Potential of in-plant intramuscular fat predictions to enable sheep breeders to incorporate consumer preferences in breeding programmes.

The inclusion of eating quality traits in sheep genetic improvement programmes is desirable. Intramuscular fat (IMF) plays a key role in ensuring consumer satisfaction when eating lamb, but genetic progress for IMF is constrained by a lack of routine data collection. This study investigated the potential for IMF predictor traits to substitute for measured IMF in genetic improvement programmes. Carcass and predicted IMF (near-infrared estimated IMF and marbling score) data were available on 10,113 New Zealand lambs, 1678 of which also had measured chemical IMF on a slice of M. longissimus lumborum on which the predictions of IMF had been made. Genetic antagonisms were observed between carcass lean traits and IMF. The genetic correlation between the predictors and measured IMF approached one, indicating that predictors of IMF can be used in genetic improvement programmes. Through using selection indexes, simultaneous increases in IMF and the existing terminal selection index are possible, provided all traits are measured. This study highlights the importance and potential of predicted IMF to achieve genetic improvement in traits of importance to consumers.

Can we have our steak and eat it: The impact of breeding for lowered environmental impact on yield and meat quality in sheep.

Global agreements in place to reduce methane emissions in livestock are a potential threat to food security. Successful but independent breeding strategies for improved production and lower methane are in place. The unanswered questions are whether these strategies can be combined and how they impact one another, physically and economically. The New Zealand economy is largely dependent on pastoral agriculture from grazing ruminants. The sheep industry produces ∼20 million lamb carcasses for export each year primarily from grass. Methane emitted from the fermentation of forage by grazing ruminants accounts for one-third of all New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions. Here, we use sheep selection lines bred for divergent methane production and large numbers of their relatives to determine the genetic and phenotypic correlations between enteric methane emissions, carcass yield, and meat quality. The primary objectives were to determine whether previously shown physiological differences between methane selection lines (differing by ∼12% in methane) result in a negative impact on meat production and quality by measuring close relatives. The results show no negative effects of breeding for lowered methane on meat and carcass quality. Gross methane emissions were highly correlated with liveweight and measures of carcass weight and negatively correlated with dressing-out percentage and fat yield (GR). Trends were similar but not significant for methane yield (g CH4/kg DMI). Preliminary evidence, to date, shows that breeding for low methane may result in animals with higher lean yields that are economically favorable even before carbon costs and environmental benefits are taken into account. These benefits were seen in animals measured for methane on fixed intakes and require validation on intakes that are allowed to vary.

ENSO feedback drives variations in dieback at a marginal mangrove site.

Ocean-atmosphere climatic interactions, such as those resulting from El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) are known to influence sea level, sea surface temperature, air temperature, and rainfall in the western Pacific region, through to the north-west Australian Ningaloo coast. Mangroves are ecologically important refuges for biodiversity and a rich store of blue carbon. Locations such as the study site (Mangrove Bay, a World Heritage Site within Ningaloo Marine Park and Cape Range National Park) are at the aridity range-limit which means trees are small in stature, forests small in area, and are potentially susceptible to climate variability such as ENSO that brings lower sea level and higher temperature. Here we explore the relationship between mangrove dieback, and canopy condition with climatic variables and the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)-a measure of ENSO intensity, through remote sensing classification of Landsat satellite missions across a 29 year period at a north-west Australian site. We find that the SOI, and seasonal mean minimum temperature are strongly correlated to mangrove green canopy (as indicator of live canopy) area. This understanding of climate variations and mangrove temporal heterogeneity (patterns of abundance and condition) highlights the sensitivity and dynamics of this mangrove forest and recommends further research in other arid and semi-arid tropical regions at mangrove range-limits to ascertain the extent of this relationship.

Heritability of ram mating success in multi-sire breeding situations.

Multi-sire mating of a mob of ewes is commonly used in commercial sheep production systems. However, ram mating success (defined as the number of lambs sired by an individual) can vary between rams in the mating group. If this trait was repeatable and heritable, selection of rams capable of siring larger numbers of lambs could reduce the number of rams required for mating and ultimately lead to increased genetic gain. However, genetic correlations with other productive traits, such as growth and female fertility, could influence the potential for ram mating success to be used as a selection trait. In order to investigate this trait, parentage records (including accuracy of sire assignment) from 15 commercial ram breeding flocks of various breeds were utilised to examine the repeatability and heritability of ram mating success in multi-sire mating groups. In addition, genetic and phenotypic correlations with growth and female fertility traits were estimated using ASReml. The final model used for the ram mating success traits included age of the ram and mating group as fixed effects. Older rams (3+years old) had 15% to 20% greater mating success than younger rams (1 or 2 years of age). Increasing the stringency of the criteria for inclusion of both an individual lamb, based on accuracy of sire assignment, or a whole mating group, based on how many lambs had an assigned sire, increased repeatability and heritability estimates of the ram mating success traits examined. With the most stringent criteria employed, where assignment of sire accuracy was >0.95 and the total number of lambs in the progeny group that failed to have a sire assigned was<0.05, repeatability and heritability for loge(number of lambs) was 0.40±0.09 and 0.26±0.12, respectively. For proportion of lambs sired, repeatability and heritability were both 0.30±0.09. The two ram mating traits (loge(nlamb) and proportion) were highly correlated, both phenotypically and genetically (0.88±0.01 and 0.94±0.06, respectively). Both phenotypic and genetic correlations between ram mating success and growth and other female fertility traits were low and non-significant. In conclusion, there is scope to select rams capable of producing high numbers of progeny and thus increase selection pressure on rams to increase genetic gain.

Sheep from low-methane-yield selection lines created on alfalfa pellets also have lower methane yield under pastoral farming conditions.

Selection lines of sheep with low and high CH yield (g/kg DMI; CH/DMI) are being developed on the basis of feeding pelleted alfalfa hay at 2.0 times maintenance ME requirements in respiration chambers, but their divergence under predominant grazing conditions, as in New Zealand, is not known. The objectives of this study were to determine CH emissions and rumen fermentation characteristics in sheep from low and high CH/DMI selection lines while grazing pasture. Two grazing experiments were conducted with 42 selection line ewes in March 2013 (Exp. 1) and 98 selection line progeny ewe hoggets in October/November 2014 (Exp. 2), with CH emissions estimated by the SF tracer technique and DMI estimated by titanium oxide in combination with natural long-chain -alkanes. Total daily CH production (g/d) was similar between high and low CH/DMI selection line sheep in Exp. 1 and lower for low CH/DMI progeny compared with high CH/DMI progeny in Exp. 2 ( < 0.05). The CH/DMI tended to be 20% lower for low CH/DMI line sheep compared with high CH/DMI selection line sheep in Exp. 1 ( < 0.10) and was 15% lower for the low CH/DMI line in Exp. 2 ( < 0.01). Total VFA concentration and concentrations (m) of acetate, butyrate, and isobutyrate plus isovalerate were lower ( < 0.05) for low CH/DMI line sheep compared with high CH/DMI selection line sheep in both experiments. The current study indicates that differences in CH/DMI and VFA concentrations in selection line sheep, previously established on alfalfa pellets, are also present to a similar magnitude when grazing pasture.

Optimising the use of otowicks in otitis externa.

OBJECTIVE: Otowicks are used to treat otitis externa with significant ear canal oedema. This study investigates how well drops penetrate through to reach the deep canal and whether it is safe to leave otowicks in the canal for more than 2 days. METHODS: Sterile otowicks were inserted into mock ear canals and vertically over pseudomonas-seeded agar plates whilst gentamicin or ciprofloxacin drops were administered. The time taken for drops to penetrate through the otowick was recorded. Separately, pseudomonas-seeded otowicks were treated with saline or antibacterial drops. The penetrating drops were observed for bacterial growth on sterile agar. RESULTS: It took six drops before penetration occurred for both antibiotics. When sterile saline drops were applied to bacterially contaminated otowicks, the penetrating drops displayed bacterial growth on agar, indicating that pseudomonas penetrated through the otowick. However, when antibiotic drops were applied, penetrating drops showed no bacterial growth on the corresponding agar plate. CONCLUSION: Bacteria can penetrate otowicks but this is prevented by continuous application of antibacterial ear drops. Ear wicks need priming with six drops before starting a regimen, so that the initial dose is fully absorbed.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: United Kingdom National Multidisciplinary Guidelines.

This is the official guideline endorsed by the specialty associations involved in the care of head and neck cancer patients in the UK. Although much commoner in the eastern hemisphere, with an age-standardised incidence rate of 0.39 per 100 000 population, cancers of the nasopharynx form one of the rarer subsites in the head and neck.1 This paper provides recommendations on the work up and management of nasopharyngeal cancer based on the existing evidence base for this condition. Recommendations • Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) should be assessed with rigid and fibre-optic nasendoscopy. (R) • Nasopharyngeal biopsies should be preferably carried out endoscopically. (R) • Multislice computed tomographic (CT) scan of head, neck and chest should be carried out in all patients and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) where appropriate to optimise staging. (R) • Radiotherapy (RT) is the mainstay for the radical treatment for NPC. (R) • Concurrent chemoradiotherapy offers significant improvement in overall survival in stage III and IV diseases. (R) • Surgery should only be used to obtain tissue for diagnosis and to deal with otitis media with effusion. (R) • Radiation therapy is the treatment of choice for stage I and II disease. (R) • Intensity modulated radiation therapy techniques should be employed. (R) • Concurrent chemotherapy with radiation therapy is the treatment of choice for stage III and IV disease. (R) • Patients with NPC should be followed-up and assessed with rigid and/or fibre-optic nasendoscopy. (G) • Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT), CT or MRI scan should be carried out at three months from completion of treatment to assess response. (R) • Multislice CT scan of head, neck and chest should be carried out in all patients and MRI scan whenever possible and specially in advanced cases with suspected recurrence. (R) • Surgery in form of nasopharyngectomy should be considered as a first line treatment of residual or recurrent disease at the primary site. (R) • Neck dissection remains the treatment of choice for residual or metastatic neck disease whenever possible. (R) • Re-irradiation should be considered as a second line of treatment in recurrent disease. (R).

Impact of mooring activities on carbon stocks in seagrass meadows.

Boating activities are one of the causes that threaten seagrass meadows and the ecosystem services they provide. Mechanical destruction of seagrass habitats may also trigger the erosion of sedimentary organic carbon (Corg) stocks, which may contribute to increasing atmospheric CO2. This study presents the first estimates of loss of Corg stocks in seagrass meadows due to mooring activities in Rottnest Island, Western Australia. Sediment cores were sampled from seagrass meadows and from bare but previously vegetated sediments underneath moorings. The Corg stores have been compromised by the mooring deployment from 1930s onwards, which involved both the erosion of existing sedimentary Corg stores and the lack of further accumulation of Corg. On average, undisturbed meadows had accumulated ~6.4 Kg Corg m(-2) in the upper 50 cm-thick deposits at a rate of 34 g Corg m(-2) yr(-1). The comparison of Corg stores between meadows and mooring scars allows us to estimate a loss of 4.8 kg Corg m(-2) in the 50 cm-thick deposits accumulated over ca. 200 yr as a result of mooring deployments. These results provide key data for the implementation of Corg storage credit offset policies to avoid the conversion of seagrass ecosystems and contribute to their preservation.

Does the continuation of warfarin change management outcomes in epistaxis patients?

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare management, readmission rates and length of in-patient stay amongst warfarinised and non-warfarinised patients to ascertain future treatment protocols. METHODS: A 12-month retrospective review was conducted of ENT epistaxis admissions. Admission details such as length of in-patient stay, clotting profile and management plan were recorded. Comparisons of management and outcome for warfarinised and non-warfarinised patients were made using the Fisher's exact paired t-test. RESULTS: Of 176 epistaxis patients admitted, 31 per cent were warfarinised, 18 per cent were on another form of anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy, and 51 per cent were not on any medication that might impose a bleeding risk. The international normalised ratio at admission was high in 13 per cent of warfarinised patients; the remaining patients had therapeutic or sub-therapeutic international normalised ratios and so warfarin was continued. The mean in-patient stay was similar for all cohorts; however, warfarinised patients had a higher readmission rate. CONCLUSION: Warfarinised epistaxis patients may be safely managed without stopping their anticoagulation therapy, provided their international normalised ratio is at therapeutic or sub-therapeutic levels. By continuing regular anticoagulation therapy, warfarinised patients may be discharged without delay.

Excess subcutaneous tissue may preclude intramuscular delivery when using adrenaline autoinjectors in patients with anaphylaxis.

Intramuscular adrenaline is the gold standard treatment for anaphylaxis. Intramuscular injection provides more rapid and higher plasma concentrations than subcutaneous routes. Given the increasing epidemic of obesity patients are at increased risk of subcutaneous delivery, we therefore assessed the depth of subcutaneous tissue in a population of patients with anaphylaxis. Patients already prescribed adrenaline autoinjectors (AAIs) for anaphylaxis were examined with ultrasound, and measurements of skin-to-muscle depth (STMD) at anterolateral thigh and anterior thigh were performed. Twenty-eight patients (23 female, 5 male) with an age range of 18-75 took part in the study, and in 68%, the STMD was greater than AAI needle length (15.02 mm), using the anterolateral thigh as the recommended administration site. The key predictors for increased STMD were female gender (P=0.0003) and a BMI > 30 (P=0.04). AAIs require longer needles to ensure intramuscular administration, and ultrasound at point of prescription would aid needle length selection.

On-site cytotechnician evaluation of the adequacy of fine needle aspiration in a neck lump clinic.

INTRODUCTION: The gold standard for assessing neck lumps is a one-stop clinic with an on-site cytopathologist who can provide an immediate fine needle aspiration (FNA) report. However, this has considerable resource implications and is not available in all units. In our department, surgeons perform FNAs guided by palpation. The FNA is evaluated for specimen adequacy by an on-site cytotechnician. This study evaluated the impact of the cytotechnician on the adequacy of neck lump FNA. METHODS: FNA performed between June 2010 and February 2012 was examined. The FNA performed at a neck lump clinic with an assessment of adequacy by an on-site cytotechnician were considered the test group. All other neck lump FNAs from other sources without an assessment of adequacy by an on-site cytotechnician were considered the control group. RESULTS: Of the FNAs, 134 met the inclusion criteria for this study. Of these, 87 FNAs (65%) were analysed for adequacy by the on-site cytotechnician and the remaining 47 (35%) were not. The results demonstrated an FNA inadequacy with and without on-site cytotechnician assessment of 29.9% and 40.4% respectively. This is equivalent to an absolute risk reduction of an inadequate FNA of 10.5%, which equates to a number needed to treat of 9.5, ie the cytotechnician needs to assess 9.5 (ie the cytotechnician [...] specimen). CONCLUSIONS: In neck lump clinics where on-site cytopathology is not available, an on-site cytotechnician is a compromise measure that does reduce the number of inadequate FNAs.

Finding the most effective cerumenolytic.

AIM: To conduct an in-vitro study to determine the most effective topical cerumenolytic. METHOD: Cerumen was collected from patients who attended the ENT out-patient clinic. The collected cerumen was formed into a homogeneous ball. Discs of wax were punched out and weighed to create samples of uniform shape and size. Each cerumen sample was placed in a tube which contained one of six test solutions. The tubes were observed at specific time points. Digital photographs were taken to record the degree of cerumen disintegration. The cerumen discs were then removed from the solutions, dried and re-weighed. RESULTS: Distilled water caused the greatest reduction in the mass of the cerumen disc. Cerumen placed in distilled water and in sodium bicarbonate solution showed substantial disintegration at 12 hours. Cerumen placed in solutions containing oil-based agents showed no visible sign of disintegration and no reduction in dried weight. CONCLUSION: Distilled water resulted in the greatest degree of cerumenolysis. Oil-based cerumenolytics were ineffective.

Heritability estimates of methane emissions from sheep.

The objective of this study was to determine the genetic parameters of methane (CH4) emissions and their genetic correlations with key production traits. The trial measured the CH4 emissions, at 5-min intervals, from 1225 sheep placed in respiration chambers for 2 days, with repeat measurements 2 weeks later for another 2 days. They were fed in the chambers, based on live weight, a pelleted lucerne ration at 2.0 times estimated maintenance requirements. Methane outputs were calculated for g CH4/day and g CH4/kg dry matter intake (DMI) for each of the 4 days. Single trait models were used to obtain estimates of heritability and repeatability. Heritability of g CH4/day was 0.29 ± 0.05, and for g CH4/kg DMI 0.13 ± 0.03. Repeatability between measurements 14 days apart were 0.55 ± 0.02 and 0.26 ± 0.02, for the two traits. The genetic and phenotypic correlations of CH4 outputs with various production traits (weaning weight, live weight at 8 months of age, dag score, muscle depth and fleece weight at 12 months of age) measured in the first year of life, were estimated using bivariate models. With the exception of fleece weight, correlations were weak and not significantly different from zero for the g CH4/kg DMI trait. For fleece weight the phenotypic and genetic correlation estimates were -0.08 ± 0.03 and -0.32 ± 0.11 suggesting a low economically favourable relationship. These results indicate that there is genetic variation between animals for CH4 emission traits even after adjustment for feed intake and that these traits are repeatable. Current work includes the establishment of selection lines from these animals to investigate the physiological, microbial and anatomical changes, coupled with investigations into shorter and alternative CH4 emission measurement and breeding value estimation techniques; including genomic selection.

Effects of quantitative trait loci and the myostatin locus on trace and macro elements (minerals) in bovine liver, muscle and kidney.

A quantitative trait locus (QTL) study of the concentrations of 14 trace and macro elements (minerals) in tissues of beef cattle was conducted in New Zealand. Back-cross calves with Jersey and Limousin ancestry (202 heifers and 211 steers) were generated using first-cross sires. This paper reports on testing for effects of QTL on the concentrations of minerals in liver, kidney and muscle in cattle at slaughter, following a growth phase during which rearing and finishing stages were on pasture. Fifteen QTL were identified (P < 0.05) on a genome-wide basis in combined-sire and within-sire analyses. In addition, the possible effect of the Limousin myostatin F94L allele was tested by fitting each calf's myostatin genotype, and 16 QTL were identified. Twelve were in common with those QTL identified previously, comprising six affecting the liver (copper and zinc, on two chromosomes each; plus iron and molybdenum), three affecting the kidney (calcium, copper and iron), and three affecting muscle (iron, strontium and zinc).

Sinusitis: a rare cause for galactorrhoea.

A 32-year-old woman presented to the endocrinology clinic with recent onset galactorrhoea. Investigations revealed raised prolactin levels. An MRI scan demonstrated a normal pituitary gland, and an incidental finding of sphenoid sinusitis with expansion of the sphenoid sinus was thought to be due to a mucocele. It is postulated that either the direct local pressure by the mucocele or localised inflammation secondary to sinusitis might cause hyperprolactinaemia. The patient underwent endoscopic surgery to drain the mucocele, after which her galactorrhoea resolved. A review of the literature reveals only one previously documented case of sinusitis causing hyperprolactinaemia and galactorrhoea.

Genetic mapping of quantitative trait loci for meat quality and muscle metabolic traits in cattle.

A whole-genome scan was carried out in New Zealand and Australia to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) for live animal and carcass composition traits and meat quality attributes in cattle. Backcross calves (385 heifers and 398 steers) were generated, with Jersey and Limousin backgrounds. The New Zealand cattle were reared and finished on pasture, whilst Australian cattle were reared on grass and finished on grain for at least 180 days. This paper reports on meat quality traits (tenderness measured as shear force at 4-5 ages on two muscles as well as associated traits of meat colour, pH and cooking loss) and a number of metabolic traits. For meat quality traits, 18 significant QTL (P < 0.05), located in nine linkage groups, were detected on a genome-wise basis, in combined-sire (seven QTL) or within-sire analyses (11 QTL). For metabolic traits, 11 significant QTL (P < 0.05), located in eight linkage groups, were detected on a genome-wise basis, in combined-sire (five QTL) or within-sire analyses (six QTL). BTA2 and BTA3 had QTL for both metabolic traits and meat quality traits. Six significant QTL for meat quality and metabolic traits were found at the proximal end of chromosome 2. BTA2 and BTA29 were the most common chromosomes harbouring QTL for meat quality traits; QTL for improved tenderness were associated with Limousin-derived and Jersey-derived alleles on these two chromosomes, respectively.

Responses of prolactin and hair growth to selection for age at puberty in Angus cattle.

A trial was carried out over a 7-year period (1999 to 2005 calf crops) to compare indicators of seasonality in Angus cattle, which were part of a long-term genetic selection experiment. Divergent selection was applied for early ('AGE-') or late ('AGE+') age at puberty (AP) in heifers, and selection lines differed over the 7-year period by 62 days (15% of the mean). The primary measures of seasonality studied in 629 heifer progeny (59 sire groups) were serum concentration of prolactin (PRL), and winter and summer hair growth. Serial samples were obtained for PRL from 11 to 18 months of age, and data were analysed with adjustment for cortisol concentration. Using restricted maximum likelihood procedures with an animal model, heritability estimates were: AP, 0.26 ± 0.03; log(e)PRL concentration, 0.23 ± 0.07; log(e)cortisol concentration, 0.22 ± 0.07; hair weight, 0.21 ± 0.04; and hair length, 0.09 ± 0.05. Corresponding repeatability estimates for the last four traits were 0.49 ± 0.03, 0.38 ± 0.03, 0.21 ± 0.04, and 0.64 ± 0.02, respectively. The genetic correlation between AP and log(e)PRL concentration was estimated at -0.29 ± 0.13 (P < 0.05). PRL concentration in the AGE- line after passing through puberty was 11 ± 5% lower than in the AGE+ line (P < 0.05). Line effects were not significant for hair weight or hair length. It was concluded that divergent selection for AP changed PRL concentration, which may partly reflect sensitivity to changing day length.

Quantitative trait loci for organ weights and adipose fat composition in Jersey and Limousin back-cross cattle finished on pasture or feedlot.

A QTL study of live animal and carcass traits in beef cattle was carried out in New Zealand and Australia. Back-cross calves (385 heifers and 398 steers) were generated, with Jersey and Limousin backgrounds. This paper reports on weights of eight organs (heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, spleen, gastro-intestinal tract, fat, and rumen contents) and 12 fat composition traits (fatty acid (FA) percentages, saturated and monounsaturated FA subtotals, and fat melting point). The New Zealand cattle were reared and finished on pasture, whilst Australian cattle were reared on grass and finished on grain for at least 180 days. For organ weights and fat composition traits, 10 and 12 significant QTL locations (P<0.05), respectively, were detected on a genome-wide basis, in combined-sire or within-sire analyses. Seven QTL significant for organ weights were found at the proximal end of chromosome 2. This chromosome carries a variant myostatin allele (F94L), segregating from the Limousin ancestry, and this is a positional candidate for the QTL. Ten significant QTL for fat composition were found on chromosomes 19 and 26. Fatty acid synthase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD1), respectively, are positional candidate genes for these QTL. Two FA QTL found to be common to sire groups in both populations were for percentages of C14:0 and C14:1 (relative to all FAs) on chromosome 26, near the SCD1 candidate gene.