Risk factors and indicators of reduced welfare of grazing dairy cows from selected smallholder dairy farms in Midlands Province,Zimbabwe     

Z. Matore  P. Woods  S. Kagler 《Tropical animal health and production》2018,50(5):1059-1064

Zimbabwe’s smallholder dairying faces many challenges that affect the welfare of dairy cows; however, the status of this welfare has not yet been determined. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Midlands Province on 41 active smallholder dairy farms with 86 cows in winter and summer to determine the risk factors and indicators to impaired cow welfare. These objectives were achieved using farmer questionnaires and direct observations. Eleven percent of the observed cows were severely lame in summer while only 5% were severely lame in winter. Lameness was significantly associated with season, absence of shade, breed, and low dipping frequency; 58% of the cows had low body condition scores (BC?<?3) and this low BC was associated with low frequency of protein (p?=?0.002) and vitamin (p?=?0.012) supplementation recorded in more than 52% of the farms visited. In winter, only 11% of the observed cows were heavily soiled (score 3), while in summer 64% of the cows were heavily soiled and this was associated with slurry accumulation in more than 80% of the observed cattle pens as well as the study season (p?<?0.001). A quarter (26%) of the studied animals had visible teat lesions on the teat skin and this was associated with the type of lubricant used (p?=?0.011). Only 34% of the cows allowed an approaching stockman to touch them and this was associated with shouting (p?=?0.012) and whipping of cows (p?=?0.002). The study concluded that welfare of dairy cows was poor in most of the smallholder dairy farms studied.  相似文献   

Effects of p.o. administered xylitol in cats          下载免费PDF全文

Á. Jerzsele  Z. Karancsi  E. Pászti‐Gere  Á. Sterczer  A. Bersényi  K. Fodor  D. Szabó  P. Vajdovich 《Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics》2018,41(3):409-414

Xylitol is commonly used as sugar substitute in households. While it has numerous beneficial effects on human health, it is highly toxic to dogs. The goal of this study was to examine whether xylitol has similar deleterious effects, such as hypoglycaemia and acute hepatic failure, on cats. Our research included six healthy middle‐aged cats. Xylitol was dissolved in deionized water and administered p.o. at three doses (100, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg body weight). These dosages have been considered toxic and can cause liver failure or even death in dogs. After every xylitol administration, the basic health status and the blood glucose of cats were observed regularly. Additionally, prior to and 6, 24 and 72 hr after xylitol administration, blood samples were taken to check complete blood count, clinical biochemical parameters and enzymes such as ALT, ALKP, GGT, GLDH, bile acids, BUN, creatinine, phosphate, total protein, albumin, sodium and potassium. There were no significant changes (p > .05) in any of the haematological or biochemical parameters. Blood glucose concentrations did not show any significant alterations, except at 1,000 mg/kg dose, where a mild but significant increase was observed, but it was in physiological range. Based on our results, xylitol did not induce toxic effects on cats.  相似文献   

Bioavailability of suppository acetaminophen in healthy and hospitalized ill dogs          下载免费PDF全文

E. R. Sikina  J. F. Bach  Z. Lin  R. Gehring  B. KuKanich 《Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics》2018,41(5):652-658

To determine the plasma pharmacokinetics of suppository acetaminophen (APAP) in healthy dogs and clinically ill dogs. This prospective study used six healthy client‐owned and 20 clinically ill hospitalized dogs. The healthy dogs were randomized by coin flip to receive APAP orally or as a suppository in crossover study design. Blood samples were collected up to 10 hr after APAP dosing. The hospitalized dogs were administered APAP as a suppository, and blood collected at 2 and 6 hr after dosing. Plasma samples were analyzed by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. In healthy dogs, oral APAP maximal concentration (C_MAX=2.69 μg/ml) was reached quickly (T_MAX=1.04 hr) and eliminated rapidly (T1/2 = 1.81 hr). Suppository APAP was rapidly, but variably absorbed (C_MAX=0.52 μg/ml T_MAX=0.67 hr) and eliminated (T_1/2 = 3.21 hr). The relative (to oral) fraction of the suppository dose absorbed was 30% (range <1%–67%). In hospitalized ill dogs, the suppository APAP mean plasma concentration at 2 hr and 6 hr was 1.317 μg/ml and 0.283 μg/ml. Nonlinear mixed‐effects modeling did not identify significant covariates affecting variability and was similar to noncompartmental results. Results supported that oral and suppository acetaminophen in healthy and clinical dogs did not reach or sustain concentrations associated with efficacy. Further studies performed on different doses are needed.  相似文献   

Effect of a 1800 MHz electromagnetic field emitted during embryogenesis on chick development and hatchability          下载免费PDF全文

K. Pawlak  Z. Nieckarz  A. Sechman  D. Wojtysiak  B. Bojarski  B. Tombarkiewicz 《Anatomia, histologia, embryologia》2018,47(3):222-230

The level of artificial electromagnetic field (EMF) has steadily increased with the development of human civilization. The developing chicken embryo has been considered a good model to study the effects of EMF on living organisms. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of a 1800 MHz electromagnetic field during embryogenesis on the frequency of chick embryo malformations, morphometric parameters of the heart and liver and concentration of corticosterone in blood plasma, lipid and glycogen content in the liver of newly hatched chicks. A 1800 MHz EMF was found to shorten the duration of embryogenesis (earlier pipping and hatching of chicks) while having no effect on the quantity and quality of chicks and on increasing the incidence of embryo malformations. Exposure of chick embryos to EMF caused decreases in relative heart weight and right ventricle wall thickness. The pipping and hatching of chicks can be accelerated by stressful impact of EMF, which is confirmed by a significant increase in plasma corticosterone concentrations and decrease in fat and glycogen in the liver of chicks exposed during embryogenesis on the electromagnetic field with a frequency of 1800 MHz.  相似文献   

What is your diagnosis? Caudal fossa mass from a dog          下载免费PDF全文

Shannon Jones Hostetter  Hilary Z. Hu  Joseph S. Haynes 《Veterinary clinical pathology / American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology》2018,47(2):322-323

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A comparison of two sources of methionine supplemented at different levels on heat shock protein 70 expression and oxidative stress product of Peking ducks subjected to heat stress          下载免费PDF全文

L. Guo  R. Li  Y. F. Zhang  T. Y. Qin  Q. S. Li  X. X. Li  Z. L. Qi 《Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition》2018,102(1):e147-e154

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Effects of continuous low dose infusion of lipopolysaccharide on inflammatory responses,milk production and milk quality in dairy cows          下载免费PDF全文

L. T. Ning  G. Z. Dong  C. Ao  D. G. Zhang  K. Erdene  F. Q. Zhang  J. Wen  T. L. Zhang 《Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition》2018,102(1):e262-e269

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of continuous low dose infusion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on inflammatory responses and milk production and quality in lactating dairy cows. Eight Holstein cows were assigned to two treatments in a cross‐over experimental design. Cows were infused intravenously either with saline solution or with saline solution containing LPS from Escherichia coli O111:B4 at a dose of 0.01 μg LPS/kg body weight for approximately 6 hr each day during a seven‐day trial. The clinical symptoms and milk production performance were observed. Milk samples were analysed for conventional components, fatty acids and amino acids. And jugular vein and mammary vein plasma samples were analysed for concentrations of cytokines and acute phase proteins. LPS infusion decreased feed intake and milk yield. An increase in body temperature was observed after LPS infusion. LPS infusion also increased plasma concentrations of interleukin‐1β, serum amyloid A, LPS‐binding protein, C‐reactive protein and haptoglobin. LPS infusion decreased the contents of some fatty acids, such as C17:1, C18:0, C18:1n9 (trans) and C18:2n6 (trans), and most amino acids except for methionine, threonine, histidine, cysteine, tyrosine and proline in the milk. The results indicated that a continued low dose infusion of LPS can induce an inflammatory response, decrease milk production and reduce milk quality.  相似文献   

Differential effects of follistatin on porcine oocyte competence and cumulus cell gene expression in vitro          下载免费PDF全文

Z Guo  D Liu  G Liu  L Lv  Y Yang  B Fu  L Wang  Z Liu  H He  H Wu 《Reproduction in domestic animals》2018,53(1):3-10

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Bovine foetal sex determination—Different DNA extraction and amplification approaches for efficient livestock production          下载免费PDF全文

M Ristanic  Lj Stanisic  M Maletic  U Glavinic  V Draskovic  N Aleksic  Z Stanimirovic 《Reproduction in domestic animals》2018,53(4):947-954

Foetal sex determination using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in mammals is based on the amplification of gender‐specific foetal DNA sequences circulating in maternal blood. The bovine synepitheliochorial placenta does not allow a direct contact between the trophoblast and the maternal blood, resulting in difficult passage of foetal DNA and, consequently, its very small amounts in maternal bloodstream. Circulating cell‐free foetal DNA (ccffDNA) encompasses short nucleotide fragments (300–600 bp) in maternal circulation. The aim of this study was to assess this non‐invasive method in accurate prenatal sexing in early and late gestational periods in comparison with ultrasound diagnostics. As various DNA isolation and amplification methods were tested, their success in obtaining reliable results was evaluated. Two groups were tested, each consisting of 20 pregnant cows. Blood of a bull and a non‐pregnant heifer was the controls. Extraction of foetal DNA was accomplished by three different methods: using tubes with silicone membranes, a single‐tube extraction without silicone membranes and phenol–chloroform extraction. Following each extraction method, foetal DNA was amplified using PCR and real‐time PCR with both bAML and TSPY primers in a separate reaction. Positive results were obtained only after amplification of foetal DNA extracted with a single‐tube extraction kit. In comparison with ultrasound examination results and foetal gender recorded at birth, the sensitivity of the PCR test was 90% in Group I, but the technique failed to detect male foetuses in Group II. The real‐time PCR test sensitivity in Group I was 90% and in Group II 91.6%.  相似文献   

Comparative expression profile of microRNAs and piRNAs in three ruminant species testes using next‐generation sequencing          下载免费PDF全文

H Wang  J Zhong  Z Chai  J Zhu  J Xin 《Reproduction in domestic animals》2018,53(4):963-970

microRNA (miRNA) and piwi‐interacting RNA (piRNA) are two classes small non‐coding regulatory RNAs that play crucial roles in multiple biological processes such as spermatogenesis. However, there are no published studies on conjoint analysis of miRNA and piRNA profiles among cattle, yak and their interspecies (the dzo) using sequencing technology. Next‐generation sequencing technology was used to profile miRNAs and piRNAs among those three ruminants to elucidate their functions. A total of 119, 14 and six differentially expressed miRNAs were obtained in cattle vs. dzo, cattle vs. yak and yak vs. dzo comparison groups, while there were 873, 1,065 and 1,158 differentially expressed piRNAs in those three comparison groups. The expression of three miRNAs was validated in the three ruminants, and the results suggested that the miRNA expression profiles data could represent actual miRNA expression levels. Moreover, the putative targets of differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted by their own genome, it is worth to note that both the cattle and yak genome were used for dzo, then the targets were subjected to GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis, revealing the likely roles for these differentially expressed miRNAs in spermatogenesis. In conclusion, this study provided a useful resource for further elucidation of the miRNAs and piRNAs regulatory roles in spermatogenesis. It may also facilitate the development of therapeutic strategies for dzo reproduction research.  相似文献