Fine mapping of a calving QTL on Bos taurus autosome 18 in Holstein cattle

Decreased calving performance not only directly impacts the economic efficiency of dairy cattle farming but also influences public concern for animal welfare. Previous studies have revealed a QTL on Bos taurus autosome (BTA) 18 that has a large effect on calving traits in Holstein cattle. In this study, fine mapping of this QTL was performed using imputed high‐density SNP chip (HD) genotypes followed by imputed next‐generation sequencing (NGS) variants. BTA18 was scanned for seven direct calving traits in 6113 bulls with imputed HD genotypes. SNP rs136283363 (BTA18: 57 548 213) was consistently the most significantly associated SNP across all seven traits [e.g. p‐value = 2.04 × 10^?59 for birth index (BI)]. To finely map the QTL region and to explore pleiotropic effects, we studied NGS variants within the targeted region (BTA18: 57 321 450–57 625 355) for associations with direct calving traits and with three conformation traits. Significant variants were prioritized, and their biological relevance to the traits was interpreted. Considering their functional relationships with direct calving traits, SIGLEC12, CD33 and CEACAM18 were proposed as candidate genes. In addition, pleiotropic effects of this QTL region on direct calving traits and conformation traits were observed. However, the extent of linkage disequilibrium combined with the lack of complete annotation and potential errors in the Bos taurus genome assembly hampered our efforts to pinpoint the causal mutation.     

Detection of R-plasmids in Salmonella isolated from clams and marine waters of Kuwait

A total of 24 strains of Salmonella isolated from clams and marine waters of Kuwait were speciated and investigated for drug resistance. Six of these were resistant to antibiotics. Their resistance patterns were ACT (4 isolates) and ACKST (2 isolates). These were examined for the transferability of their resistance. They had autotransferable R-plasmids and 25% of the transconjugants had an enbloc transfer at high frequency. The co-relation between Salmonella isolates from marine environment and clinical cases was established.     

Different leguminous pre-crops increased yield of succeeding cereals in two consecutive years

Leguminous pre-crops are an important source of green manure in organic crop rotations for improving soil fertility and achieving high yields of cereals. We aimed to study the potential of various leguminous species, other than the traditionally cultivated red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), as green manure pre-crops for subsequent cereals. The use of different legume species enables to exploit advantages of specific legumes in organic cereal production. In order to test the legumes as pre-crops for cereals, we carried out trials located in the temperate climate zone of northeast Europe (58°44′59.41″ N, 26°24′54.02″ E). We sowed the following perennial legumes as pre-crops: red clover, alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum L.) and Washington lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl.), biennial white sweet clover (Melilotus albus Medik.) and annual Alexandria clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.), and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.). Timothy (Phleum pratense L.) was used as a control. The leguminous pre-crops were followed by three spring cereals (barley, oat and spring wheat) and two winter cereals (rye and winter wheat). We tested the first-year after-effect (all cereals) and second-year after-effect (only barley and oat) of pre-crops on the grain yield of cereals. Perennial and biennial legume species produced the highest dry matter yield and contained the highest amount of nutrients, especially nitrogen, compared to annual species. All subsequent cereals produced significant extra yields after each leguminous pre-crop in the following two years, although the effect was smaller in the second year. The most suitable pre-crops for spring cereals were red and alsike clover followed by lupine, whereas the best pre-crops for winter cereals were sweet clover and annual clovers. Our results show the potential of various leguminous pre-crop species as valuable sources of green manure in organic crop rotation.     

Measuring and predicting soil moisture conditions for trafficability

ABSTRACT

The main cause of loss of soil structural stability is vehicle operation on unpaved wet surfaces. Unfortunately, there is a lack of continuous soil moisture data in predicting trafficable conditions. To measure changes in soil moisture conditions in real time, Percostation (Adek) sensors were installed in sandy loam Stagnosol soil at different depths. Problems with soil trafficability can be expected at the plastic limit, and the soil is unable to support vehicle operations at the liquid limit in such soils. The maximum water-holding capacity of the soil is 32%, the field capacity is 25%, the plastic limit is 22%, and the liquid limit is 30%. With rainfall of more than 10?mm d^?1, the moisture content reached the plastic limit in the upper 25?cm of soil. The average increase in the soil moisture content after more than 10?mm of rain was 1–2.5% in a time frame of 2–3 hours. After rain, the previous soil moisture level was obtained within 2 to 3 days in the vegetation period. Measurements also allowed soil water balance and evapotranspiration modelling data to predict soil moisture conditions with an accuracy of one day but failed to predict in a shorter period.     

Regulation of milk intake in young ruminants

We studied the influence of the three main nutritive components of milk - saccharides, fat and amino acids - on milk intake in suckling lambs and on the role of insulin as a key metabolic hormone for the regulation of milk intake. The intake was slowed down after p.o. administration of milk fat (p less than 0.05), after i. v. administration of methionine (p less than 0.001) and after p. o. administration of glucose, lactose (p less than 0.01, p less than 0.001) and sorbitol (p less than 0.001). After i. v. administration of glycerol, lysine, threonine, arginine, glucose, and i. v. and p. o. administration of galactose the intake of milk did not change significantly (p greater than 0.05). The findings indicate that the short-time regulation of milk intake in suckling ruminant animals is not subjected to the specific effect of some of the milk components. Regarding the metabolic effects, the problem concerns the speed of resorption of easily metabolizable sources of energy from the digestive system to the liver and to the whole body. Neutral Zn-insulin administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 4 U X kg-1 increased the milk intake (p less than 0.01, p less than 0.001), in 8 to 22 hours after the administration only when the animals were on the low-fat milk diet (5.9%-11% fat in dry matter). We assume that the long-range hyperphagy can be related mainly with the fast metabolizing of energy-rich substances (glucose) into the body stores (glycogen, fat) accompanied by subsequent hormonal changes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Food intake in suckling rats after glycerol administration

The influence of administered glycerol on the food intake was followed in suckling rats in five age periods (on the 5th, 9th, 13th, 17th and 23rd day of life). Glycerol significantly reduced the food intake (P less than 0.01) in the last three age categories. This finding indicates that from the 13th day of life glycerol becomes one of the limiting factors of food intake for suckling rats in connection with a gradual functional maturing of their control mechanism, regulating the food intake.     

The structure of mating type,virulence, metalaxyl resistance of Phytophthora infestans in a long-term phenotypic study in distinct location in Eastern Estonia

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The potato late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans was collected from a region of Eastern Estonia during a period of seven years (2001–07). In...     

The effect of demand feeding on swimming speed and feeding responses in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L., gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata L. and European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax L. in sea cages

Abstract Using underwater cameras, data were collected on the feeding behaviour and swimming speeds of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L., gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata L. and European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax L. in sea cages. Comparisons were made between the behaviours of fish fed on demand using interactive feedback systems and those of fish fed under the standard feeding practice of each farm (control). In all three species, swimming speeds were similar before feeding , but they were significantly higher in the control regimes during feeding. When fed on demand, sea bass had reduced swimming speed just before and during feeding compared with that observed during the non‐feeding periods. Higher proportions of feeding fish were observed in the control regime cages than in fish fed on demand for all three species, indicating a greater feeding intensity during meals in the control regimes. This was further supported by observations of an increase in the density of sea bass in the upper water in the control cages during feeding. The results suggest decreased levels of competition between the on demand‐fed fish during feeding, which might be hypothesized to lead to improved growth and production efficiency in aquaculture.     

Seasoned Sprat Products’ Acceptance in Estonia and in Thailand

The aim of the study was to describe and evaluate competitiveness of Estonian spice-cured sprat products in Estonia and Thailand. Sample A was saltiest, Sample B had lowest overall spiciness, and Sample C had highest pepper flavor and sour taste intensity. The main drivers of consumer acceptance for the spice-cured sprat products were different: flavor and appearance in Estonia and appearance and odor in Thailand. In Estonia, one cluster of consumers liked the traditional (Sample A) and lightly spiced (Sample B) sprat products, while the other cluster liked the traditional (Sample A) and the marinated (Sample C) sprat products. In Thailand, all samples scored low, but manual clustering indicated that marinated (Sample C) sprat products are most acceptable. The current study showed that spice-cured sprat products in general can be accepted by Thai consumers, especially as part of meals, if further flavor development is carried out with the products.