Production and oxidation of wool grease after shearing

OBJECTIVE: To measure the production and amount of oxidation of wool grease secreted immediately after shearing. To identify components of wool grease that might act as a carrier to facilitate lateral diffusion of topically applied insecticides. DESIGN: Fine-wool Merino sheep were shorn and residual greasy wool was collected from the sheep's flank. The quantity of grease produced, and the amount of oxidation was measured during 18 days after shearing. Wool grease was fractionated into five component groups based on their polarity and the degree of oxidation in these fractions determined. RESULTS: There was a 24% increase in grease production within 2 days after shearing but secretions returned to pre-shearing amounts after 4 days. During this period wool grease oxidized rapidly. Of the grease fractions examined, sterol and wax esters remained essentially unoxidized whereas free sterols such as cholesterol and lanosterol, fatty acids and polar lipids, aldehydes and alcohols were extensively oxidized within 7 days after shearing. CONCLUSION: The transient increase in grease production after shearing may facilitate diffusion of topically applied synthetic pyrethroid insecticides. Oxidation of grease components may then contain the insecticide and limit further diffusion. Incorporating the insecticide in non-oxidising fractions of wool grease may make insecticide dispersion more efficient.     

Effect of varying density and water level on the spawning response of African catfish Clarias gariepinus: Implications for seed production

The development of a reliable methodology for spawning of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus without the use of hormone injections would greatly improve the prospects of aquaculture in Africa. Earlier work has shown that it is possible to produce C. gariepinus fingerlings by subjecting the broodfish to a physical stress of reduced water depth and/or increased temperature. The hypothesis that C. gariepinus could be induced to spawn through a combined physical stress of lowered water level and increased stocking density was tested in concrete tanks. Three water levels (25, 50 and 75 cm) and three stocking densities (2, 4 and 6 pairs of broodfish at a 1:1 sex ratio in each hapa) were tested. Water depth in the tanks and brood fish density in the hapas affected spawning success. The percentage of spawning females was significantly higher when broodfish were stocked at 2 and 4 pairs in each hapa at water levels of 25 cm or 50 cm. There was no significant difference in spawning response between the 25 and 50 cm depths while a significant difference was seen between the 75 cm and both 25 and 50 cm depths. The results indicate optimum levels and densities for enhancing spawning success in C. gariepinus.     

Influence of overplanting paddy rice on irrigation water delivery performance: a case study in the Dakalt branch canal,Nile Delta of Egypt

In the North Nile Delta of Egypt, the impacts of overplanting paddy rice on water delivery performance have not been discussed quantitatively. Further, the amount of water that could have been saved if farmers would follow the planned area is unknown. In this study, water delivery performance was assessed by comparison of actual paddy rice planting and the government’s planned conditions. For both conditions, performance indicators relating to adequacy, equity, and dependability were analyzed across six locations in conjunction with the branch canal water level in 2013 and 2014. Based on the difference between the actual water supply and planned water demand, the amount of water that could have been saved for downstream uses was calculated. The average adequacy for the investigation period was good at one location, fair at 2 locations, and poor at 3 locations in both years. Further, adequacy under both actual and planned conditions was poor in late July at all locations. The planned adequacy and dependability downstream and equity among locations improved compared to the actual condition in both years. Under the condition that paddy rice area is the upper limit planned by the government, about 12.3% and 9.6% of water could be potentially saved in each year. The difference between actual and planned water delivery performance is caused by the branch canal’s low water level. Control of overplanting paddy rice and coordination of water distribution among water user associations would improve stable water level in the canal and, eventually, water delivery performance.

     

Selection in Faba Bean for Tolerance to Broomrape, Orobanche crenata Forsk.

Six populations of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) were developed through various selection schemes to examine the influence of selection In improving tolerance to Orobanche crenata (Forsk.) in local faba bean stocks. All populations trace their origin to 209 farmers’ seed lots that were collected from Egypt. The entries of each population were grown during the 1982/1983 season in the Orobanche nursery located at Giza in Egypt. Comparison among means of the selected, populations showed that more progress in improving Orobanche tolerance could be achieved from combined selection between and within lots. Between-lots selection was less efficient than single-plant selection. Results, of this study show that considerable progress could be achieved from selection for Orobanche tolerance in local faba bean germplasm. There was sufficient residual genetic variation in the selected populations to expect substantial progress from further selection for most tolerance traits.     

The immune response to bovine viral diarrhea virus: a constantly changing picture.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is one of the major immuno-suppressive viruses of cattle. The effect on the innate and acquired immune system is unique and results in dramatic immune dysfunction. BVDV infection also has the ability to cause persistent infection (PI) in the developing fetus. This Pl syndrome creates a requirement for high levels of BVDV immunity from vaccines to prevent these infections. BVDV vaccines and their future development continue to be an enigma in the control of BVDV.     

Evaluation of a 4‐h static copper sulphate treatment against experimental infection of Flavobacterium columnare in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

The efficacy of copper sulphate (CuSO₄) against the early stages of an experimental acute infection of Flavobacterium columnare in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) was evaluated. Fish were challenged, by waterborne exposure to F. columnare in an ultra‐low flow‐through water delivery system, and treated with CuSO₄ at 4.2 and 2.1 mg L^?1 at 5.5 h post challenge for 4 h. Bacterial challenged non‐treated fish acted as a positive control and non‐challenged non‐treated fish acted as a negative control. Fish challenged with F. columnare and treated with CuSO₄ at 4.2 and 2.1 mg L^?1 post challenge had mortalities of 6.4% and 18.3%, respectively, compared with the positive control, which had 90.2% mortality. The mortality of challenged fish treated with CuSO₄ at 4.2 and 2.1 mg L^?1 was significantly different from the positive control. There was no significant difference between the mortalities of the 4.2 and 2.1 mg L^?1 treatments. The results suggest that CuSO₄ has clear therapeutic value against columnaris infections.     

Kisspeptin injection improved the semen characteristics and sperm rheotaxis in Ossimi ram

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of kisspeptin-10 (Kp10) injection on semen characteristics, testosterone (T) production and sperm rheotaxis using microfluidic devices in immature ram. Computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) with controlled flow velocity was used to explore the kinetic parameters of sperm and positive rheotaxis (PR %). PR % was defined as the number of PR sperms over the number of motile sperms. Healthy Ossimi rams were randomly divided into two groups; a saline-treated control group and Kp10-treated one (5 µg/kg body weight). Treatments were given by intramuscular injection once a week for 1 month. After 1 month, the semen was collected and evaluated weekly for 6 weeks, while the blood samples were collected every 2 weeks for the next 8 weeks. Semen properties were significantly affected by Kp10 injection (p < .01). The Kp10 increased the volume, sperm concentration and percentages of live sperm compared with those of control. Additionally, sperm trajectories and rheotaxis get improved by the injection of Kp10 with time. Furthermore, kisspeptin improved the secretion of testosterone levels throughout the period of study. In conclusion, injections of the Kp10 had a positive impact on semen characteristics as well as improved sperm rheotaxis of Ossimi rams in subtropics.