Determination of critical nitrogen dilution curve based on leaf area index for winter wheat in the Guanzhong Plain,Northwest China

Excessive use of nitrogen(N) fertilizers in agricultural systems increases the cost of production and risk of environmental pollution. Therefore, determination of optimum N requirements for plant growth is necessary. Previous studies mostly established critical N dilution curves based on aboveground dry matter(DM) or leaf dry matter(LDM) and stem dry matter(SDM), to diagnose the N nutrition status of the whole plant. As these methods are time consuming, we investigated the more rapidly determined leaf area index(LAI) method to establish the critical nitrogen(N_c) dilution curve, and the curve was used to diagnose plant N status for winter wheat in Guanzhong Plain in Northwest China. Field experiments were conducted using four N fertilization levels(0, 105, 210 and 315 kg ha-1) applied to six wheat cultivars in the 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 growing seasons. LAI, DM, plant N concentration(PNC) and grain yield were determined. Data points from four cultivars were used for establishing the N_c curve and data points from the remaining two cultivars were used for validating the curve. The N_c dilution curve was validated for N-limiting and non-N-limiting growth conditions and there was good agreement between estimated and observed values. The N nutrition index(NNI) ranged from 0.41 to 1.25 and the accumulated plant N deficit(N_(and)) ranged from 60.38 to –17.92 kg ha~(-1) during the growing season. The relative grain yield was significantly affected by NNI and was adequately described with a parabolic function. The N_c curve based on LAI can be adopted as an alternative and more rapid approach to diagnose plant N status to support N fertilization decisions during the vegetative growth of winter wheat in Guanzhong Plain in Northwest China.     

Postovulatory Effect of Intravenous Administration of Lipopolysaccharide (Escherichia coli, O55:B5) on the Endocrine Status of Recently Ovulated Sows

The effects of lipopolysaccharide ( Escherichia coli , O55:B5), administered 18 h after ovulation in the second oestrus after weaning on the hormonal profiles in 14 Swedish cross-bred (Landrace × Yorkshire) multiparous sows were studied. The endotoxin group (E-group) sows were administered with 300 ng/kg of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) whereas the control group (C-group) sows were administered 5 ml of saline intravenously via an indwelling jugular cannula. Blood samples for hormonal analyses were collected from all sows until slaughter. In the E-group, progesterone, cortisol and prostaglandin F_2α metabolite levels increased significantly (p < 0.05) following LPS compared with the C-group. It can be concluded from this study that apart from elevating cortisol and prostaglandin F_2α metabolite, LPS also elevates progesterone levels.     

Regulation of Capacitation of Canine Spermatozoa during Co-culture with Heterologous Oviductal Epithelial Cells

Progress of essential steps of the capacitation is coordinated in the oviductal isthmus, where sperm are stored in close contact with the epithelium. A crucial capacitational event is the phosphorylation of sperm membrane proteins. Regulation of the tyrosine phosphorylation by the oviduct has not been examined in dog sperm yet. The aim of this work was to study the effect of dog sperm binding to porcine oviductal epithelium on capacitation‐induced cellular and molecular changes. Epithelial cells were stripped from the oviducts of post‐puberal sows and cultured for 5–7 days at 39°C and 5% CO₂ on Biomatrix‐covered Chamber slides. Sperm washed through Percoll was co‐incubated with the oviductal epithelium cell cultures in a bicarbonate Tyrode's medium. During co‐incubation, sperm membrane changes, the state of tyrosine phosphorylation and motility were determined after 3, 30, 90, 180, 240 and 360 min. Significant increases in the percentage of capacitated and dead cells were observed in unbound sperm, while bound sperm remained uncapacitated, live and motile. An increasing tyrosine phosphorylation of tail proteins in bound, unbound and control sperm suspensions and a subsequent phosphorylation of head proteins in unbound and control sperm suspensions were observed. A significant difference regarding head phosphorylation (p < 0.05) was found between sperm bound to oviductal epithelium and unbound sperm. Binding occurred mainly in sperm with non‐ phosphorylated heads, while higher proportions of phosphorylated cells were found in unbound populations. The head phosphorylation progressed significantly during incubation in unbound spermatozoa (p < 0.05); however, it was suppressed in population of sperm attached to oviductal epithelium. Significant correlations between motility parameters related to hyperactivation and tail phosphorylation were found in unbound sperm. These observations support the hypothesis that spermatozoa with non‐phosphorylated heads preferentially attach to epithelial cells. It can be concluded that tyrosine phosphorylation of head membrane proteins and capacitation are delayed in canine spermatozoa being in closed contact with oviductal epithelium.     

Estimation of the relative bioavailability of copper sources in chicks fed on conventional dietary amounts

1. Tissue accumulation of Cu from dietary additions of 0, 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg Cu as reagent grade Cu acetate and feed grade Cu carbonate was determined in day‐old chicks fed on conventional maize‐soyabean meal starter diets (5.41 mg/kg Cu as‐fed basis) for 3 weeks.

2. Average daily food intake, daily weight gain and food conversion were similar among treatments.

3. There were linear increases in plasma and liver Cu concentrations (P< 0.01) as dietary Cu increased.

4. Bioavailability of Cu as carbonate was 0.66 that of Cu in the acetate based on the multiple regression slope ratio of liver Cu concentration on added dietary Cu. Although responses for the two Cu sources did not differ significantly, the relative bioavailability of the Cu carbonate was similar (0.66 vs 0.68) to that obtained in an earlier study (Ledoux et al., 1991) with greater dietary Cu contents (150, 300 and 450 mg/kg) in which the slopes of the equations representing the two sources differed (P<0.05).     

Diagnostic imaging of oronasal fistulas in a dachshund

Oronasal fistula development is described anecdotally as a common disease process in the dachshund but little is known about its imaging appearance. This case report describes the clinical presentation, computed tomography (CT) characterisation, dental radiograph confirmation and treatment of bilateral oronasal fistulas in a 14‐year‐old dachshund.     

In situ provision of drinking water to grazing dairy cows improves milk production

AIMS: To determine the effect of providing water within the area grazed by dairy cows on milk yield and quality, compared to requiring cows to walk to a distant water trough, on a dairy farm in the Pampa region of Argentina during summer.

METHODS: Holstein dairy cows were allocated to two herds with similar parity, days in milk and milk production. They were grazed in one paddock that was divided in two, with a fixed water trough at one end. Cows were moved twice daily to grazing plots within the paddock. Control cows (n=66) could only access water from the fixed trough, whereas supplemented cows (n=67) also received water from a mobile trough within the grazing plot. Milk production of each cow, and water consumption of the two herds were measured daily over 62 days. Milk composition for each herd was determined weekly from Days 18 to 60 of the study, and grazing behaviour was observed between 08:00 and 16:00 hours on Days 11–15, 19–22 and 39–43.

RESULTS: Over the 62 days of the study, supplemented cows produced 1.39 (SE 0.11) L/cow/day more milk than Control cows (p=0.027). Estimated mean daily water intake was 50.4 (SE 2.1) L/cow/day for supplemented cows and 58.2 (SE 2.7) L/cow/day for Control cows (p=0.004). Percentage total solids in milk was higher for supplemented (12.5 (SE 0.06)%) than Control (12.4 (SE 0.04)%) cows (p=0.047). During the periods of behavioural observation, a higher percentage of cows in the water supplemented than the Control herd were observed in the grazing area (p=0.012).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This preliminary study demonstrated that provision of water to dairy cows within the grazing plot was beneficial for milk production and composition, and may be associated with longer periods spent within the grazing area, during hot weather in the Pampa region of Argentina.     

Use of intralesional cisplatin to successfully treat distal limb haemangiosarcoma in a foal

A 4-month old, 200 kg, grey warmblood colt presented for a firm, non painful mass on the distal medial aspect of the left third metatarsus. Excisional biopsy revealed a diagnosis of haemangiosarcoma. Equine haemangiosarcoma is uncommon and only limited reports of successful treatment are available. The prognosis for survival is therefore considered to be poor. After two separate incidences of recurrence with incomplete excision of the tumour, intralesional treatment with cisplatin without excision or debulking was performed on three separate occasions. Intralesional cisplatin injection was performed at monthly intervals for three treatments. Four years post treatment with cisplatin, the horse remained in remission. This case report describes the diagnostic and treatment challenges for successful treatment of a primary haemangiosarcoma on the distal limb of a warmblood foal using intralesional cisplatin chemotherapy.     

Chemical characteristics and relative bioavailability of supplemental organic copper sources for poultry

Five commercially available organic Cu products and reagent-grade CuSO4 x 5H2O (Cu Sulf) were evaluated by polarographic analysis and solubility in 0.1 M K2HPO4-KH2PO4 buffer (pH 5), 0.2 M HCl-KCl buffer (pH 2), or deionized water. Fractions from these solubility tests were evaluated by gel filtration chromatography for structural integrity. The organic sources were Cu lysine complex (Cu Lys), Cu amino acid chelate (Cu AA), Cu proteinate A (Cu ProA), Cu proteinate B (Cu ProB), and Cu proteinate C (Cu ProC). Separation of peaks in the chromatograms for the soluble Cu fraction from deionized water indicated that 77, 31, 69, 94, and 16% of the Cu remained chelated for the above sources, respectively. Two experiments were conducted to estimate the relative bioavailability of Cu from the organic Cu supplements for chicks when added at high dietary concentrations to practical corn-soybean meal diets. Liver Cu concentration increased (P < 0.0001) as dietary Cu increased in both experiments. When Cu Sulf was assigned a value of 100% as the standard, linear regression slope ratios of log10 liver Cu concentration regressed on added dietary Cu concentration gave estimated relative bioavailability values of 124 +/- 5.1, 122 +/- 5.3, and 111 +/- 6.0 for Cu Lys, Cu AA, and Cu ProC, respectively, in Exp. 1. The bioavailability estimates for Cu Lys and Cu AA were greater (P < 0.05) than that for Cu Sulf. Values in Exp. 2 were 111 +/- 7.6, 109 +/- 8.4, and 105 +/- 7.5 for Cu Lys, Cu ProA, and Cu ProB, respectively, and all sources were similar in value for chicks. Solubility of Cu in pH 2 buffer provided the best prediction of bioavailability (r2 = 0.924). Other indicators of chelation integrity and solubility had little value as predictors of bioavailability (r2 < or = 0.445).     

Intrathoracic lipoma in a Labrador retriever

Pyrexia, granulocytosis and hyperglobulinaemia were the main clinical findings in an unusual case of intrathoracic lipoma in a 12-year-old male Labrador retriever. The response to antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatment was poor, prompting further investigation. Survey radiographs and ultrasonography revealed a cavitated, fluid-filled soft tissue mass in the right hemithorax, which was successfully removed resulting in rapid resolution of clinical signs. Lipomas are rare intrathoracic extrapulmonary tumours. Previously reported clinical signs are dyspnoea and coughing, attributed to the mass effect of the lipoma. The unusual presentation in this case was caused by necrosis of the lipoma, probably owing to torsion of the pedicle attaching it to the cranial mediastinum.