title: Impact of prepartum administration of a vaccine against infectious calf diarrhea on nonspecific colostral immunoglobulin concentrations of dairy cows.

authors: Chambers, Gregory. P.

subjects: colostrum

abstract: Passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins from the cow to the calf is essential for calf health. The objective of this study was to determine if prepartum administration of a vaccine stimulates increased concentrations of colostral immunoglobulins of dairy cows beyond what is explained by vaccine-specific immunoglobulins. A prospective cohort study was conducted on a spring-calving commercial dairy farm that had a policy of only vaccinating cows with even ear tag numbers with a calf diarrhea vaccine, while cows with odd ear tag numbers were left unvaccinated. Cows in the vaccinated group (even ear tag numbers, n=204) received a sensitizer and booster vaccination with a vaccine against bovine rotavirus (serotypes G6 and G10), bovine coronavirus and E. coli having the K99 pili adherence factor. A sensitizer was given because the study vaccine was different to the vaccine previously used. Cows in the control group (odd ear tag numbers, n=194) received a 2 mL subcutaneous sterile saline solution. Both groups received two treatments at a three-week interval, completing the treatments approximately two weeks prior to the planned start of calving. During the calving period, technicians separated calves from cows immediately after parturition and prior to suckling, and cows were completely milked out within six hours of parturition. Vaccine-specific, total, and nonvaccine-specific (total minus vaccine-specific) concentrations of immunoglobulin classes A, G1, G2a and M (IgA, IgG1, IgG2a and IgM respectively) were quantified by mass spectrometry for 20 colostrum samples from each treatment group. Predicted mean non-vaccine-specific colostral IgM concentrations were 8.76 (95% CI =7.18-10.67) and 5.78 (95% CI =4.74-7.05) mg/ml for vaccinated and control cows respectively (p =0.005). Predicted mean non-vaccine-specific colostral IgG1 concentrations were 106.08 (95% CI =92.07-120.08) and 95.30 (95% CI =81.30-109.31) mg/ml among vaccinated and control cows respectively, however these means were not significantly different (p=0.278). It is thus possible that the vaccine, in addition to specifically managing infectious calf diarrhea, may also have non-specific benefits by improving colostrum quality through increased non-vaccine-specific colostrum IgM concentrations. Further research is necessary to determine the mechanism for these preliminary findings, whether the effect may occur in other immunoglobulin classes, and what impacts it may have on calf health outcomes.

text: Impact of prepartum administration of a vaccine against infectious calf diarrhea on nonspecific colostral immunoglobulin concentrations of dairy cows. Passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins from the cow to the calf is essential for calf health. The objective of this study was to determine if prepartum administration of a vaccine stimulates increased concentrations of colostral immunoglobulins of dairy cows beyond what is explained by vaccine-specific immunoglobulins. A prospective cohort study was conducted on a spring-calving commercial dairy farm that had a policy of only vaccinating cows with even ear tag numbers with a calf diarrhea vaccine, while cows with odd ear tag numbers were left unvaccinated. Cows in the vaccinated group (even ear tag numbers, n=204) received a sensitizer and booster vaccination with a vaccine against bovine rotavirus (serotypes G6 and G10), bovine coronavirus and E. coli having the K99 pili adherence factor. A sensitizer was given because the study vaccine was different to the vaccine previously used. Cows in the control group (odd ear tag numbers, n=194) received a 2 mL subcutaneous sterile saline solution. Both groups received two treatments at a three-week interval, completing the treatments approximately two weeks prior to the planned start of calving. During the calving period, technicians separated calves from cows immediately after parturition and prior to suckling, and cows were completely milked out within six hours of parturition. Vaccine-specific, total, and nonvaccine-specific (total minus vaccine-specific) concentrations of immunoglobulin classes A, G1, G2a and M (IgA, IgG1, IgG2a and IgM respectively) were quantified by mass spectrometry for 20 colostrum samples from each treatment group. Predicted mean non-vaccine-specific colostral IgM concentrations were 8.76 (95% CI =7.18-10.67) and 5.78 (95% CI =4.74-7.05) mg/ml for vaccinated and control cows respectively (p =0.005). Predicted mean non-vaccine-specific colostral IgG1 concentrations were 106.08 (95% CI =92.07-120.08) and 95.30 (95% CI =81.30-109.31) mg/ml among vaccinated and control cows respectively, however these means were not significantly different (p=0.278). It is thus possible that the vaccine, in addition to specifically managing infectious calf diarrhea, may also have non-specific benefits by improving colostrum quality through increased non-vaccine-specific colostrum IgM concentrations. Further research is necessary to determine the mechanism for these preliminary findings, whether the effect may occur in other immunoglobulin classes, and what impacts it may have on calf health outcomes.

year: 2022-06-09

title: Locked into legitimacy: a study of the place of values in politics & society

authors: Bedggood, David

abstract: The object of this thesis is the analysis of the nature, extent and origins of political beliefs and their particular role in legitimising state authority in New Zealand. In the first part two general approaches to the problem of legitimacy are considered. The first, associated with Western ‘social science’, assumes that democracy is representative of all interest groups, and is characterised by shared norms and procedures termed the ‘civic culture’. The author examines the evidence and shows that there are no valid empirical grounds in support of this assumption. The second approach, associated with Marxism, makes the reverse assumption, that the working-class in liberal democracies continues to be exploited, and that allegiance to the state in the working-class is less the consequence of ‘free choice’ than of system constraint.

In the second part the author attempts to develop a model of the causal influences which shaped the political beliefs of the working-class in New Zealand history. An assessment of the historical and contemporary evidence shows that the ‘loyalty’ of the majority of the working-class to the state was as much the product of physical, legal and symbolic constraints, as that of social mobility, rising, living standards, and welfare provisions. The author concludes that the forces which shape political consciousness in New Zealand society have been centralised and consolidated by the state as a hegemonic culture pre-empting freedom of political choice.

text: Locked into legitimacy: a study of the place of values in politics & society The object of this thesis is the analysis of the nature, extent and origins of political beliefs and their particular role in legitimising state authority in New Zealand. In the first part two general approaches to the problem of legitimacy are considered. The first, associated with Western ‘social science’, assumes that democracy is representative of all interest groups, and is characterised by shared norms and procedures termed the ‘civic culture’. The author examines the evidence and shows that there are no valid empirical grounds in support of this assumption. The second approach, associated with Marxism, makes the reverse assumption, that the working-class in liberal democracies continues to be exploited, and that allegiance to the state in the working-class is less the consequence of ‘free choice’ than of system constraint.

In the second part the author attempts to develop a model of the causal influences which shaped the political beliefs of the working-class in New Zealand history. An assessment of the historical and contemporary evidence shows that the ‘loyalty’ of the majority of the working-class to the state was as much the product of physical, legal and symbolic constraints, as that of social mobility, rising, living standards, and welfare provisions. The author concludes that the forces which shape political consciousness in New Zealand society have been centralised and consolidated by the state as a hegemonic culture pre-empting freedom of political choice.

year: 1974

title: Waiwhakareke Restoration Plantings: Establishment of Monitoring Plots 2005-06

authors: Grove, E.

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park is being developed to reconstruct native lowland and wetland ecosystems as were once widespread in the Waikato Region. The 60ha Natural Heritage Park is located on the north-west outskirts of Hamilton City and includes a peat lake (Horseshoe Lake) which is surrounded by introduced willow trees. There is some native marginal vegetation around the lake, including rushes and sedges, and an extensive area of gently sloping pasture completes the catchment. The restoration and recreation of the native plant and animal communities is being lead by the Hamilton City Council in partnership with The University of Waikato, Wintec, Nga Mana Toopu o Kirikiriroa Limited Resource Management and Cultural Consultants and Tui 2000 (McQueen 2005; McQueen & Clarkson 2003).

text: Waiwhakareke Restoration Plantings: Establishment of Monitoring Plots 2005-06 Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park is being developed to reconstruct native lowland and wetland ecosystems as were once widespread in the Waikato Region. The 60ha Natural Heritage Park is located on the north-west outskirts of Hamilton City and includes a peat lake (Horseshoe Lake) which is surrounded by introduced willow trees. There is some native marginal vegetation around the lake, including rushes and sedges, and an extensive area of gently sloping pasture completes the catchment. The restoration and recreation of the native plant and animal communities is being lead by the Hamilton City Council in partnership with The University of Waikato, Wintec, Nga Mana Toopu o Kirikiriroa Limited Resource Management and Cultural Consultants and Tui 2000 (McQueen 2005; McQueen & Clarkson 2003).

year: 2006