Early harvest and ensilage of forage sorghum infected with ergot (Claviceps africana) reduces the risk of livestock poisoning

Sorghum ergot produces dihydroergosine (DHES) and related alkaloids, which cause hyperthermia in cattle. Proportions of infected panicles (grain heads), leaves and stems were determined in two forage sorghum crops extensively infected 2 to 4 weeks prior to sampling and the panicles were assayed for DHES. Composite samples from each crop, plus a third grain variety crop, were coarsely chopped and half of each sealed in plastic buckets for 6 weeks to simulate ensilation. The worst-infected panicles contained up to 55 mg DHES/kg, but dilution reduced average concentrations of DHES in crops to approximately 1 mg/kg, a relatively safe level for cattle. Ensilation significantly (P = 0.043) reduced mean DHES concentrations from 0.85 to 0.46 mg/kg.     

Determination of the Sea Age of Atlantic Salmon in Scottish Catches from Length Composition Data

The importance of obtaining reliable estimates of the sea age composition of reported salmon catches are discussed. The use of length frequency distributions to determine the sea age of salmon in samples taken from the North Esk commercial catch are described. The results obtained using this technique are compared to those obtained from scale reading on a 4 weekly basis over a 16-year period. The use of length frequencies is shown to provide a reliable estimate of the sea age composition of catch samples. The adoption of this technique in catch sampling programmes is labour saving and facilitates rapid sampling.     

Sulphur in soil and light fraction organic matter as influenced by long-term application of superphosphate

Numerous studies have examined the role of light fraction (LF) organic matter in soil C and N cycling, but there is no published information on the amounts and nature of S in LF. The objective of this work was to characterize the S composition of LF in soils receiving different inputs of fertilizer S. Soils (0-7.5 cm) were taken from a long-term experiment (1952-1999) set up to examine the effects of single superphosphate (SP) (applied at 0, 188, or 376 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, which equates to 0, 21, and 42 kg SO₄-S ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) on the productivity of an irrigated, grass-clover pasture grazed by sheep. The S content of LF (separated by flotation on NaI solution with specific gravity 1.7) increased by ∼20-30% in response to SP. The LF was enriched in organic S compared with whole soil (S concentration in LF was ∼1000-1400 mg kg⁻¹ vs ∼400-500 mg kg⁻¹ in whole soil), but LF-S represented only 1.3-4.7% of soil S. Most (∼88%) of the S in LF was C-bonded, reflecting the dominance of this form of S in organic matter returned to the soil in dung and plant residues. Hydriodic acid (HI) reducible-S accounted for only ∼12% of LF-S, compared with 28-35% of whole soil organic S. Superphosphate tended to increase total soil N, due to improved clover growth. There was a strong positive relationship between total N and C-bonded S in whole soil and LF, whereas soil HI-S and N were not associated. Increases in C-bonded S where SP was applied appeared to be driven mainly by increases in soil N, which in turn were due to improved clover growth in response to phosphate supplied by SP. Increases in HI-S due to SP application were probably a direct response to inputs of S. As LF is a small pool of S, with a relatively wide C:S ratio (∼200:1), we concluded that it is unlikely to contribute a significant amount of plant-available S.     

Global status of wheat leaf rust caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Puccinia triticina</Emphasis>

Leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina is the most common and widely distributed of the three wheat rusts. Losses from leaf rust are usually less damaging than those from stem rust and stripe rust, but leaf rust causes greater annual losses due to its more frequent and widespread occurrence. Yield losses from leaf rust are mostly due to reductions in kernel weight. Many laboratories worldwide conduct leaf rust surveys and virulence analyses. Most currently important races (pathotypes) have either evolved through mutations in existing populations or migrated from other, often unknown, areas. Several leaf rust resistance genes are cataloged, and high levels of slow rusting adult plant resistance are available in high yielding CIMMYT wheats. This paper summarizes the importance of leaf rust in the main wheat production areas as reflected by yield losses, the complexity of virulence variation in pathogen populations, the role cultivars with race-specific resistance play in pathogen evolution, and the control measures currently practiced in various regions of the world.     

The community benefits of farm safety day camps

In addition to the direct impact of a farm safety day camp on its participants' knowledge and safety awareness, there are extended and indirect effects that occur through the wider dispersion of information and the involvement and cooperation of community members. Reports completed by 228 coordinators of farm safety day camps, report forms completed by 5,037 volunteers at farm safety day camps, and telephone interviews with 924 parents of farm safety day camp participants were analyzed for evidence of the impact of the camps beyond the immediate knowledge gained by the children who participated. These data indicate that the indirect benefits to a community include enhanced safety awareness within the wider community as children and adult volunteers disseminate the information they learned, as well as enhanced community strength and cohesiveness resulting from the cooperation of many individuals and organizations in achieving a common goal.     

Cloacal papillomatosis in the absence of herpesvirus and papillomavirus in a sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)

CASE HISTORY A 21-year-old male sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) was presented following the sudden appearance of blood associated with the passage of faeces and urates.

CLINICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: There was fresh blood-staining of the feathers around the vent. The dorsal mucosal wall of the proctodeum was erythematous and roughened in appearance. An endoscopic biopsy was performed, and histological examination revealed multiple fronds of epithelium; the mucosa varied from simple to pseudostratified columnar epithelium, with diffuse hyperplasia of goblet cells. The underlying connective tissue stroma was well vascularised and was infiltrated with mixed inflammatory cells, comprising granulocytic cells and macrophages. PCR testing for both herpesvirus and papillomavirus, using consensus primers, was negative.

DIAGNOSIS: Cloacal papillomatosis.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This case manifested typical clinical signs and histological lesions of cloacal papillomatosis in the absence of demonstrable herpesvirus or papillomavirus. Veterinarians need to consider this disease in the differential diagnosis of blood in the droppings of parrots and cockatoos even in countries where psittacine herpesviruses are exotic diseases.     

A serological survey of cattle in the Thames-Coromandel district of New Zealand for antibodies to Ross River virus

AIM: To determine if cattle exposed to the southern saltmarsh mosquito (SSM), Aedes camptorhynchus, in the Thames-Coromandel district of New Zealand had been exposed to Ross River virus (RRV).

METHODS: A purposive sampling design was used to test cattle from seven farms located in close proximity to four sites infested with A. camptorhynchus in the Thames-Coromandel district. Sera from 207 cattle were tested for antibodies to RRV, using an ELISA and confi rmatory virus neutralisation test (VNT) as the gold standard.

RESULTS: All 207 cattle tested negative for antibodies to RRV using the ELISA and VNT.

CONCLUSIONS: This study found no evidence of exposure to RRV in cattle in locations in the Thames-Coromandel district of New Zealand where populations of SSM were present.