Effects of Feeding Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles on Growth and Feed Efficiency of Weanling Horses

The effects of replacing corn and soybean meal with distiller's dried grains and solubles in the weanling horse diet were examined. Sixteen weanling horses, 12 fillies and four colts, were fed completely pelleted diets consisting of 50% alfalfa in addition to 50% of a concentrate containing either corn and soybean meal (CS), or 30% of the concentrate replaced with distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS). There were no significant differences (P > .05) between the two diets in either average daily gain or gain-to-feed ratio. The CS diet had a higher apparent dry matter digestibility (P < .0001), and higher apparent digestibility of crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (P < .01). It was concluded that replacing a portion of the corn and soybean meal with distiller's dried grains with solubles in the weanling horse diet did not lead to significant growth depression. However, the diet containing DDGS had reduced apparent digestibility of dry matter, CP, and fiber. Therefore, it was concluded that it may not be advisable to replace more than 30% of the concentrate portion or 15% of the total diet with distiller's dried grains and solubles when alfalfa is used as the forage source constituting 50% of the weanling diet. Even less DDGS may be desirable to substitute for corn and soybean meal in weanling horse diets if the forage source is one with lower protein quality than alfalfa. It is possible that using DDGS for less than 30% of the concentrate portion of the diet along with high-quality alfalfa forage may produce comparable gain and feed efficiency results with less depression of apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, and fiber.     

Optimum lifetime for Swedish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea abies</Emphasis> seed orchards

The optimum lifetime of Picea abies seed orchards in Sweden was calculated using a model which considers changes in seed yield over time, annual progress of genetic gain, establishment, management and seed costs, and both the monetary and genetic value of the seeds produced. The longer the seed orchard is active, the more genetically outdated the produced seeds will become, and thus their value will decline with time. A main scenario was constructed using the best available estimates for Swedish Norway spruce and was compared to various alternatives reflecting likely variations. The optimal lifetimes in all of these scenarios was in the order of 40 years. Sensitivity analyses showed that use of orchards for slightly more or less than their optimal lifetimes does not lead to large losses. A more effective tree breeding program could slightly reduce the optimal lifetimes. The optimal lifetime depends strongly on the relationship between monetary value and genetic gain. Thus, in cases where genetic progress is sufficiently rapid, the optimal lifetime may be less than 30 years.     

Perceived personal safety in relation to urban woodland vegetation – A review

Urban woodland vegetation provides people with many aesthetic, ecological and psychological benefits, but can also generate problems concerning people's perception of safety. This paper reviews existing knowledge about perceived personal safety in relation to vegetation, particularly woodland vegetation, in urban green spaces such as parks and residential areas. Individual and social factors, but also vegetation character, maintenance and design, proved to be important for perceived personal safety. Vegetation-related aspects identified as being of particular importance include landscape design, possibilities for overview and control, vegetation density, and vegetation character and maintenance. Vegetation of an open character with low density undergrowth might have positive effects on perceived personal safety without reducing other benefits. Issues for future research include context-based studies to consider several aspects of vegetation and their interactions.     

Sensory quality of French fries prepared from BelRus and Russet Burbank potatoes

Frozen par-fries were processed in January, February, and March using BelRus and Russet Burbank potatoes which were obtained from the same source and held under the same storage conditions. At each processing date, total solids of the raw tissue were determined and the par-fries were analyzed for fat content. Samples were finish-fried and presented to panels for evaluation of sensory qualities. The color, flavor, and textural properties of frozen French fries prepared from BelRus potatoes, which were considerably higher in total solids content and absorbed less vegetable oil, were significantly preferred by sensory panels to French fries processed from Russet Burbank potatoes.     

Incoming! Association of landscape features with dispersing mountain pine beetle populations during a range expansion event in western Canada

Mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae), is a forest insect that undergoes intermittent population eruptions, causing landscape-level mortality to mature pines. Currently, an outbreak covers over 16.3 million ha of British Columbia and Alberta in western Canada. Recent incursion into the jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) of northwestern Alberta threatens further range expansion through the boreal forest to central and eastern Canada. The spread from British Columbia into northwestern Alberta has been facilitated by above-canopy dispersal of the insect by meso-scale atmospheric currents. At these scales, dispersing D. ponderosae may behave like inert particles, causing terrain-induced tropospheric convective and advective currents to influence population dispersal and establishment. We use spatial point process regression models to examine the association of meso-scale variables, including landscape features and their orientations, habitat suitability, elevation and treatment efforts, with occurrence of D. ponderosae infestations in 2004, 2005, and 2006. Infestations of D. ponderosae primarily established in canyons and valleys, before moving into more open-sloped areas. Southwestern slopes of midslope ridges and small hills, southwest facing open slopes, and valleys that run in a northeast–southwest cardinal direction were positively associated with higher intensities of infestation. This study provides insight into the influences of complex terrain on landscape disturbance by a forest insect, and can be used to prioritize areas for potential management.     

The effect of the ‘Gait keeper’ mutation in the DMRT3 gene on gaiting ability in Icelandic horses

A nonsense mutation in DMRT3 (‘Gait keeper’ mutation) has a predominant effect on gaiting ability in horses, being permissive for the ability to perform lateral gaits and having a favourable effect on speed capacity in trot. The DMRT3 mutant allele (A) has been found in high frequency in gaited breeds and breeds bred for harness racing, while other horse breeds were homozygous for the wild‐type allele (C). The aim of this study was to evaluate further the effect of the DMRT3 nonsense mutation on the gait quality and speed capacity in the multigaited Icelandic horse and demonstrate how the frequencies of the A‐ and C‐ alleles have changed in the Icelandic horse population in recent decades. It was confirmed that homozygosity for the DMRT3 nonsense mutation relates to the ability to pace. It further had a favourable effect on scores in breeding field tests for the lateral gait tölt, demonstrated by better beat quality, speed capacity and suppleness. Horses with the CA genotype had on the other hand significantly higher scores for walk, trot, canter and gallop, and they performed better beat and suspension in trot and gallop. These results indicate that the AA genotype reinforces the coordination of ipsilateral legs, with the subsequent negative effect on the synchronized movement of diagonal legs compared with the CA genotype. The frequency of the A‐allele has increased in recent decades with a corresponding decrease in the frequency of the C‐allele. The estimated frequency of the A‐allele in the Icelandic horse population in 2012 was 0.94. Selective breeding for lateral gaits in the Icelandic horse population has apparently altered the frequency of DMRT3 genotypes with a predicted loss of the C‐allele in relatively few years. The results have practical implications for breeding and training of Icelandic horses and other gaited horse breeds.     

Sieving as an effluent treatment method for aquaculture

A new device designed for sieving of fish farm effluent (trademark Triangel Filter TF 2400) was tested in order to prove if such an apparatus may be used instead of the swirl concentrator. The phosphorus reduction was estimated by water sampling and phosphorus budget and by measuring the phosphorus content in flushing water and in settled sludge.

Sieving is a promising and useful method to treat aquaculture effluent, especially in ‘high-tech’ systems (recirculation, warmed water facilities) where high effluent quality and the most effective removal of solids is needed.