Ergovaline does not alter the severity of ryegrass staggers induced by lolitrem B

AIM: To investigate a possible interaction between lolitrem B and ergovaline by comparing the incidence and severity of ryegrass staggers in sheep grazing ryegrass (Lolium perenne) containing lolitrem B or ryegrass containing both lolitrem B and ergovaline.

METHODS: Ninety lambs, aged approximately 6 months, were grazed on plots of perennial ryegrass infected with either AR98 endophyte (containing lolitrem B), standard endophyte (containing lolitrem B and ergovaline) or no endophyte, for up to 42 days from 2 February 2010. Ten lambs were grazed on three replicate plots per cultivar. Herbage samples were collected for alkaloid analysis and lambs were scored for ryegrass staggers (scores from 0–5) weekly during the study. Any animal which was scored ≥4 was removed from the study.

RESULTS: Concentrations of lolitrem B did not differ between AR98 and standard endophyte-infected pastures during the study period (p=0.26), and ergovaline was present only in standard endophyte pastures. Ryegrass staggers was observed in sheep grazing both the AR98 and standard endophyte plots, with median scores increasing in the third week of the study. Prior to the end of the 42-day grazing period, 22 and 17 animals were removed from the standard endophyte and AR98 plots, respectively, because their staggers scores were ≥4. The cumulative probability of lambs having scores ≥4 did not differ between animals grazing the two pasture types (p=0.41).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There was no evidence for ergovaline increasing the severity of ryegrass staggers induced by lolitrem B. In situations where the severity of ryegrass staggers appears to be greater than that predicted on the basis of concentrations of lolitrem B, the presence of other tremorgenic alkaloids should be investigated.     

Foot and mouth disease and bluetongue: differences and similarities

On 26th of july 2007 a new case of bluetongue was notified in the Netherlands and on 2nd of august 2007 foot-and-mouth disease was diagnosed in Surrey, England, which raised the threat of having both infections simultaniously in one area. Bluetongue and foot-and-mouth disease have a different pathogenesis, but symptoms may resemble each other at a later stage of infection. The pathogenesis and possible clinical symptoms of both infections are discussed and illustrated with pictures.     

Drainage and vertical hydraulic conductivity of some Dutch “knik” clay soils

The vertical K-sat of a clay layer, occurring between 30 and 60 cm below the soil surface, was measured in situ in early spring at thirteen sites, using large soil columns. Gypsum was used to form a barrier around the column and K-sat values were measured with an infiltrometer in columns that were first attached and then detached from the subsoil. This procedure allows an estimate of the occurrence of large continuous pores, such as vertical worm channels. Highest values were found in tile-drained grassland, followed by grassland with surface drainage only, and by tile-drained arable land. Relatively low K-sat for the silty subsoil, rather than the (high) vertical K-sat for the clay layer, is considered to be responsible for high groundwater tables in the wet season.Undisturbed, large columns were taken to the laboratory and saturated for a period of three months to simulate prolonged swelling after a very wet season, and to measure chloride-breakthrough curves, for characterizing soil-pore continuity. The clay layer, sampled in the surface-drained grassland, showed no significant reduction of K-sat after prolonged swelling, but the one for arable land was reduced. Moreover, flow in the latter occurred through only a few relatively large, continuous pores, whereas a more heterogeneous pore system was found for the column from grassland. The already high K-sat of the clay layer in surface-drained grassland increased as a result of tile drainage. Compaction of the clay layer in tile-drained arable land reduced K-sat well below the level found in surface-drained grassland.     

The effect of soil texture and organic amendment on the hydrological behaviour of coarse-textured soils

To gain more insight into the hydrological behaviour of coarse-textured soils, the physical properties of artificially created soil mixtures with different texture were determined. The mixtures were prepared according to the specifications of the United States Golf Association (USGA) for constructing putting greens. In addition, the effect of 10 vol.% organic matter addition was studied. The soil moisture retention and hydraulic conductivity relationships of the different mixtures were determined and their hydrological behaviour was studied using the numerical model SoWaM. Both texture and organic matter addition substantially affected the hydraulic properties. Hydraulic conductivity significantly increased with increasing coarseness while moisture retention decreased. On the other hand, organic matter addition reduced saturated hydraulic conductivity by a factor of 10 to 100 and distinctly increased moisture retention capacity. The amounts of total available water were increased by the addition of organic matter between 144% (slightly coarse texture) and 434% (very coarse texture). Results indicate that the mixtures can contain only 2–16% plant available water and therefore need frequent irrigation to maintain plant growth. Addition of organic matter seems a good solution to reduce the irrigation water requirements but it increases the risk of ponding or runoff because of large reductions in the saturated hydraulic conductivity sometimes to below the rate of 3.6 m/day recommended by the USGA.