Sixty Duroc pigs, representing offspring of three lines from the fifth generation of divergent selection for leg weakness, were examined to determine correlated responses in joint angularity. The lines were low, control, and high, with the latter having superior front leg structure. At approximately 100 kg, 10 pigs of each sex and line were scored for front and rear leg structure and movement. The shoulder, elbow, carpal and hock joints were measured for resting angles and range of motion. The model to analyze the data included the effects of line, sire, sex and side and a covariable for weight. High-line pigs had significantly smaller (P < .05) resting angles of the elbow joint than did control-or low-line pigs. The low-line pigs, however, had significantly smaller resting angles at the carpal joint (P < .01) and greater resting angles at the hock joint (P < .05) than did control-or high-line pigs. The low-line pigs had fewer degrees extension at the elbow joint and fewer degrees flexion at the carpal joint than did control-or high-line pigs. High-line pigs had fewer degrees of flexion of the elbow joint than did control-or low-line pigs. Resting angles and range of motion for the elbow and carpal joints were less on the left side than on the right side. Males had greater degrees of extension and total degrees of movement at the elbow joint than did females. Selection for different degrees of leg weakness resulted in accompanying alterations in angularity of joints. ABSTRACTSixty Duroc pigs, representing offspring of three lines from the fifth generation of divergent selection for leg weakness, were examined to determine correlated responses in joint angularity. The lines were low, control, and high, with the latter having superior front leg structure. At approximately 100 kg, 10 pigs of each sex and line were scored for front and rear leg structure and movement. The shoulder, elbow, carpal and hock joints were measured for resting angles and range of motion. The model to analyze the data included the effects of line, sire, sex and side and a covariable for weight. High-line pigs had significantly smaller (P < .05) resting angles of the elbow joint than did control-or low-line pigs. The low-line pigs, however, had significantly smaller resting angles at the carpal joint (P < .01) and greater resting angles at the hock joint (P < .05) than did control-or high-line pigs. The low-line pigs had fewer degrees extension at the elbow joint and fewer degrees flexion at the carpal joint than did control-or high-line pigs. High-line pigs had fewer degrees of flexion of the elbow joint than did control-or low-line pigs. Resting angles and range of motion for the elbow and carpal joints were less on the left side than on the right side. Males had greater degrees of extension and total degrees of movement at the elbow joint than did females. Selection for different degrees of leg weakness resulted in accompanying alterations in angularity of joints.

Eight stress-susceptible and eight normal pigs were used in the first portion of the study. Urine samples were collected for 24 hr over 4 consecutive days while the pigs were kept in metabolism cages. Each 24-hr sample was assayed for epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine. Urinary levels of dopamine were lower (P < .01) in the stress-susceptible pigs. No significant differences in urinary epinephrine or norepinephrine were observed. The second portion of the study evaluated the catecholamines in the caudate nucleus of the brain. Six stress-susceptible and six control pigs were examined. Immediately after exsanguination, caudate nuclei were excised and frozen in liquid nitrogen. The caudate nuclei were assayed for catecholamines within 2 to 3 days of freezing. Caudate nuclei dopamine levels were lower (P < .01) in stress-susceptible pigs (5,961 ng/g) than in control pigs (10,878 ng/g). No significant differences in norepinephrine levels of the caudate nuclei were observed between the two groups.

The traditional veterinary curriculum has little room for business courses. Yet the success of many veterinary practice owners depends on their knowledge and application of fundamental business skills and principles. This article reports on a veterinary business systems curriculum that has been implemented at Iowa State University to address the business and life skills needs of veterinarians.

The dimensions and weights of front leg muscles, tendons, and bones were determined in 44 gilts that were offspring of three Duroc lines from a five-generation divergent-selection experiment on leg weakness. Lines were low, control, and high, with the low line having the greatest leg weakness and the high-line having the least leg weakness. At a slaughter weight of approximately 118 kg, the right front leg was removed from the carcasses of 14 low-, 16 control-, and 14 high-line gilts. Each intrinsic muscle was dissected from origin to insertion, removed from the leg, and measured for total length and weight. The skeleton of the front leg was disarticulated so that each bone was freed and thoroughly cleaned of muscle remnants and connective tissue. The shoulder and elbow joints were scored for the presence of osteochondral lesions. Each bone was weighed, and various dimensional traits were measured. The model used to analyze the data included the effects of line, sire within line, and weight as a covariate. The biceps brachii muscle weight and length were significantly greater in low-line pigs than in controlor high-line pigs (P < 0.05). Collectively, the forearm extensor weights were significantly greater in low-line pigs than in controlor high-line pigs (P < 0.05). The humeral and metacarpal bones were shorter in high-line pigs than in controlor low-line pigs (P < 0.05). The head of the humerus was wider and the angle of the head of the humerus was greater in high-line pigs than in controlor low-line pigs (P < 0.05). Divergent selection for differing degrees of leg soundness in Duroc swine appears to be associated with major differences in front-leg bone and muscle lengths and weights. pigs / leg weakness / bone / muscle / selection Résumé-Effets d'une sélection divergente pour la qualité des aplombs sur des caractéristiques osseuses et musculaires chez le porc Duroc. Les dimensions et poids des muscles, tendons et os du train antérieur ont été mesurés chez l!l, porcs descendant

The purpose of this research was to determine if chronic dietary L-DOPA supplementation will alter differentially the brain catechol concentrations, dopamine receptor binding (KD and Bmax) and the incidence of pale, soft and exudative (PSE) meat in stress-susceptible (SS) and stress-resistant (SR) pigs. Stress-susceptible and SR pigs were assigned randomly to these four groups: SS pigs as controls, SR pigs as controls, SS pigs with L-DOPA supplementation and SR pigs with L-DOPA supplementation. The experiment began when pigs weighed 23 kg and terminated when pigs weighed 95 kg. Anatomical brain structures removed at slaughter included hypothalamus, thalamus, cortex, cerebellum, olfactory bulb, caudate nucleus, putamen and substantia nigra. Concentrations of norepinephrine and dopamine were greater in the hypothalami of SS than of SR control pigs. The L-DOPA supplementation eliminated the strain differences of brain catecholamine concentrations. Pigs fed L-DOPA had greater concentrations of dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in six of the eight brain regions analyzed than the controls. Dopamine receptor binding (Bmax and KD) of spiroperidol was similar in all four groups of pigs. Pale, soft and exudative pork developed to the same extent in SS pigs with or without L-DOPA treatment. The results suggest that L-DOPA supplementation eliminates strain differences in brain catecholamine concentrations but does not alter PSE meat development or striatal dopamine receptor binding.