A study of the effect of variation in the calorie‐protein ratio of a medium energy diet and a high energy diet containing sucrose on the efficiency of egg production in caged layers

Literature pertaining to the variation in the protein content of layers’ diets is discussed and the lack of information on the effect of calorie‐protein ratio on food conversion is mentioned. The experiment described in the present paper was designed to test the effect of variations in calorie‐protein ratio on food conversion on a diet of high energy content (1340 k cal/lb.) based on sucrose supplementation and on a medium energy diet (1160 k cal/lb.). At the same time three types of pullet, Thornber 606, Thornber 404 and Light Sussex x Brown Leghorn pullets were compared on the two types of diet, each being fed at three nominal protein levels of 13, 15 and 17 per cent giving a total of eighteen treatments. The pullets were individually recorded for egg production, egg weight and food consumption. Meta‐bolisable energy crude protein determinations were carried out on each of the six diets employed and the actual calorie‐protein ratios calculated.

There was no significant effect on egg production when the calorie‐protein ratio of the diet was raised from 69 (i.e. k cal M.E./lb. per 1 per cent protein) to 90 but an increase to 103 reduced production and egg weight. It was found that maximum efficiency of food conversion was realised at ratios of 76 to 78.

The efficiency of conversion of dietary energy was unaffected by energy concentration in the diet.

The lightweight hybrid (Thornber 606) produced eggs more efficiently than either the Thornber 404 or the crossbred type.     

Direct observations of structural phase transitions in planar crystallized ion plasmas

Laser-cooled 9Be+ ions confined in two-dimensionally extended lattice planes were directly observed, and the images were used to characterize the structural phases of the ions. Five different stable crystalline phases were observed, and the energetically favored structure could be sensitively tuned by changing the areal density of the confined ions. The experimental results are in good agreement with theoretical predictions for the planar (infinite in two dimensions) one-component plasma. Qualitatively similar structural phase transitions occur, or are predicted to occur, in other experimentally realizable planar systems.     

Superovulatory Response of Zebu Cows Treated with pFSH in a Single Subcutaneous Injection Followed by an Additional Intramuscular Sub‐Dose 48 h Later

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether an additional intramuscular (im) injection of pFSH would increase the embryo production in zebu cows superovulated with a single subcutaneous (sc) pFSH injection. Twenty‐one Nelore cows were treated with a progesterone vaginal implant (Controlled Internal Drug Relased – CIDR B^®) and injected im with 2.5 mg estradiol benzoate. Four days later, cows were assigned randomly into three groups and superovulated with pFSH. Groups A and B received single sc injections of 400 and 320 IU, respectively; Group C received multiple im injections of 400 IU in decreasing doses at 12‐h intervals over 4 days. In the morning (07:00 am) of day 3 after starting superovulation, cows received im 150 mcg cloprostenol and Group B was additionally injected im with 80 IU of pFSH. CIDR‐B was withdrawn in the afternoon (07:00 pm). Cows were inseminated 48 and 62 h after the cloprostenol injection. Embryo collection and corpora lutea (CL) estimation were done 7 days after insemination. Alternation of treatments (crossover design) occurred at a 60‐day interval. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) of CL counts among treatments. The total (transferable and no transferable) number of recovered embryos from Group A (6.9 ± 1.5) was not different from Group C (9.8 ± 1.2), whereas Group B (5.7 ± 1.5) was lower than Group C (p < 0.05). The number of transferable embryos from Groups A (2.4 ± 0.7) and B (1.7 ± 0.6) was lower (p < 0.05) than Group C (4.6 ± 1.2). Lesser (p < 0.05) embryo production from Group B was related to lower recovery rate (46.4%), compared with Groups A (65.1%) and C (81.7%). It was concluded that an additional im subdose of pFSH, injected 48 h after a single subcutaneous (sc) dose of pFSH, does not improve the embryo production in zebu cows.     

Why is the productivity of Douglas-fir higher in New Zealand than in its native range in the Pacific Northwest,USA?

Douglas-fir (Pseudotusga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), a native to the Pacific Coast Range in North America, is recognized as a tree that is long-lived and can grow rapidly to standing volumes that approach the highest recorded for temperate conifers. Managed plantations in western Oregon register maximum periodic annual increments (PAI) at ages between 20 and 40 years of ∼30 m³ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. The same seed source, when planted in New Zealand and elsewhere in the Southern Hemisphere, may attain a PAI of ∼50 m³ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Is this higher productivity mainly related to climate or to isolation from native pests? To evaluate the role of climate, we obtained meteorological data from plantation sites in New Zealand and Oregon, from which we established relationships between mean monthly temperature extremes and solar irradiance, air humidity deficits, and frost frequency. Using these empirical relationships, long-term weather records were converted to the meteorological variables required to drive a process-based forest growth model, 3-PG, for sites approaching the most productive in New Zealand and in Oregon. Annual precipitation is similar in both areas, but sites in Oregon receive only 10% during the growing season, resulting in humidity deficits 30% larger than those recorded in New Zealand. According to sensitivity analyses and direct measurements, the more productive Douglas-fir forests in Oregon avoid the limiting effects of summer drought by obtaining water from the subsoil and fractured bedrock. If such forests were under a reduced evaporative demand similar to that in New Zealand, we show that they would exhibit comparable productivity.     

Investigation of osteochondrosis in grazing beef cattle

Severe lameness attributed to osteochondrosis is described in an extensively managed Brahman herd grazing on improved native pasture. Clinical signs were observed in five animals, three of which were necropsied. The most prominent lesions were in the elbow and stifle joints. There was multiple fissuring and ulceration of thickened articular cartilage with numerous osteochondral bodies present in the joint spaces. All affected animals were entire males sharing a common ancestral sire. Inheritance and gender were suspected to be contributing factors in the development of the disease.