- Email: [email protected]
The handbook of medical feed additives 1984
328
BRITISH VETERINARY JOURNAL, 141,
techniques, ranging from the rubbing together of teeth or spines to the vibrating of the swim bladder . Invertebrates are especially versatile ; some mosquitoes use wing vibrations to attract a mate, bees `buzz' to provide information about food sources and tiger moths produce rasping ultrasonic sounds that confuse approaching bats . The question of the development of language is discussed in some detail but, as the author states in his closing paragraph, work to date only represents the tip of an iceberg and researchers "are preparing for a quantum leap in their expectations with regard to the complications and subtleties of animal language" . Veterinary surgeons will not fail to be fascinated by what they read in this book . At the same time, however, they will learn how important communication is in the animal world . Animals emit sounds in order to attract mates, to detect food, to maintain contact in social groups and to ward off potential foes . These activities, which are an essential part of an individual's normal biology, can easily be disrupted or suppressed under conditions of captivity . When this occurs organic or behavioural disorders can result and the veterinary surgeon may be asked to intervene . The book is a timely reminder of how important it is that veterinary surgeons, whether involved with the pigs or primates, cats or cichlids, have a deep and sensitive understanding of the animals with which they work . J . E . COOPER Planned Beef Production
D . Allen and B . Kilkenny Second edn . 1984 . London : Granada . 229 pp. £8.95 . The success of the 1st edition of this book is reflected in the second edition being produced only four years later. Both editions have the same number of pages and the chapters remain similar in title and length . The first major alteration is the change from hardback cover to paperback. Otherwise most of the tables have been updated and there are new paragraphs on grass silage beef as well as more emphasis on cold acidified milk feeding for calves. The twelve chapters are divided into four major sections covering the principles of production, planning and management, beef production, farm dairy herd calves, and production and finishing of suckled calves . There are inevi-
3
tably some points of criticism ; there is little mention of growth promoters other than monensin sodium and anabolic steroids appear not to be described despite their increasing use in beef production . Some veterinary items such as control of parasites are included, but are too brief to be of much benefit . This book will be invaluable for veterinary surgeons who undertake work in beef herds and wish to improve their input to such enterprises ; it will also be essential for students and others requiring to understand this complex industry . However those who have the first edition will not find sufficient change to warrant purchase of the new edition . A. H .
ANDREWS
The Handbook of Medical Feed Additives 1984
Ed . B . Cooke Bakewell, Derbyshire : H .G .M . Publications . 1984 . 262 pp . £9 .50. Dr Cooke, the editor and Chairman of the UKASTA Scientific Committee, has used data available to the feed industry to produce the third edition of a comprehensive handbook that gives veterinarians the information only previously supplied to that industry . The presentation is masterly with indexing and cross indexing allowing full access to all the data in an unambiguous manner . What is disconcerting, when the reader scans the 143 data sheets, is the number of products that were previously unknown to the veterinary profession . How many knew that the only penicillin licenced for in-feed use was Procaine Penicillin marketed by M . W. Hardy & Co . Ltd, how many realize that there are three variants of copper licenced by UKASTA for use in pig feeds, and who has heard of Emtryl Pure and knows how it differs from Emtryl Prescription Pure? Read Medicinal Feed Additives and all will be revealed, for this handbook has been geared to the marketing requirements of the United Kingdom Agricultural Supply Trade Association rather than to the prescribing veterinarian, who would be well advised to take notice and see to it, that he not only has the handbook in his car, but also knows which of the products contained therein, are being fed to the animals under his care. T. W . HEARD
BRITISH VETERINARY JOURNAL, 141,
techniques, ranging from the rubbing together of teeth or spines to the vibrating of the swim bladder . Invertebrates are especially versatile ; some mosquitoes use wing vibrations to attract a mate, bees `buzz' to provide information about food sources and tiger moths produce rasping ultrasonic sounds that confuse approaching bats . The question of the development of language is discussed in some detail but, as the author states in his closing paragraph, work to date only represents the tip of an iceberg and researchers "are preparing for a quantum leap in their expectations with regard to the complications and subtleties of animal language" . Veterinary surgeons will not fail to be fascinated by what they read in this book . At the same time, however, they will learn how important communication is in the animal world . Animals emit sounds in order to attract mates, to detect food, to maintain contact in social groups and to ward off potential foes . These activities, which are an essential part of an individual's normal biology, can easily be disrupted or suppressed under conditions of captivity . When this occurs organic or behavioural disorders can result and the veterinary surgeon may be asked to intervene . The book is a timely reminder of how important it is that veterinary surgeons, whether involved with the pigs or primates, cats or cichlids, have a deep and sensitive understanding of the animals with which they work . J . E . COOPER Planned Beef Production
D . Allen and B . Kilkenny Second edn . 1984 . London : Granada . 229 pp. £8.95 . The success of the 1st edition of this book is reflected in the second edition being produced only four years later. Both editions have the same number of pages and the chapters remain similar in title and length . The first major alteration is the change from hardback cover to paperback. Otherwise most of the tables have been updated and there are new paragraphs on grass silage beef as well as more emphasis on cold acidified milk feeding for calves. The twelve chapters are divided into four major sections covering the principles of production, planning and management, beef production, farm dairy herd calves, and production and finishing of suckled calves . There are inevi-
3
tably some points of criticism ; there is little mention of growth promoters other than monensin sodium and anabolic steroids appear not to be described despite their increasing use in beef production . Some veterinary items such as control of parasites are included, but are too brief to be of much benefit . This book will be invaluable for veterinary surgeons who undertake work in beef herds and wish to improve their input to such enterprises ; it will also be essential for students and others requiring to understand this complex industry . However those who have the first edition will not find sufficient change to warrant purchase of the new edition . A. H .
ANDREWS
The Handbook of Medical Feed Additives 1984
Ed . B . Cooke Bakewell, Derbyshire : H .G .M . Publications . 1984 . 262 pp . £9 .50. Dr Cooke, the editor and Chairman of the UKASTA Scientific Committee, has used data available to the feed industry to produce the third edition of a comprehensive handbook that gives veterinarians the information only previously supplied to that industry . The presentation is masterly with indexing and cross indexing allowing full access to all the data in an unambiguous manner . What is disconcerting, when the reader scans the 143 data sheets, is the number of products that were previously unknown to the veterinary profession . How many knew that the only penicillin licenced for in-feed use was Procaine Penicillin marketed by M . W. Hardy & Co . Ltd, how many realize that there are three variants of copper licenced by UKASTA for use in pig feeds, and who has heard of Emtryl Pure and knows how it differs from Emtryl Prescription Pure? Read Medicinal Feed Additives and all will be revealed, for this handbook has been geared to the marketing requirements of the United Kingdom Agricultural Supply Trade Association rather than to the prescribing veterinarian, who would be well advised to take notice and see to it, that he not only has the handbook in his car, but also knows which of the products contained therein, are being fed to the animals under his care. T. W . HEARD