Assessment of the potential relationship between egg quality and infectious bronchitis virus infection in Australian layer flocks     

KA Hewson  T Robertson  PA Steer  JM Devlin  AH Noormohammadi  J Ignjatovic 《Australian veterinary journal》2014,92(4):132-138

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Influence of Temperament Score and Handling Facility on Stress,Reproductive Hormone Concentrations,and Fixed Time AI Pregnancy Rates in Beef Heifers     

R Kasimanickam  S Schroeder  M Assay  V Kasimanickam  DA Moore  JM Gay  WD Whittier 《Reproduction in domestic animals》2014,49(5):775-782

The objectives were (i) to evaluate the effect of temperament, determined by modified 2‐point chute exit and gait score, on artificial insemination (AI) pregnancy rates in beef heifers following fixed time AI and (ii) to determine the effect of temperament on cortisol, substance‐P, prolactin and progesterone at initiation of synchronization and at the time of AI. Angus beef heifers (n = 967) at eight locations were included in this study. At the initiation of synchronization (Day 0 = initiation of synchronization), all heifers received a body condition score (BCS), and temperament score (0 = calm; slow exit and walk or 1 = excitable; fast exit or jump or trot or run). Blood samples were collected from a sub‐population of heifers (n = 86) at both synchronization initiation and the time of AI to determine the differences in serum progesterone, cortisol, prolactin and substance‐P concentrations between temperament groups. Heifers were synchronized with 5‐day CO‐Synch+ controlled internal drug release (CIDR) protocol and were inseminated at 56 h after CIDR removal. Heifers were examined for pregnancy by ultrasound 70 days after AI to determine AI pregnancy. Controlling for synchronization treatment (p = 0.03), facility design (p = 0.05), and cattle handling facility design by temperament score interaction (p = 0.02), the AI pregnancy differed between heifers with excitable and calm temperament (51.9% vs 60.3%; p = 0.01). The alley‐way with acute bends and turns, and long straight alley‐way had lower AI pregnancy rate than did the semicircular alley‐way (53.5%, 56.3% and 67.0% respectively; p = 0.05). The serum hormone concentrations differed significantly between different types of cattle handling facility (p < 0.05). The cattle handling facility design by temperament group interactions significantly influenced progesterone (p = 0.01), cortisol (p = 0.01), prolactin (p = 0.02) and substance‐P (p = 0.04) both at the initiation of synchronization and at the time of AI. Inter‐ and intra‐rater agreement for temperament scoring were moderate and good (Kappa = 0.596 ± 0.07 and 0.797 ± 0.11) respectively. The predictive value for calm and pregnant to AI was 0.87, and excited and non‐pregnant to AI was 0.76. In conclusion, the modified 2‐point temperament scoring method can be used to identify heifers with excitable temperament. Heifers with excitable temperament had lower AI pregnancy. Further, cattle handling facility design influenced the temperament and AI pregnancy.  相似文献   

Determination of Feeder Cell‐Based Cellular Niches Supporting the Colonization and Maintenance of Spermatogonial Stem Cells from Prepubertal Domestic Cat Testes     

JI Yun  HJ Park  MH Park  MS Kim  JH Choi  E Lee  SP Gong  JM Lim  ST Lee 《Reproduction in domestic animals》2014,49(5):705-710

Recently, isolation and in vitro culture of putative spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in the domestic cat have been conducted. However, the cellular niche conditions that facilitate the establishment and long‐term maintenance of feline SSCs (FSSCs) have not been described. Therefore, we investigated the type of feeder cells used to stimulate colony formation and growth of FSSCs among the various factors in the FSSC niche. Spermatogonial stem cells isolated from feline testes were cultured on mitotically inactivated testicular stromal cells (TSCs) derived from cats, dogs and mice, and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). The formation and growth of colonies derived from SSCs cultured on each type of feeder cell were identified at passage 0, and the morphology, alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity and expression of SSC‐specific genes in surviving colonies were investigated at passage 4. Among these diverse feeder cells, TSCs from cat showed the greatest colony formation, growth and maintenance of FSSCs, and SSC colonies cultured by passage 4 showed a typical dome‐shaped morphology, AP activity and expression of SSC‐specific genes (NANOG, OCT4, SOX2 and CD9). Accordingly, these results demonstrate that feline TSCs could be used as feeder cells to support the establishment and maintenance of SSCs from domestic cats.  相似文献   

Physical and biological consequences of a climate event in the central North Pacific   总被引：4，自引：0，他引：4  

JEFFREY J. POLOVINA  GARY T. MITCHUM  NICK E. GRAHAM  MITCHELL P. CRAIG  EDWARD E. DEMARTINI  ELIZABETH N. FLINT 《Fisheries Oceanography》1994,3(1):15-21

Climatic changes over the North Pacific which began in the mid 1970s, peaked in the early 1980s, and ended by the late 1980s, appear to have altered productivity at various trophic levels in the marine ecosystem in the central North Pacific. The climatic change resulted in increased mixed layer depth and the frequency of deep mixing events, particularly during January-March. A number of biological time series for species ranging from primary to apex levels in the North-western Hawaiian Islands, show corresponding declines in productivity of 30–50% from the early 1980s to the present. We hypothesize that during the early 1980s, increased mixing due to the climate event resulted in greater nutrient input into the euphotic zone and ultimately increased ecosystem productivity. Productivity over a range of trophic levels declined when the climate event ended.  相似文献   

Effect of dietary protein content on growth performance, feed utilization and carcass composition in the Australian freshwater crayfish, Cherax albidus Clark and Cherax destructor Clark (Decapoda, Parastacidae)     

P.L. JONES  S.S. DE  SILVA B.D. MITCHELL 《Aquaculture Nutrition》1996,2(3):141-150

Cherax albidus (A) and Cherax destructor (D) male juveniles (mean weight 0.95 ± 0.03 g) were reared for 20 weeks on isoenergetic diets containing 150 g kg^?1 protein (A 15, D15) or 300 g kg^?1 protein (A30, D30). Mean weight, percentage weight gain, and specific growth rate (%) were substantially higher for both species on the 300 g kg^?1 protein diet. Mean percentage weight gain ranged from 2.39% day^?1 (D15) to 17.59% day^?1 (A30). A maximum weight of 33.81 g was attained by C. albidus on the higher protein diet. The most effective utilization of food was observed in C. albidus when fed the higher protein diet (food conversion ratio, 0.79; protein efficiency ratio, 4.21; apparent net protein utilization, 44.64%). Carcass composition was influenced by feed type. The higher protein diet resulted in an increase in carcass protein and ash and a decrease in carcass lipid and energy relative to the low-protein diet (150 g kg^?1 protein diet –C. albidus: 37.15% protein, 15.00% lipid, 25.20% ash, 15.55kJ g^?1 energy; C. destructor: 38.10% protein, 15.43% lipid, 25.70% ash, 15.65kJ g^?1 energy; 300 g kg^?1 protein diet –C. albidus: 46.10% protein, 8.71% lipid, 27.36% ash, 14.94kJ g^?1 energy; C. destructor: 42.99% protein, 8.56% lipid, 26.44% ash, 14.71kJ g^?1 energy). Carcass moisture and calcium were not affected by feed type. The time spent in the intermoult phase of growth was highly dependent on the premoult weight and varied according to diet and to species. A comparison of animals of similar weight (< 8 g) revealed that elevated dietary protein caused a reduction in the intermoult period by 11 days in C. albidus and 7 days in C. destructor. The moult increment, however, was independent of animal weight, and the highest percentage weight increment occurred for C. albidus fed the 300 g kg^?1 protein diet (per cent weight increase; A15, 33.1%; A30, 61.3%; D15, 31.2%; D30, 56.5%). Dietary induced morphological changes were also recorded. Animals of a standard carapace length had significantly larger abdomens (both species) and larger claws (C. albidus) when fed the higher protein diet.  相似文献   

Use of the plankton centrifuge to diagnose and monitor prevalence of myxobolid infections in fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas Rafinesque     

L. G. MITCHELL  S. E. KRALL  C. L. SEYMOUR 《Journal of fish diseases》1983,6(4):379-384

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Heteropolaria colisarum Foissner & Schubert, 1977 (Protozoa: Epistylididae) of North American freshwater fishes     

W. FOISSNER  G. L. HOFFMAN  A. J. MITCHELL 《Journal of fish diseases》1985,8(2):145-160

Abstract The peritrichous ciliate 'Epistylis sp.' involved in the'red-sore' disease of various North American freshwater fishes is identified as Heteropolaria colisarum Foissner & Schubert, 1977. Its morphology is redescribed from observations of living and silver-stained organisms and biometrically analysed individuals. Extended zooids can be easily identified by their highly characteristic (elongated) body. Silver impregnations show a very high number of silverlines and a band-like, irregularly formed macronucleus. The genus Heteropolaria belongs to the family Epistylididae and is characterized by the eccentric location of the scopula of the swarmer and a peculiar myoneme in the peristomal disc that branches off the myoneme of the peristomal collar. Autochthonous occurrences of this species are known only from North America. In Europe only the related species H. lwoffi has been found. Histological sections give some evidence that the terminal platelet of the stalk is embedded in the dermal epithelium. This suggests that H. colisarum could be a parasite rather than an epizoon and that the often associated bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila is a secondary invader. However, further studies are necessary. Experiments showed a high infectivity of the ciliate and no host specificity. These characteristics are supported by the observations of other researchers. Preliminary laboratory tests showed that a single treatment with salt solution (NaCl) at a rate of 1.5% for 3h controlled H. colisarum.  相似文献   

A note on the behaviour of adult Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus (L.), in cages     

F. J. MARTINEZ CORDERO  M. C. M. BEVERIDGE  J. F. MUIR  D. MITCHELL  M. GILLESPIE 《Aquaculture Research》1994,25(5):475-481

Abstract. Observations of adult Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus (L.), behaviour in cages were made with underwater camera and video recording equipment. Significantly more fish ( P < 0·01) were found on the cage bottom than in the water column, fish tending to congregate around the outside rather than in the centre of the cage. During rough weather, the cage bottom was observed to heave violently and proportionately fewer fish remained on the bottom, those which did adopting an arched body posture with heads and tails not in contact with the cage bottom. Around 25% of the caged fish were active at any time, most of the active fish remaining close to the cage surface or bottom, with little use being made of the remaining cage volume. Fish were observed to swim in a circular pattern close to the cage walls (mean velocity 0·53 m/s), maintaining such behaviour for periods of up to 5min with little change in swimming speed. Whilst all food types were ingested, items delivered directly lo the cage bottom were taken only if detected within the first minute or so. The implications for rearing Atlantic halibut in conventional cages are discussed.  相似文献   

Monitoring distances travelled by horses using GPS tracking collars     

BA Hampson  JM Morton  PC Mills  MG Trotter  DW Lamb  CC Pollitt 《Australian veterinary journal》2010,88(5):176-181

Objective The aims of this work were to (1) develop a low-cost equine movement tracking collar based on readily available components, (2) conduct preliminary studies assessing the effects of both paddock size and internal fence design on the movements of domestic horses, with and without foals at foot, and (3) describe distances moved by mares and their foals. Additional monitoring of free-ranging feral horses was conducted to allow preliminary comparisons with the movement of confined domestic horses. Procedures A lightweight global positioning system (GPS) data logger modified from a personal/vehicle tracker and mounted on a collar was used to monitor the movement of domestic horses in a range of paddock sizes and internal fence designs for 6.5-day periods. Results In the paddocks used (0.8–16 ha), groups of domestic horses exhibited a logarithmic response in mean daily distance travelled as a function of increasing paddock size, tending asymptotically towards approximately 7.5 km/day. The distance moved by newborn foals was similar to their dams, with total distance travelled also dependent on paddock size. Without altering available paddock area, paddock design, with the exception of a spiral design, did not significantly affect mean daily distance travelled. Feral horses (17.9 km/day) travelled substantially greater mean daily distances than domestic horses (7.2 km/day in 16-ha paddock), even when allowing for larger paddock size. Conclusions Horses kept in stables or small yards and paddocks are quite sedentary in comparison with their feral relatives. For a given paddock area, most designs did not significantly affect mean daily distance travelled.  相似文献   

The retrospective diagnosis of a second outbreak of equine morbillivirus infection   总被引：5，自引：0，他引：5  

PT HOOPER  AR GOULD  GM RUSSELL  JA KATTENBELT  G. MITCHELL 《Australian veterinary journal》1996,74(3):244-245

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