Gestational nutrient restriction under extensive grazing conditions: Effects on muscle characteristics and meat quality in heavy lambs.

We evaluated maternal undernutrition effects induced by a lower natural pasture allowance (gestation days 30-143) on histological-biochemical and meat traits in muscles Semitendinosus, cranial Gluteobiceps and Supraspinatus from 200-day old male and female lambs. Maternal undernutrition increased oxidative and reduced glycolytic fibers in all muscles (P ≤ 0.01). Maternal undernutrition reduced the diameter of glycolytic fibers in the cranial Gluteobiceps of exclusively female lambs (P = 0.05) and reduced the diameter of oxidative fibers in the Supraspinatus of exclusively male lambs (P = 0.02). Maternal undernutrition increased lipid content in the Supraspinatus of females (P = 0.001), reduced lactate content (P = 0.03) and WB shear force (P = 0.02) in the Semitendinosus of females, and increased cooking losses in the Semitendinosus of males (P = 0.0069). In conclusion, gestational nutrient restriction induced fetal programming effects on muscle characteristics of lambs. Moreover, our study demonstrates that maternal undernutrition influences muscle and meat characteristics in a sex and muscle-dependent way.

Growth, meat and feed efficiency traits of lambs born to ewes submitted to energy restriction during mid-gestation.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the energy restriction of gestation of adult ewes from day 45 to day 115 on lamb live performance parameters, carcass and meat traits. In experiment I, dietary energy was restricted at 70% of the metabolizable energy (ME) requirements, after which ewes were re-fed ad libitum until lambing. In experiment II, dietary energy was restricted at 60% of the ME requirements, and ewes were re-fed to ME requirements until lambing. All ewes grazed together from the end of the restriction periods to weaning. Lambs were weaned and lot fed until slaughter. Feed intake, weight gain and feed efficiency were recorded, and body fat thickness and ribeye area (REA) were measured in the longissimus thoracis muscle. After slaughter, carcass weight and yield, fat depth, carcass and leg length, and frenched rack and leg weights and yields were determined. Muscle fiber type composition, Warner-Bratzler shear force, pH and color were determined in the longissimus lumborum muscle. In experiment I, energy restriction followed by ad libitum feeding affected lamb birth weight (P0.05) were observed on later BW, REA, BF or carcass traits. Lambs born to non-restricted-fed ewes had higher (P<0.05) weight and yield of the frenched rack cut and their meat tended (P=0.11) to be tender compared with that of lambs from restricted ewes. The percentage of oxidative muscle fibers was lower for lambs born to non-restricted ewes (P<0.05); however, no effects of ewe treatment were observed on other muscle fiber types. For experiment II, energy restriction followed by ME requirements feeding, affected (P<0.01) pre-weaning live weight gain, weaning and final weights. Lambs from restricted ewes had higher (P<0.05) feed intake as % of leg weight and a trend to be less efficient (P=0.16) than lambs from unrestricted dams. Ribeye area and BF were not influenced by treatment. Treatment significantly affected slaughter weight, but had no effects on carcass yield and traits or on meat traits. The results obtained in both experiments indicate submitting ewes to energy restriction during gestation affects the performance of their progeny but the final outcome would depend on the ewe's re-feeding level during late gestation and the capacity of the offspring to compensate the in utero restriction after birth.

14 years of experience with the artificial urinary sphincter in children and adolescents without spina bifida.

PURPOSE: The efficacy of the artificial urinary sphincter to treat sphincteric incontinence in pediatric patients with spina bifida has been clearly reported. The possibility of maintaining spontaneous voiding has usually been the main reason for prosthetic device surgery. We reviewed our experience with the artificial urinary sphincter in patients without spina bifida who had had previous surgery of the bladder neck or proximal urethra. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1990 to 2004, 112 children and adolescents underwent implantation of an AMS 800 artificial urinary sphincter. Of the patients 19 males and 4 females (20.5%) between ages 4 and 17 years (mean 8.1) had no spina bifida. Instead there were bladder exstrophy in 12 patients, anorectal malformation with a rectourethral or vesical fistula in 7 and epispadias in 4. A bladder neck cuff between 5.5 and 7.5 cm, and a 61-70 balloon were used in all patients. RESULTS: Only 1 patient was lost to followup. In 22 patients (95.6%) mean followup was 80 months (range 4 to 155). Three sphincters in patients with exstrophy were removed because of erosion and/or infection 5, 49 and 60 months after initial surgery, respectively. A total of 19 sphincters remained in place (86.3% survival rate) with 5 revisions (26.3%) because of the pump (2), the cuff (2) or balloon fluid leakage. In this group 13 patients (68.4%) voided spontaneously and 6 (31.6%) performed clean intermittent catheterization, although 3 also voided spontaneously. Overall continence was good in 87% of patients because 2 were still incontinent at night. CONCLUSIONS: The artificial urinary sphincter is a good long-term solution to urinary incontinence secondary to sphincter incompetence despite multiple previous surgeries of the bladder neck or proximal urethra. Patients with bladder exstrophy and many previous bladder procedures are more exposed to complications such as erosion compared with patients with epispadias or anorectal malformation. The high percent of patients maintaining spontaneous voiding and the good rate of continence are the most important benefits of this type of surgical option for sphincter incompetence.