IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—URETHROVAGINAL FISTULA CAUSED BY A MIGRATING GRASS AWN IN THE VAGINA

A young intact female dog was presented with urinary incontinence. Abdominal ultrasound revealed the presence of hyperechoic linear structures within the cranial vagina suggestive of foreign material. A computed tomography (CT) retrograde vaginourethrogram demonstrated the presence of a fistulous tract between the urethra and vagina. A presumptive diagnosis of urethrovaginal fistula due to migration of foreign material was made. The grass awn was removed with vaginoscopic‐guided retrieval. Fourteen days later, surgical repair of the fistula and an ovariohysterectomy were done. This case report emphasizes the usefulness of CT for diagnosis and precise anatomical localization of genitourinary tract fistulas.     

Impact of variation in structure of condensed tannins from sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) on in vitro ruminal methane production and fermentation characteristics

Our study investigated the effects of condensed tannins (CT) on rumen in vitro methane (CH₄) production and fermentation characteristics by incubating lucerne in buffered rumen fluid in combination with different CT extracts at 0 (control), 40, 80 and 120 g CT/kg of substrate DM. Condensed tannins were extracted from four sainfoin accessions: Rees ‘A’, CPI63763, Cotswold Common and CPI63767. Gas production (GP) was measured using a fully automated GP apparatus with CH₄ measured at distinct time points. Condensed tannins differed substantially in terms of polymer size and varied from 13 (Rees ‘A’) to 73 (CPI63767) mean degree of polymerization, but had relatively similar characteristics in terms of CT content, procyanidin: prodelphinidin (PC: PD) and cis:trans ratios. Compared to control, addition of CT from CPI63767 and CPI63763 at 80 and 120 g CT/kg of substrate DM reduced CH₄ by 43% and 65%, and by 23% and 57%, respectively, after 24‐h incubation. Similarly, CT from Rees ‘A’ and Cotswold Common reduced CH₄ by 26% and 46%, and by 28% and 46% respectively. Addition of increasing level of CT linearly reduced the maximum rates of GP and CH₄ production, and the estimated in vitro organic matter digestibility. There was a negative linear and quadratic (p < 0.01) relation between CT concentration and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) production. Inclusion of 80 and 120 g CT/kg of substrate DM reduced (p < 0.001) branched‐chain VFA production and acetate: propionate ratio and was lowest for CPI63767. A decrease in proteolytic activity as indirectly shown by a change in VFA composition favouring a shift towards propionate and reduction in branched‐chain VFA production varied with type of CT and was highest for CPI63767. In conclusion, these results suggest that tannin polymer size is an important factor affecting in vitro CH₄ production which may be linked to the CT interaction with dietary substrate or microbial cells.     

Treatment of a metallic foreign body in the cranial cervical region of a horse

Ingestion of foreign bodies is uncommon in horses when compared with indiscriminate grazers such as cattle. This case report describes the diagnosis and treatment of a cervical abscess in a Thoroughbred racehorse thought to be associated with ingestion of wire. Radiographic and ultrasonographic examination provided a diagnosis, and conservative treatment of the lesion with antimicrobials initially allowed the lesion to localise closer to the skin for safer surgical exploration. Intra-operative ultrasonographic imaging facilitated surgical access, removal of the foreign body, and drainage. While surgical treatment is usually necessary to resolve an abscess, initially conservative therapy may help to improve the prognosis by simplifying surgical access and reducing the risk of surgical complications.     

A review of factors influencing litter size in Irish sows

Many factors influence litter size. These include genetics, gilt management, lactation length, parity distribution, disease, stress and boar fertility. In the past 20 years, litter size in Irish sows has increased by only one pig. Born alive figures now average at 11.2 pigs per litter. In this regard, Ireland is falling behind our European competitors who have made significant advances over this time. Denmark, for example, has an average figure of 12.7 pigs born alive per litter and France an average of 12.5. The single area that could be improved immediately is sow feeding. It is important that sows are fed correctly throughout pregnancy. If over-fed during pregnancy, sows will have depressed appetite during lactation. If underfed in pregnancy, sows will be too thin at farrowing. The correct way to feed a pregnant sow is to match her feed allocation to her requirement for maintenance, body growth and growth of her developing foetuses. During lactation, sows should be given as much feed as they can eat to prevent excessive loss of body condition. Liquid-feed curves should be such that lactating sows are provided with a minimum mean daily feed supply of 6.2 kg. A small proportion of sows will eat more and this could be given as supplementary dry feed. Where dry feeding is practised in the farrowing house, it is difficult to hand-feed sows to match their appetite. Ideally ad libitum wet/dry feeders should be used. From weaning to service, sows should once again be fed ad libitum. If liquid feeding, this means giving at least 60 MJ DE (digestible energy) per day during this period. If dry feeding, at least 4 kg of lactation diet should be fed daily. The effort spent perfecting sow feeding management on units should yield high dividends in the form of increased pigs born alive per litter.     

Effects of Alternative Molting Programs and Population on Layer Performance: Results of the Thirty-Fifth North Carolina Layer Performance and Management Test

A study involving 7 white-egg and 3 brown-egg commercial layer strains was conducted at the North Carolina Piedmont Research Station to assess the effects cage population 3-bird vs. 4-bird cages and alternative molt programs on performance through 113 wk of age (791 d). The flock was divided into 3 groups; not molted (NM), maintained in continuous production; molted using feed restriction (FR), an industry-type 14-d feed withdrawal molting program initiated at 463 d of age; and molted using a nonfasted/anorexic program (NF), in which an ad libitum supply of a low protein, low energy molt feed was provided. Productivity, egg size, and egg quality were monitored at 28-d periods throughout the test providing the performance data for the white-egg and brown-egg strains with regard to these management factors. Detailed results by strain are available on the following Web site: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/poulsci/tech_info.html#layer. The performance for the 3-bird or 4-bird cage groups for either type of layer was similar, except that birds in 4-bird cages had higher feed consumption in the first production phase than did the birds in 3-bird cages. In the same time period the white-egg birds in the 3-bird cages had a greater percentage of cracked eggs and a smaller percentage of Grade A large eggs than those in 4-bird cages. No differences were observed in egg income for the 2 population sizes for either type of layer. However, due to their higher feed consumption, the white egg birds in the 4-bird cages had higher feed cost per hen for the first cycle, which was offset by the egg income component due to their increased production rate. The molted layers outperformed the nonmolted layers for both types of layers in terms of overall income over feed costs. The FR molted hens, under a program that has traditionally been used by commercial producers, outperformed NF-molted hens, indicating that further refinements are needed to make the NF program economically competitive with the FR molting program.     

浮床种植草坪草对富营养化水体的净化作用研究

采用浮床种植草坪草技术,研究了高羊茅Festuca arundinacea、匍匐翦股颖Agrostis stolonifera 2种草坪草对富营养化水体的净化能力.试验结果表明,2种草坪草对富营养化水体中的氮(N)、磷(P)、化学需氧量(CODcr)等具有明显的净化效果,尤其对总磷(TP)的净化能力最强,能有效改善富营养化水体的水质;2种草坪草之间,匍匐翦股颖对TP的去除效果显著高于高羊茅对TP的去除效果.研究结果显示浮床种植草坪草技术可能是一条有效的修复富营养化水域的新途径.     

不同驱虫药驱虫后伊犁马血液生化指标变化的研究

[目的] 研究不同驱虫药对伊犁马血液生化指标的影响,为伊犁马科学驱虫及健康养殖提供参考。[方法] 将平均体重（265.5±35.6）kg、出生日期相近的40匹1岁伊犁马随机分为5组,每组8匹,分别为对照组、试验Ⅰ组、试验Ⅱ组、试验Ⅲ组和试验Ⅳ组。在相同的饲养管理和日粮营养水平条件下,对照组不驱虫,在试验开始第1天,试验Ⅰ组使用伊维菌素驱虫,试验Ⅱ组使用吡喹酮驱虫,试验Ⅲ组使用阿苯达唑驱虫,试验Ⅳ组使用伊维菌素和阿苯达唑的混合药剂驱虫;在试验第14天采集马匹血液样品,测定血浆氮代谢指标、葡萄糖及酶相关指标、脂代谢指标及金属离子指标。[结果] ①试验Ⅲ组总蛋白（TP）浓度最低,与对照组、试验Ⅰ组、试验Ⅱ组及试验Ⅳ组相比,分别降低了8.16%、7.15%、4.98%及6.62%（P>0.05）。对照组及各试验组白蛋白（ALB）、尿素（UREA）浓度均无显著（P>0.05）差异。与对照组相比,试验Ⅲ组及试验Ⅳ组血浆中UREA浓度分别降低了33.15%及36.10%（P>0.05）。②与对照组相比,试验Ⅰ组、试验Ⅱ组、试验Ⅲ组、试验Ⅳ组丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）活力分别降低了26.51%、21.11%、47.14%及52.38%（P>0.05）。试验Ⅲ组血浆中碱性磷酸酶（ALP）活力低于对照组,降低了0.19%（P>0.05）。与对照组相比,试验Ⅱ组和试验Ⅳ组的乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）活力显著（P<0.05）升高,分别提高了17.84%、13.51%;谷草转氨酶（AST）活力分别提高了5.40%和4.08%（P>0.05）。③对照组血浆中甘油三酯（TG）、肌酐（CREA）及尿酸（UA）的含量与各试验组相比均无显著（P>0.05）差异。试验Ⅰ组及试验Ⅳ组血浆中CREA浓度较对照组分别提高13.38%和9.86%（P>0.05）。试验Ⅱ组血浆中胆碱酯酶（CHE）活力显著（P<0.05）高于试验Ⅲ组,提高了17.70%。④对照组血浆中Mg²⁺浓度与各试验组相比差异不显著（P>0.05）;试验Ⅲ组血浆中Ca²⁺浓度最低,与对照组、试验Ⅰ组、试验Ⅱ组及试验Ⅳ组相比,分别降低了23.44%、16.40%、25.89%及21.43%（P<0.05）。[结论] 综合来看,使用伊维菌素和阿苯达唑混合驱虫,对伊犁马血浆中的氮代谢、糖脂代谢指标及肝功能代谢酶活力改善效果更明显。