Ruminal degradation kinetics,intake, digestibility,and feeding behavior of beef steers offered annual or perennial grass-hay with or without supplementation

Effects of dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) on ruminal fermentation, degradation kinetics, and feeding behavior of steers offered annual (Eragrostis tef; TEFF) or perennial (Bothriochloa bladhii; OWB) grass hay were evaluated. Ruminally cannulated Angus crossbred steers (n = 6; body weight [BW] = 304 ± 11 kg) were assigned to a 4 × 6 unbalanced Latin square design with four treatments arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial: hay type (OWB or TEFF) and DDGS supplementation (0% or 0.5% BW [dry matter {DM} basis]). Steers had ad libitum access to hay. Periods consisted of a 14-d adaptation followed by 7 d of collection. Residues from the in situ incubations (0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, and 96 h post-feeding) were fitted to a first-order kinetics model using the NLIN procedure of SAS. The DDGS decreased (P < 0.01) TEFF DM intake (DMI) by 11.3%, while not affecting DMI of OWB. The greatest DMI was observed for steers supplemented with DDGS, regardless of forage, and least in steers consuming OWB without DDGS (hay type × DDGS; P = 0.03). Non-supplemented steers spent more (P < 0.01) time eating hay. Digestibility of DM tended (P = 0.06) to increase with DDGS supplementation. A hay type × DDGS interaction was observed (P ≤ 0.05) on ruminal effective degradable fractions. The rate of degradation, soluble fraction, and the potentially degradable fraction of organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber (ADF) increased (P ≤ 0.05), while the undegradable fraction of all components decreased (P ≤ 0.01) when steers were offered TEFF compared to OWB. Ruminal DM, OM, and ADF degradation lag-time increased (P ≤ 0.02) in steers offered OWB. Ruminal degradation kinetics were not (P ≥ 0.17) independently affected by DDGS supplementation. Average ruminal pH of steers offered TEFF (P < 0.01) and those offered DDGS (P < 0.01) were lower than OWB and non-supplemented steers. Total concentration of VFA tended (P = 0.09) to increase when DDGS was provided with OWB, while decreasing when TEFF was offered. The acetate:propionate increased (P < 0.01) with DDGS supplementation due to a decrease (P = 0.03) in propionate. Ruminal NH₃-N was greater (P = 0.03) in steers offered TEFF compared to OWB, and those supplemented with DDGS (P = 0.03). An annual, in place of a conventional, perennial hay improved intake and digestion of nutrients, without affecting feeding behavior. The supplementation with DDGS appears to affect forage intake, ruminal degradation, and feeding behavior, although not independent of forage quality.     

The genus phytophthora anno 2012

Plant diseases caused by Phytophthora species will remain an ever increasing threat to agriculture and natural ecosystems. Phytophthora literally means plant destroyer, a name coined in the 19th century by Anton de Bary when he investigated the potato disease that set the stage for the Great Irish Famine. Phytophthora infestans, the causal agent of potato late blight, was the first species in a genus that at present has over 100 recognized members. In the last decade, the number of recognized Phytophthora species has nearly doubled and new species are added almost on a monthly basis. Here we present an overview of the 10 clades that are currently distinguished within the genus Phytophthora with special emphasis on new species that have been described since 1996 when Erwin and Ribeiro published the valuable monograph 'Phytophthora diseases worldwide' (35).     

Relationship between oxidative stress and clinical-pathological aspects in dogs experimentally infected with Rangelia vitalii

The aim of this study was to evaluate lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and activity of enzymes that are indicators of oxidative stress in Rangelia vitalii infection in dogs. Animals were divided into two groups: negative control (n=5) and infected with R. vitalii (n=7). After inoculation, the parasitemia was estimated daily by microscopic examination of smears. Lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP); and delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase (δ-ALA-D), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in blood were evaluated. The samples were collected at days 10 and 20 post-inoculation (PI). TBARS and AOPP levels were higher in the infected group in both analyzed periods (P<0.01). The δ-ALA-D activity was reduced in blood of dogs infected with R. vitalii on days 10 and 20 PI. SOD activity was significantly increased (P<0.01) in the blood of dogs infected with R. vitalii at days 10 and 20 PI, while CAT activity was significantly increased (P<0.01) only at day 20 PI when compared to non-infected animals. A positive correlation was observed between the degree of parasitemia and TBARS and AOPP levels and activity of antioxidant enzymes. The δ-ALA-D activity was negatively correlated with the degree of parasitemia. Based on the increased levels of TBARS, AOPP, SOD and CAT activities, and inhibition δ-ALA-D activity, we concluded that dogs experimentally infected with R. vitalii develop a state of redox unbalance and that these changes might be involved in the pathophysiology of disease.     

Effects of crude protein and sodium intake on water turnover in cats fed extruded diets

The comprehension of strategies to increase urine production may be important, especially in kibble diets to prevent urolithiasis in cats. The effects of increasing amounts of crude protein (CP) and sodium on the water turnover of cats were evaluated using the water balance (WB) method and the deuterium dilution technique. The study followed a randomized block design, with three blocks of eight cats, two cats per food type in each block, and six cats per food. Four extruded diets with different amounts of CP and sodium were evaluated (on DM basis): 28% CP and 0.58% sodium; 39% CP and 0.64% sodium; 52% CP and 0.76% sodium; and 64% CP and 0.87% sodium. Cats were individually housed in cages for 8 days to measure WB, urea excretion, and faecal and urine characteristics. Deuterium oxide was used to evaluate water turnover, and during the period cats were housed in a collective cattery. The data were analysed by an F test, and the means were compared by polynomial contrasts. The ɑ level of significance was set at 0.05. The methods were compared by Pearson correlation, and Bland and Altman analysis. The increase in the CP content elevated linearly the renal excretion of urea (p < .001), and, together with the higher sodium intake, elevated the renal solute load, which resulted in a linear increase in urine production and water intake (p < .01). The urine density, metabolic water, and faecal and insensible water losses did not differ (p > .05). The water flux increased linearly when using the deuterium method (p < .001), but the obtained values were 20.85 ± 11.11 ml/cat/day higher than those verified using the WB method (p = .001). Higher CP and sodium amounts in dry diets increased the urine production and water consumption of cats, and this can be explored as a possible option to increase urination.     

Transdisciplinary unifying implications of circadian findings in the 1950s

Afew puzzles relating to a small fraction of my endeavors in the 1950s are summarized herein, with answers to a few questions of the Editor-in-Chief, to suggest that the rules of variability in time complement the rules of genetics as a biological variability in space. I advocate to replace truisms such as a relative constancy or homeostasis, that have served bioscience very well for very long. They were never intended, however, to lower a curtain of ignorance over everyday physiology. In raising these curtains, we unveil a range of dynamics, resolvable in the data collection and as-one-goes analysis by computers built into smaller and smaller devices, for a continued self-surveillance of the normal and for an individualized detection of the abnormal. The current medical art based on spotchecks interpreted by reference to a time-unqualified normal range can become a science of time series with tests relating to the individual in inferential statistical terms. This is already doable for the case of blood pressure, but eventually should become possible for many other variables interpreted today only based on the quicksand of clinical trials on groups. These ignore individual differences and hence the individual's needs. Chronomics (mapping time structures) with the major aim of quantifying normalcy by dynamic reference values for detecting earliest risk elevation, also yields the dividend of allowing molecular biology to focus on the normal as well as on the grossly abnormal.     

THE CRUDE PROTEIN AND NITRATE NITROGEN RELATIONSHIP IN S22 IN RESPONSE TO NITROGEN AND POTASH FERTILIZER TREATMENTS

A field experiment to consider the effects of sulphate of ammonia and calcium nitrate at two levels of potash showed that there was little difference between the two forms of applied N in regard to percentage and yield of crude protein. High potash tended to depress both values, where calcium nitrate was the form of N applied.
Calcium nitrate generally gave higher nitrate-N percentages in the herbage, especially at the lower percentage crude protein values; levels of applied N and season also affect nitrate-N percentage in herbage.     

Impacts of hemlock looper defoliation on growth and survival of balsam fir, black spruce and white birch in Newfoundland, Canada

Hemlock looper (Lambdina fiscellaria fiscellaria (Guen.)) is an economically damaging defoliator that undergoes periodic outbreaks in Newfoundland, Canada. It defoliates and causes extensive tree mortality to its primary host, balsam fir (Abies balsamea [L.] Mill.). We quantified tree survival using data from permanent sample plots (PSPs) and growth reduction or release using dendrochronology, and related these impacts to defoliation severity determined from annual aerial defoliation survey data. Such impact relationships are necessary as a fundamental input to a Decision Support System. Growth and survival of balsam fir, black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) and white birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) were assessed from 1996 to 2008 in 48 Newfoundland Forest Service PSPs, selected based on four classes of defoliation severity. Two years of severe (71-100%) defoliation resulted in almost complete mortality for balsam fir, 10 years after defoliation, whereas survival was 70-80% for black spruce and white birch. Lower defoliation severity (1-2 years of moderate (31-70%) or 1 year of severe) resulted in approximately 60% survival for balsam fir and no reduction in survival for black spruce and white birch. Maximum growth reduction of balsam fir was 10-15% with 1 year of moderate-severe defoliation, 35-40% with 2 years of moderate defoliation, and about 50% with 2 years of severe defoliation. Growth recovered to pre-defoliation rates 5 years after defoliation ceased in all severity classes. Growth reduction and recovery of black spruce were more variable and lower than for balsam fir, and white birch exhibited only minor (<10%) growth reduction during the defoliation year or 1 year after defoliation. Control measures should focus on avoiding severe defoliation for two consecutive years.     

Patterns of genetic diversity that result from bottlenecks in Scots Pine and the implications for local genetic conservation and management practices in Bulgaria

As one of the principal coniferous species of commercial importance in Bulgaria, Scots Pine has been subjected to strict management, which has posed a challenge for the conservation and management of its gene pool. In this study, we measured genetic diversity and population structure using 6 microsatellite loci in 12 populations from Bulgarian mountain ranges. Our analysis showed good intrapopulation divergence (18.22%; AMOVA) and genetic evidence of bottlenecks. “NJ-IAM” and “non-admixing” clusters divided the populations into 3 large groups. Our microsatellite analysis was consistent with the documented “mountain effect” influence on genetic diversity. Two methods—the Coalescent Bayesian model and M-stat analysis—implicated recent bottlenecks for all populations, suggesting that the genetic structure of Bulgarian Scots Pine was shaped over a long period (one thousand generations; i.e. 20,000 years) by the interaction of genetic and autoecological processes. Our results suggest that conservation and management practices should strive to maintain this genetic differentiation, specifically by emphasizing reforestation efforts with stocks from local provenances to avoid nonlocal introductions.