Comparative cell kinetics of avian growth plates

New data on the cell kinetics of the cartilage growth plates in the chicken, budgerigar and rhea derived from studies with tritiated thymidine labelling are given. Quantitative histological measurements on growth plates from leg bones (tibiotarsus, tarsometatarsus and a phalangeal bone) in a further five species of birds are presented. Counts of flat cells and measurements of the average diameter of hypertrophic cells were made for each growth plate. These data are compared with values for the overall growth rates of the bones. The variation in sizes of hypertrophic cells was small and it is concluded that the largest factor in determining the growth rate of an avian bone is the size of the zone of flat cells.     

Calving patterns in seasonal dairy herds

Two field studies examined the calving patterns of cows in seasonal dairy herds in the Waikato (Field Study 1) and South Taranaki regions (Field Study 2). The first study examined patterns for cows commencing their second or subsequent lactation in herds which had used an inseminating service during the previous season. The second study included first lactation heifers only in 15 herds where animals had been naturally mated, and in 15 herds in which they had been synchronised and then artificially inseminated at the synchronised oestrus. The parameters describing calving patterns were based on the date for each herd's planned start of calving (PSC), which was 282 days from the date on which breeding commenced in the preceding season. The average interval from PSC to mean calving date for the 35 herds in Field Study 1 was 22 days, with individual herds ranging from 15 to 30 days. In herds with heifers which had been naturally mated (Field Study 2), it was 17.6 days compared to 11.0 days for previously synchronised animals. Calculating the intervals from PSC to median calving date and separately for the last two quartiles more effectively described a herd's calving pattern. The duration for the last quartile of the calving pattern was influenced by the extent and timing of induced calving. In Field Study 1, 88.6% of the 35 herd owners induced premature parturition in at least one cow. In these herds, 11.3% of cows were treated and calved prematurely. Only 61.7% of heifers which had previously been naturally mated calved by 3 weeks after PSC. Their calving dates were not evenly distributed over this 3-week period, with 9.8% in the first week and 25.6% in the third week. The calving pattern for heifers which had been previously synchronised showed several distinct peaks. Calvings to the synchronised mating were completed 15 days after PSC, by which time 64.7% of animals had calved. By 3 weeks after PSC, 72.9% of these heifers had calved. The results showed that there was considerable variation in calving patterns in seasonal dairy herds. This variation would have been due to differences in conception pattern, and the way induced calving had been applied. The calving pattern in heifers which had been naturally mated was less concentrated than had been expected. Synchronisation can significantly concentrate the calving pattern of these first lactation animals. The parameters used to describe calving patterns may be less applicable in herds in which a high proportion of animals is induced to calve prematurely, or where a whole herd is synchronised. Nonetheless, they do serve as an illustrative example of the variation in calving patterns among herds.     

Effects of microbial supplements containing yeast and lactobacilli on roughage-fed ruminal microbial activities

Effects of two microbial feed supplements on microbial activities in rumen-stimulating cultures and the rumens of steers fed a fescue hay-based roughage diet were evaluated. The yeast culture supplement contained Saccharomyces cerevisiae (1.4 to 4.2 x 10(9) colony-forming units [cfu]/g), whereas the mixed microbial supplement contained yeast, lactobacilli and enterococci (1.4 to 2.7 x 10(9) cfu/g, 1.2 to 2.3 x 10(9) cfu/g, and 1.5 to 2.6 x 10(10) cfu/g, respectively). Concentrations of viable yeast cells were increased consistently in continuous cultures and rumens of steers receiving either supplement (1 g/kg of feed). However, neither supplement consistently altered the relative concentrations of volatile fatty acids or ammonia in continuous cultures and rumens of steers. The pH tended to be greater (P = .13) in continuous cultures receiving yeast culture supplement than in cultures receiving the unsupplemented diet (6.50 vs 6.36), but pH in the rumens of steers was not affected by the supplements. Concentrations of cellulolytic microorganisms in cultures and the rumens of steers receiving supplements containing only yeast were from 5 to 40 times greater than those observed in cultures or steers receiving the unsupplemented diet. Supplements that had been treated with heat (121 degrees C for 15 min) to inactive yeast cells did not alter the concentrations of cellulolytic bacteria in rumen-stimulating cultures. These results suggest that live yeast culture supplements stimulate growth of cellulolytic microorganisms in the rumen.     

Dietary fiber for dogs: II. Iso-total dietary fiber (TDF) additions of divergent fiber sources to dog diets and their effects on nutrient intake, digestibility, metabolizable energy and digesta mean retention time

The objectives of this study were to examine widely divergent fiber sources for their efficacy as ingredients in a meat-based dog diet and to determine the effects of these fibers on fecal excretion responses and mean retention time of marked fiber in the gastrointestinal tract of the dog. Fiber sources tested included beet pulp (BP), tomato pomace (TP), peanut hulls (PH), wheat bran (WB) and alkaline hydrogen peroxide-treated wheat straw (AHPWS). Diets were isonitrogenous (5.3% N) and iso-total dietary fiber (TDF; 12.5%). Thirty female English Pointers (five/treatment) were used in the experiment. Intakes of DM and OM were similar among treatments. The highest intakes of ether extract (EE) occurred on the TP, PH and WB treatments. Dogs fed PH ingested the most crude fiber (23.6 g/d), NDF (53.5 g/d), ADF (34.3 g/d) and TDF (59.7 g/d). Digestibilities of DM and OM for all fiber treatments were lower than the control (87.6 vs 81.8% for DM; 90.2 vs 85.4% for OM), but values were similar among fiber sources. The highest EE and N digestibilities occurred on the control and AHPWS treatments. No differences were noted among exogenous fiber-containing treatments in fiber component digestibility. Digestible energy and ME values generally were similar among treatments. Among fiber sources, BP resulted in the greatest amount of wet feces excreted (270 g/d) and the lowest fecal DM (30.3%). No differences among fiber sources were noted in frequency of defecation or mean retention time. Iso-TDF diets (containing, on average, 12.5% TDF) appear to be utilized similarly, regardless of the diversity in sources of fiber tested.     

Changes in hormonal profiles during the estrous cycle in old lactating beef cows

Patterns of concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), progesterone (P4) and estradiol-17 beta (E2) during an estrous cycle were compared between 15 lactating beef cows 5 to 7 years of age (young) and 15 cows greater than or equal to 12 years of age (old). Length of estrous cycle did not differ between young and old cows (P = .06). No differences due to age were found for LH. Patterns of concentrations of P4 during the first 15 days of the cycle, of FSH during days 6 through 12 and of E2 during the follicular phase differed with age (P less than .05). An earlier (P less than .025) midcycle elevation of FSH was associated with an earlier rise and greater concentration of E2 (P less than .05) during the follicular phase in old than in young cows. Differences in FSH and P4, although subtle, were consistent with an earlier or more advanced follicular development in old cows, leading to greater secretion of E2 from the preovulatory follicle.     

Enhancement of bone healing using non-glycosylated rhBMP-2 released from a fibrin matrix in dogs and cats

OBJECTIVES: To test a non-glycosylated recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (ngly-rhBMP-2)/fibrin composite, which has been shown experimentally to enhance healing of bone defects in rodents, in a clinical case series of dogs and cats undergoing treatment for fracture non-unions and arthrodesis. METHODS: A ngly-rhBMP-2/fibrin composite was applied in 41 sites in 38 dogs and cats for which a cancellous bone autograft was indicated, replacing the graft. RESULTS: Bridging of the bone defect with functional bone healing was achieved in 90 per cent of the arthrodesis and fracture nonunions treated in this manner. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This prospective clinical study demonstrates the beneficial effects of ngly-rhBMP-2 in a specially designed fibrin matrix on the treatment of bone defects, and validates the use of this composite as an alternative to bone autografts in dogs and cats.     

Incidence of post-anaesthetic arrhythmias in dogs

OBJECTIVES: To assess the use of Holter monitoring for evaluating the incidence of post-anaesthetic cardiac arrhythmias and associated anaesthetic risk for two different anaesthetic protocols. METHODS: Patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery were randomly divided into two groups with different anaesthetic regimens (group A, isoflurane n = 30; group B, propofol n = 30). Two 24-hour Holter recordings were performed for each patient: the first directly following anaesthesia and the second, as a comparison, on the fifth postoperative day. RESULTS: Although all dogs were healthy on pre-anaesthetic cardiac evaluation, 56 dogs showed arrhythmias in the two 24-hour (Holter) electrocardiograms performed. However, the number of arrhythmias recorded was low in most cases (less than 10 supraventricular extrasystoles and less than 100 ventricular extrasystoles). One patient in group A showed 94 supraventricular extrasystoles during the second monitoring period. Three patients in each group developed more than 100 ventricular extrasystoles during both Holter recordings. There were no statistically significant differences between the two anaesthetic regimens or between the two recordings in both groups. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The two anaesthetic protocols investigated in this study did not induce an increased incidence of severe arrhythmias in healthy dogs in the post-anaesthetic phase.     

Biological responses to porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus in pigs of two genetic populations

One hundred pigs from the NE Index Line (NEI) and 100 Hampshire-Duroc cross pigs (HD) were inoculated intranasally with porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus (PRRSV 97-7895 strain) at 26 d of age to determine whether genetic variation in response to PRRSV exists. An uninfected littermate to each infected pig served as a control. Pigs were from 163 dams and 83 sires. Body weight and rectal temperature were recorded, and blood samples were drawn from each pig on d 0 before inoculation and on d 4, 7, and 14 after inoculation. Pigs were sacrificed on d 14. Lung and bronchial lymph nodes were collected, placed in optimal cutting temperature compound, and frozen at -80 degrees C. The presence of PRRSV in serum and in lung tissue and bronchial lymph nodes was determined by isolation in cell culture. The presence of antibodies in serum collected on d 14 was determined by a commercial ELISA test. Lung tissue was examined microscopically and scored for incidence and severity of lesions (score of 1 to 3; 1 = no or few lesions, and 3 = severe interstitial pneumonia). Data were analyzed with a mixed model that included random sire and dam effects. The interaction of line x treatment was significant (P < 0.001) for weight change and rectal temperature. Un-infected HD pigs gained 0.67 kg more from d 0 to 14 and averaged 0.32 degrees C higher rectal temperature than uninfected NEI pigs (P < 0.001), whereas infected NEI pigs gained 0.34 kg more and had -0.54 degrees C lower temperature than infected HD pigs (P < 0.001). Viremic titer (cell culture infectious dose 50%/mL) was greater (P < 0.05) in HD than NEI at d 4 (10(4.52) vs. 10(4.22)), 7 (10(4.47) vs. 10(3.99)), and 14 (10(3.49) vs. 10(3.23)). Viral titer loads in lung (P = 0.11) and bronchial lymph nodes tended (P = 0.07) to be greater in HD than NEI pigs. Antibody signal-to-positive (S/P) ELISA ratios in infected pigs ranged from 0.18 to 3.38, and 88% had levels > or = 0.40, which is the positive threshold for this ELISA. The S/P range in uninfected pigs was 0 to 1.11, and 99% had levels < or = 0.40. Mean S/P ratio for infected pigs was 0.23 units higher in HD than in NEI (P < 0.001). The HD pigs had a greater incidence of interstitial pneumonia and 0.65 higher mean lesion scores than NEI pigs (P < 0.001). In summary, responses of pigs of the two lines to infection with PRRSV differed, indicating that underlying genetic variation existed.     

Comparison of three models to estimate breeding values for percentage of loin intramuscular fat in Duroc swine

Three selection models were evaluated to compare selection candidate rankings based on EBV and to evaluate subsequent effects of model-derived EBV on the selection differential and expected genetic response in the population. Data were collected from carcass- and ultrasound-derived estimates of loin i.m. fat percent (IMF) in a population of Duroc swine under selection to increase IMF. The models compared were Model 1, a two-trait animal model used in the selection experiment that included ultrasound IMF from all pigs scanned and carcass IMF from pigs slaughtered to estimate breeding values for both carcass (C1) and ultrasound IMF (U1); Model 2, a single-trait animal model that included ultrasound IMF values on all pigs scanned to estimate breeding values for ultrasound IMF (U2); and Model 3, a multiple-trait animal model including carcass IMF from slaughtered pigs and the first three principal components from a total of 10 image parameters averaged across four longitudinal ultrasound images to estimate breeding values for carcass IMF (C3). Rank correlations between breeding value estimates for U1 and C1, U1 and U2, and C1 and C3 were 0.95, 0.97, and 0.92, respectively. Other rank correlations were 0.86 or less. In the selection experiment, approximately the top 10% of boars and 50% of gilts were selected. Selection differentials for pigs in Generation 3 were greatest when ranking pigs based on C1, followed by U1, U2, and C3. In addition, selection differential and estimated response were evaluated when simulating selection of the top 1, 5, and 10% of sires and 50% of dams. Results of this analysis indicated the greatest selection differential was for selection based on C1. The greatest loss in selection differential was found for selection based on C3 when selecting the top 10 and 1% of boars and 50% of gilts. The loss in estimated response when selecting varying percentages of boars and the top 50% of gilts was greatest when selection was based on C3 (16.0 to 25.8%) and least for selection based on U1 (1.3 to 10.9%). Estimated genetic change from selection based on carcass IMF was greater than selection based on ultrasound IMF. Results show that selection based on a combination of ultrasonically predicted IMF and sib carcass IMF produced the greatest selection differentials and should lead to the greatest genetic change.