Effects of three different concentrate proportions and rapeseed meal supplement to grass silage on animal performance of dairy-breed bulls with TMR feeding

A 3 × 2 factorial design with growing dairy-breed bulls was used to study the effects on animal performance of (1) proportion of concentrate (rolled barley) in the diet, and (2) inclusion of rapeseed meal (RSM) in the barley-based concentrate in a total mixed ration (TMR). The interactions between concentrate proportion and RSM supplement were also examined.Three feeding experiments comprised in total of 84 Finnish Ayrshire bulls and 6 Friesian bulls. The bulls were fed TMR ad libitum. The three concentrate proportions were 300 (L), 500 (M) and 700 (H) g/kg dry matter (DM), fed without RSM (RSM−) or with RSM (RSM+). Rapeseed meal was given so that the crude protein (CP) content of the concentrate was raised to 160 g/kg DM in the RSM+ diets. In the RSM− diets the CP content of the concentrate was 128 g/kg DM, so the CP content increased 25% with RSM supplementation. Increasing the proportion of concentrate led to a linear improvement in daily live weight gain (LWG) (P < 0.05), but there were no significant treatment differences in the DM intake (kg/d). Increasing the proportion of concentrate also led to significantly higher CP (P < 0.001) and phosphorus (P) (P < 0.001) supply and significantly improved DM and organic matter (OM) digestibility (P < 0.001). However, the digestibility of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) decreased (P < 0.001) as the proportion of concentrate increased. The feed conversion rate (kg DM/kg LWG) decreased significantly with increasing concentrate proportion (P < 0.001). Rapeseed meal supplement had no effect on animal performance, but the supply of CP (P < 0.01) and P (P < 0.001) was higher when RSM was included in the diet. The CP (P < 0.001) and NDF (P < 0.05) digestibilities were also higher for the RSM+ diets than for the RSM− diets. Because RSM at the concentration used did not affect animal performance, there is no reason to use RSM supplementation for finishing dairy bulls when there is good quality grass silage and barley-based concentrate in the TMR ration. This study also shows that there is a need to update the Finnish feeding recommendations for dairy-breed growing bulls, and extra calculations are needed for the energy and protein supply of growing dairy bulls.     

Stem modeling and simulation of conversion of cork oak stems for quality wood products

Recent research is underway to study cork oak (Quercus suber L.) wood potential for production of wood components. A total of 35 stems of young and mature cork oaks were sampled, live sawn into flitches, scanned using VTT’s WoodCIM^®, and the measured data computed by VTT’s PuuPilot software, allowing stem 3D reconstruction. Sawing simulations were run for 0.5 m and 1 m logs and the whole stem. Sawn products were (1) planks, (2) parquet, (3) lamparquet, and (4) external component of multilayer planks. Cork oak stems showed a moderate to small taper (mean 24 mm/m). Curviness varied between straight to significantly crooked stems (mean value 40 mm) Batch yields for the tested products ranged 25–43% and 37–50% for 0.5 m logs of young and mature trees, respectively; for 1 m logs, batch yields ranged 19–41% and 25–54%. When using the whole stem, batch yields were lower, ranging 11–38% and 15–50%. Higher yields were obtained for all log lengths and samples for production of lamparquet, parquet, and multilayer component.     

Bioaccumulation of ivermectin from natural and artificial sediments in the benthic organism <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lumbriculus variegatus</Emphasis>

Purpose  

Although ivermectin is a widely used lipophilic parasiticide, data on its potential bioaccumulation in aquatic invertebrates are scarce. In this study, bioaccumulation patterns of radiolabeled ³H-ivermectin from sediments into tissues of the sediment-dwelling worm Lumbriculus variegatus were investigated and assessed.     

Predicting lumber grade and by-product yields for Scots pine trees

The purpose of this study was to develop models for estimating yields of lumber grades and by-products of individual Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees using stem and crown dimensions as explanatory variables. Two separate data sets were used: (1) one simulated by the process-based growth model, PipeQual, which provides information about stem form and branch properties. The model was used to predict the 3D structure of Scots pine stems from thinning regimes of varying intensity and rotation periods and (2) an empirical data set with detailed 3D measurements of stem structure. The stems were sawn using the WoodCim sawing simulator and the yields and grades of the individual sawn pieces, as well as by-products, were recorded. The sawn timber was classified on A, B, C and D-grades for side and centre boards separately (Nordic Timber grading). By-products were pulpwood, sawmill chips, sawdust and bark.     

Computer-controlled milk replacer feeding strategies for group-reared dairy calves

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of ad libitum and restricted computer-controlled milk replacer (MR) feeding strategies on performance of group-reared dairy calves during preweaning (from 0.5 to 2.0 months of age), weaning (2.0 to 2.5) and postweaning (2.5 to 6.0) periods. Two feeding trials comprised a total of 34 Finnish Ayrshire and 6 Holstein–Friesian bull calves. The calves were randomly (balanced for breed) allotted to pens (5 calves/pen) which were thereafter randomly allotted to two experimental treatments: 1) ad libitum MR feeding (F) with ad libitum access to MR and 2) restricted MR feeding (R) where the calves were given 6.0 L of MR daily. All the calves had free access to water, commercial starter and grass silage before weaning. The weaned calves had free access to water and silage and were given 3 kg/day (air-dry basis) of a concentrate mixture. Due to increased metabolizable energy intake (16.4 vs. 12.7 MJ/day; P < 0.05), the daily gain of the F calves was higher (690 vs. 543 g/day; P < 0.05) than that of the R calves during the preweaning period. Due to the more rapid increase in concentrate intake of the R calves during the weaning period the R calves grew better than the F calves (482 vs. 1038 g/day; P < 0.01) and the differences in live weight evened out during the weaning period. During the postweaning period there were no treatment differences in feed intake or gain. The average gain during the whole study was not affected by either of the treatments. Ad libitum feeding increased the variation in the MR intake and gain compared to restricted feeding.     

Structures of the bacterial ribosome in classical and hybrid states of tRNA binding

During protein synthesis, the ribosome controls the movement of tRNA and mRNA by means of large-scale structural rearrangements. We describe structures of the intact bacterial ribosome from Escherichia coli that reveal how the ribosome binds tRNA in two functionally distinct states, determined to a resolution of ~3.2 angstroms by means of x-ray crystallography. One state positions tRNA in the peptidyl-tRNA binding site. The second, a fully rotated state, is stabilized by ribosome recycling factor and binds tRNA in a highly bent conformation in a hybrid peptidyl/exit site. The structures help to explain how the ratchet-like motion of the two ribosomal subunits contributes to the mechanisms of translocation, termination, and ribosome recycling.     

Profitability, Liquidity and Solvency of Wood Harvesting Contractors in Finland

In order to respond to global competition challenges, the wood-processing industry in Finland and elsewhere is outsourcing roundwood harvesting to harvesting contractors. The industry also seeks to negotiate with fewer, larger and more diverse contractor enterprises. The weak profitability, liquidity and solvency of harvesting contractors and the consequent difficulty in hiring qualified machine operators make networking and enterprise growth a complicated process. Financial data of 1,060 Finnish wood harvesting contractors from the period 2001 to 2007 were studied using the ‘closing of the accounts’ data. The material represents most of the full-time contractors. For 2007 net profit was about 6%, credit share of turnover over 50% and median financial reserve €18,000. High machine depreciation and interest expenses together with low solidity make it difficult for small enterprises to absorb seasonal variations and to cope with recessions. Profitability varies considerably amongst smallest enterprises, which most often are sole-operator enterprises. Moreover, even the median profit of the smallest enterprises tends to be negative, which means that enterprise capital will be consumed and many enterprises are at risk of failure. Larger enterprises are more likely to be limited liability companies. Their median profit is clearly positive and the profit varies relative little between enterprises.     

Predicting the need for tending of conifer seedling stands in southern Finland

Assessing the need for and timing of tending in seedling stands is based on the stem numbers and heights of crop trees and competing broadleaves, as well as the expected forthcoming development of stand. The assessment is partly an outcome of field worker’s opinion and experience. The tending need of Norway spruce- and Scots pine-dominated seedling stands was modeled using the National Forest Inventory (NFI) data from southern Finland. The models predict the probabilities that the NFI field team leader’s proposal falls in the following four categories: tending is late, during the first or second 5-year period or no need for tending. The predictors such as stem numbers, tree heights, site fertility, regeneration method and accomplished tending logically explained the tending need. The overall accuracy of the models was only fair: 54% (kappa 0.27) for spruce and 55% (kappa 0.33) for pine. However, about 95% of the stands needing immediate tending were classified as stands needing immediate or first 5-year period tending. The surveyor-specific random effects were statistically significant, and the surveyors were likely to propose tending similarly in spruce and pine stands. The models can be utilized in forest planning systems and practical forest inventory.     

Predicting probability of A-quality lumber of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) prior to or concurrently with logging operation

Knot properties have a profound influence on the suitability of wood for many wood products leading to significant value differences between different quality grades. It would therefore be rather advantageous to maximise the volume of good quality timber attained from the logs. The objective of this study was to assess how well A-quality lumber of Scots pine derived from log tomography features can be predicted with characteristics measured prior to or concurrently with the logging operation. The study is based on field experiments and X-ray scanning of 204 stems from southern Finland in 2014. We employed mixed logistic regression techniques to model the relationship between the main stem characteristics and probability of A-quality lumber. From the tree characteristics that can be measured or detected from standing trees, the height from the ground level to the lowest dead branch was found to be the best predictor of A-quality lumber. From the characteristics that could, at least in theory, be detected and measured at the moment of harvest, early growth rate and size of tree were found to be the best combination for predicting the probability of A-class quality.