Wear of permanent incisors with age on commercial Australian Angora goat farms

OBJECTIVE

To quantify if, and to what extent, permanent incisor wear differed with age of goat and farm of origin on commercial Australian Angora goat farms.

DESIGN

Observations were made on three Angora goat farms in the wheat-sheep zone of Victoria, each managed according to the farmer's practices. Farmers provided a representative flock of does.

METHODS

The proportion and pattern of wear of permanent incisors were recorded and percentage wear calculated. After log(y + 10) transformation, a parsimonious general linear model was developed to relate wear to farm and age, with age considered as a continuous variate.

RESULTS

The range in wear of the permanent incisors was 0-100%. For each farm, the most parsimonious model for permanent first incisor wear and average wear of all permanent incisors was a separate straight line relating the transformed incisor wear to the age of doe. The models accounted for 66-73% of variance. On each farm the incisor wear was similar and low for ages up to approximately 4 years. On all farms, the amount of incisor wear increased dramatically with age, although the rate of increase differed with each farm.

CONCLUSIONS

Permanent incisor wear increased with age of goat and differed with farm of origin. Angora goat farmers need to be aware of the potential for incisor wear to affect doe production and health.

SWOG S0221: a phase III trial comparing chemotherapy schedules in high-risk early-stage breast cancer

PURPOSE

To determine the optimal dose and schedule of anthracycline and taxane administration as adjuvant therapy for early-stage breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A 2 × 2 factorial design was used to test two hypotheses: (1) that a novel continuous schedule of doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide was superior to six cycles of doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide once every 2 weeks and (2) that paclitaxel once per week was superior to six cycles of paclitaxel once every 2 weeks in patients with node-positive or high-risk node-negative early-stage breast cancer. With 3,250 patients, a disease-free survival (DFS) hazard ratio of 0.82 for each randomization could be detected with 90% power with two-sided α = .05. Overall survival (OS) was a secondary outcome.

RESULTS

Interim analyses crossed the futility boundaries for demonstrating superiority of both once-per-week regimens and once-every-2-weeks regimens. After a median follow-up of 6 years, a significant interaction developed between the two randomization factors (DFS P = .024; OS P = .010) in the 2,716 patients randomly assigned in the original design, which precluded interpretation of the two factors separately. Comparing all four arms showed a significant difference in OS (P = .040) but not in DFS (P = .11), with all treatments given once every 2 weeks associated with the highest OS. This difference in OS seemed confined to patients with hormone receptor-negative/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) -negative tumors (P = .067), with no differences seen with hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative (P = .90) or HER2-positive tumors (P = .40).

CONCLUSION

Patients achieved a similar DFS with any of these regimens. Subset analysis suggests the hypothesis that once-every-2-weeks dosing may be best for patients with hormone receptor-negative/HER2-negative tumors.

Eruption of first permanent incisors and live weight gain in grazing yearling Angora goats

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of the timing and duration of eruption of the first permanent incisors, live weight, sex and other factors on contemporaneous live weight gain in Angora goats.

DESIGN

Goats were previously part of a pen study on the effects of energy intake of Angora does during pregnancy and lactation on kid development. The design was 3 levels of nutrition in mid-pregnancy by 2 levels of postnatal nutrition in 17 randomised blocks.

METHODS

Artificial insemination, ultrasound examination and feeding does in pens enabled accurate conduct of the study. After weaning, goats were grazed in sex groups. Live weight change between 14 and 20 months of age was related to deciduous first incisor loss and permanent first incisor development and other attributes assessed before the study.

RESULTS

Live weight change was related to the elapsed time for first permanent incisors to commence eruption and to the length of time for first permanent incisors to erupt. This response was affected by sex. Over summer and autumn, entire males with short eruption intervals gained 2-3 kg more than entire males with long eruption intervals. Females that reached first permanent incisor eruption by mid-summer had a live weight gain of 3 kg more than those that reached the same development 3 months later.

CONCLUSIONS

Live weight change in yearling Angora goats was associated with the process of first permanent incisor eruption. In females, live weight gain was greater when first permanent incisor eruption was earlier. In males, live weight gain was greater when first permanent incisor eruption was faster.

Determinants of permanent first incisor eruption in grazing Australian Angora goats

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of live weight, sex and other factors on deciduous (first incisor) loss and permanent first incisor development in Angora goats.

DESIGN

Goats were part of a pen study on the effects of energy intake in Angora does during pregnancy and lactation on kid growth and development. The design was three levels of nutrition in mid-pregnancy × two levels of postnatal nutrition in 17 randomised blocks.

METHODS

Conception times were calculated by using artificial insemination, with ultrasound examination 43 days after insemination. Does were fed different amounts of a formulated diet in their pens. After weaning, goats were grazed in sex groups. Deciduous first incisor loss and permanent first incisor development were recorded at 11 time points from 14 to 20 months of age.

RESULTS

For each sex, the time for visible eruption and full development of permanent first incisor declined linearly with increased live weight by 5.9 and 5.4 days/kg live weight, respectively. The time to reach similar development stages for first permanent incisors eruption was 3 months longer for the lightest animals compared with the heaviest animals. Date of birth, birth weight, doe age, growth rates, mid-pregnancy and postnatal nutrition, parity, day of weaning and weaning weight had no detectable effect.

CONCLUSIONS

The results explain much of the substantial range in reported first permanent incisor eruption dates for small ruminants and have application in ageing of goats, marketing of kids for meat, in the selection of animals for breeding flocks and in educational material.

The use of higher dose clofarabine in adults with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The standard dose of clofarabine is 52 mg/m2 for pediatrics and 40 mg/m2 in adults. Clofarabine dosed at 52 mg/m2 was used in adult patients with refractory ALL to maximize response before allo-HSCT. All patients had a significant response to therapy. Published pharmacokinetic analysis revealed no difference in peak plasma or intracellular concentrations at clofarabine dosed above 40 mg/m2, yet inhibition of replication in leukemia cells was only sustained over 24 hr at 55 mg/m2. Despite this, there have been no reports of high dose clofarabine used in this setting. Our experience implies that there may be a niche role for clofarabine in reducing disease burden before allo-HSCT for adults with relapsed ALL.

Factors associated with low vitamin D status of Australian alpacas

OBJECTIVE

To investigate factors associated with low vitamin D status of alpacas at pasture in southern Australia.

DESIGN

A 2-year survey of alpacas from two farms in South Australia and three in Victoria. Blood samples were collected from 20 to 30 alpacas on each farm on five occasions each year. Breed, gender, age and fleece colour of animals were recorded.

METHOD

Blood samples were assayed for plasma 2.5-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH D(3)) and plasma inorganic phosphorus (Pi). Data sets from 802 animal samples were analysed by multiple regression to determine variables associated with low vitamin D status of alpacas. The relationship between plasma 25-OH D(3) and plasma Pi was also investigated.

RESULTS

Vitamin D status was significantly affected by month of sampling, with low values in late winter and high values in summer. Plasma vitamin D concentrations increased with age, were higher in alpacas with light fleeces than in those with dark fleeces and were also higher in the Suri than in the Huacaya breed. Plasma Pi concentrations were generally lower in alpacas with plasma 25-OH D(3) values < 25 nmol/L.

CONCLUSIONS

Young alpacas with dark fleeces are most at risk from vitamin D insufficiency in late winter in southern Australia. The present study indicates that plasma Pi values are not a reliable indicator of vitamin D status of alpacas as assessed by plasma 25-OH D(3) concentrations.

Relationship of body condition score, live weight, stocking rate and grazing system to the mortality of Angora goats from hypothermia and their use in the assessment of welfare risks

Body condition scoring is widely used for sheep and cattle but the practice is included in only one Code of Practice for the welfare of goats in Australia. There is no published scientific evidence to support or defend its use in the assessment of welfare risks to farmed goats.

PROCEDURE

The significance of stocking rate, grazing system, body condition score (CS) and live weight were investigated in explaining the risk of mortality of individual and flocks of grazing Angora goats from hypothermia following a severe weather event in April. This event occurred 5 weeks after shearing the goats. Angora goats and Saxon Merino sheep were grazed alone, or mixed together in equal numbers at each of three stocking rates.

RESULTS

There was no mortality amongst Angora goats provided they grazed at the lowest stocking rate even when their CS was < or = 2.0. Mortality in flocks of Angora goats was most related to the CS reached during the preceding 2 months. For flocks of Angora goats there was no mortality at CS > or = 2.5 and mortality increased sharply at mean CS < 2.0. For individual Angora goats, mortality increased as CS declined and stocking rate and grazing combinations were additive in effect on mortality. Grazing with sheep increased mortality of Angora goats at higher stocking rates. The individual goat mortality rate was not dependent on individual plot effects suggesting that these results are applicable widely. Live weight loss was not related to mortality rates of goats once CS had been accounted for.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that CS and stocking rate were highly significant determinants of welfare risk in Angora goats.

Cognitive-behavioral stress management intervention decreases the prevalence of depression and enhances benefit finding among women under treatment for early-stage breast cancer

The authors tested effects of a 10-week group cognitive-behavioral stress management intervention among 100 women newly treated for Stage 0-II breast cancer. The intervention reduced prevalence of moderate depression (which remained relatively stable in the control condition) but did not affect other measures of emotional distress. The intervention also increased participants' reports that having breast cancer had made positive contributions to their lives, and it increased generalized optimism. Both remained significantly elevated at a 3-month follow-up of the intervention. Further analysis revealed that the intervention had its greatest impact on these 2 variables among women who were lowest in optimism at baseline. Discussion centers on the importance of examining positive responses to traumatic events--growth, appreciation of life, shift in priorities, and positive affect-as well as negative responses.

Cognitive-behavioral stress management intervention decreases the prevalence of depression and enhances benefit finding among women under treatment for early-stage breast cancer

The authors tested effects of a 10-week group cognitive-behavioral stress management intervention among 100 women newly treated for Stage 0-II breast cancer. The intervention reduced prevalence of moderate depression (which remained relatively stable in the control condition) but did not affect other measures of emotional distress. The intervention also increased participants' reports that having breast cancer had made positive contributions to their lives, and it increased generalized optimism. Both remained significantly elevated at a 3-month follow-up of the intervention. Further analysis revealed that the intervention had its greatest impact on these 2 variables among women who were lowest in optimism at baseline. Discussion centers on the importance of examining positive responses to traumatic events--growth, appreciation of life, shift in priorities, and positive affect-as well as negative responses.

Cognitive-behavioral stress management reduces serum cortisol by enhancing benefit finding among women being treated for early stage breast cancer

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the effects of a cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) group intervention on serum cortisol levels in women being treated for stage I or II breast cancer.

METHODS

Participants were randomly assigned to undergo a 10-week intervention (N = 24) within 8 weeks after surgery or were placed on a waiting list (N = 10). Cortisol was assessed by means of a radioimmunoassay of blood samples collected at the same time of day just before the start of the intervention and immediately after its completion. The women also reported the degree to which breast cancer had made positive contributions to their lives.

RESULTS

Intervention participants showed increased benefit finding and reduced serum cortisol levels, whereas control subjects experienced neither change. Path analysis suggested that the effect of CBSM on cortisol was mediated by increases in benefit finding.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that positive growth enhanced during a time-limited intervention can influence physiological parameters such as cortisol among women with early stage breast cancer.

Intake of trichostrongylid larvae by goats and sheep grazing together

Cashmere goats and Merino sheep were grazed together at 7.5 animals per ha on annual rye grass and clover pasture in southern Victoria, a winter rainfall area. Intake of parasitic larvae was measured in oesophageal extrusa samples collected from 2 animals of each species, 4 times in one week, on 7 occasions between mid-March (autumn) and mid-June (winter). Pasture contamination with larvae was measured at the same times. The number of larvae per kg of green grass was lower than on green clover; the most heavily contaminated portion of the pasture was the mat of dead herbage on the ground. The diet selected by goats contained more green grass and dead herbage and less clover that that of sheep (P < 0.01). Goats ingested 643 infective trichostrongylid larvae per kg dry matter intake (DMI) versus 274 per kg DMI for sheep in autumn, increasing to 1892 versus 1143 in early winter. The heavier trichostrongylid burdens of goats compared with sheep, when grazed together, are due in part to greater rates of infection consequent on different grazing patterns as well as greater susceptibility to infection.

Influence of energy and polymer-encapsulated methionine supplements on mohair growth and fibre diameter of Angora goats fed at maintenance

We studied the fleece production of Angora wether goats provided with energy, to maintain liveweight, and polymer-encapsulated methionine while they were fed on poor quality roughage rations in early summer. Forty goats (mean fleece-free liveweight 28.5 kg) were randomly allotted to 5 treatments and housed individually for 12 weeks. The treatments were: control, fed to lose 5 kg liveweight; M, fed to maintain liveweight; and 3 maintenance rations with either 0.5, 1 or 2 g day-1 of polymer-encapsulated methionine. The basal ration was oaten chaff (56.8% digestible dry matter) and all maintenance- fed goats received a supplement of 150 g day- 1 gristed barley. Goats required an estimated 267 kJ ME kg-0.75 day-1 to maintain liveweight. Goats fed the control diet grew less mohair (P<0.05) with reduced mean fibre diameter (P< 0.05) than maintenance-fed goats (4.9 g day-1, 30.0 pm compared with 5.8 g day-1, 31.9 pm). For maintenance-fed animals, the addition of 1 g day- methionine (0.15% of dry matter intake) increased mohair growth by 0.8g day-1 (P<0.075). Feeding barley to prevent liveweight loss and feeding polymer-encapsulated methionine at maintenance is unlikely to result in economic responses in mohair production of goats grazing low quality summer pastures.

Effects of different nutritional regimens on the productivity of Australian cashmere goats and the partitioning of nutrients between cashmere and hair growth

The influence of energy or protein supplementation or energy restriction on cashmere growth was studied in 35 highly productive cashmere wether goats. The goats were shorn on 3 December and randomly allocated to 3 levels of energy intake: M, goats fed to maintain liveweight; 0.8M, goats fed to lose 5 kg liveweight from December to April and then fed ad libitum; and >M, goats fed to gain liveweight. Nested within >M were ADLIB (goats offered feed ad libitum), and 1.25M and l.5M (goats fed M plus 25 or 50% of the difference in mean intake between M and ADLIB). The metabolisable energy requirement to maintain liveweight was 250 kJ kg-0.75 day-1 but to maintain body condition (l.25M) it was 3 12 kJ kg-0.75 day-1. Goats fed 0.8M had a mean intake of 0.68M and lost 26 g day-1 liveweight until April, but when fed ad libitum consumed 2.15M in June and grew rapidly in late autumn and winter at 93 g day-1. Goats fed ADLIB consumed 2.30M in February and gained 87 g day-1 from December to February, but intake declined to 1.61 M in June and they gained 20 g day-1 from April to June. Cashmere growth and fibre diameters of fleeces shorn on 17 June of goats fed >M (221g, 17.69 pm) were significantly greater (P< 0.02) than those of goats fed 0.8M (146 g, 16.67 �m), with levels of M-fed goats being intermediate. Within >M, there were no significant differences in cashmere growth. Protein supplementation within M (27 or 54 g day -1 formaldehyde- treated casein) resulted in 40% more wool growth in sheep (P<0.001), but no increase in cashmere or hair growth in goats. Goats fed ADLIB had significantly reduced cashmere yields (P < 0.05) and grew more hair (P<0.05) than did goats in other treatments. About 4 weeks after energy supplementation, fibre diameter of previously energy-deprived goats increased (P< 0.01). Midside patches indicated that energy-deprived goats, which lost liveweight, diverted nutrients preferentially to cashmere growth, while goats fed ADLIB partitioned nutrients towards hair growth. To maximise cashmere growth, supplementary energy should be supplied to avoid liveweight loss from December to April. Goats that had small (1-2 kg) liveweight gains and maintained body condition achieved near maximal levels of cashmere growth.

Water intake of grazing Angora wether goats and Merino wether sheep

Water intakes of Angora wether goats and Merino wether sheep grazing annual pastures were measured in summer on dry pasture and in winter on green pasture. Animals were grazed at 7.5 and 12.5 animals ha-1 in 1984 and 7.5 and 10 animals ha-1 in 1985 on unshaded paddocks. Mean maximum temperatures were 25� in summer and 13�C in winter. In summer, animals at the lower stocking rates were heavier (sheep 40.8 kg fleece free liveweight (FFLW), goats 37.3 kg FFLW) and consumed more water than animals at the higher stocking rate (sheep 33.7 kg FFLW, goats 30.2 kg FFLW). Angora goats consumed significantly more water than Merino sheep, 1.87 v. 1.37 litre day-1. Daily water intake of Angora goats was 55.6 ml (kg FFLW)-1, 50% more than Merino sheep (P<0.005). Maximum water intakes on the hottest day (35�C, maximum) were twice the average recorded intake in both species. As a result of frequent drinking, goats formed tracks which radiated from the water trough. Daily water intake in winter was 0.1 litre or 2.5 ml (kg FFLW)-1 for goats and sheep. Water in oblong metal water troughs had higher temperatures but lower evaporative losses than water in larger circular concrete water troughs. It is concluded that Angora goats grazing dry pasture in summer require water supplies and their water consumption is greater than that of similar-sized sheep.

The food intake and growth of Australian feral cross Angora kids when fed whole grain barley-lupins diets with three levels of roughage intake

Kids six months old and of mean liveweight 22 kg were offered a basal ration of barley and lupins (crude protein 15 .4%) supplemented with three levels of chopped hay (0, 13% of total intake and ad libitum). Supplementation of the basal ration with 13% hay increased total dry matter intake from 479 to 753 g/d (P< 0.001) and liveweight gain from 10 to 54 g/d (P<0 .01). Non-significant increases in total food intake and liveweight gains were achieved by supplementing with ad libitum hay; kids fed ad libitum hay actually consumed 26.9% of their diet as hay. They were then offered various mixtures of barley, oats and lupins with 13% chopped hay at near ad libitum feeding. Differences in intake or growth were not significant at P= 0.05 with kids growing at 74, 65 and 101 g/d for those fed barley, oats and lupins respectively. Results indicate that highest food intake was obtained when 13% chopped hay was added to whole barley grain rations.

The influence of dietary protein and energy concentration on the growth of Merino weaner sheep

The influence of the dietary concentration of protein and energy on the growth of Merino wether weaners in pens, was studied in a factorial experiment. There were two digestible energy concentrations, (12.4 and 14.2 MJ DE kg-1 DM) x five protein concentrations (9-21% CP), three replicates (each of one animal). Diets were offered ad libitum, and nitrogen and energy retention were determined by the comparative slaughter technique. Initially, the mean weight of all treatment groups was 15.5 kg liveweight (12 weeks of age), and the experiment concluded 14 weeks later. Daily dry matter intake, liveweight gain, wool growth and total body nitrogen retention increased linearly as dietary crude protein concentration increased. Higher energy concentrations reduced dry matter intake and liveweight gain, and increased wool growth. Approximately 21 % of the digestible energy intake was retained. Regressions relating carcase and non-carcase composition to compartment weight, are presented. The fastest and most efficient gain in liveweight occurred with the ration containing 20% CP, at the lower energy concentration. It is suggested that for high levels of production with Merino weaners, rations should contain at least 18% CP.