Efficacy of monensin for the prevention of subclinical ketosis in lactating dairy cows

A total of 1010 dry cows and pregnant heifers was randomly selected from 25 dairy farms near Guelph, Ontario, Canada to receive either a controlled-release capsule of monensin or a placebo at 3 wk prior to expected calving. Serum samples were obtained at the time of treatment administration, and both serum and milk samples were collected at wk 1, 2, 3, 6, and 9 postcalving. The threshold used to define subclinical ketosis was selected a priori at a concentration of > or = 1200 mumol/L of beta-hydroxybutyrate. Using this threshold, the prevalence and incidence of subclinical ketosis were significantly reduced (50%) by monensin treatment. The duration of subclinical ketosis for cows that had been treated with monensin was also shorter than that for cows treated with the placebo. Monensin treatment significantly reduced the incidence of subclinical ketosis when the threshold was defined using higher concentrations of serum beta-hydroxybutyrate (1400 and 2000 mumol/L). In addition, monensin significantly reduced the prevalence of positive milk ketone tests.     

High-Temperature Decomposition of Fe- and Cr-Doped NiO Produced by a Novel Flame Spray Technique

A novel thick film technology has been developed for the manufacture of electric heating elements from partially oxidised Ni–Cr–Fe alloy powder. The sprayed films were a mixture of metallic alloys and Ni-based oxides. Electron microscopy and analysis were used to monitor the transformations in the films during subsequent heat treatment. In particular, it was found that homogeneous grains of Cr- and Fe-doped Ni-based oxides transformed into NiO grains containing numerous Ni-, Cr- and Fe-rich spinel particles with a typical size of 40 nm.     

Japan's new basic energy plan

In June 2010, the Japanese cabinet adopted a new Basic Energy Plan (BEP). This was the third such plan that the government has approved since the passage of the Basic Act on Energy Policy in 2002, and it represents the most significant statement of Japanese energy policy in more than four years, since the publication of the New National Energy Strategy (NNES) in 2006. Perhaps more than its predecessors, moreover, the new plan establishes a number of ambitious targets as well as more detailed measures for achieving those targets. Among the targets are a doubling of Japan's “energy independence ratio,” a doubling of the percentage of electricity generated by renewable sources and nuclear power, and a 30 percent reduction in energy-related CO₂ emissions, all by 2030. This paper explains the origins of the 2010 BEP and why it was adopted. It then describes the content of the plan and how it differs from the NNES. A third section analyzes the appropriateness of the new goals and targets contained in the BEP and their feasibility, finding that achievement of many of the targets was likely to be quite challenging even before the March 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis.     

LANASOL(R)染料比媒介染料更适用于羊毛染色

欧洲化学品管理局(ECHA)现已将重铬酸盐列入了高关注物质(SVHC)的名单.用含有重铬酸钾和重铬酸钠等的媒介染料染制羊毛的工厂正面临着越来越大的压力.这意味着采用这种技术的染厂未来可能要得到特别授权才能使用这种化学品.     

The effect of prepartum injection of vitamin E on health in transition dairy cows

The objective of this study was to investigate parenteral vitamin E for the prevention of peripartum disease in dairy cows. A randomized clinical trial was conducted in 21 commercial dairy herds. Cows (n = 1142) were randomly assigned to receive either a single subcutaneous injection of 3000 IU of vitamin E, or placebo, 1 wk before expected calving. Serum alpha-tocopherol was significantly increased in treated cows at 7 and 14 d, but not at 21 d after injection. Overall, there were no significant differences between treatment groups in the incidence of retained placenta, clinical mastitis, metritis, endometritis, ketosis, displaced abomasum, or lameness. However, there was a conditional benefit of treatment for reduction of the incidence of retained placenta. Cows with marginal pretreatment vitamin E status (serum alpha-tocopherol to cholesterol mass ratio < 2.5 x 10(-3)) that received an injection of vitamin E tended to have reduced risk of retained placenta. However, in cows with adequate serum vitamin E, there was no reduction in the incidence of any disease. For clinical application, primiparous animals were most likely to benefit from prepartum injection of vitamin E.     

Partnering Mechanism in Construction: An Empirical Study on the Chinese Construction Industry

Partnering and its principles have increasingly been introduced to the construction industry to improve the efficiency of project delivery. However, little research outlines the mechanism behind its application. This paper presents the findings of a study that was conducted to develop and test a partnering model that reveals the relationships between the critical success factors (CSFs) of partnering and demonstrates their importance to construction. With support of data collected from the Chinese construction industry, this study has revealed strong correlations among partnering CSFs, risk management, total quality management (TQM), use of incentives, and project performance. It is concluded that project success is the outcome of the interaction between a variety of techniques, and that partnering, associated with incentives, is a basic management method through which risk management and TQM can be strongly improved.     

Effect of a prepartum administration of monensin in a controlled-release capsule on apparent digestibilities and nitrogen utilization in transition dairy cows

The influence of a monensin controlled-release capsule, which was administered 3 wk before the calving date, on diet digestibility and nitrogen utilization was investigated in 16 multiparous dairy cows between approximately 10 and 3 d precalving and 3 and 9 d postcalving. Monensin decreased rumen ammonia from 5.4 to 3.2 mg dl(-1) precalving and from 6.0 to 4.9 mg dl(-1) postcalving. Blood urea concentrations were increased by monensin from 4.93 to 5.28 mM precalving and from 5.27 to 5.81 mM postcalving, but these increases were not statistically significant. Precalving, monensin increased the apparent digestibilities of neutral detergent fiber from 52.8 to 62.1%, of acid detergent fiber from 50.7 to 58.7%, and of gross energy from 60.5 to 66.7%. Postcalving, monensin increased the apparent nitrogen digestibility from 63.7 to 71.5%, which resulted in an improvement in the nitrogen balance from -77.8 to -44.9 g d(-1). The monensin controlled-release capsule contributed to increasing the availability of dietary nitrogen to the transition dairy cow during the critical postcalving period.     

Short communication: Effects of subacute ruminal acidosis on free-choice intake of sodium bicarbonate in lactating dairy cows

The effect of inducing subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) on the free-choice intake of sodium bicarbonate (SB) was investigated in four midlactation Holstein cows in a switchover experiment with four 1-wk periods. The SARA was induced by replacing 25% of the ad libitum intake of total mixed ration (TMR) with pellets containing 50% ground wheat and 50% ground barley and restricting access to TMR from 0700 to 1700 h. Control consisted of feeding TMR ad libitum. Powdered SB was provided for ad libitum consumption. Rumen pH was measured continuously using indwelling pH probes. Induction of SARA reduced (P < 0.05) the average daily rumen pH from 6.08 to 5.87, increased (P < 0.05) the average duration of rumen pH below 6 from 547 min x d(-1) to 916 min x d(-1), and increased (P < 0.05) the average duration of rumen pH below 5.6 from 132 min x d(-1) to 397 min x d(-1) (P < 0.05) but did not significantly affect SB intake. Average intake of SB was 26.8 g x d(-1) during SARA and 34.5 g x d(-1) during control. These low SB intakes must not have substantially affected rumen pH. Sodium bicarbonate intake differed significantly (P < 0.05) between cows. These data indicate that cows did not select SB in order to attenuate SARA.     

Efficacy of intramammary tilmicosin and risk factors for cure of Staphylococcus aureus infection in the dry period

The objective ofthis study was to evaluate the efficacy of intramammary tilmicosin, administered at drying-off, for eliminating Staphylococcus aureus infection, and to identify risk factors for S. aureus cure during the dry period. A total of 219 naturally infected cows, representing 308 quarters, were randomized to receive either one of two treatments at drying-off. Cows received either an intramammary infusion of 500 mg of benzathine cloxacillin, or a sterile solution containing 1,500 mg of tilmicosin. All cows had quarter milk samples taken aseptically three times before dry-off, and at wk 1, 2, and 4 of the subsequent lactation. Overall, 62% of cows and 67.5% of quarters infected with S. aureus cured during the dry period. The cure following administraton of tilmicosin was 67.3 and 72.5% for cows and quarters, respectively. By comparison, the cure achieved with cloxacillin was 56.9 and 62.9% of cows and quarters. Cows receiving tilmicosin were 2.1 times more likely to cure. The cure rate for cows decreased as the linear score on the last DHI test increased, and as the amount of S. aureus being shed increased. Quarters that cultured positive multiple times before drying-off were less likely to cure. Staphylococcus aureus infections located in front quarters of the udder were 2 times more likely to cure than those in hind quarters. Results of this study demonstrate that intramammary tilmicosin at drying-off is efficacious in curing existing S. aureus during the dry period. Risk factors associated with the cure of S. aureus were identified.