EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF BORON DEFICIENCY IN CHESTNUT

This study aims to identify an alternative plant tissue to be used in the early diagnosis of boron (B) deficiency in chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.). A B-deficient orchard was selected, and 16 trees were submitted to two levels of B fertilization. When flowers were in bloom, the following tissues were sampled: leaves, androgynous catkins and flowers. There was a significant increase in B content in plant tissues due to B application. In July, the highest B content was observed in flowers in B0, but leaves had the greatest content in B1. Boron content in the tissues collected in July was positively correlated with B contents in leaves sampled in September. Foliar B concentrations, irrespective of the sampling period, were correlated with chestnut productivity, while the other tissues did not. These results suggest that the leaves, sampled in bloom, were the most efficient tissue for the early diagnosis of B deficiency.     

Analysis of domestic animal movements in Colombia (2006–2014) and their possible influence on the bovine brucellosis spread

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Bovine brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that causes great economic losses. The disease is endemic in Colombia and animal movements from infected herds carry...     

Effects of maternal subnutrition during early pregnancy on cow hematological profiles and offspring physiology and vitality in two beef breeds

This experiment evaluated the effects of subnutrition during early gestation on hematology in cows (Bos Taurus) and on hematological, metabolic, endocrine, and vitality parameters in their calves. Parda de Montaña and Pirenaica dams were inseminated and assigned to either a control (CONTROL, 100% requirements) or a nutrient‐restricted group (SUBNUT, 65%) during the first third of gestation. Dam blood samples were collected on days 20 and 253 of gestation, and calf samples were obtained during the first days of life. Pirenaica dams presented higher red series parameters than Parda de Montaña dams, both in the first and the last months of gestation. During early pregnancy, granulocyte numbers and mean corpuscular hemoglobin were lower in Pirenaica‐SUBNUT than in Pirenaica‐CONTROL cows. Calves from the SUBNUT cows did not show a physiological reduction in red series values in early life, suggesting later maturation of the hematopoietic system. Poor maternal nutrition affected calf endocrine parameters. Newborns from dystocic parturitions showed lower NEFA concentrations and weaker vitality responses. In conclusion, maternal nutrition had short‐term effects on cow hematology, Pirenaica cows showing a higher susceptibility to undernutrition; and a long‐term effect on their offspring endocrinology, SUBNUT newborns showing lower levels of IGF‐1 and higher levels of cortisol.     

Factors influencing farmers' responses to welfare legislation: A case study of gestation sow housing in Flanders (Belgium)

In the light of the EU ban on individual confinement of gestating sows which will have to be fully implemented by 2013, a survey was conducted among a representative sample of Flemish pig producers. The questionnaire was sent by post to 250 farmers in 2003 and 352 farmers in 2005 of which 219 and 296, respectively, provided valid responses via telephone. The percentage of respondents housing (some of) their sows in group was 10.5% in 2003 and 16.2% in 2005. These farmers were more likely to have a successor than farmers housing their sows individually. The most common group housing systems were free access stalls (24%) followed by electronic feeding stations (21%), ad libitum feeding (20%), feeding stalls/troughs (18%), and drop/trickle feeding systems (13%). Interval (4%) and electronic feed dispensers (0%) were very rare in Flanders. The main criteria for having chosen a particular group housing system related to sow health and welfare, investment costs and amount of labour. The relative importance of economic reasons has increased over time. Users were generally rather satisfied with their group housing system. Farmers using group housing for all their sows were more satisfied than farmers using both group and individual housing. Users of ad libitum feeding systems (and feeding stalls/troughs) were more satisfied than users of electronic feeding stations. A minority of respondents was planning to change to group housing within two years time (4.1% in 2003 and 7.4% in 2005). These tended to be young farmers with a large sow herd and 58% reported to opt for free access stalls. The main reason why the remaining respondents were not planning to change to group housing yet is that they will stop farming activities before 2013. This reason was particularly important for older small-scale farmers without a successor. In contrast, the lack of financial resources and security was particularly important for young farmers of a large sow herd with a likely successor. An increasing group of farmers (often without a successor) reported to delay changing to group housing because they consider individual housing more profitable. These results show that, in Flanders, the conversion to group housing is taking place slowly, that the reasons for not converting yet vary according to the farmers' age, the likelihood of a successor and herd size, and that there are differences between operational group housing systems concerning herd size, age of the system, sow management and user satisfaction.     

The Efficacy of a Novel Microbial 6‐Phytase Expressed in Aspergillus oryzae on the Performance and Phosphorus Utilization of Cold‐ and Warm‐Water Fish: Rainbow Trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss,and Nile Tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

The efficacy and tolerance of a novel microbial 6‐phytase were investigated in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, and Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Reference diets were sufficient in available phosphorus (P). The test diet limiting in available P was supplemented with phytase at 500, 1000, or 2000 phytase units/kg feed. The enzyme was effective in increasing total P apparent digestibility coefficient in relation to increasing the dose of phytase in rainbow trout and Nile tilapia. Zinc apparent digestibility improved in relation to phytase supplementation in rainbow trout. P release due to phytase supplementation ranged from 0.06 to 0.18% P/kg feed in rainbow trout and from 0.13 to 0.26% P/kg feed in Nile tilapia. A 58‐d performance trial was conducted to evaluate tolerance of fish to phytase supplementation. Dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet without phytase or supplemented with 2000 and 200,000 phytase units/kg feed. Results indicate that this novel microbial 6‐phytase is well tolerated by fish. Significant improvements for growth as well as feed conversion ratio were observed when the phytase was fed at 2000 phytase units/kg feed. This phytase is proven efficient in releasing P from phytate and could be added when plants are used for fish meal replacement in diets for salmonid and omnivorous fish.     

The status of professional agroforestry education and training in Indonesia

Regional/Country Report

The status of professional agroforestry education and training in Indonesia     

Phylogenetic analysis of hemagglutinin, neuraminidase, and nucleoprotein genes of H9N2 avian influenza viruses isolated in Israel during the 2000-2005 epizootic

The first two isolates of H9N2 influenza virus in Israel were collected from turkey and chicken hosts in May 2000. The actual epizootic of the H9N2 virus started in December 2001, after a 1.5-year period of silence, and still continues. A total of more than 500 isolations from turkeys and chickens were registered during the outbreaks. The present study has revealed some genetic peculiarities among the local isolates, namely: all the isolates belong to the same G1-like phylogenetic lineage, within which they form a single group, which, in turn, is divided into three subgroups in the cases of the HA and NP genes, and two subgroups in the case of the NA gene. The results present a basis for suggesting the existence of two parallel evolutionary trends originating from the same local "prototype" isolate.