. 1997. The effect of conjugated linoleic acid on fat to lean repartitioning and feed conversion in pigs. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 77: 723-725. The repartioning effect of CLA was evaluated using 108 pigs (54 gilts and 54 barrows) fed from 61.5 to 106 kg liveweight. Pigs were fed a cereal-based basal diet containing either 2% CLA or 2% sunflower oil (a rich source of α-linoleic acid). Irrespective of gender, pigs fed CLA tended to have reduced feed intakes (-5.2%, P = 0.07), improved feed conversion efficiences (-5.9%, P = 0.06) and similar rates of gain relative to sunflower oil fed pigs. In addition, pigs fed CLA deposited less subcutaneous fat (-6.8%, P = 0.01) and gained more lean (+2.3%, P = 0.03) than pigs fed sunflower oil. These data suggest CLA can be used as a repartioning agent in pigs and that further research to optimize the repartitioning effect is warranted. , un meilleur indice de conversion (-5,9 %, P = 0,06) et un GMQ analogue à ceux recevant l'huile de tournesol. En outre, ces porcs déposaient 6,8 % moins de gras sous-cutané (P = 0,01) et produisaient 2,3 % plus de maigre (P = 0,03). Il ressort de ces résultats que ALC peut être utilisé comme répartiteur lipido-protéique chez les porcs, mais qu'il reste des recherches à faire pour optimiser ces effets de répartition.

Pigs were fed a commercial conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) mixture, prepared by alkali isomerization of sunflower oil, at 2% of the basal diet, from 61.5 to 106 kg live weight, and were compared to pigs fed the same basal diet with 2% added sunflower oil. The total lipids from liver, heart, inner back fat, and omental fat of pigs fed the CLA diet were analyzed for the incorporation of CLA isomers into all the tissue lipid classes. A total of 10 lipid classes were isolated by three-directional thin-layer chromatography and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) on long capillary columns and by silver-ion high-performance liquid chromatography (Ag+-HPLC); cholesterol was determined spectrophotometrically. Only trace amounts (<0.1%; by GC) of the 9,11-18:2 cis/trans and trans,trans isomers were observed in pigs fed the control diet. Ten and twelve CLA isomers in the diet and in pig tissue lipids were separated by GC and Ag+- HPLC, respectively. The relative concentration of all the CLA isomers in the different lipid classes ranged from 1 to 6% of the total fatty acids. The four major cis/trans isomers (18.9% 11 cis,13 trans-18:2; 26.3% 10 trans,12 cis-18:2; 20.4% 9 cis,11 trans-18:2; and 16.1% 8 trans, 10 cis-18:2) constituted 82% of the total CLA isomers in the dietary CLA mixture, and smaller amounts of the corresponding cis,cis (7.4%) and trans,trans (10.1%) isomers were present. The distribution of CLA isomers in inner back fat and in omental fat of the pigs was similar to that found in the diet. The liver triacylglycerols (TAG), free fatty acids (FFA), and cholesteryl esters showed a similar pattern to that found in the diet. The major liver phospholipids showed a marked increase of 9 cis,11 trans-18:2, ranging from 36 to 54%, compared to that present in the diet. However, liver diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG) showed a high incorporation of the 11 cis,13 trans-18:2 isomer (43%). All heart lipid classes, except TAG, showed a high content of 11 cis,13 trans-18:2, which was in marked contrast to results in the liver. The relative proportion of 11 cis,13 trans-18:2 ranged from 30% in the FFA to 77% in DPG. The second major isomer in all heart lipids was 9 cis,11 trans-18:2. In both liver and heart lipids the relative proportions of both 10 trans,12 cis-18:2 and 8 trans, 10 cis-18:2 were significantly lower compared to that found in the diet. The FFA in liver and heart showed the highest content of trans,trans isomers (31 to 36%) among all the lipid classes. The preferential accumulation of the 11 cis,13 trans-18:2 into cardiac lipids, and in particular the major phospholipid in the inner mitochondrial membrane, DPG, in both heart and liver, appears unique and may be of concern. The levels of 11 cis,13 trans-18:2 naturally found in foods have not been established.

Early detection and prediction of infection using infrared thermography. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 84: 73-80. Early detection and/or prediction of disease in an animal is the first step towards its successful treatment. The objective of this study was to investigate the capability of infrared thermography as a non-invasive, early detection method for identifying animals with a systemic infection. A viral infection model was adopted using 15 seronegative calves whose body weight averaged 172 kg. Ten of these calves were inoculated with Type 2 bovine viral diarrhoea virus (strain 24515) and five were separately housed and served as uninfected controls. A simultaneous comparison of infrared characteristics in both infected and control animals was conducted over approximately 15 d. In addition, measures of blood and saliva cortisol, immunoglobulin A, blood haptoglobin and clinical scores were obtained. Infrared temperatures, especially for facial scans, increased by 1.5°C to over 4°C (P < 0.01) several days to 1 wk before clinical scores or serum concentrations of acute phase protein indicated illness in the infected calves. The data suggest that infrared thermal measurements can be used in developing an early prediction index for infection in calves. Le dépistage ou la prévision rapide de la maladie chez un animal est la première étape vers la guérison. La présente étude devait vérifier l'utilité de la thermographie infrarouge comme méthode de dépistage précoce non invasive en vue de l'identification des animaux atteints d'une infection systémique. Pour cela, les auteurs ont recouru à un modèle d'infection virale constitué de 15 veaux séronégatifs de 172 kg en moyenne. Ils ont inoculé le virus de type 2 de la diarrhée des bovins (souche 24515) à dix veaux et gardé les cinq autres à part comme témoins. Ensuite, ils ont simultanément comparé les paramètres infrarouges des sujets infectés et sains pendant une quinzaine de jours. Parallèlement, ils ont dosé le cortisol dans le sang et la salive, l'immunoglobine A, l'haptoglobine sérique et noté les signes cliniques. La température infrarouge, de la face surtout, passe de 1,5°C à plus de 4°C (P < 0.01) plusieurs jours à une semaine avant qu'apparaissent les signes cliniques ou que les concentrations sériques attribuables à la phase aiguë de production des protéines virales n'indiquent l'existence de la maladie chez les veaux infectés. Les résultats donnent à penser qu'on pourrait se servir des relevés thermiques infrarouges pour mettre au point un indice de prévision rapide de l'infection chez les veaux.

The daily and within-day variation in udder temperature was monitored in dairy cows (n = 10) using infrared thermography (IRT). The initial assessment and prediction of udder surface temperature variation would hopefully form the basis for future development of an early detection method for mastitis. Our initial objective was to determine the magnitude and pattern of udder temperature variation. To accomplish this, we measured daily fluctuations in udder temperature and the influence of environmental factors upon these values in non-mastitic cows. Udder temperature rose significantly after an exercise period (P < 0.05). Withinday monitoring of udder temperature demonstrated there was a distinct circadian rhythm. Lag regression analysis showed that previous daily udder temperatures together with environmental temperature parameters could successfully predict current udder temperature with a high degree of accuracy. The variation between predicted and actual udder temperature was within the detectable range for an inflammatory response. Infrared thermography shows promise in its application if coupled with environmental temperature monitoring as an early detection method for mastitis.Key words: Thermography, dairy cattle, environment, temperature Berry, R. J., Kennedy, A. D., Scott, S. L., Kyle, B. L. et Schaefer, A. L. 2003. Détermination de la variation quotidienne de la température à la surface du pis des vaches laitières par thermographie infrarouge : utilité potentielle pour le dépistage de la mammite. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 83: 687-693. Les auteurs ont examiné la variation quotidienne et intra-quotidienne de la température du pis des vaches laitières (n = 10) par thermographie infrarouge (TI). En effet, une première évaluation et la prévision subséquente de la température à la surface du pis pourraient aboutir à l'élaboration d'une technique de dépistage précoce de la mammite. L'objectif initial consistait à établir l'ampleur d'une telle variation et ses particularités. Pour cela, les auteurs ont mesuré les fluctuations quotidiennes de la température du pis et l'influence de divers facteurs environnementaux chez des vaches ne souffrant pas de la mammite. La température du pis grimpe sensiblement (P < 0,05) après une période d'activité. Dans la journée, elle suit un rythme nettement circadien. L'analyse de régression avec retard indique qu'on pourrait utiliser la température du jour antérieur et les paramètres de la température ambiante pour prévoir la température courante avec une grande précision. L'écart entre la température prévue du pis et la température réelle est assez faible pour qu'on détecte une inflammation. La TI est une technique prometteuse pour le dépistage précoce de la mammite si on la combine à la surveillance des paramètres de la température ambiante.

The transport and handling procedures imposed on beef cattle during the normal course of marketing can be a significant stressor. Factors including time off feed, water deprivation, mixing and the resulting behavioral problems, transport movement, unfamiliar noise, inclement weather, and so forth are often present and collectively result in live weight and carcass losses as well as degraded meat quality. In addition, a growing public concern regarding animal welfare in such situations is evident. Understanding how cattle adapt to and are influenced by these factors is a necessary first step in being able to reduce these stresses and a major research effort globally has been directed toward this end. Studies at the Lacombe Research Center have focused on understanding the role of electrolytes in attenuating transport and handling stress. Apparent in this research has been the consistent observation that transport and handling reduce blood pH, glucose concentration, and interstitial water space (P < .05), and increases in serum chloride. hemoglobin, urine sodium, and urine osmolality (P < .05) are evident. These changes are also accompanied by significant increases in the neutrophile/lymphocyte ratio. The application of oral electrolyte therapy, especially if similar in constituents to interstitial fluid, seems to attenuate these physiological changes. Resulting improvements in both live and carcass weights (less shrink) of up to several percent in treated animals as well as a reduction in meat quality degradation (reduced dark cutting) is evident in such trials. These studies suggest that the use of electrolyte therapy may be an effective means of reducing stress in transported cattle.

This study examined the effects of a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent (NSAID) on physiological responses of calves immediately after hot-iron dehorning (DH) and during the time that local anesthetic (LA) wears off (2 to 3 h) after this procedure. Forty-six calves (33 +/- 0.3 d of age) were randomly assigned to 6 treatments: hot-iron DH versus sham DH with either no pain mitigation, LA alone, or LA with NSAID (i.v. Meloxicam). Eye temperature (measured using infrared thermography) was recorded every 5 min for 3 h after treatments. Heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) were recorded continuously; for analysis of HRV, short segments of 512 interbeat intervals were examined. After DH without LA or NSAID, HR increased by 35 +/- 3.0 beats/min in the first 5 min and remained elevated above baseline for 3 h. The HRV around the time of DH did not differ between treatments; however, the root mean square of successive differences decreased from 68 to 41 +/- 12.6 ms immediately following DH without pain relief, suggesting a decrease in vagal tone at this time. Between 2 and 3 h following DH with LA, there was a decrease in eye temperature (-0.6 +/- 0.1 degrees C), an increase in HR (8 +/- 3.0 beats per min) and changes in HRV. Changes in HRV at this time included a decreased high-frequency power and an increase in the low-frequency power and low-frequency/high-frequency ratio, indicating a change in sympatho-vagal balance. The changes in eye temperature, HR, and HRV between 2 and 3 h following DH with LA indicated the onset of pain coinciding with the time that the LA effects wear off. In addition, this study demonstrated that the combination of LA and NSAID mitigated the onset of pain responses when the LA wanes.

This investigation compared the validities of three widely used self-report depression measures: the Beck Depression Inventory, the MMPI Depression scale, and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. Each inventory was administered to 101 inpatient psychiatric ward patients and to 99 chemical dependency ward patients. The three scales were correlated with clinicians' global ratings of depression, with scores on five Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III; American Psychiatric Association, 1980)-based, factor-analytic depression scales, and with an overall depression score based on the DSM-III criteria. In general, the Zung produced better validity coefficients than the Beck, which in turn yielded higher correlations with our criteria than did the MMPI Depression scale.

The aims of this study were, first, to evaluate eye temperature (ET) with infrared thermography and heart rate (HR) to measure stress in horses during show jumping competitions and their relationship with competition results, and second, to evaluate the influence of different extrinsic and intrinsic factors of the horse on the stress measurements analysed. One hundred and seventy-three Spanish Sport Horses were analysed for ET and HR, and these measurements were taken 3 h before the competition, just after and 3 h after it. Two interval measurements were also assessed for each parameter. Positive significant correlations were found between ET and HR, measured before (r = 0.23), just after competition (r = 0.28) and for the later interval (r = 0.26), whereas negative correlations with competition results were found only for ET when measured just after competing (r =− 0.25). Two intrinsic factors (genetic line and age) and no extrinsic factors showed significant differences for ET, whereas one intrinsic factor (age) and two extrinsic factors (journey duration and number of training hours) showed significant differences for HR. The marginal means showed significantly higher ET values for the Anglo-Arab genetic line and for 5-year-old animals. HR values were significantly higher for 4-year-old animals, for horses which had travelled 4 to 6 h and for horses that had 3 to 6 h of daily training. This study suggests that, although ET and HR seemed to share a similar physiological basis, the factors that most influenced each parameter were different. Finally, ET seems to be a suitable tool for assessing stress during show jumping competitions in horses.