A survey of anthelmintic resistance on ten goat farms in the Manawatu region in 1988

A survey of anthelmintic resistance on ten goat farms was carried out. The criterion for resistance was a faecal egg count reduction (FECR) of <90 percent based on arithmetic means of 11 to 19 goats per group. It was found that nine of the ten farms harboured nematodes resistant to oxfendazole when used at 5mg/kg although on two of these, the FECR's were 89.2 percent and 89.8 percent. Post treatment larval cultures indicated Haemonchus, Ostertagia and Trichostrongylus were the resistant genera involved. On none of the ten farms was resistance to oral ivermectin at 0.2mg/kg detected.     

Geriatric nutrition

In recent decades, veterinary medicine has become more successful in prolonging the healthy, useful lives of pets. As a result, the practitioner spends a greater part of each practice day caring for the geriatric animal, both healthy and unhealthy. Because of their longevity, older pets are typically regular family members, with owners who seek the finest health care possible for their pets. The practice of geriatric medicine most properly should begin not when the dog or cat reaches some specific "golden" age, but rather when the wiggly, robust puppy or kitten receives its first examination. Like all parts of a sound preventive program, geriatric nutrition best follows from a well-considered juvenile and adult nutrition program. Furthermore, once it becomes senior, the "well" geriatric is as much a candidate for a diet designed especially to accommodate old age changes as is his unhealthy contemporary. In fact, evidence suggests that appropriate dietary management of the healthy, but often subclinical, patient may help postpone the signs of dysfunction and increase quality and length of life. A knowledge of the most significant nutrients and the impact of each on aging systems is now, and will become increasingly more, important to the progressive, skillful veterinarian.     

Effects of pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin on reproduction in four genotypes of gilts(1)

SUMMARY: Effects of PMSG and genotype on various measures of reproductive efficiency were investigated. Prenatal data were obtained at 40 d of gestation from 96 gilts representing four genotypes. Data on Duroc (D), Yorkshire (Y), Synthetic (Large White × Landrace) (SYN), and Crossbred Duroc × Yorkshire (XB) gilts were collected from January, 1990 through May, 1991. Litter size (LS) data were collected from 482 farrowings of siblings. Treatment with exogenous hormones significantly increased number of corpora lutea (CL), number of embryos (EN), ovum wastage, (OVWS) and embryo length (ELG). Breed group differences (P < .05) were detected for natural ovulation rate, hormone-induced ovulation rate, CL, OVWS, ELG, embryo weight, ovum success, uterine length, ovary weight, range and variance of within-litter embryo weight (RWT and VWT), and litter size born alive. Natural ovulation rates for D, Y, SYN and XB were 10.46 ± 1.61, 12.64 ± 1.41, 14.10 ± .99 and 10.90 ± 1.47, and hormone-induced ovulation rates were 15.00 ± 1.53, 17.69 ± 1.40, 19.43 ± 1.17 and 12.19 ± 1.43, respectively. Range and variance of within-litter embryo length were not affected by either treatment or genotype. Increases in RWT and VWT observed in D and XB gilts after PMSG treatment did not adversely affect embryo survival to 40 d gestation. Significant genetic differences existed for litter size at birth. The PMSG treatment and interactions with PMSG were not significant for litter size born alive. Breed groups seem to differ for CL and EN in response to PMSG but only Yorkshire showed any response in LS (P < .10). Although PMSG increased ovulation rate in siblings by 4.06 ova and number of embryos at 40 d gestation by 1.87 compared with control gilts, there were no differences in litter size born alive due to PMSG treatment. The increase in ovulation rate and number of embryos generated by PMSG seems to be negated by fetal losses occurring both before and after 40 d of gestation. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Einflüsse von Stutenserum-Gonadotropin (PMSG) auf Reproduktionsmerkmale von vier Genotypen bei Jungsauen Einflüsse von PMSG und Genotyp auf verschiedene Merkmale der Reproduktion wurden untersucht. Daten wurden am 40. Tr?chtigkeitstag von 96 Jungsauen von vier Genotypen-Duroc (D), Yorkshire (Y), Synthetik (Edelschwein × Landrasse (SYN)) und Kreuzungen-Duroc × Yorkshire (XB) zwischen Januar 1990 und Mai 1991 erhoben. Wurfgr??e (LS) wurden von 492 Würfen von Geschwistertieren erhoben. Behandlung mit exogenem Hormon steigert signifikant die Zahl der Gelbk?rper (CL), Zahl der Embryonen (EN), Ovarverlust (OVWS) und Embryol?nge (ELG). Differenzen zwischen Genotypen wurden für natürliche und hormoninduzierte Ovulationsrate, CL, OVWS, ELG, Embryogewicht, Embryoerfolg, Geb?rmutterl?nge, Ovargewicht, Streuungsbereich und Varianz des Embryogewichtes von Wurfgeschwistern (RWT und VWT) und Zahl lebendgeborener Ferkel erhoben. Die natürlichen Ovulationsraten für D, Y, SYN und XB waren 10,46 ± 1,61, 12,64 ± 1,41, 14,10 ± 0,99 und 10,90 ± 1,47, und die hormoninduzierten 15,00 ± 1,53, 17,69 ± 1,40, 19,43 ± 1,17 und 12,19 ± 1,43. Streuungsbereich und Varianz zwischen Embryonenl?nge eines Wurfes wurden weder durch Behandlung noch Genotyp tangiert. Steigerungen in RWT und VWT in D und XB Jungsauen nach Hormonbehandlung hat Embryoüberleben bis 40 Tage nicht beeintr?chtigt. Signifikante genetische Unterschiede existieren zwischen Wurfgr??e bei Geburt. Hormonbehandlungen und Interaktionen mit Genotypen waren für die Wurfgr??e nicht signifikant. Rassengruppen scheinen für CL und EN im Hinblick auf Hormonbehandlung sich zu unterscheiden, aber nur Yorkshire zeigten Reaktion bei LS (P < .1). Obwohl das Hormon die Ovulationsrate um 4,06 Eier und Zahl der Embryonen bei 40 Tagen um 1,87 gegenüber Kontrollsauen vergr??erte, verblieben keine Unterschiede in Wurf gr??e. Die Steigerung der Ovulationsrate und Zahl der Embryonen nach Hormonbehandlung scheint durch F?talverluste vor und nach 40 Tagen Tr?chtigkeit eliminiert zu werden.     

Vascular characteristics of the cartilage and subchondral bone of the distal radial epiphysis of the young foal

The vascular features of the distal epiphysis of the radius of 27 foals aged from 3 weeks premature to 120 days postpartum were determined. The limbs were perfused with barium, and the distal radius was sawn into sagittal slabs which were decalcified, cut into thin slices and radiographed. More arteries approached areas of thick cartilage than thin cartilage. In thick cartilage, vessels in a lattice network were observed, and adjacent to these vessels was sinusoidal filling in the epiphyseal subchondral bone, which had a similar pattern to sinusoidal filling in the metaphysis. The sinusoidal filling adjacent to thick cartilage was at the predisposition site for epiphyseal osteomyelitis lesions in foals. This particular type of bone infection occurs commonly in the foal, but much less commonly in other species. The vascular features of the immature epiphysis may account for the predominance of epiphyseal osteomyelitis in the foal.     

The role of autotoxins from root residues of the previous crop in the replant disease of asparagus

Replant disease is a common phenomenon in asparagus growing in the Netherlands. It is distinct from the decline phenomenon reported from many other asparagus producing area’s. The involvement of autotoxins from root residues of former asparagus crops was evaluated. Residues of aspar agus roots decompose extremely slowly. At two locations, each with fields where asparagus production was terminated 1 and 10 years before, biomass of root residues was 4180 and 11060 kg dw ha^?1 after 1 year and 420 and 1140 kg dw ha^?1 after 10 years.Although 10-year-old residues were for the greater part decomposed, crude aqueous extracts inhibited root growth of asparagus seedlings significantly and even more of garden cress. In root observation boxes with field soil mixed with non-sterilized or sterilized asparagus root fragments, growth of secondary roots was inhibited. Non-sterilized strawberry roots did not inhibit root growth, suggesting that effects of organic matter were not involved. In a pot experiment, sterilized asparagus root fragments inhibited root growth when added at a rate of 20 g1^?1, but not a 2 g1^?1 Addition of non-sterilized root fragments strongly inhibited root growth at both levels. This was probably due to simultaneous infection byFusarium oxysporum present in these residues. When an asparagus field is replanted, the amount of root residues left behind in soil after termination of the crop in the previous season is about 2 g dw 1^?1, that corresponds to approx. 11000 kg dw ha^?1. This level is too low for considering direct growth inhibition by autotoxins as a major factor. Their possible indirect effects are briefly discussed.