bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The extent and cause of perinatal lamb mortality in 3 flocks of Merino sheep
Authors: JORDAN DJ , LE FEUVRE AS 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYAutopsies were performed on lamb carcases from 2 groups of Merino ewes lambing in paddocks in spring 1978 and from 1 group lambing in pens in 1980 in southwest Queensland. These showed that the main causes of death were starvation due to failure of the lamb to obtain milk, problems at parturition causing death during or shortly after birth and, in some cases, predation.The majority of lambs died within 1 week of birth with the highest mortalities occurring in the lighter lambs. In the pen study, mean birth weight of lambs that died was 3.0 (s.d. =±0.5) kg. The mean daily weight loss of lambs that died of starvation in the pens was 0.22 kg and the mean loss to autopsy was 0.35 kg.In the pen study, there were more lamb deaths, deaths from starvation, mismothering and desertion in each of 2 groups fed a below maintenance ration than in an above maintenance group. More lambs died and more lamb deaths were due to starvation in a group with unsound udders than in a sound udder group.The results are similar to those found by workers investigating perinatal lamb mortality in other areas. Their significance is discussed in relation to Merino sheep flocks in southwestern Queensland.
The magnitude of reproductive wastage to lamb marking in 30 Merino flocks in south‐west Queensland
Authors: JORDAN DJ , ORR DM , McMENIMAN NP , DUNLOP LB , EVENSON CJ 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThirty groups of Merino ewes in 6 districts of south‐west Queensland were studied between 1976 and 1985 to determine the magnitude of reproductive wastage to lamb marking. Relatively high pregnancy rates (77 to 100%, mean 93%) and a wide range of lamb marking percentages (10 to 115%, mean 78%) were recorded. The mean reproductive wastage due to failure to mate and failure to lamb was low (1.6 and 3.4% respectively) in 8 flocks where harnessed rams were used. This indicated that loss of lambs from birth to lamb marking was the major cause of reproductive wastage in most years.
Detecting benzimidazole resistance with faecal egg count reduction tests and in vitro assays
Authors: MARTIN PJ , ANDERSON N , JARRETT RG 
Published: March 2008

SummaryComposite strains of Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Ostertagia spp consisting of 0, 1, 10, 25, 50, 75, 90, and 100% of known resistant strains were prepared and tested for benzimidazole resistance using faecal egg count reduction tests, in vitro egg hatch assays and tubulin binding assays. All tests detected resistance where the proportion of the resistant strain in the composite was 50% or more, whereas none of the tests unequivocally detected resistance below 25%. Egg count reduction tests were no less sensitive than the in vitro tests in detecting low levels of resistance but the egg hatch and tubulin binding assays provided a better quantitative estimate of moderate to high levels of resistance. Faecal egg count reduction therefore, provides a suitable means of detecting resistance in the field but tests, more sensitive to low levels of resistance are required. Results indicate that the use of post‐treatment counts alone provides an adequate indication of anthelmintic efficiency.
Influence of head posture on the respiratory tract of healthy horses
Authors: RACKLYEFT DJ , LOVE DN 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY Twenty four normal, confined mares were unable to lower their heads for 24 or 48 h. In 21 mares this resulted in increases in the proportion of neutrophils and/or numbers of bacteria in transtracheal aspirates. In eight mares the changes in tracheal washes were accompanied by clinical evidence of mild respiratory disease. In three additional cases respiratory signs were accompanied by systemic illness. These changes reversed once the mares were able to lower their heads. Haematological changes (absolute neutrophilia and/or hyperfibrinogenaemia) were mild and occurred more commonly in horses restrained for 48 h.The results suggest that keeping the heads of healthy horses raised leads to an increased bacterial burden in their tracheobronchial secretions. These changes appeared to be related to head posture effects and not simply confinement in stocks. These findings give further weight to the theory that postural drainage may facilitate clearance of bacteria from the tracheobronchial tree. The possible relevance of such findings to post‐transportation pneumonia in horses is discussed.
Fertility of sows mated on different days of the week
Authors: LOVE RJ , WILSON MR 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY The farrowing rates resulting from matings on different days of the week were determined for a 2800‐sow intensive piggery in both 1983 and 1984. The results showed that sows mated early in the week achieved a significantly higher farrowing rate than sows mated late in the week (P <0.000l). During the seasonal (summer to autumn) infertility period, Wednesday matings resulted in a poor farrowing rate whereas for the rest of the year farrowing rates following Wednesday matings were similar to those for Sunday Monday and Tuesday matings. Consistent results were obtained for data from both years.It is proposed that the stress of regrouping unmated sows on Wednesday to accommodate newly weaned sows is responsible for this decrease in fertility.This study illustrates how detailed analysis of farrowing rates on a day of mating basis can identify a problem which is otherwise masked by weekly data.
Measurement of antibody in serum and genital fluids of bulls by ELISA after vaccination and challenge with Tritrichomonas foetus
Authors: CAMPERO CM , HIRST RG , LADDS PW , VAUGHAN JA , EMERY DL , WATSON DL 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY An enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for detecting antibody to Tritrichomonas foetus using both whole cell antigen (WCA) and membrane protein antigen (MPA). The test was used to detect specific antibody in serum, preputial washings and seminal plasma samples from 7 adult bulls which were vaccinated subcutaneously on 3 occasions with a membrane protein vaccine against T. foetus var brisbane in an oil adjuvant, and from 4 unvaccinated control animals. One month after administration of the third dose of vaccine, vaccinated and control bulls were repeatedly challenged with the live vaccine strain of the T. foetus. A steady increase in serum antibody titre was detected after each inoculation of vaccine when both antigens were used in the ELISA. However, MPA was more sensitive. After challenge, vaccinated bulls developed an increased titre. No specific antibody was detected in control bulls, except in one bull after challenge in which seroconversion was detected. The serum antibody titres of both groups of animals were also measured with the microagglutination test which proved less sensitive than the ELISA.Antibody titres to both antigens, although lower than in serum, were detected in the seminal plasma of vaccinated animals. The control bulls remained non‐responsive. No antibody was detected by ELISA in preputial washings from either control or vaccinated bulls prior to challenge. Post‐challenge, some of the vaccinated bulls were responsive with both antigens whereas the control bulls remained negative.
Treatment of virulent footrot with lincomycin and spectinomycin
Authors: VENNING CM , CURTIS MA , EGERTON JR 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY A mixture of lincomycin and spectinomycin was investigated as a treatment for footrot in sheep. In a controlled clinical trial 92.5% of acute and chronic cases of virulent footrot were cured following a single intramuscular injection of a mixture containing 50 mg lincomycin and 100 mg spectinomycin/ml at a dose rate of 1 ml/10 kg bodyweight. No improvement in clinical response was observed in groups of sheep treated on 3 successive days with this dose rate nor in another group treated once at a dose rate 1 ml/3.3 kg bodyweight. Cure effectiveness of each of the 3 treatment groups relative to untreated controls was 89%, 95% and 95%.Efficacy of lincomycin/spectinomycin was compared with that of penicillin/streptomycin in the treatment of footrot on 2 farms in south western New South Wales. Assessments made 14 to 17 d after treatment showed that on one farm all 122 ewes treated with lincomycin/spectinomycin had recovered while 170 of 175 ewes treated with penicillin/streptomycin recovered in the same period. On the second farm 87 of 90 ewes treated with lincomycin/spectinomycin recovered, compared with 184 of 190 sheep in the same flock treated with penicillin/streptomycin. Supportive footbathing did not seem to improve the clinical response in either treatment group and the paring done was sufficient only to establish diagnosis and to remove grossly overgrown horn.
The reproductive performance of farmed fallow deer (Dama dama) in New South Wales
Authors: MULLEY RC , ENGLISH AW , KIRBY A 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY Observations on the reproductive performance of fallow deer on 47 farms in New South Wales were made over 6 consecutive years. The minimum fawning rate for does varied significantly (p < 0.001) between years, the corresponding fawning percentages varying from 75.0% to 96.4%, with an overall mean of 88.8%. The weaning rate also varied significantly (p < 0.001) between years, the corresponding percentages varying from 65.0% to 89.1% with a mean over 6 years of 81.4%. Weaning rates were low given the known high fertility of fallow deer. The ratio of male to female fawns at weaning varied significantly (p < 0.05) between years, although the ratio was exactly 1:1 for all births recorded over the 6‐year period.The mean birthweights for female and male fawns were 4.01 kg ± 0.61 (n=330) and 4.23 kg ± 0.72 (n=348) respectively. Mean birthweights varied significantly (p < 0.001) between the sexes and between years. There was a greater difference between birthweights of male and female fawns in years with higher mean fawn birthweight. Fawn birthweights generally approximated 10% of the pre‐rut weight of their mother. Handling of newborn fawns for tagging and weighting did not increase the chance of mismothering and rejection.The mean weaning weight for doe fawns and buck fawns over 6 years was 18.7 kg (n=227) and 21.2 kg (n=231) respectively, with a mean birth to weaning interval of 108.4 ± 4.89 (n=458). Growth rates of male fawns from birth to weaning were significantly higher (p < 0.01) than for female fawns, and the growth rates of fawns were significantly different (p < 0.01) between years.The mean pre‐rut weight of rising 2‐year‐old does was 36.7 kg ± 2.51 (n=87) and rose with age to between 40.4 and 48.6 kg for adult does (n=685).This study demonstrates the potential for improving reproductive performance of farmed fallow deer through management practices designed to increase post‐natal survival of fawns. There was a positive correlation between low birthweight of fawns and lower than expected weaning percentages (r=0.86), and further investigation of the factors associated with depressed intrauterine growth of fallow fawns is required.
Chronic cervical compressive myelopathy in horses: clinical correlations with spinal cord alterations
Authors: YOVICH JV , LeCOUTEUR RA , GOULD DH 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY Histological examination was performed on the cervical spinal cord from 13 horses with chronic cervical compressive myelopathy of 4 to 29 months duration. Structural alterations were correlated with clinical features. At the level of compression, the spinal cord was grossly deformed. Histological alterations included nerve fibre swelling and degeneration, occasional spheroids, astrocytic gliosis, increased macrophage activity and increased perivascular collagen. Myelln degeneration or loss at the level of the compressive lesion was greatest in the ventral and lateral funiculi and less consistently present in the dorsal funiculi. Asymmetry of lesions in the dorsal funiculi was associated with asymmetry of clinical signs in 5 horses.Histological alterations in areas of Wallerian degeneration were similar to that at the level of spinal cord compression, except that perivascular collagen was not increased. Wallerian degeneration was present cranial to the compressed site in the superficial portions of the lateral funiculi and in the middle of the dorsal funiculi. Caudal to the compressed site it was present in the ventral funiculi adjacent to the ventral median fissure and in the middle of the lateral funiculi.Deformation of the spinal cord did not correlate with the severity or duration of clinical signs but was positively correlated with the amount of perivascular collagen Increase. The amount of nerve fibre swelling was not correlated with the severity of clinical signs but was negatively correlated with their duration.A rapid loss of nerve fibres apparently occurred early in the course of compression, since there was a marked decrease in the amount of nerve fibre swelling and Marchi stained degenerating myelin with increasing clinical duration. Areas of severe myelin loss were demonstrable in osmium tetroxide post‐fixed sections. Identification of spinal cord deformation and perivascular collagen increase, as well as staining for myelin to demonstrate the topography of myelin loss, aid the diagnosis of this disease, since nerve fibre swelling and degeneration subside with time.
The effect of footrot on body weight and wool growth of sheep
Authors: MARSHALL DJ , WALKER RI , CULLIS BR , LUFF MF 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY Body weight and traits associated with production of wool were measured over a 2‐year period between 1985 and 1987 in south‐western New South Wales in a flock of Merino wethers experimentally infected with footrot. The disease was allowed to spread freely amongst 150 of the flock but kept at very low prevalence in the remaining 50 by preventive footbathing during transmission periods.Severe, underrunning footrot had a significant adverse effect on body weight, for each year of the trial. Body weight was most severely reduced at times of the year when footrot was spreading among animals and lesions were severe. The mean body weight of the infected group at the end of the 2 years of observation was 7.3 kg (11.6%) below that of the control group. Footrot also depressed wool growth, with the mean clean fleece weight of the infected group being 0.4 kg (8%) lighter than that of the controls at each of the 2 annual shearings. There were no consistent differences between the groups for the other wool characteristics measured.
Pregnancy diagnosis in dairy goats and cows using progesterone assay kits
Authors: DIONYSIUS DA 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYEarly pregnancy diagnosis in dairy goats and cows was studied using enzyme immunoassays (EIA) to measure progesterone concentrations in whole milk samples collected approximately 3 weeks after mating. Two qualitative on‐farm assay kits and 2 quantitative assay kits, all designed for use in the dairy cow, were tested for their accuracy with goats milk samples. Accuracy of diagnosis of goat pregnancy ranged from 83 to 88%, and of non‐pregnancy from 80 to 100%. Pregnancy diagnosis with samples of cows milk using 2 quantitative kits gave accuracies of 66 to 68% for pregnancy, and 90 to 91% for non‐pregnancy. Possible causes of error in the early diagnosis of pregnancy with milk samples are discussed.
Dermal and serological response against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in sheep bred for resistance and susceptibility to fleece‐rot
Authors: CHIN JC , WATTS JE 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY Genetically select lines of Merino sheep have been bred at Trangie (NSW Agriculture and Fisheries) for resistance (R) or susceptibility (S) to fleece‐rot and flystrike. It is believed that fleece characters are primarily responsible for the R or S phenotype. When transferred to the wetter coastal environment of Sydney, R and S sheep with no more than 6 weeks wool cover, continued to show significant differences in the incidence and severity of fleece‐rot dermatitis. To test the hypothesis that these sheep might also exhibit differences in their local skin reactions and immune responsiveness, 3 intradermal injections of killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa were administered at monthly intervals. After primary intradermal challenge, R sheep had a higher incidence of skin induration and a stronger inflammatory response (increased induration diameter) than S sheep. Compared to S sheep, R sheep also developed higher levels of circulating antibodies against whole cell antigen and both inner and outer membrane proteins of P. aeruginosa. These responses were maintained in R sheep with each consecutive challenge while S sheep showed a decline in their immune responsiveness. Differences in antibody response against outer membrane proteins were also detected when antigenically naive sheep from each genetic line were sensitised by epicutaneous challenge with P. aeruginosa under experimental wetting conditions. Intradermal challenge of these animals 6 months later with outer membrane proteins, revealed a late maximum (72 h) in the development of induration diameters for R sheep while S animals showed maximal induration diameters by 24 h. However, there was no significant difference in induration response between 24 h and 72 h within each group of sheep. These differences were accompanied by significantly higher antibody titres against outer membrane proteins in R than S sheep. It is concluded that R and S sheep differ in their dermal and immune responsiveness, and that this difference may reside in the way the skin processes or responds to environmental antigens produced by the opportunistic and major fleece‐rot predisposing skin bacteria, P. aeruginosa.
The molecular epidemiology of equine herpesvirus 1 (equine abortion virus) in Australasia 1975 to 1989
Authors: STUDDERT MJ , CRABB BS , FICORILLI N 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThe restriction endonuclease DNA fingerprints of 57 isolates of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV1; equine abortion virus) from abortion, perinatal foal mortalities and encephalitis from 15 epidemics that occurred in Australasia between 1975 and 1989 were examined using the enzymes Bam HI, EcoRI and Bgl II. There was a remarkable degree of uniformity in the restriction patterns; mobility differences were observed in only 14 of 52 (27%) of the fragments. Twelve of these 14 fragments were located within the repeat structures that bracket the unique short region of the genome or were located at the left terminus of the 150 kilobase pair genome. Based on the Bam HI fingerprints the commonest virus identified in our study was EHV1.IP (P is for prototype strain). There was a single notable exception in that the Bam HI fingerprints of all 8 isolates from one of 3 Victorian farms that experienced abortion in 1989 resembled a variant EHV1.IB that was identified as a cause of abortion in Central Kentucky in 1970 to 1974. We present evidence that EHV1.IB caused abortion in California in 1964 and has remained unaltered in its Bam HI restriction pattern. No antigenic differences were found among 4 distantly related EHV1 isolates, including the variant IB, using a panel of 5 monoclonal antibodies to glycoprotein C (gC), a glycoprotein recognised to be highly variable. The uniformity of these unrelated EHV1 isolates is further evidence for a recent origin for EHV1 and may help to explain the natural history of this virus in the horse in which it seems to be a cause of serious epidemics of abortion and perinatal mortality, and less commonly of encephalitis.
Management of land and livestock contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls
Authors: GILL IJ , ROBERTS GS , GALVIN JW 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYInvestigations were conducted on several small neighbouring beef cattle and sheep farms that were found to be contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The residues detected contained about 62% w/w chlorine and soll concentrations ranged from 0.35 to 1.9 mg/kg.Beef cattle and sheep grazing the contaminated land had PCB concentrations in their fat of 0.3 to 1.7 mg/kg and 0.19 to 0.45 mg/kg, respectively. The concentration of PCBs in the caudal fat of cattle was 0.3 to 2 times the concentration of PCBs in the land they were grazing and was positively related to stocking rates. PCBs were present in milk fat from cattle at about the same concentration as in caudal fat, and lactation appeared to contribute to decontamination. Wool grease from sheep contained about 1 to 2 times the concentration of PCBs in subcutaneous fat. Calves of contaminated cows also became contaminated. The half‐life for decontamination of PCBs in a group of 8 young female beef cattle was calculated at 13 months.PCBs were detected in pasture samples at concentrations ranging from less than 0.01 mg/kg to 0.12 mg/kg. However, PCBs were not detected in any sample of hay cut from these paddocks. In 4 sheep fed a sole ration of this hay, traces of PCBs were detected in their fat following 89 days of feeding.Grazing livestock for meat production on land contaminated with PCBs is not recommended because livestock readily acquire residues, and PCBs persist in soil and livestock for long periods. Grazing sheep for wool production on land contaminated with PCBs may be an option.
The efficacy of injectable and pour‐on formulations of moxidectin against lice on cattle
Authors: CHICK B. , MCDONALD D. , COBB R. , KIERAN PJ , WOOD I. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY The efficacy of one administration of moxidectin against natural infestations of the 3 common species of cattle lice in Australia: Linognathus vitull, Damallnla bovls and Haematoplnus eurysternus, was determined.A high degree of control of L vituli (too long‐nosed sucking louse) was achieved with both the cattle Injection (96.7% and 100%) at 0.2 mg/kg and the cattle pour‐on formulation (94.6% and 100%) at 0.5 mg/kg on the 2 farms where this louse occurred. An Injection of moxidectin at 0.2 mg/kg did not eliminate D bovis. In these trials efficacy ranged from nll to 85.2%. In contrast the pour‐on formulation at 0.5 mg/kg provided consistently high efficacy (83.6 to 100%) against D bovis on 3 farms. Infestations of H eurysternus (the short‐nosed sucking louse) were low and no significant difference was recorded between treatment groups In a single trial, however, lice persisted on 3 to 7 cattle In the untreated group at each Inspection,whereas none were found on any animals in the 2 groups treated with moxidectin on Inspection after treatment.
Treatment with ivermectin of sarcoptic mange in pigs
Authors: SEAMAN JT , THOMPSON DR , BARRICK RA 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYIvermectin injectable solution (1% w/v) was highly effective against Sarcoptes scabiei var suis when administered subcutaneously once to swine at 300 mcg/kg body weight. There were significantly (P < 0.05) fewer Sarcoptes mange mites counted on pigs treated with ivermectin than on untreated pigs at each count up to day 56 after treatment. The results indicate ivermectin should provide an efficient, practical means of control of sarcoptic mange in intensive piggeries.