Stocking method effects on forage accumulation,canopy attributes,and nutritive value of grazed Mulato II brachiariagrass pastures

Rotational stocking (RS) is generally associated with the intensification of pasture-based animal production systems, although many studies have shown little advantage over continuous stocking (CS). The objective of this research was to describe and explain the effects of two average canopy heights (20 and 30 cm) and three stocking methods (CS; rotational stocking with lenient defoliation, RSL; and rotational stocking with moderate defoliation, RSM) on forage accumulation (FA), vertical distribution of plant-part components, and nutritive value of ‘Mulato II’ hybrid brachiariagrass (Brachiaria spp. syn. Urochloa spp.) during two summer rainy seasons in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. Pastures were maintained at average canopy height of 20 and 30 cm under CS, and treatments under RSL and RSM were imposed by variations of ±20 and 30% of the average canopy heights, representing defoliation intensities of 33 and 47% of the pre-graze heights, respectively. The FA was not affected by CS, RSL, RSM stocking methods, averaging 8090 kg DM ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Canopy bulk density and distribution of plant-part components in the canopy profile were better at the average canopy height of 20 cm, accompanied by the greater nutritive value. The leaf bulk density was generally greater in RSM compared to CS. Pastures under CS had greater crude protein and in vitro digestible matter, and lesser neutral detergent fibre concentrations. Mulato II brachiariagrass should be managed at an average height of 20 cm under CS.     

Assessing the role of landscape connectivity in recent woodpecker range expansion in Mediterranean Europe: forest management implications

Woodpecker species have significantly expanded their ranges in the last decades of the twentieth century in Mediterranean Europe, which seems to be closely related to forest maturation following large-scale decline in traditional uses. Here we assess the explicit role of forest landscape connectivity in the colonization of the Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) and the Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) in Catalonia (NE Spain). For this purpose we combined data on breeding bird atlas (10 × 10 km; 1980–2000) and forest inventories (c. 1 × 1 km, 2000). Forest connectivity was measured through graph theory and habitat availability metrics (inter- and intra-patch connectivity) according to species median natal dispersal distances. The best regressions from a set of alternative models were selected based on AICc. Results showed that connectivity between areas of mature forests [diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥ 35 cm] affected Black Woodpecker colonization events. The probability of colonization of the Great Spotted Woodpecker was greater at localities near the sources of colonization in 1980 and with a high connectivity with other less developed forest patches (dbh < 35 cm). The spatial grain at which landscape connectivity was measured influenced the model performance according to the species dispersal abilities, with the species with the lower mobility (D. major) responding better to the forest connectivity patterns at finer spatial scales. Overall, it seems that both species could expand further in European Mediterranean forests in upcoming years but at slower rates if landscape connectivity according to species requirements does not continue to increase. Hence, a proactive and adaptive management should be carried out in order to preserve these species while considering the related major impacts of global change in Mediterranean Europe.     

Genomic evaluation for novel stayability traits in Nellore cattle

Cow stayability plays a major role on the overall profitability of the beef cattle industry, as it is directly related to reproductive efficiency and cow's longevity. Stayability (STAY63) is usually defined as the ability of the cow to calve at least three times until 76 months of age. This is a late-measured and lowly heritable trait, which consequently constrains genetic progress per time unit. Thus, the use of genomic information associated with novel stayability traits measured earlier in life will likely result in higher prediction accuracy and faster genetic progress for cow longevity. In this study, we aimed to compare pedigree-based and single-step GBLUP (ssGBLUP) methods as well as to estimate genetic correlations between the proposed stayability traits: STAY42, STAY53 and STAY64, which are measured at 52, 64 and 76 months of cow's age, considering at least 2, 3 and 4 calving, respectively. ssGBLUP yielded the highest prediction accuracy for all traits. The heritability estimates for STAY42, STAY53, STAY63 and STAY64 were 0.090, 0.151, 0.152 and 0.143, respectively. The genetic correlations between traits ranged from 0.899 (STAY42 and STAY53) to 0.985 (STAY53 and STAY63). The high genetic correlation between STAY42 and STAY53 suggests that besides being related to cow longevity, STAY53 is also associated with the early-stage reproductive efficiency. Thus, STAY53 is recommended as a suitable selection criterion for reproductive efficiency due to its higher heritability, favourable genetic correlation with other traits, and measured earlier in life, compared with the conventional stayability trait, that is STAY63.     

Abortion in dairy cattle with advanced twin pregnancies: Incidence and timing

This study examines incidences and timing of abortion in Holstein Friesian dairy cows with advanced twin pregnancies in north‐eastern Spain. The study population consisted of 1,194 twin pregnancies in two herds recorded from 2010 to 2015: 522 bilateral and 672 unilateral. The presence of live twins was determined by transrectal ultrasonography between 55 and 61 days post‐AI and pregnancy confirmed 60 days later. Abortion was recorded in 278 (23.3%) cows before Day 260 of pregnancy: 7 (1.3%) in bilateral and 271 (40.3%) in unilateral twin pregnancies. Using binary logistic regression procedures the following were excluded as risk factors for abortion: herd, year, heat stress (temperature‐humidity index values >72), lactation number and right versus left side for unilateral twins. Based on odds ratios, cows carrying unilateral twins were 49.9 (right unilateral twins) and 49.3 (left unilateral twins) times more likely to suffer abortion than cows with bilateral twins. The average time of abortion for unilateral twins was 173 ± 32 days and ranged from 135 to 249 days, 43% of abortions occurring between 135 and 154 days of gestation. The authors suggest prevention or reduction of unilateral twin pregnancies by follicular puncture and drainage of subordinate follicles at AI or manual rupture of the amniotic vesicle of one of the two twins at the time of pregnancy diagnosis.     

Antiproliferative effect of Canavalia brasiliensis lectin on B16F10 cells

Lectins are proteins or glycoproteins with the ability to link to carbohydrates at the cell surface in a specific and reversible manner. Studies have showed that lectins are demonstrate immunomodulatory and antitumor agents. This study aims to evaluate the effect of lectin extracted from the seeds of Canavalia brasiliensis (ConBr) on murine melanoma B16F10 cells by analyzing cell viability, apoptosis index, cell migration, production of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO). Results showed that ConBr was able to reduce cell viability and thwart apoptosis, which could be observed by decrease in cell migration. ConBr also induced NO and IL-12 synthesis. Altogether, these data demonstrate the potential of ConBr as a therapeutic agent for melanoma.     

Acuaroid nematodes in the common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) in the south of Spain

The prevalence, intensity and abundance of acuaroid nematodes were determined in the common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) in Andalusia, Spain. Acuaroid nematodes were present in 26/41 (63.4%) of birds examined. The most common species belonged to the genus Synhimantus subgenus Synhimantus (56%): S. (S.) laticeps (36.5%), S. (S.) robertdollfusi (24.3%) and a single specimen of a third, unknown, Synhimantus (S.) spp., unlike any other described previously (2.4%). Other species identified were Synhimantus (Dispharynx) spp. (2.4%), S. (D.) nasuta (4.8%), Desportesius spinulatus (9.7%) and Skrjabinoclava spp. (2.4%). This is the first record of these three species in F. tinnunculus, but the latter two are considered to be accidental parasites in birds of prey.     

Thyroid-stimulating hormone: response test in healthy horses, and effect of phenylbutazone on equine thyroid hormones

Adult horses showed a mild diurnal variation in equine plasma thyroxine (T4) concentrations, but not triiodothyronine (T3). Plasma T4 concentrations tended to be higher between 5 PM and 8 PM than at 8 AM. Increases in plasma T4 and T3 were similar in adult healthy horses given 5, 10, or 20 IU of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). The T4 peaked at approximately twice (2.0 +/- 0.4 times) as high as the base line at 6 to 12 hours after the TSH was given. The greatest change from base line T3 occurred at 1 to 3 hours after the TSH was given, but the magnitude of increase was widely variable (4.36 +/- 2.49 times as high as base line). The following method for doing the equine TSH-response test was suggested: (i) prepare plasma or serum sample for determining base line T4 and T3, (ii) inject 5 IU of TSH IM, (iii) prepare plasma or serum samples at 3 and 6 hours after the TSH was injected, and (iv) freeze samples at -20 C until T4 and T3 determination by radioimmunoassay. Treatment of horses with phenylbutazone for 5 days caused a significant decrease in base line T4 and T3 in horses (P less than 0.05). However, phenylbutazone-treated horses responded to the injection of TSH, and the increase in T4 at 6 hours was greater than in the controls (not given phenylbutazone) (P less than 0.02).     

The responses of soil,litter and root carbon stocks to the conversion of forest regrowth to crop and tree production systems used by smallholder farmers in eastern Amazonia

The impact of substituting forests for smallholder agricultural production systems on soil carbon (C) stocks is not well understood in Brazilian Amazonia. Most surveys of soil C stocks are restricted to the top 30 cm of soil and do not include measurements of litter and root stocks. Here, we quantify the stocks of C in soil (0–100 cm depth), aboveground litter and coarse roots of traditional (slash‐and‐burn) and alternative (Schizolobium amazonicum‐planted forest and silvopastoral system) smallholder agricultural systems, which were compared with a reference area (forest regrowth) in the eastern Amazonia. The soil C stocks in the 0–100 cm layer were larger in the forest regrowth treatment (156.8 ± 15.5 Mg/ha) than in the other treatments (S. amazonicum = 85.3 ± 6.5, silvopastoral = 108.0 ± 4.4 Mg/ha) but did not differ from the soil C stock in the slash‐and‐burn treatment (127.2 ± 6.1 Mg/ha). The soil C stocks at the 0–30 cm layer, which represented 33–50% of the total C of the 0–100 cm layer, did not differ among the treatments. The litter C stocks were ranked in the following order: silvopastoral > forest regrowth > S. amazonicum > slash‐and‐burn. The forest regrowth treatment had a greater coarse root C stock (0.84 ± 0.10 Mg/ha) than the other treatments (silvopastoral = 0.28 ± 0.03, S. amazonicum = 0.18 ± 0.03, slash‐and‐burn = 0.27 ± 0.04 Mg/ha). Soil, litter and root C stocks were negatively impacted by the conversion of forest regrowth to cultivation systems.