Measure and characterization of lameness in gestating sows using force plate, kinematic, and accelerometer methods.

The objective was to assess sows' lameness by measuring weight distribution on limbs using a force plate made up of 4 individual platforms each resting on 4 single-ended beam load cells. The weight was recorded at an average rate of 14 readings per s over a 15 min period. Ten sows (5 lame sows and 5 sound sows) were weighed twice on 2 different days to assess the repeatability of the measure. Sixty-one sows were then selected in 2 different sites and visually scored for lameness, using a 3-point scoring system (0=normal gait; 1=abnormal gait, and/or stiffness; and 2=shortened stride, and/or the sow puts less weight or avoids putting weight on 1 leg). Various measures were recorded from each sow using the force plate (percentage of weight, the ratio between the weights applied by contralateral legs, weight shifting, and amplitude of weight bearing and weight removing), kinematics (speed, stride length, swing time, stance time, foot height, and carpal and tarsal joints angle average and amplitude), and accelerometers (time spent standing during 24 h, frequency of stepping behavior during feeding, and latency to lie down after feed delivery). The within-sow CV for each measure taken from the force plate were lower than 15%, which reflects a good repeatability. Among force plate measures, only the weight shifting frequency and the ratio between the weights applied by contralateral legs differed between lameness scores. Sows that scored 2 had a higher frequency of weight shifting for fore legs (P=0.0003) and hind legs (P=0.0007) than sows scored 0 and 1. The ratio between the weights applied by contralateral legs decreased with the increase of lameness score for the hind limbs (P=0.014). However, these measures also differed between sites (P<0.01). These differences may be due to various reasons, including but not limited to genetics and housing systems. Nevertheless, the results suggest that force plate measures such as the asymmetry in the weight applied between a pair of legs and weight shifting are good indicators of lameness. Multivariate analysis on fore and hind legs showed independency between variables related to animals in movement (measures from kinematics) and variables related to static animals (measures from the force plate and accelerometers). Therefore, both static and dynamic methods need to be used to detect various lame sows.

Dairy cow feeding space requirements assessed in a Y-maze choice test.

The effect of proximity to a dominant cow on a low-ranking cow's willingness to feed was assessed using choice tests. The main aim of the experiment was to determine the feeding space allowance at which the majority of subordinate cows would choose to feed on high-palatability food (HPF) next to a dominant cow rather than feeding alone on low-palatability food (LPF). Thirty Holstein-Friesian cows were used in the study. Half of the cows were trained to make an association between a black bin and HPF and a white bin and LPF, and the other half were trained with the opposite combination. Observations of pair-wise aggressive interactions were observed during feeding to determine the relative social status of each cow. From this, dominant and subordinate cows were allocated to experimental pairs. When cows had achieved an HPF preference with an 80% success rate in training, they were presented with choices using a Y-maze test apparatus, in which cows were offered choices between feeding on HPF with a dominant cow and feeding on LPF alone. Four different space allowances were tested at the HPF feeder: 0.3, 0.45, 0.6, and 0.75 m. At the 2 smaller space allowances, cows preferred to feed alone (choices between feeding alone or not for 0.3- and 0.45-m tests were significantly different). For the 2 larger space allowances, cows had no significant preferences (number of choices for feeding alone or with a dominant). Given that low-status cows are willing to sacrifice food quality to avoid close contact with a dominant animal, we suggest that the feeding space allowance should be at least 0.6m per cow whenever possible. However, even when space allowances are large, it is clear that some subordinate cows will still prefer to avoid proximity to dominant individuals.

Absence of significant secretory flux of phosphate in the proximal convoluted tubule.

The presence of phosphate secretion by the renal tubule in mammals has been controversial. Recently, in a micropuncture and microperfusion study, net secretion of phosphate was reported for the proximal tubule of rats which were infused with parathyroid hormone (PTH) and phosphate. Since the finding of net secretion of phosphate by the proximal tubule is in contradiction to other reports, the question was reinvestigated with the use of microperfusion techniques that were modified to allow identification of sample contamination. Studies were performed in intact dogs, phosphate- and PTH-loaded intact rats, and phosphate-loaded, acutely thyroparathyroidectomized rats. After exclusion of contaminated samples, no significant influx of phosphate was found in any of the three groups. Neither increased plasma phosphate concentration nor the infusion of parathyroid hormone unmasked a secretory process for phosphate. It is concluded that phosphate transport in the proximal tubule is essentially a unidirectional phenomenon, i.e., reabsorption is not opposed by significant backflux of phosphate.

Phosphaturic effect of furosemide: role of PTH and carbonic anhydrase.

The first objective of this study was to examine the effects of furosemide on renal phosphate excretion in the presence and absence of a constant level of parathyroid hormone (PTH) while extracellular fluid volume was held constant. In the absence of PTH, furosemide did not significantly increase fractional phosphate excretion (FEP%, 4.2 +/- 2.7 to 6.2 +/- 1.9%; five dogs). In the presence of PTH, furosemide increased FEP% from 23.4 +/- 3.7 to 33.8 +/- 6.0% (P less .025; five dogs). Thus, the phosphaturia induced by furosemide was dependent on the presence of PTH. The second objective was to evaluate the hypothesis that furosemide exerts its phosphaturic effect through carbonic anhydrase inhibition, and therefore we tested for additivity of the phosphaturic effect of furosemide, and acetazolamide. In the presence of a constant level of PTH, acetazolamide increased FEP % from 24.5 +/- 1.8% to 40.7 +/- 5.1% P less than .025, five dogs. The subsequent administration of furosemide did not further increase FEP%, delta 3.3 +/- 8.9%; NS. Thus, the phosphaturic effect of furosemide was not additive to that of acetazolamide, indicating that acetazolamide and furosemide may share similar mechanisms for inhibiting phosphate reabsorption.

Effect of secretin on renal blood flow, interstitial pressure, and sodium excretion.

Most renal vasodilators are natriuretic. However, secretin increases renal blood flow (RBF) markedly but produces only a very slight increase in sodium excretion (UNaV). To investigate this observation further, the relationship between vasodilatation, interstitial pressure (IP), and UNaV was studied in dogs. Intrarenal infusion of secretin increased RBF (delta=107+/-19 ml/min). The IP, as measured from chronically implanted polyethylene matrix capsules, was not significantly changed (delta=-0.3+/-0.5 mmHg). UNaV was slightly, although significantly, increased (delta=19+/-4 mueq/min). Following a similar increase in RBF with an intrarenal infusion of acetylcholine (ACh), IP and UNaV increased markedly (delta=8.2+/-0.8 mmHg and 174+/-23 mueq/min, respectively). Neither secretin nor ACh) altered glomerular filtration rate or blood pressure. Both secretin and ACh produced comparable increases in peritubule capillary(delta=5+/-1 and 7.5+/-1.4 mmHg, respectively) and free-flow tubule pressure (delta=7+/-2 and 9.5+/-1.4 mmHg, respectively). In summary, the usual relationship between vasodilatation and IP was dissociated during secretin infusion, whereas the relationship between IP and natriuresis was not dissociated.