Lipoprotein electrophoresis differentiation of chylous and nonchylous pleural effusions in dogs and cats and its correlation with pleural effusion triglyceride concentration

Pleural effusions from 23 dogs and 25 cats hospitalized between November 1986 and April 1987 at the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (VHUP) were classified as chylous (chylomicrons present) or nonchylous (chylomicrons absent) by the presence or absence, respectively, of a chylomicron band on lipoprotein electrophoresis gels of the effusions. Triglyceride concentrations, cholesterol concentrations, and cholesterol/triglyceride (C/T) ratios were compared between the chylous and nonchylous groups in each species. Cholesterol concentrations were not significantly different between chylous and nonchylous effusions in both dogs and cats. Cholesterol/triglyceride ratios of less than 1 were present in all dogs and cats with chylous effusions; however, 12% of dogs with nonchylous effusions and 50% of cats with nonchylous effusions also had a C/T ratio less than 1. Triglyceride concentrations accurately classified all effusions as chylous or nonchylous in both dogs and cats. Pleural effusions with triglyceride concentrations greater than l00 mg/dl were chylous in all cases, whereas, effusions with triglyceride concentrations less than l00 mg/dl were nonchylous in all cases.     

饲粮中添加抗菌肽对肉鸭增重及血清尿素氮、总蛋白水平的影响

240只1日龄肉鸭随机成分4组,每组设3个重复,对照组用基础日粮,试验组在基础日粮上每千克分别添加1、2、3mL抗菌肽制剂。结果显示:1)2、3mL/kg添加量组增重效果显著(P<0.05),3mL/kg添加量组最佳;净肉率升高,达到显著水平(P<0.05),其中主要是胸肌率上升;腹脂率降低但差异不显著(P>0.05);料重比无显著变化(P>0.05)。2)血清总蛋白浓度差异不显著(P>0.05),但尿素氮浓度下降,2、3mL/kg添加量组达显著水平(P<0.05),3mL/kg添加量组最低。     

TOTAL ANOMALOUS PULMONARY VENOUS CONNECTION IN A FOAL

An 8-day-old Arabian-Morgan cross colt underwent cardiac evaluation. The foal was tachycardic, tachypneic, exercise intolerant and had a loud right-sided heart murmur and cyanotic mucous membranes. Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection was diagnosed with echocardiography and confirmed at postmortem examination. Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection is a very rare congenital cardiac abnormality that has not been reported before in the horse.     

Effects of Moringa oleifera silage on milk yield,nutrient digestibility and serum biochemical indexes of lactating dairy cows

This study investigated the effects of Moringa oleifera (MO) as a partial substitute of alfalfa hay on milk yield, nutrient apparent digestibility and serum biochemical indexes of dairy cows. MO was harvested at 120 days post‐seeding. Fresh MO was cut, mixed with chopped oat hay (425:575 on a DM basis), ensiled and stored for 60 days. Sixty healthy Holstein dairy cows were allocated to one of three groups: NM (no MO or control), LM (low MO; 25% alfalfa hay and 50% maize silage were replaced by MO silage) or HM (high MO; 50% alfalfa hay and 100% maize silage were replaced by MO silage). The feeding trial lasted 35 days. The LM and HM diets did not affect dry matter (DM) intake, milk yield or milk composition (lactose, milk fat, milk protein and somatic cell count). The apparent digestibility of DM and NDF was lower for HM group than NM group. Additionally, there were no significant differences in serum biochemical indexes between the LM and NM groups. The HM group had lower serum concentrations of total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and higher serum concentrations of urea than the NM group. The partial replacement of alfalfa hay (≤50%) and maize silage with MO silage had no negative effects on milk yield, in vivo nutrient apparent digestibility or serum biochemical indexes of lactating cows.     

Effect of Different Concentrate-roughage Ratios on Rumen Degradability of Cassava Stems and Leaves Total Mixed Ration in Goat

The rumen degradations of TMR were studied in this experiment,in which cassava stems and leaves were used as roughage and formulated with concentrate in different proportions.The purpose of this study was to formulate the available TMR for finishing goat,and provide a theoretical basis for the applications of cassava stems and leaves in goat production.Six Hainan Black goats with permanent rumen fistulas were selected,the rumen degradabilities of DM,CP,NDF and ADF of TMR with 6 different concentrate to forage ratio（2:8,3:7,4:6,5:5,6:4 and 7:3）were tested using nylon bag method.The results showed that,the DM effective degradabilities at the ratio of 4:6,5:5,6:4,7:3 were significantly higher than that of 2:8 and 3:7（P<0.05).CP effective degradabilities at the ratio of 2:8,3:7,4:6 were significantly higher than that of 5:5,6:4 and 7:3（P<0.05).The NDF effective degradation at the ratio of 5:5 was significantly higher than that in the other groups（P<0.05).The ADF degradation at the ratio of 3:7 was significantly higher than that of 4:6,5:5, 6:4 and 7:3（P<0.05).The results indicated that,the nutrient degradation in rumen were higher when the concentrate to forage（cassava stems and leaves）ratio in TMR were 3:7,4:6 and 5:5,and the recommended ratio range were 4:6 to 5:5 in production practice.     

Effect of Alfalfa Flavonoids on Growth Performance and Serum Indexes of Sheep

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of alfalfa flavonoids (Medicago sativa) on growth performance and serum indexes of sheep.This experiment was performed with hybrid F1 sheep of Suffolk sheep×Small-tailed Han sheep.Twenty-eight sheep with the body weight of (27.02±3.03) kg were randomly divided into 4 groups with 7 replicates in each group and 1 sheep per replicate.Sheep in different groups were fed diets with 0 (group Ⅰ), 0.1% (group Ⅱ), 0.2%(group Ⅲ) and 0.4% (group Ⅳ) alfalfa flavonoids, respectively.The experiment was cosisted of 7-day-preliminary trial and 41-day-formal trial.The results showed as follows:① Dietary supplementation of alfalfa flavonoids had no significant effects on growth performance of sheep(P>0.05).② Dietary supplementation of alfalfa flavonoids had significant effects on the contents of GLB, ASP, BUN, HDL and P in serum (P<0.05).Serum GLB content at the 1st day in group Ⅲ was significantly lower than that in groupsⅠand Ⅱ(P<0.05), serum ASP contents at the 1st and 21th days in group Ⅳ were significantly lower than those in group Ⅰ(P<0.05), serum BUN content at the 1st day in group Ⅳ was significantly lower than that in group Ⅰ(P<0.05), serum HDL content at the 21th day in group Ⅱ was significantly lower than that in groups Ⅰ and Ⅲ (P<0.05), serum P content in group Ⅳ at the 21th day was significantly lower than that in groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ (P<0.05).In conclusion, dietary supplementation of alfalfa flavonoids might modulate lipid metabolism, improve nitrogen utilization, maintain energy metabolic and balance Ca and P contents, and have the potential function for promoting growth and no adverse effect on liver.The results suggested that the appropriate supplemental level of alfalfa flavonoids for sheep was 0.2%.     

Early interspecific dynamics,dry matter production and nitrogen use in Kernza (Thinopyrum intermedium) – alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) mixed intercropping

ABSTRACT

The global interest in growing perennial grain crops such as intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) (Kernza) for production of food and feed is increasing. Intercropping Kernza with legumes may be a sustainable way of supplying nitrogen to soil and associated intercrop. We determined the competitive interactions between intercropped Kernza (K) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) (A) under three inorganic nitrogen (N) rates N0, N1, N2 (0, 200, 400 kg ha^?1) and five species relative frequencies (SRF) (100%K:0%A, 75%K:25%A, 50%K:50%A, 25%K:75%A and 0% K:100%A) in mixed intercrops (MI) in a greenhouse pot experiment. After 11 weeks of growth. Kernza dry matter yield (DM) and N accumulated (NACC) were low, but alfalfa DM and NACC high at 0 kg N ha^?1. 200 and 400 kg N ha^?1 fertiliser application increased the competitive ability (CA) of Kernza and reduced the CA of alfalfa. SRF had large impacts on alfalfa DM, NACC and NFIX only at 0 kg N ha^?1 fertiliser, and insignificant impacts on Kernza at all N fertiliser levels, indicating that adjustment of SRF may not be an effective way to modulate the interspecific competition of Kernza. Further research on the other factors that influence the interspecific competition are warranted.     

Ostrich meat: Production,quality parameters,and nutritional comparison to other types of meats

The poultry industry is considered one of the most efficient industries in producing animal protein. Poultry production consists of several main segments: broilers, commercial eggs, turkeys, ducks, and other poultry, including geese, guinea-fowl, pheasants, quail, and ratites. Currently, ostrich meat is marketed as a healthy red meat because it is characterized by high polyunsaturated fatty acid contents, low saturated fatty acid content, and low cholesterol level compared with red meats, such as beef, while tasting similar to lean beef. Ostrich meat contains lower sodium and higher iron contents than other kinds of meat, making it preferable to hypertensive people and those with anemia. Taken together, ostrich meat is considered as an ideal red meat for individuals seeking healthier lifestyle. Moreover, many different ostrich products, such as leather and feathers, are used by people. The current review paper considers the quality characteristics of ostrich meat, including physical traits, and compares it to other types of meats, such as bovine and other poultry meats.     

Study on Liver-protective Effect of Chinese Herbal Compound Probiotics on Acute Liver Injury Layers

This experiment was conducted to investigate the liver-protective effect of Chinese herbal compound probiotics (CHCP) on acute liver injury layers.One hundred and eight 1 day old hens were divided into 4 groups with 3 replicates in each group and 9 layers per replicate in trial 1.The layers in model groups Ⅰ to Ⅲ were gavaged with 10% (V/V) soybean oil solution of carbon tetrachloride (SCCl₄) according to 1,2 and 4 mL/(kg·BW) at 14,28 and 35 d,respectively.The layers in control group were gavaged with 2 mL/(kg·BW) soybean oil.In trial 2,sixty 1 d layers were divided into 5 groups:Control group (soybean oil),model control group(SCCl₄)and low-dose,middle-dose and high-dose CHCP group (SCCl₄+1‰ CHCP,SCCl₄+2‰ CHCP and SCCl₄+4‰ CHCP respectively).CHCP were used by drinking water since 7 days.SCCl₄ were gavaged according to 2 mL/(kg·BW) at 14 and 28 d.The results showed as follows:The model of layers liver damage could be built by intragastric administration of 2 mL/(kg·BW) 10%(V/V) SCCl₄ at 14,28 d respectively,with the signs of hepatic steatosis,severe vacuolar degeneration,nuclear condensation and necrosis.Compared to the model control group,the serum AST levels in low,medium and high dose CHCP groups were decreased by 4.35% (P > 0.05),7.57% (P > 0.05) and 9.79% (P < 0.05),the serum ALT levels in medium and high dose CHCP groups were decreased by 34.92% (P < 0.01),36.51% (P < 0.01),the serum total bilirubin content in medium and high dose CHCP groups were decreased by 25.49% (P < 0.01),27.45% (P < 0.01).The liver cell congestion was reduced to varying degrees in different dose CHCP groups,and the liver cell had no vacuoles,arranged in neat rows,abundant cytoplasm and uniform in different dose CHCP groups.In conclusion,2‰,4‰ CHCP could reduce hepatocyte necrosis,decrease the serum activities of ALT,AST and total bilirubin levels,and had protective effect on hepatic injury induced by SCCl₄.