Productivity of Thai Brahman and Simmental-Brahman crossbred (Kabinburi) cattle in central Thailand

The productivity of the new crossbred cattle Kabinburi (K) was compared to that of Thai Brahman (TB) using 756 production records from K cattle and 1,316 production records from TB cattle kept at three locations in Thailand. The data were analyzed for the effect of breeds and locations. The ambient temperature, the humidity, the Temperature–Humidity Index (THI) and the rainfall of the three locations were different. Lamphayaklang Livestock Research and Breeding Center (LP) had the highest rainfall/year followed by Nongkwang Livestock Research and Breeding Center (NK), and Prachinburi Livestock Breeding Station (PC). Kabinburi cattle had a higher bodyweight at birth as well as at 200, 400 and 600 days of age than TB cattle. Furthermore, K heifers gave birth to their first calf at a younger age and had a shorter calving interval than TB cows. Thai Brahman cattle kept at LP had significantly higher bodyweight at 400 and 600 days than the animals kept at NK, but bodyweight at birth and 600 days of age were not significantly different. Thai Brahman cattle kept at LP were younger at first calving and had a shorter calving interval than the animals kept at NK. K cattle kept at NK were heavier at birth and at 200, 400 and 600 days of age than the animals kept at PC. Furthermore, Kabinburi cows kept at NK were younger at first calving (P < 0.01), but the calving interval was not different between the two groups kept at NK or PC.     

Skull growth in the albino rat (Rattus norvegicus)

A longitudinal study of growth in the rat skull, based on serial radiographs, has shown that by the age of one month after birth, the braincase attains some 93% of its adult (fifth-month) size whilst the facial skeleton and mandible attain but 75% of their adult size. By the third month, growth in the braincase has virtually ceased, whereas significant facial growth continues until the age of five months.     

Developmental changes in the skull morphology of common minke whales Balaenoptera acutorostrata

We investigated growth‐related and sex‐related morphological changes in the skulls of 144 North Pacific common minke whales Balaenoptera acutorostrata. Measurement was conducted at 39 points on the skull and mandible to extract individual allometric equations relating the length and zygomatic width of the skull. The results revealed no significant differences in skull morphology by sex except for width of occipital bone. The size relative to the skull of the anatomical parts involved in feeding, such as the rostrum and mandible, increased after birth. In contrast, the sensory organs and the anatomical regions involved in neurological function, such as the orbit, tympanic bullae, and foramen magnum, were fully developed at birth, and their relative size reduced over the course of development. This is the first study to investigate developmental changes in the skull morphology using more than 100 baleen whale specimens, and we believe the results of this study will contribute greatly to multiple areas of baleen whale research, including taxonomy and paleontology. J. Morphol. 275:1113–1121, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Longitudinal roentgencephalometric study of the growth of the New Zealand white rabbit: cumulative and biweekly incremental growth rates for skull and mandible

A longitudinal roentgencephalometric study of the New Zealand white rabbit has documented postnatal skull and mandible growth from 2 to 34 weeks of age. Dorsoventral and lateral radiographs were performed using a specially constructed restrainer that allowed for standardized films and did not require the use of anesthesia. Assessments from 17 male and 12 female rabbits at biweekly intervals documented cumulative growth as well as biweekly incremental growth. Indices reported here include skull length, interzygomatic width, intercondylar width, and mandibular length. Mean skull length at 2 weeks was 54% of that at 34 weeks, and by 16 weeks 91% of adult skull length was achieved. Mean interzygomatic width at 2 weeks was 60% of that at 34 weeks, and by 16 weeks 91% of adult male and 94% of adult female widths were achieved. Mean mandibular length at 2 weeks was 47% of that at 34 weeks, and by age 16 weeks 90% of adult length was achieved. Mean intercondylar width at 2 weeks was 57% of that at 34 weeks, and by 16 weeks 89% of adult male and 93% of adult female widths were achieved. Biweekly increments decreased continually from 2 weeks of age on for all indices.     

Placental restriction of fetal growth reduces size at birth and alters postnatal growth, feeding activity, and adiposity in the young lamb

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with accelerated growth after birth. Together, IUGR and accelerated growth after birth predict reduced lean tissue mass and increased obesity in later life. Although placental insufficiency is a major cause of IUGR, whether it alters growth and adiposity in early postnatal life is not known. We hypothesized that placental restriction (PR) in the sheep would reduce size at birth and increase postnatal growth rate, fat mass, and feeding activity in the young lamb. PR reduced survival rate and size at birth, with soft tissues reduced to a greater extent than skeletal tissues and relative sparing of head width (P < 0.05 for all). PR did not alter absolute growth rates (i.e., the slope of the line of best fit for age vs. parameter size from birth to 45 days of age) but increased neonatal fractional growth rates (absolute growth rate relative to size at birth) for body weight (+24%), tibia (+15%) and metatarsal (+18%) lengths, hindlimb (+23%) and abdominal (+19%) circumferences, and fractional growth rates for current weight (P < 0.05) weekly throughout the first 45 days of life. PR and small size at birth reduced individual skeletal muscle weights and increased visceral adiposity in absolute and relative terms. PR also altered feeding activity, which increased with decreasing size at birth and was predictive of increased postnatal growth and adiposity. In conclusion, PR reduced size at birth and induced catch-up growth postnatally, normalizing weight and length but increasing adiposity in early postnatal life. Increased feeding activity may contribute to these alterations in growth and body composition following prenatal restraint and, if they persist, may lead to adverse metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes in later life.     

Restricted growth at the frontonasal suture: alterations in craniofacial growth in rabbits

Apposition of bone at the sutural margin is generally thought to be a compensatory adjustment to growing soft-tissue organs such as the brain or eyes within the skull. The frontonasal suture which is located at the interface between the cranial and facial skeletons is a site of extremely active growth in the young rabbit. Recently, we showed that premature closure of a cranial suture, the coronal suture, can alter the growth not only at the adjacent frontonasal suture but also of the basicranium and midface. This study examines the effects of restricted growth at the frontonasal suture on both growth at adjacent cranial sutures and linear growth of the basicranium and midface. Thirty newborn New Zealand White rabbits were subdivided into experimental and sham-treated groups of equal size and distribution for sex and birth weight. At 9 days of age, the frontonasal suture of each experimental animal was immobilized by bilateral application of methyl-cyanoacrylate adhesive across the frontonasal suture. Growth and morphometric changes were monitored by radiocephalometric methods through 120 days of age by bilateral implantation of radiopague markers on each side of frontonasal, coronal, and anterior lambdoid sutures. Results indicate that restricted growth at the frontonasal suture results not only in a significant shortening of the midface but also in significant decreases in growth at the coronal and internasal sutures. Growth at the interfrontal and sagittal sutures is increased. Furthermore, growth at the anterior portion of the nasal bones is significantly increased, thereby offsetting a portion of the decreased nasal bone length resulting from frontonasal restriction.     

Estimation of genetic parameters for BW and body measurements in Brahman cattle

Body weight and body measurements are commonly used to represent growth and measured at several growth stages in beef cattle. Those economically important traits should be genetically improved. To achieve breeding programs, genetic parameters are prerequisite, as they are needed for designing and predicting outcomes of breeding programs, as well as estimating of breeding values. (Co)variance components were estimated for BW and body measurements on Brahman cattle born between 1990 and 2016 from 17 research herds across Thailand. The traits measured were BW, heart girth (GR), hip height (HH) and body length (BL) and were measured at birth, 200 days, 400 days and 600 days of age. The number of records varied between traits from 18 890 for birth BW to 876 for GR at 600 days. Estimation of variance components was performed using restricted maximum likelihood using univariate and multivariate animal models. Pre-weaning traits were influenced by genetic and/or permanent environmental effects of the dam, except for BL. Heritability estimates from birth to 600 days of age ranged from 0.28±0.01 to 0.50±0.06 for BW, 0.27±0.01 to 0.43±0.09 for GR, 0.28±0.01 to 0.58±0.08 for HH and 0.34±0.01 to 0.51±0.08 for BL using univariate analysis. Heritability estimates for the traits studied increased with age. A similar trend was observed for the phenotypic and genetic correlations between subsequent BW and body measurements. A positive correlation was observed between different traits measured at a similar age, ranging from 0.22±0.01 to 0.72±0.01 for the phenotypic correlation and 0.25±0.04 to 0.97±0.11 for the genetic correlation. Also, a positive correlation was observed for similar traits across different age classes ranging from 0.07±0.03 to 0.76±0.02 for the phenotypic correlation and 0.24±0.11 to 0.92±0.05 for the genetic correlation. Therefore, all correlations between body measurements at the same age and across age classes were positive. The results show the potential improvement of growth traits in Brahman cattle, and those traits can be improved simultaneously under the same breeding program.     

Development of the metanephric kidney. Protein and nucleic acid synthesis

The metanephric kidney was studied in fetal and older mice beginning at 16 days after mating of the parents. Polyribosomes from fetal kidneys labeled in vitro with 14C-labeled amino acids had 10-20 times more acid-precipitable radioactivity associated with them than polysomes from adult kidneys similarly labeled. Between 3 and 6 days after birth the rate incorporation of labeled amino acids by polyribosomes from neonatal kidneys declined sharply to only twice the value found for adult kidneys. There was no change in the shape of the polyribosome profile with increasing age, but before birth few, if any, ribosomes were bound to membranes compared with 20% 2 days after birth and between 20 and 30% in the adult. Total protein represented less than 10% of the wet weight in the fetal kidney but increased to 17% of the wet weight in the adult kidney. There was a steady decline in the concentration of RNA and DNA with respect to dry weight throughout kidney development. DNA concentration declined more rapidly than RNA concentration, so that the milligram to milligram ratio of RNA to DNA increased. In males the RNA/DNA ratio was stable at 1.3 at 40 days after birth; but in females the decline in DNA concentration was more protracted, and at 200 days after birth the RNA/DNA ratio was only 0.99. Thus, total nucleic acids show only gradual changes in concentration throughout development of the kidney, but a sharp change in the synthetic activity of the ribosomes and in their binding to membranes occurs in kidneys soon after birth.     

Follow-up study of small-for-dates babies.

A group of small-for-dates full-term babies whose intra-uterine growth was followed by serial ultrasonic cephalometry were examined at a mean age of 4 years. Those children whose skull growth had begun to slow in utero before 34 weeks'' menstrual age were more likely to have a height and weight less than the 10th centile. When the onset of growth failure had occurred before 26 weeks there was a lower developmental quotient at follow-up using the Griffiths extended scales. Prolonged slow growth in utero therefore seems to be followed by slow growth and development after birth.     

Patterns of sexual dimorphism from birth to senescence

Sexual dimorphism is expressed as median of the female values in percent of the median of the male values, of 4 length measurements, 3 circumferences, and 5 measurements of corpulence respectively fat. Data were obtained from a cross-sectional sample of more than 41.000 German subjects, aged from birth to age 62. The pattern of sexual dimorphism is similar in the length measurements. Girls are shorter at birth, but they increase in length at higher rates than boys and even temporarily overgrow the boys up to age 12. Thereafter, males show an obvious growth advantage leading to some 6 to 9% more length in adult males. In contrast, female circumferences are always smaller, from birth to senescence. Though, the differences between the sexes are low in circumferences, up to age 13, sexual dimorphism increases to 17% in the thoracic circumference at adulthood. Sexual dimorphism in weight and BMI is comparably with that in length measurements while subcutaneous fat and total body fat content are always higher in females. The results highlight that sexual dimorphism develops at different pace in the various components of the body and that it associates with a sex specific growth tempo.     

Do changes in skull size of South American sea lions reflect changes in population density?

Populations of the South American sea lion (SASL, Otaria byronia) have been intensely exploited for leather and oil in different parts of its distribution range throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, generating large changes in abundance. In Patagonia, the SASL population was reduced by more than 90% of its original abundance, and it began to recover after sealing ended. The aim of this work was to assess changes in size and shape of the skull related to changes in population abundance during the last 100 years. Using geometric morphometry techniques, we analyzed 145 individuals (68 males and 77 females) from Patagonia. Skulls were classified by sex, time period (harvest vs. postharvest), and decades of individual's birth. Results indicated that there were differences in skull size but not in shape discriminated by time period. Moreover, individuals of the postharvest period showed a decrease in the skull size during the last two decades, coinciding with the recovery in population abundance. Our results suggest the existence of a density-dependence response in somatic growth of SASL population of Patagonia.     

Growth of opossums (Trichosurus vulpecula) in the Orongorongo Valley,Wellington, New Zealand, 1953–61

The growth of pouch young and juvenile Trichosurus vulpecula to maturity is described, based on animals gin‐trapped in 800 ha of indigenous forest in the Orongorongo Valley, near Wellington. Commencing in March 1953 opossums were trapped continuously for 1 year, and then intermittently until 1961. Four ageing criteria were considered: ossification of limb epiphyses and development of cranial ridges were unreliable; tooth wear and closure of the spheno‐occipital skull sutures were more satisfactory, and were adopted. For the first 180 days the mean growth followed a rectilinear regression when size, expressed as cube root of weight, was plotted against age. Thereafter growth accelerated greatly, but steadied towards the end of the first year; its rate increased after several months, and ceased at 2 to 21/2 years. Though adult males (2.65 kg) and females (2.41 kg) differed significantly in weight, there was no detectable difference during the growth phase. Births occurred throughout the year, but were markedly seasonal, 86% occurring between mid March and the end of May. A secondary birth peak in spring, recorded in other areas, was barely apparent. Most young consequently grew fastest in their first spring and summer. The growth pattern appeared to be mainly dependent on age rather than season_^ since all young reared in captivity conformed, irrespective of the season of birth.     

Pubertal neurocranium growth in thymectomized rats

Differences in neurocranium growth at puberty were studied in rats of both sexes thymectomized and sham-thymectomized at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 days of age and in controls of matched age and sex; skull length, width and height, and skull base length and face length were measured. The neurocranium of the thymectomized rats was significantly smaller than that of the sham-thymectomized and control rats of both sexes and in all age-groups.     

Estimating cladoceran birth rate: use of the egg age distribution to estimate mortality of ovigerous females and eggs

The birth rate of natural cladoceran populations can change rapidly (during 2–3 days), reflecting rapid changes in their environment. If the egg ratio is calculated on the basis of egg age distribution, the birth rate can be estimated at short sampling intervals (shorter than egg stage duration) by modified Paloheimo's (1974) formula. When female size structure and age of eggs in clutches at the beginning and the end of a sampling interval are known, death rates of ovigerous females and eggs in separate size classes can be determined and incorporated in birth rate estimates. All these methods have been employed using the data on the population of Diaphanosoma brahyurum from the lake Obsterno (North-Western Belarus) in July–August, 1992. The birth rate values computed by the proposed methods and Poloheimo's formula differed significantly in many cases. The accuracy of birth rate estimations from various calculation methods was tested using a computer simulation. The model contains the essential features of cladoceran life history: distinct egg, juvenile and adult stages, development of eggs and reproduction. The population was divided into 25 age classes, each of 1 day duration. Durations of the egg, juvenile and adult stages were set at 3, 6 and 20 days, respectively. The embryogenesis was divided into three egg stages, each of 1 day duration. Survivorship was set from 0.2 up to 1.0 for each age class. The survivorship and brood size were changed through each of five time intervals (days) that allowed to simulate an increase or reduction of population density. Fecundity, survivorship and egg stage duration remained constant during each of 5 days that assumed stability of an environment (this does not occur in nature). Nevertheless, the egg ratio, proportion of juveniles and birth rates were variable even under these circumstances. Computer simulations showed that Poloheimo's formula evaluates birth rate with the relative error of 62% and usually overestimates its values. We propose methods to decrease errors of birth rate estimations by 3.5–5.5 times.     

Changes in blood flow distribution during the perinatal period in fetal sheep and lambs.

We have measured total blood flows and blood flows per 100 g tissue to major tissues at 120 and 140 days gestation in fetal sheep and at 3 and 21 days of age in lambs (gestation period = 144 +/- 2 days). Between 120 and 140 days gestation, flow per 100 g tissue increased by 74, 150, and 317% in the renal, intestinal, and hepatic arterial beds, but no further significant change in flow was observed at 3 or 21 days postpartum. Blood flows per 100 g to cerebral hemispheres and cerebellar tissues also increased dramatically during late gestation (142 and 121%, respectively), but declined sharply by 3 days postpartum (73 and 75%, respectively). Brain blood flows at 21 days postpartum remained substantially below late gestational levels. Adrenal blood flows per 100 g more than doubled during late gestation, fell by more than half at birth, and only partially recovered by 21 days of age. Blood flows to carcass tissues did not change in late gestation, fell at birth, then partially recovered. Pre- and post-natal increases in brain blood flows were almost entirely attributable to increased perfusion rather than tissue growth, whereas large perinatal increases in flow to the diaphragm paralleled tissue growth. Tissue growth and increased perfusion per 100 g contributed almost equally to increased blood flows to kidneys postnatally, and to adrenal glands and the gastrointestinal tract prenatally.     

Analyses of factors influencing the birth weight and neonatal growth rate of Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) cubs

Birth weight and the neonatal growth rate are reliable indicators of neonatal survival prospects. Data on weight at birth and consecutive weights until 40 days of age were recorded for cheetah cubs in 16 litters. Growth was found to be linear during the first 40 days of life. Weight data were used to evaluate the influence of several factors on birth weight and neonatal growth. The factors used in these analyses were sex, litter identity, litter size, average litter size over the first 40 days, birth weight, parents, gestation length, parity of the dam, and inbreeding. For birth weight and neonatal growth, litter identity was the major explanatory factor (81.8 and 85.3%). For birth weight, a significant influence of gestation length was found (p < 0.05), whereas inbreeding coefficient tended to decrease the birth weight (p = 0.09). Together, gestation length and inbreeding coefficient account for 57.5% of the between‐litter variation for birth weight. Factors with significant influences on neonatal growth are gestation length and parity (p < 0.05). The average litter size over the first 40 days tended to influence neonatal growth (p = 0.07). These three variables together account for 99.9% of the between‐litter variation for neonatal growth during the first 40 days of life. A comparison of neonatal growth between mother‐raised and hand‐raised cubs revealed a lower growth rate in hand‐raised cubs (45 vs. 27 g/day). Zoo Biol 18:129–139, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Predictors of age at menarche in the newcastle thousand families study

Several studies have found relationships between early life factors (birth weight, length of gestation, height, weight, duration of breast-feeding, maternal age, social class, periods of infection, presence of adverse life events, and quality of housing conditions in childhood) and age at menarche but none has considered all of these factors in the same study. The follow-up study of the Newcastle Thousand Families birth cohort, established in 1947, provided age at menarche data collected retrospectively at age 50 from 276 women who returned self-completion questionnaires in 1997. Three main independent associations were observed: girls who experienced a shorter gestation, girls whose mothers were younger when they were born, and girls who were heavier at age 9 had earlier menarche. Birth weight, standardized for gestational age, was found to have different relationships with age at menarche depending upon how heavy or light a girl was at age 9. The results of this study support the hypotheses that conditions in fetal and early life are associated with the timing of menarche and that greater childhood growth is associated with earlier menarche. It is suggested that future work should focus on illuminating the mechanisms underlying these statistical relationships.     

Studies on orthocephalization. 2. Flexions of the rat head in the period between 14 and 60 days after gestation

The present paper considers the significance of a variety of cranial flexions in the process of orthocephalization of the rat skull between 14 and 60 days postnatally. The study is based on a sample of 27 male rats, who have been x-rayed at 14, 30 and 60 days with subsequent analyses of the photographs obtained. In this period the angle between the cranial base and the facial part of the skull becomes more obtuse, i.e. the skull becomes more orthocranial. The cranial base becomes at the same time more airobasal (lordotic). Angular changes between the individual bones in the cranial vault straightens the vault markedly. By this it becomes orthodorsal. As the angle between the basisphenoid and the parietal bones stays more or less constant between 14 and 60 days, the impression is created that both the anterior and posterior parts of the neural skull rotate upwards relative to this bone complex. Thus, orthocephalization in the period between 14 and 60 days both consists of flexions between the facial and neural parts of the skull (prebasal flexions), and may be more importantly of interosseous ventral and dorsal flexions.     

Reduced final height and indications for insulin resistance in 20 year olds born small for gestational age: regional cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the association between low birth weight and increased risk of developing impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridaemia, and hypertension in middle age is apparent by the age of 20 in people born small for gestational age. DESIGN: Regional cohort study. SETTING: Maternity registry, Haguenau, France. SUBJECTS: 236 full term singleton babies born small for gestational age (birth weight or length, or both, below third centile) during 1971-8 and 281 with normal birth weight (between 25th and 75th centile). All subjects were contacted and evaluated at a mean (SD) age of 20.6 (2.1) years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Adult height; concentrations of glucose, insulin, and proinsulin during an oral glucose tolerance test; lipid and fibrinogen concentrations; and blood pressure. RESULTS: After sex and target height were adjusted for, subjects who had been born small for gestational age were significantly shorter at age 20 than those with a normal birth weight (men 4.5 cm shorter (95% confidence interval 6.0 to 3.0 cm); women 3.94 cm shorter (5.2 to 2.7 cm)). After sex and body mass index were adjusted for, mean plasma glucose concentration 30 minutes after a glucose load, fasting insulin concentration (in women), and insulin and proinsulin concentrations 30 and 120 minutes after a glucose load were significantly higher in subjects who had been born small for gestational age than in those with a normal birth weight. Mean lipid and fibrinogen concentrations and blood pressure were not different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Intrauterine growth retardation has long term consequences such as reduced final height Raised insulin and proinsulin concentrations are present in young adults born small for gestational age and could be markers of early changes in insulin sensitivity.