Modernizing the animal science curriculum: is change needed?

To identify an animal science curriculum is difficult because it is a "moving target" due to changing needs and demands of our society and, more specifically, to changes in the backgrounds and interests of students. Therefore, animal science curriculums not only should change, but must change, if they are to succeed. With new technological innovations and discoveries that either modify, supplement, or change basic concepts and approaches, it is paramount that changes in courses as well as in the curriculum conform. Because of the applied nature of animal science and because of the many unknowns yet to be discovered, the curriculum should be under continual scrutiny. However, we must not fix something when it is not broken. For all practical purposes, a curriculum reflects a philosophy of what subjects should be included to complete a plan of study. After a philosophy has been established the base curriculum will seldom change significantly. When it does, it will be the result of a change in people's philosophies rather than a reflection of industry needs or student interests. Teachers should not forget how to teach most effectively the material and must never lose sight of their goal of molding students into knowledgeable, wise, and responsible citizens in our society.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A comparison of the effect of short-acting and long-acting cloxacillin-based dry-cow therapy on somatic cell counts after calving in cows also given internal teat sealants

AIM: To compare, in cows treated with an internal teat sealant, the effect of short-acting and long-acting cloxacillin-based dry-cow therapy on somatic cell counts (SCC) after calving.

METHODS: Cows from a spring-calving, pasture-based dairy farm in the Manawatu-Whanganui region of New Zealand were randomly allocated to receive either a short-acting cloxacillin and ampicillin dry-cow therapy and internal teat sealant (n=291) or a long-acting cloxacillin and ampicillin dry-cow therapy and internal teat sealant (n=288) at the end of lactation. Cows were managed on-farm with routine husbandry procedures through the dry period and following calving. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to determine the association between length of action of dry-cow therapy and the proportion of cows with a SCC >150,000?cells/mL at the first herd test after calving.

RESULTS: Age of cow, mean SCC for the preceding season and interval from calving to the first post-calving herd test were all associated with the proportion of cows with an individual SCC >150,000?cells/mL at the first herd test (p<0.001) Treatment with the short-acting dry-cow therapy was not associated with decreased odds of cows having a SCC >150,000?cells/mL at the first herd test compared with treatment with long-acting dry-cow therapy (OR=0.724; 95% CI=0.40–1.30).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In this herd, which routinely used internal teat sealants, the use of short-acting cloxacillin-based dry-cow therapy did not result in an increased proportion of cows with elevated SSC post-calving. This was a single farm, single year study but indicates that in this herd, changing from a long-acting to a short-acting antimicrobial may have no impact on the prevalence of subclinical mastitis.     

Glycolytic potential of red, soft, exudative pork longissimus muscle

Red, soft, exudative (RSE) pork is red as "normal" pork and exudative as PSE pork. The origin of RSE quality is unknown. In the present study, we determined whether the occurrence of RSE pork is related to the presence of the RN (Rendement Napole) gene. A glycolytic potential [= 2 x (glucose + glycogen + glucose-6-phosphate) + lactate] of > 180 micromol lactate/g of meat was used as indicator for presence of the RN gene. At 1 d postmortem, pork loin samples were collected at a commercial slaughter plant, and meat quality characteristics and glycolytic potential were determined. Glycolytic potential of RSE pork (n = 42) was higher (P < .01) than that of RFN (red, firm, nonexudative) pork (n = 25): 137 vs 110 micromol lactate/g of muscle. The glycolytic potential of PSE pork (n = 28) was 161 micromol lactate/g of muscle, which was higher (P < .01) than the glycolytic potential of RFN or RSE pork. Using a glycolytic potential of 180 micromol lactate/g of muscle as suggestive for the presence of the RN gene, four (10%) of the RSE samples were from RN carriers. By the same criterion, the PSE group contained nine (32%) RN gene carriers. These results suggest that the occurrence of RSE quality is not related to the presence of the RN gene.     

Overbank Sedimentation in the Delaware River Valley during the Last 6000 Years

A thick sequence of floodplain sediments has accumulated in the Delaware River Valley by the process of overbank deposition. Textures in the sediments indicate that the sequence contains no point-bar deposits and is unbroken by periods of erosion. Fourteen radiocarbon dates show that deposition began at least 6000 years ago and has continued to the present. Because the Delaware River shifts its position laterally at a very slow rate, overbank deposition becomes dominant in the construction of its floodplain.     

Demographic trends for animal care and control agencies in Ohio from 1996 to 2004

OBJECTIVE: To examine changes between 1996 and 2004 in regard to numbers of animals handled, medical care provided, expenses, numbers of employees, and agency policies for animal care and control agencies in Ohio. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SAMPLE POPULATION: 223 animal care and control agencies. PROCEDURES: A questionnaire was mailed to animal care and control agencies in Ohio to collect information for 2004; results were compared with published results of a similar survey. RESULTS: 165 of the 223 (74%) agencies responded. Estimated total number of animals handled in 2004 was 315,519, which represented a decrease of 7% compared with 1996. However, although number of dogs taken in decreased 17%, number of cats taken in increased 20%. Between 1996 and 2004, the euthanasia rate decreased from 65.3% to 56.8%, and the adoption rate increased from 24.5% to 33.6%. Number of dogs euthanatized decreased 39%, but number of cats euthanatized increased 14%. The proportion of agencies with a spay-neuter policy increased from 56% to 71%, and the proportion that maintained an association with a veterinarian increased from 39% to 80%. For dogs handled by county dog warden agencies, the odds of euthanasia were higher if the agency did not have a spay-neuter policy (odds ratio, 1.36). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that the status of dogs handled by animal care and control agencies in Ohio improved between 1996 and 2004, but that the status of cats deteriorated.     

Dimensionality-driven insulator-to-metal transition in the bechgaard salts

Optical experiments were conducted on a series of organic linear chain conductors with different values of the interchain single-electron transfer integral tb, which quantifies the degree of anisotropy. Electron-electron interactions together with Umklapp scattering resulted in a correlation gap and an insulating state for small tb. An insulator-to-metal transition was observed when tb exceeded a critical value, on the order of the correlation gap Egap. The absence of a plasma edge on the insulator side of the transition for polarization perpendicular to the chains suggests that the electrons are confined to the chains. The optical features of the metallic state, when contrasted with the magnetic properties, are suggestive of spin-charge separation.     

Impact of the use of biofertilizers on cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum ) crop under irrigated agro-ecosystem

High nitrogen fixing, phosphate solubilizing, phytohormones producing isolates of Azotobacter, Azospirillum, Acetobacter and Pseudomonas were used as inoculants for cotton. Important cultures were selected on the basis of their effect on root/shoot length and chemotactic behaviour. Selected bioinoculants were earlier tested for their beneficial properties like nitrogen fixation (ARA), ammonia excretion, IAA production etc. These bio-inoculants were further tested for phosphate solubilization property. Various chosen strains were tested with Desi (HD 123) and American (H 1098) cotton under field conditions (as for wheat). Plant height and boll weight were determined at the time of harvesting whereas survival rate of inoculated bacteria was determined after 30, 80 and 130 days respectively. In the year 2000–01, on the basis of boll number and boll weight plant^?1 AVK 51 (36; 76.2?g plant^?1), HT 57 (27; 56.9?g plant^?1), AC18 (33; 61.5?g plant^?1), Ala 27 (36; 61.4?g plant^?1) and Pseudomonas (34; 71.3?g plant^?1) were identified as significant both for American and desi cotton varieties. Highest survival rate was observed with Mac 68 (33.4 × 10⁵) followed by HT54 (31.5 × 10⁵) after 30 days of sowing, which decreased after 80 days and remained constant up to 130 days. This trend was observed with all the cultures. Similar results were observed in 2001–02. 25?kg ha^?1 N saving was observed with A. chroococcum (AVK51) bioinoculant for cotton crop.     

Perceptions,practices, and consequences associated with foodborne pathogens and the feeding of raw meat to dogs

This study explored the impact of feeding raw meat to dogs on the fecal prevalence of several enteric bacterial zoonotic pathogens. Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 1/42 (2.6%) raw meat-fed dogs. Salmonella enterica was isolated from 2/40 (5%) of the raw meat feeds, 6/42 (14%) raw meat-fed dog feces, none of the dogs that did not receive raw meat (P = 0.001), 4/38 (10.5%) of the vacuum cleaner waste samples from households where raw meat was fed, and 2/44 (4.5%) of vacuum cleaner waste samples from households where raw meat was not fed to dogs (P = 0.41). Responses to a questionnaire probing practices and beliefs regarding raw meat feeding that was administered to dog owners demonstrated that dog owners may either not be aware or refuse to acknowledge the risks associated with raw meat-feeding; thus, they may neglect to conduct adequate intervention strategies to prevent zoonoses among themselves and their families.