The effect of sowing date, stale seedbed, row width and mechanical weed control on weeds and yields of organic winter wheat

Three field experiments were carried out in organically grown winter wheat in Denmark. The treatments were sowing time (normal or late sowing) and false seedbed, row width (12 and 24 cm) and weed control method [untreated; mechanical weed control (weed harrowing at 12 cm supplemented with inter‐row hoeing at 24 cm); and herbicide weed control]. Weed biomass in midsummer was greatest on plots sown at the normal sowing time (compared with delayed sowing) and was reduced by mechanical or chemical weed control (compared with untreated plots). Row width alone had no influence on weed biomass, but in the experiment with high weed pressure, the more intensive mechanical weed control used at a row width of 24 cm reduced weed biomass. Normal sowing time tended to give higher yields, but this was only statistically significant in one of the three experiments. Wide rows gave a yield decrease in the experiment with low weed pressure. The effect of weed control on yield was dependent on the weed pressure. At low weed pressure, mechanical weed control caused a yield decrease compared with untreated or herbicide treated. At intermediate weed levels there were no differences, whereas at high weed pressure, mechanical weed control and herbicide treatment caused a yield increase compared with untreated. False seedbeds were shown to contribute to a decrease in the soil seed reserve.     

Isolation and pathogenicity of Colletotrichum spp. causing anthracnose of strawberry in south west Spain

Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum spp., is a major disease of cultivated strawberry, Fragaria × ananassa. This study identifies the Colletotrichum spp. which causes strawberry anthracnose in the southwest of Spain. A survey of the region was carried out, and the strains isolated were identified as C. acutatum by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with genus and species-specific primers, demonstrating that this species is currently the causal agent of strawberry anthracnose in the studied region. The pathogenicity of C. acutatum and C. gloeosporioides strains was evaluated on two principal strawberry cultivars (cvs Camarosa and Ventana) under field conditions, the latter being more pathogenic than the former.     

Effects of tetracycline administration on the proteomic profile of pig muscle samples (L. dorsi)

Effect of tetracycline (TC) administration on the proteomic profile of pig muscle was evaluated by 2D electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The TC content at slaughter was determined in L. dorsi samples by HPLC-DAD. Mean residual concentration of TC in the muscle of treated animals, calculated as the sum of TC and epi-TC was 126.3 microg/kg, indicating a rapid elimination of TC in this tissue. Several differential spots (n = 54, p < 0.05) were observed in protein profiles from control and treated animals. MALDI-TOF identification gave a positive match for 5 differential spots, that is, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 1 (G3PD1), phosphoglycerate kinase 1, novelprotein (0610037L13Rik), leucine aminopeptidase 3 (LAP), and hypothetical protein isoform 2. Results show that proteomics could be a useful tool to reveal pharmacological treatments with TC, even if the possible uses of differential spots as biomarkers to detect illegal administration of TC require further studies. Different spot patterns as a consequence of TC treatments seem to be another interesting issue for the consequences on tissue metabolism and meat quality.     

A novel approach to estimating the competitive ability of Cirsium arvense in cereals using unmanned aerial vehicle imagery

Eight experiments were carried out in Denmark to determine the yield loss of spring barley due to Cirsium arvense in farmers' fields and to suggest and evaluate a novel approach for quantifying C. arvense infestation in large plots. Literature about the competitive ability of C. arvense is old, scattered and inconclusive, and existing models for estimating crop yield loss are based on data from North America. This study showed that C. arvense coverage could be quantified from unmanned aerial vehicle imagery using a manual image analysis procedure. This gave similar results as scoring the coverage. Yield loss of spring barley due to C. arvense infestation assessed at harvest was given by Y = 100·(1−exp(−0.00170·X)) where Y is the percentage of crop yield loss and X is the percentage of C. arvense coverage. The yield loss was much lower than estimates from models that have been developed in North America. It is speculated that the main reason for this is the later emergence of C. arvense than the crop due to lower soil temperatures in spring. Grain moisture increased linearly with C. arvense coverage: M = 0.0310·X where M is the proportional (%) increase in grain moisture and X is the proportion (%) of C. arvense coverage. Automated image analysis procedures are needed to estimate C. arvense coverage on field scales, and further experiments are needed to reveal whether the low competitive ability of C. arvense found in this study is representative for Northern Europe.     

Intensive rearing of juvenile crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus,Astacidae) during the first 6 months: effects of size grading

Recent advances in crayfish feeding have enabled the development of size grading studies from the start of first‐feeding. A 180‐day experiment aimed at intensive rearing of Pacifastacus leniusculus was carried out under controlled conditions, evaluating the effects of size grading at two different periods from the onset of exogenous feeding. Stage 2 juveniles were stocked in fibreglass tanks at a density of 100 m², and fed a dry diet for salmonids combined with restricted amounts of Artemia cysts. Five groups were tested: no grading, grading at 60 days (large and small size) and grading at 100 days (large and small size). After 6 months, no significant differences were found in the survival among groups (mean: 73.06%). The highest final growth (pooled results from upper and lower classes: 17.39 mm carapace length, 1.43 g weight) was achieved by the crayfish sorted at 60 days, showing significant differences from the ungraded group. Smaller crayfish graded at 60 days grew significantly faster than smaller crayfish graded at 100 days. The food conversion ratio was lower in the graded groups (mean: 2.64), showing significant differences from the ungraded group (3.23). This study shows that size grading allows a better performance and an improved feeding efficiency.     

Persistent BVDV infection in mousedeer infects calves. Do we know the reservoirs for BVDV?

Bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV)-1f was isolated from a Lesser Malayan Mousedeer in Copenhagen Zoo during a routine screening. Analysis of animals related to the Copenhagen mousedeer revealed that its mother and all siblings were virus positive, a pattern also seen for persistently infected (PI) cattle. BVDV could be transmitted from the PI mousedeer to a calf after indirect contact. The host spectrum for BVDV seems to be even wider than expected; the implications for BVDV control are discussed.     

An in vitro study of hematopoietic progenitor cells from peripheral blood of rabbits

The purpose of this study was to isolate and cultivate a subpopulation of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) from the peripheral blood of rabbits, which are frequently used in veterinary research as an animal model. Pluripotent stem cells, as described in human beings, are fibroblast-like cells that exhibit a CD34 marker, specific from other hematopoietic stem cells. Commonly used human commercial media has been researched for culturing rabbit PSCs. These findings allow us to contemplate the direct application of this simple and standardized methodology in several areas of study, such as of the pharmacological effect of many drugs on hematopoietic cells, veterinary practice, and even the study of new strategies in cellular therapy for some human diseases.     

Effects of intravesical hydrostatic pressure and volume on the distensibility of the canine prostatic portion of the urethra

Positive-contrast retrograde urethrocystograms were obtained serially on 12 male dogs weighing 11.4 to 23.2 kg before, during, and after the injection of contrast medium until the urinary bladder neck and prostatic and membranous portions of the urethra remained open and distended as viewed by fluoroscopy. Correlations of intravesical volumes and pressures required to achieve maximum distension of the midprostatic portion of the urethra with body weight and surface area were not significant. Because of the variability in intravesical volumes and pressures encountered at maximum distension of the prostatic portion of the urethra, a dose of contrast material expressed relative to body weight or surface area could not be determined for consistently providing maximum distension of the prostatic portion of the urethra.     

Evaluation of human recombinant tissue factor-activated thromboelastography in 49 dogs with neoplasia

BACKGROUND: Abnormal routine coagulation assay results have been reported to be common in veterinary patients with neoplasia, but the overall hemostatic functional state, including hypercoagulability, has not been described. HYPOTHESIS: The overall hemostatic functional state, including hypercoagulability, can be assessed in dogs with neoplasia by tissue factor (TF)-activated thromboelastography (TEG). ANIMALS: Thirty-six dogs with malignant neoplasia and 13 dogs with benign neoplasia presented to the Small Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital, The University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark. METHODS: Prospective study evaluating the overall hemostatic functional state in dogs with neoplasia by a newly validated TF-activated TEG assay and routine coagulation parameters activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), platelet count, and D-dimer concentration. RESULTS: Hemostatic dysfunction was observed in 28/49 (57%) dogs with neoplasia. Twenty-four were dogs with malignant neoplasia, the majority of which 18/36 (50%) were hypercoagulable, whereas 6/36 (17%) were hypocoagulable. All hypocoagulable dogs had metastatic disease. The proportion of dogs with altered hemostasis was significantly different between dogs with malignant and benign neoplasia. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: TF-activated TEG detected hypercoagulable and hypocoagulable states in this population of dogs with neoplasia. The most common hemostatic abnormality in dogs with malignant neoplasia was hypercoagulability. These findings suggest that this novel hemostatic function test may be of value as a cage side method for the assessment of overall hemostatic function in dogs with cancer, including the detection of both hyper- and hypocoagulable states as well as mixed disorders.