The objective of the present study was to investigate the variations of the mineral composition in plasma and milk of sows fed placenta and on growth of piglets. First experiment (Exp.1) was designed with experiment (Ex : with placenta) and control (Ct : without placenta) depending on feeding placenta or not. Second experiment (Exp.2) was designed with conditions (fresh : Fp or cooked : Cp) and weights (900g : W9 or 1800g : W18) of placenta according to 2×2 factorial design. In plasma, calcium content on Day 1 (D01) and Day 5 (D05) in Exp.1 were higher (P<0.05) in Ex than in Ct. In milk, magnesium content on Day 15 (D15) and potassium content on D01 and D05 in Exp.1 was greater (P<0.05) in Ex than in Ct. In plasma, calcium content in Exp.2 was greater in Fp than in Cp on D01 (P<0.05). In milk, calcium content was greater (P<0.05) in Fp than in Cp on D03, D16 and D20 in Exp.2. Daily gain of piglets on DG05 (The difference between body weights on D05 and on D01), DG20 (The difference between D20 and D15) and total daily gain (TDG, the difference between D20 and D01) in Exp.1 was higher (P<0.01) in Ex than in Ct. Daily gain was greater (P<0.01) in Fp than in Cp on DG03 (The difference between D03 and D01), DG08 (The difference between D08 and D03) and DG12 (The difference between D12 and D08) in Exp.2. The results indicate that fresh placenta when supplied as feed affected the mineral compositions of plasma and milk in sows and daily gain of piglets.

View full abstract

A total of 347 Holstein lactating cows were used to measure belly and udder surface temperature in Hokkaido and Taiwan. Neck and backside surface temperature were also measured in Hokkaido. Air temperature in the barns ranged between 9.2 and 32.7℃, and relative humidity ranged between 35.0 and 89.0%. Surface temperature was measured with a two-dimensional radiant thermometer. This thermometer can measure surface temperature at 64 spots on a digital photograph at one snapshot measurement. In Hokkaido, average mean surface temperature at udder, backside, belly and neck was higher in this order and values were between 29.7 and 31.6℃. Average highest temperature was higher at udder and backside area than those at belly and neck area, however average lowest temperature was higher at belly and neck than those at udder and backside. Consequently, the difference between highest and lowest temperature was small at belly and neck area and large at udder and backside area. In Taiwan, average mean, highest and lowest surface temperature at udder and belly areas were several degrees higher than those at corresponding surface areas in Hokkaido. This might reflect higher ambient temperature in Taiwan. Average mean, highest and lowest surface temperature were higher at udder area than those at belly area. The plotted data against air temperature in the barns showed that average surface temperature at udder and belly decreased as the air temperature decreased below 25℃ but not in the higher air temperature than 25℃. The decreasing rate of average highest temperature at udder in the air temperature below 25℃ was relatively small, and that of average lowest temperature at udder was high. The difference between highest and lowest udder surface temperature enlarged with decreasing air temperature. The decreasing rates of average highest and lowest belly surface temperature were similar, and the difference between them did not enlarged with decreasing air temperature.

View full abstract

Temperament decision of Thoroughbred yearling colt and filly will be available for selection of their raising and training formulae and for accident prevention in men and horses. It will be also effective for elevation of animal welfare. For equine temperament decision, two methods are used. One isabehaviour/physiology observation and another is a questionnaire survey. However, the relations between these methods are not clear. In this study, 15 yearling colts and fillies were used in a novelty object test and a questionnaire survey to raising managers. The relation between the novelty object test and the questionnaire survey was also analyzed. In the novelty object test, reactions of the animals were observed when they saw a red basket ball on a poly-bucket of 20L. In the novelty object test, 5 continuous behaviors and 6 frequency behaviors were recorded. In the questionnaire survey, 9 characters and 26 daily behaviors were asked. In the novelty object test, horses spent 158.3 sec (26.6% of the ten minutes observation period) in "alerting". In addition, "vocalization" that was thought to relate the alert was observed frequently. In the principal component analysis of the questionnaire survey, three components of "friendly pursuit", "susceptibility" and "obedience" were extracted. These components occupied 81.1% of the all factors. In the questionnaire survey, "curiosity", "familiarity", "excitability" and "attachability" reflected on the daily behavior of animals. A significant minus correlation (r=-0.67, P<0.05) was calculated between "touch the novelty" in the novelty test and "nervous" in the questionnaire survey. The tendency was observed that a yearling estimated "attachable" and "understanding" in the survey showed more "non-pursuit movements" and "kick the earth floor" in the novelty object test. Some certain relations between behaviors in the novelty object test and characters in the questionnaire survey were indicated. Temperaments of Thoroughbred yearling colt and filly were possible to estimate partly by the novelty object test used here.

View full abstract

This study examined blood progesterone levels in goats in an attempt to predict the timing of birth and to diagnose pregnancy. For this investigation we used the EIA method, which is simpler and takes less time to obtain a result than the RIA method. A commercially available EIA kit was used (Obcheck EIA kit for cow and horse use). The values obtained by EIA method showed a significant correlation with those obtained by the RIA method (n=18, r=0.903, P<0.01), allowing an accurate estimate of plasma progesterone levels in goats. From the subsequent results we were able to use the EIA method to determine progesterone levels in goats. In our attempts to predict the timing of birth, a significant positive correlation was established between the period of time from blood sampling to expulsion, and the level of progesterone (n=29, r=0.739, P<0.01). In terms of the level of progesterone, 92% of goats with a progesterone level of under 9.5ng/ml at 2 pm, subsequently went on to give birth within 22 hours. This evidence clearly shows the accuracy and effectiveness of predicting the timing of birth using the level of progesterone in goat. In testing the diagnosis of pregnancy, we measured the level of progesterone in 33 goats between the 20th and 90th day of pregnancy whose where pregnancy was confirmed by ultrasonograph. All of the pregnant goats had a progesterone level of over 7.6ng/ml. This led us to the conclusion that a progesterone level of over 7.5ng/ml can be used as a criterion for determining pregnancy in goats. It should be noted, however, goats found with a progesterone level between 6 and 7ng/ml at the time of investigation should be retested approximately 10 days after the initial examination to confirm pregnancy because some error of measurement may be observed.

View full abstract

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of placenta as feed on protein and glucose in milk of sows and on growth of piglets. The experimental animals used were total of 40 sows and 413 piglets. First experiment (Exp.1) was designed with experiment (Ex : with placenta) and control (Ct : without placenta) depending on feeding placenta or not. Second experiment (Exp.2) was designed with conditions (fresh : Fp or cooked : Cp) and weights (900g : W9 or 1800g : W18) of placenta according to 2×2 factorial design. Glucose content in milk in Exp.1 was higher (P<0.05) in Ex than in Ct on Day 1 (D01) and Day 5 (D05). Glucose content in milk in Exp.2 was greater (P<0.01) in Fp than in Cp on D01 and Day 3 (D03). It was not different (P>0.05) by weights over the days. Protein content in milk in Exp.1 was higher (P<0.05) in Ex than in Ct on D01. Protein content in milk in Exp.2 was greater (P<0.01) in Fp than in Cp on D01. It was not different (P>0.05) by weights over the days. In Exp.1, daily gain (DG) of piglets on DG05, DG20 and total daily gain (TDG) was higher (P<0.01) in Ex than in Ct. In Exp.2, DG of piglets was greater (P<0.01) in Fp than in Cp from DG03 to DG12 and TDG. DG and TDG of piglets were not affected (P>0.05) by weights over the days. These results indicate that DG of piglets was improved because the glucose and protein content in milk increased after fresh placenta supplied as feed to sows.

View full abstract