Free galactose concentrations in fresh and stored apples (Malus domestica) and processed apple products

Gas chromatography was used to quantitate free galactose in Braeburn, Fuji, Red Delicious, and Spartan apples during cold storage, after thermal processing of apple slices and in juice produced using clarification and/or liquifaction enzymes. Spartan had significantly higher galactose levels as compared to Red Delicious apples, but changes in galactose in all varieties during 9 months of cold storage were insignificant. Blanching and canning decreased galactose levels, but doubling the thermal processing during canning increased the free galactose concentration detected in plant tissue. An enzymatic liquefaction aid used to prepare apple juice dramatically increased the free galactose content while a clarification aid caused only a slight increase due to its selective action on soluble pectin. These findings provide useful information for dietitians to base diet recommendations for galactosemic patients.     

Evaluation of numbers of microscopic and macroscopic follicles in cattle selected for twinning

We hypothesized that the number of microscopic follicles present in the ovaries of cattle selected for twin births (Twinner) would be greater than in the ovaries of contemporary Controls. Ovaries were collected from seven Control and seven Twinner cows at slaughter. The number of Small (1 to 3.9 mm), Medium (4 to 7.9), and Large (> 8 mm) surface follicles was counted and one ovary was fixed for histological evaluation. Fifty to sixty consecutive 6-microm slices were taken from a piece of cortical tissue, approximately 1 cm x 1 cm in area, located between the surface follicles. Microscopic follicles were classified as primordial (oocyte surrounded by a single layer of squamous pregranulosa cells), primary (oocyte surrounded by a single layer of one or more cuboidal granulosa cells), secondary (oocyte surrounded by two or more layers of granulosa cells), or tertiary (oocyte surrounded by multiple layers of granulosa cells with initiation of antrum formation to < or = 1 mm in diameter). The total number of follicles was counted in 200 fields (2 mm x 2 mm) per ovary. A field containing no follicles was classified as empty. There were significantly more secondary follicles in Twinner compared with Control ovaries (12.9 vs 6.3; P < .05). Twinners also tended to have more small surface follicles (35.4 vs 49.0; P < 0.1). We conclude that ovaries of Control and Twinner cows do not differ in the number of primordial follicles or in the number of follicles activated into the growing pool; however, Twinner cows are able to maintain more growing follicles at the secondary and subsequent stages of development.     

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.     

Duration of serologic response to three viral antigens in cats

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether vaccinated cats either remained seropositive or responded serologically to revaccination against 3 key viral antigens after extended periods since their last vaccination. DESIGN: Serologic survey. ANIMALS: 272 healthy client-owned cats. PROCEDURE: Cats were > or = 2 years old and vaccinated for feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), feline calicivirus (FCV), and feline herpesvirus (FHV). On day 0, cats were revaccinated with a vaccine from the same line of vaccines as they had historically received. Antibody titers were measured in sera collected on day 0 (prevaccination titer) and 5 to 7 days later (postvaccination titer). Cats were considered to have responded serologically if they had a day-0 hemagglutination inhibition titer to FPV > or = 1:40, serum neutralization (SN) titer to FCV > or = 1:32, SN titer to FHV > or = 1:16, or > or = 4-fold increase in antibody titer after revaccination. RESULTS: The percentage of cats that had titers at or above the threshold values or responded to revaccination with a > or = 4-fold increase in titer was 96.7% for FPV, 97.8% for FCV, and 88.2% for FHV. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In most cats, vaccination induced a response that lasted up to and beyond 48 months for all 3 antigens. Although not equivalent to challenge-of-immunity studies as a demonstration of efficacy, results suggest that revaccination with the vaccine used in our study provides adequate protection even when given less frequently than the traditional 1-year interval. The study provides valuable information for clinicians to determine appropriate revaccination intervals.     

Management factors associated with swine breeding-herd productivity in the United States

A database containing 24 key production measurements was created by abstracting data files of 673 U.S. farms which participated in the PigCHAMP data-share program in 1995. Summary statistics for breeding-herd performance data were presented for the Cornbelt and the South or Eastern regions. Eight models were built to assess the association between production system, operation management factors and productivity outcomes. Lactation length, percentage of multiple matings, parity of culled sows, percent gilts in the breeding-female inventory, and female culling rate were the management factors identified as having important associations with productivity outcomes. For example, shorter lactation length, higher percentage of multiple matings, and lower culling rate were associated with more pigs weaned per mated female per year. In addition, a lower percentage of gilts in the breeding-female inventory and a higher percentage of multiple matings were associated with fewer average non-productive female days. We recommend that producers change their management systems to decrease lactation length, the percentage of gilts in the breeding-female inventory, and female culling rate, and increase percentage of multiple matings in order to improve breeding-herd productivity on swine farms.     

Influence of vitamin A injection before mating on oocyte development, follicular hormones, and ovulation in gilts fed high-energy diets

Previous research revealed that treatment with vitamin A approximately 5 d before ovulation may increase litter size in weaned sows and improve embryonal survival in gilts fed high-energy diets that reduced embryonal survival. For the current study, the hypothesis was that administration of vitamin A before ovulation would alter development of follicles and oocytes in a way favorable to enhanced embryonal survival. (Landrace x Large White) x (Duroc x Hampshire) gilts (n = 44) were fed 11.0 Mcal ME x gilt(-1) x d(-1) beginning 7 d after second estrus and given (i.m.) corn oil or 1 x 10(6) IU of vitamin A (retinyl palmitate) on d 15 after second estrus. Gilts were checked for estrus every 4 h, mated naturally at third estrus, and assigned randomly to undergo midventral laparotomy beginning at 24 to 28, 28 to 32, 32 to 36, or 36 to 40 h after onset of third estrus. At laparotomy, ovulated oocytes and early-stage embryos were recovered from oviducts, and ovaries were removed for aspiration of oocytes and granulosa cells from unovulated follicles. Oocytes and embryos were stained for assessment of stage of development. Granulosa cells were cultured to assess their ability to secrete progesterone. Follicular fluid was assayed for progesterone, estradiol-17beta, IGF-I, and PGF2alpha. Treatment with vitamin A altered development of oocytes and embryos by decreasing the percentage at the germinal vesicle stage and increasing the percentage at advanced stages. Mean stage of development was increased by vitamin A, but variation in stage was decreased. Among follicles matched by meiotic stage of oocyte, follicular fluid concentrations of progesterone, IGF-I, and PGF2alpha were greater in vitamin A-treated gilts than in controls, but treatment with vitamin A in vivo did not affect LH-stimulated or unstimulated secretion of progesterone by granulosa cells in vitro. These data provide evidence that vitamin A may influence embryonic development by advancing resumption of meiosis and altering follicular hormonal environment during follicle maturation.