The behaviour, growth rate, feed intake, health and slaughter quality of group-housed veal calves fed automatically with milk replacer were compared with those of veal calves kept in individual crates and bucket-fed the same milk replacer. The growth rate and feed intakes of the group-housed calves were lower than those of the calves in individual crates. Their feed conversion rates were similar and there were no significant differences in carcase conformation. The meat of the group-housed calves was paler in colour. The feeding behaviour of the group-housed calves was studied to see whether sick animals could be identified at an early stage but behaviour alone provided an inadequate detection system. Intensive health controls in one of the trials showed that infectious respiratory and digestive diseases may be a greater problem in group-housed veal calves than in veal calves kept in crates.

No abstract

Three young dogs with a history of apathy, anorexia and weight loss were presented with severe ascites. Abnormal laboratory findings include hypoalbuminaemia and increased activities of alkaline phosphatase, serum aspartate amino-transferase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase and gamma-glutamyl transferase. Ammonia tolerance was also abnormal. At autopsy ascites and peripheral portosystemic collaterals were found. The livers were abnormally small and firm and their surfaces were irregular. Histologically, there was marked periportal fibrosis, increased numbers of bile ductules and arteriolae in the portal areas and an absence of normal portal vein tributaries. No inflammatory changes were found. These lesions are discussed in relation to the various causes of hepatic fibrosis.

Background: The role of copper accumulation in the onset of hepatitis is still unclear. Therefore, we investigated a spontaneous disease model of primary copper-toxicosis in Doberman pinschers so to gain insights into the pathophysiology of copper toxicosis, namely on genes involved in copper metabolism and reactive oxygen species (ROS) defences.

Background: The availability of non-rodent animal models for human cirrhosis is limited. We investigated whether privately-owned dogs (Canis familiaris) are potential model animals for liver disease focusing on regenerative pathways. Several forms of canine hepatitis were examined: Acute Hepatitis (AH), Chronic Hepatitis (CH), Lobular Dissecting Hepatitis (LDH, a specific form of micronodulair cirrhosis), and Cirrhosis (CIRR). Canine cirrhotic samples were compared to human liver samples from cirrhotic stages of alcoholic liver disease (hALC) and chronic hepatitis C infection (hHC).