Characterization of broiler poultry production system in Rwanda

A study was conducted on 37 randomly selected broiler poultry farmers in Rwanda to characterize the production system using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires. The data were processed in SPSS and presented as means, percentages and ranges in tables and text. All respondents kept Cobb breed and young stock was mainly (73 %) imported from abroad. The majority of respondents were males (68 %) and most farmers had attended only primary level of education (40.5 %). Most of the farms were in the peri-urban (48.6 %) and urban (37.8 %) areas and hired male youth (62.2 %) mainly aged 19–35 years. The majority of respondents (68 %) kept less than 500 birds per batch. Recordkeeping was well practiced (91.9 %) and (62.6 %) had permanent poultry houses and all farmers used deep litter system. Purchased feedstuffs were reportedly (92 %) mixed at farm level as the main feed resource. Maize bran was reported (97.06 %) the main, basal feedstuff. The mortality rates of chick and growers were 12.3 and 9.4 %, respectively. The slaughter age was reportedly 60 days with an average dressing percentage of 75.67 %. The main challenges reported were scarcity and unaffordability of quality feeds (59.5 %), lack of market access (45 %) and lack of credit (21 %). The farmers had various views on improving broiler production in Rwanda ranging from establishing feed processing industries 62.2 %, improving marketing facilities 35.1 %, increasing availability of day-old chick and access credit 27 %, to intensification of farmer training 16.2 %.     

抗寒剂包膜对超甜玉米低温逆境下生理生化变化的影响

试验以玉米sh2胚乳突变体(特甜1号和增甜2号)为材料,研究了低温逆境下A、B 2种抗寒剂包膜超甜玉米种子对其生理生化变化的影响.结果表明,低温逆境下2种抗寒剂均显著提高了特甜1号种子发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数、壮苗率和幼苗素质.增甜2号2种抗寒剂处理的发芽率和壮苗率均与对照无显著差异.2个品种2种抗寒剂处理的苗高均显著高于对照,而根长均显著短于对照.低温逆境结束后,增甜2号2种抗寒剂处理的过氧化物酶和过氧化氢酶均显著高于对照,2个品种质膜相对透性和丙二醛含量均显著低于对照.与低温逆境前比,恢复生长3 d后,2个品种2种抗寒剂处理的叶绿素含量增加幅度均比对照大.低温逆境后,2个品种脯氨酸含量提高;恢复生长3 d后含量下降,但抗寒剂处理均显著低于对照并接近低温逆境前的水平.     

Mediation of serotonin-induced branchial vasoconstriction by a cholinergic and muscarinic responsein vivo in European eelAnguilla anguilla

The intravenous administration of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine: 5-HT) induced a significant branchial vasoconstrictionin vivo in European eel. This effect is blocked either by methysergide or atropine treatment suggesting a mediation of the serotonin-induced vasoconstriction by both methysergide-sensitive serotonergic receptors and by cholinergic muscarinic receptors of the branchial vasculature. The intravenous administration of 5-HT caused an increase (250%) in ventilatory water flow (V_W) together with a rise (250%) in partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO₂). Under imposed steady ventilatory water flow in curarized eels, serotonin induced a significant increase in PaO₂ which i) appeared at the time of branchial vasoconstriction, ii) was blocked by methysergide treatment, and iii) was not related to an elevation of plasma catecholamine levels. These results suggest that 5-HT causes a constriction of branchial vasculature in a site where serotonergic and cholinergic receptors are both present. The localization of serotonin-induced branchial vasoconstriction is discussed.     

Model performance of tree height-diameter relationships in the central Congo Basin

Key message

Tree heights in the central Congo Basin are overestimated using best-available height-diameter models. These errors are propagated into the estimation of aboveground biomass and canopy height, causing significant bias when used for calibration of remote sensing products in this region.

Context

Tree height-diameter models are important components of estimating aboveground biomass (AGB) and calibrating remote sensing products in tropical forests.

Aims

For a data-poor area of the central Congo Basin, we quantified height-diameter model performance of local, regional and pan-tropical models for their use in estimating AGB and canopy height.

Methods

At three old-growth forest sites, we assessed the bias introduced in height estimation by regional and pan-tropical height-diameter models. We developed an optimal local model with site-level randomizations accounted for by using a mixed-effects modeling approach. We quantified the error propagation of modeled heights for estimating AGB and canopy height.

Results

Regional and pan-tropical height-diameter models produced a significant overestimation in tree height, propagating into significant overestimations of AGB and Lorey’s height. The pan-tropical model accounting for climatic drivers performed better than the regional models. We present a local height-diameter model which produced nonsignificant errors for AGB and canopy height estimations at our study area.

Conclusion

The application of general models at our study area introduced bias in tree height estimations and the derived stand-level variables. Improved delimitation of regions in tropical Africa with similar forest structure is needed to produce models fit for calibrating remote sensing products.

     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN 13 HORSES WITH LYMPHOMA

Ultrasonography and radiography are commonly used for staging of lymphoma in horses, however there is little published information on imaging characteristics for horses with confirmed disease. The purpose of this retrospective, case series study was to describe ultrasonographic and radiographic findings for a group of horses with a confirmed diagnosis of lymphoma. A total of 13 horses were sampled. Lymphadenopathy (8/13), peritoneal effusion (6/13), splenic (6/13), and hepatic (5/13) lesions were the most frequently identified. The predominant splenic and hepatic ultrasonographic lesions were hypoechoic nodules, organomegaly, and changes in echogenicity. Digestive tract lesions were detected in three horses and these included focal thickening and decreased echogenicity of the small (2/13) and large intestinal (2/13) wall. Thoracic lesions were predominantly pleural effusion (4/13), lymphadenopathy (4/13), and lung parenchymal changes (3/13). Enlarged lymph nodes were detected radiographically (4/13) and/or ultrasonographically (2/13) in the thorax and ultrasonographically in the abdomen (7/13) and in the caudal cervical region (4/13). Findings supported the use of abdominal and thoracic ultrasonography for lymphoma staging in horses. Ultrasound landmarks for localizing cecal and caudal deep cervical lymph nodes were also provided.     

Soil loss and run‐off characteristics under different soil amendments and cropping systems in the semi‐deciduous forest zone of Ghana

Soil erosion is a major constraint to crop production on smallholder arable lands in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). Although different agronomic and mechanical measures have been proposed to minimize soil loss in the region and elsewhere, soil management practices involving biochar‐inorganic inputs interactions under common cropping systems within the framework of climate‐smart agriculture, have been little studied. This study aimed to assess the effect of different soil and crop management practices on soil loss characteristics under selected cropping systems, typical of the sub‐region. A two‐factor field experiment was conducted on run‐off plots under different soil amendments over three consecutive cropping seasons in the semi‐deciduous forest zone of Ghana. The treatments, consisting of three soil amendments (inorganic fertilizer, biochar, inorganic fertilizer + biochar and control) and four cropping systems (maize, soyabean, cowpea, maize intercropped with soyabean) constituted the sub‐plot and main plot factors, respectively. A bare plot was included as a soil erosion check. Seasonal soil loss was greater on the bare plots, which ranged from 9.75–14.5 Mg ha^?1. For individual crops grown alone, soil loss was 31%–40% less under cowpea than under maize. The soil management options, in addition to their direct role in plant nutrition, contributed to significant (p < 0.05) reductions in soil loss. The least soil loss (1.23–2.66 Mg ha^?1) was observed under NPK fertilizer + biochar treatment (NPK + BC) over the three consecutive cropping seasons. Biochar in combination with NPK fertilizer improved soil moisture content under cowpea crops and produced considerably smaller bulk density values than most other treatments. The NPK + BC consistently outperformed the separate mineral fertilizer and biochar treatments in biomass yield under all cropping systems. Biochar associated with inorganic fertilizers gave economic returns with value–cost ratio (VCR) > 2 under soyabean cropping system but had VCR < 2 under all other cropping systems. The study showed that biochar/NPK interactions could be exploited in minimizing soil loss from arable lands in SSA.