Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided that automatically determine whether or not eggs designated for removal from an egg carrier have been removed by an egg removal apparatus. Light is emitted along a path above and across an egg carrier as an egg picker moves to pick up an egg. The length of time that the light path is blocked when the egg picker is moved is measured and used to determine whether or not the egg has been removed from the carrier. Another apparatus and method is provided for detecting a malfunctioning egg picker. A detection device detects a number of eggs in the egg carrier. A control device monitors the egg picker and the detection device. The control device calculates the number of eggs in the egg carrier for determining when the number of eggs varies a predetermined amount from an egg count number for the egg carrier.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided that automatically determine whether or not eggs designated for removal from an egg carrier have been removed by an egg removal apparatus. Light is emitted along a path above and across an egg carrier as an egg picker moves to pick up an egg. The length of time that the light path is blocked when the egg picker is moved is measured and used to determine whether or not the egg has been removed from the carrier. Another apparatus and method is provided for detecting a malfunctioning egg picker. A detection device detects a number of eggs in the egg carrier. A control device monitors the egg picker and the detection device. The control device calculates the number of eggs in the egg carrier for determining when the number of eggs varies a predetermined amount from an egg count number for the egg carrier.

Abstract: Egg candling methods and apparatus are provided wherein black rot eggs can be identified and removed. A method of identifying live eggs includes illuminating eggs in a carrier with light from a light source; receiving light passing through each egg at a light detector; generating an output signal that corresponds to light received at a light detector for each respective egg; analyzing the output signal for each egg to determine opacity of each egg; removing eggs having an opacity less than a first opacity value; and removing eggs having an opacity greater than a second opacity value that is different from the first opacity value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the complete biosynthetic pathway for the formation of the LL-F28249 compounds and, most importantly, the major component LL-F28249?. The purified and isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding the proteins of the biosynthetic pathway, which is isolated from a wild-type or mutant Streptomyces, is fully described in FIG. 6 to FIG. 6-39 and SEQ ID NO:1. The DNA gene cluster and its expression in a suitable host enable the efficient production of the highly active natural metabolites and semisynthetic derivatives. The invention further concerns plasmids, vectors and host cells that contain and express the novel nucleic acid molecule. Of particular interest, the entire biosynthetic pathway fits compactly in three plasmids, Cos11, Cos36 and Cos40. The invention also concerns the purified and isolated biosynthesis proteins that are encoded by the whole DNA gene cluster. Additionally, the invention involves a new efficient, biochemical method of preparing moxidectin.

Abstract: This invention describes novel purified and isolated nucleic acid molecules or the fragments thereof, extracted from nematode or arthropod pests or recombinant, which encode P-glycoprotein homologs and regulate resistance to the macrocyclic lactone compounds. The invention further relates to the new P-glycoprotein homolog expression product of these nucleic acids. Also described herein are methods for detecting the gene encoding for resistance to the macrocyclic lactone compounds in nematode or arthropod pests which comprise comparing the nucleic acids extracted from a pest specimen to the nucleic acids encoding for resistance and the nucleic acids encoding for susceptibility to the macrocyclic lactone compounds.

Abstract: An antibacterial formulation suitable for injection into animals containing approximately 2-10% w/v difloxacin HCl, L-arginine base, propylene glycol, ethanol and/or benzyl alcohol, and water. The formulation is a solution having a pH of form 9 to 10. The formulation produces little or no tissue damage or irritation at the injection site.

Abstract: A novel euthanasia composition for animals, especially companion animals, utilizes a combination of sodium pentobarbital with dibucaine. The composition is easy to administer, fast-acting and relatively painless. A humane method for euthanasia involves administering the composition to animals for which euthanasia is desired.

Abstract: A homogenous, clear, veterinary gel composition which has a broad spectrum of efficacy against endoparasites over a prolonged period of time and which allows for higher concentrations of a mixture of parasiticidal agents in a single application. This composition is useful for treating and controlling endoparasiticidal infection and infestation in a homeothermic animal.

Abstract: An antibacterial formulation suitable for injection into animals containing approximately 2-10% w/v difloxacin HCl, L-arginine base, propylene glycol, ethanol and/or benzyl alcohol, and water. The formulation is a solution having a pH of form 9 to 10. The formulation produces little or no tissue damage or irritation at the injection site.

Abstract: The invention relates to certain stable vaccine compositions comprising a macrocyclic lactone compound, a milbemycin compound, an avermectin compound or mixtures thereof; at least one antigen; a dispersing agent; an adjuvant; a water soluble organic solvent; and saline or water or mixtures thereof. The invention further relates to stable compositions as described above of a macrocyclic lactone compound, a milbemycin compound, an avermectin compound or mixtures thereof, but without an antigen. The invention also relates to a method for preventing or controlling helminthiasis, infection by acarids and arthropod endo-and ectoparasites and bacterial and viral disease in warm-blooded animals by the parenteral administration of compositions of the invention. The invention further relates to a process for the preparation of the invention compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to arylpyrrole particles which are prepared by a process in which the particles are aged and milled, and pesticidal suspension concentrate compositions comprising them. The size of the particles of this invention remains surprisingly stable during storage.

Abstract: The present invention provides N-biphenylthiohydrazone derivatives of formula I and compositions and methods for the use thereof in the control of insect and acarid pests and for the protection of crops therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to modified microorganisms suitable for use as live in ovo vaccines for avian species. The live in ovo vaccines of the present invention are useful for inducing immunity before or immediately after hatching against a virulent form of the modified microorganism or a microorganism immunologically related to the modified microorganism or a virulent organism or virus carrying an antigenic determinant expressed by the modified microorganism in the live vaccine. The subject live in ovo vaccines are particularly efficacious in enhancing the survival rate of newly-hatched poultry birds.

Abstract: Nucleotide sequences obtained from the genome of the capsid gene of FCV strain 2280 wherein the splicing sites have been modified, so as to be deleted or inactivated are provided. The nucleotide sequences include DNA sequences that encode polypeptides, such as the capsid gene of FCV strain 2280, whereby the coding sequences are capable of being transcribed in the nucleus of a eukaryotic organism without the DNA coding sequence being altered by the organism's natural splicing machinery and the amino acid structure of the expressed protein is not altered. The recombinant molecules may be incorporated into FHV-1 vectors that are used to infect cell cultures for use, inter alia, in the development of vaccines and, in particular vaccines for preventing or treating FCV disease.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of a compound of formula I wherein R1 represents an optionally substituted aryl group, R2 represents an optionally substituted alkyl group, and R3 and R4 each individually represent an alkyl group; which comprises heating a mixture of a compound of formula II an alcohol, a tri-alkoxymethane, an acid and, optionally, an inert diluent.

Abstract: This invention relates to an insecticidal and miticidal composition which contains as active ingredients chlorfenapyr in combination with one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of benzoepin, nereistoxin-type insecticidal agents and diafenthiuron.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process and intermediate compounds for the preparation of di-fluorovinylsilane insecticidal and acaricidal agents of the formula I wherein Ar is phenyl, 1- or 2-napthyl or a 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring, each of which may be optionally substituted by any combination of from one to three halogen, C1-C4alkyl, C1-C4haloalkyl, C1-C4alkoxy, C1-C4haloalkoxy, C(O)R2 or S(O)nR3 groups, R and R1 are each independently C1-C4 alkyl or C3-C5 cycloalkyl; Ar1 is phenoxyphenyl, phenyl, biphenyl; phenoxypyridyl, benzylpyridyl, benzylphenyl, 1- or 2- napthyl or a 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring, each of which may be optionally substituted by any combination of from one to five halogen, C1-C4alkyl, C1-C4haloalkyl, C1-C4alkoxy, C1-C4haloalkoxy or C(O)R4 groups, n is an integer of 0, 1 or 2; R2 and R4 are each independently C1-C4alkyl, benzyl or phenyl; R3 is C114 C4alkyl or C1 -C4haloalkyl; and the fluorine atoms attached to the double bond are tra

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I), wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkyloxiranyl, alkanoyl, alkoxycarbonyl, formyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, alkanoyloxyalkyl, hydroximinoalkyl, alkoxyiminoalkyl, hydrazonoalkyl or alkylhydrazonoalkyl group; R2 represents an alkoxy group; R3 and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; R5 represents an alkyl group, and R6 represents a group of formula —COOR7 or —CONR7R8, in which R7 and R8 show excellent fungicifal activity and systemicity and are thus useful in various agricultural applications.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to antibodies, in particular monoclonal antibodies, of porcine somatotropin (pST). When these antibodies are administered together with pST, the growth of vertebrates is greater than that achieved with the administration of pST alone. The invention is also directed to an increase in the growth of vertebrates which persists over long periods when an antibody to a somatotropin is administered together with such somatotropin.