Supplementation of cattle fed tropical grasses with microalgae increases microbial protein production and average daily gain.

A series of 3 experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of microalgae as supplements for ruminants consuming low-CP tropical grasses. In Exp. 1, the chemical composition and in vitro protein degradability of 9 algae species and 4 protein supplements were determined. In Exp. 2, rumen function and microbial protein (MCP) production were determined in steers fed speargrass hay alone or supplemented with , , , or cottonseed meal (CSM). In Exp. 3, DMI and ADG were determined in steers fed speargrass hay alone or supplemented with increasing amounts of NPN (urea combined with ammonia sulfate), CSM, or . In Exp. 1, the CP content of and (675 and 580 g/kg DM) was highest among the algae species and higher than the other protein supplements evaluated, and sp. had the highest crude lipid (CL) content (198 g/kg DM). In Exp. 2, supplementation increased speargrass hay intake, the efficiency of MCP production, the fractional outflow rate of digesta from the rumen, the concentration of NHN, and the molar proportion of branched-chain fatty acids in the rumen fluid of steers above all other treatments. acceptance by steers was low and this resulted in no significant difference to unsupplemented steers for all parameters measured for this algae supplement. In Exp. 3, ADG linearly increased with increasing supplementary N intake from both and NPN, with no difference between the 2 supplements. In contrast, ADG quadratically increased with increasing supplementary N intake from CSM. It was concluded that and may potentially be used as protein sources for cattle grazing low-CP pastures.

Liveweight gain and copper status of young deer treated or untreated with copper oxide wire particles on ten deer farms in Canterbury.

AIMS: To measure the liveweight response of young deer to copper supplementation on a range of deer farms in the Canterbury region of the South Island, New Zealand, and relate any response to plasma copper concentration. METHODS: On each of 10 farms throughout north and mid-Canterbury, young deer (4-7 months old) were allocated by liveweight to two groups of 45-50. The deer in one group each received 5 g copper oxide wire particles (COWP) at the start of the project (March-June 2000) and a further 10 g COWP 3 months later (+Cu group), while the other group received no copper supplementation (-Cu group). Liveweight (+/-1 kg) of all deer was recorded monthly. A 10 ml blood sample was taken from a sub-sample of 10 animals in each group at the beginning of the trial and from the same animals 3 and 6 months later for measurement of plasma copper concentration. RESULTS: There was no significant effect (p=0.96) of treatment with COWP on liveweight gain (overall mean liveweight gain = 169 g/day). This result was consistent for all farms and for both periods. Mean plasma copper concentration declined from 12.5 (SD 3.4) to 10.3 (SD 3.0) micromol/l in +Cu groups, and to a significantly lower level (p<0.001) of 8.6 (SD 3.2) in -Cu groups after 3 months, at which time 38% of -Cu animals were considered hypocupraemic (<8 micromol/l). At the end of the second 3-month period there was no significant treatment effect on plasma copper concentration, which averaged 9.4 (SD 2.3) micromol/l. Of the feed samples submitted (n=46), only 17% had a copper concentration <5.0 mg/kg dry matter (DM), 13% had a molybdenum concentration >1.0 mg/kg, and 21% had a sulphur content >3.5 g/kg. CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions of these trials, no response in liveweight gain to copper supplementation was observed despite evidence of hypocupraemia in 38% of -Cu animals, which gained weight at similar rates to those that had adequate plasma copper levels. The extent of the hypocupraemia was either not sufficiently severe, or not maintained for a long enough period to cause copper deficiency resulting in reduced liveweight gain. No other signs of copper deficiency were evident. There is scope for deer farmers to reassess the need for copper supplementation in young deer.

Comparative assessment of pelvic floor strength using a perineometer and digital examination.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether digital assessment of pelvic floor contraction strength is as reliable as vaginal perineometry and to assess the practice of pelvic floor exercises by women. DESIGN: A blinded, two-assessor protocol, prospectively testing a volunteer sample of women. POPULATION: Two hundred and sixty-three women (from a total of 278), aged 16-75 years, attending a general gynaecological clinic with nonurinary symptoms. METHODS: Participants answered a questionnaire regarding urinary symptoms and practice of pelvic floor exercises. History and examination was carried out by the clinician, and pelvic floor strength scored digitally using the Oxford Scale. Pelvic floor strength was then assessed by the physiotherapist, using a PFX perineometer. The physiotherapist was blinded to the woman's history, examination findings and digital assessment score. Both the clinician and physiotherapist were blinded to the questionnaire responses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Digital pelvic floor contraction assessment, according to the Oxford Scale, was compared with perineometric assessment as the gold standard - examined against the background of the questionnaire findings. RESULTS: Of 263 patients, 53 were nulliparous (20%), and 210 parous (80%). Only 49 women carried out regular pelvic floor exercises (19%), and all were parous and admitted to troublesome urinary symptoms. Stress urinary incontinence was reported by 28% of all women (38.1% of parous women and 10.5% of nulliparous women). For both methods, there was no difference in the range of results when parity was taken into account. Concordance studies showed good agreement between digital and perineometric assessment of pelvic floor strength. The kappa value of 0.73 (95% confidence interval 0.67-0.79) indicated substantial agreement between the two methods. CONCLUSION: There is good agreement between digital assessment of pelvic floor contraction strength and vaginal perineometry. Assessment during gynaecological examination may help to identify women with fascial defects of the pelvic floor, as well as those at risk of genital prolapse or urinary symptoms.

Effect of ileal infusion of volatile fatty acids on feed intake and urinary magnesium excretion in sheep.

Five 2-year-old female sheep fitted with cannulae in the terminal ileum and proximal colon were infused, intra-ilealy during a 24 h period, with volatile fatty acids (VFA) (ratio of acetic:propionic:butyric acid, 0.80:0.15:0.05) at rate of 0, 220, 440, 660 or 880 mmol/day in 21 deionized water. Daily feed intake was progressively depressed by VFA and reached 87 +/- 4.7% (S.E.M.) at the highest rate of infusion. Colonic digesta pH decreased by 2.1 +/- 0.48 units and Mg solubility increased from 21 +/- 2.6 to 52 +/- 1.2% 16 h after the start at the highest rate of VFA infusion. Urinary Mg excretion increased during the first 4 h of infusion on all treatments but the increase was not sustained. The results are discussed in the context of limited knowledge of the importance of the large intestine in intake regulation and Mg absorption.

Endocrine changes in women conceiving during treatment with an LHRH agonist.

We report on eight patients who conceived during pituitary desensitization with buserelin in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Pregnancy was diagnosed between day 12 and 21 of buserelin administration. Analysis of serum luteinizing hormone on day 12 showed that pituitary desensitization occurred in conjunction with increasing production of ovarian steroid hormones. Serum concentrations of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) were less than 10 IU/l on day 1 of buserelin administration for seven of the eight patients. The serum concentration of HCG on day 12 showed a median value of 722 IU/l (range 14.6-798 IU/l). Five of the eight patients were given HCG support (10,000 IU) following the diagnosis of pregnancy--three of these patients have ongoing pregnancies and the remaining two had blighted ova on scan. Of the remaining three patients, one had a singleton pregnancy which miscarried at 9 weeks, one had a blighted ovum on scan and bled per vagina shortly after this, and one bled per vagina prior to a scan being carried out. Our results show that pregnancy can occur during pituitary desensitization with buserelin, despite patients being counselled not to have unprotected intercourse in the cycle during which administration commences. An HCG assay on day 1 of buserelin administration is not helpful. Pregnancy should be suspected when ovarian steroid production persists despite complete pituitary down-regulation.

Pressure measurements beneath below-knee amputation stump bandages: elastic bandaging, the Puddifoot dressing and a pneumatic bandaging technique compared.

Elastic wrap bandaging is unreliable and dangerous in terms of pressure and pressure distribution (tourniquet effect). The Puddifoot dressing is safe and is less likely to produce a tourniquet effect. The range of pressures it produces is low--possibly too low to achieve ideal moulding or oedema control. A pneumatic bandage achieved a relatively narrow range of pressures between capillary and arteriolar blood pressures. It minimized tourniquet effects and differences between skilled and unskilled bandagers. It is sufficiently promising to merit development.