Kid Growth Comparison between Murciano-Granadina and Crossbred Murciano-Granadina×Boer in a Mixed Rearing System.

In dairy goats, the low average daily gain and the high conversion ratio for milk and concentrate of the kids mean that their sale price does not offset the costs generated. The hypothesis proposes that a crossbreeding of the Murciano-Granadina breed (MG) with the Boer breed (MG×Boer) will improve the profitability of the kids sold. Thus, the effect of two different groups of kids (purebred MG and crossbred MG×Boer) on birth weight (BW), mortality, average daily gain (ADG), the time for minimum slaughter weight (7 kg) and its variation factors were studied. MG×Boer kids had a 27% greater BW than purebred MG kids (2885 ± 84 g and 2275 ± 74 g, respectively), similar ADG (156 ± 6 g and 142 ± 6 g, respectively) and mortality (18% and 20%, respectively), and reached minimum slaughter weight a week sooner. ADG was less and less as the lactation period progressed due to a lower milk consumption and milk energy value, which highlights the importance of providing a concentrate that will compensate for this reduced energy content. In conclusion, the results show that MG×Boer crossbred kids reached the minimum slaughter weight a week earlier than purebred MG kids, and highlighted the improvement of farm profitability through the increase of milk sold and the need to provide a concentrate feed to enhance the growth of the kids.

Patient dose in radiologically guided interventional vascular procedures: conventional versus digital systems.

PURPOSE: To calculate the difference in the patient radiation dose in radiologically guided interventional vascular procedures between conventional and digital systems and to estimate the effective dose and the energy imparted with the digital system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 318 procedures (in 318 patients) in 15 different examination groups were analyzed. The dose-area product was determined by using a transmission chamber fitted to an x-ray-tube light-beam diaphragm; the effective dose was determined by using software. RESULTS: Urinary and biliary tract procedures showed small differences in the average dose-area product between conventional and digital systems. The dose-area products in the vascular procedures were higher with the digital than with the conventional system. The average effective dose and energy imparted were 0.88 mSv and 129 mJ, respectively, in the subcutaneous placement of a reservoir for analgesic administration and as much as 25.7 mSv and 829 mJ, respectively, in spermatic vein embolization. CONCLUSION: The dose-area product was higher with the digital system than with the conventional system in 13 of the 15 groups. To reduce the patient dose in vascular interventional radiology procedures, the training of personnel and the frequent use of conventional fluoroscopy and low-dose imaging are required.