consuming a feed; and when illness was contingent upon eating one of three feeds offered simultaneously. Apomorphine was used to produce illness. The feeds associated with illness were corn, alfalfa pellets, sweet feed and a complete pelleted feed. The ponies learned to avoid all the fees except the complete feed when apomorphine injection immediately followed consumption of the feed. However, the ponies did not learn to avoid a feed if apomorphine was delayed 30 min after feed consumption. They could learn to avoid alfalfa pellets, but not corn, when these feeds were presented with the familiar "safe foods," oats and soybean meal. Ponies apparently are able to learn a taste aversion, but there were constraints on this learning ability. Under the conditions of this study, they did not learn to avoid a food that made them sick long after consumption of the food, and they had more difficulty learning to avoid highly palatable feeds.     

Airway hypersensitivity induced by Ascaris suum extract in New Zealand Romney sheep

Sheep from local farms with and without previous exposure to pigs were tested for their skin and airway responses to a commercial Ascaris suum antigen. There was an immediate reaction to intradermal injection of the antigen in 90% of 101 sheep. A bronchial provocation test by aerosol of the same antigen was undertaken on 43 of the sheep with a positive skin reaction. About 70% of sheep showed an immediate airway response to the antigen as an aerosol, reflected as a significant increase in airway resistance and/or decrease of dynamic lung compliance. The mean peak airway resistance and mean lowest dynamic lung compliance were 165% above and 61% below their baselines, respectively. No significant changes were recorded when the same animals were given an aerosol of phosphate buffered saline. Similarly, no correlation was found between the degree of skin reaction and the magnitude of bronchoconstriction (p>0.05). The sheep with previous exposure to pigs showed no significant differences in airway responses to antigen challenge, although they showed significantly greater skin reactions than those without exposure to pigs. These results indicate that the majority of Romney sheep in the Manawatu have a natural skin and airway sensitivity to A. suum antigen and may therefore be used as an animal model to study human airway hypersensitivity. The origin of this sensitivity has yet to be determined.     

Boar culling in swine breeding herds in Minnesota

This investigation was conducted to study boar culling patterns in swine breeding herds. Data were obtained from 84 swine breeding herds and included 440 boars that were culled. Each producer was involved for 12 consecutive months, and recorded every boar that was removed from the herd, the date, and the reason for culling. The annual culling rate for the 84 farms averaged 59.4% ± 6.4 (SEM). The correlation coefficient between boar and sow culling was 0.52 (p <0.0001). Removal was the result of being overweight (47%), reproductive problems (18%), leg problems (12%), death (7%), and other diseases (4%). From the annual culling rate, the average breeding life of boars was estimated at 20 months. From this study, we concluded that the annual culling rate for boars in commercial herds was high and related to several different factors.     

Nephrotoxicity in dogs associated with methoxyflurane anesthesia and flunixin meglumine analgesia

Uremia unexpectedly developed in five dogs 24 hours after undergoing thoracotomy in a student laboratory. In all dogs general anesthesia had been maintained with methoxyflurane, muscle relaxation had been induced with gallamine, and each dog received a single intravenous dose of 1.0 mg/kg flunixin meglumine for analgesia upon termination of anesthesia. In a subsequent group of dogs undergoing an orthopedic procedure, we assessed the effects on renal function of methoxyflurane anesthesia plus oxymorphone, or of methoxyflurane or halothane anesthesia in combination with a single IM 1.0 mg/kg dose of flunixin meglumine. Significant elevations in serum urea and creatinine values, and necrosis of collecting ducts and loops of Henle, were noted only in the dogs receiving methoxyflurane and flunixin meglumine.

We conclude that the use of combination of methoxyflurane and flunixin meglumine is contraindicated in dogs.

     

Blood biological constants in the deer Rusa (Cervus timorensis russa) in New-Caledonia. I. Hematologic constants

Since the beginning of year 1987, the deer "Rusa" breeding has been developing in New Caledonia. In 1988, during a slaughter operation amidst the herds, nearly ninety blood samples were collected in order to define the blood biological parameters (or constants) of this species. Regarding haematology, the study concerns the following parameters: erythrocyte count (9.32 x 10(12)/l), leucocyte count (4.51 x 10(9)/l), various leucocyte lines and their formula, i.e. (neutrophile polymorphonuclear: 2.08 x 10(9)/l [46.6 p. 100]; lymphocytes: 1.75 x 10(9)/l [38.4 p. 100]; monocytes: 0.33 x 10(9)/l [7.5 p. 100]; eosinophiles polymorphonuclear leucocytes: 0.4 x 10(9)/l [7.46 p. 100]; basophile polymorphonuclear leucocytes: 0.01 x 10(9)/l [0.28 p. 100]), hematocrite (36.8 l/l), hemoglobin ratio (14.1 g/dl), mean corpuscular volume (40.3 dl), mean corpuscular hemoglobin rate (15.3 pg/cell), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (38.7 g/dl). In the course of the study, variations of these parameters were detected according to various physiological criteria and to the sampling conditions as deer is a stress sensitive animal.     

An assessment of the copper status of dairy herds in the Waikato, Taranaki and Northland in spring and the effects of daily supplementation with copper sulphate

The copper status of dairy herds in the Waikato, Taranaki and Northland regions between 1 August and 30 September was assessed by copper determinations made on composite sera from ten cows in each herd. Comparisons were made between two major groups categorised as as received and supplemented. In the latter, the cows received 2.0-6.0 g/day of copper sulphate orally from late gestation to the end of lactation. Mean copper values were determined from pastures in Taranaki and Northland and from pastures from three soil types in the Waikato. The lowest were in Northland (134.3 micromol/kg) and the highest in Taranaki (173.3 micromol/kg). Calculated dietary available copper levels showed the lowest were from pastures grown on organic soils in the Waikato. These soils also had high molybdenum levels. Serum copper values as received were lowest in Northland (7.30 micromol/l), and were marginal for both Taranaki (9.91 micromol/l) and the Waikato (9.93 micromol/l). The levels in supplemented herds were considerably higher, i.e. from the Waikato 11.7 micromol/l and from Taranaki 11.5 micromol/l. When liver and serum copper levels from paired samples were compared there was a reasonable correlation (r = 0.64) but the standard deviation approximated the mean liver copper level, i.e. 155 +/- 141 micromol/l.