bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chlorine and its Impact on an Emergency Department
Authors: Ngo Adeline , Ponampalam R. , Leong Mark , Han Lim Swee
Published: August 2016

Introduction:

An incident involving the release of chlorine gas from the pump room at a local swimming pool resulted in 54 patients seeking treatment in the emergency departments (EDs) of two local, tertiary-level hospitals in Singapore. The hospital hazardous materials (HAZMAT) disaster plan was activated. This report describes how one of the EDs organized in response to the disaster.

Event:

Of the 54 people seeking treatment, 36 were treated in the ED at the Singapore General Hospital. The patients were decontaminated at shower facilities prior to entering the ED. The ED was reorganized to cope with existing patients, as well as the large influx of patients from the event site. A protocol was established in coordination with the local drug and poison information center to manage the patients who suffered from chlorine inhalation. Most patients were observed in the ED and subsequently discharged.Outpatient review appointments were scheduled.

Injuries:

Acute respiratory symptoms were the most common symptoms. Four children and four adults were admitted to the hospital, and the other patients were discharged from the ED after observation. All of the chest xrays were normal on the day of the chlorine inhalation. There were no mortalities or significant morbidities, even up to six months after the incident.

Conclusions:

Although this chlorine HAZMAT incident did not cause severe injuries, and only a limited number of persons required admission to the hospital, some valuable lessons were learned.
Financial Implications of Hospital Response to Bioterrorism Based on Diagnosis-Related Group Analysis
Authors: Suyama Joe , Savitz Lucy , Chang Helen , Allswede Michael
Published: August 2016

Introduction:

During an infectious disease outbreak, the ability of a hospital to continue routine operations depends upon its ability to absorb expected losses in revenue when the routine charge base is replaced by infectious disease-related charges.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to determine the probable financial impact of a bioterrorism event or an infectious disease outbreak on an academic and a community hospital.

Methods:

During the fiscal year 01 July 2002–30 June 2003, the average number of inpatient charges identified by the diagnosis-related-groups (DRGs) of an academic, tertiary care, Level-1 trauma center (PUH) and a community hospital (StM) were obtained retrospectively. Per diem charges were determined for patients with: (1) gastroenteritis; (2) sepsis; (3) meningitis; (4) tuberculosis (TB); and (5) pneumonia. These charges were used to simulate the financial coding of patients exposed to biological agents.

Results:

The total average PUH per diem charges per patient for all 31,530 discharges was (US)$10,516. Specifically, the average changes were $20,499 for patients with transplants, $14,406 for receiving critical care services, $12,650 for the provision of cardiac care, $11,576 for trauma/orthopedic care, and $8,259 for services for patients who suffered a stroke. For patients with infectious diseases, the average per diem charges per patient were: (1) $6,184 for patients with gastroenteritis; (2) $7,842 for patients with sepsis; (3) $10,831 for patients with meningitis; (4) $6,118 for patients with TB; and (5) $4,586 for patients with pneumonia. Per patient per day, PUH would generate a potential net on average loss of: (1) $4,332 for gastroenteritis; (2) $2,674 for sepsis; (3) $4,398 for TB; and (4) $5,930 for pneumonia replaced an admission. Patients with meningitis on average generated a net gain ($315) compared to the average, but would not compensate for the denial of transplant, cardiac, trauma/orthopedic, and some critical care services during the event. Total average StM per diem charges per patient for all 10,470 discharges equaled $3,008. Specifically, $4,965 for critical care, $3,022 for cardiac care, $4,397 for trauma/orthopedic care, and $3,037 for stroke services. For infectious diseases, the average per diem charge per patient was: (1) $2,273 (+$735) for gastroenteritis; (2) $3,047 (+$39) for sepsis; (3) $2,504 (-$504) for meningitis; (4) $2,887 ($120) for TB; and (5) $2,652 (-$356) for pneumonia (net loss/gain in parenthesis).

Conclusions:

Through DRG analysis, the probable financial impact of a bioterrorist attack on a Health Care Delivery System is largely detrimental. Preparedness for a biological event must include an assessment of hospital capability and capacity to handle these types of patients, but also must consider the financial ability to absorb expected losses in charges or ways in which to recover the losses.
Traumatic Brain Injuries after Mass-Casualty Incidents: Lessons from the 11 September 2001 World Trade Center Attacks
Authors: Rutland-Brown Wesley , Langlois Jean A. , Nicaj Leze , Thomas Robert G. , Wilt Susan A. , Bazarian Jeffrey J.
Published: August 2016

Introduction:

The 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries. Research on previous bombings and explosions has shown that head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), are among the most common injuries.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to identify diagnosed and undiagnosed (undetected) TBIs among persons hospitalized in New York City following the 11 September 2001 WTC attacks.

Methods:

The medical records of persons admitted to 36 hospitals in New York City with injuries or illnesses related to the WTC attacks were abstracted for signs and symptoms of TBIs. Diagnosed TBIs were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis codes. Undiagnosed TBIs were identified by an adjudication team of TBI experts that reviewed the abstracted medical record information. Persons with an undiagnosed TBI were contacted and informed of the diagnosis of potential undetected injury.

Results:

A total of 282 records were abstracted. Fourteen cases of diagnosed TBIs and 21 cases of undiagnosed TBIs were identified for a total of 35 TBI cases (12% of all of the abstracted records). The leading cause of TBI was being hit by falling debris (22 cases). One-third of the TBIs (13 cases) occurred among rescue workers.More than three years after the event, four out of six persons (66.67%) with an undiagnosed TBI who were contacted reported they currently were experiencing symptoms consistent with a TBI.

Conclusions:

Not all of the TBIs among hospitalized survivors of the WTC attacks were diagnosed at the time of acute injury care. Some persons with undiagnosed TBIs reported problems that may have resulted from these TBIs three years after the event. For hospitalized survivors of mass-casualty incidents, additional in-hospital, clinical surveys could help improve pre-discharge TBI diagnosis and provide the opportunity to link patients to appropriate outpatient services. The use and adequacy of head protection for rescue workers deserves re-evaluation.
Factors That May Influence the Preparation of Standards of Procedures for Dealing with Mass-Casualty Incidents
Authors: Adini Bruria , Goldberg Avishay , Laor Danny , Cohen Robert , Bar-Dayan Yaron
Published: August 2016

Introduction:

General hospitals in Israel are required to develop standards of procedures (SOPs) to facilitate the management of mass-casualty incidents (MCIs). These SOPs represent the initial step in a continuous process, providing guidelines for hospitals to manage MCIs in an organized and efficient manner. Evaluation of the preparedness levels of hospitals in dealing with MCIs is required in order to promote an effective response, and to identify factors that might impact the quality of SOPs. The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of hospitals that have an impact on the preparation of SOPs.

Methods:

An evaluation tool was developed to assess the SOPs from 22 hospitals during the management of a MCI. The results of the evaluations were analyzed, in relation to the size, trauma capabilities, ownership, geographic location, urban versus rural status of the hospitals, the proximity to other hospitals, participation in drills during the year prior to the evaluation, and number of actual MCIs the hospital managed in the past three years.

Results:

The evaluation scores of the SOPs of 11 of the 22 hospitals (50%) were very high, so their SOPs did not require modifications.The SOPs of four hospitals (18%) were rated highly, requiring only minor modifications. The SOPs of four hospitals (18%) received poor ratings, requiring major modifications, and three hospitals (14%) were found to have incomplete SOPs and received very poor ratings.No significant differences were found between the ratings of SOPs in relation to the different characteristics of the hospitals analyzed. A low correlation between the level of SOPs and the number of MCIs that the hospital managed was found (r = 0.266, NS).

Conclusions:

The tool developed to evaluate the quality of the SOPs of hospitals to manage MCIs was logistically feasible and capable of differentiating between hospital SOPs. The comprehensiveness and completeness of the SOPs appears to be unrelated to the characteristics of the hospitals included in this study. Of particular note was the lack of a significant correlation between the SOP rating and the number of actual MCIs managed by a hospital.
Effect of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome on Bystander Willingness to Perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)–Is Compression–Only Preferred to Standard CPR?
Authors: Lam Kin-Kwan , Lau Fei-Lung , Chan Wai-Kwong , Wong Wing-Nam
Published: August 2016

Objective:

The effect of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak on the willingness of laypersons to provide bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) using standard CPR (SCPR) or compression-only CPR (CCPR) was evaluated.The preferred type of SCPR in the post-SARS era was assessed.

Methods:

A descriptive study was conducted through telephone interviews. Persons who attended a CPR coursefrom January 2000 through February 2003 answered a structured questionnaire. The respondents' willingnessto perform SCPR or CCPR during a witnessed cardiac arrest of an average adult stranger or that of a family member in the pre-SARS and the post-SARS era was surveyed.

Results:

Data for 305 respondents were processed. For the scenario of cardiac arrest of an average stranger, more respondents would perform CCPR than SCPR in the pre-SARS era (83.6% vs. 61.3%, p <0.001) and in the post- SARS era (77.4% vs. 28.9%, p <0.001). In the scenario of the cardiac arrest of a family member, more would perform CCPR than SCPR in the pre-SARS era (92.8% vs. 87.2%, p <0.001) and in the post-SARS era (92.8% vs. 84.9%, p <0.001). After SARS, more respondents were unwilling to perform SCPR (p <0.001) and CCPR (p <0.001) on strangers. After SARS, more respondents were unwilling to perform SCPR on a family member (p = 0.039), but there was no difference in the preference to perform CCPR (p = 1.000).

Conclusions:

Concerns about SARS adversely affected the willingness of respondents to perform SCPR or CCPRon strangers and to perform SCPR on family members.Compression-only CPR was preferred to SCPR to resuscitate strangers experiencing cardiac arrest after the emergence of SARS.
Health Tracking for Improved Humanitarian Performance
Authors: Mock Nancy , Garfield Richard
Published: August 2016

Presently, there is no shortage of methods for collecting data on populations requiring assistance from humanitarian health interventions. However, utilizing a working group, the authors of this paper have looked at these methods through a critical lens and found that there is need for improvement upon existing systems of data collection and analysis. The authors concluded that efforts to standardize the methods of data collection are needed to achieve universal uniformity, and that more funding should be allocated to analyze the data collected.
The Dilemma of Neutrality
Authors: Leaning Jennifer
Published: August 2016

This paper focuses on the dilemma that humanitarian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) face in their efforts to gain access to populations caught up in current wars. Narrow and broad concepts of humanitarian protection are discussed and it is argued that despite high levels of professionalism, the space for humanitarian action has constricted sharply since the events surrounding the attacks of 11 September 2001. Increasingly, aid workers are now being viewed with suspicion as agents of the great powers and assertions of humanitarian neutrality are not heeded or rejected. Non-governmental organizations have evolved a range of options to address this problem, but there is an urgent need to work collectively to find more durable and coherent solutions.
Usefulness of a DSM Criteria-Based Inventory for Screening for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Authors: Farina Benedetto , Venturi Piero , Onofri Antonio , Raja Michele , Giannantonio Massimo Di
Published: August 2016

The aim of the study is to evaluate the self-administeredDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4thEdition criteria-based inventory for the screening of post-traumatic stress disorder. Due to its low sensitivity (57%) and high specificity (88%), it could be useful as a second step of a screening procedure in combination with other validated, self-report instruments. The clinical implications of the findings and the limitations of the study are discussed.
The accuracy of progeny testing with binomial auxiliary traits
Authors: Narain P. , Kaur A. P.
Published: August 2016

The accuracy of progeny testing for a continuous trait when the auxiliary information was based on ‘all-or-none’ type of traits with a multi-factorial threshold model was examined. The accuracy of the progeny test was found always to increase with the inclusion of the auxiliary trait. It followed the same pattern as in the case of continuous auxiliary trait. However, there was an additional feature in that the accuracy was also dependent on the probability of incidence of the discrete trait unless either the progeny group size was very large, and/or there was no genetic correlation or else the probability of incidence was itself extremely low. Compared with the case when the auxiliary trait was continuous, there was a loss in accuracy which can be looked upon in two ways. First, the continuous auxiliary trait is itself made ‘all-or-none’ type by a threshold and the accuracies compared in the two cases. The loss increases symmetrically in either direction with increase in positive or negative directions of the difference in genotypic and phenotypic correlations. Secondly, a comparison can be made of the accuracy when the auxiliary trait is normally distributed with that when it is binomially distributed but with the same amount of genetic information on the observed scale as given by the heritabilities and genetic correlations. No loss now occurs if the two classes of the binomial trait are equally likely and the loss in accuracy increases with the decrease in the standard deviation of the binomial distribution for given values of other parameters. It was found also that the use of binomial auxiliary trait reduced the number of progeny required to attain a pre-assigned level of accuracy, resulting in a decreased cost of the programme compared with that when no binomial auxiliary trait was used.
The effect of genotype × environment interactions on biological efficiency in beef cows
Authors: Wright I. A. , Jones J. R. , Maxwell T. J. , Russel A. J. F. , Hunter E. A.
Published: August 2016

An experiment was conducted to examine the response of three genotypes of beef cows to contrasting levels of nutrition supplied from grazed pasture. Twenty-two Hereford × Friesian (HF), 20 Aberdeen Angus × Friesian (AF) and 24 Welsh Black (WB) spring-calving beef cows with their Charolais-cross calves were used in 4 years consecutively. During the summer grazing period they grazed permanent pasture maintained at either 4 to 5 cm (short) or 7 to 8 cm (tall) sward surface height. Sward height treatment significantly (P < 0·001) affected cow and calf live-weight gain (0·498 v. 0·041 (s.e.d. 0·0405) kg/day and 1·12 v. 0·90 (s.e.d. 0·021) kg/day for cow and calf live-weight gain on the tall and short swards respectively). The live-weight gains of the HF and WB cows were similar, but the AF cows gained less weight on the tall sward and lost weight on the short sward. Calf live-weight gain reflected cow milk yield, with the calves from HF and AF cows having similar live weight gains (1·06 and 1·02 kg/day respectively) and those from WB cows having lower gains (0·95 kg/day; P < 0·001). The effect of sward height on calf live-weight gain was greatest in the WB-born calves because of the lower milk yield from WB cows. Body chemical composition changes of cows were predicted from live weight and body condition score, using prediction equations derived from separate groups of cows which were slaughtered at a range of body compositions for determination of chemical composition. Energy balances, calculated from changes in chemical composition, showed the AF cows to have the lowest energy balances with the WB cows the highest. Calculation of energetic efficiency and land use efficiency of weaned calf production taking account of annual food requirements indicated that the HF cows were most efficient, and the WB cows least efficient. The effect of increasing nutritional environment (as represented by sward height treatment) was such as to increase energetic efficiency for all genotypes, but land use efficiency was increased for HF and AF cows, and decreased for WB cows. These results indicate the factors such as size of cows, milk yield potential and pattern of nutrient partitioning can influence energetic land use efficiency of weaned calf production, and that important interactions between genotype and nutritional environment can occur in different measures of efficiency.
Approaches to the ethical evaluation of animal biotechnologies
Authors: Mepham T. B.
Published: August 2016

The paper explores a scheme for the ethical evaluation of animal biotechnologies, exemplified by animal transgenesis. It begins with an overview of prominent ethical theories (deontological and consequentialist) and proceeds to apply them to four ethical principles,viz.autonomy, justice, non-maleficence and beneficence, in relation to the interests of the treated animals and of different groups of people affected by the technology. Evaluation is facilitated by use of a schematic device — an ‘ethical grid’. The importance of public education and attitudes to biotechnology is illustrated by reference to recent public opinion surveys in the European Community. The paper concludes with a discussion of the impact of future trends in global population, food resources and environmental change, which emphasizes the need for a reappraisal of priorities in animal production systems. It is suggested that attempts to eradicate hunger, to improve animal welfare and to devise sustainable agricultural systems will be facilitated by greater investment in the emerging academic field of agricultural bioethics.
An investigation of the changes in sites of milk storage in the bovine udder over two lactation cycles
Authors: Dewhurst R. J. , Knight C. H.
Published: August 2016

The objective of this work was to investigate phenotypic sources of variation in the sites of storage of milk within the udder. Ten primiparous and 10 multiparous dairy cows were studied over two successive lactations in order to investigate the effects of age, parity and stage of lactation. Cistern and alveolar milk volumes were estimated at a standard 8 h after a normal morning milking by catheter drainage and machine milking with oxytocin respectively. Measurements were made at approximately 9, 20, 30 and 42 weeks of the initial lactation and weeks 1, 4, 7, 10, 20 and 34 of the subsequent lactation. In the initial lactation, there was a significant difference between primiparous and multiparous animals in the rate of decline of total daily milk yield (P< 0·001). Cistern milk yield (kg/8 h) from multiparous animals declined over the lactation whilst that for primiparous animals was maintained. The effect was shown as a significant interaction effect (P< 0·05). For both multiparous and primiparous animals cistern proportion (cistern yield divided by total milk yield at 8h after a normal milking), increased over the lactation (P< 0·001). This was largely a consequence of the reduced total milk yield. Eleven animals were studied through the subsequent lactation. Cistern yield followed a lactation curve of similar form to that for total yield. The decline in cistern yield over this lactation was much greater than the decline with multiparous animals in the previous year. This may, in part, reflect a faster decline in total daily yield. Stage of lactation and parity must be taken into account if a standardized evaluation of cistern characteristics is to be obtained.
Effect of fish-meal supplementation and β-agonist administration on adipose tissue metabolism in steers given silage
Authors: Dawson J. M. , Essex C. P. , Walsh A. , Beever D. E. , Gill M. , Buttery P. J.
Published: August 2016

The effect of fish-meal supplementation or cimaterol administration on the composition, cellularity and metabolism of subcutaneous and perirenal adipose tissue was examined in young Friesian steers given grass silage. Animals (approx. 117 kg live weight) received either silage alone (group C; no. = 6) or supplemented with fish meal (150 g/kg silage dry matter; group FM; no. = 6) or cimaterol (0·06 mg/kg body weight per day) administered via osmotic minipumps (group CIM; no. = 6) for a period of 6 weeks. Samples of perirenal and subcutaneous adipose tissue obtained at slaughter were used for determination of tissue composition andin vitrorates of lipogenesis, lipolysis and substrate oxidation. FM animals showed significantly greater live-weight gains (0·61 kg/day) compared with C (0·21 kg/day,P< 0·001) while CIM animals had significantly lower rates of gain (0·04 kg/day,P< 0·05). This was considered to be related to increased heat loss from the β-agonist-treated animals as a result of very cold weather encountered during the experimental period. CIM administration reduced adipocyte size suggesting an increased number of cells per g tissue. Both lipolytic and lipogenic rates were reduced by cimaterol and there was some evidence that the response to insulin was diminished, at least with respect to substrate oxidation. FM increased lipogenesis from acetate and acetate oxidation rates in subcutaneous adipose tissue with similar trends in perirenal tissue. The results indicate that both fish-meal supplementation and cimaterol administration caused substantial changes in adipose tissue metabolism as determined usingin vitroprocedures, even though the magnitude and direction of the changes were not in strict accord with estimates of net fat accretion from relatedin vivostudies.
Effect of ammonia treatment of barley straw on the dynamics of its degradation in the rumen
Authors: Fondevila M. , Castrillo C. , Gasa J. , Guada J. A.
Published: August 2016

Two experiments were designed to examine the effects of ammonia treatment of barley straw on rumen environmental conditions for fibre degradation, and to determine the effect of treatment on the soluble and insoluble fractions of straw. In experiment 1, rumen pH, and ammonia-nitrogen and volatile fatty acid concentrations in the rumen of sheep receiving untreated (US1) or ammonia-treated (TS1) straw were recorded. Also, both straws were incubated in the rumen of both groups of animals. There were no significant differences (P> 0·05) within rumen parameters, except for butyrate proportion, which was higher (P< 0·01) with TS1. Dry matter and neutraldetergent fibre disappearances of TS1 were higher (P< 0·001) than those of US1 at all the incubation times. Degradation of both straws in US1-fed sheep was not smaller, and in some periods of incubation was even greater, than in TS1-fed animals. In experiment 2, samples of untreated (US2) and treated (TS2) straw were incubated in wethers offered a mixture (50:50) of alfalfa hay and straw. Samples of US2 and TS2 were soaked in autoclaved rumen fluid to measure their solubility. It was clear that, although treatment increased the soluble fraction of US2 and TS2 by 52 and 65 g/kg respectively, from 0 to 72 h of incubation, increasing the differences between straws from 45 to 58 g/kg in that period, actual microbial action on the treated roughage was the more important factor, accounting for a difference between US2 and TS2 of 131 g/kg after 72 h incubation.
The effect of a diet containing cyanogenetic glycosides on the selenium status and the thyroid function of sheep
Authors: Gutzwiller A.
Published: August 2016

Six ewes were given a white clover/grass silage with a high content of cyanogenetic glycosides during the last 69 to 97 days of pregnancy (group CN+), while the five ewes of the control group (group CN−) received a white clover/grass silage with a low content of cyanogenetic glycosides during the last 67 to 92 days of pregnancy. Uniodized salt was the only mineral supplement offered. The daily intake of cyanide (in the form of cyanogenetic glycosides) and of selenium per animal was 1000 and 60 mg of cyanide and 30 and 23 μg of selenium in group CN+ and CN− respectively. Initial erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx) was identical in both groups. Two weeks before parturition GPx activity was significantly lower in the ewes of group CN+ than in the ewes of group CN−. The newborn lambs of the group CN+ had significantly lower erythrocyte GPx activities (P< 0·01) and tended to have higher plasma creatine kinase activities (P= 0·07) than the lambs of the group CN−. The results show that the intake of cyanogenetic glycosides affects the selenium status of sheep and increases the susceptibility of lambs to nutritional myopathy if the selenium content of the ration is marginal.

Plasma thyroxine concentrations in the ewes in group CN+ were not reduced but their lambs tended to have slightly lower levels immediately after birth than the lambs of group CN− (P= 0·25). The intake of cyanogenetic glycosides presumably had no or at most only a slight effect on thyroid function, presumably because the body iodine reserves of the ewes were sufficient to offset the goitrogenic effect of thiocyanate.
The food intake, performance and carcass characteristics of two pig genotypes grown to 120 kg live weight
Authors: Chadd S. A. , Cole D. J. A. , Walters J. R.
Published: August 2016

Using a completely randomized design, 72 individually penned pigs, comprising two genotypes (Masterbreeders Mastergilt × Large White and Sovereign × Large white progeny) with equal numbers of boars and gilts, were given foodad libitumfrom 25 to 60 kg live weight. From 60 to 120 kg one-third of the pigs continued to be given foodad libitumwhilst the remainder were given one of two levels of restriction (0.85 and 0.925 of maintenance energy × 3.5). Diets were calculated to provide 13.8 and 13.0 MJ digestible energy (DE) per kg air-dry weight for growing and finishing phases respectively. Ultrasonic measurements of backfat at the P2 site were made at 10 kg intervals from 60 to 120 kg live weight and carcass measurements taken at slaughter. Complete dissection of ham joints was carried out. Predictedad libitumintakes were based on established equations but daily intakes were much lower than these values and no treatment provided food restriction compared with them. Daily DE intakes (mean of both genotypes) obtained at 25, 60, 90 and 120 kg live weight were 204, 30.7, 36.2, and 414 MJ (i.e. 3.5, 3.1, 2.9 and 2.7 × maintenance). During the growing (25 to 60 kg live weight) and finishing (60 to 120 kg live weight) periods boars grew faster (P< 0.01 andP< 0.001) than gilts (881v.827 and 944v.806 g/day) with corresponding improvements in food conversion ratio (P< 0.001). Boars had lower killing-out proportions (0.787v.0.801;P< 0.001). Mean P2 values for boars and gilts were 13.2 and 13.9 mm respectively (excluding skin). Greater quantities of muscle were found in the hams of boars than gilts (662.7v.642.3 kg;P< 0.05) but no difference between the sexes for ‘eye muscle’ area was observed (43.3v.45.0 cm2). Results show the apparent potential of modern hybrids to achieve good growth rates despite moderate food intakes and their ability, even when given continuous access to food, to produce very lean carcasses at relatively heavy slaughter weights.
Nutritional effects on ovulation, embryo development and the establishment of pregnancy in ruminants
Authors: O’Callaghan D. , Boland M. P.
Published: August 2016

The effects of high and low dietary dietary intake on reproduction in female cattle and sheep will be considered at the level of the pituitary gland, ovary and uterus. In sheep, increased dietary intake for a relatively short time will increase ovulation rate, by increasing gonadotropin secretion. Dietary intake can affect steroids such as progesterone and also intra-follicular concentrations of some growth factors such as IGF-1 and IGF-2. The effects of altered energy intake on gonadotropins and steroids in cattle are not as repeatable as those in sheep but follicular growth rates can be altered. High nutrition has a negative effect on oocyte quality, with animals onad-libitumhigh energy diets particularly at risk. Overfeeding can decrease embryo quality in both sheep and cattle and it appears that this results from changes primarily at the level of the follicle or oocyte. Restricted nutrition for a short time will enhance pregnancy rates in cattle; most of this benefit appears to occur if food is restricted before insemination. Thus feeding levels before mating are particularly important to subsequent reproductive success. High dietary crude protein may decrease pregnancy rate in lactating cows. In ewes and heifers supplementation with urea failed to have any effect on pregnancy rates when good quality embryos were transferred to recipient animals exposed to high dietary crude protein. In donor ewes there were adverse effects on early embryo development following urea treatment, suggesting that the mechanism affecting the reproductive process was primarily operating at the level of the oocyte. Collectively, these data identify the overall deleterious effects of high dietary intake and excess crude protein on fertility and highlight the importance of dietary intake before ovulation on the likelihood of establishing a viable pregnancy.
The potential for identifying heritable endocrine parameters associated with fertility in post-partum dairy cows
Authors: Darwash A. O. , Lamming G. E. , Woolliams J. A.
Published: August 2016

Fertility is an important component of herd production efficiency, as each additional oestrous cycle that does not result in a planned pregnancy adds to the cost of dairy farming. In addition to the negative impact on milk production, the high costs of veterinary intervention, re-insemination and herd replacement, subfertility can affect the rate of genetic gain in traits of economic merit. In contrast with the steady increase in average milk yield per cow during the last 30 years, there has been a decline in conception rate to artificial insemination in both the USA and in the UK.

The genetic correlation between yield and fertility has been equivocal. Attempts to improve the reproductive efficiency in dairy cattle through breeding and selection have been frustrated to date by the lack of heritable reproductive parameters conducive to high fertility. However, the traditional fertility parameters of interval to first service, services per conception, days open and calving intervals are highly influenced by managerial decisions and have, as expected, heritabilities too low to permit a meaningful genetic gain through selection. An alternative approach is to use the growing body of evidence that the majority of endocrine factors affecting reproduction are a result of gene expression at the hypothalamic, pituitary, ovarian or uterine level. Mechanisms such as commencement of post-partum cyclicity, follicle wave patterns, manifestation of oestrus, luteal competence and level of embryo mortality are appropriate for study. Research is required to investigate the genetic component of the variation between animals in these parameters, their phenotypic and genetic correlations with fertility and their association with other production traits.

In summary: (a) subfertility is a syndrome with multiple causes and only the symptom in common; (b) improvement in fertility will continue to be frustrated until recorded traits provide more accurate estimates of breeding values; (c) techniques are now available to estimate the genetic variation in physiological components conducive to improved reproductive efficiency; (d) once the heritable components of fertility are identified, these tools could be introduced into progeny testing and breeding nuclei, from which the genetic improvement can be widely disseminated. Selection for those components with sufficient genetic variation will result in the improvement of the integral endocrine and other physiological mechanisms favourably correlated with high fertility (e) these tools may also assist in detecting quantitative trait loci for faster genetic gain through markers-assisted selection.
Effect of feeding level during rearing and mating strategy on performance of Swedish Yorkshire sows. 2. Reproductive performance, food intake, backfat changes and culling rate during the first two parities
Authors: Cozier Y. Le , Ringmar-Cederberg E. , Rydhmer L. , Lundeheim N. , Dourmad J. Y. , Neil M.
Published: August 2016

A 2 x 2 factorial experiment was designed in order to study the effects of feeding level during rearing and of mating policy on the reproductive performance and food intake of first- and second-litter sows. Gilts were offered food during rearing eitherad libitum(AL) or at 0·8 of the AL level (R) and served either at first (E1) or third (E3) detected oestrus. A total of 160 out of the 243 animals that started the experiment were culled by the end of the second lactation, with significantly more R than AL animals (71 and 60%, respectively). During the first pregnancy, the R sows gained more live weight (LW) and backfat thickness (BF) than their AL contemporaries (+5 kg and +1.2 mm, respectively) and lost less BF during the first lactation (1.2 mm less). At weaning, no difference remained in LW or BF between AL and R sows (174 kg LW on average). The E3 females gained less LW during both pregnancies compared with those on the E1 treatment, but they remained heavier until the second weaning (208 kg, on average). During the first lactation, R consumed more food during the weeks 2 and 3 (by 0·5 kg/day, on average) than those reared previously on the AL regime, and no difference was observed between E3 and E1 females. No difference in food consumption was noted during parity two. However, when measured over the first two parities, lean animals consumed more food than fat animals. The size and the weight of the litter at birth or at weaning were not influenced by the treatment prior to service. The weaning-to-oestrus interval was longer during parity one than during parity two (5·7 and 5·0 days, respectively;P< 0·01) but it was not affected by feeding or mating treatment.
Endogenous ileal nitrogen and amino acid flows in the growing pig receiving a protein-free diet and diets containing enzymically hydrolysed casein or graded levels of meat and bone meal
Authors: Donkoh A. , Moughan P. J.
Published: August 2016

Endogenous ileal amino acid flows were determined in pigs fitted with simple T-cannulas using either the regression method (meat and bone meal (MBM) as the protein source at five levels of inclusion) or following protein-free alimentation. Amino acid flows were compared with those determined by feeding animals a diet the sole nitrogen source of which was enzyme-hydrolysed casein (EHC), followed by centrifugation and ultrafiltration of the ileal digesta. The EHC was a mixture of free amino acids and oligopeptides (molecular weight 5000 Da). For the EHC treatment, the ileal digesta precipitate plus retentate was used to determine the endogenous flows. The ultrafiltration step excludes unabsorbed dietary amino acids from the measure of endogenous loss. Chromium III oxide was the reference marker in all diets. Estimates of endogenous nitrogen and amino acid flows determined under protein-free alimentation and the comparable flows determined using the regression method were similar. However, endogenous flows of amino acids for the EHC-fed pigs were generally significantly higher (F < 0·01) than values found for pigs on the protein-free diet and were higher than values obtained after extrapolation for pigs given the MBM-based diets. Mean endogenous ileal nitrogen flow for the EHC-fed animals was 2526 (s.e. 33.9) compared with 1711 (s.e. 25.5) mg/kg dry-matter intake for pigs receiving the protein-free diet.
Changes in fibre traits in Scottish Cashmere and Siberian goat kids and their relationships with annual production and diameter of the undercoat
Authors: Merchant M. , Riach D. J.
Published: August 2016

The pattern of follicle activity and fibre growth on the neck, mid side and rear leg of 12 Scottish Cashmere (SC) and nine Siberian (S) goat kids was examined from birth to 255 days of age. In both genotypes maximum secondary to primary follicle (S/P) ratio was reached earliest on the neck (P < 0·05) but was proportionately 0·21 and 0·28 (P < 0·001) lower than that on the rear leg and mid side respectively. Secondary follicle activity ceased earlier on the rear leg than the mid side or neck (P < 0·001) and this was associated with lower staple lengths and patch weights of undercoat. Fibre weight and diameter were compared on six body parts: neck, front leg, mid side, rear leg, rump and belly at 255 days of age. Patch undercoat weights and diameter were greatest on the neck, front leg and rump and lowest on the belly.

The estimated annual production of undercoat, calculated from patch weights and skin area measurements on the six parts of the body at 255 days of age was 138 (range 42 to 260) g for SC kids and 525 (range 377 to 661) g for S kids (s.e.d. = 39·4, P < 0·001). Mean undercoat diameter was 16·15 (range 15·32 to 17·51) and 18·94 (range 17·25 to 19·89) μm for SC and S kids respectively (s.e.d. = 0·376, P < 0·001).

Correlation coefficients between fibre traits, measured at approximately monthly intervals and estimates of annual production and undercoat diameter at 255 days were calculated. For SC kids mid-side patch undercoat weight was consistently and strongly related to estimated annual production (mean correlation coefficient, 0·85, s.e. 0·036). For S kids the only variable to show a consistently strong relationship with estimated annual production was mid-side undercoat staple length × diameter2 (mean correlation coefficient 0·66, s.e. 0·067). Thus the best fibre traits for ranking annual production differed between genotypes. In both cases the accuracy of the ranking increased with age. Undercoat fibre diameter measured from 4 to 5 months of age was closely related to estimated undercoat diameter at 255 days of age in both SC and S genotypes (mean correlation coefficient 0·92, s.e. 0·009). Prior to 4 months of age the mean correlation coefficient for SC and S genotypes was 0·53 (s.e. 0·20).

It is concluded that goat kids can be ranked for annual production and diameter of the undercoat, prior to first harvesting, based on fibre traits measured on samples of the fleece.
The influence of drinker allocation and group size on the drinking behaviour, welfare and production of growing pigs
Authors: Turner S. P. , Edwards S. A. , Bland V. C.
Published: August 2016

Current Welfare Code recommendations suggest one nipple drinker per 10 pigs, while farmers have often used a ratio of one per 20 animals. This statement is based on information from pig farmers and advisors in the United Kingdom. Neither approach is based on empirical investigation. The use of larger group sizes in commercial herds raises further questions, since the relationship between group size and the appropriate number of drinking points cannot be assumed to be linear. The aim was to assess the two conflicting drinker allocations for their effect on welfare, as measured by drinking behaviour, social behaviour and performance, and any effect of group size on these. A total of 640 Large White × Landrace growing pigs were assigned to four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (60 pigs, three drinkers; 20 pigs, one drinker; 60 pigs, six drinkers and 20 pigs, two drinkers). Drinker provision had no significant effect on water use (5.10, 3.88, 4.99 and 3.45 s.e. 0.231 I per pig per day respectively) but in a larger group more water was used in less drinking time (P < 0.001). The diurnal pattern of water use was similar for each treatment. More aggression occurred at the drinker in large groups with a poorer drinker allocation (11.0 v. 3.8% of drinking bouts terminated by aggression for 60 pigs with three drinkers and mean all other treatments respectively, P < 0·05). Overt aggression (2.22, 2.27, 1.76 and 2.07 (s.e. 0.284) aggressive acts per pig per h, respectively) and lesion score counts of a sample of pigs from each pen suggested no difference between treatments. Providing one drinker per 20 animals, even in a large group, did not affect drinking behaviour, social behaviour or production. These findings should not be extrapolated to situations of different ambient temperature, water flow rate or feeding strategy.
Effect of dietary n-3/n-6 ratio on fatty acid composition of liver, meat and perirenal fat in rabbits
Authors: Bernardini M. , Dal Bosco A. , Castellini C.
Published: August 2016

The metabolic pathways of dietary fatty acids were studied in rabbits by analysing the fatty acid profile of different tissues (liver, perirenal fat,longissimus lumborummuscle). Four groups of 24 hybrid males each were assigned to four semi-purified diets, varying in the source oflipids which differed in n-3/n-6 ratios: 180 g/kg sunflower (S), 80 g/kg flaxseed + 90 g/kg sunflower (SF), 160 g/kg flaxseed (F) and 60 g/kg fish oil (FI). The liver showed a very important rôle in fatty acid syntheses and was the tissue richest in long-chain (≥20 C) polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP) of n-3 and n-6 series. The S diet gave the highest mono-unsaturated fatty acids and n-6 LCP (respectively, 201·9 and 384·9 g/kg,P< 0·01) also showing a clear antagonism v. n-3 LCP; the FI diet determined the highest enrichment of n-3 LCP (179·5 g/kg,P< 0·01). a-linolenic acid was efficiently converted into n-3 LCP mainly when п-ЗІп-6 ratio was high (Σn-3/С20: 4n-6: 2·74 and 3.61,P< 0·01 in flaxseed and fish-oil diet, respectively). The same trend occurred in the muscle but in a less consistent way. The adipose tissue more closely reflected the composition of the dietary fatty acids, showing variations mainly concerning polyunsaturated fatty acids (S diet), and LCP n-3 (FI diet: 44·9 g/kg,P< 0·01). Results showed the possibility of modifying the fatty acid profile of rabbit meat by dietary means and that the n-3/n-6 ratio of the food is crucial in regulating the relative presence of LCP n-3 or n-6 in meat products.
A period of energy supplementation but not the type of supplement influences the insulin response to exogenous glucose in food-restricted post-partum suckler beef cows
Authors: Ponsart C. , Ponter A. A. , Khireddine B. , Humblot P. , Sauvant D. , Mialot J.-P. , Grimard B.
Published: August 2016

Two experiments were designed to study the influence of an increase in energy supply on the utilization of exogenous glucose in food-restricted post-partum Charolais suckler beef cows. In experiment 1, 18 cows were given a basal diet (BD) providing 0·70 of energy requirements from calving with or without an energy supplement (SD) of 2 kg of rolled triticale grain starting at day 32 post partum. On day 42 post partum an injection of glucose (1·0 mmol/kg live weight) lasting 20 min resulted in a similar plasma glucose and cortisol profile in each diet group but a smaller plasma insulin increase in SD than in BD cows (146 (s.e. 37)v.273 (s.e. 37) pmol/l,P< 0·05). Plasma non-esterified fatty acids concentrations were reduced by the glucose injection (P< 0·01). Experiment 2 compared the efficiency of an energy supplement in the form of concentrate (CS, maize grain, no. = 11) or forage (PS, maize silage, no. = 10) in oestrous-synchronized beef cows previously given a restricted diet. Glucose injection resulted in a small increase in insulin concentrations during infusion with a peak at 20 min (PS: 250 (s.e. 34)v.CS: 257 (s.e. 32) pmol/l,P> 0·05). No differences were observed between the two groups of cows for glucose, insulin and cortisol profiles (P> 0·05). Similar pregnancy rates after oestrous synchronization treatment were observed in CS and PS cows (6/11v.5/10). In conclusion, a period of supplementation sufficient to re-establish energy balance, but not the type of supplement, influences the insulin response to exogenous glucose in food-restricted post-partum Charolais beef cows.
Different means of administering polyethylene glycol to sheep: effect on the nutritive value of Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. foliage
Authors: Ben Salem H. , Nefzaoui A. , Ben Salem L. , Tisserand J. L.
Published: August 2016

Polyethylene glycol-4000 (PEG) was used to inactivate tannins in Acacia cyanophylla Lindl foliage. In the first of two experiments, four groups of five Barbarine sheep were held in metabolism crates so that intakes, apparent digestibilities, nitrogen balances and urinary excretion of allantoin could be measured. The second experiment involved four groups of three male Queue Fine de l'Ouest sheep fitted with rumen cannulae and housed in individual pens to measure rumen fermentation parameters and dry matter in situ degradation of A. cyanophylla foliage. All animals received fresh A. cyanophylla foliage ad libitum and 330 g concentrate on a daily basis. In each experiment, three groups of sheep received 20 g PEG daily, either mixed with concentrate (PEG-concentrate), dissolved in drinking water (PEG-water) or sprayed as a solution on A. cyanophylla foliage at the point of feeding (PEG-treatment). The fourth group was not supplied with PEG (control). Dry-matter intake of A. cyanophylla was low (28·3 g/kg metabolic live weight (M0·75) per day) and increased in sheep given the PEG-concentrate diet (38·2 g/kg M0·75 per day). PEG-concentrate and PEG-water diets resulted in an improvement in protein utilization as indicated by an increase of crude protein apparent digestibility (2·1 and 1·9 fold, respectively), nitrogen retention (3·2 fold with both dietary treatments) and urinary excretion of allantoin (1·9 and 1·5 fold, respectively). Improvements obtained with PEG-treatment diet were low and in general not significant (P > 0·05). Low neutral-detergent fibre and acid-detergent fibre apparent digestibility coefficients of diets led to the conclusion that conventional detergent extraction techniques are questionable in determining the in vivo digestibility of cell wall constituents for tannin-rich forages. Results from rumen fluid analyses indicated that sheep given PEG-containing diets had higher ammonia-nitrogen and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations (P < 0·05). These results, coupled with the increase of allantoin excretion gave clear evidence that the efficiency of microbial synthesis was improved with PEG addition. The absence of change in ruminal pH and molar proportions of individual VF A suggested similar fermentation patterns among all dietary treatments. PEG supply increased the slowly degradable fraction of A. cyanophylla foliage incubated in the rumen (P < 0·05), thus dry matter potential degradability (a + b) was highest in sheep given PEG-containing diets. It is concluded that the affinity of acacia tannins to PEG, increased the availability of degradable proteins, which resulted in an improvement of the nutritive value of acacia foliage. However, for practical situations, adding PEG to concentrate or to drinking water is recommended for sheep browsing A. cyanophylla trees in the field or fed indoors.