Morphology,tannin concentration and forage value of 15 Swiss accessions of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) as influenced by harvest time and cultivation site

Fifteen accessions of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) were characterized for morphological and phenological traits at Reckenholz in the Swiss lowlands (Experiment 1). The effects of accession, harvest time and site on dry‐matter yield, condensed tannin (CT) concentration and forage value (Experiment 2) were determined at three sites in Switzerland varying in altitude from 440 to 559 m. Three to four harvests were taken in the first year after establishment (second year of stand) with harvests 1 and 2 chemically analysed. From the characterization in Experiment 1, a clear grouping of single flowering (Communis) and multiple flowering (Bifera) accessions emerged. Additionally, within the Communis accessions, distinct groupings were identified (historical landraces and newly collected ecotypes) based on morphological characteristics. Experiment 2 showed that Communis and Bifera accessions had a similar chemical composition in the first harvest. In the second harvest, Communis accessions were higher in crude protein and CT and lower in neutral and acid detergent fibre concentrations than Bifera accessions. Total dry‐matter yields were higher for Bifera accessions. Among the Communis accessions, ecotypes had consistently higher CT concentrations than landraces. In vitro organic matter digestibility did not significantly differ among accessions. There were clear effects of harvest time and site for most variables, with clear harvest time × sainfoin group interaction but no site × sainfoin group interactions. The results clearly demonstrate that historical landraces and newly collected ecotypes expand the range of available genetic variation for sainfoin breeding.     

A complication probability planning study to predict the safety of a new protocol for intracranial tumour radiotherapy in dogs

Technical advances make it possible to deliver radiation therapy for canine intracranial tumours in fewer fractions, under the assumption of equivalent tumour control. With the aim of estimating the late toxicity risk profile for various tumour sizes and locations, the present paper evaluates the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) values for the intracranial organs at risk. By making isoeffect calculations, a new 10‐fraction radiation protocol was developed with the same tumour control probability (TCP) as a currently used 20‐fraction standard protocol, and complication risk profiles for brain, brainstem and optic chiasm were modelled using a representative population of 64 dogs with brain tumours. For >59% of cases, the new 10‐fraction protocol yielded an acceptable, low risk estimate of late toxicity (<10%). Our calculations suggest that it may be safe to treat small to intermediate‐sized tumours that are neither located near the optic chiasm nor at the brainstem with 10 daily fractions of 4.35 Gy.     

Metabolic load in dairy cows kept in herbage‐based feeding systems and suitability of potential markers for compromised well‐being

Herbage feeding with only little input of concentrates plays an important role in milk production in grassland dominated countries like Switzerland. The objective was to investigate the effects of a solely herbage‐based diet and level of milk production on performance, and variables related to the metabolic, endocrine and inflammatory status to estimate the stress imposed on dairy cows. Twenty‐five multiparous Holstein cows were divided into a control (C+, n = 13) and a treatment group (C?, n = 12), according to their previous lactation yield (4679–10 808 kg) from week 3 ante partum until week 8 post‐partum (p.p.). While C+ received fresh herbage plus additional concentrate, no concentrate was fed to C? throughout the experiment. Within C+ and C?, the median of the preceding lactation yields (7752 kg) was used to split cows into a high (HYC+, HYC?)‐ and low‐yielding (LYC+, LYC?) groups. Throughout the study, HYC+ had a higher milk yield (35.9 kg/d) compared to the other subgroups (27.2–31.7 kg/d, p < 0.05). Plasma glucose (3.51 vs. 3.72 mmol/l) and IGF‐1 (66.0 vs. 78.9ng/mL) concentrations were lower in HYC?/LYC? compared to HYC+/LYC+ cows (p < 0.05). Plasma FFA and BHBA concentrations were dramatically elevated in HYC? (1.1 and 1.6 mmol/l) compared to all other subgroups (mean values: 0.5 and 0.6 mmol/l, p < 0.05). Saliva cortisol, plasma concentrations of serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), beta‐endorphin (BE) and activity of alkaline phosphatase (AP) were not different between C+ and C?. In conclusion, herbage‐fed high‐yielding cows without supplementary concentrate experienced a high metabolic load resulting in a reduced performance compared to cows of similar potential fed accordingly. Low‐yielding cows performed well without concentrate supplementation. Interestingly, the selected markers for inflammation and stress such as cortisol, Hp, SAA, BE and AP gave no indication for the metabolic load being translated into compromised well‐being.     

Dietary plant bioactives for poultry health and productivity

1. Plants and their biologically active chemical constituents, sometimes called secondary metabolites or bioactives, present numerous opportunities for the improvement of livestock production by inclusion in the diet. 2. Many such plant derived materials have well established therapeutic values in man; however, their potential as feed additives in animal production, particularly of poultry, remains largely unexploited. 3. There is increasing evidence indicating that they can be efficient in controlling diseases, and plant bioactives may also influence production parameters such as feed efficiency and product quality. 4. It has been reported that they may even replicate some of the effects of antibiotic growth promoters, which were banned from use in Europe from 2006. 5. This review assesses the status of plant bioactives in poultry production and their mode of action on avian physiology, particularly in the digestive tract.     

Use of polymorphisms in the γ-gliadin gene of spelt and wheat as a tool for authenticity control

Partial sequencing of the γ-gliadin gene of 62 spelt and 14 soft wheat cultivars was performed. Fifty-six of the 62 spelt cultivars and 13 of the 14 soft wheat cultivars were shown to exhibit the typical spelt or soft wheat γ-gliadin sequence, respectively. Exceptions were ascribed to crossbreeding of soft wheat and spelt. Using the typical soft wheat γ-gliadin sequence, two alternative DNA-based analytical methods were developed for the detection and quantification of spelt flour "adulteration" with soft wheat. A simple and fast detection of soft wheat in spelt flours could be achieved by restriction fragment length (RFLP) analysis. In combination with lab-on-a-chip capillary gel electrophoresis (LOC-CE) the soft wheat proportion could be estimated. Heteroduplex formation served as additional confirmation for the presence of spelt besides soft wheat. Hence, RFLP-LOC-CE constitutes a perfect analysis tool for the quality control of cereal seeds and pure cultivars. A precise quantification of soft wheat "adulterations" in spelt flour down to 1% could be achieved by the developed real-time PCR method. The calibration parameters of the real-time PCR assay fulfilled the minimum performance requirements of the European Network of GMO (genetically modified organisms) Laboratories (ENGL).     

Root‐growth characteristics contributing to genotypic variation in nitrogen efficiency of oilseed rape

A 3‐year field experiment was carried out to determine the significance of root‐growth characteristics contributing to N‐uptake efficiency of two oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) cultivars differing in N efficiency. Two N treatments were applied, and the core and minirhizotron techniques were used to study root‐length density and number of living roots, respectively. Fertilizer‐N supply increased shoot dry matter, grain yield, total N uptake, and total soil N_min contents particularly in the top soil. Although significant differences occurred in all parameters between years, the interactions between years and cultivars were mostly not significant. Compared to cv. Capitol, the N‐efficient cv. Apex was characterized by a higher grain yield at N0 and a higher N uptake during reproductive growth. This genotype also had a higher root‐length density and more living fine roots particularly in the topsoil layer. Root growth of this genotype was especially high from beginning of shooting to beginning of flowering, while shoot growth and N uptake during vegetative growth were comparatively low. Our results suggest that N‐efficient cultivars can be characterized by a high investment in root growth during the vegetative stage with a comparatively slow shoot growth and N‐uptake rate until beginning of flowering, which, however, continues during reproductive growth. High root production only during reproductive growth seems to be less effective to achieve high N efficiency, because this may lead to a shortage of assimilates for seed filling. High root‐length density at vegetative stages may thus be advantageous for N uptake and reproductive growth and could be a useful morphological character for the selection and breeding of N‐efficient cultivars.     

Biodegradation measurements confirm the predictive value of the O:C‐ratio for biochar recalcitrance

Suitable predictors of degradability are sought to support the identification of biochars with large potential to increase C sequestration in soils. We determined the biodegradation of 9 chars from hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis in two agricultural soils. The 200‐ and 115‐day degradation correlated strongly with the O:C‐ and slightly with the H:C‐atomic ratio of 9 and 14 biochars, respectively. Highest temperature treatment and ash content did not show similar correlations.     

Intake, selection, digesta retention, digestion and gut fill of two coprophageous species, rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), on a hay-only diet

A colonic separation mechanism (CSM) is the prerequisite for the digestive strategy of coprophagy. Two different CSM are known in small herbivores, the 'wash-back' CSM of lagomorphs and the 'mucous-trap' CSM of rodents. Differences between these groups in their digestive pattern when fed exclusively hay were investigated in six rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and six guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). Intake, digestibility (by total faecal collection), solute and particle mean retention times (MRT, using Co-EDTA and Cr-mordanted fibres) were measured. Rabbits selected less fibrous parts of the hay than guinea pigs, leaving orts with higher content of neutral detergent fibre [NDF; 721 ± 21 vs. 642 ± 31 g/kg dry matter (DM) in guinea pigs]. They also expressed a lower NDF digestibility (0.44 ± 0.10 vs. 0.55 ± 0.05 of total), a similar particle MRT (15 ± 3 vs. 18 ± 6 h), a longer solute MRT (51 ± 9 vs. 16 ± 4 h), and a lower calculated dry matter gut fill (19.6 ± 4.7 vs. 29.7 ± 4.1 g DM/kg body mass) than guinea pigs (p < 0.05 for each variable). These results support the assumption that the 'wash-back' CSM, exhibited in the rabbits, is more efficient in extracting bacterial matter from the colonic digesta plug than the 'mucous-trap' CSM found in the guinea pigs. Related to metabolic body mass, rabbits therefore need a less capacious colon for their CSM where a more efficient bacteria wash-out is reflected in the lower fibre digestibility. A lighter digestive tract could contribute to a peculiarity of lagomorphs: their ability to run faster than other similar-sized mammals.     

Controlled but pragmatic investigations of interventions for behavioural disturbances in dogs and cats

Veterinarians are often directly involved in clinical studies or requested for information to help interpret their results. Therefore, it is reasonable to examine the reservoir of study methods. This article transfers methodological considerations from clinical research into veterinary medicine. The study question determines the appropriate study method. Recently a ten-step procedure was suggested for selection of appropriate study designs in humans. Based on this approach, a pragmatic study design was adapted to the conditions prevailing in interventional studies in dogs and cats with disturbed behaviour. The different concepts for clinical studies are introduced. Whether or not the design and the evaluation of pragmatic studies in dogs and cats with disturbed behaviour has been maintained and the prerequisites have thereby been fulfilled so that the obtained results are suitable to be applied under everyday conditions can be tested in eight steps. Using the pragmatic design the superiority of complex interventions can be investigated. The results of pragmatic studies help to substantiate a value judgement, i. e., the recommendation or rejection of a specific therapeutic intervention for a defined disease entity in a specific therapeutic setting. The goal of pragmatic studies is to obtain results appropriate for use in everyday situations. In conclusion, the suggested procedure is useful for the selection of the appropriate study designs for specific questions. This procedure is also suitable to test whether the conclusions of published study results coincide with the chosen methods.