Comparison of Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat Markers typing and IS1245 Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism fingerprinting of Mycobacterium avium subsp hominissuis from human and porcine origins

Peer reviewe

Physiological indicators of stress and meat and carcass characteristics in tail bitten slaughter pigs

Peer reviewe

GnRH-agonist deslorelin implant alters the progesterone release pattern during early pregnancy in gilts

Contents The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of progesterone (P) and luteinizing hormone (LH) during recognition and establishment of pregnancy in the gilt. Therefore, the effects of eliminating episodic LH pulses on P patterns were determined during early pregnancy. To this end, a slow-release GnRH implant deslorelin was used for GnRH down-regulation. A group of gilts (GnRHa, n = 8) was implanted with the GnRH-agonist on Day 11 of pregnancy, while a control group (C, n = 5) was treated with a non-impregnated placebo implant. Blood was collected via a vena cava caudalis catheter at 10-min intervals for 8 hr on Day 16 and 21 of pregnancy. As expected, the GnRH implant reduced LH secretion (p <0.01) and abolished LH pulses completely at Day 16 and Day 21 of pregnancy. On Day 16, there was no difference in P levels between the treatments. However, on Day 21, the GnRH-agonist treatment led to significantly increased P concentrations (p <0.01) compared with the control gilts. Progesterone was secreted in a pulsatile manner in both treatment groups and no relationship between LH pulsatility and P pulsatility was observed. In conclusion, abolishment of LH pulsatility did not affect the pulsatile pattern of P secretion but led to an unexpected overall increase in P on Day 21 of pregnancy; this effect was delayed and occurred 10 days after commencing treatment with the GnRH depot agonist. The elevation of P on Day 21 of pregnancy in the GnRHa group suggests either a reduced negative feedback effect or an increased autocrine response by the corpora lutea.Peer reviewe

Experience of moderate bedding affects behaviour of growing pigs

v2009o

Prevalence and risk factors for lameness in insulated free stall barns in Finland

Lameness is a painful condition that alters physiology and behavior of dairy cattle. The main objective of this study was to explore the prevalence of lameness in dairy cows, and its association with housing and herd management. Another aim was to identify poorly functioning structures and equipment that may contribute to increased lameness. Data on herd management, and barn design and functionality were collected in 87 herds, and the gait of 3459 cows was scored. Of the cows scored, 23% were lame (lameness scores 3–5; from slightly abnormal gait to severe lameness). The median within-herd lameness prevalence was 21%, ranging from 2 to 62%. The association between cow level lameness risk and cow specific risk factors was modeled with a logistic regression analysis. The odds ratio (OR) for lameness was for Holstein cows 1.6 (CI 1.3–1.9) times higher than for Ayrshire cows. Second and 3+parity cows were more likely to be lame than first lactation cows; OR 2.1 (CI 1.7–2.8) and 6.0 (CI 4.8–7.7), respectively. A herd level lameness prevalence estimate, accounting for the effects of cow’s breed and parity, was used as an outcome in modeling housing and management related risk factors. Lameness prevalence was lower in herds with a feed barrier divided to separate feeding places (0.17), compared to the ones with a post-and-rail (0.24). The lameness estimate was higher in herds with very slippery floors (0.31) than in herds with slightly slippery (0.16) or firm floors (0.16). The prevalence of lameness was associated with the width of a walking alley next to the feeding table, being 0.17 for herds that had alleys wider than 340 cm, and 0.23 for herds with an alley narrower than 320 cm. Lameness estimate (0.18) was lower if water was supplied from water cups only compared to water being supplied water from both cups and troughs (0.23). Most farmers had not adjusted neck and front rails properly in stalls, and had hard stall surfaces, compromising cow comfort. More than a half of the studied herds had problems with manure removal and urine drainage. Those findings suggest that there is a great need to educate dairy farmers and construction planners of the benefits and factors contributing to claw and leg health. Also, more emphasis should be placed to proper manure removal and urine drainage.201

Ovarian and uterine changes during the oestrous cycle in female dogs

Context An accurate staging of sexual cycle is essential for the optimum timing of medical interventions. Aims Here, an updated insight into clinical, endocrinological and vagino-cytological parameters, and their correlation with histomorphology of ovarian and uterine tissue samples is presented. Methods Samples from 39 dogs were collected at various stages of the oestrous cycle: pro-oestrus (n = 8), oestrus (n = 12), dioestrus (n = 9) (luteal phase) and anoestrus (n = 10), according to clinical observations. Final allocation of samples was done after histomorphological evaluation of all tissues. Peripheral oestradiol-17ß (E2) and progesterone (P4) concentrations were measured, P4 by both chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) and radioimmunoassay (RIA). Key results Differences were observed between determination of the stage of the oestrous cycle, either by clinical, endocrinological or histomorphological evaluation. Individuals considered to be in clinical and endocrinological oestrus, had entered the luteal phase according to histomorphology. P4 concentrations measured by two different assays differed, underlying the importance to understand that absolute P4 concentrations may deviate depending on the used assay. Comparison of E2 and P4 concentrations is suggested to be useful when defining the transition from early follicular phase to the time of ovulation. Conclusions and implications Based on parallel histomorphological observations, combined with clinical and endocrinological findings on the same individuals, the present study emphasises that an accurate classification of the stage of the cycle in female dogs based solely on clinical and endocrinological assessments can be difficult. The histomorphological findings presented herein provide new insights into the transitional phases between the different stages of the oestrous cycle in the dog

History of Finance Research and Education in Finland: The First Thirty Years

This paper reviews the first thirty years of finance research and education in Finland, starting with publication of the first dissertation in finance in 1977. That was also the year when the first department of finance was established in Finland - among the first in the Nordic countries. This review shows how Finnish financial education and research developed from a humble beginning to a level that brought international acclaim. This can be largely attributed to a number of talented and hard-working individuals but also to the decision for collaboration among the Finnish universities, as a means to overcome some of the problems of a small country