Effect of supplementation silage ("Festuca dolichophylla, Avena sativa and Vicia sativa") on weight gain and mortality in adult alpacas ("Vicugna pacos")

This study was conducted in order to evaluate the effect of supplementation with silage (Festuca dolichophylla, Avena sativa and Vicia sativa) on weight gain and mortality in adult alpacas, during the months of dry season (June to August) in Huancavelica region. 300 female alpacas 3 and 4 years of age (physiological state: pregnant) were used, which were assigned to the following treatments: SP, grazing only PSE15, grazing plus supplementation of 1.5 kg of silage. Alpacas were supplemented once daily. In each alpaca they were recorded live weight at the beginning and end of the experiment. The weight gain was -0.02 y 2.05 kg for SP and PSE15 respectively (p <0.001) treatments. Mortality was 5.3% and 2.7% for SP and PSE15 respectively (p=0.073) treatments. It can be concluded under the conditions of this trial silage supplementation has effect on weight gain and maybe also on mortality in alpacas.

Extravascular lung water indexed to predicted body weight is a novel predictor of intensive care unit mortality in patients with acute lung injury

Objectives: Acute lung injury and the acute respiratory distress syndrome are characterized by noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, which can be assessed by measurement of extravascular lung water. Traditionally, extravascular lung water has been indexed to actual body weight (mL/kg). Because lung size is dependent on height rather than weight, we hypothesized indexing to predicted body weight may be a better predictor of mortality in acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome.