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This study determined the effects of three levels of supplemental yeast of Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii (SCB) on commercial male poult performance and ileum morphology. One hundred and sixty Nicholas poults were randomly assigned to 16 battery cages (10 poults per cage, 4 cages per diet) from 1 to 21 d of age (DOA). Poults were fed diets (26% CP) consisting of corn-soybean (CS, control), CS + .01% SCB, CS + .02% SCB, and CS + .06% SCB. At 21 DOA, 30 poults fed the CS and CS + .02% SCB diets (from 1 to 21 DOA) were randomly selected within each diet, placed in 1 of 6 cages (5 poults per cage, 3 cages per diet), and fed their respective diet to 35 DOA. Body weights and feed consumptions (FC) were measured at 21 and 35 DOA and morphological comparisons of ileal tissues were conducted at 35 DOA. Increased BW (P < .004) at 7, 14, and 21 DOA were observed for poults fed diets containing SCB at .01, .02, and .06% of the diet. No dietary differences (P > .05) were observed in FC or feed:gain ratios from 1 to 21 DOA. Increased (P < .03) BW were maintained from 21 to 35 DOA for poults fed .02% SCB, whereas no dietary differences (P > .05) in FC or feed:gain were observed. Histological examination of ileal sections from poults (35 DOA) fed the CS and CS + .02% SCB diets revealed a decrease (P < .04) in the number of goblet cells per millimeter of villus height and a decreased (P < .02) crypt depth in poults receiving .02% SCB. No dietary differences (P > .05) were observed for either villus height or width.

We describe the vasculature of the camelid testis using plastic casting. We also use color pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasonography to measure testicular blood flow and compare the differences between testicular blood flow in fertile and infertile camelids. The testicular artery originates from the ventral surface of the aorta, gives rise to an epididymal branch, and becomes very tortuous as it approaches the testis. Within the supratesticular arteries, peak systolic velocity (PSV) was higher in fertile males compared to infertile males (P = 0.0004). In addition, end diastolic velocity (EDV) within the supratesticular arteries was higher for fertile males when compared to infertile males (P = 0.0325). Within the marginal arteries, PSV was also higher in fertile males compared to infertile males (P = 0.0104). However, EDV within the marginal arteries was not significantly different between fertile and infertile males (P = 0.121). In addition, the resistance index was not significantly different between fertile and infertile males within the supratesticular (P = 0.486) and marginal arteries (P = 0.144). The significance of this research is that in addition to information obtained from a complete reproductive evaluation, a male camelid's fertility can be determined using testicular blood flow measured by Doppler ultrasonography.

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Summary. Mean ( \ m=+-\ s.d.) pregnancy length for the 14 llamas in this study was 350 \ m=+-\ 4\ m=. \ 5 days. Plasma progesterone concentrations increased by 5 days after mating and remained elevated (>2\m=.\0ng/ml) throughout most of pregnancy. At about 2 weeks before parturition, plasma progesterone concentrations began to decline, dropped markedly during the final 24 h before parturition, and returned to basal concentrations (<0\m=.\5ng/ml) by the day of parturition. The combined oestrone + oestradiol-17\g=b\ and oestradiol-17\g=b\ concentrations varied between 6 and 274 pg/ml and 4 and 114 pg/ml, respectively, during the first 9 months of pregnancy. Concentrations increased between 9 months after mating and the end of pregnancy with peak mean concentrations of 827 \ m=+-\ 58 (s.e.m.) pg oestrone + oestradiol-17\g=b\/ml(range: 64\p=n-\1658) and 196 \ m=+-\ 10 pg oestradiol-17\g=b\/ml(31\p=n-\294)during the last week of pregnancy. Concentrations then declined to 87 \ m=+-\14 pg oestrone + oestradiol-17\g=b\/ml(7\p=n-\488) and 25 \ m=+-\5 pg oestradiol17\g=b\/ml (2\m=.\5\p=n-\142)during the first week postpartum. Plasma cortisol concentrations varied between 2\m=.\6and 51\m=.\9 ng/ml (14\m=.\0 \ m=+-\ 0\m=.\5) from mating until 2 weeks before parturition when the concentrations began to decline. Only a slight increase in plasma cortisol concentrations was observed in association with parturition. Plasma triiodothyronine concentrations varied between 0\m=.\5and 4\m=.\5 ng/ml (1\m=.\9 \m=+-\ 0\m=.\1)throughout pregnancy and the periparturient period. Plasma thyroxine concentrations varied between 21\m=.\3and 91\m=.\5ng/ml (56\m=.\5\ m=+-\ 0\m=.\8) from mating until about 39 weeks of pregnancy when they began to decline, from 43\m=.\0 \ m=+-\ 5\m=.\3 ng/ml at 15 days pre partum to 23\m=.\5\m=+-\ 5\m=.\5 ng/ml immediately before parturition, but then increased to 52\m=.\8\ m=+-\ 3\m=.\9 ng/ml by 1 day post partum.