Estimation of genetic parameters for young stock survival in beef x dairy crossbred calves.

Young stock survival is a trait of crucial importance in cattle breeding as calf mortality leads to economic losses and represents an animal welfare issue. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters and sire breeding values for young stock survival in beef x dairy crossbred calves. Two traits were analysed with a univariate animal model: young stock survival between 1 to 30 days and 31 to 200 days after birth. Breed combinations with Belgian Blue sires outperformed all other sire breeds. The lowest survival rates were found for breed combinations with Jersey dams or Blonde d'Aquitaine sires. The results showed low but significant heritabilities (0.045 to 0.075) for both survival traits. Differences in breeding values between sires ranged from -2.5% to 3.5% and from -5.4% to 4.7% survival from 1 to 30 days and 31 to 200 days, respectively. Based on these findings, we concluded that it is feasible to breed for improved young stock survival in beef x dairy crossbred calves. This will hopefully contribute to increasing the survival rate of the calves and reduce economic losses for the farmers.

Differences between performance of F1 crossbreds and Holsteins at different production levels.

Crossbreeding in dairy cattle has recently become of increased interest. However, farmers in Scandinavian countries are reluctant to implement crossbreeding in their herds, and one reason is the common opinion that only herds at a poor level of management can benefit from crossbreeding. The Danish Cattle Database (SEGES, Aarhus, Denmark) provided data on 14 traits regarding milk yield, udder health, fertility traits, stillbirth, and survival. The data were collected from 103,307 pure Holstein cows and 14,832 F1 crosses (Holstein dam and Nordic Red sire). The cows were born between 2008 and 2014 and originated from 424 herds that contributed data from at least 5 purebreds and 5 crossbreds across the years. We split the animals into 3 production levels: high, average, and low according to the herd's average production (kg) of 305-d fat plus protein in the given birth year of the cow. We estimated least squares means of breed group (purebred and crossbred) performance within each production level. Crossbred performance in 305-d fat yield in first-parity cows was greater than that of Holstein across all herd production levels; the gain was greater in high- (9 kg more than Holstein) and average-producing herds (7 kg more than Holstein) than in low-producing herds (3 kg more than Holstein). Regardless of production level or parity, crossbreds did not outperform Holstein in terms of 305-d protein yield (0 to 8 kg less). Crossbreds had relatively better udder health than Holstein in both first and second parity (up to 15% less mastitis) within any of the production levels. In terms of fertility, stillbirth, and survival, crossbreds performed better than purebreds, and improved performance was independent of herd production level. We conclude that differences in performance between F1 crossbreds and Holstein are independent of production level.

Genetic parameters for handling and milking temperament in Danish first-parity Holstein cows.

The human-animal relationship in dairy cattle is reflected in the trait "temperament" in breeding programs and is mainly based on observations by farmers. However, farmers' knowledge of an individual cow's temperament decreases with an increased herd size, and this has been the case in many countries during the last decades. The aim of this study was to investigate if temperament recorded by classifiers and automatic milking systems is heritable, and estimate the genetic relationship with farmer-assessed temperament. Farmer-assessed temperament is defined as the overall assessment of the individual cows' temperament at milking and handling. Data on handling temperament were recorded by Danish classifiers from October 2016 to April 2017 on a 1 to 9 scale specially designed for this purpose. Data from automatic milking systems were recorded from January 2010 until April 2017, where connection time and number of attachments per teat were classified as milking temperament traits. Estimated heritabilities were relatively low for handling temperament (0.13) and farmer-assessed temperament (0.10). For milking temperament traits, connection time showed higher heritability than number of attachments per teat (0.36 and 0.26, respectively). The genetic correlation between farmer-assessed temperament and handling temperament was highly favorable (0.84). The genetic correlations between handling temperament and the 2 milking temperament traits, connection time and number of attachments per teat, were low (-0.02 and -0.10, respectively). Moderate genetic correlations were estimated between farmer-assessed temperament and connection time (-0.29) and between farmer-assessed temperament and number of attachments per teat (-0.37). The genetic correlations and heritabilities suggest a basis for further investigations of the possibility of including handling or milking temperament traits (or both) in the breeding program for temperament in dairy cattle.

Genetic parameters of rumination time and feed efficiency traits in primiparous Holstein cows under research and commercial conditions.

Feed efficiency has the potential to be improved both through feeding, management, and breeding. Including feed efficiency in a selection index is limited by the fact that dry matter intake (DMI) recording is only feasible under research facilities, resulting in small data sets and, consequently, uncertain genetic parameter estimates. As a result, the need to record DMI indicator traits on a larger scale exists. Rumination time (RT), which is already recorded in commercial dairy herds by a sensor-based system, has been suggested as a potential DMI indicator. However, RT can only be a DMI indicator if it is heritable, correlates with DMI, and if the genetic parameters of RT in commercial herd settings are similar to those in research facilities. Therefore, the objective of our study was to estimate genetic parameters for RT and the related traits of DMI in primiparous Holstein cows, and to compare genetic parameters of rumination data between a research herd and 72 commercial herds. The estimated heritability values were all moderate for DMI (0.32-0.49), residual feed intake (0.23-0.36), energy-corrected milk (ECM) yield (0.49-0.70), and RT (0.14-0.44) found in the research herd. The estimated heritability values for ECM were lower for the commercial herds (0.08-0.35) than that for the research herd. The estimated heritability values for RT were similar for the 2 herd types (0.28-0.32). For the research herd, we found negative individual level correlations between RT and DMI (-0.24 to -0.09) and between RT and RFI (-0.34 to -0.03), and we found both positive and negative correlations between RT and ECM (-0.08 to 0.09). For the commercial herds, genetic correlations between RT and ECM were both positive and negative (-0.27 to 0.10). In conclusion, RT was not found to be a suitable indicator trait for feed intake and only a weak indicator of feed efficiency.

Genetic structure of the European Charolais and Limousin cattle metapopulations using pedigree analyses.

Pedigree collected by the Interbeef service allowed genetic diversity to be assessed by using pedigree analyses for the European Charolais (CHA) and Limousin (LIM) cattle populations registered in national herdbooks in Denmark (DNK), France (FRA), Ireland (IRL), Sweden (SWE), and, solely for the LIM breed, the United Kingdom (UK). The CHA data set included 2,563,189 calves with weaning performance, of which 96.1% were recorded in FRA, 3.0% in SWE, 0.5% in IRL, and 0.4% in DNK. The LIM data set included 1,652,734 calves with weaning performance, of which 91.9% were recorded in FRA, 4.9% in UK, 1.8% in DNK, 0.9% SWE, and 0.5% in IRL. Pedigree files included 3,191,132 CHA and 2,409,659 LIM animals. Gene flows were rather limited between populations, except from FRA toward other countries. Pedigree completeness was good in all subpopulations for both breeds and allowed the pedigree to be traced back to the French population. A relatively high level of genetic diversity was assessed in each CHA and LIM subpopulation by estimating either effective population sizes (N(e) >244 and N(e) >345 in the CHA and LIM subpopulations, respectively), relationship coefficients within subpopulations (<1.3% in both breeds), or probability of gene origins. However, in each subpopulation, it was shown that founders and also ancestors had unbalanced genetic contributions, leading to a moderate but continuous reduction in genetic diversity. Analyses between populations suggested that all European CHA and LIM populations were differentiated very little. The Swedish CHA population was assessed as genetically more distant from the other CHA populations because of fewer gene flows from other countries and because of the use of North American sires to introgress the polled phenotype. In each European subpopulation, most of the main ancestors, which explained 50% of gene origin, were born in FRA. However, those main ancestors were different between countries. Moreover, in both breeds, the main ancestors, which explained 50% of the gene origin in DNK, IRL, SWE, and UK for the LIM breed, were found to be infrequently used in FRA. Those results were consistent with the low relationship coefficients estimated between subpopulations (<0.6% in both the CHA and LIM breeds). Therefore, in both breeds, each subpopulation may constitute a reservoir of genetic diversity for the other ones.

Tympanometric hysteresis effect and errors in middle ear pressure determination--a preliminary study in children with secretory otitis media.

Previous tympanometric studies on middle ear pressure (MEP) have revealed the hysteresis effect, which is illustrated in bidirectional tympanometries by the different peak pressures for either direction. This leads to an error in determination of MEP, which has been reported to be 10-25 daPa in normal ears, but experimental data have suggested that this error may be increased in ears with secretory otitis media (SOM). This was investigated in a group of 18 children with SOM by bidirectional tympanometries. The peak pressure difference (PPD) was calculated and found to be 75 daPa in the group of SOM, which was significantly larger than in normal ears (mean = 3 daPa) (p < 0.001). The maximum PPD in the SOM group was 205 daPa, indicating an error in MEP determination of more than 100 daPa. Hysteresis is related to the viscous properties of the middle ear system, and the increased hysteresis in SOM ears can be explained by the additional viscosity of the middle ear effusion. In order to improve the accuracy of MEP estimation it is suggested that in ears with SOM, the mean pressure of bidirectional tympanometries should be applied.

Admission to Danish hospitals after suspected ingestion of corrosives. A nationwide survey (1984-1988) comprising children aged 0-14 years.

A search was made in The National Board Hospital Register of all admissions to Danish hospitals caused by ingestion of corrosives or suspected ingestion of corrosives during 1984-1988 among children aged 0-14 years. Discharge information on each child was collected. The study comprised 224 children. Six children developed a stricture of the esophagus, and in 11 children, the epiglottis was affected. In nearly all cases, these serious complications were due to ingestion of lye or dishwash detergent. Among children without symptoms or signs at the initial examination, none developed a stricture of the esophagus or epiglottic oedema. We conclude that during a period of five years, serious etching after ingestion of corrosives was seen only after ingestion of lye (four cases), dishwash detergent (one case) and an unidentified caustic agent (one case). In all serious cases, symptoms or signs of etching of the skin, mouth or pharynx were observed at first examination.

Evaluation of amoxicillin clavulanate twice daily versus thrice daily in the treatment of otitis media in children. Danish-Swedish Study Group.

A total of 311 children who had recurrent otitis media or who had experienced failure of initial treatment of acute otitis media with phenoxymethylpenicillin, amoxicillin, ampicillin esters or cefaclor were entered into a single-blind study in two parallel groups in order to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of amoxicillin/clavulanate suspension given b.i.d. or t.i.d. for seven days. The patients were examined prior to the start of treatment, at an early follow-up visit 9 to 12 days after the start of treatment and at a late follow-up visit about three weeks later. Specimens for bacteriological culture were taken from the nasopharynx at entry, at the early follow-up visit, and at the late follow-up visit if there were symptoms of otitis. Both treatment groups showed a similar response, 90% or more of the patients being cured or showing improvement at the time of the early follow-up visit. The initial nasopharyngeal cultures showed growth of Haemophilus influenzae in 53% of the patients, Moraxella catarrhalis in 43% and Streptococcus pneumoniae in 39%. After treatment, cultures showed elimination of the initial pathogens in 30% of patients in both groups and recolonization in 23% in both groups. Haemophilus influenzae was the bacteria most frequently found in the nasopharynx at the first follow-up visit. Adverse effects, which consisted mostly of gastrointestinal and dermatological reactions, tended to be more common in the b.i.d. group but the difference was not statistically significant.

Osteochondroma of the cervical spine.

Osteochondromas of the cervical spine are rare. Two cases are described, both originating from the second cervical vertebra, one localized to the spine and the other to the anterior aspect of the body of the vertebra. The examinations carried out and the treatment are reported.

Late complications after irradiation treatment for cervical adenitis in childhood. A 60-year follow-up study.

Irradiation against benign cervical adenitis in children was formerly a widely used form of treatment which has caused a great number of late complications, mostly various benign and malignant tumours in the head and neck area, especially in the thyroid gland. In a follow-up study on 63 individuals irradiated at Karlstad Hospital between 1917 and 1929 we found, in addition to these changes, two hitherto not reported complications. Laryngeal stenoses occurred in 27 cases, 17 of which so severe that they eventually required permanent tracheostomies and 11 had fibrous strictures of the upper esophagus, repeated dilatations have been necessary in many of these cases. These complications were mostly seen in those who had been irradiated at an early age, the laryngeal stenoses appear to be caused by a general retardation or inhibition of the normal growth of the laryngeal cartilages resulting in a microlarynx. One possible explanation for these previously not reported sequelae might be the exceptionally high irradiation doses these persons were exposed to up to 60 years ago.

Attachment of Streptococcus pneumoniae to human pharyngeal epithelial cells in vitro--mechanism of binding.

To colonize mucosal surfaces and to invade underlying tissues, bacteria need to bind to components of the mucosa. Unattached bacteria are transported away from the surface with the fluid flow. By binding to the nasopharyngeal mucosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae causing otitis media may persist at the site of infection. High binding capacity of the bacterium and increased receptivity of the epithelial cells for attaching bacteria may both contribute to the susceptibility of patients prone to otitis. Thus, epithelial cells from children with frequent episodes of otitis bind attaching bacteria more readily than do cells from age-matched controls. The binding mechanism probably involves bacterial surface proteins and epithelial cell surface glycoconjugate receptors. Evidence is presented that phosphorylcholine, a component of the bacterial surface, as well as epithelial cell receptor analogues, that is, natural or synthetic saccharides analogous to the lactoneoseries of glycolipids, inhibits pneumococcal attachment. Inhibition of bacterial binding in vivo may be a new approach to prophylaxis against otitis media.

Methods for evaluating the taste of paediatric formulations in children: a comparison between the facial hedonic method and the patients' own spontaneous verbal judgement.

The aim of the study was to evaluate two essentially different methods of assessing differences in children's taste preferences with regard to five different paediatric penicillin formulations. The study was performed with a parallel group design comparing five groups. A taste evaluation was recorded in 103 children with upper respiratory tract infections after a single therapeutic test dose. First the patient's own spontaneous verbal judgement was recorded then a judgement was arrived at using a hedonic scale of facial expressions. Both judgements were passed immediately and also 3-4 minutes after the test dose. In the children who were 6 years of age or younger, a better discrimination of taste differences between formulations was achieved by using the patients' own spontaneous verbal judgements instead of the facial hedonic method. Both methods seem appropriate in older children, but the hedonic scale is preferable since its use implies a more standardised procedure.