Grain,pellet and wax block bait take by the house mouse (Mus musculus) and non‐target species: implications for mouse eradications on coral cay islands

Introduced rodents have been eradicated from large numbers of offshore islands using toxic baits; however, toxic baits have been linked with negative impacts on non‐target species. The present study assessed the bait take of target (house mouse, Mus musculus) and non‐target (buff banded rail, Rallus philippensis) animals on Northwest and Heron Islands in the Great Barrier Reef. Three non‐toxic bait formulations (wax block, pellet and grain) were tested and each was applied at 1 kg ha^?1 in six treatment grids. The tracks of animals visiting the baits were identified using 30 tracking stations per treatment grid. A tracking station consisted of a track‐board placed in the centre of a sand‐pad. Mean bait take differed significantly between the formulations: birds took more grain bait than wax block bait; mice took more wax block than grain bait. Both mice and birds were equally selective of pellet bait. Thus, the findings indicate that wax blocks are the most suitable formulation for future baiting programs to eradicate mice on these and other islands.     

Ethylene glycol toxicosis in adult beef cattle fed contaminated feeds

Acute deaths of cows held in a drylot and fed several crop processing plant by-products were investigated. Clinical signs in affected cows included diarrhea, ataxia, recumbency, hypersalivation, and sunken eyes. A histological diagnosis of ethylene glycol toxicosis, based on numerous birefringent crystals in renal tubules, was supported by toxicologic findings.     

Common Peripartum Problems in the Mare

Reproductive problems in the perinatal period can adversely affect a mare's future fertility or, worse, may be life threatening to her or her foal. A number of abnormalities can occur, including uterine torsion, uterine artery or uterine hemorrhage, retained fetal membranes, metritis, rectovaginal injuries, and necrotic vaginitis. Because hemorrhage, retained placenta, metritis, and necrotic vaginitis can happen after a normal delivery or after dystocia, all mares should be monitored closely in the first days after parturition for signs of lethargy, depression, colic, sore feet, or anorexia. Methods for diagnosing, managing, and treating these conditions and the possible complications are discussed.     

Seed mix type but not planting method or seed priming affect grassland restoration outcomes: a greenhouse trial

Commercial seed mixes and various mechanical planting methods have been implemented to overcome barriers to successful restoration of degraded grasslands but their effectiveness in aiding the restoration process has been understudied. Harvested seed must be cleaned of chaff to allow mechanical planting, which can exclude small seeds. We propose that fluid seed drilling techniques (suspending uncleaned harvested seed in a cellulose-based gel matrix, which may then be injected into the soil with a mechanical planter) may overcome these challenges. As a preliminary investigation of the proposed method we designed a greenhouse pot trial experiment aimed at quantifying restoration success through the measurement of seedling recruitment, biomass production and composition responses of commercial and harvested seed mixes under simulated fluid seed drilling and smoke water priming (collectively termed application method). These data were analysed using generalised linear modelling and multivariate analyses. Commercial mixed seed resulted in greater recruitment, whereas harvested seed produced the greatest biomass production. There was large multivariate separation between seed types and seed type × application method centroids for recruitment responses and only seed type for biomass responses. Application method had minimal effects on restoration measurements whilst seed type greatly affected these measurements. Careful selection of the restoration seed mix is advised.