The Influence of a Particle Separation Technology on the Generation of Airborne Particles from Different Roughages and Bedding Materials Used for Horses

Four different types of bedding materials (wheat straw, wood shavings, hemp shives, flax shives) and two roughages (hay, haylage) were treated using an air-driven particle separation technology. The airborne particle and mold generation of both treated and untreated samples were then analyzed under standardized laboratory conditions. In addition, samples of all the treated materials were stored for 8 weeks either in a pressed or incoherent form and then analyzed again for their ability to generate airborne particles. The airborne particle concentrations were detected online with the gravimetrically measuring analyzer tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) 1400a that was equipped successively with different inlets to measure the particle fractions PM₂₀, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM_1.0 (PM = Particulate matter). The particle separation resulted in a reduction in the airborne particle (PM₂₀) generation in all materials: hay 49.16 to 22.79 mg/m³ (53.6%), haylage 28.57 to 25.04 mg/m³ (12.3%), wood shavings 141.68 to 15.04 mg/m³ (89.4%), wheat straw 143.08 to 22.97 mg/m³ (83.9%), flax 135.11 to 53.31 mg/m³ (60.5%), and hemp 63.67 to 17.64 mg/m³ (72.3%). The 8-week storage of the treated materials as compressed materials led to a renewed significant increase in the airborne particle (PM₁₀) concentration in the haylage (+29.9%), wheat straw (+104.0%), wood shavings (+40.4%), and hemp shives (+30.7%). Storage of the incoherent materials caused a significant increase in these particles only in the wheat straw (+44.2%). The separation treatment reduced the mold production by 92.4% in the wood shavings, 88.0% in the wheat straw, and 85.8% in the hay.     

The use of a genetic-counselling program by Dutch breeders for four hereditary health problems in boxer dogs

Our group developed a genetic-counselling program for boxer-dog breeders in The Netherlands, using data for cryptorchidism (uni- and/or bilateral), epilepsy, knee-problems (including ligament rupture, fractured or ruptured meniscus, severe osteo-arthrosis of the knee, or a combination of these disorders), and schisis (including cheiloschisis, palatoschisis, or cheilopalatoschisis). We transformed the estimated breeding values (EBVs) into odds ratios (ORs), to enable the breeder to compare the risk for each of the traits for a certain dam-sire combination with the average population risk (set at 1). The goal of the study was to evaluate the use of our genetic-counselling program by Dutch breeders of boxer dogs. We asked breeders of the Dutch Boxer Club to send in an application form for genetic-counselling from June 1 to December 1, 2000. Breeders indicated on this application form three desirable sires for their dam (sire 1, sire 2, sire 3) in random order. On the basis of this information, a counselling report was produced which included ORs for the four diseases in litters of the dam-sire combinations indicated on the application form. Together with the counselling report, the breeders received an evaluation form. We received 129 application forms from 70 breeders, and collected 125 evaluations. Of these evaluations, 96 were informative about the influence of the counselling report on sire choice. The most-important criteria used by breeders to select sires were: the exterior characteristics (60%) and known progeny (52%). Although it was the first time breeders could make use of genetic-counselling, 32% of the breeders indicated that the genetic-counselling played a major role in their sire selection. Breeders expressed little difference in importance for the four genetic traits, but there was a tendency to consider epilepsy more than the others. Breeders hesitated to put long-term population interest above short-term personal interest. Nevertheless, the general conclusion of this study is that breeders acknowledge the value of counselling, especially to reduce the frequency of a threatening disease such as epilepsy.     

Tasco supplementation: effects on carcass characteristics, sensory attributes, and retail display shelf-life

Two hundred crossbred cattle (Bos indicus x Bos taurus) were supplemented with 2% Tasco (Ascophyllum nodosum) in a commercial finishing facility to evaluate marbling score, USDA quality grade, sensory traits, and retail display shelf life. Treatment animals (n = 100) received a steam-rolled corn (Zea mays)-based diet containing 2% Tasco meal (DM basis), for 14 d beginning at d 45 of the finishing period and again 14 d before slaughter. Control animals (n = 100) received a steam-rolled corn (Zea mays)-based diet without Tasco at identical feeding periods. Carcasses from Tasco-fed cattle exhibited greater marbling scores (P = 0.003) than controls. There were no treatment effects (P > 0.05) on sensory, shear, or purge attributes of striploin or inside round steaks with the exception of inside round steaks from Tasco animals having a greater initial tenderness (P = 0.03) and lower off-flavor score (P = 0.002) than control steaks. The LM samples from Tasco-fed cattle had a greater percentage of ether extractable fat (P = 0.001) and lower percentage of protein (P = 0.001) than controls. Inside round samples from treated animals exhibited a greater percentage of moisture (P = 0.03) than control steaks. Visual lean color of striploin steaks was not affected by Tasco supplementation (P = 0.26); however, steaks from Tasco-treated animals were more uniform and had less discoloration and browning than those from controls (P = 0.005, 0.04, and 0.05, respectively). Inside round visual scores and instrument values reflected similar treatment responses (P < 0.05), with a majority of the effects on muscle redness (CIE a*, hue angle) and measures of discoloration. Tasco steaks were generally more red and less discolored during extended postmortem aging and retail exposure (P < 0.05). The results from this study indicate that short-term supplementation of 2% Tasco meal in feedlot cattle increases carcass quality and prolonged retail shelf life.     

The Animal Health and Welfare Law: the veterinary statement as evidence and the role of veterinarians in legal procedures

Every veterinarian can be confronted with the request from a law enforcement agency to conduct a veterinary examination based on the Animal Health and Welfare Act and to produce a written report of that examination. This Veterinary Statement can be used in court. The Veterinary Statement is an important piece of evidence, so it should be formulated with care. The veterinarian in charge must be aware of the requirements that the Veterinary Statement must meet and the legal procedures that must be followed.     

Use of the flexion test of the distal forelimb in the sound horse: repeatability and effect of age, gender, weight, height and fetlock joint range of motion

The flexion test of the distal limb is a commonly used clinical tool in both lame and sound horses. In the latter use it is given some predictive value. In recent studies it has been shown that examiner-related factors (force, time) may strongly influence the outcome of the test. In the present study, the possible influences of a number of horse-related factors and short- and long-term repeatability were investigated. Flexion tests were performed by the same researcher in 100 clinically sound horses under standardized conditions. The outcome of the test was scored on a 9-point semiquantitative scale. The maximum flexion angles of the fetlock joints were measured and the range of motion (ROM) of the fetlock joint was calculated. In the second part of the study, flexion tests were repeated, at intervals of 10 min, 30 min, 48 h and 6 months in 23 horses to assess repeatability. Over 60% of the 100 sound horses had a positive flexion test. Of these, about 50% showed a slight lameness, 35% a mild lameness, and 15% a distinct lameness. There was no influence of weight, height or ROM on the score of the flexion test. The outcome of the flexion test increased significantly with age and was significantly higher in mares than in geldings. When repeating the flexion test with short intervals of 10 and 30 min, the score increased significantly after the second test. Repeated flexion after 48 h did not result in a significantly different outcome. Over a 6-month period, the outcome of the test decreased significantly and the ROM increased significantly. It is concluded that most clinically sound horses have a (slightly) positive flexion test of the distal limb. This and the lack of long-term consistency of the test cast doubt on the presumption that a positive flexion test may be an indication for subclinical joint disorders and question the possible value of the test as a predictor of future joint-related problems. There exists a wide individual variation in ROM of the fetlock joint with, in sound horses, no relationship between ROM and the outcome of the flexion test. The factors age and gender should be taken into account when interpreting the results of a flexion test.     

Influence of hatching order and brood size on growth in jackass penguins

Jackass penguins Spheniscus demersus hatch two different-sized eggs asynchronously: the second-hatched chick, being, on average, 59% of the weight of the first-hatched chick on hatching. We examined the effect of hatching order on growth rates of mass, culmen length and culmen depth by comparing: (i) growth rates of first-and second-hatched chicks, and (ii) chicks from experimentally synchronized broods to chicks from normal asynchronous broods. Only growth rates in mass showed significant variation. Within a brood, B chicks grew more slowly than A chicks. The effect of synchronizing a brood was to lower the growth rate of both chicks to that of a B chick, suggesting that equal-sized siblings feed less efficiently. Chicks hatching from larger A eggs, that had been synchronized for age and size with chiçks from B eggs, did not grow faster, indicating that chicks hatching from A and B eggs do not have intrinsically different growth rates. Single-chick nests result usually from egg infertility. Singletons showed only a non-significant trend towards faster growth in mass than offspring in two-chick broods, even though food availability in one-chick nests should be better than in two-chick nests. Overall, hatching order had more impact on growth rates of mass than did brood size or egg dimensions.     

Feline retinal degeneration: clinical experience and new findings (1994-1997)

A retrospective case series of 26 cats with diffuse retinal degeneration is presented. The most common presenting complaints included bumping into objects, dilated pupils, and reluctance to jump. Ophthalmic examination findings were consistent with those reported in dogs with progressive retinal atrophy. Breed predilection of the Siamese cat was observed. Cats with primary retinal degeneration presented late in the clinical course of their disease, when vision loss was severe. Early symptoms such as night blindness and secondary ocular complications (i.e., cataract and retinal detachment), reported in dogs with progressive retinal degeneration, were not observed in this study. All cats showed excellent adaptive capabilities to blindness.     

Vaccination of cattle against bovine viral diarrhoea

This brief review describes types and quality (efficacy and safety) of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) vaccines that are in the market or under development. Both conventional live and killed vaccines are available. The primary aim of vaccination is to prevent congenital infection, but the few vaccines tested are not highly efficacious in this respect, as shown in vaccination-challenge experiments. Vaccination to prevent severe postnatal infections may be indicated when virulent BVDV strains are prevalent. Live BVDV vaccines have given rise to safety problems. A complication for the development of BVDV vaccines is the wide antigenic diversity among wild-type BVDV. There is ample room for improvement of both the efficacy and safety of BVDV vaccines, and it may be expected that better vaccines, among which marker vaccines, will be launched in the future.