Biomedical subjects

J L Walters

Publications and source records attributed to J L Walters.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1984

Effect of epididymitis on semen quality of rams.

To better document the detrimental effect of ram epididymitis (RE) in large range flocks, a study was conducted to determine the correlation of palpable RE lesions and semen quality. Presence of leukocytes in the semen of rams affected with RE also was evaluated and found to correlate positively with RE lesions and inversely with semen quality. Rams with palpable RE lesions usually produced semen of reduced quality; however, some affected rams did produce good quality semen. The mean scrotal circumference varied significantly when rams were analyzed by breed, but not when grouped by RE status or classified by semen quality.

Animals↗

PubMed1982

Attaining and measuring physical fitness in dairy cattle.

Research with dairy cows was to determine whether dairy cows in confinement are in poor physical condition, if programmed exercise improves physical fitness, and which physiological measures are most useful indicators of physical fitness. If maintenance of physiologic homeostasis when an animal is under a work load is a valid criterion of physical fitness, dairy cows in confinement are in poor physical condition, and physical fitness can be improved by programmed exercise. Walking cows at 4 km/h for a distance of 8 km daily for 5 days per wk for 8 wk prepartum improved their physical fitness. Useful hemic indicators of improved fitness were less increase in erythrocyte numbers and hemoglobin concentration and less decrease in oxygen tension, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid contents, and base excess than in poorly conditioned cattle under work load. Venous blood was satisfactory for these measurements. Also valued were heart and respiratory rates, except these rates being sensitive to extraneous disturbances may be less reliable.

Animals↗

PubMed1981

Forced walking prepartum for dairy cows of different ages.

Fifty-three 2-yr-old Holstein heifers and 63 cows from 3 to 7 yr old were exercised 5 days/wk for 8 wk before calving. Three treatments were: 1) control (no forced exercise); 2) walk 1.6 km/day; and 3) walk 8.0 km/day. Exercise was at 4.0 km/h in a circular lane with a motor-driven gate. Daily feed intake and weekly body weights were recorded during the prepartum period and 50 days postpartum. Daily milk production and semimonthly milk composition were recorded for the complete lactation. Exercise did not affect feed intake during the prepartum period. Weight gain was reduced during the dry period, more for older than for young cows, and particularly less gain for the longer distance. There was no benefit to production or feed efficiency from exercise for any age of cows. Production of protein and solids not fat was higher for combined ages of cows on the shorter than the longer distance. Protein percentage in milk for the lactation was higher for exercised than for control cows; solids-not-fat percentage in milk was higher for exercise for shorter than for longer distance; and fat percentage in milk was not affected by exercise. Number of services per conception and number of days open were less for exercised cows.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1978

Effect of exercise on glucocorticoids and other cellular components of blood.

The effect of exercise during the dry period on glucocorticoids, packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration, total leucocytes, and differential leucocyte count was examined with 87 Holstein cows. Cows were divided randomly into groups: 1) control, 2) 3.2 km at 3.5 km/h, 3) 9.6 km at 3.5 km/h, and 4) 3.2 km at 5.5 km/h. Sampling for blood analysis was at weekly intervals preexercise and immediately postexercise. Both glucocorticoids and hemoglobin concentrations were increased by exercise. Correlations between glucocorticoids and most other traits were practically zero. No eosinopenia was noted with increasing glucocorticoids. Lymphocyte numbers were correlated negatively with all traits measured. Glucocorticoid concentration increased from pre- to postexercise with both distance and speed. Although glucocorticoid concentration varied among cows, neither day sampled, days dry, weight, nor age affected glucocorticoids. Increased hemoglobin of postexercise cows could not be attributed to speed or distance exercised. Traits measured in this study, other than glucocorticoid concentration, are ineffective in evaluating response to increased exercise.

Animals↗

PubMed1975

Malignant fibrous mesothelioma. Metastatic to brain and liver.

A malignant fibrous mesothelioma in a 52 year old white man arising from the left parietal pleura associated with lupus erythematosus with metastases to brain and liver is reported. Asbestos bodies were found in digested pulmonary tissue but none in the primary or metastatic lesions. Light microscopic and ultrastructural studies suggest that this tumor contains mesothelial or endothelial cells, some of which revealed fibroblastic features while others disclosed epitheloid characteristics.

Asbestos↗

PubMed1973